A garda officer rushed to the aid of a man after witnessing a vicious unprovoked assault on CCTV, the Galway District Court heard this week.
Garda Fergal O’Grady had been monitoring CCTV cameras when he observed David Maughan and Gary Ryan kick and punch a foreign-national man a number of times. Such was the ferocity of the attack that the concerned garda could not wait for assistance and raced to the scene.
Maughan (20 ) with an address at 7 Orlagh Grove, Newport Road, Castlebar, Co Mayo, but formerly of 95 Riveroaks, Claregalway, and Ryan (29 ) with an address at 152 Rahylin Glebe, Ballybane, both appeared before Judge Mary Fahy last Monday and pleaded guilty to being intoxicated in a public place, threatening and abusive behaviour, and to the assault of Aivar Susi at Mainguard Street, Galway, on October 13, 2008.
Inspector Pat McHugh told the court that Garda O’Grady had been guiding the cameras in the communications room when he observed Mr Susi lying on the ground while the defendants “punched and kicked” him. After calling for assistance Garda O’Grady then saw Maughan return to the scene and hit his victim a “number of punches”. This prompted Garda O’Grady to go straight to the scene and make an arrest.
Subsequent investigations revealed that the Mr Susi had been out for a few drinks and had stopped at Evergreen shop to have a cigarette. Mr Susi told gardai that the two men, who he had not known, approached then and hit him. The injuries sustained included damage to his teeth.
Solicitor for both defendants Olivia Traynor said that the two men, who were brothers-in-law, were both apologetic and had never come to garda notice before. Ms Traynor said that they had €600 in court as a first offer of compensation.
Judge Fahy replied that if the men had a previous conviction for assault or violence they would be going to jail. “They assaulted this man for no reason only that they could. It must have been very frightening for him,” she said.
The €600 was then handed over to the court and the defendants were remanded on continuing bail to May 18 and ordered to pay a further €2,400. Judge Fahy said that if the compensation were paid any sentence imposed would be suspended.
