An argument over a stolen horse at the monthly Smithfield Market in Dublin led to a riot involving 100 people and an attempt by a mob to overturn a Garda car.
Judge Michael White, at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, imposed three-year suspended sentences and £1,000 fines on Michael Houlihan (20), of Crawford Green, and Darren Kershaw (24), of Cherry Orchard Road, both Ballyfermot.
They pleaded guilty to two counts each of threatening behaviour and assault on gardai, and Kershaw pleaded guilty also to criminal damage of a Garda car and was ordered to pay £175. Houlihan used a set of keys protruding between his fingers in assaulting a garda.
Judge White imposed a £500 fine, with another £2 fine under the 1892 Dublin Police Act, on a third man, Glen Wallace (19), of Thomond Road, Ballyfermot, after he pleaded guilty to assault and threatening behaviour. All three were warned to stay out of trouble.
Garda Tom Feighery told Mr Des Zaidan, prosecuting, that Garda Michael McGrath was one of four gardai on duty at the Market on September 7th, 1997. He tried to intervene in a fight involving about 15 men over ownership of a horse. The three defendants continued to fight and Wallace resisted violently when Garda McGrath tried to arrest him. He was then surrounded by a hostile crowd and Houlihan punched him on the side of the face with the keys protruding between his fingers.