A Dundalk man pleaded guilty to the assault of an Achill man and falsely imprisoning him and his wife in their home at last week’s sitting of Castlebar Circuit Court.
Michael McMahon of 3 Ashlawn, The Loakers, Blackrock, Co Louth pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Seán Lavelle at the Tower Road, Dooagh, Achill on February 14, 2010 and also to the false imprisonment of Seán and Emer Lavelle in their home at the Tower Road, Dooagh on the same date.
The offences arising from the guilty plea occurred at approximately 8.30pm on St Valentines Day when the couple were tied up and beaten in their home by two men. However, the duo were forced to flee when they were disturbed by a neighbour and they were eventually arrested at Owenduff Bridge between Mulranny and Tonragee at approximately 9.40pm.
The other person involved in the attack and arrested on the night was Mr McMahon’s brother Seamus who was murdered in Dundalk in March 2010.
In November 2006, Seamus McMahon was acquitted by the Central Criminal Court in Dublin of a charge of being a member of the Provisional IRA in October 2004 but in recent years he was believed to have been associated with dissident Republican groups in the Dundalk area.
Sentencing of Michael McMahon was adjourned until January 16, 2012 after the production of a victim impact statement.