JUDGE CRITICISES TRAVELLERS
DISTRICT Court Judge Kevin Kilrane has said he is getting tired of facilitating the settling of family feuds by granting adjournments and wants defendants in these cases to face the criminal process like other citizens.
He told Gardaí and solicitors at last Thursday’s sitting of the District Court that he wasn’t going facilitate these type of arrangements aimed at “keeping a lid on things” anymore.
These arrangements were made in order to placate the sides and it was often said if one was convicted and other wasn’t then it could lead to another row down the line.
“No other section of society is treated like this and the criminal law must be implemented,” he said, adding that there couldn’t be a parallel system of justice going on for one section of society.
“I’m getting fed up with this,” he said. Everyone was being asked to tip toe around these problems and inevitably in six months they flare up again.
“How long does society have to tolerate this parallel system that is going on?” he asked.
Two young men were before the court arising out of a public order incident at Castle Street on July 17 th last, John Sweeney, 4 Alma Terrace (20) and Michael Sweeney, 38 Old Bundoran Road (20), both described as “the next generation” of feuding families.
It was suggested by solicitors for both men, Mr Gerard McGovern and Mr Mark Mullaney that the matter would benefit from a long adjournment as was the case in other matters involving other parties.
Mr McGovern said it was part of the “whole family thing” which they were trying to put right. An adjournment may bring an end to it, he said, adding that mediation was the buzz word nowadays.
Judge Kilrane said there seemed to be an ongoing attempt by all just to keep a lid on things and “to try to stop them killing each other with implements” when they should be dealt with in the normal way like everyone else.
Inspector Paul Kilcoyne said he wished to proceed as soon as possible in order to send out a message.
On the day in question inconvenience had been caused to traffic and the public at Castle Street and incidents like these were taking up a huge amount of time and resources.
He felt that in this case it may be beneficial to proceed.
Judge Kilrane reiterated once more that he was “getting pretty tired of facilitating these settlements.” There is disruption to the public but when the matters came in to court they are then adjourned so as we tip toe around these peace settlements.
“No exception should be made for any group in society for that kind of behaviour. The criminal law should take its course in the normal way with the sanction of prison if that’s the case or acquittal.
“The case was adjourned to July 26 th for mention with liberty granted tot he Gardaí to re-enter the matter in the meantime.
The Judge returned to his earlier sentiments when dealing with another case where a 2o year old man appeared on a charge of causing criminal damage at 38 Old Bundoran Road.
Jonathan Sweeney of 62 Caltragh Heights gave an undertaking not to make any contact with the injured party and the case was put back to April 25 th 2019 with liberty to re-enter the matter once more being granted to the Gardaí.
Other cases involving the feuding families had been adjourned to that date at a previous court.
Nora Sweeney, whom Inspector Kilcoyne said wished to address the court, said that the windows in her house at 38 Old Bundoran Road had been broken five times in the past year.
The situation not only affected her but her neighbours she said.
Mrs Sweeney said it had also been put up on social media about when was she going to get her windows fixed.
Judge Kilrane asked the defendant if he knew anything about this damage and he replied that he did not. Addressing the Inspector and solicitors, Judge Kilrane said: “I mean what I said earlier. This pussy footing is going to stop very quickly.” He added that he did fear violence was going to break out.