Longford man told gang to "go back to their own country" while armed with baseball bat in bid to retrieve son's mobile phone

Anthony Farrell (41) of 2 Ledwithstown Ballymahon Longford pleaded guilty to a public order offence arising from an incident on May 29, 2022.

Sergeant Mark Mahon told the court the defendant was charged with engaging in threatening or abusive behaviour at Auburn Village, Ballymahon, Longford. The prosecuting Garda outlined how at 4pm on the date of the disturbance the defendant called to a house in Auburn Village.

He was there to recover a mobile phone taken from his son in the aftermath of an altercation. Mr Farrell turned up with a baseball bat and demanded the return of the phone.

Sgt Mahon said a person in the house had picked up the phone from the ground after a quarrel with the defendant's son and told him to “get his father to pick it up” so he could teach him to “show respect”.

At the house Mr Farrell hit the window with the baseball bat and shouted at the occupants. He told the subject of the threats to “go back to their own country” and was using “abusive language”.

Mr Farrell interjected to the presenting officer's recounting of the details of the case saying: “Four of them jumped my son. They broke his brace, which I had to pay for. None of them were arrested, this was four adult men. I went to the Gardaí at the time,”

The defendant claimed he repeatedly called the Gardaí about the alleged attack on his son, but they would not take his calls. Judge Bernadette Owens pointed out that Mr Farrell's allegations were an entirely different matter

Sgt Mahon indicated that the accused had 19 prevision convictions, including those for public order and criminal damage, but the last one was from 2009.

Solicitor Diarmaid Quinn explained that the matter arose because the father of four was unhappy about the entire incident. Mr Quinn said his client got angry that his son's phone was taken and approached the men to take it back.

He pointed out that there was no damage to the households, adding: “My client went to the house with the right thought process, but lost his cool.”

Judge Owens confirmed with the prosecution that although the altercation happened in May of 2022 there were no further incidents between the parties.

The judge observed: “Mr Farrell got quite hot under the collar about the incident and remains so.”

Judge Owens said she would give the defendant the opportunity to donate €450 to Bridgeways Family Resource Centre in Ballymahon and if the payment was forthcoming she “may be persuaded to take a particular view”.

Mr Farrell made the payment on the day of the court sitting and Judge Owens dealt with the matter by way of Section 1.2 of the Probation Act.