Limerick county final victory turned into 'night of thuggery' in Cork pub, judge says

Judge Colm Roberts said there was a total conflict of evidence, no witnesses and no CCTV and in the circumstances his only option was to dismiss the case

Inspector Tony O’Sullivan told Fermoy District Court (pictured) that Patrick Cronin and John Cleary were both charged with assaulting each other in Walsh’s Bar, Mitchelstown, Co Cork, on the night of October 9, 2022. File picture: Denis Minihane

A disagreement between “two supposedly respectable members of the community” turned what should have been a night of celebration into “a night of thuggery”, according to a district court judge.

Inspector Tony O’Sullivan told Fermoy District Court that Patrick Cronin, aged 53, of Anglesboro, Kilmallock, Co Limerick, and John Cleary, aged 41, of Shrove, Kilbehenny, Co Limerick, were both charged with assaulting each other in Walsh’s Bar, Mitchelstown, Co Cork, on the night of October 9, 2022. Both men denied the charges.