Father and son appear in Cork court over St Patrick’s Day pool game that got out of hand

A game of pool on St Patrick’s Day got out of hand in a pub in Mitchelstown and one man was struck over the head with a cue and another was hit with a pint glass.

20-year-old Paddy Delaney and his father, 48-year-old Michael Delaney — both of 11 Lios Óir, Pike Road, Fermoy, County Cork — pleaded guilty to carrying out assaults on two other men at J’s Bar, New Square, Mitchelstown, County Cork, on March 17 2024.

Garda Denis Golden said that when gardaí arrived on the scene, Paddy Delaney had blood on his face but both he and his father, Michael, declined medical assistance.

Garda Golden said Paddy Delaney had been playing pool with another young man when they both started throwing punches at each other and ended up on the floor behind the table.

“Paddy went away to another bar where his father was. Paddy grabbed a pool cue and he came back with his father. Paddy hit the other man over the head with the pool cue. Paddy and Michael continued throwing punches.

“Michael hit a second man who was on the ground. They continued fighting. They were taken out of the bar. They had another altercation on being escorted from the premises.

“Michael Delaney picked up a pint glass and hit (another man) with the pint glass which smashes,” Garda Golden said.

Both father and son were arrested and questioned but they replied, ‘No comment’, to questions.

Barrister Jack Sreenan said this behaviour was out of character for Paddy Delaney. Barrister Patrick O’Sullivan said gardaí confirmed that there were no difficulties of any kind from Michael Delaney in the area.

Mr O’Sullivan added: 

Peace has broken out between the parties.

Judge Helen Boyle told Paddy Delaney that if he did not want to go to prison then he should not be getting involved in fights. The judge also noted from the evidence that Michael Delaney was drinking spirits on the night — something he did not ordinarily drink.

The judge also took into consideration the suggestion that there was no animosity between the various parties since this occurred two years ago.

Michael Delaney was given a suspended sentence of two years and three months. Paddy Delaney was sentenced to one year and 11 months, and this sentence was also suspended.