SIX YOUNG men who engaged in violent disorder, throwing rocks at gardaí and threatening them while they attempted to arrest another man, have been sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Dean Byrne, Stewart Tighe, Dean McKeever, Wayne McKeever and Derek Walsh were found guilty of violent disorder at Priorswood in Dublin 17 on October 3rd, 2010, by a jury after last month’s two-day trial.
Ross Fetherston pleaded guilty before the trial began to violent disorder on the same day at the same place.
The trial heard that while gardaí were patrolling the Priorswood area they became aware of the presence of a man who was the subject of a number of bench warrants. They attempted to arrest the man, who fled into a house where Fetherston’s brother lived. The six men were outside the house and began to engage in violent disorder after gardaí entered through a back door.
“Ross Fetherston was highly agitated and began shouting threats at gardaí and the other men began shouting and throwing rocks,” Garda James Mulhern told prosecuting counsel Garnet Orange.
The incident came to an end after about three minutes when other gardaí arrived at the scene.
Fetherston, who has 42 previous convictions, offered his apologies to the Garda.
Counsel for Tighe, who has 84 previous convictions, said the 19-year-old has accepted the seriousness of the incident. Counsel for Dean Byrne said his client apologised for the incident, while counsel for Dean McKeever, who has 65 previous convictions, said his client also apologised.
Judge Patricia Ryan sentenced Byrne (19) of Belcamp Crescent, Priorswood; Tighe of Ferrycarraig Avenue, Coolock; Wayne McKeever (23) of Moatview Gardens, Priorswood; and Fetherston (21) of Moatview Court, Priorswood, to three years each, with one year suspended.
Dean McKeever (19) of Moatview Gardens, Priorswood, was sentenced to three years, with 18 months suspended, while a probation report was ordered for Walsh of Belcamp Crescent, Priorswood.