Oola vs Cappamore brawls appal judge
"THE boys from Oola and the boys from Cappamore" have been strongly criticised by a judge for engaging in pub brawls when the two factions meet.
Newport District Court was told that youths from the neighbouring villages regularly clash in East Limerick pubs where the intense rivalry between the groups boils over.
Judge Tom O'Donnell was dismayed at the casual way that witnesses in an assault case "take for granted that if there are boys from Oola and boys from Cappamore, then there is going to be a row - as if it was to be expected."
He also expressed his disgust that "spineless people" who witnessed an alleged assault were not prepared to provide statements to the gardai despite a young woman suffering a serious injury.
The judge was forced to dismiss the charges against two defendants because of the absence of corroborating evidence.
Sharon Gammell, 25, of Raesk, Pallasgreen and Sharon Beary, 28, of Hillview Grove, Doon were charged with assaulting Angelina Hallissey causing her harm at Miller's pub, Main Street, Oola on November 25, 2006.
Ms Hallissey suffered a broken wrist when she was set upon by two people who kicked her while she lying on the ground. The alleged incident happened when a fight broke out in the bar during which glasses and bottles were thrown around the room. Ms Hallissey alleged that Ms Beary pulled her to the ground and that Ms Gammell started kicking her in an unprovoked attack.
She said the alleged incident was particularly shocking to her because she did not know the accused and had never spoken to them before.
"I was in so much pain that I wanted to get out of there." Ms Hallissey told the court.
Sharon Gammell denied any involvement in the fight and said the only reason she was in the court with Sharon Beary was because of the prosecution. "Me and Sharon haven't spoken in two years." she told the court.
Superintendent Tony Kenneally put it to Ms Gammell that Ms Hallissey had clearly identified her as the person who kicked her. "That's lies." she replied.
Ms Beary took to the stand and said: "I can't even tell you if I saw her (Hallissey) that night because I don't know her from Adam." In her evidence, she said Sharon Gammell and herself "wouldn't have been together to attack this girl."
Garda Brian Murphy of Tipperary Town Garda Station said he had approached a number of people who were in Miller's bar on the night in question, but they had refused to make a statement because they did not want to get involved.
Judge O'Donnell said he was satisfied that the injured party was the victim of a gratuitous assault and that it was manifestly clear that she suffered a serious injury.
"If some of these spineless people who saw what happened on the night in question had done their duty, it would have helped greatly." Judge O'Donnell told the court.
"It is stunning to me that Ms Hallissey suffered such a serious injury and not one other person was prepared to make a statement of any kind. It is a very sad inditement of the culture that we have today."
In relation to the animosity that led to the bigger pub brawl, he said: "If the boys from Oola and the boys from Cappamore, and the girls from Oola and the girls from Cappamore can't go out of a night, perhaps there shouldn't be any discos at all."
The judge said the fact that the assault case "stinks to high heaven" is not proof that the assault took place.
"The absence of one scrap of evidence from independent witnesses means I have to dismiss the case against the accused." he concluded.
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