Five men arrested following violent disorder incident in Longford town released on bail

Five men who were arrested  in connection with a violent disorder incident in Longford town on May 6 were released on bail with strict conditions when they appeared in court last Tuesday, May 16.

During the  incident on New Street and Ballymahon Street, Longford town a number of weapons were produced and a number of vehicles damaged.

Tom Stokes (18), Kevin Stokes (32), Dylan Stokes (26), Pierre Stokes (24), and Jonathan Wykes (46), all of Lisnanagh, Edgeworthstown, county Longford all appeared at Longford District Court charged with violent disorder.

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Gardaí assisted by the Armed Response Unit entered a property last Tuesday in Edgeworthstown, county Longford,  and arrested.

Garda John McCreegan gave evidence of arresting Tom Stokes, Kevin Stokes, Dylan Stokes, Pierre Stokes and Jonathn Wykes between  7.25 and 7.42am at Lisnanagh, Edgeworthstown and charging and cautioning them between 10.45am and 11.02am.

Garda McCreegan said there was no objection to bail for any of the five defendants once they strictly followed a number of agreed bail conditions.

He said the five defendants made no reply after caution and they were all separately handed a true copy of the charge sheets.

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The conditions that applied to all five included staying out of county Longford, providing a mobile phone number to Gardaí and being contactable at all times.

A curfew between 11pm and 7am was also imposed on Tom Stokes, Kevin Stokes, Dylan Stokes and Jonathan Wykes but not on Pierre Stokes.

Solicitor Fiona Baxter said it would be occasionally necessary for her client Pierre Stokes to bring his father, who is wheelchair bound, to the county town.

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"Mr Pierre Stokes sometimes drives his father to medical appointments with his GP, Garda Cregan was wondering would there be consent to him entering Longford just for the purposes of those medical appointments with Dr Katherine Ormond?”

Judge Bernadette Owens agreed to the request and approved it.

An application was made for legal aid and it was granted to all five defendants in the names of their solicitors Fiona Baxter, and Bríd Mimnagh.

Judge Owens then subsequently adjourned the case until June 17 next.