Shots fired at house in Offaly injured woman, Tullamore District Court is told

Gardai allege 'feud' taking place in Tullamore as man in custody on firearms charges applies for bail

Published 13th Aug 2026, 16:01 BST Bail application at Tullamore District Court | Tribune Pictures Gardai allege 'feud' taking place in Tullamore as man in custody on firearms charges applies for bail Sign up to our Offaly Live newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Offaly Live within your account.

A WOMAN was injured when a shot was fired through the front window of a house, Tullamore District Court was told.

Gardai allege that Daniel Kavanagh (48) discharged a firearm at 37 Kearney Drive, Kearney on two separate occasions this year.

Detective Garda Tom Dunne gave evidence before Judge Susan Fay during an application for bail by Mr Kavanagh, who appeared before the District Court in custody.

The gardai opposed bail and Detective Garda Dunne played CCTV footage which he said was recorded on the dates of alleged offences.

Offaly woman overcame adversity to pen debut novel In the footage which he said was recorded in February, a man could be seen walking on a footpath in the early hours of the morning while he was holding a firearm, which gardai said was a shotgun.

The same man then raised the weapon, pointed it and fired a single shot, apparently towards the house where cameras were positioned.

Further footage, which Detective Garda Dunne said was recorded in June, again in the early hours at the same location, showed a man walking on the path with a firearm before two shots were fired in quick succession.

Detective Garda Dunne said that in one of the incidents when a shot went through a sitting room window a woman inside, who he named as Rebecca McDonagh, was injured by flying glass.

He described Kearney Drive as a brand new estate in Tullamore where there were families with young children.

He said of the woman who was struck: "If she was standing up instead of lying down she'd have been hit with pellets from the shotgun. They were all in the wall behind her."

The detective garda said the individual in the footage had been identified as Daniel Kavanagh and the firearm had been seized and sent for examination.

He said that when Mr Kavanagh was questioned he made admissions.

Detective Garda Dunne also said the background to the alleged offences was a feud between the Kavanagh and McDonagh families and there had previously been an incident on the night of New Year's Eve 2025 and January 1, 2026.

Bail was opposed because gardai feared Mr Kavanagh would not turn up in court again and because witnesses might be interfered with.

Judge Fay gave Mr Kavanagh, who was unrepresented because of the solicitors' strike, an opportunity to ask Detective Garda Dunne questions but he did not do so.

The judge permitted Mr Kavanagh's wife to sit beside him in the custody area of the courtroom and assist him, providing her with a pen and paper after she said she could read and write.

Asked if he wished to make any submissions, the accused said he had been drinking and using cocaine at the time of the alleged offences.

A 17-year-old son of his was ill with broken bones in his back and there was pressure on the family.

Mr Kavanagh said he had been in custody for seven weeks and had done AA and NA.

He said he could stay with a cousin in Dublin where there was a yard with space to pull in.

When Judge Fay asked if there was any money for bail Mr Kavanagh's wife enquired "how much" before saying €5,000 would be available.

After considering her decision for a period, Judge Fay said she would grant bail with conditions.

She remanded Mr Kavanagh in custody for two weeks to August 28 with consent to bail, on condition €5,000 cash be given, with an independent surety of €10,000.

The bail conditions also require Mr Kavanagh to remain sober, reside in Dublin at an address agreed with the gardai, observe a curfew between 9pm and 7am, report daily to a garda station, have no contact with the alleged injured parties, stay out of Offaly apart from Court appearances and engage with a GP and the Traveller Mediation Service.

Daniel Kavanagh, 9 Cloncollig, Tullamore (48), is alleged to have discharged a firearm, being reckless as to whether any person was injured or not, at 37 Kearney Drive, Tullamore on February 28 and June 4 last.

On both occasions he is also charged with possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury to property.