William (left) and Patrick (right) McGinley are charged with murdering a relative after a feud between two factions in the travelling community.
A father and son accused of killing a relative at a wedding in County Fermanagh have been granted bail.
Patrick McGinley, 46, and his son William, 27, from Lisfarrell, Edgeworthstown, County Longford, were charged with murder following the shooting outside a church in Newtownbutler in February 2015.
Bernard McGinley, 63, known as Barney was Patrick McGinley's uncle. He was fatally shot in front of his wife and grandchildren as they attended a family wedding.
A detective told Enniskillen Magistrates Court that Patrick and William McGinley had been involved in a feud between two factions in the travelling community.
The police officer opposed bail on the grounds that there was "a history of serious violence" associated with the McGinley family, and there was a risk of further offences.
She also stated a fear that both men would flee the jurisdiction as they have strong family ties in the Republic of Ireland and had access to a significant amount of cash.
The shooting happened in the grounds of a Catholic church in Newtownbutler
A defence solicitor outlined concerns about delays in carrying out forensics work on a gun recovered in the Republic of Ireland and the large number of witnesses that still had not been interviewed.
The solicitor said his clients' family had been subjected to serious violence including a gun attack on their home in Longford.
He said the feud had stemmed from an incident at a funeral home and that the family had been attacked for co-operating with police.
He said no motive for the shooting had been provided and it was the defence case that the gun had been brought to the church by another man and had been fired accidentally during a fight outside the church.
The district judge at Enniskillen Magistrates Court granted bail after he said he had given the matter careful consideration.
He said they would be released on condition that each defendant lodged bail of £950, provided a cash surety of £50,000 each and lived at an address in Enniskillen approved by the police.
They will also be required to report to police twice a week, not contact any witness or injured party in the case and to surrender their passports.
- Published16 February 2015
- Published21 February 2015
