Retired Irish American guilty of petrol station assault

“If this goes through every single American company will pull out of Mayo” – American man’s threat to Garda


An Irish-American living in Ballindine claimed that charges brought against him were as a result of anti-American sentiment and further claimed he was bringing the case to the High Court.
John Lynch of Main Street, Ballindine was convicted at last week’s sitting of Claremorris District Court of assault and threatening and abusive behaviour against courier, Danny Duffy outside a service station in Ballindine.
It was claimed in court that Mr Lynch pushed Mr Duffy against his van and threatened him with a rubber baton on August 5, 2008.
Mr Lynch, a retired man in his seventies, denied the charges, claiming they were ‘barefaced lies’. However, he later admitted shoving Mr Duffy but denied that this was assault. “I’m an ex-member of the ‘Fighting 69th’, if I assaulted someone he would not be walking around telling lies,” he said.
On a number of occasions Judge Mary Devins had to warn Mr Lynch on his use of language and conduct in the Court and told him he was ‘not appearing on some cheap television programme’.
Mr Duffy explained that he was delivering a package to Hennigan’s Service Station in Ballindine and parked in the forecourt. He said he was at least six feet away from Mr Lynch’s car but said the defendant got out of his car and told him to move his van. Danny Duffy told the court an articulated lorry could pass through the space and as he was getting his package Mr Lynch pushed him against his van. He added that he was about to move the van when Mr Lynch pushed him again.
Mr Duffy then said the defendant took out a rubber baton and intimidated him with it. When the witness went to call the gardaí, he said Mr Lynch went into a pharmacy and gave the baton to his wife and they then got into his car. Mr Duffy said he stood in front of the car to get his registration number and claimed that Mr Lynch revved the engine in an intimidating manner, before driving away.
Colm Quinn told the court he was working in the service station and said that Mr Duffy was parked at least six feet from Mr Lynch’s car. He said he saw the defendant pushing Mr Duffy against his van and was very nasty to him.
Mr Lynch, who was defending himself, claimed that in the past Mr Quinn had called him an American asshole and had put diesel in his car on purpose. Mr Quinn denied being anti-American and said that Mr Lynch’s wife had parked her car in front of the diesel pumps and told him to fill it with fuel.
Garda Peter Sarsfield who investigated the incident said that after viewing CCTV he called to Mr Lynch’s home but he (Mr Lynch) got very aggressive with him and told him that ‘if this goes through every single American company will pull out of Mayo’. He said he calledto the Lynch’s home on a second occasion but he was again very aggressive.
Mr Lynch claimed that Garda Sarsfield had threatened to tear his home apart and had come to ‘shake me down’. Garda Sarsfield said these were ‘scurrilous’ accusations which he very vigriously denied. They were totally without substance.
Mr Lynch said on the day of the incident he was not long out of hospital and was in no fit state to assault anyone and said the guards should start treating people with respect.
After Judge Devins convicted him of the charges, the court heard that Mr Lynch had dual citizenship and was retired for the last five years having worked in Ireland since 1969.
Judge Devins adjourned sentencing until October 19 and advised him to keep to the peace.