Suspendedsentencefor protectionorderbreach

A SON found guilty of breaking a protection order obtained by his father was handed a suspended sentenced last week.

Gerard Doyle, 10 Abbey Manor, Arklow, took to the witness box to give an emotional testimony at Arklow District Court on Wednesday, October 18.

On June 18, 2017, he said he heard shouting from upstairs between his wife and one of his sons, Aron Doyle. Another son, Darrel, became involved in the row and began arguing with his brother Aron.

‘I called the gardaí because I knew there was going to be trouble. Aron came at me raging. I felt very scared and very nervous,’ said George Doyle.

He added that he went outside after calling the Gardai and was followed by Aron, whom he described as ‘angry.’

Mr Doyle told the court he circled his parked car a number of times, followed by Aron, until the gardaí arrived.

Mr Doyle said he has protection orders against two of his sons, Aron and Darrel.

‘I love my sons, but I don’t like the way Aron treats us, or Darrel.’

Aron Doyle gave his own evidence, maintaining that he had been struck four to five times with a golf club after getting into an argument with his brother. He ended up punching his brother in retaliation.

He denied he was acting in a threatening manner toward his father.

‘I was trying to calm him down and speak to him. He kept running away like a scared child as if I was going to threaten him, which I wasn’t. I felt really hurt, like I was being singled out,’ the younger Mr Doyle said.

Aron Doyle still lives at the same address along with is father, mother and two brothers, the court was told.

‘My dad might have me here in court today but in four days time I’ll be singing with him in the pub. I never threatened him. He just kept doing squares around the car. I was trying to explain to him, the damage to my back especially.’

Judge David Kennedy said he accepted Gerard Doyle’s evidence and had sympathy for his plight. He sentenced Aron Doyle to three months imprisonment, suspended for 12 months on his own bond of €100 to be of good behaviour.