SIXTEEN MEMBERS of two midlands families were bound to the peace yesterday by a judge who ordered them to refrain from organising bareknuckle fighting.
The defendants, members of two Travelling families, appeared before Longford District Court where they agreed to a number of conditions. These included that they be of good behaviour and that they refrain from training for, organising or participating in any bareknuckle fights.
Members of the two families were ordered to enter a peace bond with a cash surety of €300 for a period of two years.
District Court Judge Séamus Hughes told the defendants if they breached any aspect of the bond they would forfeit the monies.
The defendants were before the court facing charges arising from an alleged breach of the peace.
Earlier in proceedings the prosecution said the escalating nature of the exchanges between the two families suggested somebody was going to be killed.
Threats made had been filmed and recorded on YouTube, Supt Denis Shields had told the court.
He made his comments during the prosecution of the 16 men charged with behaving in a threatening, abusive and insulting manner in the video messages uploaded on to YouTube.
In the course of proceedings Judge Hughes was shown clips from 14 videos uploaded on to the website. The videos contained insults to both parties, threats of violence, repeated reference to people with mental handicaps, homophobic comments and what was described as insulting and vulgar behaviour.
Having viewed excerpts from the 2½ hours of video Judge Hughes said he would expect a substantial sum to be submitted to court as a bond to prevent further conflict.
Two senior members of the families addressed the court and said they had put their differences aside and assured the judge relations would be cordial in the future.
Judge Hughes noted the change in attitudes of the accused and accepted a peace bond of €300 from each of the nine defendants present. Seven more will come before the court on March 6th.