Courts / Clare / Report

'Wild West stuff': bystander shot in buttocks after drug dealer opened fire at music festival

Date
2023-10-16

Stage
Appeal

Primary locality
Sixmilebridge

County
Clare

Summary

Tony McInerney, the appellant, appeared before the Central Criminal Court at a sentence hearing for offences committed in January 2020. McInerney, who the court heard was the leader of a large drug network in Co Clare, pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of Daniel Harty Junior, intentionally or recklessly discharging a firearm, and making a threat to kill or cause serious harm to Harty Junior. The court heard that McInerney was initially jailed for 12 years for running a "cocaine factory" in 2020, a sentence later reduced to ten years by the Court of Appeal. During the current proceedings, Detective Sergeant Kevin O'Hagan detailed how McInerney and another man fired shots at Harty Junior during a music festival in Sixmilebridge, injuring an innocent bystander in the buttocks. McInerney was arrested in 2021 and has 13 previous convictions, including possession of explosives. Defence counsel Michael Collins SC submitted that McInerney had pleaded guilty early and apologized to society. Mr Justice Paul McDermott remanded McInerney in custody until next Monday, when he will be sentenced.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 'Wild West stuff': bystander shot in buttocks after drug dealer opened fire at music festival. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

January 18, 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
January 1, 2019 Other
January 2020 Other
January 17 Hearing Or Sentence
June 2021 Other
February 27, 2021 Incident
2023-10-16 Publication

Why: Gardaí identified McInerney, who made a statement to gardai and gave an explanation "around the motive". CNI source report

Case subjects

Tony McInerney

Appellant

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Tony McInerney, who the court heard today was the leader of a large drug network in Co Clare, was initially jailed for 12 years after being caught running a "cocaine factory" in 2020 but the sentence was later reduced to ten years by the Court of Appeal. Mr Justice McDermott remanded McInerney in custody until next Monday, when he will be sentenced.; Mr Justice McDermott remanded McInerney in custody until next Monday, when he will be sentenced.