Violent face-off with gardaí

A house was barricaded with a stove as people armed with knives, golf clubs, and a machete threw bottles from inside during a face-off with gardaí, with a television thrown through an upstairs window.

Two men were sentenced yesterday for engaging in violent disorder at the house at Old Spangle Hill, Cork. Judge David Riordan gave both of them five-year sentences suspended on condition that they would keep the peace for the next five years.

Sergeant Joseph Maher outlined the background to the violent disorder to which Frank Ahern, 44, of 15 Old Spangle Hill, and Eric O’Driscoll, of 20 Cushing Place, Farranree, Cork, both pleaded guilty.

“I was on patrol at Cushing Place and observed Eric O’Driscoll and Frank Ahern. Mr O’Driscoll had a machete in his hand.

“On seeing us, both of them ran to the house at 15 Spangle Hill. Mr O’Driscoll was holding the machete and Mr Ahern was threatening us with closed fists. Over the next four hours they repeatedly entered into and exited the front garden of the property brandishing a machete, golf club, chair and iron bar.

“Members of the Regional Support Unit had to forcibly enter the house which was barricaded with a stove.”