Men in fight outside shopping centre in Tullamore ordered to pay €500 each to community association
TWO men involved in an affray at a shopping centre in Tullamore have been ordered to pay €500 each to a community association.
The local District Court was told that John McCarthy (24), Puttaghaun Close, Tullamore and Billy (named in court by a garda as Bernard) Power (43), Chancery Lane, Tullamore were seen fighting each other near the Bridge Centre and the incident was captured on CCTV.
Judge Andrew Cody was told that Mr Power had 14 previous convictions, including one for the cultivation of cannabis.
Mr McCarthy's only previous conviction related to failing to wear a seat belt.
David Nugent, BL, counsel for Mr McCarthy said the accused was an unemployed married man who got into a row with Mr Power over something very innocuous.
He admitted he should have known better. “He's not 13 any more,” said Mr Nugent.
The barrister said there was no intoxication on Mr McCarthy's part and he asked the court to accept a contribution of €250 from the man to maintain his good character.
“It was just one of those things,” added Mr Nugent, saying both parties had “got caught up in it”.
Tony McGlynn, solicitor for Mr Power, said there would be no difficulty going forward between the parties and though there had been some bad blood between the families, it was not between the two individuals before the court.
“Obviously on this occasion it seems to have got out of hand,” said Mr McGlynn.
Mr McGlynn added that his client was on disability, suffered from chronic anxiety and had one adult son.
Mr Power had driven to the shopping centre to collect his mother and wife and had brought €250 to court.
Judge Cody said he did not accept this was “about nothing” and there was something behind it but he did not know what it was.
He remanded both men on continuing bail to appear in court again on April 3 next.
On that date both men are to pay €500 each to Cadamstown Community Association who are carrying out tidy towns work and if that is done he will be prepared to strike out both charges.