FIVE MEN were brought before a special court sitting in Limerick yesterday in connection with a fight during a Traveller christening party at a hotel.
Gardaí, who arrested the men in the early hours of yesterday at the Rathkeale House Hotel, told the court “men and women were fighting, left and right”.
Stephen Daly (23), of Sharwood Estate, Newcastle West, Co Limerick, appeared on four charges at Limerick District Court.
It is alleged that he carried a Stanley knife in order to cause injury at the hotel on Saturday night.
He is also charged with engaging in or using threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour with an intent to provoke a breach of the peace at the Co Limerick hotel; and with failing to comply with a Garda order to move on from the area.
The court heard that he is also accused of being drunk and a danger to himself and others at the hotel.
Co-accused Thomas Keenan (24), of Meelagh View, Mahon, Co Cork, is accused of being intoxicated and a danger to himself and others at the hotel on Saturday night.
He is also charged with failing to comply with a Garda order; engaging in or using threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour or words; and with producing a hurley in a manner likely to intimidate another person.
Trevor Wall (22), of Chestnut Gardens, Newcastle West, Co Limerick; Daniel O’Brien (19), of Stratton Pines, Bishopstown, Co Cork; and Colm Folan (19), of The Willows, Ballincollig, Co Cork, are charged with being drunk and a danger to themselves and others; of failing to obey gardaí; and of engaging in or using threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour or words.
Garda Erroll Tuohy of Newcastle West Garda station gave evidence. “It was a free-for-all. Everyone was lashing out,” he told the court.
Mr Daly was refused bail and was remanded in custody to appear at Listowel District Court, Co Kerry, on March 27th.
Mr Keenan, Mr Wall, Mr O’Brien and Mr Folan, were all remanded on a €500 bail bond to appear at Newcastle West District Court on April 10th.
The four men were ordered to stay out of Newcastle West unless they had legitimate business in the town.
They were told to obey a curfew; not interfere with witnesses in the case; and to sign on daily at their local Garda stations.