Louth men sentenced after fight in middle of day stopped traffic
Two men who brought traffic to a standstill when a fight broke out on a busy Dundalk street, have been sentenced.
The incident occurred in the middle of the afternoon on a summer’s day and lasted for up to three minutes.
Thomas Toner (22), Crescent 2, Muirhevnamór, Dundalk, and Patrick Kelly (39), Glenmore Park, Muirhevnamór, Dundalk, each pleaded guilty to committing affray.
Mr Toner received an 18-month sentence, suspended for 18 months, while Mr Kelly was jailed for 9 months.
It was accepted by gardaí that they were not the main instigators on July 17, 2024, in Park Street, close to the junction with Earl Street.
Gda Shane McTeague testified that CCTV was obtained from three premises. It showed Mr Kelly and a co-accused exchanging words. Mr Toner became involved.
The three of them began fighting in the middle of Park Street, causing traffic to stop. There were a lot of other people about. None of the protagonists were injured.
Gda McTeague said the brawl lasted for two to three minutes, between 3.48 and 3.50pm.
The court heard that Patrick Kelly has 38 previous convictions, and was on bail at the time.
He was remorseful over what occurred and had not come to attention since.
Thomas Toner has seven previous convictions. He was intoxicated on the day.
Barrister Donough McDonough said that Mr Toner had shown genuine remorse. He grew up in his grandmother’s house and later cared for her.
He has dyslexia and ADHD for which he took cannabis to calm himself. He had self-referred to Turas Counselling Service.
The Probation Service assessed him at high risk of re-offending and recommended residential treatment.
Barrister Stephen Faulkner said that Patrick Kelly, a father of children, had moved to Drogheda to get away from anti-social peers. He was back living in Dundalk.
Judge Dara Hayes had remanded the defendants on the same bail terms to May 5.
On the adjourned date it was submitted on behalf of Thomas Toner that he had four negative drug screening results in the meantime.
The Probation Service was willing to supervise him after he followed their directions.
Judge Hayes said that this occurred in the middle of the town in the middle of July. It was an appalling way to behave and block traffic on one of the main thoroughfares.
The 18-month sentence was suspended to continiue the defendant’s work with services.
In respect of Patrick Kelly, the judge said he was concerned with his failure to address drug use.
Counsel said that he was recently back living in Glenmore Park, and on a methadone programme.
The judge said he had been offered four probation service appointments and attended two.
A report outlined that his father died in a car accident when the defendant was aged 11 and that he had prematurely lost four siblings. He admitted to smoking cannabis.
An 18-month sentence was handed down, the final nine months suspended.