Four men in court after row at Offaly nightclub

A ROW sparked by an incident at a nightclub in Birr resulted in four men coming before Tullamore District Court.

The dispute was between Hubert Doyle (25), Croghan Road, Birr and Brendan Doyle (24), Fairview, Birr on one side and Martin McDonagh (40), Esker, Banagher and Patrick McDonagh (31), Woodfield, Birr on the other.

All four pleaded guilty to offences connected with their involvement in the incident at Melba's nightclub and Emmet Square, Birr on June 25 last year.

Sergeant Richard Thornton outlined the actions of each defendant. He said that Martin McDonagh had been aggressive towards another man and when he attempted to strike that man he instead struck Garda Frawley on the head.

He said Patrick McDonagh had followed the Doyles outside and attempted to assault Hubert Doyle by kicking him.

Continuing, Sergeant Thornton said Hubert Doyle assaulted “PJ McDonagh” with a head butt in the face as he left Melba's night club and also kicked McDonagh in the head, causing him harm.

Brendan Doyle had engaged in violent behaviour and knocked Patrick McDonagh to the ground outside the nightclub.

The garda sergeant said Martin McDonagh had no previous convictions and Patrick McDonagh's only prior conviction was a seat belt offence.

Both Hubert Doyle and Brendan Doyle had previous convictions for violent disorder. Hubert Doyle had previously received a three-month suspended sentence and also had a conviction for assault, harming another person, plus a conviction under the Covid-19 regulations.

David Nugent, BL, defending Hubert and Brendan Doyle, said Hubert apologised to all parties and having gone out that night had too much to drink and he did not realise the extent of his intoxication.

Mr Nugent drew Judge Andrew Cody's attention to how the parties were all standing together now in the courtroom and there was no animus between them any more.

“Egos and intoxication got the better of them,” said Mr Nugent, adding that Hubert Doyle had since turned his life around and curtailed his drinking to the point where he did not really drink any more.

Judge Cody said that Hubert Doyle's case was the most serious because he had headbutted and kicked a man in the head.

In addition, he had previous convictions for assault and violent disorder. He imposed two concurrent three-month prison sentences for assault and affray and fixed recognisances for an appeal.

Speaking in relation to Brendan Doyle, Mr Nugent said he apologised for what he had done and both Doyles knew their behaviour was unacceptable. Brendan Doyle had brought €500 to court.

Defence counsel added: “They have suffered throughout their upbringing prejudice, and they know these type of matters don't help the community, never mind themselves.”

Judge Cody noted Brendan Doyle's previous conviction for violent disorder and imposed a three-month suspended sentence on him for affray, along with a fine of €500.

Patrick Martin, solicitor, entered pleas of guilty on behalf of Martin McDonagh and Patrick McDonagh.

Mr Martin said Martin McDonagh was a married father of five who was on disability himself. The solicitor said that on the night Pat McDonagh had been headbutted without cause and one of the other parties had come towards one of the McDonaghs again.

Martin McDonagh then came on the scene to try to protect his brother Pat McDonagh from two people.

Mr Martin said Martin McDonagh was a man who rarely went out and this had been a family occasion. Martin McDonagh rarely took a drink and apologised for what he had done.

Judge Cody imposed two concurrent three-month suspended sentences, one for obstructing a garda and another for assaulting a garda. He also fined him €500 for a breach of the peace.

Turning to Patrick McDonagh, Mr Martin said he had been out celebrating a birthday that night.

A married father of three, he had been assaulted initially and there had been no cause for it.

He said Patrick McDonagh was a man who rarely went out and had recovered from glandular cancer.

Furthermore, he had never been in trouble before apart from the seat belt conviction and what he had done that night was totally out of character.

Judge Cody fined him €500 for a breach of the peace. He was also convicted of affray and obstructing a garda and a three-month suspended sentence was imposed.