Five charged over melee outside shop

Five men have appeared in court charged with violent disorder in relation to a melee outside a shop in Monaghan Town almost two years ago.

CCTV footage of the incident in April 2024, which was shown at Monaghan Circuit Court, showed a number of men punching and kicking each other as violence flared outside McConnon’s Londis in Old Cross Square.

A garda investigation into the incident led to the arrest of five men, who all subsequently pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

All five appeared at Monaghan Circuit Court on Wednesday, January 28, in relation to the incident on April 9, 2024.

They were Gary O'Leary (29) with an address at Glenview Drive, Monaghan; Daniel O’Leary (30) with an address at Woodview, Killygowan, Monaghan; William Willow McQuaid (26) of Gortakeegan, Monaghan; Joshua Clerkin (23) from Mullaghamatt, Monaghan; and John McDonald (33) with an address at Mullaghmatt, Monaghan Town.

CCTV footage was shown to the court in a case that was before Judge John Alymer.

The footage showed a number of men punching and kicking each other in what was described as a "fracas" that lasted for around two minutes.

The court was told that the incident began as a verbal disagreement and developed into a physical altercation.

The footage showed that Gary O’Leary took a number of blows to the body and to the head during the incident.

One of the accused attended Cavan General Hospital in the days after the altercation with a mild headache and soft tissue problems.

Garda Mooney, who attended the scene that night, told the court that no one at the time wanted to make a complaint.

However a complaint was made to gardaí a number of days later, with officers subsequently obtaining the CCTV footage and identifying a number of men from the incident.

The garda accepted that alcohol had played a big factor on the night.

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The court was told that Daniel O’Leary has no previous convictions, Willian Willow McQuaid has 21 previous convictions, Gary O’Leary has 56 previous convictions, Joshua Clerkin has 17 previous convictions and John McDonald has 91 previous convictions.

The court was told that Joshua Clerkin had no convictions since 2021 and that the 23 year old had lost his younger brother and girlfriend in tragic circumstances within a few days of each other.

The court head how the loss of both his brother and girlfriend in March 2024 has had a huge impact on him.

Mr Clerkin's barrister, Niamh Murtagh Quinn, BL, told the court that he was very remorseful for his role in the incident, describing his actions as extremely foolish.

She outlined to the court that he arrived while the altercation was underway and that he left very quickly before the incident had ended.

In relation to John McDonald, the court was told of his shame in relation to the incident and how he and his family were appalled by his actions.

The court heard that Mr McDonald had lost both parents by the age of 20 and had taken an unfortunate route in life with alcohol.

However his barrister, Padraig McNamee, told the court that Mr McDonald excelled at the sport of darts, was a two-time Monaghan county champion who would be competing at the All Irelands next month, and described him as the "Luke Littler of Monaghan".

The court was told that Daniel O’Leary was a father-of-three who had never come to the attention of gardai before.

The court heard he is not in employment but a very committed father who is remorseful for his actions on the night of the incident.

The court heard that Gary O'Leary, who had suffered a number of blows in the incident, has had a tough upbringing and was also sorry for his role on the night in question.

The court also heard William Willow McQuaid was a father of one and that he was also very remorseful for his involvement on the evening of April 9, 2024.

Judge Alymer has adjourned sentencing until the April sittings of Monaghan Circuit Court.