Woman kicked by man who asked, ‘Are you a nun?’
That was the question Aidan Roche, 39, asked Ms Nura Hagi, a woman in her early-thirties, at North Main Street, Cork, on September.
As Ms Hagi walked away, Roche kicked her in the back of her thigh. She was not injured but she contacted gardaí who arrested Roche nearby a short time later. He was in a drunken condition.
Judge David Riordan sentenced Roche of 131 Rathcarrig, Fermoy, Co Cork, to three months in prison for the assault and fined him €100 for being drunk and a source of danger, or 15 days in prison in default of payment.
Judge Riordan said after hearing the background to the case and all of the submissions on behalf of Roche, “He would not be suitable for anything other than a direct custodial sentence.”
Inspector Finbarr O’Sullivan said the injured party was walking along North Main Street when she was approached by Roche whom she did not know. “He asked her was she a nun, she said, no, he just kicked out. He has 65 previous convictions.”
Defence solicitor Frank Buttimer said the pattern of previous offending did not include crimes of violence.
“Clearly alcohol was an issue. This happened out of nowhere. There was absolutely no context to the event.
“It was a lightly delivered kick which no doubt caused a lot of upset and she immediately called gardaí.
“When gardaí approached him he had probably forgotten he was involved in the incident,” Mr Buttimer said.
If Roche appeals the sentence bail conditions will require him to stay out of Cork city, except for legal and medical appointments, pending the appeal.
