Jail for Kildare men armed with slash hooks who damaged car

THREE men were jailed for affray during a car chase incident against a man they believed had played a role in the death of a friend at a sitting of Naas Circuit Court last week.

John Coyne (33), 23 Grove Heights, Roberstown, Kildare, James Forder (33), 2 Milbrook Square, Naas, Kildare and Timmy Cummins (34), 669 Ashgrove, Derrinturn, Kildare received partly suspended sentences for offences including affray, criminal damage and production of an article while and Craig Roche McMenamin (31), Osberstown, Naas, Kildare received a fully suspended sentence arising from the incident from Judge Elva Duffy.

The court was told on the evening of 8 December, 2021, John O’Brien (senior), the injured party’s father, had left his home to get a takeaway when he noticed that someone had vandalised his vehicle with shaving foam.

Later that night at 11.30pm, John O’Brien (junior) noticed he was being followed by a car which turned into something of a “car chase” as described by state counsel Jordan Fletcher.

The chase led to Castlefen estate in Sallins where the pursuing vehicle was positioned to block the road, preventing the injured party from fleeing.

Some of the accused left the car, going to the boot and took out slash hooks, axes and machetes.

Two of the men, Mr Cummins and Mr Forder, approached the car and threw a weapon at it, damaging the front window and passenger’s side door.

The injured party made his escape by driving across the green area, and gardaí later noticed tyre marks outlining his path.

The victim went straight to Naas Garda Station and made a complaint against the men.

The four men were then arrested and interviewed by gardaí, however, no admissions were made at the time.

Mr Coyne, who has 34 previous convictions, including assault causing harm, threat to kill, production of an article, false imprisonment, misuse of drugs, road traffic and public order convictions, was described by his defence barrister as having a lesser role in the Castlefen incident.

Since being charged, the man’s defence said he had learned from his mistakes and has been working on his drug and alcohol addiction, and offered an apology to the court and to John O’Brien.

He has also been serving a sentence of four years, with the final year suspended, for threat to kill and false imprisonment since 2025.

Mr Roche, a full-time electrician, has seven previous convictions, including assault, and road traffic convictions and was also described as having a lesser role, having not left the car during the incident, and having no direct responsibility for damage of the car. However, he was owner and driver of the vehicle.

His defending barrister said that this would be “the last this court will be seeing of him”.

Mr Cummins, one of the men who approached the car, has 17 previous convictions, including assault, criminal damage, drug misuse, possession of a knife, and theft.

His barrister noted that he never caused trouble to gardaí during a district court appeal and offered a guilty plea in advance, which was of “assistance to the state.” Mr Cummin’s barrister also noted that the accused was a close friend of a man who died a few days before the incident which allegedly involved Mr O’Brien.

Mr Forder, who has 13 previous convictions including arson, production of an article, criminal damage, public order and road traffic offences, was the other man who approached the vehicle during the incident.

Like Mr Cummins, Mr Forder was a close friend of the then recently deceased friend, and was described as coming from a decent and hardworking family, and working as a plumber since he left school at 16.

Judge Duffy noted their friend’s death was not a point of mitigation in the case and is not something she would take into account.

After assessing each man’s individual mitigation factors, Judge Duffy decided that Mr Forder was to receive a two-year and six-month consecutive sentence to commence after the accused’s current sentence is completed, with a suspension on the final 18 months, with 12 under supervision.

Mr Cummins received two years and six months, with six months suspended, backdated from his time in custody, with 12 months of probation supervision.

Mr Roche received a two-year sentence entirely suspended, provided he keep the peace.

My Coyne received a two-year sentence with 12 months suspended and to remain under supervision for a period of 12 months, backdated to January.