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.

Mr McGrath, aged 50, of Garrencasey, Newcastle, denies committing violent disorder on August 14, 2006, and denies assaulting Timothy Cleere, 19, causing him harm. Five co-accused, including the deputy’s son Edmund McGrath, also deny the same charges at Clonmel Circuit Court.

Mattie McGrath has also pleaded not guilty to a breach of the peace.

The other accused are Edmund McGrath of Garrencasey, Newcastle; Anthony O’Dwyer of Garrencasey, Newcastle; James Lonergan of 28 Liam Lynch Terrace, Newcastle; Christopher Cullinan of 7 Liam Lynch Terrace, Newcastle; and Jason Aherne of 11 Liam Lynch Terrace, Newcastle. Christopher Cullinan is also accused of assaulting Eric Reith on the night, which followed a vintage car rally held that day in Newcastle.

Eric Reith, 24, said yesterday in court that he was out with a group of friends on the night of the rally and, after two of the young men were refused drink at the local pub, they were around a bus shelter and a car park.

He said he heard Mattie McGrath shouting at some of the others, “calling them vandals and pups and that they’d no need to be here”.

Mattie McGrath got into a car and was on the phone.

“The instant he hung up, a lot of men came running out from the pub,” said Mr Reith.

“Mattie confronted me and said I had no business there and to go away, that it was nothing to do with me.”

The witness said he tried to go to help Timothy Cleere. “He [Mattie McGrath] just grabbed on to my shirt and started pulling me back and wouldn’t let me go. Next thing Vic [Christopher] Cullinan came across and started hitting me on the face. It left a scar.”

Asked about Mattie McGrath, he said: “He was obviously drunk. The thing [vintage rally] was on all day.”

Another witness, Lorcan McCarra, said he was woken by more noise outside and saw a “melee” with a big group of people. “I could see Mattie trying to break it up and trying to separate them,” he said. “I could say the same about Eric Reith. As far as I could see, the two peacemakers were Mattie and Eric.”

The trial continues today before a jury and Judge Donagh McDonagh.