Nine in court over Balbriggan 'siege'

Nine people have appeared in court in connection with a siege at a pub in Co Dublin in which it was allegedly taken over by a…

Nine people have appeared in court in connection with a siege at a pub in Co Dublin in which it was allegedly taken over by a group of customers.

A total of 13 people were arrested following a siege at John D’s bar at The Square in Balbriggan last night.

Ten people appeared before Dublin District Court 44 and Swords District Court this morning.

The three men who appeared at Court 44 were:

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Stephen Lawrence (22), of Pinewood Green Road, Balbriggan, who was charged with being intoxicated in a public place and with a breach of the peace at John D’s bar on May 4th.

He was also charged with criminal damage to windows, furniture, glasses and spirit bottles on the premises under section 2 (1) of the Criminal Damage Act 1991.

Mr Lawrence was remanded on bail until July 2nd to appear before Balbriggan court on that date.

Brian Lawrence (20), of Hampton Wood, Balbriggan, was charged with being intoxicated and with a breach of the peace.

He was also charged with criminal damage under section 2(1) of the Criminal Damage Act 1991.

Mr Lawrence was remanded in custody to Cloverhill Prison to May 12th to appear before Cloverhill court on that date.

David Lawrence (36) of Gardiner’s Hill, Balbriggan, was charged with being intoxicated and with a breach of the peace.

He was also charged with criminal damage at John D’s bar.

Mr Lawrence was remanded on bail until July 2nd 2009. He is due before Balbriggan court on that date.

Six people also appeared before Swords District Court. Five faced charges of being intoxicated, of causing a breach of the peace, and of criminal damage at John D’s bar. They were all remanded on bail to appear before Balbriggan court on June 4th.

They were Martin Lawrence (39), of Bremore Drive, Balbriggan; Richard Daly (39) of Mourne Close, Skerries; Gerard Tuite (46), of Derham Park, Balbriggan; Martin McDonagh (33), of Chapel Gate, Balbriggan and Christopher Lawrence (26), of Mourne Park, Skerries.

One woman also appeared on charges of being intoxicated and of causing a breach of the peace.

Annie Lawrence (22), of Dun Saithne Crescent, Balbriggan was also remanded on bail to June 4th.

The Garda public order unit was called to the scene after staff and some customers ran out of the premises at 7pm, and the doors were barricaded shut.

Four Garda cars and a Garda van arrived and began diverting traffic from the scene. By 8.30pm the town centre was closed to traffic and gardaí were preventing pedestrians from approaching the pub.

One witness told The Irish Timesshe saw the rear door of the bar open and three men emerge assisting a fourth who was injured. Locals said the bar had been the scene of at least two ongoing rows among an extended family, not all of whom were locals, over the weekend.