Mayo man spared jail sentence after carrying machete into Ballinrobe shop

A Mayo man who entered a Ballinrobe shop with a machete shortly after his brother was violently attacked was ordered to undergo 200 hours community service.

Christopher Barrett (28) of 3 Lough Mask Road, Ballinrobe appeared before Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court where he pleaded guilty to the possession of a machete at the Corrib Oil filling station in Ballinrobe on January 31, 2023.

The court heard that Mr Barrett arrived in a car with other men and entered the shop with weapons shortly after his brother was attacked as part of a Traveller feud.

Patrick Barrett, brother of the defendant was attacked by a 'hit squad' at around 12.30pm on January 31, 2023, while sitting in his car in the forecourt of the filling station by men carrying machetes and slash hooks. Mr Barrett managed to escape out the driver's door and managed to crawl into the entrance of the shop before collapsing. He was seriously injured and was in intensive care following the attack.

CCTV footage from the forecourt showed Christopher Barrett and other men arriving by car and entering the shop but left shortly afterwards when they realised the people who attacked his brother were no longer there. Patrick Barrett was also removed to hospital by the time they arrived but the footage showed a large pool of his blood at the entrance to the shop.

Detective Garda Sinéad Caheny explained that Christopher Barrett was identified from the CCTV footage and was later arrested and interviewed but made no comment answers. She added he has not come to the attention of the gardaí since the incident.

When questioned by Mr Donal Callaghan, counsel for Mr Barrett, Det Garda Caheny confirmed that his client had arrived within minutes of hearing his brother was attacked. She accepted that he did not attack anyone while in the shop or threaten anyone.

Mr Callaghan said his client was on stringent bail conditions after he was charged and there were no incidents of him breaching any of those conditions. He added his client has set up a car recovery business.

Judge Eoin Garavan said this was an appalling event where Mr Barrett arrived at a public place carrying a machete and this would be the most terrifying experience for any right thinking person to witness.

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He noted that Mr Barrett has previous convictions including possession of knives but accepted that the majority were relatively minor.

Judge Garavan accepted this incident was part of a Traveller feud which has improved and that Mr Barrett got caught up in it and there has been no trouble since.

“It is emotionally understandable that the reaction would be to go down and assist his sibling,” Judge Garavan commented. “To go down with a weapon of that nature in offensive mode was foolish and criminal and potentially very frightening.”

Judge Garavan said he was satisfied that Mr Barrett understood the seriousness of what happened and deserved a custodial sentence. He imposed an 18 month sentence but suspended the entirety of the sentence for two years and ordered that Mr Barrett come under the supervision of the Probation Services and abide by their conditions.

One of the conditions was to undergo 200 hours community service and to give something back to the community.

“You don't brandish a knife in a town in this way and expect to go scott-free,” he concluded.