THE LEADERS of two families involved in a Traveller feud yesterday said they had agreed a truce after a Circuit Court judge sentenced 64 of them to suspended sentences arising from a riot 2½ years ago.
Those in court, including two women, two girls and 60 men, were charged with violent disorder over a riot in Dalton Park, Mullingar, Co Westmeath, in July 2008. They received suspended sentences of between six months and four years.
Judge Anthony Kennedy was told at a sitting of Mullingar Circuit Court, sitting in Tullamore, Co Offaly, that the riot was sparked because a member of the Nevin family had not paid a debt owed to the Dinnegan family.
Members of the extended families live in Mullingar, with many residing on the Dalton Park estate where the riot took place.
The court heard efforts had been made by a Government-appointed mediator to resolve tensions, but these had failed. The families decided to settle the issue with a 30-minute fight using rocks and weapons including swords, baseball bats and pitchforks.
The judge described the evidence as indicative of “criminality and lawlessness” that had “terrorised” the local community.
He suspended all sentences on condition the convicted men and women do not engage in any further feud-related offences.
“Thanks be to God no one is going to prison, and it will learn people to respect and get on with one another; that’s the most important thing,” said Anthony Dinnegan (37) on behalf of his family outside the court.
Christy “Ditzy” Nevin (55), said on behalf of his family: “I don’t think there’ll be any more trouble. hanging over everybody’s head and they know that.”
Supt John Gantley said the families had a tradition of organised boxing matches that later gave rise to disputes.
“We’re dealing with a lot of people who engaged in very serious violence. I have serious difficulties about future incidents.”
There was a heavy Garda presence outside yesterday’s hearing, involving members of the Public Order Unit, Garda Dog Unit and armed Regional Support Unit.
Prosecuting counsel John Hayden said that in July 2008, the families had been unable to reach a compromise. The heads of the opposing families – “Ditzy” Nevin, St Michael’s Park, Mullingar, and Anthony Dinnegan, Macetown, Cloughan, Mullingar – would not “move their position”.
Comments on a PrimetimeTV programme by Thomas Nevin, Ardleigh Vale, Mullingar "were seen as an insult, or provocative". Mr Nevin had said his family "owns Mullingar". The court was told peace had been agreed when a woman named only as "Granny McDonagh" had recently died.