The State’s case put forth that: ‘The offences arise in the context of a violent feud that has taken place over the past three years in the south side of the city’

A BROTHER and his older sister have both pleaded guilty to participating in a violent disorder incident which involved members of a family known to the gardaí at Hyde Avenue, Limerick city.

The incident required 11 patrol cars to break up the fight, and has led to seven people being charged before the courts.

The State’s case put forth in a sentencing hearing that “the offences arise in the context of a violent feud that has taken place over the past three years in the south side of the city”, which has involved 26 incidents involving the discharge of firearms, and over 70 incidents that have come to garda attention.

Garda Eoin Cleary of Roxboro Garda Station told Prosecuting Barrister-at-law John O’Sullivan that a dispute is ongoing between a family known to gardaí and other persons.

Mr O’Sullivan said that the feud has involved a number of incidents, including three instances of explosives, threats to kill and criminal damage.

Garda Cleary confirmed this before Limerick Circuit Court.

The co-accused, Ms Demi Higgins, 27, and Mr Lee Higgins, 20, both with an address at Crecora Avenue, Ballinacurra Weston, Limerick, have no previous convictions.

Both of their barristers denied allegations that the pair are involved in a feud.

Garda Cleary’s evidence detailed that on January 13, 2025, he and his colleagues were called out to Hyde Avenue by a female. While speaking to the woman, the garda became aware of shouting and a commotion from another part of the street. The garda then saw Mr Lee Higgins violently assaulting a man.

The fight broke out on the pavement but spilled out onto the road, blocking traffic, the court heard.

The garda said that Lee Higgins’ sister, Demi Higgins, used a very large hammer to assault persons involved in the fight.

The court heard that the woman who had initially alerted gardai was armed with a wooden baton.

Footage of the incident played in court, showed children walking home from school as the fight broke out at approximately 3pm.

Barrister John O’Sullivan said Demi Higgins was shown with an “industrial-type hammer”, while fighting on the road.

Barrister Liam Carroll, representing Mr Lee Higgins, said that the accusation that his client is involved in an ongoing feud is merely an allegation, and that his client has not been investigated by gardaí for firearms, explosives or organised crime group activities. Garda Cleary agreed that gardaí have not investigated Mr Higgins for any such offences.

Mr Carroll further stated that gardaí would be no strangers to the property they were called to by the woman, and that Ms Demi Higgins had been harassed to some extent by the family associated with the property.

The barrister said that Mr Higgins was seriously outnumbered, and over the course of the violent disorder, Mr Higgins was beaten by members of the family – to which Garda Cleary agreed.

Mr Carroll said in mitigation that Mr Higgins was aware his sister was in difficulty, and was subsequently harassed and beaten.

The barrister said that Mr Higgins accepts he could have dealt with matters differently, and that the offence took place in the context of his sister being harassed.

Mr Carroll said that his client works as a plumber and is somebody who is a net contributor to society.

“It is completely and entirely rejected by Mr Higgins that he is in any way involved in the feud,” Mr Carroll said.

Barrister-at-law Amy Nix, representing Demi Higgins, said that the area is an “extremely tough neighbourhood to grow up in”.

The barrister said the co-accused are “people that are strangers to criminality”.

Ms Nix said that her client is a carer for her grandmother, and is a lone parent to a nine-year-old child.

The barrister said that Ms Demi Higgins said she felt she had no choice but to come to the aid of her brother, and that the violent disorder was an anomaly and a once-off incident.

She further said that Ms Higgins received a punch to the face over the course of the dispute.

Ms Nix put forth that her client is of good character and deeply regrets her actions.

The barrister asked the judge to consider an alternative to a custodial sentence, for the sake of her young child’s parental support.

Judge Colin Daly considered the case and said that he would adjourn sentencing to a later date in June.

The judge advised Ms Nix that her client should consider making arrangements for parental support.