A Letterkenny man charged with producing a brush handle during a fracas at his home will be sentenced in November.
Tommy Connors was charged with producing an article during the course of a dispute.
The 41-year-old of Canal Road, Letterkenny was one of a number of people charged in connection with the incident.
Sergeant Jim Collins told the court that gardai were called to the location on May 29, 2019 by two people who claimed they were attacked by men brandishing hurleys and iron bars.
“There was quite a melee,” Sergeant Collins said. He added that other persons have also been prosecuted over this incident.
The court heard that Connors has a number of previous convictions, including for the production of an article, for which he received a six-month suspended sentence.
Mr Michael Shiel, solicitor for Connors, said this case is now five years old and arose due to a family dispute.
“Sergeant Collins mentioned iron bars, but my client is charged that he had a brush handle; just to point out that he didn’t have an iron bar,” Mr Shiel said.
“My client got involved. He shouldn’t have – and he now knows that. He went out, he got involved, but he didn’t strike anyone with the broom handle. He says that he had it in his hand to protect himself as a number of people became involved who had hurleys, iron bars and other implements.
“He had it to protect himself.”
Mr Shiel said that matters have now “settled and they are living in harmony.”
Judge Éiteáin Cunningham said this is a “serious matter and that type of a melee is not acceptable”.
Judge Cunningham asked that a probation and welfare report be prepared and adjourned the matter until November 18 for sentencing. This, Judge Cunningham said, would afford Connors an opportunity to engage with the Probation Service.