One of the men charged with violent disorder arising out of the Dalton Park riot was escorted shouting from a courtroom and had his bail revoked.
Christy Nevin (24 ) of 33, Abbeylands, Mullingar had to be restrained and removed from Longford District Court by a number of officers as he called Judge John Neilan a bastard and “dirty four-eyed pig”.
He was responding to the judge’s decision to grant him bail only on his own surety of €100,000. Mr Nevin became aggressive, shouting “If I murdered somebody €100,000 wouldn’t be put on my bail. €100,000 my arse”.
As he was led away, the judge commented that he was “clearly concerned about his cash.”
“A six figure balance”, believed to be in the region of €125,000, was indicated on a memorandum of account from Mullingar Credit Union which was found on Mr Nevin’s person when he was arrested last Tuesday for allegedly breaking bail conditions imposed at Mullingar District Court just two weeks before.
He was one of the 46 men arrested during a highly co-ordinated, pre-dawn Garda raid and charged in connection with last summer’s Dalton Park riot. He was granted bail and two of the conditions were that he maintain a sober and industrious life and observe a curfew between 8pm and 8am.
When brought before Athlone District Court on the breach of bail charges last Wednesday “clearly still suffering the effects of intoxication,” Judge Neilan ordered that the Credit Union account be immediately frozen.
Mr Nevin had been found in a drunken state in the middle of a road between 11pm and 12 midnight the night before. He was remanded in custody to appear before Longford District Court yesterday (February 25 ).
Solicitor Mr John Quinn, representing Mr Nevin in Longford told the court he had acted for him in a recent civil action and his client was celebrating the settlement when arrested.
He said Mr Nevin had been compensated for injuries sustained when he rescued his sister-in-law as her caravan became a ‘fire-ball’ when a new heating appliance was supplied filled with petrol instead of kerosene.
Judge Neilan commended Mr Nevin for his efforts but said he had applied for legal aid “knowing well” about the settlement.
However he added it was a matter for the DPP to address whether Mr Nevin had given false or misleading information to the court when making the application.
The judge insisted that he still had to deal with “the festering sores” between different communities in Mullingar.
“It is likely that any one of them breaking their bail will bring about a very difficult situation for the public at large and for the Gardaí who try to deal with the issue on the ground.”
The €100,000 surety would “chasten” Mr Nevin to comply with his bail in future.
“I accept it’s an exceptional figure but I’m dealing with exceptional circumstances,” he said.
The judge ordered the immediate arrest of Mr Nevin’s wife when she jumped forward and attempted to speak with him during the hearing when the €100,000 surety was proposed. She was later released without charge.
Judge Nielan accused Mr Nevin of treating the court, his bail and the Gardaí with contempt and remanded him in custody to appear before Mullingar District Court on Thursday.
