Suspended sentence for part in serious public order incident
By Brendan Grehan
A COUPLE and another man have received suspended sentences for their part in a serious public order incident at a halting site in Clondalkin after a funeral last year.
The funeral was of a young man who died tragically in Wheatfield Prison and whose death is still unexplained, the court heard.
Gerard Stokes, his wife, Kathleen, their daughter, Mary and Martin O’Donnell were before Judge David McHugh in Blanchardstown District Court for sentencing.
The court had heard that the gardai were called to a row at the halting site in Shancastle Avenue in Clondalkin on September 27, 2017.
Gerard, aged 51, Kathleen, aged 46, and Mary, aged 23, all with an address at Shancastle Avenue, Clondalkin, had all pleaded guilty to breaching the peace and failing to comply with a garda’s directions at Shancastle Avenue on September 27, 2017.
Gerard had also pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Shancastle Avenue on the above date. Mary had also pleaded guilty to violent disorder and to obstructing a garda at Shancastle Avenue on the above date.
Kathleen had also pleaded guilty to obstructing a garda at Shancastle Avenue on the above date.
O’Donnell, aged 20, with an address at Tor An Rí Lane,Clondalkin, had pleaded guilty to violent disorder, failing to comply with a garda’s directions and assaulting causing harm at Shancastle Avenue on the above date.
O’Donnell’s Solicitor, Simon Fleming, said his client had not been the main protagonist. He said the incident happened after a tragic funeral of a young man in Wheatfield Prison whose death was still unexplained.
He said O’Donnell had no previous convictions and has applied to be a carer for his father.
Judge McHugh said: “This is a very serious matter.”
He sentenced O’Donnell to four months jail, suspended for 12 months.
Mr Fleming said Gerard Stokes was the Uncle of the young man who had died. He said Gerard had been returning home when the gardai were arresting his son. He said there had been a lot of drink consumed after the funeral.
Sergeant Maria Flanagan said Gerard Stokes had 13 previous convictions.
Judge McHugh sentenced him to three months jail, suspended for one year.
The court heard that Kathleen Stokes had seven previous convictions.
Judge McHugh sentenced her to two months jail, suspended for 12 months.
Dealing with Mary Stokes, Mr Fleming said his client had been married but had returned home and is now going back into education. He said she had no previous convictions.
Judge McHugh said he would remand Mary Stokes to December for a report and if she came into no further trouble he would consider dealing with the case in a certain way.
