A row between parents over an alleged school bullying incident developed into an ugly brawl in which two innocent people were assaulted, a court heard yesterday.
Michael and Sharon Kennedy, parents of the child accused of bullying, were both convicted and fined for assault arising out of the incident at St Mary's GAA Club, Leixlip, Co Kildare, on July 13th, 2003.
Dublin District Court heard that a row developed inside the club between the Kennedys and Áine Harrington, who had previously made a complaint to the school principal about an alleged bullying incident by the Kennedys' son against her boy.
Mr Kennedy, of Loughmona Crescent, Leixlip, grabbed Ms Harrington's partner, Gerry Cross, by the shirt following an exchange of words in which Mr Kennedy said to Mr Cross: "Them's fighting words where I come from".
Mr Kennedy's wife started verbally attacking Ms Harrington over the complaint she had made about the alleged bullying.
Ms Harrington phoned her sister, Sharon Blaney, who arrived in a taxi with her husband, Gerry Blaney, to collect them. But as they were trying to get into the taxi, Mr Kennedy attacked Mr Blaney, saying: "Come on, big man, one on one" and pulled him to the ground.
Mr Blaney suffered a fractured wrist and injuries to his thumb, knees and ankle. Ms Kennedy, meanwhile, attacked Ms Harrington, punching her in the face.
Mr Kennedy told the court that he was threatened by Mr Cross in the club, and outside Mr Blaney had tried to attack his wife. He said he jumped in to defend his wife and that while he was on the ground with Mr Blaney he was kicked by Mr Cross.
Judge Cormac Dunne said it was enough of a tragedy and trauma that children come into conflict "without their parents visiting it on one another".
The Blaneys appeared to be "totally innocent parties and removed from this dispute between Ms Harrington and the Kennedys".
He fined Mr Kennedy €750 and Ms Kennedy €500 after hearing neither had previous convictions.