Pool cues brandished and bar stool hurled as cousins 'behaved like children' in pub brawl

Cousins Thomas, Patrick and Anthony Doherty clashed with fellow customers at the Shireland Inn at Smethwick.

The dispute flared over a comment made about the wife of one of the men, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.

The groups grabbed pool cues and started pushing and shoving each other as tempers frayed.

Then a snooker ball was thrown and one man tore off his shirt as the rival factions goaded each other into a fight, explained Mr Geoffrey Dann, prosecuting.

Police were called and the officers arrived as a bar stool was hurled across the pub.

The men involved in the altercation with the Doherty's slipped out of the pub by a back door while the trio were arrested on January 7 last year.

Anthony Doherty, 31 and 25-year-old Patrick, both of High Street, Brierley Hill each admitted affray.

The former, who has a job in Germany, was given an eight month jail sentence suspended for 18 months and ordered to pay £800 costs while the other received a 12 month prison term suspended for the same period with £150 costs.

Thomas Doherty, aged 27, of Wyn-Griffith Drive, Tipton, who played a lesser role, pleaded guilty to a public order offence. He was given a year long community order under supervision with £150 costs.

Recorder Jason MacAdam said: "This was pathetic, child like behaviour by all concerned. Men of your age should know better.

"There was nothing manly, heroic or brave about this.

"Something was said or done that caused this incident to kick off and others who behaved just as badly as you were allowed to leave the pub.

"They had clearly been responsible for starting this," he said.