'I felt I would never see my son and family ever again,' says victim of alleged pub row in the Midlands
A court has heard how a man thought he would never see his family again after allegedly being targeted in a violent attack inside a north Longford pub over four years ago.
John Baxter (27), a part time farmer from Kilcogy, Co Cavan sustained injuries to his head and upper body during an incident at Kane’s Bar, Main Street, Granard, Co Longford on October 7, 2018.
Edward ‘Blondie’ Stokes (32) of Ferriskill, Granard has pleaded not guilty to charges of violent disorder, the production of an article capable of inflicting serious injury, endangerment and affray.
Mr Baxter, in a statement given to gardaí less than 24 hours after the alleged incident said he had been drinking in Kane’s pub from around midday.
At around 1:30pm, the court heard how Mr Baxter was allegedly set upon by two men, one of which included the accused Edward ‘Blondie’ Stokes.
“The first I knew there was trouble I saw Sonny Edward Stokes coming into the bar,” he said. “He said to me: ‘Come on John, come on out’.
“He (Sonny Edward Stokes) pointed to the front door. He put his hand on me and I pushed it back. He then punched me into the jaw with his left first and punched me again.”
Video footage of the near three minute incident was played to the jury before a sitting of Longford Circuit Criminal Court today which showed Mr Baxter picking up a stool to defend himself as two men reigned down a series of blows on the Cavan man.
Mr Baxter, in his statement, said he punched Sonny Edward Stokes at least once before the latter allegedly told him: “I will kill you, I will kill you.”
Mr Baxter said due to Mr Stokes’ advancing years, he told him to to bring his son, Edward to the bar to fight instead.
He said that resulted in him being attacked for a second time, something which forced him to retaliate by launching punches of his own.
“If I didn’t stand up for myself he was going to pound me like a side of beef,” the court via Mr Baxter’s statement.
He told gardaí Mr Stokes’ grandson Noel Hanlon Jnr then arrived into the pub and struck him across the head with a wooden bat before Mr Stokes grabbed the implement and continued to swing it at Mr Baxter’s head and upper body.
The pair, he said exited the pub seconds later, before Mr Stokes and the accused entered armed with weapons.
“I was looking down at the floor with my hand on my head when I heard the front door opening,” he said.
“I looked up and received a blow to the head. As I was falling I saw Sonny Edward Stokes and Blondie Edward Stokes. Blondie had a pick handle and Sonny had the battle. I felt really dizzy and as I fell, I pulled the table over on top of myself.”
Mr Baxter said as he desperately tried to fend off his alleged attackers, he saw his life flash before him.
“As I was being beaten I felt I would never see my son and family ever again,” he said, adding how both men continued to beat him while he lay defenceless on the ground.
In the witness box, however, Mr Baxter told defence counsel Barry White SC, he could not positively identify Edward ‘Blondie’ Stokes as one of his alleged assailants.
He said he had been drinking for the entire week running up to the alleged incident and despite having made an initial statement of complaint, his efforts to retract it came up short.
“My memory has like pictures and glimpses of it,” he said.
“I was second guessing the whole time and couldn’t be 100 per cent sure.”
Mr Baxter subsequently filed an affidavit to a Kildare law firm in September 2019.
In that sworn document, he stated he couldn’t “confirm categorically” the alleged suspects identified by him in his initial garda statement were those responsible for the attack on him.
The trial continues tomorrow before Judge Kenneth Connolly.
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