by CCTV shows the moment a junior boxing event descended into a “war zone” after a convoy of vehicles was ambushed by armed mobs. A group of almost 60 men in 13 vehicles arrived at the family event in Ryton, a village in Warwickshire on the border of Coventry.
They entered the center and targeted a small group of men inside, starting a mass brawl that lasted for 20 minutes. The trouble happened at a sports venue in February 2020 and prompted a major investigation by multiple police forces, including Warwickshire Police, Metropolitan Police and Thames Valley Police.
The Warwickshire force said on July 24 that 23 men had been sentenced, some of whom had been jailed for more than 48 years. Violence erupted on 15 February 2020 when a national junior amateur boxing championship was held at a sports center in Ryton, reports BirminghamLive. After throwing a chair and attacking people, 26 men returned armed with weapons from the boots of the vehicles, including pickaxe handles, axes, knives, and spades.
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Members of a smaller group were cornered in a bar, where the large crowd tried to get them, Warwickshire Police said. The mass attack came in front of 300 members of the public, including children competing in the event and their families.
The venue was badly damaged and the event was cancelled. One victim was forced to the ground and kicked, punched, and slashed with a blade, which left him with injuries that required stitches to his face.
Warwickshire Police said more than 30 suspects, mostly from the London and Buckinghamshire area, had been identified. The Crown Prosecution Service later authorized the prosecution of 29 men for violent disorder, some of whom were also charged with assault occasioning grievous bodily harm and a range of weapons offences.
Scores of convictions have been seen in a series of trials over the past year, resulting in a series of sentences this month. Detective Constable Middleton said: “This was a brazen, appalling incident in which people were injured and which will cause huge distress to hundreds of members of the public who simply attended a venue to enjoy a sporting event.”
“Why any member of this group thought they could turn a public place into a war zone is beyond me and the rest of the team that participated in this investigation.”
“This was a massive undertaking and I welcome the sentences that have been handed down. Everyone involved in this ridiculous, dangerous behaviour, whether it’s through unpaid work or sitting in a prison cell, has had plenty of time to reflect their actions.”
“The message is clear that there is no safety in the number of people involved in violent disorder. Be like this in our communities, and we will catch up with you.”
23 men were convicted
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Larry McCarthy, 30, of Colne Park Caravan Site, West Drayton, London, was jailed for 40 months after pleading guilty to violent disorder, assault and possession of a knife.
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Anthony McDonagh, 29, of Colne Park Caravan Centre, West Drayton, London, was jailed for 44 months after pleading guilty to violent disorder, assault and possession of a knife.
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Declan McDonagh, 23, of Colne Park Caravan Site, West Drayton, Greater London, was jailed for three years after pleading guilty to violent disorder, assault and possession of an offensive weapon.
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William McDonagh, 36, of Pendles Paddock, Stokenchurch, Buckinghamshire, was jailed for 42 months after pleading guilty to violent disorder, assault and possession of a knife.
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Denis Murphy, 43, of Golborne Road, London, was jailed for 28 months after pleading guilty to violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon.
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Francis O’Donnell, 24, of Lynton Close, London, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and possession of a bladed article. He was sentenced to 33 months in prison.
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Simon G. O’Donnell Snr, aged 43, of Stable Way, London pleaded guilty to violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon. He was sentenced to 30 months in prison.
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Simon O’Donnell Jnr, 22, of Stable Way, London, was jailed for 30 months after pleading guilty to violent disorder.
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Charles Ward, 47, of Pendles Paddock, Stokenchurch, Buckinghamshire, was jailed for 25 months after pleading guilty to violent disorder and possession of a knife, he had already spent 5 months on probation.
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Patrick Corcoran, 35, of Pendles Paddock, Stokenchurch, Buckinghamshire, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon. He was sentenced to 27 months in prison.
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Martin J. McDonagh, 35, of Burnhill Close, London, pleaded guilty to violent disorder. He was sentenced to 29 months in prison.
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Michael O’Donnell, 26, of Hadrian Way, Staines-upon-Thames, was found guilty of violent disorder and possession of a bladed article. He was sentenced to four years in prison in absentia.
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Richard O’Donnell, 33, of Stable Way, London, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon. He was sentenced to 28 months in prison.
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Edward McDonagh, 35, of Colne Park Caravan Centre, West Drayton, Greater London, was jailed for 44 months after pleading guilty to violent disorder, assault and two counts of possessing an offensive weapon.
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Martin G. McDonagh, 41 of Colne Park Caravan Site, West Drayton, Greater London, pleaded guilty to violent disorder, possession of an offensive weapon, and possession of a bladed article. He was sentenced to 40 months in prison.
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Steven McDonagh, 37, of Colne Park Caravan Site, West Drayton, London, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon. He was sentenced to 30 months in prison.
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Anthony T. O’Donnell, 29, of Middle Ground, Wheatley, Oxfordshire, was jailed for 32 months after being found guilty of violent disorder following a trial.
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Anthony O’Donnell, 34, of Old Maidstone Road, Sidcup, Kent, was given a 22-month jail term, suspended for two years, after pleading guilty to violent disorder.
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Simon G. O’Donnell, aged 36, of Stable Way, London, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 4 of the Public Order Act relating to threatening words and behaviour. He was given a four-month prison term, suspended for a year, along with 100 hours of unpaid work.
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Jason O’Donnell, 35, of Stable Way, London, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 4 of the Public Order Act in relation to threatening words and behaviour. He was given a three-month prison term suspended for one year, and 100 hours of unpaid work.
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Daniel North, 37, of Bramley Road, London, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 4 of the Public Order Act relating to threatening words and behaviour. He has been given a sentence of three months imprisonment, suspended for a year, together with 80 hours of unpaid work.
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Simon C. O’Donnell, 37, of Stable Way, London, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 4 of the Public Order Act in relation to threatening words and behaviour. He was given a 12 month community order along with 70 hours of unpaid work.
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Brian O’Donnell, 46 of Stable Way, London, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 4 of the Public Order Act in relation to threatening words and behaviour. He was sentenced to 12 months community order and 80 hours unpaid work.
