Turf war frostiness melts as ice cream men drop claims
In the initial accusations made in the case, one of them claimed that the other man reached into his van and pulled his ice cream lever, in a scenario more reminiscent of Tom and Jerry than Ben and Jerry.
It had been stated that the alleged incidents occurred in the context of a highly competitive ice cream van trade in Cork City and turf wars between the two men.
Frederick Williams, aged 31, of 18 Orrery Rd, Gurranabraher, Cork, came before Cork District Court yesterday to face a charge of assault causing harm to Alan O’Halloran, aged 29, of 44 Churchfield Gardens, Churchfield, Cork, at Pearse Rd, Ballyphehane, Cork, on September 20, 2013. Mr O’Halloran was accused of assault causing harm to Mr Williams on the same occasion.
However, Inspector Michael McGuire said both wanted to withdraw their statements of complaint.
Mr O’Halloran got into the witness box and said of his assault allegation: “I want to withdraw it.”
Similarly, Mr Williamson said: “I want to forget about it.”
Both said they were not under any pressure to do so.
Inspector McGuire applied to Judge Olann Kelleher to put both men on a bond to keep the peace for the next 12 months, to ensure against any ‘ripples’.
It was previously stated that Mr Williams took exception to Mr O’Halloran being on his ‘turf’ in a housing estate and so he blocked Mr Williams’s van. Mr Williams allegedly got out of his van and reached inside Mr O’Halloran’s van and pulled the ice cream lever. Mr O’Halloran went to stop him and he claimed Mr Williams threw a punch making slight contact with his face. Mr O’Halloran allegedly pushed Mr Williams’s shoulder and he fell awkwardly, dislocating his shoulder.
When the defendants withdrew their allegations, they were in effect no longer complaining of being given a ‘flake’ of any kind.
Then they left court as pure as the driven snow — or indeed their driven ice cream.
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