Mayo jury find two men guilty of serious assaults in Castlebar home

TWO men who were accused of beating up two other men in a Castlebar house which resulted in one man sustaining a perforated bowel were found guilty by a jury of all charges against them.

John Paul Cunningham (44) of 26 Gladesville, Castlebar and Martin Regan (39) of Aghadrinagh, Castlebar were both found guilty by a jury this afternoon of assault causing harm and causing serious harm to Conor Sheridan (28) at 26 Gladesville, Castlebar on December 8, 2020 as well as false imprisonment of Mr Sheridan.

They were also found guilty of assault causing harm to Dean Cleary (32) at the same location and date along with attempting to pervert the course of justice between December 8 and 9, 2020 at 26 Gladesville, Castlebar.

A third co-accused, Mary Fox (52) of 26 Gladesville, Castlebar was acquitted of causing serious harm to Mr Sheridan and assault causing harm to Mr Cleary but was found guilty of false imprisonment of Mr Sheridan; attempting to pervert the course of justice, as well as a separate charge of threatening to kill or cause serious harm to Mr Cleary at 26 Gladesville, Castlebar on December 8, 2020.

All three pleaded not guilty to the charges and the trial took place over 15 days before Judge Eoin Garavan at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court.

Evidence was heard that Mr Sheridan and Mr Cleary were beaten continuously by Mr Regan and Mr Cunningham in a bedroom in 26 Gladesville, Castlebar.

The two complainants claimed that during the night, Mr Regan and Mr Cunningham came into the bedroom they were in and started to assault them. Conor Sheridan claimed that Mr Cunningham hit him with the buckle of a belt while Mr Regan assaulted him with a stick.

Mr Cleary also claimed that Mr Cunningham also used a t-towel filled with coal to assault them while he accused Ms Fox of threatening to pour boiling water and sugar on his genitals.

They both claimed that they were told not to leave the room after the assault ended but Mr Sheridan claimed he jumped out the window at around 7am and fled with no shoes on.

The jury was told that Mr Sheridan was pumping blood and he was treated for a perforated bowel as well as a fractured nose. Mr Cleary suffered injuries to his face and he claimed he was forced to burn items of clothing after the assault.

Both complainants had previously been in a sexual relationship when they met by chance in the TF Royal Hotel in Castlebar on December 7.

At the time Mr Cleary lived at 26 Gladesville and he was in the company of Ms Fox, Mr Cunningham and Tommy Phelan, the son of Ms Fox in the TF.

They eventually went back to 26 Gladesville where the jury heard that they continued drinking. Mr Regan had been staying in the house at the time and was drinking with the group when they arrived at the house.

When the three defendants were arrested by gardaí and questioned in relation to the injuries sustained by the two complainants, they all denied that they had assaulted the two men in a bedroom. The three told gardaí that the two complainants had been arguing in the bedroom that night and it was claimed the injuries occurred as a result of a lover's tiff.

The jury of nine men and three women deliberated the charges over two days before recording their verdicts late on Thursday afternoon.

All three defendants were denied bail and remanded in custody to appear before Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court on July 10 for sentencing.

Mr Kenneth Fogarty, senior counsel for Mr Regan asked for the preparation of a probation report and a medical report while Mr Diarmuid Connolly, junior counsel for Mr Cunningham requested a Governor's report and medical reports.

Mr Barry White, senior counsel for Ms Fox also sought a medical report in relation to his client in preparation for sentencing in July.