Offaly teenager sent for 'cavalry' after seeing video message from woman
SUSPENDED sentences were imposed on three teenagers at Tullamore District Court after details were heard of how the “cavalry” were called and violence broke out.
Ryan Hannon (19), Franford Park, Kilcormac, Brandon Hickey (18), Cloncollig, Tullamore and Kyle Weston (19), Windmill Lodge, Killcooney, Geashill all pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Chancery Park Road on August 7 last.
Ryan Hannon further admitted producing a wheel brace and Brandon Hickey admitted producing a wrench.
Kyle Weston pleaded guilty to the additional charge of making a threat to kill or cause serious harm to Rachel McDonagh.
Sergeant James O'Sullivan outlined that Mr Weston was the driver of a car involved in an incident and the other two accused were his passengers.
Shortly after 2.46pm Mr Weston drove to Chancery Park Road because Ms McDonagh had been at his house and he was furious.
Sergeant O'Sullivan said it appeared that Ms McDonagh was looking for her boyfriend who had been staying with Mr Weston at the time.
When Mr Weston arrived he confronted the woman and threatened her, telling her he was going to put her teeth down her neck and when he returned in five minutes she would be dead.
Mr Weston then left and drove back with the other two individuals and another car was in convoy with them.
Mr Weston ran towards another male on the road and punched and kicked him and a number of other males became involved.
The court was told that at 3.09pm Ryan Hannon, who was in the back seat of a Volkswagen Golf, got out with a wheel brace in his hand and dropped it on the ground without hitting anyone with hit.
Mr Hannon did hit another male twice in the face causing minor injuries but the injured party did not attend hospital.
Sergeant O'Sullivan said Mr Hickey was the front seat passenger and he had a wrench when he got out of the car and tried to hit another male with it but missed him.
A scuffle broke out and Mr Hickey dropped the wrench which was then seized by gardai.
Aisling Maloney, solicitor, appeared for all three defendants and said Mr Weston had received a video message from a lady who was not before the court and it showed her rifling through belongings in his house.
Ms Maloney said the three accused went to Mr Weston's house to see if the lady was there but she was gone.
The solicitor said Mr Hannon remained in the car at first and got out because he was in fear for his friend Mr Hickey who was being assaulted with a hammer.
Mr Hannon was in Youthreach, was on a waiting list for anger management and counselling and his partner had a one-year-old baby.
In relation to Mr Hickey, Ms Maloney said he was on social welfare but was seeking work and had been attacked with a hammer.
The solicitor said Mr Weston had been upset, annoyed and frustrated when he saw the video of the lady rifling through his personal belongings.
He had no intention of carrying out his threat to hurt the lady and he fully accepted he was wrong.
Judge Cody remarked that Mr Hannon had brought the wheel brace “not to change a wheel, I presume” and he said Mr Weston was the “main instigator”.
Mr Weston had gone off to get reinforcements and it was “nonsense” to say he did not mean what he had said to the woman.
“He sent for the cavalry and brought them back with two cars,” said Judge Cody.
He imposed a six-month sentence, suspended for three years, on Mr Weston. Three-month sentences, suspended for two years, were imposed on the other two teenagers.
Another man, aged 27, also came before the court accused of violent disorder and producing a hammer. His prosecution was adjourned to July 17 next for a hearing.