Three co-accused brothers who viciously assaulted a man with hammers and copper pipes over a drug debt were arraigned at Waterford Circuit Criminal Court this month.
Michael McDonagh (30) of 11 Meadow View, Cahir, Co. Tipperary, Andrew McDonagh (28) of 34 Kerlogue Manor, Wexford, and Ballytruckle Road, Waterford, and Bernie Patrick McDonagh (19) of 11 Dun Uisce, Cahir, Co. Tipperary, each appeared before Judge Eugene O’Kelly to plead to charges arising from an incident that occurred on 14 October 2025.
All three pleaded guilty to separate counts of assault causing harm, contrary to Section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, and producing an article capable of causing serious injury, contrary to Section 11 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act.
Michael appeared via video link from prison to enter a plea to the charges, while Andrew and Bernie Patrick made physical appearances after being granted bail in the High Court earlier this year.
The court heard that the latter two brothers wished to make an application to amend their bail conditions to allow them to go on a holiday to Tenerife this month.
Acting for Bernie Patrick, Heather McKenna Furlong BL told the court that her client was seeking a ‘temporary’ relaxation of his bail conditions to go on the holiday as a honeymoon with his new wife.
Andrew was represented by Kate Kelly BL, who stated that her client was seeking a similar arrangement to allow him to go abroad with his wife and baby. Both defence counsel highlighted that the co-accused men were also willing to go somewhere in Ireland if this was not possible.
The court heard that the State was objecting to the applications based on the ‘strength’ of the evidence and the fact the co-accused pleaded guilty to serious offences.
Detective Garda Sean Lane told the court that on 14 October last year, a male victim was seriously assaulted by the brothers in a shed at the back of a property in Waterford city.
Det Lane said that copper pipes were used during the ‘vicious’ assault, which related to a drug debt of €14,000 that they claimed the victim owed. The victim told Gardaí the debt started at €4,000 and he was paying back €200 a week, before it rose for ‘no reason’ and was ‘bought’ by Andrew.
The victim was ‘lured’ to the property under false pretences, Det Lane said, after Michael McDonagh contacted him. He was forced into the shed by Andew and Bernie Patrick, who began assaulting him with copper pipes and hammers.
Det Lane said that Andrew told the victim “if you —- with one of us, you —- with all of us.”
It was heard that Michael then also began assaulting the man, and started laughing before grabbing him by the scruff of the neck and threatening him not to tell anyone about what happened.
The court was told that the victim suffered a bleed on the brain, a fractured spine and skull, as well as cracked knuckles from the assault. He had to spend six nights in hospital and could not walk for a period of time afterwards. It was heard that Gardaí found droplets of blood at the scene that matched his DNA.
Det Lane detailed how the victim was initially reluctant to make a statement to Gardaí due to fear and intimidation, but came forward after one of his family members was contacted by the brothers.
It was heard that the victim is also still receiving physiotherapy for his injuries, and would be unable to go abroad himself.
Det Lane said it would be ‘morally wrong’ to allow the defendants to go on holidays, that it would “send out the wrong message” to the victim and “minimise the depravity” of the assault.
It was noted in court that Bernie Patrick has no previous convictions, was not involved in the drug debt aspect of the assault, and has complied with his bail conditions aside from one alleged breach of his curfew.
Judge O’Kelly invited counsel to withdraw the application on behalf of Bernie Patrick, which was done, and he was asked to leave the dock.
It was heard that Andrew has allegedly breached the curfew associated with his bail conditions on eight occasions across May, June, August and September of this year, after Gardaí went to his address and did not see him there. Det Lane said that although the defendant claims he was present at the house, the breaches were still recorded.
Ms. Kelly told the court that her client has to leave early for work, which explained him not answering the door to Garda members. She added that he has signed on at his local Garda station and remained in contact with Gardaí throughout the period of his bail so far, and has not come to any adverse attention.
Ms. Kelly highlighted that her client wished to apologise for making the application, as it wasn’t done to ‘minimise’ the offences. The barrister said she was withdrawing the application, and that the defendant “apologises profusely” to the court.
Judge O’Kelly said he was concerned over the ‘seriousness’ of the offences, as the victim was ‘lured’ and beaten up as a result of a ‘highly-illegal’ drug debt. The judge decided to revoke Andrew’s bail, and he was taken into custody.
Judge O’Kelly remanded Michael and Andrew in custody, and Bernie Patrick on bail, for all of them to appear before the court again on 13 January 2027 to fix a date for sentencing.
Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme Robyn Power
