Rochdale brothers convicted after Barnsley brawl

Reporter: Jan Harwood
Date online: 18/08/2008

Two brothers from Rochdale have been given suspended jail terms for their part in a booze-fuelled brawl in Barnsley on Boxing Day last year.

David Boyle, 29, made a derogatory comment which led to an argument, before a full-scale fist fight broke out involving his brother Geoffrey, 28, a Scottish man and a woman from Barnsley.

David Boyle was given a six month sentence and ordered to do 120 hours' unpaid work after he was found guilty of affray. His brother was given four months and 100 hours' unpaid work for the same offence.

When giving his verdict, Judge Michael Murphy QC blasted Britain's excess drinking culture and the alcohol-fuelled violence that goes with it.

The Judge condemned licensees for serving customers 'drink after drink after drink' before they are thrown into streets and start fighting.

Judge Murphy said: "This was a furious piece of drunk, profound, illogical and mindless violence and it is not confined to Barnsley.

"Every town in the country seems to have this real problem of people who go out, drink to excess, and commit offences of mindless disorder and violence which, in the cold light of day, they regret."

"Usually the people I deal with are well convicted but, in your cases, you otherwise have virtually blameless lives."

Two women from Barnsley and a Scottish man were also convicted for their parts in the brawl.

All the jail sentences were suspended for two years.