A man, described as a peacemaker by his solicitor, who got between two brothers involved in a Christmas-time fracas in Salthill, received a three-month prison sentence for his season of goodwill efforts at Galway District Court.
Judge Fiona Lydon was told that the defendant before her, Mike Molloy, currently residing in the UK, was there on two public order charges, one for being drunk in public and the other for engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour.
The court heard Garda evidence that they had to deal with a fight in the street in Salthill, and Molloy was heard to shout “I’ll kill you”. It is believed the row was between extended family members, the judge was told. Molloy had 15 previous convictions.
Michael Cunningham, solicitor (defending ), said his client lived in the UK and was home for Christmas. Those involved in the fracas were not known to him, but he came between two fighting brothers as the peacemaker and was assaulted himself. This irritated him, and as a result, he was arrested.
He was out for the night in Salthill and got involved in someone else’s row, the defence pleaded. Molloy has five children and works full-time in his own business in the UK.
Judge Lydon said it was intolerable to have this sort of behaviour going on in Salthill and imposed a three-month prison sentence.
Fixing recognisances in the event of an appeal, the Judge said that as he lived outside the jurisdiction, he would have to come up with €500 in cash and an independent surety of €500.
Molloy was held in custody until his wife arrived with the cash bond. She was accepted as the independent surety and he was released pending an appeal.
