Seven man were before Ballina District Court this week following a bar brawl in Crossmolina which took place in April 2009.
Four of the men: Clement Cuffe, Raymond Cuffe, Francis Cuffe, and John Doherty (all of Enaghbeg, Crossmolina ) pleaded guilty to charges brought against them, while David McNulty, 13 Chapel View, Crossmolina, James Munnelly, Rathbane, Crossmolina, and Brendan Hughes, Carrowkileen, Crossmolina, contested the assault and violent disorder charges.
On Saturday April 25 2009 at 1.45am a fight broke out in Sticks Bar, Crossmolina, where a number of men were assaulted — one of the men with a bar stool.
Martina Granahan outlined to the court that when she was at the bar Munnelly called her a “fat bitch” and Hughes said to her to “pay the man for the drink”. Ms Granahan said that she became upset and told her boyfriend Francis Cuffe about the incident. Francis and Raymond Cuffe along with Doherty approached Hughes and Munnelly to ask what was said. According to Ms Granahan, Hughes punched Doherty to the back of the head and Francis Cuffe punched Hughes. She added that McNulty hit Raymond Cuffe and she observed McNulty grab a bottle from the bar. Clement Cuffe then hit McNulty with a stool. The incident was over in a matter of minutes.
The lessee of the bar, Morgan O’Malley, said that he saw Francis Cuffe punch Hughes, he saw McNulty and Raymond Cuffe fighting, he saw Clement Cuffe grab a stool and smash it against a wall, and then saw Clement Cuffe hit McNulty with a stool.
Bar worker Claire Hopkins observed Ms Granahan crying, she head Francis Cuffe say to Hughes “what the f**k did you say to my girlfriend?” before she observed Francis Cuffe hit Hughes. Ms Hopkins also observed Clement Cuffe hit a stool against a wall.
Raymond Cuffe told the court that he saw Hughes hit Doherty, he admitted that he punched McNulty after he was hit by him, and he saw McNulty grab a bottle before McNulty was hit over the head with a stool by Clement Cuffe.
Francis Cuffe said that he saw Hughes hit Doherty and then he hit Hughes. He also observed McNulty pick up a bottle from the bar.
Solicitor for the defendants who contested the charges, John Gordon, said that McNulty never had a bottle in his hand and that this “was made up to justify the aggressive attitude”.
Hughes told the court that he never said anything to Ms Granahan. The defendant said that he was caught by the collar of his jacket by Francis Cuffe and was belted on the side of his head. He told the court that he did not assault Doherty, who must have been struck by the stool.
McNulty said that after he was struck by Raymond Cuffe he retaliated and hit him back. McNulty was then hit over the head with the stool.
Munnelly said that no one said anything to Ms Granahan and he denied assaulting anyone.
Judge Mary Devins adjourned the case for a decision and to sentence for the pleas to Ballina District Court on April 27.
