Night out during Kinsale 7s ended in 'brawl in the street' for Meath man

A trip to the Kinsale 7s rugby weekend in May ended violence and arrest for a carpenter from Meath the district court has heard.

Court presenter Sergeant Eimear O’Connell told Bandon District Court that Graham Moran, aged 36 of Beechdale, Dunboyne, Co Meath was on a weekend away with friends at the popular Kinsale 7s event in Co Cork.

The court heard that Moran had become separated from his friends and attempted to gain entry to Dalton’s Bar on Market Street but was refused entry by security staff. Moran then became aggressive and threw a punch at the doorman hitting him on the chin. The doorman called for assistance form staff and gardaí who were nearby were also quickly on the scene.

Sgt O’Connell said that a scuffle ensued and Moran was eventually wrestled to the ground and had to be pepper sprayed in order to subdue him. He continued to be aggressive shouting at gardaí: “F**k off you pigs, I’ll f***ing kill ye.” Moran was arrested and the court was told that the doorman did not sustain any serious injuries.

Defence solicitor Plunkett Taaffe said that his client had no previous convictions. He said that Moran suffered from psychosis for which he took medication and this combined with excess alcohol on the night and being separated from his friends were contributing factors.

He said that his client pleaded guilty at the first opportunity to the four charges of assault, intoxication in a public place, threatening and abusive behaviour and obstruction. He said that Moran apologised to the gardaí and the injured party. He said that his client’s recollection of the night bore little resemblance to the witness accounts.

Judge Joanne Carroll said: 

“This was a brawl in the street in Kinsale at nine o’clock at night.” 

The judge said that she would need a character reference from Moran’s doctor and a probation report before making a decision on penalty. She said she would need to know how long Moran had been under medical care and if he had been involved in any previous violent incidents.

Moran was remanded on continuing bail to appear again on December 4 for finalisation.

• This article is funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.