Mayo men appear in court on upgraded assault charges

Three Mayo men appeared in Castlebar District Court where assault charges were upgraded to causing serious harm

By Anton McNulty Published 1st Jul 2026, 14:00 BST Three men were charged in Castlebar courthouse earlier today. | File pic Three Mayo men appeared in Castlebar District Court where assault charges were upgraded to causing serious harm Sign up to our Mayo Live newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Mayo Live within your account.

Three Mayo men who appeared in court in relation to a serious assault outside a Castlebar pub have had assault charges upgraded to assault causing serious harm.

The three defendants, Davitt Neary (23) of Shanvalley, Breaffy Woods, Castlebar; Rhys Neary (18) of Shanvalley, Breaffy Woods, Castlebar and Paul Dowding (24) of Frenchhill, Castlebar all appeared before Castlebar District Court this morning.

The three men were all arrested before the court and charged with assault causing serious harm in relation to an incident which took place on Tucker Street, Castlebar in the early hours of Saturday, August 23, 2025.

The defendants had all previously been charged with assault causing harm and violent disorder arising from the same incident but Judge Michael Connellan was informed that the assault causing harm charges were now being withdrawn and upgraded to assault causing serious harm.

Detective Garda Róisín Loftus informed Judge Connellan that she arrested Davitt Neary and Rhys Neary at The Mall, Castlebar before the court for the purpose of charging them with the new charge. She said both made no reply when the charge was put to them.

She said there was no objection to bail and both men will appear in Castlebar District Court on July 15 for service of the book of evidence.

Detective Garda John Flannery explained that he arrested Mr Dowding before the court and also charged him with the new charge. He said he made no reply to the charge and he was remanded on bail to appear before Castlebar District Court on July 15 for service of the book of evidence.

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A fourth man, Oran Groarke (23) of Ballynew, Turlough Road, Castlebar is charged with violent disorder arising from the same incident and he was also remanded on bail to July 15 for service of the book of evidence.

Due to solicitors withdrawing their services as part of an ongoing dispute with the Department of Justice over reform of the legal aid scheme, none of the four defendants were legally represented but they did not raise any objections to time being extended for service of the book of evidence.