Suspended sentence for three people involved in housing estate clashes

ALTERCATION IN ADAMSTOWN WAS OF A ‘FAMILY NATURE’

THREE people who were involved in an altercation at an Adamstown housing estate have been given 12-month suspended prison sentences.

Sean Mahon, 5 Mountain View, Rathnure; Sarah Mahon, 13 Woodview Drive, Adamstown and Paul Foley, also of 13 Woodview Drive, Adamstown, all pleaded guilty to a charge of affray when they appeared before Wexford Circuit Criminal Court.

Garda Derek Campion told the court that all three were involved in a disturbance at Woodview Drive, Adamstown, on December 6. 2015.

Gardai were initially called to deal with an incident where a Sean Hurley, along with other individuals, had tried to gain access to his daughter at No 13 Woodview Drive.

When Mr Hurley was refused entry, he returned to another house in Woodview Drive, where he had been drinking earlier in the evening.

Gardai spoke with the injured party at No 13, who had been babysitting the child for her mother, Sarah Mahon, who was not at the house.

Garda Campion said they spoke with the individuals who had called to No 13, with another person admitting to causing damage to the property.

Gardai were about to leave the estate when a car containing Sean and Sarah Mahon, their father Philip Mahon and Paul Foley entered the estate.

The occupants of the car got out and went over to Mr Hurley. A scuffle broke out involving Mr Hurley, Sean Mahon and Paul Foley. Garda Campion said Foley knocked Mr Hurley to the ground and was punched and kicked to the head.

A woman then emerged from a house and was involved in an altercation with Sarah Mahon. Philip Mahon attempted to calm the situation, which occurred in full view of gardai.

Garda Campion said Sara Mahon had five previous road traffic convictions, Paul Foley had 69 previous convictions for road traffic, public order and criminal damage offences while Sean Mahon had five previous road traffic convictions.

Defence counsel Dylan Redmond, for Sarah Mahon, told the court that his client received a telephone call relating to an incident at her house involving three men where a window had been damaged.

By her own admission, she lost her temper due to family nature of the matter. Ms Mahon has expressed her embarrassment and remorse at what had happened, said Mr Redmond. She is the mother of three children and is a low risk of re-offending. She has not come to the attention of gardai since.

Defence counsel Liam Stafford, for Paul Foley, said his client has an unfortunate history of offending. Foley lives with Sarah Mahon in Adamstown and they have a one-year-old daughter together. Mr Stafford said alcohol also played a significant role in the incident.

Ms Jacqueline Curran, Defence Counsel for Sean Mahon, said he had never come to the attention of the court except for minor traffic offences. She said that the Probation and Welfare report is very favourable towards him.

Judge Quinn said he would impose a 12-month prison sentence on each defendant, but would suspend the sentence in its entirety, on each entering their own bond of €200 to keep the peace for 12 months from the day of the court.

In relation to Sarah Mahon he also ordered her to come under the supervision of the Probation Services for twelve months, while Paul Foley was also ordered to enter a bond to come under Probation Services for two years from the day of the hearing.