Suspended sentence for man guilty of 'vicious assault'
A Bailieboro man was handed a suspended sentence for what the presiding judge described as a "vicious assault" on three individuals when he pleaded guilty to the offences at Virginia District Court.
Michael O'Leary, Church Lane, Drumbannon, Bailieboro, was sentenced to nine months suspended for two years for assaulting George Bell at 2 Convent Court, Virginia Road, Bailieboro, on June 10, 2011.
He was directed to complete 150 hours of community service in lieu of six months for assaulting Margaret Connolly on the same occasion and an assault on Michael McArdle was taken into account.
The defendant was further charge with damaging two table lamps to the value of €40 on the same date and was given until February 7 to pay compensation. A charge of failing to appear on bail at Virginia District Court was taken into account.
Inspector Aidan Farrelly said the defendant was in the company of the injured parties in a flat at Convent Court and he assaulted them for no apparent reason. Mr Bell received the most serious injury, a fractured nose and a fracture over his eye. Mr McArdle tried to intervene and he too was punched in the face.
During the course of the row two table lamps were damaged to the tune of €40. The defendant had 60 previous convictions.
Defence solicitor, Martin Cosgrove, told the court that his client was a different man once he had drink taken. He was grand without it but turned violent when he had it. Since the incident he was on good terms with Mr McArdle and Ms Connolly and he had not seen Mr Bell since then. "The defendant is well-known to you judge," Mr Cosgrove added.
He would be willing to complete community service if given the opportunity and if there was a condition that he stays off drink he would comply with it. The defendant agreed it was a serious matter in which Mr Bell sustained the worst injury.
Inspector Farrelly agreed that all the defendant's problems stemmed from alcohol and if he stayed off it he would have a chance.
Judge Sean MacBride said he wanted to see if the defendant was suitable for a programme with the Cavan Drug Awareness Committee and if so, he was to be put on a strict programme supervised by the probation service. If he got a positive probation report he would impose a nine month suspended sentence. "These were vicious assaults," he added.
The defendant was remanded on bail to February 7 and he was to obey a curfew between 11pm and 7am, sign on every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at Bailieboro Station between 6 and 9pm, and abstain from alcohol.
He was not to frequent any licensed premises in District No. 5.
