A schoolteacher who threw his principal to the ground by her hair in a row over an afterschool homework club, avoided a jail sentence in the District Court in Athlone yesterday (February 13 ) after the victim accepted an ex gratia payment of €2,000.
The court heard how Micháel Pleamoinn (41 ), with an address at Barley Fields, Bealnamullia, Athlone had approached his acting headmistress, Máire Ní Murchú, at the gaelscoil in Athlone on September 14, 2011 to present his plan for the afterschool club.
However, when Ms Ní Murchú suggested she would have to run it past the board of management first, Pleamoinn became “very angry, and started shouting at her”, according to Inspector Nicholas Farrell.
“Do you want me to go over the edge? What are you trying to do to me? If I end up in jail, don’t come running to me,” the defendant was quoted as shouting at his victim.
“He then grabbed her by the hair with both hands, and threw her violently to the floor,” said the inspector.
In her evidence, Ms Ní Murchu - a smaller person than her assailant - told how she had subsequently been off work for six months after the incident, and had been treated for post traumatic stress disorder.
A medical report was submitted for Ms Ní Murchú, however, no photographs were taken of her at the time.
Pleamoinn’s solicitor Mr Dara Robinson, declined to cross-examine, saying: “I don’t want to add to the obvious suffering of the victim”.
“There’s a clear backdrop of irrationality, but there was no use of a weapon, no use of a fist, no use of a boot,” he added in mitigation for his client.
He described Pleamoinn as “an extremely well-regarded teacher for a decade and a half”, before handing in a selection of references, and a psychiatric report to Judge Seamus Hughes for his perusal over lunch.
“This is clearly a man with an unblemished life, but who has suffered acute stress at various points in life. You are not a danger to the public generally, and I get the distinct impression this episode has caused extreme distress to you,” said the judge on his return.
“This is unlike the vast majority of assault cases that come before me, where I’d believe the remorse to be artificial. For just a 20 or 30 second moment, an entire, brilliant career could’ve come to an end,” added Judge Hughes.
No evidence of a civil case was made known to the court, however, Judge Hughes reminded the injured party that: “Any compensation ordered today would be completely independent of this”.
Having earlier indicated he was not going to jail the defendant, he then asked Ms Ní Murchú was she was willing to accept the €2,000 ex gratia (“no strings attached” ) payment, and she said she would.
The judge believed the victim “genuine”, but also wished the defendant was “successful in acquiring gainful employment”.
“I hope these proceedings bring therapeutic benefit to both parties. Especially the victim,” concluded the judge.
The case was adjourned for a week to allow Pleamoinn gather this sum.
