Man jailed for attack ‘that could have killed’

A man who gave another man a hiding with a hammer at the height of a feud was jailed for two years as the sentencing judge said the attack was so serious it could have caused death.

Judge David Riordan imposed a three-year jail term on David Falvey, aged 23, at Cork Circuit Criminal Court for charges that included assault causing harm to Jamie Saunders. He suspended the final year.

Falvey pleaded guilty to the assault and to charges of engaging in violent disorder and production of a hammer during the incident.

“It was a very serious matter and could have ended up in a fatality,” Judge Riordan said. “Mr Saunders got a fair hiding and the main culprit was Mr Falvey. He did plead guilty. He has apologised. I hope the apology has a ring of sincerity and resolve and it will be the end of this disagreement.”

Sergeant Mike Hogan said the incidents occurred on December 9, 2013, at the Ard Bhaile estate in Mayfield, where all three of the people involved live.

While Falvey pleaded guilty to three charges arising out of what happened, Saunders, aged 25, pleaded guilty to producing a baseball bat during the incident. Judge Riordan imposed a sentence of two years and six months on Saunders, suspended entirely.

Falvey’s father, David Sugrue, aged 58, pleaded guilty to engaging in a violent disorder and to a charge of producing a hurley during the episode. A three-year jail sentence was imposed but suspended entirely.

The judge was told that Saunders was the one who initiated the incident after standing outside the home of Sugrue for a period of time, after which he was severely assaulted.