A 25-year-old man from Clonakilty, who has 15 previous convictions, was given a six-month suspended jail term for affray.

Defence solicitor Colette McCarthy, appeared at Skibbereen District Court on behalf of Karol Siwek of No 17, Stonewood, Clonakilty.

Evidence had been given at a previous sitting of the district court in Clonakilty that the accused had been involved in a dispute at Molaga Street in Clonakilty on November 14th 2024.

Ms McCarthy said other people involved in the incident had already been dealt with by the courts, but she appealed to Judge Joanne Carroll to consider that her client believed he was coming to the aid of his mother and his sister.

The solicitor reminded the judge that it was Mark Fail, a co-accused, who had texted her client the following day on November 15th, and that her client was reacting to that.

Ms McCarthy said her client was pleading guilty to the offence, which was brought under the Public Order Act. The offence is that he did 'commit an affray' with Mark Fail in that he, and the co-accused, used or threatened to use unlawful violence towards each other.

Sgt Tom Mulcahy outlined details of the accused's 15 previous convictions, which included three drug possession charges, two public order, and one charge for an assault causing harm.

Karol Siwek had previously given evidence that Mark Fail texted him saying, 'I'm going to see you soon, bro. Your mum and sister came over to mine last night' to which he replied by sending a voice note saying, 'I will see you outside your house in 30 seconds, let's sort it out like men'.

The court was told that Mr Siwek drove to Mark Fail's house on the afternoon of November 15th, but he ran away when he saw that Mark Fail was in possession of a steak knife.

He told the court after falling backwards he got the knife off Mark Fail using just his hands, but did not punch or kick the co-accused who has already been dealt with separately by the courts.

'He is hot-headed,' Judge Carroll commented as she imposed the six-month suspended sentence on Karol Siwek. 'He is guilty of affray. He went over looking for a physical fight, which makes him guilty of that offence.'

At the age of 25, the judge said the accused needs to realise that he is no longer immature and has to take care of his good job working with a local industry in Clonakilty.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.