TD was obviously drunk on night of row, court told

A FIANNA Fáil TD was “obviously drunk” on the night of a serious row outside a pub over two years ago, a criminal trial has heard.

Mattie McGrath, elected to the Dáil at the first attempt last year for the South Tipperary constituency, told a group of young people in his home village of Newcastle that they were “vandals” and “pups” and subsequently prevented a man who was hit in the face from moving, Clonmel Circuit Court was told.

The court was also told that the politician was acting as a “peacemaker” during the melee on Newcastle’s main street.