‘Revenge is not justice’, Judge tells Longford man after late night brawl

Ronan Nevin, 3 Camlin Mews, Longford, was given the sentence by Judge Vincent Deane at a special sitting of Longford District Court last week in connection to an incident at Five Star Pizza on May 12, 2022.

The court was told Mr Nevin entered the Main Street premises shortly before 2am after noticing his victim Patryk Mikitow inside.

Inspector Paddy McGirl said words were exchanged between the pair before Mr Nevin struck Mr Mikitow across the face.

Both men subsequently fell to the ground and had to be separated, the court was told.

It was also revealed Mr Nevin had 12 previous convictions to his name, the last of which was for assault and public order.
Wearing a grey tracksuit, Mr Nevin stood with his hands clasped behind his back beside solicitor Diarmuid Quinn throughout last Wednesday’s hearing.

Mr Quinn said the context to the rumpus between both men stemmed from the fact there was a “bit of a history” between the pair.

He said his client had lost his cool over a previous incident that saw his sister’s children receive an “awful fright” after a gang of men had allegedly arrived at the property armed with weapons.

“He was fully cooperative,” he added, stating Mr Nevin himself was in receipt of a punch to the face and “perhaps had it coming.”

Mr Quinn said Mr Nevin had one child and was someone who had suffered from ill health in the past, most notably Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and depression.

He said Mr Nevin had, in the recent past, cancerous growths removed from his stomach and was off alcohol for the past four months.

“He (Mr Nevin) is hoping to turn his life around,” he said.

“He hasn’t come to garda attention since and he has put forward (guilty) pleas at the earliest opportunity.”

The court was held up briefly when Mr Mikitow was canvassed about whether he wished to make a victim impact statement.

When it emerged Mr Mikitow was unwilling to do so, Mr Quinn said: “They both seem to have made up.”
Judge Deane said while he was willing to take on board Mr Quinn’s submission to the court, what he was not open to entertaining was Mr Nevin’s behaviour on the night in question.

“What I am concerned about here is you are in Five Star Pizza after a public house and you see this carry on,” he said.

“It’s not acceptable. The idea that there is a dispute beforehand is not mitigation, it’s an explanation and revenge is not justice.”

“I know he (Mr Nevin) says he hasn’t had a drink for four months, but this sort of behaviour has to stop.”

Judge Deane consequently sentenced Mr Nevin to four months in prison, suspending it for a period of two years.