Three men jailed for violent disorder and assault outside bar

Three Navan men were each given two years in prison after getting kicked out of a pub for assaulting a group of men.

Ciprian Calin (33), from Bridge Street Navan, Adi Calin (35), from Dunville Meadows Navan, and Cornel Gheorge (49), from Dunville Meadows Navan were in Trim Circuit Court on 16th February charged with violent disorder and assault causing harm.

Garda Jack Bellamy told the court on 20th December 2024 at half past midnight Gardai received a report of an alleged assault outside Watergate Bar and Kitchen at Watergate Street, Navan. The three accused were outside the property after they were kicked out and were arguing with a bouncer. The three injured parties were exiting the pub when a conversation between them and the accused quickly turned physical.

CCTV footage shown to the court, which was used to identify the three accused, showed them punching and kicking the injured parties. The injured parties were dropped to the ground several times before the three accused continued their assault. The footage shown to the court displayed one of the injured parties lying in the middle of the road after being assaulted as cars were forced to drive around him.

Two of the injured party attended hospital shortly afterwards. One received a cut above his right eye from the assault requiring glue and stitches and the other man required surgery on a broken jaw.

All three men said in their victim impact statements read to the court they are more hesitant to go out in Navan out of fear of seeing the three men again. they also fear how the accused men will react after the court case is finalised.

Garda Bellamy told the court all three of the accused said during Garda interview they were defending themselves and Adi Calin suggested the injured parties were displaying racist behaviour and calling them racist names. Ciprian Calin told Gardai during interview he wasn’t sure what happened but recalled assaulting the men only when his brother was assaulted first.

All three men were subsequently charged and pleaded guilty in court.

Adi Calin has 35 previous convictions, the majority of which for road traffic offences, three for theft, and one for possession of drugs.

Cornel Gheorge and Ciprian Calin have no previous convictions in Ireland with the two men having only recently arrived in the country from Romania when the assaults took place.

Judge John Martin said each of the injured party “is perfectly entitled to go out and about” without the fear of someone assaulting them.

The judge noted Adi Calin’s previous convictions and “utter disregard” for road traffic laws, saying it demonstrates a relaxed approach to the laws of the land.

The judge said the fact these men were put out of the bar suggests bad behaviour before the incident. the judge said CCTV footage showed “men were just falling all over the place” and there was no justification for the outburst of violence which continued for some time.

Defending Barrister for Adi Calin, BL James O’Brien told the court during interviews his said he was sorry what happened and expressed remorse. BL O’Brien told the court “this is very much out of character for him” because all his previous convictions are of a non-violent nature.

Adi Calin is a father of three children and is the sole carer for his wife who suffers with back difficulties.

BL Shane Kelly, defending barrister for Ciprian Calin, told the court his client has been in custody on a bench warrant regarding this matter since 19th December last year and was homeless in Dublin before he surrendered himself to Gardai.

The court heard he is a practicing Orthodox Christian and acknowledged what occurred can’t be stood over and he will leave Ireland after his period in custody.

BL Niall Gallagher defending Cornel Gheorge told the court during Interview his client said “I cant believe I was doing all that” when shown the CCTV footage and was appalled by his behaviour.

Mr Gheorge has been in Ireland since 4th May 2024 with his partner in order to find employment and receive surgery because he was having difficulty with his colon.

The court heard prison will be especially difficult for all three accused due to their limited English language skills. All three accused expressed remorse and an apology to the injured parties either letter submitted into the court or through their defending counsel.

Judge Martin imposed a two year prison sentence on Adi Calin, Ciprian Calin, and Cornel Gheorge with an additional six months suspended for a year. Ciprian Calin’s sentence was backdated to 19th December last year when he was first brought into custody.