Portlaoise Court: Large number of people in fight in Portlaoise
Portlaoise Courthouse
A MAN who was arrested after returning from England and who had been sought in relation to a major disturbance in Portlaoise six years ago, came before a recent sitting of Portlaoise District Court on public order offences.
Giving evidence of the incident that took place along Church Street in Portlaoise on 4 February 2018, Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby told Judge Deirdre Gearty that at 1.30am that morning a large group of people had been involved in a fight that lasted about 10 minutes.
He said people were: “Fighting, pushing, kicking and grappling with each other.” He said the defendant Joe Nevin from The Garden Village, Mountmellick Road, Portlaoise was seen on CCTV “heavily involved in the fight. He was seen squaring up to another man, giving as good as he got. Both were fighting across the street where they fell into a window and broke it. There were a large number of people involved, which was a very frightening experience.”
Sgt. Kirby said that Mr Nevin had 14 previous convictions, some in the UK, That included burglary, theft, public order, drugs and assault offences.
Defending solicitor Philip Meagher said that six years ago there had been an ongoing feud in the Portlaoise area for a couple of years.
“Thankfully,” said Mr Meagher, “that’s no longer the case. Garda liaison officers and mediators were involved.”
Regarding the incident six years ago, Mr Meagher said that his client was 19 years of age at the time and a younger member of a family who was involved in the feud.
“He admits now that he shouldn’t have got involved in the incident, but was under the influence of older people who were also involved in the incident.”
He said Mr Nevin had been held in custody over the incident since 29 August and was “getting on very well where he is now an enhanced prisoner.”
Judge Gearty said that the courts take a dim view of such feuds and “of people rolling around the streets and fighting with each other.”
She went on to convict Mr Nevin of public order offences and imposed a 10 month custodial sentence which she suspended for 18 months on a €250 bond and on condition that he remains of good behavior and keeps the peace.
Judge Gearty also approved free legal aid and fixed recognisance in the event the defendant wanted to appeal against her decision.
