Five men charged over serious assault on Tucker Street, Castlebar sent for trial

Four Mayo men and a Laois man are to face trial at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court in October over an alleged serious assault in August 2025.

Five accused in Castlebar assault case sent forward to Circuit Court

Four Mayo men and a man from County Laois will stand trial at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court on 5 October, charged in connection with an alleged serious assault on Tucker Street, Castlebar in the early hours of Saturday, 23 August 2025. Google News IE — Crime (en) reports the case was advanced at this morning's sitting of Castlebar District Court.

The five defendants — Davitt Neary and Rhys Neary, both of Shanvalley, Breaffy Woods, Castlebar; Paul Dowding of Frenchhill, Castlebar; Oran Groarke of Ballynew, Turlough Road, Castlebar; and Eben Mulqueeney of 47 Willow Grove, Mountmellick, Co Laois — were each served with the book of evidence before Judge Vincent Deane.

Davitt Neary, Rhys Neary and Dowding face charges of assault causing serious harm and violent disorder. Groarke and Mulqueeney are each charged with violent disorder arising from the same incident.

Garda Evan Joyce gave evidence of meeting the defendants at court and serving each with a copy of the book of evidence. Court presenter Sergeant Conor McShane told the court that the Director of Public Prosecutions had consented to the defendants being returned for trial, and applied for them to appear before the next sitting of Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court on 5 October.

None of the five men were legally represented, owing to an ongoing dispute over the reform of the legal aid scheme. No objections were raised to them being sent forward without representation. Judge Deane asked each defendant whether they understood the meaning of an alibi before issuing the standard alibi warning; all five indicated they did.

Dowding, Groarke and Mulqueeney each applied for legal aid. Judge Deane granted the three defendants legal aid for one senior and one junior counsel. The remaining two defendants, Davitt Neary and Rhys Neary, made no such application.

All five were remanded on bail and sent forward to appear before Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court on 5 October.

Source: Google News IE — Crime (en)