Three people who were involved in a fracas where 20 to 30 people gathered in the middle of a road in Castlebar as a fight progressed, which led to an ambulance being stopped in its journey, had their cases heard at this week’s sitting of Castlebar District Court.
Stephen Conway, 20 Springfield Court, Castlebar, pleaded guilty to a section two assault charge, while Alan Dunne, Ennismore House, Blackfort, Castlebar, and Cherise Thackery, 56 Garryduff Drive, Castlebar, were before court on public order charges.
The court head that an altercation took place on Bridge Street, Castlebar, on June 7 2010 at 9.55pm where a large crowd gathered around Conway and another male who were involved in a brawl. CCTV of the incident was later viewed by Garda Caoimhe Walsh which showed that Conway had assaulted another male as they rolled around on the ground.
According to solicitor James Ward, Conway was defending himself from the other man who had a blade in his hand. Mr Ward said that there has been a long history between the other man and Conway, whereby Conway has been terrorised by him. The 24-year-old, who has no previous convictions, and who is now working in the UK, was given the Probation Act by Judge Mary Devins.
CCTV footage also showed Dunne, who is a friend of Conway, tried to prevent other people from breaking up the fight and Dunne was also observed to push another person. Thackery, a 23-year-old single mother of two, was observed on CCTV to try kick people out of the way. Both these defendants, who have no previous convictions, were given the Probation Act.
