Sligo father (42) jailed for one month after fighting in car-park during Old Fair Day in Tubbercurry
The Sligo ChampionA 42-year-old father of five has been jailed for a month after being involved in a fight in a car park on Old Fair Day in Tubbercurry.
Barry Downey of Joe McDonnell Drive, Cranmore, Sligo was charged with engaging in threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour at Supervalu, Tubbercurry on August 13, 2025. He was also charged with failing to appear at Tubbercurry District Court whilst on bail on September 24.
The defendant appeared via video link.
Sergeant David McDonagh told the court that at 4pm, gardaí were on duty on the Old Fair Day in Tubbercurry with large crowds when they noticed two people fighting at the car park of Supervalu.
Downey along with the other man were on the ground fighting each other. Gardaí interrupted the fight and restrained Downey. However, the defendant resisted and attempted to restart the fight.
The court heard that Downey had 33 previous convictions, of which eight were for engaging in threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour.
Mr Gerard McGovern, solicitor (defending), told Judge Éiteáin Cunningham that his client pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity. He added that Downey was the father of five children and that being in custody has caused great hardship for him.
Mr McGovern said that his client had a lot of alcohol on board on the day of the incident.
Judge Cunningham noted that Downey had eight previous convictions for the same offence and that he has spent a number of weeks in custody. She jailed him for one month and backdated it to May 18. The other charge was taken into consideration.
Article funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.