Ringleader of pub fracas jailed for 3 years and 9 months

By Isabel Hayes and Fiona Ferguson

The “ringleader” of a fracas in a pub in which three young men were the subject of an unprovoked attack has been jailed for four and a half years with the final nine months suspended.

Cain Hutch (27), of Berryfield Road, Finglas, Dublin 11, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to one count of violent disorder in relation to this incident at The Deputy Mayor, Meakstown, Dublin 11.

Another count of producing a chair in the course of a dispute was taken into consideration by the court.

Hutch further pleaded guilty to one count of arson at a house in Finglas on November 27, 2021.

He has 27 previous convictions including public order, drug possession and road traffic offences, the court heard.

Judge Pauline Codd noted that the arson offence occurred in the context of a dispute and described it as a highly dangerous act.

While scorch marks were left on the house, it was not set alight.

She identified the targeted nature of the offence as an aggravating factor and observed that Hutch had been highly intoxicated at the time.

She noted there was plenty of material to trace Hutch. She noted it seemed to be a spur-of-the-moment decision and he had acted highly foolishly.

She took into account his guilty plea and personal circumstances, his apology for his conduct and the fact he comes from a difficult background.

Judge Codd imposed a one-year sentence for the arson offence, noting his youth and psychological difficulties.

She said she considered the violent disorder to be the more serious offence, noting that Hutch was the prime instigator who unleashed violence on an innocent group of young men.

She said the court had viewed the CCTV and Hutch had been the “ringleader in this fracas”.

The judge said one of the most serious aggravating circumstances was Hutch saw fit to behave in this manner in front of small children, exposing them to vicious violence.

She said the use of an implement – the chair – was also highly aggravating.

She took into account that Hutch had been exposed to much tragedy at a young age and struggled with alcohol and drugs. She said there was evidence he was addressing his issues.

He appeared to be gaining some level of wisdom and reflecting on his behaviour, the judge noted.

Judge Codd took into account he had lost family members and noted his mother’s letter to the court relating to the trauma he had suffered.

Judge Codd imposed a three-and-a-half-year sentence consecutive to the arson sentence and suspended the final nine months for one year. She backdated the sentence to October to reflect time spent in custody.

Garda Lee Boylan told the court that gardai received an anonymous phone call on the evening of February 11, 2024 involving an incident in the Deputy Lord Mayor pub in Finglas.

The court heard Hutch was one of four men who got into an argument with a group of three young men while they were all watching a match in the pub. Gda Boylan said the attack against the three young men was entirely unprovoked.

CCTV footage played in court showed Hutch punching one man to the face before he picked up a chair and started throwing it around, hitting another young man across the head. Families of young children who were present at the time could be seen fleeing the pub to escape the violence.

One of the victims was hospitalised in the wake of the incident. All three declined to give statements to gardaí in the wake of the assault.

There were no victim impact statements in court.

In relation to the second offence the court heard at an earlier sentence hearing that the arson had occurred at 6.30am on November 27, 2021, when Hutch and a second man arrived in a taxi.

Hutch exited the car, ignited an object and threw it against the wall of the house.

His co-accused did not exit the taxi but also threw an item which did not ignite.

There was no evidence of any accelerant being used and there was not much damage done.

David Fleming BL, defending, said Hutch wished to offer a sincere apology for his “disgraceful behaviour” on the day in question.

He said he was inebriated on the day of the violent disorder offence, and had taken cocaine and alcohol.

When intoxicated, Hutch is someone who makes “rash, violent and criminal decisions”, defence counsel said.

He outlined how Hutch lost three close family members in a short space of time and his home was the subject of an arson attack.

He has spent his time in custody productively, the court heard.