A Clare man who beat another man over the head with a billiard cue during a family feud has been given a two-year suspended sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The attack started a night of violence between two traveller families during which a man was murdered.
Timothy Joyce (30), of Ballymurtagh Cross, Shannon, pleaded guilty to common assault on Mr Martin Anthony McDonagh at a pub in St Helena's Drive in Finglas on November 9th, 1996.
Det Sgt Ray Brennan told Mr Tom O'Connell, prosecuting, that the feud between the Joyce and Quinn-McDonagh families had been going on since 1973. It was accepted that when fights started, the McDonagh family generally came out on top.
On the day of the assault members of the Joyce family had travelled from England to attend a funeral in Offaly, and then went to Dublin. Timothy Joyce went to St Helena's Drive to drink with his five sons and some others.
Mr McDonagh came in and Joyce asked him to leave. Mr McDonagh said: "There's no one here to put me out," and Joyce hit him over the shoulder with a billiard cue.
The incident started a night of violence in which another Timothy Joyce, a cousin of the defendant, was murdered by David McDonagh.
Mr Paul McDermott, defending, said that the attack was totally out of character for Joyce, who had no previous convictions.
Judge Frank O'Donnell said it was clear that Joyce was basically a decent man who got caught up in a long-running dispute. However, the court could not ignore the seriousness of the offence.
He imposed a two-year suspended sentence and told Joyce that he was now being given a chance which he should avail of.