Hammer attack man sentencing adjourned

Comments which appeared on an internet forum on darts resulted in a man producing a hammer and attacking a man during an argument in the early hours of the morning.

Yesterday, the sentencing judge warned the guilty party that he had come within minutes of going to jail.

Ian Cullinane, aged 33, of 3 Briarwood, Old Youghal Rd, Cork, was before Cork Circuit Criminal Court for sentencing yesterday. Cullinane pleaded guilty to a charges of assault causing harm to Colin Walshe on June 18, 2013, and production of a hammer during the assault.

Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin said: “You fractured a fella’s skull. €1,000 is not anything by way of compensation. This is a very serious offence. You are within minutes of going to jail. You hit a fella with a hammer in your flat.”

Defence barrister Ray Boland said: “He admitted producing the hammer but did not admit using the hammer.

“He has no significant previous convictions — one public order offence five years ago,” Mr Boland said.

Garda Mary-Jane Summers said Mr Walshe was playing darts and having a few drinks at a pub in Mayfield on June 17 when Cullinane asked him for a loan of €10, which Mr Walshe agreed to give him.

At closing time, Cullinane invited Mr Walshe back to his house with another man for a drink and Mr Walshe agreed as he was celebrating his birthday on the night.

Mr Walshe was waiting for a taxi home from the defendant’s house when they started talking about a forum for darts on the internet. Garda Summers said the atmosphere changed and Cullinane head-butted him.

Mr Walsh claimed he heard someone saying: “Get the hammer.” He said he was struck on the arm with the hammer and head-butted in the face, and also sustained a blow to the head. He fled the scene through a back patio door before alerting gardaí. A medical report showed Mr Walshe’s injuries included a fractured skull but he did not suffer long-term damage.

The judge adjourned sentencing until February 16, 2015, and said the defendant should make a contribution to charity as well as compensating the victim.