SEVEN BROTHERS, who were among a group of people who violently took over a north Dublin pub, causing €90,000 of damage, have received sentences of between 2½ and four years each.
The court heard that the pub had been under the control of the group for about an hour and three quarters before being reclaimed by force by the Garda Public Order Unit.
Martin (41), David (37), Brian (31), Christopher (27), Paul (26), William (25) and Stephen (24) Lawrence all pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to violent disorder at John D’s pub, on the Dublin Road, Balbriggan, on bank holiday Monday, May 4th, 2009.
The Lawrence brothers comprise four Balbriggan residents: David of Gardiners Hill, Paul of Hamilton Terrace, William of Milara Court and Stephen of Pinewood Green Road; along with Martin of The Dunes, Enniscrone, Co Sligo; Brian of Talbot Hall, Applewood, Swords; and Christopher of Mourne Park, Skerries.
Judge Katherine Delahunt sentenced David Lawrence, who had been barred from the family-run pub and whom she described as the “ring leader”, to four years in jail with the final 12 months suspended.
She said David Lawrence had been the most threatening on the day and had thrown a bottle at Sinéad Roe, one of the licensees of the pub.
She sentenced Christopher, Paul, William and Martin Lawrence each to two years and six months with the final year suspended.
The judge gave two-year sentences each to Brian and Stephen Lawrence and suspended the final 12 months in both cases.
She accepted each man, particularly Brian Lawrence, had entered early guilty pleas, had expressed remorse and shame and had gathered a combined €9,200 in compensation, which included some of the brothers’ bail money.
She acknowledged the various amounts raised reflected the brothers’ personal circumstances, but told them she would never accept alcohol abuse as a reason for offending behaviour.
She said: “Each of you, to a greater or lesser extent, caused the damage and you all participated in wanton vandalism.”
The court was told that William Roe had taken the lease on the pub about 11 months beforehand and had spent about €45,000 on decorating and fireproofing the pub in that time.
Mr Roe told gardaí after the incident that the scene inside the pub was “similar to a battle zone”.
Televisions, furniture, beer pumps, shelves and plaster work had been smashed and 103 panes of glass had to be refitted.
A snooker table had been pushed up against a back door to prevent gardaí gaining access.
Judge Delahunt said the brothers actions had ruined the “hopes and aspirations” of the Roe family, who are unemployed as a result.
Mr Roe told gardaí that the Lawrence family had been in the pub since the afternoon and had drunk approximately five pints each.
Sgt Liam Donahue said CCTV footage showed the men, some of them shirtless, variously barricade the pub doors with stools, smash windows, break tables, smash pumps, spill alcohol and try to force the door to the office where the CCTV equipment was stored.
At one point, David Lawrence is seen to escort a female garda from the pub after she had become surrounded.
Bottles and stools were also thrown at the Garda Public Order Unit as they tried to gain entry and fire extinguishers were sprayed at them.
Sgt Donahue said the CCTV footage cut out for a period of time when the electricity was switched off and when it resumed all the damage to the pub had been done.
Christopher Lawrence had 12 previous convictions, Paul Lawrence had 33, William Lawrence had 29, David Lawrence had three, Stephen Lawrence had 32, Martin Lawrence had 24 and Brian Lawrence had 16.
Most of these were for minor road traffic and public order offences.