THE TRIAL of two men who had been charged with violent disorder at Townley Hall Woods in Co Louth came to an end yesterday when they pleaded guilty to less serious offences.
The trial, which was in its third day, had heard evidence from two women about the alleged incidents at the picnic spot that night where they had gone with male friends and how they ran in fear and had to hide.
Both Lukas Smalenas (21), of The Drive, Highlands, Drogheda, and Marius Baciulias (21), of St Michael’s Terrace, Clogherhead, Co Louth, denied committing violent disorder on March 10th, 2009 at Townley Hall Woods, Townley Hall, Drogheda, Co Louth.
Baciulias was also accused of causing damage to a car in the alleged incident and yesterday he pleaded guilty to that offence which is contrary to section 2 of the Criminal Damage Act.
Smalenas pleaded guilty to being intoxicated in a public place contrary to section 4 of the Criminal Justice Public Order Act.
Yesterday Kevin Segrave, State prosecutor at Dundalk Circuit Criminal Court, told Judge Gerard Griffin that the Director of Public Prosecutions was happy to accept these guilty pleas and a nolle prosequi could be entered in relation to the other charges.
The judge told the jury the accused had pleaded guilty to separate offences and “you have no decision to make”.
Judge Griffin was told by Mr Segrave that Smalenas was part of a group present at the woods when another group of people arrived.
He was drinking heavily at the woods and, the court heard, he told gardaí he drank “half a litre of vodka straight from the bottle”.
After events at the woods the accused went to hospital where he was identified by another person in the emergency department as having been involved in disorderly conduct at the woods, the court heard.
He was arrested and told gardaí he could not remember what happened in detail because he was so drunk.
The court was told it would have been difficult to establish any specific conduct by him.
Derek Kenneally, defending, said the accused came to Ireland when he was 16 years old.
On the day he had not been able to handle what he was drinking “or the company he was keeping”.
He apologised sincerely to the court and to all those concerned.
He is currently under the auspices of the probation service in relation to offences before Drogheda District Court.
Judge Griffin said his plea had saved the State a considerable sum of money. He imposed a €300 fine (the maximum is €500) and gave him three months to pay.
Sentencing of Baciulias was adjourned to the next sitting of the court and a probation report will be prepared on him in the meantime. He was remanded on continuing bail until then.