Emotions spill over outside courthouse

THE father and sister of Kiea McCann (17), who was killed alongside her friend Dlava Mohamed (16) in a tragic car crash outside Clones in July 2023, have each been charged with being verbally abusive to a Garda Sergeant outside Monaghan Courthouse during the sentencing hearing of the driver involved in the collision.

Francis ‘Frankie’ McCann (54) of Fitzpatrick Square, Clones, Co Monaghan, and his daughter Shauna McCann (24) with an address at the Halting Site, Gortakeegan, Monaghan Town, each appeared before Monaghan District last Wednesday on charges of engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour at Church Square, Monaghan Town, on April 29, 2025, contrary to the provisions of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, 1994.

The case was adjourned after being heard in part, when Judge Raymond Finnegan ruled that the officer subjected to the alleged abuse, Sergeant Donal Fay, should be present to clarify certain issues raised by the defendants.

Frankie McCann’s solicitor, Paul Boyce, argued at the outset that it would be in the interests of both defendants to have Sergeant Fay in court, even though it was Detective Garda Joel Collins who was the prosecuting garda.

Judge Finnegan initially ruled that the case should go ahead in the sergeant’s absence, as he was not listed as a prosecution witness. The defence should have called him as a witness in their own right if they thought he should be present, the judge added.

The court was told by Det Gda Collins that he saw Mr McCann calling Sergeant Fay a “f**king dirty looking tramp”, and that he saw Shauna McCann tell the sergeant he was a “dirty tramp” and “an embarrassment to your uniform”.

But after hearing evidence that included an assertion by Mr McCann that Sergeant Fay had approached him a week after the alleged incident to apologise and assure him there would be no summons issued against him (Frankie), the judge decided that it would be preferable if the case were to hear from the sergeant also.

The hearing had also been told by Niall Fox, solicitor, representing Shauna McCann, that it was in fact her sister, Shaunice McCann, who had uttered the remarks attributed to his client.

In deferring the case until February 11 next, Judge Finnegan said a lot of things were being said, including “some very serious allegations from both sides”. He said he was familiar with the background to the case, and that it was being adjourned to hear what Sgt Fay had to say, “in fairness to everybody”.

At Monaghan Circuit Court on May 30, 2025, Anthony McGinn (62) of Drumloo, Newbliss, Co Monaghan was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment for dangerous driving that caused the deaths of the two schoolgirls while he was bringing them from Clones to the Largy College debs ball in Monaghan Town.