Castlebar man in lockdown following threats

A CASTLEBAR man whose brother was murdered in 2013 is in 23-hour lock-down in prison after he was informed a contract was out on his life.
Michael Maughan (22) of The Campsite, Moneen, Castlebar, appeared before Castlebar Circuit Court pled guilty to a number of offences, including aggravated burglary, violent disorder and robbery.
Mr Maughan appeared in court alongside his two brothers – Mark Maughan (29) of 14 Northbrook Avenue, Castlebar, and Christopher Maughan (28) of The Campsite, Castlebar – as well as Owen McDonagh (22) of 35 Cois Abhainn, Castlebar, who were sentenced after pleading guilty to violent disorder following an attack on Michael Keogh outside the New Look shop on Hopkins Road, Castlebar, on April 17, 2014.
Mr Maughan was also charged with aggravated burglary relating to an incident during which the caravan of Martin and Winnie McDonagh on the old Turlough Road was broken into and the couple and their young family were attacked with a machete.
Mr Maughan also admitted robbing a mobile phone from a 13-year-old boy on December 13, 2014 at McHale Road, Castlebar as the young boy was walking home from the cinema. A previous sitting of the court heard that Mr Maughan and two other men put the teenager in a headlock, and that the boy was so afraid he thought he was going to die.
Michael Maughan’s counsel, John Hogan, told Judge Rory McCabe that Mr Maughan apologised for all of the incidents of which he was part. He said that they occurred after the murder of his brother and an attack on his other brother.
Mr Hogan said his client was living in fear in custody, as there was a viable threat to his life from inside the prison. As a result, he has been put on 23-hour lockdown for his own safety, which has prevented him from engaging in rehabilitation and education.
Mr Hogan said that once the sentence was finalised Mr Maughan was going to immediately ask for a transfer, and that on his release, he would move to the UK. Judge McCabe remanded Mr Maughan in custody for the finalisation of reports before determining final sentencing.

Keogh case
The attack on Mr Keogh occurred at approximately 3.55pm when he was attacked by the four defendants and was kicked, knocked to the ground and received a stab wound. The four men were later arrested and charged with violent disorder.
Conal McCarthy, counsel for Mark Maughan said his client expressed his remorse for his involvement and had rushed to assist his brothers who were involved. As a result of the incident, he has separated from his wife. He added that there has been no recurrence of his behaviour.
Brendan McDonagh, counsel for Owen McDonagh, said his client was suffering from drug and alcohol abuse at the time of the incident and had described his behaviour as ‘disgraceful’. Owen McDonagh acknowledged he was wrong and said he was dealing with his substance problems, counsel said.
Seamus Foy, the former Manager of Archway Stores spoke on behalf of Christopher Maughan, who has worked in the Castlebar store for ten years. He said he spoke to Mr Maughan about the incident and told the court that ‘the Christopher Maughan I know is completely different from the individual involved in the assault’.
In sentencing the individuals, Judge McCabe said the headline sentence was three years, but  following mitigation he said the appropriate sentence was two years. He sentenced Mark and Christopher Maughan to two years’ imprisonment but suspended the entirety for five years.
Owen McDonagh was placed under the supervision of the probation service for 12 months, with Judge McCabe informing him he wished to deal with the sentence in a non-custodial manner but that doing so would depend on his engagement with the probation services.