Seven in court over Ballyconnell assault

An incident in which a woman was assaulted in Ballyconnell last October resulted in seven people appearing before the local District Court on various charges including assault and public order. One of them was given a suspended sentence, another bound to the peace, two were ordered to make donations and three had their charges struck-out. Ross Mulcahy, 5 New Houses, Corrawaleen, Leitrim, was sentenced to three months in prison suspended on him entering his own bond of €127 to keep the peace for two years for assaulting Darren Grogan, at Main Street, Ballyconnell, on October 10, 2008. Darren Grogan, Gubrawully, Swanlinbar, was bound to the peace for two years for using or engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour on the same occasion. Declan Kellegher, Corramahon, Garadice, Carrick-on-Shannon and Padraig Toher, Port, Bawnboy, were ordered to donate €350 and €250 respectively to Ballyconnell Senior Citizens for assaulting Darren Grogan. Public order offences were struck out against Charlotte Clarke, Culliagh, Corlough; Jason Mulcahy, 5 New Houses, Corrawaleen, Leitrim; and Greg McGovern, Carrowmore, Ballyconnell. Superintendent Brian Brunton said there were seven co-accused before the court - four of whom were pleading and the matters against the other three could be struck out. On the night in question Darren Grogan was drinking in The Anglers Rest and got involved with his former girlfriend, Ms. Clarke. He was asked to leave the premises but refused and he was ejected. A row started outside over the defendant. In the course of the row, Mr. Grogan was assaulted by three of the defendants. "That is a simple as I can put the case," said Superintendent Brunton. The injured party received a minor head injury and a laceration to the scalp but had made a full recovery. He pointed out that Grogan and Toher had no previous convictions, Kellegher had three and Ross Mulcahy had one previous conviction where he was given a four-month suspended sentence in June 2007. Gabriel Toolin, solicitor for Toher, said his client was going out with Ms. Clarke. He claimed that a week before this incident Grogan had assaulted Ms. Clarke. He lost control of himself over what happened to his girlfriend. Mr. Toher walked over and hit the victim a punch. Damien Rudden, solicitor representing Kellegher, said his client had never come to the attention of the Gardaí before this. He had been in Ballyconnell since the incident without any trouble. He too gave the victim a box in the face. Denis McDwyer, appearing for Ross Mulcahy, said his client was coming before the court on a plea. He had not been in trouble since the incident. Judge Sean MacBride said Mr. Mulcahy had already received a suspended sentence and he was treading on thin ice. "He was at a severe risk of being given a sentence on this matter." Judge MacBride would give him a chance and impose a suspended sentence. However, he warned all defendants that if they came back before him on public order offences they would be going to prison. "You were well advised to plead guilty." He complimented Superintendent Brunton for the very concise outline of the facts and the local gardaí for the manner in which they dealt with the matter. "They dealt with it in a most professional way," concluded the judge who ruled as stated.