A NEW Year party which ended in a fatal stabbing was "a disgrace and a gross breach of civilised behaviour", Judge Gerard Buchanan told the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court yesterday.
Christopher Baitson (16), was, allegedly stabbed in the back by one of his own group. The court heard the group had returned to the party seeking revenge after one of them had earlier been ejected and beaten because of his boisterous behaviour. Party goers claimed he had continuously bumped into them while dancing uncontrollably.
Judge Buchanan said the parents of the party goers must take considerable blame for allowing their off spring, aged 15 to 21, attend the unsupervised gathering where a large quantity of drink was consumed.
The party got completely out of hand and developed into a "mini riot" which must have terrorised the other party goers and local people, said Judge Buchanan.
He imposed suspended sentences of one year on the deceased's twin brother, Mark Baitson (18), of Limekiln Green two years suspended on John Rice (19), of St James Road, both Walkinstown, Dublin and one month suspended on Diarmuid David O'Connell (18), of Dolphin House, Dublin.
The three admitted they fought and made an affray on the roadway at Birchwood Heights, in the Kilnamanagh area of Tallaght, on New Year's morning in 1994.
They all entered into bonds to keep the peace and Rice and Bait son were also ordered to pay £1,000 each towards the prosecution's costs.
Judge Buchanan commended Sgt Gearoid Begley on what he called his "exemplary evidence", which assisted the defendants.
Sgt Begley told Mr Gregory Murphy SC (with Ms Una Ni Raifeartaigh), prosecuting, the defendants and their friends were known as the "trads" because they gathered outside a particular public house in Walkinstown.
One of the "trads" had been ejected just after midnight by other party goers and was followed out by a number of the Kilnamangh group who attacked him. The other "trads" then left.
About 4.30 a.m. they decided to return "for revenge" armed with knives and branches of trees. They attacked the house and the fight spilled onto the roadway. During the melee, Christopher Baitson was stabbed and died.
Sgt Begley said a member of the deceased's own group has been charged with his manslaughter. He said the defendants were initially interviewed as witnesses in the stabbing case but made statements admitting their roles in the fight.