A member of the English boy band 5ive who pleaded guilty to two charges arising from a disturbance outside a Dublin pub was given the Probation Act yesterday after he contributed £3,000 to the Dublin District Court poor box.
Richard Dobson (21) faced charges of being drunk and disorderly and using abusive and threatening language outside the Palace Bar, Fleet Street, on December 20th.
A second member of the group, Jason Brown, who is facing two similar charges and a third for assault, was remanded on continuing bail to October 10th by Judge Michael Connellan. The court was told that Mr Brown (23) was unable to attend the hearing as his mother had taken very seriously ill in Orlando and he was at her bedside.
Garda Mark Cushen, of Pearse Street station, who arrested Mr Dobson, gave evidence he was called to the Palace Bar at 4.15 p.m. There was a large crowd outside and he witnessed a scuffle between a large number of men. One of them, Mr Dobson, was jumping up and down and using abusive language. When the garda intervened he said: "F . . .ing wankers. We can't go anywhere without getting hassle. All we wanted was a drink".
Later he added: "Just because I'm in a boy band. F. . .k them. Why should I let them get away with it?"
The Garda said Mr Dobson was very intoxicated but co-operated fully when he was taken into custody.
Mr Peter Charleton SC, defending, said Mr Dobson had joined 5ive in 1997. The band had "to a degree" become extremely successful and Mr Dobson'slife was one of extremely hard work, he said.
He added that the band arrived in Dublin for two concerts at the Point, having had no sleep the night before.
Mr Dobson's relationship with Dublin had been a very good one, he said. It was always a city where the band were regarded as ordinary people, not celebrities, and they had recorded two albums here. However, on this occasion words were exchanged about his particular form of work and one thing led to another, counsel said.
Mr Charleton said Mr Dobson had no previous convictions and was prepared to show his contrition by donating £3,000 to the court poor box.
Judge Connellan said he would apply the Probation Act given Mr Dobson's guilty plea, the fact that he had no previous convictions and given his financial contribution to the court poor box.
Mr Charlton called Mr Chris Herbert of the band's management team to explain Mr Brown's absence. He said the band planned to record an album in Dublin within the next four or five days and he expected Mr Brown to be in Ireland for that.
Judge Connellan said Mr Brown should have had "the common courtesy" of notifying the Chief State Solicitor's office that it was unlikely he would be able to attend. He adjourned the case, ordering Mr Brown to pay £475 - the costs of 11 witnesses who attended.