Fight erupted in a Louth shop and spilled out onto the street

A 33 year old man who was involved in a violent disorder incident that spilled out of a local Londis onto the street, was sentenced at Dundalk Circuit Court last week to 200 hours community service in lieu of a two year sentence.

The court heard Paul Jackson formerly with an address at Mill Road, Dundalk was the last of the group to enter the shop on the Castletown Road on July 4th 2022 and one of the others had allegedly been wielding a bottle at him and he had punched that person.

The fight began inside the premises and continued outside and none of those involved had made a complaint.

Judge Dara Hayes noted the defendant had presented to gardaí by appointment in January 2023 and had apologised for his behaviour, while the court had heard there had been ill-feelings between the parties since 2015.

Mr Jackson had 80 previous convictions, mostly from when he was a juvenile and six for assault as an adult.

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Judge Hayes said it was accepted the defendant had apologised to the shop owner and has since been allowed back into the store.

He noted Mr. Jackson has removed himself from Dundalk and is living elsewhere in County Louth and while he had a history of issues with drug and alcohol abuse, and had identified alcohol as the most destructive factor in his life, he has been sober now for several years.

The judge said it was a serious disturbance of the peace in a public area that warranted a two year sentence, but given the steps taken in rehabilitation, he instead made an order to perform 200 hours community service within the next 12 months and where required, engage with the Probation service.

Judge Hayes warned Mr. Jackson that if he failed to complete the community service he would be brought back to court and would be required to serve the custodial sentence.