Donegal Judge draws line in the sand in Rathmullan ice-cream battle

A Donegal judge has said a stand-off between two rival ice-cream salesmen is "getting very messy" and needs to be resolved.

The cases of Stephen Cole and Jim Chambers came before Judge Ciaran Liddy at Letterkenny District Court.

Each faces a number of charges arising out of a number of alleged incidents at Rathmullan Beach going back as far as 2019.

Both men, Jim Chambers, 65, of The Glebe, Letterkenny, and Stephen Cole, a 43-year-old of Trentabuoy, Drumkeen face a charge of breach of the peace at Rathmullan Beach on July 19, 2019.

They are also each charged with an assault on 25 July, 2021 at Rathmullan and also with a breach of the peace on the same date at the same location.

Judge Liddy said he understood that all cases involving both parties were due to be heard.

The court was told that another incident had occurred relating to a third party which also had to be heard.

Chambers is represented by solicitor Mr Donough Cleary while Cole is represented by Mr Patsy Gallagher.

Previous court dates had been adjourned to see how the rival ice-cream vendors got on over summer seasons.

Judge Liddy said the case is "getting to a point where it has to be brought to a completion."

He agreed to once again adjourn matters for the summer months to see how the parties got on.

He set a date for hearing on November 4, 2026 stating that all parties must attend and set 'peremptory against everybody' meaning there will be no more delays in the case being heard.