Two await sentencing for wheel-brace attack

TWO men who spent the past week in jail for a serious assault on a retired schoolteacher were released yesterday.

But they were put on a nightly curfew and will appear in court, in a year’s time, for sentencing.

The victim, who was sitting in his car, was beaten by the teenagers, who were armed with wheel-braces.

Jamie Staunton, aged 18, of 44 Hollyville Estate, Grange, Cork, and Derrick Murphy, who has now turned 20, of 42, East Avenue, Park Gate, Frankfield, Cork, pleaded guilty to charges of assault causing harm to Finbarr Long.

The assault took place at Bellevue Estate, Frankfield, Cork, on June 23 last year.

Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin put Staunton and Murphy on a curfew to be home every night by 11pm and to be sober in public and of good behaviour. They were directed to return to Cork Circuit Criminal Court for sentencing on November 6.

The judge said yesterday: “This was a very nasty attack on an innocent man. It is also a condition on you that you are not to attend or approach the injured party or his family in any way.

“It is not to be read into, in any way, that the court is disposed to going any particular way [in sentencing].”

Sergeant Simon Grace previously 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.

“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.”

Defence counsel applied for time for the two to gather compensation, having gathered about €5,000 between them to date.