A bar brawl, described in court as like something from the Wild West, landed a 33-year-old Bofeenaun man before Judge Mary Devins this week in Castlebar.
Paul Walsh, Derryfadda, Boofeenaun, pleaded guilty in the district court to committing an alcohol fuelled assault against the owner of the Harp Bar on Rush Street, Castlebar, on November 23 last.
The injured party, Kevin Ruane, who sustained a bad blow to the ear on the date, said Mr Walsh burst into his pub at 5pm on what had been an otherwise peaceful afternoon and suddenly, stools, glasses, and bottles started to fly.
“There was glass everywhere,” he said. “It was like the Wild West.”
In mitigation, defence solicitor Pat Moran said his client went to the bar because he was ‘wound up’ over a previous incident on October 15, when he was forcibly removed from the pub.
Mr Moran said his client, who has no previous convictions, acknowledges he drinks too much and he was “remorseful” and “embarrassed” about the incident.
“This sort of drinking and fighting nonsense baffles me,” said Judge Devins. “It is simply not acceptable.”
The judge adjourned sentencing so Mr Walsh could address compensation and satisfy the court that he was also addressing his drinking.
