Clarification sought from DPP in assault on Laois pub owner case
Portlaoise Courthouse
were adjourned at Portlaoise District Court last week.
At the outset of the case, Garda Sgt Kirby said the director of public prosecutions (DPP) had directed that the case should be heard at district court level subject to the judge’s acceptance.
Judge Andrew Gubbins asked him to outline the allegations against the defendant Christopher Nevin (28), Green View, Mountmellick Road, Portlaoise.
Mr Nevin was summonsed to court for assault, violent disorder and for engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour at Maggie May’s, Market Square, Portlaoise on 17 March 2023.
Sgt Kirby said that the injured party informed gardaí that he had allegedly been threatened by the defendant after he had been asked to leave the premises.
He said that the defendant allegedly punched the injured party in the face, kicked him in the back and he had to hide behind a door to avoid being allegedly hit by a glass.
Sgt Kirby said that Mr Nevin allegedly “threatened to stick a broken glass in the injured party’s neck, but he didn’t do it.” He said that the defendant was in court for section 3 of the Public Order Act (assault causing harm), violent disorder and for engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour.
However, solicitor Philip Meagher disputed this and said that his client was summoned under section 2 of the Public Order Act (assault) and not for assault causing harm.
Sgt Kirby said he would need time to clarity this issue and asked Judge Gubbins to adjourn the case to allow him time to do so.
After hearing the allegations, Judge Gubbins asked Sgt Kirby to also clarify with the DPP whether it is still its instruction to prosecute the case at district court level.
He went on to adjourn the case to 5 October.
