Ireland Man sentenced for breaching protection order, affray case adjourned in Dundalk
Bernard Joyce, a 24-year-old man, was charged with affray and possession of an offensive weapon after allegedly producing an iron bar during a dispute at his marital home in Woodland Park, Dundalk, on 17 April 2020. He was also prosecuted for breaching a protection order on two separate occasions in 2020. At Dundalk District Court in October 2021, Joyce failed to appear for service of the book of evidence on the affray charges as he was on holiday in Majorca, and the case was adjourned to 6 October 2021. Judge Eirinn McKiernan imposed a fourth month suspended sentence for the two protection order breaches, noting a previous conviction for the same offence.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court1 Oct
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced1 Oct
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Bernard Joyce turned up at his marital home in Woodland Park, Dundalk, and told his wife he was going to move back in, leading to a dispute in which he allegedly produced an iron bar.
- Where
- The incident took place at Woodland Park, Dundalk, County Louth.
- When
- The affray incident occurred on 17 April 2020.
- Weapon
- An iron bar was allegedly produced during the dispute.
- Charges
- Joyce was charged with affray and possession of an offensive weapon, and separately prosecuted for breaching a protection order on two occasions in 2020.
- In court
- The case was heard at Dundalk District Court before Judge Eirinn McKiernan.
- Joyce failed to appear for service of the book of evidence on the affray charges as he was on holiday in Majorca, and the case was adjourned to 6 October 2021 with time for service extended.
- Sentence
- Judge McKiernan imposed a fourth month suspended sentence for the two protection order breaches.
- Other details
- The defence said the relationship had deteriorated after Joyce spent time in custody, that he had never been violent towards the complainant, and that he was under pressure to pay rent while living with his mother.
- Joyce had a previous conviction for the same offence.
- Joyce's address at the time was Bay 9, Woodland Park, Dundalk.
18 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe man turned up at his marital home and told his wife he was going to move back in (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whatBernard Joyce was due to have a book of evidence served on him for charges of affray and producing an iron bar in a dispute. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whereThe affray incident took place at Woodland Park, Dundalk. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whenThe affray incident occurred on 17 April 2020. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- chargeHe was prosecuted for breaching a protection order on two separate occasions in 2020 (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtThe case was heard at Dundalk District Court (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtJudge Eirinn McKiernan described the legal aid system as a joke. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtThe case was adjourned to 6 October 2021 and time for service of the book of evidence was extended. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- sentenceJudge Eirinn McKiernan imposed a fourth month suspended sentence (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherThe relationship had deteriorated after he spent time in custody (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherHe had never been violent towards the complainant (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherHe had been living with his mother and was under pressure from the local authority to pay rent (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherThe defendant had a previous conviction for the same offence (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherBernard Joyce's address at the time was Bay 9, Woodland Park, Dundalk. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherThe defence solicitor told the court the defendant was in Majorca on holiday. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherThe holiday had been booked before the case was block adjourned. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherJoyce had also not attended on 1 September because a Covid test was booked for that date. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherA barrister confirmed the defendant's itinerary and said he was booked to fly out with his family that evening. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 1 Oct2021Dundalk man failed to appear in court as he was heading on holidays
Reports that Bernard Joyce failed to appear at Dundalk District Court for service of a book of evidence on affray charges, as he was on holiday in Majorca. Judge McKiernan adjourned the case to 6 October 2021 and extended time for service of the book of evidence.
accused, Bernard Joyce, 24, male, named, irish (judged from name)Bernard Joyce - 1 Oct2021Dundalk court: Breached protection order
Court report on sentencing for two breaches of a protection order; defence argued relationship deteriorated after time in custody and man was under pressure to pay rent while living with his mother.
convicted, middle-aged, malevictim, female