Evidence has concluded in the trial of five Limerick men who deny a charge of violent disorder following a row outside a fast-food restaurant.
On the final day of evidence in the trial, now in its third week at Limerick Circuit Court, Mr Owen Treacy was called as a witness for the defence.
Mr Patrick McCarthy (21), of College Avenue, Moyross; Mr Kieran Ryan (20), of Pineview Gardens, Moyross; Mr David McCarthy, (26) of O'Callaghan Avenue, Kileely; Mr Edward McCarthy (23), of O'Callaghan Avenue, Kileely; and Mr David Sheehan (19), of Cliona Park, Moyross, have all denied a charge of violent disorder outside Supermac's on the Ennis Road, on May 27th, 2003.
Giving evidence yesterday, Mr Owen Treacy said the only reason that he was in a Volvo car outside Supermacs with three other men was that he was concerned for the welfare of a young relative who was near the restaurant.
Earlier in the trial, the jury heard that the backseat passengers in the car, Anthony Keane and Philip Collopy, were armed with a golf-club and a steering lock respectively.
Mr Treacy conceded he did not play golf but denied he had any other motive for being in the car than concern for his relative.He insisted that the only topic of conversation in the car was the safety of his young relative. "We were just saying that we hoped the child was alright," said Mr Treacy.
In his closing address to the jury, counsel for the prosecution, Mr John O'Sullivan, said the jury had been shown video footage from security cameras, which gardaí said in evidence, had identified all five named accused threatening violence and using violence.
Mr Patrick McCarthy and Mr David McCarthy were identified on footage holding baby chairs; Mr Kieran Ryan was holding a brush; Mr Edward McCarthy was identified on the footage wielding a "Warning - Wet Floor" sign, and Mr David Sheehan was holding a pool cue, Mr O'Sullivan told the jury.
He said the five were not acting in self-defence but had picked up improvised weapons and set off to attack men named as Mr Sheehy and Mr Collopy.
Earlier in the trial, Det Sgt Eamon O'Neill gave evidence that the footage showed all five going in the direction of two men who got out of a silver-coloured van and became embroiled in what he described as a "pitched battle".
During the second week of the trial, four other men who had initially denied charges in connection with the same incident changed their pleas to guilty.
Anthony Keane (41), of St Munchin's Street, St Mary's Park, pleaded guilty to possession of a golf club with intent to cause injury while Philip Collopy (24), of St Ita's Street, St Mary's Park, pleaded guilty to possession of a steering lock with intent to cause injury. Declan Sheehy (37), of St Brendan's Street, St Mary's Park, and Ray Collopy (34), of St Ita's Street, pleaded guilty to violent disorder. They have yet to be sentenced.
The jury is expected to retire today to consider its verdict on the remaining five accused.