Youth ‘lynch mob’ terrorised family

A judge has said four men "behaved like a lynch mob from the days of the wild west" when they terrorised a Shannon family in the early hours of New Year’s Day in 2012.

At Ennis Circuit Court, Judge Gerald Keyes said the four had planned a confrontation with an innocent family, the Murphys, at their Shannon home at 4.30am and “terrorised the family”.

The four — three of whom play for the local rugby club — all escaped jail when they paid €2,000 each in compensation to grandfather Michael Murphy, aged 45, who was kicked and punched in the head, requiring stitches.

Imposing suspended two- year jail terms on each, Judge Keyes said the four “taking the law into their own hands in order to apply retribution for an alleged incident earlier that night will not be tolerated by this court”.

The judge said: “Your conduct cannot be tolerated or excused because to do so would encourage anarchy and lead to a complete breakdown of law and order in our society.”

He said one of the gang, not before the court, threatened to burn the house down. The court heard that, in reply, Mr Murphy pleaded: “There are kids in the house,” and was told by the gang member: “Fuck the kids.”

At home with Mr Murphy were his wife, son Ciaran, daughter and grandchild, a baby at the time.

A gang of eight had arrived at the door searching out Mr Murphy’s son, Ciaran, who had been involved in an altercation with one of the accused, Daniel Larkin, earlier that night.

Jake Egan, aged 22, of 53 Aidan Park, Shannon; Gearóid Condron, aged 22, of Drumline, Newmarket on Fergus; Shane O’Connor, aged 22, of 37, Ballycasey More, Shannon; and Larkin, aged 22, of Mount Ivers, Sixmilebridge, all pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Cluain Álainn, Shannon. Judge Keyes said all four carry equal responsibility for the disorder, no matter what their role.

He said Jake Egan put his foot in the door, preventing Michael Murphy from closing it. Ciaran Murphy came to the doorway and brandished a knife to get the gang to disperse. His mother took the knife from him.

The confrontation went outside, where Michael and Ciaran Murphy were encircled by the gang and were struck from behind “by another and then another”.

Michael Murphy was forced to engage in fisticuffs with Egan. Mr Murphy retreated to his home, where Gearóid Condron entered and engaged in fighting with Mr Murphy, who received a cut to his eye.

Ciaran Murphy came to protect his father and hit Condron on the head with a golf club.

Judge Keyes, noting that all four were remorseful, said they “should apologise to your parents, who have given their time, efforts and money in educating you”.