Corkman broke man’s jaw after dare to attack stranger

A late-night dare game called “Odds” resulted in a young man who was never in trouble in his life walking up to a total stranger, punching him in the face, and breaking his jaw. The culprit was jailed yesterday.

Paul Coveney of 24 Parkwood Close, Parklands, Commons Rd, Cork, was sentenced to three years with the last two and a half suspended at Cork Circuit Criminal Court where he pleaded guilty to a charge of assault causing harm to Eimhin Daly, who was standing outside McDonald’s on Winthrop St, Cork, on October 19, 2014, when the attack was carried out.

Judge Donagh McDonagh said: “The game of Odds, I have never heard of it before. A group of young men sit around thinking of antisocial if not criminal behaviour. In this case he was dared to engage in criminal behaviour. Without much ado he did so.

“This was an absolutely appalling, outrageous attack on a totally innocent party who had absolutely nothing to do with the accused. He was a man going about his business.”

The judge said of the accused, Paul Coveney: “He needs to review his circle of friends if that is what one would call anyone who would ask him to do what he was asked to do. It would be wrong of the court not to impose a custodial sentence.”

Det Garda Cormac Crotty, who investigated the attack, said the injured party was approached by Coveney who repeatedly asked for a cigarette even though Mr Daly had explained that he did not smoke. Coveney then struck him into the face.

Friends of the injured party identified the culprit, who was interviewed by gardaí. He said he had three ecstasy tablets. In McDonald’s he got into a game of Odds and was dared to hit a random stranger. The person who dared him pointed out the injured party who was outside the premises.

Coveney said yesterday: “I am terribly sorry for my actions on the night. It is inexcusable. I have disrespected myself and my family. I deeply regret what I have done.”

Sinead Behan, defence barrister, said Coveney had no previous convictions, and had not having come to the attention of gardaí before or since this assault.

The injured party was on heavy pain-relieving medication for two weeks afterwards and he required surgery.

He could not eat solid food for a month afterwards. He lost valuable study time in what was his final year in college and as a keen sportsman he had to watch from the side line as his team won a competition.