Jail for Monaghan man who was wielding golf club

A Monaghan Town man, who was brandishing a golf club during a violent affray at his local estate, was given 20 months’ imprisonment, with the final eight months suspended, when the matter was finalised at the October sittings of Monaghan Circuit Criminal Court.

Wesley Cawley (26) with an address at a property in Mullaghmatt, Monaghan Town, was one of five men charged as a result of the incident at Mullaghmatt on November 1, 2023. Evidence in relation to his involvement in the disturbance was given at a previous court hearing, after he pleaded guilty to producing the golf club, an article capable of inflicting serious injury, contrary to the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act.

Cawley had also been charged with violent disorder along with four other men on the occasion, as well as with engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour and being intoxicated in public.

Prosecuting barrister Frank Martin recalled that a garda witness had outlined the facts when the matter previously came before the court, and that and the whole event was captured on CCTV. Judge John Aylmer was reminded that he had viewed the footage at that point and had indicated that he was likely to impose a 20-month sentence on Cawley after mitigating factors were considered.

At the recent October hearing, Joseph Smith BL, defending, handed up a letter from Cawley. He noted that a probation report placed his client at a moderate risk of reoffending with alcohol being the main factor, and that the defendant himself had acknowledged this in his personal letter to the judge. Cawley was described a father of two children who knew he needed to address certain issues in his life, especially in relation to drink.

Counsel accepted that the report had reservations about his client’s suitability for community service as he had previously failed to complete such an order. But it was also pointed out that Cawley had been in custody since January 2025, meaning he had already served about 10 months.

His own letter had outlined the negative effect of being in prison in terms of missing large portions of his children’s lives, and Cawley said he was determined not to put himself in that position again.

In making his ruling, Judge Aylmer told the defendant he clearly had an issue with alcohol and would have to engage with such services as were available if he wanted to rehabilitate himself.

Imposing a 20-month prison sentence, the judge said he was suspending the final eight months for an eight-month period and backdating the sentence to the date the accused was taken into custody in January. In effect, that meant his release would be imminent if not immediate.

Judge Alymer made it clear to him, however, that conditions for the eight-month suspension included keeping the peace and abstaining from alcohol. He was also to comply with all the probation officer’s requirements.

The judge warned Cawley that, if he were found drinking or provided any trouble for the Probation Service, he would be “brought straight back” to serve the balance of the sentence.

Co-defendant

Meanwhile, another of the men charged in relation to the same incident, had his case put back to the January sittings of Monaghan Circuit Court.

John McDonald (33) of Mullaghmatt entered a guilty plea to engaging in violent disorder along with four others on November 1, 2023.

McDonald’s case was deferred at the behest of Ronan O’Carroll BL, who noted that his client would also be pleading guilty to a separate violent disorder charge in respect of an incident at Old Cross Square, Monaghan, on April 9, 2024. In this case five other men were allegedly involved, but none of the others are among those charged with the Mullaghmatt incident mentioned above.

Mr O’Carroll told the court he was not seeking a probation report on his client at this stage.