Judge denies Galway man application to allow him to travel to Medjugorje

A MAN charged in connection with a serious assault in Ballinrobe was told he will have to make do with Knock or Lough Derg after he was denied permission to travel to a pilgrimage to Medjugorje.

Tommy Sweeney of 214 Castle Park, Ballybane, Galway made an application before Judge Eoin Garavan in Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court to vary his bail conditions to allow him to travel with his family to Medjugorje in August.

Mr Sweeney is charged with assault causing serious harm to Patrick Barrett outside the Corrib Oil filling station in Ballinrobe on January 31, 2023 and is awaiting trial. He had to surrender his passport as part of his bail conditions but asked Judge Garavan to allow him to retrieve it to allow him to travel to the Catholic pilgrimage site located in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Mr Sweeney said himself and his wife wish to go on the pilgrimage as they are two years married and they are yet to conceive and he hopes their prayers for a child will be answered in Medjugorje.

He told his solicitor, Myles Gilvarry, that he is a religious person and gave an undertaking that he will return to Ireland.

When questioned by Patrick Reynolds, counsel for the prosecution, Mr Sweeney accepted that the flights were booked just after he was served with the book of evidence in May and he knew the terms of his bail was to remain in the jurisdiction.

Objection

Earlier Detective Garda Sinéad Caheny outlined her objection to the bail variation due to the seriousness of the charges against Mr Sweeney. She said it is alleged that Mr Sweeney was one of two men who used a machete and a slash-hook to attack Patrick Barrett while he sat in his car.

She said the victim was seriously injured and had to be treated in the Beaumont Hospital and there was DNA evidence to link Mr Sweeney to the offence.

Det Garda Caheny said she fears that Mr Sweeney may try to avoid court and the strength of the evidence and the seriousness of the charge are the primary reasons for objecting to the application.

Mr Gilvarry said his client has always answered his bail and has booked return flights from Split Airport in Croatia.

Judge Garavan refused the application and said he did not believe the reasons to travel were important enough.

“Try Knock or Lough Derg Mr Sweeney,” he commented before adding the charges were too serious and he was not allowing the application.