Man beaten outside pub

A MIDDLE-AGED man drinking in his local pub in west Cork was beaten to his knees and then held by the hair as his two attackers kicked and kneed him into the face. One of the assailants has been given a suspended one-year sentence.

Jerry Kelleher, of Aharas, Ballingeary, Macroom, Co Cork, pleaded guilty toassault causing harm to Michael O’Connell at Cileanna Bar, Johnstown, Kilmichael, Co Cork, on November 24, 2007.

Detective Garda Tom O’Sullivan said Kelleher, 23, asked Mr O’Connell, 53, to step outside. Mr O’Connell, who is a builder, thought it might have been about doing a job.

The assault came unexpectedly, so much so that Mr O’Connell did nothing to defend himself. He was knocked to the ground, and punched and beaten.

The second man — not yet sentenced — made another go for the victim, giving him what the detective described as a vicious head-butt into the face.

Kelleher claimed the injured party assaulted him when he was 14. He brought €4,000 compensation to court for the victim.