A FIANNA Fáil TD held back a young man from helping his friend who was being kicked and beaten by a group of men, a court heard yesterday.
Mattie McGrath (50), TD for South Tipperary, appeared before Clonmel Circuit Court on three charges relating to an attack on a group of youths in August 2006.
The court heard Mr McGrath prevented one young man from helping his friend who was "set upon" by a group of men who it was alleged Mr McGrath had summoned out of a pub.
Mr McGrath is charged along with five other men, including his son, Edmond, of assault causing harm to one man, of violent disorder and of using threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour in a public place. The deputy, who topped the Fianna Fáil vote in his constituency in the last general election, pleaded not guilty to all three charges and sat in court yesterday with his wife.
Counsel for the prosecution, David Humphries, told a jury of seven men and five women the attack on the youths was a "joint enterprise" by all six accused. The court heard the attacks took place in the car park of a church in Mr McGrath's hometown of Newcastle, Co Tipperary, before midnight on August 14th, 2006.
In evidence, Timothy Cleere told Judge Donagh McDonagh Mr McGrath came out of Nugent's pub and started shouting at his friends, calling them "vandals".
Mr Cleere said he had been drinking beer with friends in the car park when Mr McGrath approached. He said Mr McGrath got into a car and made a phone call. Within 10 seconds he was attacked by a group of 15 "grown men" who came out of the pub.
Mr McGrath and son Edmond, both of Garreneasy; Christopher Cullinan, Jason Ahearne, James Lonergan, all of Liam Lynch Terrace; and Anthony O'Dwyer, Garrincasey, all of Newcastle, are accused of assault causing harm to Mr Cleere.
Defending Mr McGrath, Paddy McCarthy SC put it to Mr Cleere in cross-examination that he was drunk and had "taunted" people, including a pregnant woman, on leaving the pub. He accused Mr Cleere of shouting "Tiocfaidh ár lá" and of picking a fight with a man. Mr McCarthy said his client acted as peacemaker by leading away the man with whom Mr Cleere picked a fight.
The trial continues today.