Wheel-brace attack on retired teacher

A RETIRED schoolteacher was given a bad beating by two teenagers armed with wheel-braces as he sat in his car.

Yesterday the culprits were jailed for a week to give the judge time to decide on sentences for one of the worst assaults he had seen.

Jamie Staunton, aged 18, of 44 Hollyville Estate, Grange, Co Cork, and Derrick Murphy, aged 20, of 42 East Avenue, Park Gate, Frankfield, Co Cork, were both remanded in custody by Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin until December 8.

They pleaded guilty to charges of assault causing harm to Finbarr Long and being armed with wheel-braces at the time of the assaults on Mr Long as he sat in his car at Bellevue Estate, Frankfield, on June 23 2010.

Sergeant Simon Grace said Mr Long was stopped at the junction of Bellvue Road and Frankfield at 11.30pm on what was bonfire night when Staunton and Murphy attacked him in his car — they were 17 and 18 respectively at the time.

“The first blow was from Jamie Staunton, who arrived at the driver’s side of the car. Mr Long’s nose was driven up under his eye and it gushed with blood. He was struck three or four more times in the head and was split above the temple.

“Mr Long moved his legs to get out of the car and he was struck in the shins and legs.

“Derrick Murphy opened the passenger door and struck him five or six times in the shoulder,” Sgt Grace said.

Staunton pleaded guilty to the additional charge of damaging the car, causing €1,590 in damage.

Asked why the teenagers had carried out the assault, Sgt Grace said gardaí did not accept their claim that Mr Long had earlier confronted their group with a hurley and assaulted Staunton’s girlfriend.

Neither defendant had any previous convictions.