State drops charges against father of Republic of Ireland player
The State has today dropped charges against a publican and two other men accused of demanding that another pub close within 24 hours.
John Stokes (aged 55), the father of Republic of Ireland striker Anthony Stokes, Daryl Mulcahy (aged 21) of Matt Talbot Court, and Derek Nolan (aged 30) from north Dublin had all pleaded not guilty to demanding with menaces that Shane Simpson close the Castle Inn public house in Summerhill “within 24 hours” on March 13, 2011.
John Stokes, who owns The Players Lounge in Fairview and has an address in the UK, had also pleaded not guilty to the assault of Shane Simpson at the Castle Inn on the same date.
The three men went on trial in April last year but the trial collapsed following several legal issues and Judge Carmel Stewart discharged the jury.
Paul Carroll BL, prosecuting, told Judge Mary Ellen Ring at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court today that the Director of Public Prosecutions was entering a nolle prosequi on all outstanding counts.
John Stokes had also been charged with unlawfully possessing cocaine worth €200 and two stun guns at The Players Lounge, on April 8, 2011.
These charges have also been dropped, the court heard.
