A Garda Inspector told Mullingar Court that incidents related to the riot which occurred in the town in July are occurring on a daily basis, adding that he fears for the safety of members of the families involved and members of the public.
Inspector Jarlath Folan was speaking at a bail hearing for a number of defendants connected to the riot. He opposed bail in the case of David Nevin (24 ), Ardilaun Heights, Mullingar, on three grounds – the seriousness of the charge; the fact that the matter will be tried on indictment; and because Gardai fear that further incidents will be committed.
He and three other defendants are charged with committing violent disorder, in that he, with other persons, used or threatened to use unlawful violence and such conduct, taken together, was such as would cause a person of reasonable firmness to fear for his or another person's safety at Dalton Park on October 15, 2006. Inspector Folan added that a considerable amount of time and Garda resources have been committed to the investigation, with efforts at mediation attempted by the Gardai proving unsuccessful.
He added that a considerable number of incidents have occurred in Mullingar since the 2006 incident, commenting that on the night prior to the court 30 members of one family and eight of another were involved in an incident. Mr John Quinn, solicitor, rejected his client was involved in any activities. He said that it was nothing to do with David Nevin, adding that he objected to the looseness of any allegations by the Inspector. Mr Quinn remarked that procedures were not being complied with by the State.
Judge John Neilan said that there seemed to be an urgency about the application to oppose bail, which was not reflected in the actions of the DPP over the last two years. Garda Hannan told the court that he is investigating an incident at Valley Bungalows which occurred on September 22, where criminal damage was caused to a house. There were allegations against the defendant in this regard. The DPP indicated that he be tried on indictment at Mullingar Court on October 11.
Sergeant Roger Nicholson told the court he investigated an incident at Dalton Park on July 29, where the defendant was one of the participants in the incident. He added that the file which was quite substantial is almost complete. “It is like a volcano, no sooner has one side of the volcano been contained than it erupts in another part of the landscape,” Judge Neilan noted. Sgt Nicholson told the court that it is beginning to erupt again, with a lot of people who are not involved in the situation now becoming involved in it.
The judge asked if there was any suggestion that the court having “removed any number of foot soliders out of the equation”, the next generation are carrying on the grievance and the “torch of the contest is being passed within the community to continue”. The witness said that in some instances it was brother against sister, adding that “by and large, there is not a lot of sense to it”. Mr John Quinn, solicitor, told the court that other parties to the July incident were out on bail with strict bail conditions. He said that Sergeant Nicholson had known about the 2006 charge, but had not opposed bail.
Judge Neilan noted, “There seems to be an intent in respect of all these families to continue feuding over the most trivial of issues, without any regard for public safety and welfare. It seems to be the main focus of these particular families who have nothing else to do.” The judge continued, “The tragic reality of this is someone's house is going to be torched some night and four or five people will be burned to death or a car will be hijacked and its occupants will be butchered to pieces. It would appear to me that these people have absolutely nothing to do in life but engage in this conduct.”
Judge Neilan fixed bail in the case of David Nevin on his own surety of €300 (self ) and an independent surety of €1,200. Conditions of his bail are that he reside at the address identified in the proceedings, that he is barred from all licensed premises in the State, that he abide by a curfew from 8 pm till 8 am, that he not associate with any co-defendants in the proceedings, that he is prohibited from entering Dalton Park, Ennell Court, and Grange Crescent, that he sign on at Mullingar Garda Station twice weekly on Mondays and Saturday between 9am and 6pm, that he not gather in a public place in groups of two or more people and that he lead a sober and industrious life.
Bail was granted on similar terms in the case of Thomas Nevin (23 ), 32 Ardilaun Heights, Mullingar; James Nevin (26 ), 174 Dalton Park, Mullingar; David Nevin (51 ), 31 Grange Crescent, Mullingar; and in the case of another man where Judge Neilan made an order prohibiting the use of his address.
