An 18-year-old Fás student, who pleaded guilty to a Section Two assault on a man outside Top Nosh, was before Castlebar District Court on Wednesday.
Inspector Mick Murray outlined that on July 30 2008 at 1.45am, Mr Gerry Murray was assaulted after he was pushed to the ground by Donal Deegan, 2 Hollow Grove, Castlebar. Insp Murray said that provocative remarks were made to Mr Murray by Deegan, before the injured party faced up to the defendant, which resulted in Mr Murray being pushed to the ground.
A statement which was made by Deegan in October 2008 was read out in court: “I did on occasion call him names” but “I didn’t realise I was causing him such grief”.
Solicitor Aidan Crowley said that the student, who has no previous convictions, had consumed a lot of alcohol that night. Mr Crowley said that Deegan had no reason to have any aggro with Mr Murray, who was around the same age as he. The solicitor added that his client, three days after the incident, tried to apologise to the injured party.
Judge Mary Devins adjourned sentencing until December 2 this year and said that compensation may be appropriate for the person involved or for a charity to be chosen by the injured party.
