At the holiday sitting of Castlebar District Court on Wednesday, Judge Conal Gibbons struck out a charge of assault against a Westport man.
The section two case involving Philip Crossan, Murrisk, Westport, was heard at a court sitting last December. The defendant pleaded guilty to assault on a bouncer in Westport. A probation report was directed and the defendant was asked to pay €1,000 in compensation to the injured party.
Solicitor for Crossan, James Ward, said the defendant has not come to Garda attention since the incident, and has no previous convictions. He said that his client was “very ashamed” of what he did and compensation was in court.
Judge Gibbons said that the “use of violence is a very serious issue in modern society.” The judge added “It is troubling that people suffer unprovoked assaults.”
Judge Gibbons noted Crossan’s “very impressive probation report” and applied the Probation Act, however when the judge was informed that section 11A would show up in a background check if Garda clearance was required, then the judge struck out the charge.
