Unnamed third man acquitted of violent disorder

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

An unnamed third man was acquitted of violent disorder by a jury following a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The proceedings were reported on 2 February 2015. The case concerned an incident at Morrissey's Pub, Cork Street, on 7 January 2013.

Garda Seamus O’Donovan said CCTV showed a third man approaching the victim and putting his arm around his neck. He said the victim stood up to this man before Frederick Thompson and Anthony Harte joined them. The report also described footage showing the third man pulling the victim to the ground.

Frederick Thompson pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a 20-month prison sentence, backdated to 23 May 2014, when Thompson was first remanded in custody.

Michael O’Higgins SC, defending Thompson, asked the judge to accept that nobody was seriously injured. He said the incident began with slagging to which his client reacted unacceptably. Garda Seamus O’Donovan agreed that Thompson’s solicitor had offered his co-operation and confirmed that Thompson consented to extradition and that his plea was valuable to the prosecution.

Anthony Harte also pleaded guilty to violent disorder. Judge Mary Ellen Ring had previously given him 220 hours of community service in lieu of a two-year prison term.