A six and a half year old assault case was finally put to bed in the District Court last week (November 13 ) after the defendant returned from Australia and eventually made his court appearance.
Judge John Neilan was told how Jason Murtagh (34 ), with an address at Newtown Lawns, Mullingar had been involved in a fracas in the now closed Gallagher’s Pub on the evening of February 16, 2002 but had emigrated later that year without facing censure.
“The defendant and another had been drinking heavily for a number of hours in another pub,” said Sergeant Nicholson.
“When they went to Gallaghers they wouldn’t behave themselves. A barstool and an ashtray were broken and the barman suffered an injury.”
“Were they [the stool and the ashtray] used?” Judge Neilan asked.
“No, judge. The injuries were by fist.”
The court heard how Murtagh’s co-defendant had been dealt with over six years ago and had paid €500 in compensation to the barman, as well as being fined €250 on the assault and an additional €500 on the criminal damage charge.
His solicitor Ms Fiona Hunt told the judge her client had already paid compensation to the injured party, so Judge Neilan just applied the same fines to Murtagh as handed down to his co-defendant.
