Violent mason to pay €20k compo
David Bobby Daly, aged 26, of Tullylease, Charleville, was remanded in custody at Limerick Circuit Court on Tuesday when he pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Sean Ahern in Newcastle West.
Mr Ahern received oral injuries and had to undergo extensive dental treatment and a bone graft. His medical and out-of-work costs came to over €8,300.
Judge Carroll Moran was told yesterday that Daly had already paid in €8,000 to court. He imposed a suspended three-year sentence on the basis that a total of €20,000 would be paid to Mr Ahern by January.
Judge Moran said another condition is that Daly abstain from drink for the next five years.
The court heard Daly received a suspended three-year jail sentence at Cork Circuit Court in 2011 for another assault during which he broke a man’s jaw.
Garda Eric O’Shea told the court that Sean Ahern, his wife, and friends were out socialising in Newcastle West on February 9, 2013.
They had gone to a local pub and went outside for a cigarette. Daly then approached and asked Mr Ahern if he could sit beside the victim’s wife.
He then started to put his arm around Mr Ahern who asked him to stop, but Daly persisted, then punched Mr Ahern in the face.
Laurence Gouchier, defending, said Daly was a hard-working stone mason who had a problem with drink.
