Men wanted to solve row using ‘rules of boxing’

TWO men charged with damaging the door of a house in Ennis had gone there to sort out a matter under boxing rules laid down in 1869, a court was told yesterday.

Cousins Patrick and Thomas Molloy were not armed and the only items they carried were boxing gloves.

Their plan was to deal with an issue ‘man-to-man’ under Marquess of Queensberry Rules, Limerick District Court heard.

Patrick Molloy, who is in his 20s, of Gordon Drive, Ennis, and Thomas Molloy, aged 19, whose address is the halting site at Balloughboy, Quin Road, Ennis, Co Clare, had been in custody since their arrest on Tuesday at Sandfield, Ennis.

Garda Edel Bourke gave evidence of arresting the two after it is alleged they went to a residence at Sandfield with a third man and began a barrage attack on the door of the house.

Garda Bourke said the incident had been caught on CCTV located in the area.

She said gardaí objected to bail, saying a threat had been made in court prior to the hearing to one of the alleged injured parties.

William Cahir, solicitor for the two Molloys, said the charge against the two defendants was one of alleged criminal damage to a door.

He said the Molloys had gone to the residence at Sandfield and the only items they had with them were pairs of boxing gloves.

It was their intention to deal with a matter there under the rules of boxing as set out by the Marquess of Queensberry in 1869.

“They just had boxing gloves and no other items of overt violence, he said.

Mr Cahir said their intention was to deal with a matter man-to-man in a fair fight and they had no weapons of violence. The only charge against them is one alleging criminal damage and there is no charge of any violence.

“There was no physical violence, they just showed up with boxing gloves as set out in the Queensberry rules” said Mr Cahir.

Judge John O’Neill granted bail on condition that both defendants say away from the alleged injured party; sign on daily at Ennis Garda Station; abide by a nighttime curfew and reside at the addresses given to gardaí.

The case was adjourned to Ennis District Court on September 9.