Fined over courthouse ‘spat’ with feuding rivals

A Mullingar man has been convicted and fined for his part in a feud-linked verbal slanging match inside the doors of Mullingar Courthouse.

Anthony Dinnegan Jnr (36), Austin Friar Street, Mullingar, Westmeath, pleaded guilty to engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour following an incident on March 4 last year.

The father of three was involved in a row with a number of other male individuals moments after he appeared before a sitting of Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court.

In giving sworn evidence before Judge Catriona Murray, Garda Mervyn Henson said he had been posted to act as court garda on the day of the incident.

A short time later, Garda Henson recalled hearing a “commotion” outside and made his way downstairs.

He said four men, one of whom was the accused, could be seen hurling insults at each other.

Judge Murray was told the group were given a formal warning to desist from their behaviour under Section 8 of the Public Order Act.

Garda Henson said moments after Mr Dinnegan’s Circuit Court case was adjourned, the “verbal spat” between the factions reignited, resulting in court summonses for three of those involved.

In responding to questions from defence barrister Andrea Callan, BL, Garda Henson agreed the episode was at the “lowest end” of the public order spectrum.

“Yes, (but it was the) fact it was in the courthouse,” replied Garda Henson, who differed somewhat in his take that Mr Dinnegan was simply reacting in the heat of the moment.

“On the way back down the stairs after being told to desist, he was as much to blame as the others,” added Garda Henson.

The court heard Mr Dinnegan had eight previous convictions, including one for assault causing harm offence in July 2023.

Ms Callan said her client was by no means a repeat offender and asked the court to take account of how the incident erupted in the backdrop of an ongoing feud.

Ms Callan said Mr Dinnegan was not attempting to deflect from his involvement, but said the incident did not extend to physical violence or put any members of the public present in fear.

She said Mr Dinnegan had been forced to endure a “significant amount of provocation” in the lead-up to the incident.

“This was a situation where Mr Dinnegan, on previous occasions, when he encountered these gentlemen suffered an extremely serious assault,” she said.

Ms Callan said despite her client’s guilty plea, she asked the court to consider affording him the benefit of the Probation Act.

Judge Murray, disagreed, and said the court would record a conviction. Mr Dinnegan was fined €150, with three months to pay.