Louth student was topless and carried stick during town centre disturbance
Dundalk Circuit Court has heard how a sunny summer’s evening was disturbed by two men fighting around the town centre, at one point bringing traffic to a standstill as they went at it in the middle of the street.
One of the men, Cian Woods (32), Bigstown, Ardee, Co. Louth, was before Judge Dara Hayes for sentencing having pleaded guilty to a charge of affray.
He carried a piece of timber during an incident which began at 7pm on July 24, 2024, and lasted for around 10 minutes. A co-accused had pulled a branch from a tree at Dundalk’s Market Square.
The court was told that his individual has also pleaded guilty.
It was stated on Mr Woods’ behalf that he has a Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science Degree from DkIT and is studying in Dublin for a Masters.
An analysis of CCTV showed that the row began when Cian Woods appeared in Market Square, from the Longwalk Shopping Centre side, topless and carrying a piece of timber.
The other man was on a bench. They got into an altercation which continued across the Square and into Earl Street where the defendant threw the stick down a basement staircase.
The men "got into a boxing match" in the middle of Park Street causing traffic to stop. The fight continued in Earl Street. Mr Woods retrieved the stick and "reengaged with the co-accused".
Gda Richard Moloney said the incident was watched developing from the garda station on CCTV.
When he and a colleague arrived he saw Cian Woods at Market Square before he took off running towards Clanbrassil Street and went into the Uisce Beatha pub on the corner with Market Street.
Gda Moloney said he waited outside the front door of the pub and called for assistance while the other officer went to the side entrance.
The defendant emerged from the front of the nail shop next door. He still had no top on. He ran off towards the Square, the court heard, Gda Moloney in pursuit. He stopped and lay down on the ground outside the Ulster Bank when asked.
At that stage he was no longer armed. He appeared intoxicated, became aggressive and was arrested.
Details were given of 39 previous convictions, among them assault, production of an article in the course of a dispute, possession of knives, burglary, criminal damage and possession of drugs.
Cross-examined by barrister Ronan O'Carroll, Gda Moloney said he became aware that the defendant had been assaulted. The other man had pulled a branch from a tree, followed Mr Woods and threw a drink over him.
Counsel said that rather than report the assault, his client took matters into his own hands and did himself no favours.
A probation officer assessed him at high risk of reoffending. Risk factors included problems with emotion regulation and a history of reacting violently on occasion, inappropriately on others and in this case in an "ugly fashion".
However, Mr O’Carroll submitted that the defendant had made great strides. He did anger management courses but these ceased because of the cost.
He instructed that he was drug-free having not smoked cannabis in a number of years, while alcohol intake was virtually nil.
Mr Woods was focussed on his education and "quite good academically". He was eager to find work.
He lived with his mother who was present in court. His father had passed away. He helped around the home, was willing to take on any type of work and trying to obtain a full driving licence.
The accused no longer hung around with anti-social peers and worked on an uncle’s potato farm once a week.
The court was told that the probation officer had reported that as a holder of two Science degrees, the defendant's erratic behaviour was difficult to comprehend in that context.
Cian Woods was remanded on continuing bail to June 3 to allow him complete Level 8 exams in Tallaght TU next month.