VETERAN Donegal politician and hotelier Sean McEniff is in an induced coma in hospital following an accident on holiday, a court heard yesterday.
The news emerged at a sitting of Ballyshannon district court when the Bundoran man was due to give evidence for the prosecution in an assault case dating back to 2014.
It was reported last night that his condition in the Canary Islands is not life-threatening but he is unlikely to be able to return home for at least a month.
As a member of Donegal county council for the past 49 years, Mr McEniff - who is in his eighties - is one of Ireland's longest serving politicians.
A brother of All-Ireland winning manager Brian McEniff, he owns major hotels in Bundoran, Letterkenny and Dublin.
Sean McEniff was the focus of attention earlier this year when he released a statement denying trying to influence a Garda investigation into the disappearance of schoolgirl Mary Boyle.
The six-year-old has been missing, believed murdered, since 1977.
A YouTube documentary claimed gardai came under political pressure from an unnamed politician not to question a suspect in the case.
Mr McEniff issued a statement “emphatically and unconditionally” denying he was the politician.
Judge Paul Kelly was informed of Sean McEniff’s condition yesterday as his solicitor, John Murray, submitted documentation from the hospital confirming he was in intensive care.
Mr Murray said he was asked to attend the court by Mr McEniff’s family.
Judge Kelly adjourned the case until December 9 for an update on his health.
