When gardai discovered that associates of two opposing feuding factions faced off in a Dublin city centre bar in March, 2011, they knew it would lead to serious developments.
Especially as Ritchie Thompson – the older brother of 'Fat' Freddie Thompson – received a broken leg and Ritchie's wife Catherine was stabbed.
Ultimately it would mean that Gerard Eglington, the gangster who started the fight in the Karma Stone pub that night, would be shot dead in Portarlington, Co Laois, in front of his children last September.
Sources say that gardai are in "no doubt" that Eglington, who was 27 when he was shot dead, was targeted by the 'Fat' Freddie gang because of his role in the events of March 13, 2011.
However, it has been established that Richie and Catherine had no involvement in the savage killing.
Yesterday at Dublin Circuit Court yesterday Eglington's best friend, his long-term partner and her sister were sentenced for their role in the melee.
His close pal Kenneth Roche – who lost his brothers John and Noel to the bitter Crumlin/Drimnagh feud – was jailed for nine months for his part in the street melee.
The two sisters were given suspended sentences when they also admitted charges arising from the clash between the two groups that was linked to the Crumlin Drimnagh feud.
Savage
Kenneth Roche (22) was sent to prison while Danielle Nolan (22) and murder victim Eglington's girlfriend Kristle Nolan (28) had nine-month jail terms suspended for three years.
The court heard the "savage attack" happened when two rival groups met each other by chance at a city pub and spilled out onto the street.
The three accused had "associated" with people involved in the feud but were not directly involved, the court was told.
Roche,
formerly of Abbotstown Avenue, Finglas, pleaded guilty to violent
disorder at the Karma Stone pub, Wexford Street, on March 13, 2011.
His
co-accused Kristle Nolan (28) of Lorcan O'Toole Park, Kimmage, Dublin,
pleaded guilty to the same offence, while Danielle Nolan (22), of The
Oaks, Kilnacourt, Portarlington, pleaded guilty to the less serious
charge of affray.
Gerard Eglington, formerly of Kilnacourt Woods, Portarlington, had died in tragic circumstances, the court heard.
Defence
counsel said Danielle Nolan only became involved because she knew
Gerard Eglington. Her sister Kristle was his partner at the time.
Imposing
the sentence on Roche, Judge Patrick McCartan said he needed to send
out a message to anyone else who might be inclined to get involved in
similar activity.
kfoy@herald.ie
