Judge says publicity of case enough punishment for teacher

A judge yesterday endeavoured to lessen the social effects of the publicity generated by an assault case in which a male teacher grabbed a female principal by the hair and threw her to the ground.

Judge Seamus Hughes applied the Probation Act to Micheál Pleamoinn, aged 41, of Barley Fields, Bealnamullia, Athlone.

After the case had been widely reported a week earlier, the judge said yesterday: “This man is much more likely to suffer greater consequences than I can give him with a criminal sanction.”

Pleamoinn had previously pleaded guilty, at the district court in Athlone, to the assault of his acting headmistress Máire Ní Murchú, at a local gaelscoil on Sept 14, 2011.

The assault followed a dispute over an after-school homework club. He had grabbed her by the hair and thrown her to the ground.

Judge Hughes noted the effects the “once-off aberration” might have on the defendant’s life. “When I saw it in black and white — on the front page of a national paper when I didn’t think it would make the locals — I saw it had gossip value if for no other reason.

“This will have a great effect on this man which has deeply affected me. I’m acutely aware that this was a stress-related aberration.”

The judge also noted the “great effect” of the assault on the victim, who had to take six months off work.

“I’m satisfied he won’t do this sort of thing again so long as he continues with his counselling,” said the judge, “so I won’t convict”.

The judge said: “I noted the sincere and emotional apology of the accused to his victim last week.”

The defendant brought €2,000 compensation to the court for Ms Ní Murchú and offered an unrequested €500 extra as a donation to a charity of her choice.

The court had heard Pleamoinn approached Ms Ní Murchú to present his plan for an after-school club. When the acting principal indicated she would have to first run it past the board of management, Pleamoinn became “very angry, and started shouting at her”.

According to Inspector Nicholas Farrell: “He then grabbed her by the hair with both hands, and threw her violently to the floor.”