Men caused €6K damage to Longford home in fishing rod and golf club attack

Two men who used a golf club and fishing rod to smash the windows and doors of a home causing a total of €6,000 of damage have appeared in Longford District Court.

Robert Makula (25) of Kashmir House, Corsteagh, Frenchpark, county Roscommon and Erik Nistor (25) of Cameron Gate, Main Street, Longford both pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of an offensive weapon on October 28, 2025.

Garda Sergeant Mark Mahon, for the State, said gardaí received a report that the windows had been broken on a house in the Camlin Mews area of Longford town at 9.30pm on the date in question.

"On arrival they spoke to the injured party and gardai left and upon carrying out their enquiries they received a second call to the same address and they found a number of males present at the location with weapons in hand."

Sgt Mahon said four men were arrested and conveyed to Longford Garda Station for damaging the windows and doors of the property.

"The windows were shattered and the doors to the value of €6,000," he added.

Sgt Mahon said gardaí obtained CCTV and they identified two suspects Robert Makula, who was carrying a golf club, and Eric Nistor, who could be seen with a fishing rod 'damaging the property'.

Judge Bernadette Owens accepted jurisdiction which means the case can proceed in the district court as opposed to a higher court.

Solicitor Michelle Reynolds, defending, said she had received partial disclosure, which means the prosecution has handed over some of the evidence or documents.

Sgt Mahon stated Nistor had one previous conviction and Makula had no relevant convictions.

Solicitor Diarmuid Quinn, representing Nistor, said his client has pleading guilty at an early opportunity to being in unlawful possession of an offensive weapon, namely the fishing rod.

"He accepts he had the fishing rod and he states he got hit himself and he reacted poorly to the incident and he picked up the fishing rod, which was just in the home, it was not a premeditated thing, he just grabbed whatever was there.

"Obviously a fishing rod is not generally used as a particularly dangerous weapon and I think that shows the lack of premeditation. "

Mr Quinn said his client is apologetic over his behaviour and he has been on strict bail conditions, which included living outside Longford and he has abided by those.

"He realises that it is unacceptable. This was a dispute that arose between two families which has obviously since been resolved.

"The sergeant mentioned there was damage done but there has not been any further difficulties since then."

Mr Quinn said the issue related to a relative and disagreement in relation to a relationship with 'one of the other parties'.

"Mr Nistor is a young man who attended school locally and he did attend a Youthreach programme as well."

Mr Quinn said his client is unemployed and a father and the family had to deal with a bereavement and some health difficulties in recent times.

"He has a lot to contend with at home, he is not known for this type of thing and he tells me he is enrolling on courses to better himself and he is hoping his unemployment will change."

Ms Reynolds, representing Makula, said she would echo what Mr Quinn had said about the incident.

"It was an unfortunate incident which took place.

"The criminal damage has been paid for by both parties, she added.

Ms Reynolds said her client, who has a partner and is a father of young children, had been living in Longford town but he moved to county Roscommon, where he is still residing, to comply with his bail conditions.

"He is not currently working but he is enrolling on a computer course.

"He is very apologetic that this happened, he has never been in trouble before and he tells me that he won't be in trouble again and that everything has calmed down," she added.

Judge Bernadette Owens said she was taking into consideration the fact that both parties had been on strict bail conditions for a lengthy period of time.

She directed both defendants to keep the peace and make a pledge to be of good behaviour for a period of 12-months.

The two defendants agreed and she placed the pair on peace bonds for 12-months on their own bonds of €200 each.