Man beaten at home after hurling celebrations

The aftermath of celebrations of Sarsfields’ win in the Cork county hurling final in 2012 saw a serious attack on a man at his home by a father with his two sons.

One witness told gardaí she thought the victim had been beaten to death in the front garden of his home.

Judge Con O’Leary, imposing a heavier penalty on the father, said that the parent should have been acting in a restraining fashion on the younger men rather than going to the scene of the altercation with them.

Judge O’Leary imposed the maximum fine of €2,500 on Thomas Connolly, gave him a suspended six-month sentence, and put him on a bond to keep the peace for a year. The sons had fines of €1,750 imposed on them and three-month suspended sentences.

Thomas, aged 45, and his sons, Martin, aged 23, and Alan Connolly, aged 19, all with an address at 35 Brooklodge Grove, Glanmire, Co Cork, admitted at Cork District Court yesterday to engaging in a violent disorder at Oakfield Park, Riverstown, Glanmire, Co Cork, on October 8, 2012.

“The fact that they have no previous convictions is keeping them out of prison,” the judge said.

Joseph Cuddigan, defending, said in advance of the sentencing that the whole family had been extremely worried since last week — when they pleaded guilty — that Thomas Connolly would end up in jail.

“It was very much a once-off event. Mr Connolly got to his mid-40s without coming to the attention of the gardaí,” the solicitor said. Judge O’Leary had warned of a possible jail term last week.

Inspector Gary McPolin said the injured party, Robert O’Leary, feared for his life on the night and early hours of October 7/8, 2012. It followed celebrations of Sarsfields’ success in beating Bishopstown in the county final that Sunday.

Insp McPolin said a number of parties were involved in a dispute where a young woman attacked her boyfriend during a row where it was not entirely clear exactly what had happened.

Insp McPolin had told the court: “They called to the home of Robert O’Leary and banged on the door. He opened the door and it is alleged that Thomas, Alan, and Martin Connolly dragged him out in front of his wife and son and dived on to him and kicked him in the body.”

Mr O’Leary said he feared for his life on the night and that his back had still not healed.

“Only for my wife being so brave I don’t think I would be here today. And it wasn’t just the three people before the court, it was about 12 people,” he said.

“They showed no respect for me or my family.”

The defendants brought €1,000 to court as a gesture of compensation but the injured party said he had no interest in this and that the money could be given to charity.

Mr Cuddigan said both families were staunch GAA people.

“People were over-indulgent because of the nature of the night that was in it. When alcohol comes in the front door, sense and reason run out the back door,” he said.

The solicitor said Thomas Connolly was home when he was informed of something happening at the club. His wife, who had not been drinking, drove to collect the two sons and bring them home.

“The parents tried to persuade the two boys to get back in the car. The two boys insisted on going to the house to explain about (the disputed incident at the club). They wanted to put their story across but it was a ludicrous thing to do at 2am,” Mr Cuddigan said.

“As any sane person would have known, matters did not progress as expected, they got out of hand.”