A 23-year-old married father of three, who failed to appear at the last sitting of Castlebar District Court where a bench warrant was issued by Judge Mary Devins for the purpose of sentencing for assault and public order charges, was before Castlebar District Court on Wednesday.
The case, which was heard earlier this month, outlined that Martin McDonagh, 14 Lawn Park, Castlebar, assaulted Ahmed Alkatib, an employee of Top Nosh, Castlebar, on New Year’s Eve.
Gardaí were called to the scene and Garda Brian McGuire told the court that the defendant was intoxicated, was shouting and roaring abuse, and failed to calm down. He was observed by the garda to push people on the street and tell by-passers and Garda McGuire to “f**k off”.
McDonagh, who has previous convictions, failed to appear at the last court date as according to his solicitor, Aidan Crowley, he was visiting a sick relative. Judge Devins said that “his sick cousin doesn’t interest me at all”, and convicted and fined him €500 and sentenced him to three months in prison, suspended for 12 months. For the assault charge, the judge remanded him on continuing bail to June 2 for a community service assessment report, where if found suitable he will be sentenced to 100 hours community service in lieu of three months in prison. During this remand period the judge directed that McDonagh must also find the sum of at least €500 by way of compensation to Mr Alkatib.
For the section six public order McDonagh was remanded to the same date for a community service assessment report. If found suitable he will be sentenced to 50 hours community service consecutive, in lieu of one month in prison consecutive.
