Judge brands daylight road fight ‘frightening experience’ as Wicklow man faces jail or community service
The Wicklow PeopleA judge has slammed a bare-knuckle fight on a busy road in Wicklow as a “frightening experience”, as she sentenced one of the men involved to prison, but gave time for a community service report to be delivered before he is taken into custody.
Clive McKenna (34), with an address in Oldcourt, Bray, County Wicklow, appeared before Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court and pleaded guilty to one count contrary to Section 6 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994.
Detective Sergeant Ger Brennan told the court that on June 20, 2025, gardaí became aware of a fight on the Boghall Road, but after dispatching a patrol vehicle to the scene, no fight was taking place.
Several days later, Sgt Brennan received a video from social media showing a fight between the accused and James Moorehouse, who also pleaded guilty for his role but failed to appear for sentencing.
The court was told that Mr McKenna and Mr Moorehouse could be seen “stripped to the waist and fighting”, while onlookers cheered them on. CCTV footage was also obtained from the scene.
Both men were later detained, with Sgt Brennan telling the court that they gave different reasons for the organised fight, including that Mr Moorehouse had “shown disrespect at Mr McKenna’s brother’s funeral” and that Mr McKenna’s brother had been in a relationship with a relative of Mr Moorehouse.
The court heard the fight was organised in nature, or what is known locally as a “straightener”.
Counsel for the prosecution, James Kelly, told the court that the organised bare-knuckle fight caused a large traffic jam.
Mr McKenna has nine previous convictions, with his most recent being in 2022 for assault, for which he received a suspended sentence.
During cross-examination, defence barrister Justin McQuade said Mr McKenna was “asked out for a straightener” and that both men were encouraged by family members.
Mr McQuade added that Mr McKenna told gardaí that the “trouble has been squashed”.
In mitigation, the court heard that Mr McKenna is not a suitable candidate for bare-knuckle fighting due to a long family history of brain aneurysms.
“It beggars belief that he would take the risk of a blow to the head during an arranged fight,” said Mr McQuade.
He also noted that Mr McKenna suffers from OCD.
In her judgment, Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin remarked that a fight in broad daylight with children present is a “frightening experience”.
She sentenced Mr McKenna to one month’s imprisonment, but adjourned the matter for a community service report, in lieu of the prison sentence, if he is deemed a suitable candidate.
The accused is due back before Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court on June 3.