Men in ‘ridiculous’ spat given community service

Four north Mayo men who engaged in a form of ‘frontier justice’ following an 18th birthday party have each been sentenced to 100 hours’ community service.
Jason Healy (23) and his brother, Kevin (20), both of Doofeeney, Ballycastle, and Francis Ruane (52) and his son, Darren (24), both of 23 Seaview Place, Ballycastle, all appeared before Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court where they pleaded guilty to affray.
The incident occurred in the early hours of May 9, 2015 at Carrowniskey, Ballycastle, when the two groups – the Ruanes and the Healys – got into a dispute after allegations about the taking of a car were made.
Sergeant Donal Raftery explained that Jason Healy reported to gardaí that he was assaulted in the early hours of May 9 after attending an 18th birthday party.
The court heard that the party had passed off peacefully and ended around 2am. However, it  was then discovered that a car had been taken from outside the house. Sgt Raftery said the two Healy brothers went to investigate, and became involved in a confrontation with Niall and Darren Ruane, and a fight occurred.
Part of the incident was captured on a mobile phone. The footage showed a group of people gathered around two cars, beer bottles being thrown and a wheel brace being produced. The four defendants were identified in the video and charged. They later pleaded guilty to affray. None of the defendants had any previous convictions.
The court heard that Francis Ruane was in bed when the incident started and got a phone call to say his sons were in trouble. His counsel, Mr Diarmuid Connolly said his client could have used self-defence as a justification but admitted his involvement.
Mr Patrick Murphy, counsel for Jason Healy said his client, who was 21 at the time, received 12 staples to his head as a result of the incident. He said his client was very remorseful and was of a low risk of reoffending.
Kevin Healy was 18 at the time of the incident. His counsel, Mr Brendan McDonagh said he was also of a low risk of reoffending. He said his client had the wheel brace to frighten people off and had no intention of using it, and was genuinely remorseful.
Mr Eoin Garavan, counsel for Darren Healy, said his client, 22 at the time, received injuries on the night. He added that he had never been in trouble before, and that the incident was fuelled by alcohol.
In sentencing Judge Rory McCabe described the incident as ‘ridiculous’, pointing out that instead of contacting the gardaí they ‘got involved in frontier justice’. He described the actions as ‘stupidity and wanton foolishness’ and those of Francis Ruane as ‘doubly stupid’. Judge McCabe said that given his age he should have known better than to get involved in ‘the scrum’.
Judge McCabe said the headline sentence was nine months’ imprisonment but given the mitigating circumstances he sentenced them all to 100 hours community service in lieu of six months’ imprisonment.