Ireland Two men charged with assault and weapon possession in Longford
Two men, Johnny Meares (also reported as Myers) aged 56 and Christy Meares (also reported as Myers) aged 23, both of Mullingar, Co Westmeath, were arrested and charged with assault causing harm and possessing a homemade walking stick with a sharply pointed blade following a violent public order incident on Main Street, Longford, shortly after 4pm on 28 March 2023. The brawl, which damaged two cars and is believed to be linked to a dispute between two locally based families, took place just yards from Longford Courthouse during its weekly sitting. The pair appeared at a special sitting of Carrick-on-Shannon District Court on 29 March 2023 and were remanded on continuing bail with strict conditions, and a garda inspector later told the court that other individuals are yet to be arrested. The matter was adjourned at Longford District Court before Judge Bernadette Owens in April 2023 to 19 September 2023.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court29 Mar
4 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Two men, one in his 20s and one in his 50s, were arrested and charged following a violent public order incident in which a man was assaulted and two cars were damaged.
- Where
- The incident took place on Main Street, Longford, just yards from Longford Courthouse during its weekly court sitting.
- When
- The incident occurred shortly after 4pm on Tuesday, 28 March 2023.
- Cause
- The incident is believed to be linked to a dispute between two locally based families.
- Weapon
- A homemade walking stick with a sharply pointed blade was allegedly possessed during the incident.
- Charges
- Both men were charged with assault causing harm to another man and possessing a homemade walking stick with a sharply pointed blade.
- In court
- The men appeared at a special sitting of Carrick-on-Shannon District Court on 29 March 2023 and were remanded on continuing bail with strict conditions.
- The men appeared at Longford District Court before Judge Bernadette Owens in April 2023, where the matter was adjourned to 19 September 2023.
- Other details
- Inspector Paddy McGirl told the court that a number of other individuals are yet to be arrested.
- One car ran into the back of the second car at a busy pedestrian crossing.
33 statements extracted from the articles
- whatTwo men, one in his 20s and one in his 50s, were arrested and charged. (longfordleader.ie)
- whatTwo cars were damaged in the incident. (longfordleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
- whatOne car ran into the back of the second car at a busy pedestrian crossing (longfordleader.ie)
- whereThe incident took place just yards from Longford Courthouse, which was holding its weekly court sitting. (longfordleader.ie)
- whereThe incident took place at Main Street, Longford (longfordleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
- whereThe brawl took place just yards from Longford Courthouse (longfordleader.ie)
- whereThe incident took place just yards from Longford Courthouse. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whereThe defendants appeared at Longford District Court. (longfordleader.ie)
- whenThe violent incident occurred on 28 March 2023 on Main Street, Longford. (longfordleader.ie)
- whenThe incident took place shortly after 4pm. (longfordleader.ie)
- whenThe incident occurred shortly after 4pm (longfordleader.ie)
- whenThe incident occurred shortly after 4pm on Tuesday, 28 March 2023. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whenThe incident took place on 28 March 2023. (longfordleader.ie)
- causeThe incident is believed to be linked to a simmering row involving two locally based families. (longfordleader.ie)
- causeThe incident is believed to be linked to a row between two locally based families (longfordleader.ie)
- causeThe incident is believed to be linked to a dispute between two locally based families. (offalyexpress.ie)
- weaponA weapon may have been produced during the brawl. (longfordleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
- chargeBoth men were charged with assault causing harm to another man (longfordleader.ie)
- chargeBoth men were charged with possessing a homemade walking stick (longfordleader.ie)
- chargeBoth men were charged with assault causing harm to another man and possessing a homemade walking stick. (offalyexpress.ie)
- chargeBoth men were charged with possessing a homemade walking stick with a sharply pointed blade. (longfordleader.ie)
- courtThe two men are due to appear before a special sitting of Carrick-on-Shannon District Court at 10.30am on 29 March 2023. (longfordleader.ie)
- courtThe men appeared at a special sitting of Carrick-on-Shannon District Court (longfordleader.ie)
- courtBoth men were remanded on continuing bail subject to strict conditions (longfordleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
- courtThey are due to appear before Longford District Court the following Tuesday (longfordleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
- courtThe men appeared at a special sitting of Carrick-on-Shannon District Court on Wednesday, 29 March 2023. (offalyexpress.ie)
- courtBoth defendants were represented by solicitor Brid Mimnagh. (longfordleader.ie)
- courtThe matter was adjourned to 19 September 2023. (longfordleader.ie)
- otherTraffic along the main street was interrupted for a brief period as gardaí rushed to the scene. (longfordleader.ie)
- otherLongford Courthouse was holding its weekly court sitting at the time (longfordleader.ie)
- otherTraffic along the main street was interrupted briefly as gardaí rushed to the scene (longfordleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
- otherThe incident is described as a violent public order incident. (longfordleader.ie)
- otherStrict bail conditions are in place for the defendants. (longfordleader.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 12 Apr2023Pair accused of violent Longford assault warned of consequences of bail breach
First court appearance at Longford District Court before Judge Bernadette Owens; matter adjourned to 19 September 2023; Inspector Paddy McGirl stated other individuals are yet to be arrested; strict bail conditions in place.
accused, Johnny Myers, 56, male, named, irish (judged from name)Johnny Myersaccused, Christy Myers, 23, male, named, irish (judged from name)Christy Myersvictim, male - 30 Mar2023Pair who allegedly assaulted man while armed with walking stick in violent daylight brawl in Midlands granted bail
Details the court appearance at Carrick-on-Shannon District Court, the granting of continuing bail with strict conditions, and additional incident details including two damaged cars, a pedestrian crossing, the proximity to Longford Courthouse, and a link to a dispute between two local families.
victim, maleaccused, Johnny Meares, 56, male, named, irish (judged from name)Johnny Mearesaccused, Christy Meares, 23, male, named, irish (judged from name)Christy Meares - 29 Mar2023BREAKING: Pair who allegedly assaulted man while armed with walking stick in violent Longford brawl granted bail
Reports that the two men appeared at Carrick-on-Shannon District Court and were remanded on continuing bail with strict conditions, due before Longford District Court the following Tuesday. Adds details that two cars were damaged, the incident is linked to a feud between two local families, and the brawl took place near Longford Courthouse during its weekly sitting.
victim, maleaccused, Johnny Meares, 56, male, named, irish (judged from name)Johnny Mearesaccused, Christy Meares, 23, male, named, irish (judged from name)Christy Meares - 29 Mar2023BREAKING: Two men to appear at special court sitting following violent Longford row
Reports the court appearance at Carrick-on-Shannon District Court and adds details that two cars were damaged (one ran into the back of the other at a pedestrian crossing), a weapon may have been produced, the incident was linked to a row between two locally based families, and it occurred just yards from Longford Courthouse during its weekly sitting.
suspect, 20s, malesuspect, 50s, male