By Ronan Judge

TWO construction workers who engaged in “threatening and aggressive” behaviour towards a shopkeeper in Galway City have been told they are lucky to have avoided criminal convictions.

At Galway District Court, Judge Adrian Harris told Edwin Buelly (44) and Mark Rippon (53) they had engaged in “appalling” behaviour in Woodquay Stores last August and only for the approach adopted by the injured parties, the court would have adopted a different view.

Buelly, with an address at 38 Druid Court, Ballymun, Dublin 11 and Rippon, with an address at 8 Ashwood, Seacrest, Knocknacarra, each pleaded guilty to engaging in threatening, abusive and or insulting behaviour or words with intent to provoke a beach of the peace, contrary to section 6 of the Public Order Act.

Garda Kenneth Boyle told the court that the witness evidence in the case would have been that both accused called into Woodquay Stores in an “irate state” on August 30, 2024.

This court heard there may have been an earlier interaction between the shopkeeper and Mark Rippon’s wife over a parking space.

Both men were working on a building site a short distance from the shop.

Garda Boyle said both accused started shouting and roaring at the victim and an upstairs tenant came down after hearing the noise.

Both injured parties were subjected to threats and aggressive behaviour.

Garda Boyle said Edwin Bewley’s “aggression was at a higher level”.

The court heard the threats included: “I’ve got a choice here. I’ll either destroy the gaff or get out of here”; “I’ll lock the shop and murder youse”; “I’ve no problem coming back here with 20 lads”.

Bewley later told Gardaí “his mouth got him into trouble” and there was no “malice” in the threats.

Mark Rippon has 10 previous convictions including for theft and road traffic offences.

Edwin Bewley has 49 previous convictions and his last recorded conviction was in 2009.

Solicitor for Rippon, Sean Acton, said it appeared the incident developed from a row over a parking space and his client “lost control of himself”.

Mr Acton said his client wished to apologise to everyone involved and was willing to pay compensation to the injured parties.

Mr Acton said his client faced the possible activation of a suspended sentence if convicted of this offence and he was asking the court to deal with the case in a way that did not result in a criminal conviction.

The court was told the injured party did not want to see Rippon sent to prison as a result of this incident.

“His behaviour was appalling and he accepts that … he almost had a Tourette’s type reaction to the problem,” Mr Acton added.

Solicitor for Bewley, Catherine McDarby, said her client’s “mouth got him into trouble” and he apologised for his behaviour which was “somewhat of an overreaction”.

Judge Harris described the behaviour of both men as “appalling”.

He said the accused had engaged in “threatening and aggressive behaviour towards “a business person, like any other, trying to make ends meet and whose livelihood depends on being able to open safely and conduct business”.

Judge Harris said the court noted the “benign attitude of the State” to the suspended sentence hanging over Mr Rippon and the attitude of the injured party.

“It is the attitude of the injured party that is guiding me on this,” he added.

The court was told both men had paid €500 to the injured party and the charges were struck out.

Judge Harris told both men they were “lucky” in the manner the case had been dealt with.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme