Peace attempts between rival ice cream vendors may have cooled, court hears

A District Court Judge has paused a decision on two warring ice cream vendors in Donegal.

Falcarragh District Court heard that attempts at peace deal between the two men, who operate pitches at Rathmullan Beach, may have hit a freeze.

Businessmen Chambers, a 63-year-old of The Glebe, Letterkenny, and Cole, a 41-year-old with an address at Trentabuoy, Drumkeen, were before Judge Éiteáin Cunningham at Falcarragh District Court.

The pair are accused of a series of incidents after they set up on the same beachside selling pitch.

It followed a number of alleged incidents between the pair who were operating ice-cream vans in the seaside town of Rathmullan.

Inspector Seamus McGonigle asked the court for an adjournment for two months 'to see how matters proceed'.

Inspector McGonigle said the reason for the adjournment application was due to an 'indirect incident' arising out of the cases, which was not specified.

Solicitor Mr James Canny told the court that there has been 'agreement made' and that there has been peace between the parties. Mr Canny said he was unaware of what the indirect incident related to.

Judge Éiteáin Cunningham adjourned the matter until June 19, 2024.

Judge Cunningham said the court has previously indicated its attitude to allow the parties come to an accommodation.

“We are embarking then on the summer period,” Judge Cunningham said in putting the matter back until June.

“We hope so,” Mr Canny said.

Both men face a charge of breach of the peace at Rathmullan Beach on July 19, 2019.

They are also each charged with an assault on 25 July, 2021 at Rathmullan and also with a breach of the peace on the same date at the same location.

The case was adjourned over the summer months last year.

Solicitor for Chambers, of The Glebe, Letterkenny, Mr Donough Cleary told a previous sitting of the court: “This is essentially a dispute between two ice cream salesmen.”

Solicitor for Cole of Trentabuoy, Drumkeen, Mr Canny, indicated that a plan had been agreed for the summer months in 2023 with the court then informed that both parties agreed to pitches on the beach for the summer as well as other matters.

Inspector McGonigle previously told the court “Once the sun shines, the problems arise.”

Inspector McGonigle said that the rows between the two parties was taking up a lot of Garda time.

In October 2023, the court was told that there were no reported incidents between the vendors during summer 2023.