Published: Wednesday, 3rd March, 2010 5:00pm

Brothers jailed for assaulting doorman

"If you have been reading The Anglo-Celt, you know my form," said Judge Sean MacBride in court.

Two Kingscourt brothers have been sentenced for their part in a row in which they assaulted a doorman in Kingscourt when they appeared at Bailieboro District Court sitting in Virginia.

Martin Carroll of 15 Cluain Dara, Kingscourt, was sentenced to three months for assaulting John Williams at the Square Bar, Main Street, Kingscourt, on January 24, 2009.

He was also given three months and disqualified from driving for three years for dangerous driving at Dublin Road, Kingscourt, on November 25, 2008.

The defendant was given a concurrent three-month term and three-year disqualification for having no insurance on the same occasion.

Tommy Carroll (20), 37 Mount Saint Joseph, Kingscourt, was sentenced to three months for assaulting John Williams. Recognisances were fixed in the event of an appeal in his own cash sum of €1,000.

Garda Noel Folan said he received a call to go to the Square Bar. When he arrived, he met John Williams and Jason Doherty. They told Garda Folan that they had asked Martin Carroll to leave the premises as he was drunk but he refused to go. Garda Folan spoke to Martin and after about ten minutes he agreed to go.

As he was leaving, there was an altercation whereby he assaulted one of the doormen. The doorman refused to make a statement. Martin Carroll was put outside and stood on the street. He left but returned 15 minutes later with his brothers Tommy and John.

The three of them bust in through the door of the pub and went after Johnny Magnier and Martin hit him.

All three then left the bar and were out on the street. Mr. Williams came out of the bar and was assaulted by Martin and Tommy.

Inspector Fintan McTiernan said that Tommy Carroll was on a suspended sentence at the time of the incident.

Paul Carolan, solicitor for Tommy Carroll, said his client had been unemployed for the past five months. He accepted he got involved in an incident, which didn't involve him.

His brother Martin asked him to return to the bar with him and he allowed himself to be bullied into it. He should not have gone back to the bar. The defendant had not come to the attention of the gardaí for the past 13 months.

Marie Carroll, mother, said Tommy was doing great for the past 12 months and had not been in trouble. He had kept his head down and was a great help at home.

Judge Sean MacBride described the attack as "savage" and added that it was committed while the defendant was on a suspended sentence. If the defendant could come up with €2,000, he would give Mr. Williams and Mr. Doherty €1,000 each if not he was going away. "People have got to learn that if they inflict injury and pain on another person, they will pay for it. Crime doesn't pay." The defendant had 12 months to raise the money but didn't, he said.

The judge said he had to protect the victims and he was sending the defendant away for three months. "If you have been reading The Anglo-Celt, you know my form." It was outrageous behaviour. The three of them burst into the bar and it was like a scene from the wild west.

With regard to the dangerous driving charge against Martin, Inspector McTiernan said at 3pm gardaí were on mobile patrol when they observed Martin driving. He took off at speed and the members followed.

The defendant overtook two cars on continuous white lines, as well as another car, as he came to the crest of a hill. He was eventually stopped and the lawful demand was made for insurance and he admitted he had none.