‘Elvis’ Sweeneys told to end feud at confirmation brawl sentencing

‘Elvis Sweeneys’ told to end feud at Confirmation brawl sentencing


A Circuit Court judge has told members of a family involved in a long-running feud that it is time mediation was used to resolve the issue.
Nine members of a family, referred to in court as the ‘Elvis Sweeneys’, were in Castlebar Circuit Court in relation to a brawl with another Sweeney family – referred to in court as the ‘Farmer Sweeneys’ – at a Confirmation Mass at St Mary’s Church in Ballinrobe on February 28, 2012. Judge Keenan Johnson told told the nine Elvis Sweeneys that the feud must end so that future generations of the two families would not be ‘cursed by hatred for each other’.
The nine pleaded guilty to lesser charges than were initially brought against them. Pleading guilty to affray were Jason Sweeney (21) of 143A Bishop O’Donnell Road, Galway, and formerly 4 Bog Road, Ballinrobe; Martin Sweeney (31) of 6 Bog Road, Ballinrobe; Michael Sweeney (21) of 3A Ballybane Cottages, Ballybane, Galway; and Thomas Sweeney (21) of 1 Gort na Gloch, Ballinrobe.
Pleading guilty to threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour in a public place were Michael Sweeney (31) formerly of 4 Bog Road, Ballinrobe and Cluain Dara, Knocknacarra, Galway; David Sweeney (33), 4 Bog Road, Ballinrobe, and Gary Sweeney (18) of 4, Bog Road, Ballinrobe.
Patrick Sweeney (19) of 19 Church View, Ballinrobe, and Darren Sweeney (18), with addresses at 66 Monalee Manor, Knocknacarra, Galway, and 19 Church View, Ballinrobe, both pleaded guilty to impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Thomas, Martin, Michael and Jason Sweeney.
The court heard that on February 28, 2012, 15 members of the Elvis Sweeneys rushed towards St Mary’s Church, where 95 children, including children from the Farmer Sweeneys family, were being confirmed. A confrontation took place, and a machete, a length of wood and a crutch were brandished.
Judge Johnson imposed prison terms on Jason, Martin, Michael (21) and Thomas Sweeney, but suspended them on the condition they each pay €2,000 to the parish priest, Canon Conal Eustace, within two years. The men were also told to contribute to the cost of the mediation process.
Michael Sweeney (31) was also given a suspended sentence, while Patrick, David, Darren and Gary Sweeney received the benefit of the Probation Act and were ordered to contribute to the cost of mediation.
Judge Johnson said he did not impose custodial sentences, as he felt this would ‘add fuel to the fire’ and would not solve the feud, which the court heard has been ongoing since 2004.