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.

Mr Hegarty accused Robinson of bringing down the auctioneer’s hammer on the sale of three sheep before he could bid on them.

A row broke out. CCTV footage showed Robinson striking Mr Hegarty up to 40 times, kicking him in the head several times.

Mr Hegarty suffered a swollen skull, two black eyes, a broken tooth and a number of cuts to his face.

Carrie Hegarty, for the accused, said her client had never been in trouble before and that had done extensive work for charity in his role as an auctioneer.

She said that shortly after the attack, the father of one had left Bonagee Mart and was now jobless.

“He is an upstanding citizen and is very sorry for what happened,” she added.

“He has never been in trouble apart from this.”

Judge Paul Kelly said this was a violent assault, considering the amount of punches thrown.

“Irrespective of the provocation, there was a lot to this,” he said.

“He punched him between 30 and 40 times.”

Kieran O’Gorman, for Mr Hegarty, said his client was still suffering as a result of the attack.

A probation report ordered by Judge Kelly showed Robinson was a good candidate for community service, which he received in lieu of four months in prison.