Judge says that two Limerick men took the "law into their own hands" - Ireland News Beep

TWO LIMERICK men have been sentenced for their parts in a violent disorder incident in Limerick city, which was described by the judge as a blatant and aggressive way of taking the law into their own hands.

Limerick Circuit Criminal Court heard that on May 16, 2023, three men got out of a car in the Parnell Street area of the city, shortly after 9pm.

Two of these men – Michael Nevin of Yeats Avenue, Southill and his co-accused, Joseph Connole of Collins Avenue, Kincora Park, pleaded guilty to this and other offences for Mr Nevin and have now been convicted and sentenced by Judge Colin Daly.

On that night in May 2023, the young men approached and verbally attacked a man who had been in a relationship with Mr Connole’s sister following on from a “serious allegation” that was made about the victim by Mr Connole’s sister.

The man was walking home from work at the time.

During the attack and pursuit, the victim ran into Fine Wines “for refuge”, the men followed him, verbally attacked him and Mr Connole could be seen on CCTV footage picking up a can and hitting it off the man’s face with such force that it burst.

Mr Nevin could be seen on CCTV picking up bottles and using them to threaten the man.

In the sentence hearing, the court heard that Mr Nevin told the man: “I will rape you and shove this bottle up your arse.”

After the altercation, they all left, but Mr Nevin and Mr Connole later returned in convoy with others who were wearing balaclavas. One was carrying a baton, while Mr Connole remained in the car.

They attempted to gain entry to Fine Wines, where they had been earlier that evening and Mr Nevin also exposed his penis.

Imposing sentence, Judge Daly said the fact that there were “ordinary customers present at the time” and that the store manager found it all “very frightening”, were both aggravating factors.

He also noted the return of the men to the off-licence later as another aggravating factor.

Judge Daly said there was no excuse for the actions and that no citizen can “simply take the law into their own hands” in what he described as an “aggressive and blatant manner.”

Judge Daly considered the context of the incident and that Mr Nevin was only 18 at the time and was with peers.

He acknowledged that Mr Nevin engaged fully and openly with gardaí and that a letter of apology was issued to both the shopkeeper and the court.

He also took into account his personal and family history and the fact that Mr Nevin’s own father has been in and out of prison for much of his life and that he lives with his grandparents.

He had no convictions at the time of the offence, but has since been convicted before the courts.

Judge Daly sentenced him to 18 months’ in prison.

The judge told the court that he considered Mr Connole’s role in the incident as being less central.

He set a headline sentence of two-and-a-half years and in mitigation, he took into account Mr Connole’s guilty plea, his cooperation with gardaí, the fact that he had expressed remorse and that he was a first time offender with no previous convictions.

He accounted for the fact that Mr Connole was 19 at the time of the offence and that he has not come to the attention of gardaí since.

Mr Connole was sentenced to two years in prison, fully suspended for two years on his own bond of €100 and he must keep the peace, be of good behaviour and commit no further offences.

Breaking from the traditional silence of a defendant in the courtroom, Mr Connole stood up straight and loudly proclaimed: “Thank you, your honour,” when the sentence was handed down.

Mr Nevin also appeared before the courts on a signed plea of guilty arising from a burglary at Adam’s of Glin, criminal damage and the possession of an article, namely black ski masks, to be used in the course of the burglary on September 17, 2025.

The court heard that Mr Nevin and others used a grinder and a sledge hammer to gain access to the garage, getting into the forecourt.

They caused €10,000 worth of damage to shutters, doors and a vending machine and also stole €18,000 worth of cigarettes.

The court heard that when Mr Nevin tried to escape, he couldn’t get into the getaway car, he fell out and was apprehended by gardaí shortly afterwards.

He has been in custody since.

Judge Daly noted the considerable damage caused to the shop, interiors, and the cost of repairs, as well as the “loss of business while repairs were taking place, as well as the cost of additional security – this was an additional burden on a small business owner.”

Judge Daly noted “a significant degree of pre planning.”

He set a headline sentence of between four and nine years and reduced this to four years, while Mr Nevin remained silent and nodded his head.

In mitigation, the judge acknowledged an early guilty plea, that the premises was closed and unoccupied at the time and that Mr Nevin “had fallen in with the wrong crowd.”

Judge Daly said: “He does not want to find himself going in and out of prison, but he is not a passive participant in his own story.”

He sentenced him to two years in prison for the burglary, taking the other charges into consideration.

This sentence is to run consecutively to the 18-month sentence for the violent disorder incident, as he was on bail at the time.

Mr Nevin was sentenced to a total sentence of three and a half years with the final six months suspended on his own bond of €100 to keep the peace and be of good behaviour.

Judge Daly said that Mr Nevin will also be subject to probation services for 12 months post release.

The sentence was back-dated to September 17, 2025, to the date when Michael Nevin first went into custody.

Mr Nevin smiled at family who were in the courtroom before being taken into custody.

Judge says that two Limerick men took the “law into their own hands”

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