Temperatures cool between warring ice cream vendors

A war between two rival ice-cream salesmen in Donegal appears to have melted.

Businessmen Jim Chambers, aged 62 and Stephen Cole, aged 40, appeared at Falcarragh District Court.

The pair are accused of a series of incidents after they set up on the same beachside selling pitch.

It followed a number of alleged incidents between the pair who were operating ice-cream vans in the seaside town of Rathmullan.

Both men face a charge of breach of the peace at Rathmullan Beach on July 19, 2019.

The case had been adjourned over the summer months to see if peace had broken out between the pair.

Solicitor for Chambers, of The Glebe, Letterkenny, Mr Donough Cleary had told the court: "This is essentially a dispute between two ice cream salesmen."

Solicitor for Cole of Trentabuoy, Drumkeen, Mr James Canny, told the court that a plan had been agreed for the summer months. He said that both parties had agreed to pitches on the beach for the summer as well as other matters.

Garda Inspector Seamus McGonigle previously told the court "Once the sun shines, the problems arise." He added that the rows between the two parties was taking up a lot of Garda time.

This week, Inspector McGonigle said there had been no reported incidents between the pair over the summer.

Judge Éiteáin Cunningham adjourned the case until April 17, 2024.