Two men jailed for fighting in Dublin courts complex

Two men have been jailed for five weeks each for fighting in the Great Hall of the Criminal Courts of Justice.

Barry Dodd (27) of Vincent Street Flats and Leon Griffin (24) of Upper Kevin Street pleaded guilty to breach of the peace in the courts building on Parkgate Street on September 4th, 2013.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard there was a face-off between two groups of three men in the hall. One man aimed a flying kick against Dodds and Griffin but missed. This man was then restrained by a nearby garda.

Two other men then attempted to free him and Garda David Hearns had to threaten to use his pepper spray to make them stand back.

Prosecuting counsel Garrett Baker BL said that as the three men were being removed from the building, Dodds and Griffin moved around the side of the hall and went to attack them.

They tried to grab and punch them but gardaí intervened and broke it up after about 10 seconds. Towards the end of the fight, another man aimed a kick at one of the garda’s chest but also missed. All the parties were then arrested.

The court heard Dodd is a father of two and a qualified plumber with 56 previous convictions. Griffin’s counsel said he is also a father and has had drug problems in the past but is now drug-free.

Judge Martin Nolan said he must impose a custodial term because of the seriousness of the offence and because of where it occurred.