FF TD on trial over assault

[Mentalman]

The trial of a Fianna Fáil TD, his son and four others on assault and public order offences begins this afternoon in Clonmel Circuit Court.

Deputy Mattie McGrath, his son Edmund and the four other accused pleaded not guilty to the charges of assault causing harm and violent disorder at Newcastle, Co Tipperary on 14 August 2006.

In court today, it was alleged that on that date five local youths were set upon by the six accused in the village of Newcastle outside Clonmel.
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A jury of seven men and five women have been sworn in and the trial is expected to last at least a week.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/1104/mcgrathm.html

Anyone know the background to this one? I seem to remember soething about the locals taking matters into their own hands but I'm not sure if this was the case?