St Patrick's Day feud – 14 men remanded on bail
A DPP decision to send 14 Nevins and Joyces forward for trial in the circuit court for violent disorder has been questioned by Judge Seamus Hughes.
Speaking at Mullingar District Court he said that it would cost the state, he reckoned, €200,000 to try these men and it would be “a gravy train for solicitors and barristers”.
Judge Hughes said he was surprised the DPP had not allowed that those wishing to plead guilty could be dealt with in the district court which would save time and money.
He stressed that he was not criticising the DPP, but asked that the matter be reflected upon.
Judge Hughes also described as “an absolute joke” how the 14 men could come up with €500 cash each within hours of being arrested, but not one of them could afford to pay their solicitor.
The defendants who were from Mullingar, Moate, Athlone and Edgeworthstown, were charged with violent disorder at The Stillery Bar, Dominick Street, Mullingar, last St Patrick’s night.
Inspector Jarlath Folan said 18 gardaí had been deployed to quell a large scale feud which broke out between the Nevins and Joyces at The Stillery on March 17 last.
He said that mayhem met the gardaí when they arrived, with broken glass strewn across the floor and furniture upturned.
Officers were drafted in from other areas and from special units. One Garda, James Hanley, sustained an eye injury, but has made a full recovery, he added.
He said the DPP had directed that the matter proceed by indictment and he asked for an adjournment to March 10 next for preparation of Books of Evidence.
The men were remanded on bail with conditions attached, including a curfew and refraining from gathering in groups of three or more. Legal aid was granted to each of them.
Before the court were: John Joe Nevin (dob 21/11/84), 33 Abbeylands, Mullingar; John Nevin (4/2/1969), 4 Columb Drive, Mullingar; Daniel Nevin (26/5/1988), Bay 5, St Michael’s Halting Site, Mullingar; John Nevin (12/11/1983), Bay 1, St Michael’s Halting Site, Mullingar; Daniel Nevin (16/2/1991), 105 Ardleigh Vale, Mullingar; John Nevin (16/5/1984), 35 Grange Crescent, Mullingar; Mike Nevin (20/12/1997), Kilsallagh, Edgeworthstown; Hugh Nevin (16/2/1986), 114 Ashfield, Mullingar.
John Joyce (10/1/1975), 40 Ard Grainne, Moate; Joe Joyce (1/6/1990), 42 Ard Grainne, Moate; David Joyce (13/2/1980), Hazelwood, Coosan, Athlone; David Joyce (24/6/1987), 38 Ard Grainne, Moate; David Joyce (22/2/1979), Farnagh, Moate; and John Joe Joyce (2/1/1989), Farnagh, Moate.
The Joyces were all represented by Mark Cooney, solicitor, while Louis Kiernan and Trish Cronin, solicitors, acted for the Nevins.