Ex-fisherman avoids jail after slashing man in face with glass

A former fisherman asked a group of people socialising in Schull, Co Cork, "is this the faggot convention?" and when one of the party replied "It must be since you’re here," the fisherman slashed him across the face with a glass scarring him.

That was the scenario and alleged exchange of words that occurred, according to Garda John Dowling at Cork Circuit Criminal Court yesterday.

Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin imposed an 18-month suspended jail sentence on Aenges O’Donovan, who pleaded guilty to a charge of assault causing harm to a man in his mid-20s, Daniel O’Callaghan.

The judge said: “O’Callaghan was entirely the victim. The aggression came solely from Aenges O’Donovan.”

The judge said that the significant matters in the sentencing were the plea of guilty, the absence of previous convictions, the payment of €2,000 compensation and the apology.

O’Donovan said: “I would like to apologise to Mr O’Callaghan and offer my sincere apologies to the entire O’Callaghan family.”

The defendant said he had never been involved in anything like this. He had been drinking, but he was not offering this as an excuse.

He also said he accepted that the payment of €2,000 was not really compensation and would only go towards the injured parties medical, and other, expenses. However, O’Donovan said he was out of work and that was all he could raise.

Garda Dowling said the injured party was on Main St in Schull with a group of friends socialising when O’Donovan approached them and allegedly said: “Is this the faggot convention?”

“Daniel O’Callaghan allegedly replied: ‘It must be since you are here’.”

O’Donovan swung a pint glass into his face causing lacerations that required 14 sutures. He was out of work for three weeks.

Brendan Kelly, defending, said O’Donovan, aged 23, with an address at Mountain Rd, Kilmoney, Carrigaline, did not apologise before yesterday as he would have been advised to stay away from the injured party for the duration of the case.