Gowna man jailed for six months for viscious assault

A Gowna man, who assaulted a man requiring him to have his jaw wired, was handed a six-month prison term at Cavan District Court last week. Derek Hearns, The Dwellings, Aughavaines, Gowna, pleaded guilty to assaulting Aaron Hussey at Main Street, Longford, on August 8, 2009. He was given a concurrent four-month term for assaulting Keith Carberry at 43 Hampton Court, Cavan, on January 27. Inspector Dermot Drea said in relation to the assault in Longford, Mr Hussey, who is a security man in a night club, flagged down gardaí. He claimed he had been assaulted by the defendant. They spoke to the defendant and he left the area. However, he returned later and assaulted Mr Hussey again. As a result of the assault Mr Hussey required an operation and a metal wire had to be put into his jaw and he lost two teeth. He had since made a good recovery. The defendant was also given a concurrent three-month sentence and disqualified from driving for 15 years when he pleaded guilty at Cavan District Court to driving with excess alcohol. Hearns was stopped at Bridge Street, Cavan, on February 8, and his breath reading was 53mg/100ml. He was given a concurrent three-month terms and 15-year disqualification for driving while disqualified on the same occasion. Charges of having no insurance and driving licence were proven but taken into account. With regard to the drink driving incident at Bridge Street in Cavan, Insp Drea said the defendant was stopped and it transpired he was driving while disqualified. He was also over the legal limit for alcohol and failed to produce documents. The defendant had 17 previous convictions. Gerry Nevin, solicitor defending, said his client was 27 years old and suffered from depression. When he took his medicine he was alright but when he combines them with alcohol, he commits crime. He was in a relationship and he wanted to get these matters over and done with. Judge Sean MacBride said he would give concurrent sentences as there was no compensation available. "It was a bad assault in Longford," he added.