Ten people appeared at New Ross District Court yesterday and were remanded in custody in relation to the death of a Swedish man in the Co Wexford town last summer.
The charges relate to violent disorder on July 20th, 2003. Mr Lars Eric Magnus Forsmark (30), who lived at Pearse Road, Sligo town, was in Wickham's pub on Mary Street, New Ross, during the JFK Dunbrody Festival. He died after a row broke out in the pub at around 12.40 a.m. He and a number of others were ejected.
Mr Forsmark, a jewellery street vendor from Sweden, collapsed shortly afterwards outside a house opposite the pub.
An inquest last week was told by State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy that his death was due to blunt force trauma to the head and inhaling his own vomit. He had consumed a significant amount of alcohol.
Publican Mr Seán Wickham (46) and his wife Noeleen (45) were charged with intentionally or recklessly leaving Mr Forsmark in an unconscious and injured state outside the pub, creating a substantial risk of death or serious harm. They were also charged with impeding the Garda investigation.
A further eight New Ross people appeared on charges of committing violent disorder. These were: Mr Owen Lennon (23), Barrack Lane; Mr Jonathan Bolger (23), Mr Ian Bolger, and Mr Stephen Bolger (27), all of Nunnery Lane; Mr Raymond Kelly (22), Brandon Park; Mr Anthony O'Leary (24), Bosheen Estate; Ms Sinéad Kane (18), Bosheen; and Mr Jason Murphy (18) of Bosheen. They were further charged with being intentionally or recklessly engaged in conduct that endangered the life of Mr Forsmark.
Judge John Coughlan refused a bail application from Mr Michael O'Brien, for the Wickhams.
Mr O'Brien said the couple had two young children and were on the understanding from the State that there would not be an objection to bail. However, Judge Coughlan said that a man had been kicked to death. "You would not do that to a dog," he added.
He also refused further bail applications from solicitors Mr Simon Kennedy, Mr Martin Lawlor and Mr Gerard Flynn, for the remaining defendants. Mr Kennedy, for the three Bolger brothers and Mr Lennon, said the State had consented to bail in a personal bond of €1,000 and independent sureties of €3,000 each.
Judge Coughlan, however, said he was refusing bail due to the seriousness of the offences for which they were before the court.
He remanded the two women to Mountjoy, with Ms Wickham to appear before Clover Hill District Court and Ms Kane to appear before Wexford District Court, both on January 16th.
The eight male defendants were remanded to Clover Hill Prison, to appear before Clover Hill District Court on the same day.