The case involving a Castlebar man who headbutted one woman and thumped another woman in the face, after one of their friends asked the man for a cigarette, was heard at this week’s sitting of Castlebar District Court.
Ms Nadine Hughes told the court that after attending the carnival in Castlebar on the night of November 14/15 2008, she and her friends were on Linenhall Street, when one of her friends, Ms Megan Quinn asked Colin Conaty, 32 Riverdale Court, Castlebar, for a cigarette.
Ms Hughes said that Conaty shouted at them saying why would he have a cigarette. The witness said she asked Conaty to move on. The defendant then out of the blue headbutted her in the face, which resulted in Ms Hughes’ glasses cutting her nose. Ms Hughes also saw Conaty hit another one of her friends in the face.
Ms Orla McLoughlin said that she saw Conaty, who she knows to see from her estate, walk along carrying cans in a bag and saw her friend ask him for a cigarette. Ms McLoughlin said that she saw Conaty headbutt Ms Hughes and then Conaty thumped Ms McLoughlin in the face.
The defendant made a statement to gardaí where he said that three drunk girls had asked him for a cigarette and that he told them that “I don’t fu**ing smoke”. The defendant claimed that the girls prevented him from walking on and that they were “all up in my face” and that he must have accidentally clipped them.
Judge Mary Devins said that as the defendant was not in court and that his liberty was at risk, she would record a conviction, and she issued a bench warrant before sentencing.
