SIXTY-ONE people, including two teenage girls and one woman, have pleaded guilty to violent disorder arising out of a riot at a Mullingar housing estate last year.
Fifty-eight men answered “guilty” at Mullingar Circuit Court sitting in Tullamore when asked whether they had used or threatened to use unlawful violence on July 29th, 2008 at Dalton Park, and whether their behaviour would have caused a person “of reasonable firmness” to fear for his safety or that of another.
A number of defendants also pleaded guilty to possession of weapons with intent to injure, intimidate or incapacitate others, particularly members of opposing families. The weapons included a sword, a machete, golf clubs, a shovel, a spade, an iron bar and baseball bats.
All those who pleaded guilty will appear before the court again in the new year, having been warned by Judge Anthony Kennedy that he would be “very interested” in their behaviour between now and then, and would take that into consideration when imposing sentence.
Most of the defendants belong to three families. On one side of the dispute were 30 members of the Nevin family, and on the other, 12 Dinnegans and 16 McDonaghs. Anthony Dinnegan (37) of Macetown, Cloghan, Mullingar was the only person to face three charges. These included violent disorder, possession of a weapon with intent to injure and causing criminal damage to a Garda van.
The first man to plead guilty to violent disorder was Christy “Ditsy” Nevin (54) of St Michael’s Park, Mullingar, who was described by a senior garda at an earlier court sitting as a ringleader and instigator in the riot. A further five defendants have had their cases adjourned for trial.
Six defendants who had their application for legal aid deferred or refused at the District Court were granted assistance when Peter Jones, State solicitor, offered no objection.
The two teenage girls pleaded guilty to violent disorder and possession of an iron bar and a golf club with the intention of causing injury. Community service reports were ordered by the judge in both cases.
Patrick McDonagh (71) of Dalton Park, who pleaded guilty in October to public order offences relating to the riot, was given the opportunity to avoid a three-month prison sentence by making a charitable donation by April.
He did not face a violent disorder charge and was the oldest person charged as a result of the incident.