‘Easygoing’ Pole left in fear after attack

A Polish man who was described as in tune with himself and his community in Cork and troubling nobody was violently attacked in the city and has been left with fear and confusion about why it happened.

A jail sentence was imposed yesterday on the man who attacked him, Dean O’Gorman, aged 21, of 14 Bonaventure Place, Greenmount, Cork, at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

Garda Michelle O’Leary said O’Gorman pleaded guilty to the charge of assault causing harm to Ariel Puchalski, 32, on February 28, 2014, at St Finbarr’s Place, Cork.

Mr Puchalski was walking home from a friend’s house at 9.30pm that evening when he was attacked while walking down the steps near St Finbarr’s cathedral.

“The injured party was dumbfounded as to how this happened. He was out of work for three months as a result of his injuries. It had a severe effect on him,” Garda O’Leary said.

Detective Garda Stephen Fuller said O’Gorman also admitted three counts of arson at St Stephen’s Place, off Friars Street, and at St Stephen Street, Cork, on March 8, 2014.

Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin said while there was a lot of damage caused to property the one thing on which O’Gorman had to be jailed was for the assault on the Polish man. He sentenced him to three years with the last 18 months suspended.