Rival Donegal ice-cream men given year to 'cool off' following tit-for-tat incidents

Businessmen Jim Chambers, aged 61 and Stephen Cole, aged 39, appeared at Falcarragh District Court in Co Donegal.

It followed a number of alleged incidents between the pair who were operating ice-cream vans at the seaside town of Rathmullan.

Both men face a charge of breach of the peace at Rathmullan Beach on July 19th, 2019.

Gardai Inspector Seamus McGonigle told the court that "once the sun shines, the problems arise."

No details of the specific incidents between the ice-cream van owners were given in court.

However, Inspector McGonigle said the rows between the two parties was taking up a lot of Garda time.

He said that unless something is done he feared the incidents between the men will "escalate."

Barrister for Chambers from The Glebe, Letterkenny, Mr Peter Nolan, BL, said he was suggesting that the cases could be adjourned for a year to see if peace could break out.

He said that both men had to live together if they're in the same business and described the incidents as 'tit-for-tat.'

Solicitor for Cole of Trentabuoy, Drumkeen, Mr Kieran Dillon, said his client wanted to live in harmony and while he was agreeable to an adjournment he wanted any misconduct to be taken into account.

Garda Inspector McGonigle said it was very prudent if the men were bound to the peace and given a strict warning about their behaviour.

However, Judge Deirdre Gearty said she could not bind the men to the peace because she had not heard any evidence in the cases.

However, she told Gardai that they had the right to re-enter matters if it "kicked off."