Second man charged in relation to organised public fist fight

A second man has appeared in court concerning an organised public fist fight in a field outside Kilrush that was videoed and later uploaded to Facebook and Youtube.

At Kilrush District Court this week, Inspector Tom Kennedy said that it will be alleged that Detective Garda Conor Flaherty, while on mobile patrol on August 5 last, observed a bare chested Alan Clohessy, (27), with his hands taped engaged in a fist fight with another bare chested man in a field in Cappagh, just outside the town.

The alleged fight between Mr Clohessy of Frances Street, Kilrush and the another man was filmed and later uploaded to social media. Between 20 and 30 males were watching the fiust fight.

In the case, Mr Clohessy is accused of breaching Section 16 of the Criminal Justice Public Order Act where he is alleged to have committed an affray with another man in that he used or threatened to use unlawful violence towards each other and such conduct resulted in a person present to fear for his or another person’s safety.

Insp Kennedy reminded Judge Patrick Durcan that it was the second such case to come before him.

In reply, Judge Durcan said: “This is the faction fight.”

In court last month, Judge Durcan declined jurisdiction in relation to the other man in the alleged fight, Anthony Kelly,(37), of Place de Plouzane and transferred the case to the circuit court where more serious penalties apply on conviction.

Mr Kelly is facing the same charge as Mr Clohessy and in the district court on conviction, penalties of up to one year in jail apply while this increases to jail terms up to five years in the circuit court on conviction.

In court on Tuesday, Detective Garda Conor Flaherty said that he observed a large crowd heading out towards Cappagh outside Kilrush on August 5 last. He said: “On closer inspection, I saw the accused in a fight with another male. The two were bare chested”.

Insp Kennedy said that it will be alleged that this was an organised fight. He said that the two had their shirts off, hands tapped up while Detective Flaherty said that there was also a man acting as referee present.

In reply, Judge Durcan said that he is also refusing jurisdiction in the Alan Clohessy case.

Judge Durcan remanded Mr Clohessey on bail to June 12 for the serving of the Book of Evidence.

The case will then be forwarded to Ennis Circuit Court.