Broom handle case adjourned for updated report at Kilkenny Court

A man who was found guilty of production of a wooden broom handle capable of causing injury has had his case adjourned for an updated probation report.

Damien Delaney, 149 Robertshill was convicted by a jury of six men and six women of the offence last May, on the same date he was found not guilty on a charge of violent disorder and the case was adjourned to July 9 for a probation report. Mr Delaney had denied both charges.

At the current sittings of Kilkenny Circuit Court Garda Andrea Doyle told the court there are two co-accused, John Donovan, 6 Loretto Lodge, Freshford Road, Kilkenny  and Noel Quigley, 4 The Haven, Kilkenny who have pleaded guilty to affray. Both men appeared before the current sittings of Kilkenny Circuit Court and pleaded guilty to affray at Vicar Street, Kilkenny on November 12, 2023 and had their cases remanded back to November 19 to allow for the completion of probation reports in respect of both men.

Tyres screeching

During the trial in May the court heard that on November 12, 2023 Detective Garda Sharon McMeel was on Green Street when she heard ‘a loud noise of tyres screeching behind her’ and saw a Skoda Octavia travelling at speed down the Freshford Road. The Octavia skidded to a stop in the path of the Audi at the roundabout at Greensbridge.

At the trial Det Gda McMeel said that she knew Noel Quigley who was the passenger in the Skoda. The garda told the court that Quigley got out of the car and went to the rear of the car and opened the boot. The driver, John Donovan went to the boot and took out a metal bar with a wooden handle.

The court heard that at this point Damien Delaney, who was a passenger in the car he was travelling in, got out of the Audi A3 and armed himself with a wooden broom handle. Damien Delaney and John Donovan became involved in an altercation. During the trial CCTV was played which captured the incident.

At the time of the offence the court heard that the defendant had 73 previous convictions including convictions for road traffic offences, public order offences, assault, possession of drugs for personal use and sale and supply to others and firearms offences. The court also heard that the defendant has previously served a sentence for assault causing harm.

Barrister, Daniel O’Connell said that his client had used the broom handle in self-defence.

“He knew that they were there to exact revenge over an earlier altercation,” he said.

“He believed that he was producing it with the intent of keeping them back,” he added.

Mr O’Connell added that his client has ‘a pattern of alcohol and drug abuse’.

“The broom handle was in the car, he had not brought it with him,” he said.

The probation report said that the defendant is at a high risk of reoffending due to his misuse of alcohol and drugs, his negative peer group and his previous convictions. The report also stated that the father-of-four, who left school after his Junior Cert, has been engaging with the Ardu Treatment Centre.

Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin remanded the defendant on continuing bail to appear before Kilkenny Circuit Court on November 19 for an updated probation report. The judge remarked that the defendant has to fully engage with the probation services and Ardu Treatment Centre.