Fourteen suspended sentences for Grange riot

Fourteen people received suspended prison sentences and many more received fines as they appeared at a recent sitting of Mullingar District Court to face sentencing for charges relating to a riot at Grange, Mullingar in May 2008.Appraising Judge Olann Kelleher of the facts, Sgt. Kevin Mulvey said that on May 10, 2008, a serious incident took place outside 23 Grange Lawns, Mullingar, as a result of which a number of minor assaults took place, a house was damaged, and a car "broken up".Sgt. Mulvey said that later that day, a number of people congregated outside 27 Grange Meadows, resulting in a larger confrontation involving slash-hooks, hatchets, timber and hurleys, involving members of the Nevin, McDonagh, Dinnegan and Donoghue families, among others.He described it as "a hot summer's day", with a lot alcohol being taken.The presence of a number of gardaí was required, and a helicopter from the Garda Air Support Unit was called into play.The sergeant said that at 8pm that evening, Gardaí carried out a search on a waste ground behind Grange Meadows, when members of opposing families charged at each other."It took about 20 guards to bring the situation under control," Sgt. Mulvey told the court, adding that if contact had been made during the charge, there would have been injuries.He said that the incident mainly involved abuse, intoxication and "general mayhem", and informed Judge Kelleher that there have been "no major incidents" like this in Mullingar, since the D'Alton Park riot of July 2008.Inspector Jarlath Folan of Mullingar Garda Station told the judge that incidents like this "cause a lot of disruption for people, give the town of Mullingar a bad name, and take up a lot of Garda time".Twelve of the defendants appearing on the Grange charges, solicitor Louis Kiernan informed the court, have suspended sentences hanging over them following violent disorder convictions in relation to the incident at D'Alton Park.Judge Kelleher then set about passing down sentences to thirty defendants.Jim Dinnegan (48), of 4 St. Joseph's Cottages, Mullingar was fined €350 for engaging threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour outside 27 Grange Meadows; James Dinnegan (39), with an address at 224 D'Alton Park, Mullingar, received a six month prison sentence for obstructing a garda during the course of his or her duty, suspended for twelve months on a good behaviour bond.Willie Dinnegan (41) was fined €100 for being intoxicated and a further €500 for engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour, before being handed a six month suspended prison sentence for possession of a two and a half foot length of timber during the May 10, 2008 disturbances.Joseph Dinnegan (40) of Mill House, Canal Avenue, Mullingar, received a similar suspended sentence for threatening and abusive behaviour, and was fined €100 for being intoxicated; Sean Dinnegan of 229 D'Alton Park, Mullingar, was fined €350 for threatening and abusive behaviour.Sixty-four year old Patrick Dennigan Senior, with an address at 4 St. Joseph's Cottages, Mullingar, was fined €200 for threatening and abusive behaviour; Damien Groome (22) of 1 Grange Heights, Mullingar, was fined €100 for being intoxicated, €250 for engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour, and received a six month suspended sentence for obstructing a garda during the course of his or her duty.Brigdet Groome, also of 1 Grange Heights, Mullingar, was fined €200 for threatening and abusive behaviour; Patrick Groome (20), of the same address, received a six month suspended prison sentence for threatening and abusive behaviour.Colm Donoghue (22), with an address given as 3 Old Ballinderry, Mullingar, was fined €100 for being intoxicated, and he received a six month suspended prison sentence for engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour; Joseph Donoghue (28), with an address at 29 Cathedral View, Mullingar, also received a €100 intoxication fine and a six month suspended sentence for threatening and abusive behaviour.Aaron Donoghue (20) of 29 Cathedral View was fined €500 for engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour; Anthony Dinnegan of Macetown, Cloughan, Mullingar was fined €100 for being intoxicated and handed a six month suspended prison sentence for threatening and abusive behaviour.34 year old Oliver Dinnegan of Mill House, Canal Avenue, Mullingar was fined €500 for engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour; Thomas Donoghue (53), of 119 Newtown Lawns, Mullingar, was fined €250 for threatening and abusive behaviour; and John Donoghue (29), with an address given as 29 Cathedral View, Mullingar, was fined €100 for being intoxicated, and received a six month suspended prison sentence for engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour.John Dinnegan (51) of Rathconrath, Mullingar, was fined €350 for threatening and abusive behaviour; Bernard Dunne of 46 Cathedral View, Mullingar, was fined €100 for being intoxicated and a further €350 for threatening and abusive behaviour.Patrick Nevin (24) of 23 Grange Lawns, Mullingar, who was charged with carrying a slashhook and engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour, will avoid a conviction if he pays €200 to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul before October 7, 2010; David Nevin (26) of 31 Grange Crescent, Mullingar received a fine of €500 for engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour.44 year old Michael Dennigan of 45 Grange Heights, Mullingar - who is currently serving a one year prison sentence - was handed a six month suspended sentence for engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour at Grange, and a €100 fine for intoxication.Willie Donoghue (47) of 27 Grange Meadows was fined €150 for threatening and abusive behaviour; while Joseph Dinnegan (42) and Paul Dinnegan (30), both of 4 St. Joseph's Cottages, Mullingar, each received €250 fines for engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour.Thomas Donoghue (21) of 26 Springfield, Mullingar, received a six month suspended sentence for threatening and abusive behaviour; Jamie Dinnegan (19) of 224 D'Alton Park, Mullingar, received a six month suspended sentence for the same charge, and fines of €300 for obstructing a garda during the course of his or her duty, and €200 for possession of a weapon.Bernard Ward (28), with an address at Glenview Park, Ashe Lane, Sligo, appeared on a charge of carrying a slashhook during the May 10, 2008 incidents. He will have no conviction recorded if he pays €200 to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul before October 7 of this year.Peter Donoghue (21) of 30 Springfield, Mullingar, received a six month suspended sentence for threatening and abusive behaviour; Mark Donoghue, with an address given as 29 Cathedral View, Mullingar, received a similar suspended sentence after he appeared on charges of possessing a 5-6ft timber plank during the disturbances at Grange.Finally, Peter Dinnegan (40) of 16 Ennell Court, Mullingar, was fined €200 for threatening and abusive behaviour.The case relating to another defendant, 38 year old Thomas Dinnegan of 143 Raithín, Mullingar, has been put back to September 16, 2010 for hearing.