Five men involved in the bitter Limerick feud have been jailed for fighting outside the city's courthouse. A judge at Limerick District Court also dismissed another case against two of the five men, who had been charged with wearing bullet-proof vests outside the court.
Gardaí told the court the men had been wearing the bullet-proof vests because they were "part of a large criminal group and were enforcers or foot soldiers for a criminal gang on the north side of the city".
In court yesterday, Judge Tom O'Donnell said he was certain that a number of people had been determined to cause trouble at last Monday's sitting.
Up to 15 people were embroiled in a fracas between connections of the Ryan family and members of a gang connected to another northside Limerick family.
Seven men were arrested.
One of the men, Mr John Ryan, was later released on bail while another of the men, Michael Stanners, received a suspended jail sentence. All five accused men appeared on public order charges while two of the five were also charged with wearing bullet-proof jackets.
"We are dealing with an extremely serious and dangerous situation," Judge O'Donnell told the packed District Court.
He heard that Noel Woodland (38), with an address at Lee Estate, had 13 previous convictions including public order, drugs and larceny offences.
His brother, Kenneth Woodland (23), Canon Breen Park, had no previous convictions and was the father of a three week-old baby and a four year-old child.
The brothers were each sentenced to two months in prison and the judge ordered that in the event of an appeal, an independent surety should be provided.
The court also heard that John Humphries (30), Keane Street, Kileely, had become involved in last Monday's brawl outside the court with people connected to the Ryan family.
Defence counsel conceded that Humphries "had struck a blow" but said there had been "taunts and goading on both sides involved in the row".
Judge O'Donnell sentenced Humphries to two months in prison.
At a later court sitting, the judge dealt with the case of first cousins Declan Sheehy and Daniel Sheehy. Both men faced two charges under the Public Order Act and a separate charge of wearing bullet-proof jackets under the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act.
The court was told that Daniel Sheehy (24), St Munchin's Street, was an unemployed father of one child and had a previous conviction for drugs offences. It also heard that Declan Sheehy (36), St Mary's Park, a father of two children, also had previous convictions including for public order offences and aggravated burglary.
Both men pleaded guilty to the public order charges and were each sentenced to four months in prison.
Sentencing them, Judge O'Donnell said: "These are two of the more serious people who were involved in the fracas. This relates to a very very bitter family feud which is at its peak at the moment. If it were not for the timely intervention of the gardaí, this would have developed into a very serious situation."
The cousins also faced a further charge of wearing bullet-proof vests outside the court during last Monday's brawl.
Det Insp Jim Browne said that both men had come to the court last Monday with the clear intention of causing or engaging in trouble.
When asked by Det Insp Browne why they had come to the court wearing the bullet-proof vests, both men told the court that it was for their own protection.
Declan Sheehy said he had been wearing a bullet-proof since shots were fired at him several months ago but he admitted he did not report the alleged incident to gardaí.
Defence counsel for both men argued that the bullet-proof vests were not offensive weapons and added that the Sheehys had been wearing them for purely defensive reasons.
After a lengthy period of legal argument, Judge O'Donnell said he was not satisfied that wearing the vests constituted an offence under the Offensive Weapons and Firearms Act and he dismissed the charges.
"While a number of people arrived at the court with a clear mission to cause trouble, goad and to assault, I am not satisfied that wearing the bullet-proof vests constitutes having an offensive weapon and I must dismiss the charges," said the judge.