The Galway District Court heard this week how a 26-year-old Galway man “broke down” when he saw CCTV footage of himself punching a woman in a city centre restaurant and breaking her nose.
Expressing his deepest remorse at Monday’s court sitting, Ronan Kelly vowed that he had no memory of the assault and could not “from the bottom of his heart” explain why he carried out such appalling actions on a complete stranger.
Kelly with an address at Tir An Fhia, Leitir Mor, Galway, who pleaded guilty to assault causing harm at Pacino’s in Bridge Street on June 23 last year, was ordered to pay €5,000 in compensation and was fined €1,000 with five months to pay. A number of public order offences were taken into consideration.
Inspector Sean Glynn told the court that the now 24-year-old injured party and two other women were sitting at a table in Pacino’s just before midnight when the defendant, who was in an extremely intoxicated state, entered and proceeded to bang against tables before approaching the women and asking them to go to a party. When Kelly was asked to leave he turned his back on them but then suddenly turned around and punched one of the women in the face, breaking her nose. Inspector Glynn added that such was the violence displayed by Kelly that another male, who was a customer, had to stand between him and the injured woman to make sure that he left.
A friend went with the injured party to the Galway Garda Station and gardai found Kelly at Williamsgate Street. When gardai interviewed Kelly at a later stage he had not realised what he had done and when shown CCTV of the assault he “broke down”.
Defence solicitor Brian O’Callaghan admitted that the incident was “appalling”. He explained that Kelly had started socialising with a friend at about 5.30pm. They had food and then drank four to five pints before going to another pub to consume two more. Later when Kelly’s friend left he went to CPs nightclub and had another drink.
“He had about eight pints at this stage. He went to the bathroom [in Cps], after that he cannot remember anything... He just can’t understand what happened,” said Mr O’Callaghan. Kelly was released from garda custody and two and half weeks later he received a call from gardai to come to the station where he was arrested and questioned about the assault.
Referring to a medical report Judge Mary Fahy said that the woman received a laceration to the bridge of the nose and that it needed realignment. The injured party told the court that the attack had left her feeling “very anxious”. She explained that Kelly “didn’t order food, he just came up to our table and started muttering about a party. He walked away and then came back. He watched me fall.”
“It’s one of the worst Section 3 assaults to come before the court; when a stranger goes into a restaurant and hits a woman,” said Judge Fahy.
The court then heard that the defendant, who has no previous convictions, is a qualified security man and has completed exams to become a primary school teacher. Mr O’Callaghan added that a conviction could seriously affect Kelly’s chances of realising his teaching goal.
“I am deeply remorseful... I’m not a bad person. I cannot explain the events,” said Kelly before his solicitor asked Judge Fahy not to impose a custodial sentence. Compensation of €5,000 as an expression of the remorse was then offered.
