Mass brawl like a scene from Wild West, says garda

A mass brawl in a pub “was like a scene out of a Wild West movie”, a garda told a court yesterday.

At Ennis Circuit Court, Sgt Mark Murphy said there was “chaos and mayhem” at the Lifford Bar, which has since closed, in Ennis, Co Clare, on Oct 27, 2010.

Sgt Murphy said glasses and bottles were being thrown and that tables and stools were knocked over and being used as weapons.

Sgt Murphy said that gardaí arrived at the pub, located just over 100m from Ennis Garda Station, in a bid to quell the disturbance but had to retreat outside.

Sgt Murphy said that gardaí were “outnumbered”, telling the court that “the two sides in the row began to turn on us.

“I saw that members were becoming isolated in different rows in the premises and because of that high risk, I ordered a retreat outside.

“Everyone inside was fighting. I mean everybody was fighting.

“It was like a scene from a Wild West movie. It was chaos and mayhem.”

In the case, four Travellers pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

Sgt Murphy said one, John Anthony McDonagh, aged 23, of Léim an Bhreadáin, Gort Rd, Ennis, went behind the bar counter during the brawl.

“Mr McDonagh was throwing glasses with both hands. He was laughing and smiling throwing these glasses indiscriminately. It was complete, random, indiscriminate throwing of glasses.”

Anthony Mongans, aged 23, of Knockanean, Tulla Rd, Ennis; Martin Gilhealy Mongans, aged 35, of Clancy Park, Ennis; and Michael McDonagh, aged 39, of Dún na hInse, also pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

All four yesterday walked free from court after Judge Carroll Moran imposed suspended, two-year jail terms on the men.

Sgt Murphy said that the group was in the pub to celebrate the birthday of a Martin Mongans, who was not before the court.

He said the disturbance was sparked by a verbal row between John Anthony McDonagh and Martin Gilhealy Mongans and a punch was then thrown.

He said the row was not part of an ongoing Traveller feud and that the two sides were talking again to each other the next day.

Brian McInerney, defending, said that the disturbance occurred because of drink “and hang-ups over misguided family loyalties”.

Sentencing the four, Judge Carroll Moran said they had engaged in a “disgraceful incident”.

“All have pleaded guilty and co-operated with gardaí and apologised.

“Fortunately, this is not part of an ongoing feud and there has been peace and tranquility since.”