Custody for man who brought 'terror and carnage' to a Kildare town

Terror was inflicted on a County Kildare community in a series of violent mid-summer incidents a year ago.

Before Naas Circuit Court  was Evan Byrne, 29, whose address was given as 1 Kilbelin Close, Newbridge. He pleaded guilty to a number of offences including criminal damage and assault at locations in Ballymore Eustace on June 12, 2024.

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He also admitted dangerous driving on the N81 near the village on the same date.

Garda James Lacey told prosecuting barrister Jordan Fletcher a BMW car driven by the defendant overtook in a dangerous manner near Ballymore  and during a subsequent exchange the defendant shouted that he had three kids and couldn’t feed them before punching the other driver three times.

The defendant took the keys from the other vehicle and used one to stab the driver in the finger, breaking the skin.

The defendant was accompanied by a juvenile female, who has separately appeared  before court.

Gda Lacey said the defendant got a man into a headlock and tried to gouge his eyes.

The incidents include the breaking of car windows and damage to a pub premises. A woman was assaulted and €2,000 worth of damage was caused to one vehicle.

A video with images from CCTV and dashcam equipment was played to the court.

In one scene a woman can be heard saying “close your eyes” to a child.

The video showed the defendant reversing towards a man, knocking him to the ground and in another incident the vehicle mounted a footpath and an individual was struck by the car.

It was claimed the girl threw a hammer and the images showed a female using an implement to try to break the windows of a parked vehicle. Gda Lacey said the defendant was unfit for questioning when arrested.

Defending barrister Patrick McCarthy told Judge Elva Duffy that the defendant has a serious addiction problem and has used cocaine, cannabis and prescription drugs. EH was badly intoxicated at the time and has not come to garda attention since then.

The defendant was granted bail on condition that he undertake addiction treatment at a residential centre, which he has done.

Mr McCarthy said he had written a letter of apology and he had €20,000 available in compensation for the injured parties. The money is a loan from his father and the defendant has secured a work apprenticeship.

The defendant was diagnosed with disorders as a child. He found school very difficult, left at 13 and started drinking.

Mr McCarthy said he was homeless as 15 and was living in a car, spending all his money on drugs.

“He has very little memory of what happened (and) he’s extremely ashamed,” added Mr McCarthy.

He added the incident is a great source of shame to the defendant and he has confined his social circle to people of sober habits.

He said while the defendant has some previous convictions these are “not in the same league" as these events.

The court also heard that during the incident the defendant sustained a split lip when a resident defended himself against the pair.

Judge Duffy said the defendant had inflicted terror on people “none of whom he knew or had any beef with.” 

The judge added he was the instigator and had persuaded a child to get involved in criminal activity, adding it was an extraordinary afternoon of events.

Judge Duffy said local people, including children, were impacted and people were cowering indoors.

The court heard the defendant was in a drug induced psychosis at the time and the judge commented that sobriety is what will keep him from offending in the future, rather than a mental health diagnosis because there was no evidence of schizophrenia.

She noted that from a victim  impact statement that one of those affected has suffered flashbacks and is distressed at the sight of black cars.

She accepted he has done what he can to try to deal with his addiction and the compensation put forward was genuinely offered.

She said he has been previously diagnosed with ADHD and oppositional defiant disorder. Urine samples provided him had been free of intoxicants for a long time.

“I appreciate he has made significant changes to his life,” the judge, adding he was more culpable than the girl, who was given a nine months deferred detention order.

Judge Duffy imposed a sentence for three and a half years for endangerment with the final two years suspended provided that he engages with the Probation Service for two years.

But for the efforts of the defendant, she said, she would have imposed the full term.

Any time spent by the defendant in custody will be taken into account.

He was also disqualified from driving for ten years.