Fermanagh man apologises for role in Donegal Town Gardaí ‘fracas’

A Queen’s University student has apologised for his part in a Donegal Town “fracas” which left Gardaí injured.

Mark Hughes, 22, of 11 Dressoge Road, Maguiresbridge, Fermanagh, apologised in Donegal District Court, in Ballyshannon Courthouse.

The incident took place in Donegal Town on October 6, 2024. Gardaí were escorting a group of males from a takeaway when they became aggressive, resulting in a melee which left three officers injured.

Hughes was charged with resisting or wilfully obstructing a peace officer, Garda Gerard James Curtis, contrary to Section 19 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, 1994 (as amended by Section 185 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2006

Judge Éiteáin Cunningham applied the Probation of Offenders Act, Section 1(1), for the offence, thus leaving the defendant without a conviction.

Other charges placed upon Hughes were taken into consideration by Judge Cunningham. Those charges were using threatening, abusive, or insulting behaviour, and with being intoxicated to the extent of being a danger to himself or others.  

Hughes’ solicitor, Kevin Hickey, invited his client to take the witness box and offer an apology.

Hickey said: “You have never been in court before, and never been in trouble with anybody. You are a student at Queen’s University studying Quantity Surveying.

“This conduct in the night, you were involved in this fracas. What would you say to the court?”

Hughes replied: “I want to fully apologise to anyone who was involved. Guards were just trying to do their job. It was a foolish error.

“It has been very tough with what has been happening.”

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Hickey then asked if Hughes had understood the distress he had caused to his mother, who had never had to deal with this before in her life, and if Hughes had learned a lesson.

Hughes responded that the incident was something he regretted and that he would definitely not get involved like this ever again.

Hickey concluded: “You want to get involved in your career because you have great opportunities. You have hopes that you want to travel.”

Inspector Mick Doherty, prosecutor of the state, told the court: “It was a serious incident, and it took resources, but the three members concerned do accept the apology of Mr Hughes. 

“The way he has conducted himself in the courts, I will be optimistic that we will not see each other in the courts again, and I am optimistic we will not cross paths again.”

Judge Éiteáin Cunningham said: “What I would say is that, certainly, Mr Hughes has demonstrated his apology and his regret, but it is a very serious situation.

“Members of An Garda Síochána have a specific role and a duty in protecting the community, and when they are prevented from doing so, it is very concerning from the court’s perspective. 

“Credit must be given for the way you have dealt with the matter before the court. I am conscious that you did publicly apologise to members of An Garda Síochána.”

Judge Cunningham said that the Gardaí accepted the apology and that they felt it was fair that the accused had “learned his lesson.”

She said: “It is the most serious matter that would ordinarily warrant conviction and consideration for sentencing.”

Judge Cunningham said she was applying in “exceptional circumstances,” the Probation of Offenders Act, Section 1(1), after having taken everything into account, noting that the accused had no previous convictions.

She told Hughes: “If he were to come back to the court in any other matters, he would not be awarded that opportunity. He would seem to me that he is not likely to come back to the courts.

“You do have a promising future, but it is only in your hands now. You can not be in this type of behaviour going forward.”