Wicklow brothers denied change of jurisdiction before pleading guilty to affray

By Darragh McCann, The Wicklow People

Two brothers who argued they could not receive a fair trial in Wicklow due to their surname, later plead guilty to an affray charge at Wicklow Circuit Court.

Michael and Larry Connors, both of no fixed abode, appeared before Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court for a pre-trial hearing seeking a change of jurisdiction to Dublin Circuit Court.

The siblings initially faced three charges, including violent disorder, causing serious harm, and threatening to kill or cause serious harm.

The court was told the brothers believed they would not receive a fair trial in County Wicklow due to their surname. Defence counsel said the Connors family is well known locally, particularly in the Kilcoole area, and has a large extended family involved in the local community.

Barrister for the defence, Gregory Murphy BL, told the court that the Connors surname carried “negative connotations” due to criminal proceedings involving members of the family over the past two decades in Wexford and surrounding counties.

Mr Murphy said the brothers believed a jury would speculate and be prejudicial towards them, adding that jurors may have formed a negative view due to what he described as “family links to criminality”.

The court heard the Connors family name had featured in numerous local media reports over the years. Mr Murphy referred to “a long list of articles”, and a file of recent media coverage was handed to Judge Patrick Quinn.

Defence counsel argued the brothers would benefit from a trial in a wider jurisdiction where their surname would not be “tarnished”.

The prosecution opposed the application, arguing that any surname could potentially give rise to prejudice. Counsel for the prosecution, James Kelly BL, said the jury would be properly warned to decide the case solely on the evidence presented by witnesses and counsel.

Judge Patrick Quinn refused the defence application and sent both men forward for trial.

In a separate sitting on January 20, the court heard that full disclosure had not been received by defence counsel until Sunday, January 18.

The brothers were then arraigned and pleaded guilty to one count of affray on an amended indictment. The court was told both men admitted that on September 6, 2019, in Dunlavin, County Wicklow, they committed affray.

Judge Quinn dismissed the jury, telling them “It’s the same result as if you stayed for all of next week and brought in a verdict of guilt. Adding “Some of you might be unhappy, some of you might do the lotto.”

Both men remain on remand and will be sentenced on Tuesday, January 27.