Auctioneer ‘punched man 30-40 times’

A MART auctioneer who hit a man 40 times for accusing him of bringing the hammer down on an auction too quickly has been ordered to do 80 hours community service and pay €500 compensation.

Declan Robinson beat up Paul Hegarty after a row about the sale of sheep at Bonagee Mart in Co Donegal in April 2010.

Robinson, 28, of Downings, Co Donegal met Mr Hegarty on a night out some days after the incident at Bonagee in April 2010.