Balla gunman sent for psychiatric report

Balla accused sent for psychiatric report


Edwin McGreal

THE man charged with the bizarre shooting in Balla in which his cousin was shot twice is to be psychiatrically assessed.
Vincent O’Donnell (47) of Knocknabrone, Mayo Abbey is charged under Section 4 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against The Person Act after his cousin, Dympna Walshe, was shot twice in the legs in Costcutter in Balla at 6.30pm approximately on Tuesday, May 31 last. Ms Walshe was working as a shop assistant in the shop.
O’Donnell appeared before last Friday’s sitting of Harristown District Court in Castlerea where his solicitor, Myles Gilvarry, applied for bail.
Detective Garda Roisin Loftus objected on a number of grounds, including the severity of the crime and the possibility of interference with witnesses in the Balla area.
However, Myles Gilvarry said that his client was willing to stay out of Balla and would live with his niece in Dublin. O’Donnell’s brother was in court to give an undertaking to this effect, Mr Gilvarry added.
However, Judge Elizabeth McGrath said there was no need for such an undertaking and, with the consent of defence counsel, ordered that a psychiatric report on Mr O’Donnell be furnished before bail is considered. The matter was put back to Harristown District Court on July 15 where the report is expected to be presented and bail re-considered.
Mr O’Donnell and Dympna Walshe are cousins and both grew up in close proximity to each other in Mayo Abbey. Ms Walshe, who is in her early 50s, is expected to be released from Mayo General Hospital in the coming weeks. She required surgery for injuries sustained in the attack.
On the evening in question O’Donnell walked into the shop carrying a full-length firearm. He proceeded to approach the counter and allegedly fired two shots at Dympna Walshe.
After fleeing the scene on foot, O’Donnell then got into a vehicle parked some length away and drove to a rural public house some three miles away where he was arrested at 8pm that evening.