Gleneely gun incident – man released on bail

A Northern Ireland man, charged in connection with an incident in Gleneely in the early hours of Easter Monday last in which Gardai were allegedly threatened with a gun, was released on bail when he appeared at Buncrana District Court on Thursday last. The previous day, John Moran, a 52-year-old car salesman, was charged with illegally having a revolver and three rounds of .22 ammunition when he appeared at Donegal District Court. That court heard Moran was arrested following an altercation between locals and a number of people from Northern Ireland outside the Orchard Bar in Gleneely. Moran, with an address at Serpentine Avenue, Newtownabbey, Co Antrim, told the court he had a family holiday home near Carndonagh where many of his relatives lived and rejected the prosecution claim he should be remanded in custody pending his trial. Moran told Judge Kevin Kilraine the incident stemmed back to a year previous when he gave evidence for the prosecution in a Donegal court. Objecting to bail, Garda Detective Inspector Kevin English applied for Moran to be remanded in custody due to the serious nature of the charges, the likelihood of additional charges and the fact he lived outside the jurisdiction. However, Judge Kevin Kilrane fixed bail at Ä15,000 cash to be put up by Moran, who owns his own business, and an independent surety of Ä10,000 and remanded him in custody to appear at Buncrana District Court the following day. The judge made a condition that Moran must stay away from the Orchard Bar and report twice a week to Gardaí. The next day, Moran, who had a paper stitch to a wound on his forehead, was brought to Buncrana District Court in an unmarked Garda car, dressed in a beige jacket, striped dark shirt and dark trousers and accompanied by two Garda detectives. During the hearing defence solicitor, Paudge Dorrian, told the court his client intended to plead guilty to the charges. Moran handed over his passport to Gardai, however Judge Seamus Hughes agreed to his travel documents being returned to him for a planned holiday from May 7-12 next. Judge Hughes also agreed to allow Moran to live and work in the North during the week but ordered him to return to his Inishowen holiday home every weekend and report to Buncrana Garda Station every Saturday and Sunday. Inspector David Kelly told the court Gardai were awaiting directions in the case from the Director of Public Prosecution and that further charges could be brought against the accused. Moran was was released on bail on his own bond of Ä15,000 and an independent surety of Ä10,000 put up by Philip Bonner, of Portaleen, Malin and is due in court again on June 15 next. Emerging from court, Moran covered his face from waiting photographers before getting into the rear seat a waiting car and driven away.