Five men have appeared before Monaghan Circuit Court today in relation to a violent disorder that took place in Monaghan Town.
The incident that involved at least 10 men occurred outside McConnon’s Londis in Monaghan Town on April of 2024.
All five appeared this afternoon at Monaghan Circuit Court in relation to this incident that lasted for 2 minutes at Old Cross Square almost two years ago.
They were 29 year old Gary O' Leary with an address at 30 Glenview Drive, Monaghan. 30 year old Daniel O’ Leary with an address at 58 Woodview, Killygowan, Monaghan. 26 year old William Willow McQuaid with an address at Bay 4 Gortakeegan, Monaghan. 23 year old Joshua Clerkin with an address at 65 Mullaghamatt, Monaghan and 33 year old John McDonald with an address at 60 Mullaghmatt, Monaghan Town.
All five have been charged with violent disorder contrary to Section 15 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, 1994. The charge they face is relation to the 9th day of April 2024 were at Old Cross Square, Monaghan, commit violent disorder. Used or threatened to use unlawful violence and such conduct, taken together, was such as would cause a person of reasonable firmness present at said place to fear for his or another person's safety.
All five before the courts today pleaded guilty at a previous date to the incident that occurred after 9.4pm on the night of April 9th 2024.
CCTV footage was shown to the court in a case that was before Judge John Alymer and lasted around 90 minutes to be heard. A number of men can be seen in the footage with a number of them never being identified.
Boxing, stomping, kicking and pushing by number of individuals can be witnessed in the footage that was before the court.
One of the accused attended Cavan General Hospital in the days after the altercation with a mild headache and soft tissue problems. The court was told that Daniel O’Leary has no previous convictions, Willian Willow McQuaid has 21 previous convictions, Gary O’Leary has 56 previous convictions, Joshua Clerkin has 17 previous convictions and John McDonald has 91 previous convictions.
All 4 who has had previous convictions are mainly centred around public order incidents. Judge John Alymer was told that the incident began as a verbal disagreement and then things turned in a physical altercation.
Garda Mooney who attended the scene that night told court that no one at the time wanted to make a complaint. In mitigating factors to the court, it was heard that alcohol was the main route of the problem.
The court was told that Joshua Clerkin had no convictions since 2021 and that the 23 year old had in 2024 lost his younger brother and girlfriend in tragic circumstances within a few days of each other. The court head how the loss of both his brother and girlfriend has had a huge impact on him, especially with his mental health and struggling to sleep. The court was told of his remorse, he said his actions was extremely foolish. His barrister outlined to the court that he arrived while the altercation was underway and that he left very quickly before the incident had ended.
In relation to John McDonald, the court was told of his shame in relation to the incident and how he and his family were appalled by his actions. Mr McDonald lost his mother at the age of 7 and his dad at 20 years of age and that it was unfortunate the path that he had decided to follow. His barrister said there was one thing that John has excelled in and that was darts, adding that he was a Monaghan champion and described him as the Luke Littler of Monaghan.
The court was told that Daniel O’Leary accepts he threw the first punch and he has never came to the attention of the Gardai before and that he was a father of three. The court heard he is not in employment but a very committed father at home. He says he is very remorseful for his action on that night in question.
Gary O’Leary took a number of blows to the body and to the head during the altercation and his barrister described the incident as a fracas, adding that Gary has had a tough upbringing and said the accused had not worked in a decade.
While the court heard William Willow McQuaid was a father of one and that he was also very remorseful for his involvement on the evening of April 9th 2024.
Judge Alymer was told it’s a charge that has a maximum of 10 years and he said he would allow for sentencing in this case to take place on April 14th before Monaghan Circuit Court.
