A 'very sad state of affairs' to see a father and son in court over assault incident

Judge Eirinn McKiernan commented it was a “very sad state of affairs” to see a father and son appeared before her.

Mark Curran of Lynnfield, Oldcastle, was charged with assaulting his father Michael outside of Our Lady of Mercy Primary School, Navan Road, Kells, and that he engaged in threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour.

The 40-year-old contested the charges but was convicted by the Judge after she heard the evidence regarding the incident on 22nd September 2023. CCTV footage was shown in regard to it. The Judge adjourned the case to 27th November to obtain a probation report on the defendant.

The defendant said that he acted in self defence, claiming that his father threatened to box the head off him and his young son, and attacked him with a trowel.

The two men went to the school to collect children, and there was a family dispute going on for years, the court heard.

Michael Curran said he was collecting his granddaughter and parked. His son passed and started shouting, roaring, and put up his fists and started boxing. He blocked him.

The complainant said that his son gave him two kicks in the groin.

He went to the Garda Station to report the matter and to hospital where he was given pain killers. He told in cross examination by defence barrister Paul Noctor he didn’t provoke his son in any way. He denied throwing a punch or that he had a weapon in his hand.

The defendant said he was picking up his son at the school. As he was walking past his father put the window down and said something. He kept walking.

His father got out of his car and approached him and his son. The defendant dropped his son’s school bag. His father was approaching him with a metal trowel with a wooden handle. He said his father threatened him and his son. He defended himself and son against the trowel in his father’s hand.

The defendant said he suffered an injury to his leg for which he was going to the doctor for two years. His doctor had a concern the leg was broken. He said his father picked up the trowel off the ground and put it into his car. He put his son in his car and drove straight to the Garda Station. He went to the A&E later that afternoon.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme