Two Brothers Charged With Producing Pitchfork And Machete In Family Feud Granted Bail

Monday, 26 May 2025 11:09

James and Patrick Dinnegan in Athlone - photo credit: Irish Independent Liam Cosgrove

The two brothers are accused of issuing menacing threats to other family members.

Two brothers have been charged with producing a machete and a pitchfork in the home of a woman suffering from dementia in Westmeath.

The Irish Independent reports 25 year old James Dinnegan, from The Green Bun Daire, Kinnegad, in Westmeath and 21 year old Patrick Dinnegan from Woodland Park, Dundalk, in Louth were brought before a sitting of Athlone District Court in connection to an incident on Tuesday afternoon last week, that saw a four man gang target a family home in Mullingar.

The pair were arrested and charged with producing a machete and pitchfork during the course of a dispute respectively at McCurtain Street, Mullingar, Co Westmeath in "full view of the public" and as part of the latest feuding rivalry to hit the midlands town in recent months.

Athlone District Court heard how both men were arrested as gardaí responded to reports a public disturbance that had broken out at Mill House, a two storey property that was home to the alleged victim, Lucy Dinnegan and her elderly mother.

At the bail hearing, Garda Ken Shedwell said the State contends a four man gang, three of whom had their faces covered with snoods, arrived at the scene in the middle of the afternoon while being armed with a cache of weapons.

The prosecutions is alleging that both men exited a white Opel Insignia at around 4.30pm and almost instantaneously began issuing menacing threats to Ms Dinnegan’s family as part of an on-going feud involving "multiple members" of the wider Dinnegan family.

Gardaí are of the firm belief Patrick Dinnegan was armed with a pitchfork while sporting a blue tracksuit and black snood in order to cover his face and his brother James Dinnegan was part of the group while brandishing a machete.

Lucy Dinnegan told the court she was subjected to physical and verbal threats, and she feared for her and her family's safety.

Both men were granted bail under strict conditions.

Patrick Dinnegan will appear before Mullingar District Court on June 26th, and James Dinnegan on July 10th.