Man attended bare-knuckle fight during lockdown

A COALISLAND man who attended a bare-knuckle fight during the pandemic last year, has been fined for contravening Coronavirus regulations.

Edward James Maguire (54) of Innishmore Gardens was fined £400 on two counts of breaking the regulations, when he appeared before Dungannon Magistrates Court.

The illegal event took place in an isolated yard on Battleford Road near Benburb on February 28 last year. The aftermath of the event, which was broken up by police was widely reported in the press afterwards. It was estimated that several hundred people were in attendance.

The court was told police were dispatched to the area and a warning was made by loud hailer for those present to disperse. However a large number of people ignored the warnings and remained. Fixed penalty notices were later issued to numerous people who were identified on social media and bodycam footage and aerial film by police. Maguire was identified arriving in a van. He refused to engage with police and subsequently was summonsed to appear before the court.

A defence solicitor said Maguire wished to apologise to the court for not adhering to Covid-19 regulations at the time. He added the defendant realised he should have abided by the rules.

District Judge Michael Ranaghan said, “I don’t know why they made it a fine only offence but they did. It was a large gathering and he wasn’t the only man involved therefore I have to temper the fines. I don’t know why there are two charges”.