Annie McCue summoned James and Denis Cunningham for assault and abusive and threatening language on 22nd December. There was a cross-summons against Annie McCue, Bridget McCue, Felix McCue, and Nancy McCue for assault on the same occasion. Mr Blackader, solicitor, appeared for the McCues, and Mr McNally appeared for the Cunninghams. The evidence of Annie McCue was to the effect that on this date she was going home with her sister, and passing through a gate the defendants told them to go back and shut it, and they refused. Denny Cunningham spat in her face, and Jimmy struck her a box in the eye. To Mr McNally: I never struck a man called Goodman with an umbrella. This gate leads to a pass from the public road to Cunningham’s farm. Bridget McCue deposed that Denny struck her sister. She was also struck. Her father, who heard the noise, came to the rescue, and defendants ran away over to the railway bridge. Felix McCue deposed that when he heard his daughter’s screaming he rand down and heard the Cunninghams say that this was the place to do for them. He heard the shouts a quarter of a mile away. Annie’s eye was black. The priest would have settled the dispute, but the Cunninghams would leave it to him. It’s all spite since he (witness) bought the land. To Mr McNally: I am afraid of these men. Nancy McCue gave corroborative evidence, and in cross examination said she could not say if the Cunninghams were struck. Mr Blackader: When gentlemen go about the country spitting in girls’ faces they deserve what they get. Denis Cunningham was sworn and denied that he spat in the girl’s face. He could not say if his brother struck Annie. He was told by them ‘to go up to the lone bushes to his people the fairies’. They also said that his mother was ‘walking the railway at night’. James Cunningham deposed that he met Annie McCue who cursed his soul and struck him with a stone. He did not assault her, nor did he see Denny spit in her face. To Mr Blackader: He did not give her the black eye. Mr McNally raised the question of title, but their worships would not entertain it. The Cunninghams were fined 20s and 10s costs, and directed to enter into bail for 12 months, themselves in £5, and two sureties of £2 10s each. The cross cases were dismissed. The Chairmen remarked that the girls must not be exultant over this, but should keep themselves quiet and show they were decent girls. ‘Assault and Abusive Language’, Anglo Celt (4 Feb 1899), p. 4