Four months in jail for affray at hotel in Carlow
The Woodford Dolmen Hotel
A MAN who got involved in a row between two women after he drank “copious amounts of alcohol” at a local hotel was handed a four-month custodial sentence when he appeared before Carlow District Court last week. Richard O’Brien was found guilty of committing an affray at the Woodford Dolmen Hotel, Kilkenny Road, Carlow on 28 January 2023.
Sergeant Hud Kelly told the court that gardaí attended the scene of a row at the hotel, where they found a “very volatile and threatening situation”.
Two women were fighting each other and a man had got involved, Sergeant Kelly told Judge Geraldine Carthy.
Full evidence of the row and Mr O’Brien’s involvement in it had been heard at a previous court sitting, with Mr O’Brien being found guilty in his absence.
He had initially pleaded not guilty to the charge and, having been found guilty in his absence, Judge Carthy had to issue a bench warrant for him to appear in court for sentencing last week.
Solicitor Alex Rafter told Judge Carthy had 27-year-old Mr O’Brien wanted to apologise to her for his non-appearance.
He continued that his client had “copious amounts of alcohol” that night and that he got involved in the row because his partner was involved.
Mr Rafter continued that Mr O’Brien, a father of one child, had no previous convictions and that he wished to avoid getting a conviction by contributing €300 to the court poor box.
However, Judge Carthy refused Mr Rafter’s submission, noting that Mr O’Brien had missed several court dates, that he had been found guilty in his absence and that a bench warrant had to be issued for his arrest so that he could be brought to court and sentenced.
“He didn’t bother his head to appear at the hearing date,” said Judge McCarthy. “I’m not convinced of his remorse.” She then sentenced Mr O’Brien of Ballymany Cottages, Newbridge, Co Kildare to four months’ imprisonment, which Mr O’Brien is appealing.
