Limerick garda feared for his safety when caught up in traveller fight that involved up to 50 people

A MEMBER of An Garda Síochána told Limerick Circuit Court that in a fight between two feuding traveller families in Kilmallock that “violence intensified very quickly.”

Garda Niall McInerney told the circuit court, sitting in Newcastle West, that on September 12, 2021, he was alerted to youths causing a disturbance in Riverview Estate in Kilmallock. 

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He told Judge Colin Daly that what started with less than five people soon escalated after two cars drove into the estate. 

“There were about 40 or 50 persons, all males and I was caught up between the McDonagh and O'Reilly families,” Garda McInerney said. 

He said that  slash hooks, shovels, golf clubs, branches of trees up to three inches in diameter and hurleys were all being used as weapons. 

“The violence intensified very quickly and I was in fear of my safety,” Garda McInerney told the court, adding that he radioed for assistance. 

 He said that the whole fight lasted about ten minutes. 

Martin O'Reilly of Portauns, Kilmallock, was appealing a conviction from the district court for violent disorder for his part in the incident. 

Garda McInerney told the court that Mr O'Reilly was in front of him and he saw him engage in the fighting, but that he did not have a weapon and was using his fists. 

He told the court that he received a call about “tension in the area”, adding “I witnessed the fight start.” 

The garda from Hospital garda station said that he is very familiar with Mr O'Reilly and members of both families. 

“I directed him (Martin O'Reilly) to stand back and he pushed me back,” he said. 

Barrister for Mr O'Reillly, Nicholas Hall BL, put it to Garda McInerney that his client was trying to restore calm and stop the fighting. 

“His father and two of his uncles were trying to calm it down, but persons of the defendant's age and just older or younger, they were not involved in trying to restore calm. The aggression was in his face - I know him a long time and it's not all bad,” Garda McInerney told the court. 

He added: “I could see the raw aggression on his face.”

Mr Hall said that when his client arrived, he was trying to get his family to desist from fighting.

“He was trying to retrieve his brother from the situation,” Mr Hall said, but Garda McInerney disagreed. 

Taking the witness stand himself, Mr O’Reilly told the court that he had become aware that tensions had mounted between young members of both his and the McDonagh family and that those involved were around 14 to 16 years of age. 

“I was trying to stop it, I seen my brother, went over and pulled him away and got a cut on my head,” he said. 

Mr O’Reilly was firm in his involvement and told the court: “I did not retaliate.”

“I was not fighting anyone, not in any way,” he added. 

The court heard that the 32-year-old was 27 at the time.

He said: “I’d have a bit more cop on. I did push past Garda McInerney, but I didn’t do it in a harmful way, I was trying to get the lads to stop fighting.”

“I was trying to be the better person and stop the fighting from happening,” Mr O’Reilly said. 

Judge Colin Daly said that he was satisfied that Mr O’Reilly was in Riverview Estate at the time of the incident and when the row broke out, that he pushed past Garda McInerney.

“The accused should have left when he was directed to do so, he didn’t do that,” Judge Daly said, adding that it was a “serious incident in a public place where unlawful violence ensued.”

The court heard that Mr O’Reilly has two young children and another three children from a former partner and is currently not working. 

Barrister Nicholas Hall BL in mitigation said that his client was making “a genuine and honest attempt to help members of his family.” 

Judge Daly did not grant the appeal. Mr O’Reilly was sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for 12 months on his own bond of €100 to keep the peace and be of good behaviour. He was also fined €500 and given 90 days to pay.