Guilty of unprovoked assault on night out

A man crossing Daunt Square in Cork City after a night out socialising was set upon by another man who kicked and punched him for no apparent reason.

Kenneth McCarthy, of 109 Ardbhaile, Mayfield, Cork, pleaded guilty yesterday to assaulting Daniel O’Sullivan, on the night of August 21, 2012.

McCarthy, aged 23, also admitted engaging in threatening behaviour and being drunk and a source of danger.

Inspector Bill Duane said at Cork District Court yesterday that when Garda Xiao Ma went to investigate the matter, McCarthy told him to fuck off.

McCarthy was then taken to the Bridewell Garda Station and he was again verbally abusive to Garda Ma, saying “fuck you”.

Mr O’Sullivan was walking across the street with friends at 2.15am when McCarthy approached, verbally abused him, and then attacked him, Insp Duane said.

“He punched him to the ground and hit him on the head repeatedly and kicked him into the side,” the inspector said.

Mr O’Sullivan was in Cork District Court to describe his injuries.

He said he was kicked and punched and put his arms up to his face to protect himself and was left with bruising to his nose afterwards.

Judge Leo Malone said he put sentencing back for a month to allow time for McCarthy to gather €600 compensation for the injured party.

Defence solicitor Emmet Boyle said: “He fully admitted assaulting him. He would like to apologise to the unfortunate man for the insult to his character. He has no previous convictions.”