Six family members to stand trial after Co Donegal church brawl

Stephen Maguire

Six members of the same family are to stand trial following a brawl outside a Co Donegal church while Sunday mass was being said.

Five of the men appeared in person while another appeared by videolink before Judge Brendan O'Reilly at a sitting of Falcarragh District Court.

It follows an incident at the Church of the Irish Martyrs in Letterkenny on August 18th, 2024.

Members of the congregation had to be kept inside the church after the incident in which slash hooks, an axe, a saw and knives were produced.

A large squad of detectives, some armed, were waiting in the grounds of the church at Ballyraine to deal with the disturbance.

The incident was strongly condemned at the time by parish priest, Fr Ciaran Harkin who later reassured parishioners that steps had been taken to ensure nothing similar would happen again.

The men involved in the incident during 11am mass were all later arrested and charged by Gardai.

All six were charged with committing violent disorder in that they, with other persons, used or threatened to use unlawful violence and such conduct, taken together, was such as would cause a person of reasonable firmness present at said place to fear for his or another person’s safety.

The charge is contrary to section 15 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, 1994.

Judge O'Reilly was told by the men's solicitor, Mr Patsy Gallagher, that all had been served with books of evidence in the case.

All six will now go forward for trial at the next sitting of Letterkenny Circuit Court commencing on October 28th next.

All were released on bail apart from Brian Reilly who is currently being held in custody on other matters.

Michael Reilly Jr (31), of Kishogue Park, Lucan, Dublin, was charged with threatening and abusive behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace and also had a small axe and two sharp kitchen knives.

Michael Reilly Sr (57), of Tailteann Drive, Windtown, Navan, Co Meath, was also charged with threatening and abusive behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace as well as posession of a slash-hook with intention to cause injury or intimidate.

Thomas Reilly (22) and John Paul Reilly (30), both of Tailteann Drive, Windtown, Navan, Co Meath, were also charged with threatening and abusive behaviour and that they had a foldable garden saw with intention to cause injury or intimidate.

Brian Reilly, (28), is charged with producing a slash hook, intended to cause injury to, incapacitate or intimidate a person, to with production of an offensive weapon in a church car park in relation to an ongoing dispute with members of another family whom were present at the time.

The latter charge was contrary to section 9(5) of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act, 1990.

John Paul Reilly, (30), was also charged with threatening and abusive behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace and that he had in his possession a foldable garden saw with intention to cause injury or intimidate.

Gary Reilly (20), of Tailteann Drive, Windtown, Navan, was charged with violent disorder on the same date.

Judge O'Reilly issued the alibi warning to all accused men and adjourned the cases until October 28th next.

Legal aid was granted to Mr Gallagher and one junior counsel was assigned to the six accused.