Two spared jail after West Cork attack left victim without spleen

Two men who admitted their parts in a cowardly and nasty attack on a man in West Cork, who was kicked on the ground and left so seriously injured that he lost his spleen, yesterday got suspended jail terms.

Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin referred to the cowardliness of the attack when he dealt with the case at Cork Circuit Criminal Court yesterday.

The judge referred to the fact that the severity of the spleen injury was initially missed and days later the victim collapsed and the spleen was found to be so damaged that it had to be removed.

Ethan O’Donovan, of 2 Maulaskehy, Park Rd, Clonakilty, and Adrian Murphy, of 24 Heatherfield, Waterfall, Co Cork, pleaded guilty to a charge of assault causing serious harm to James Pierse at Bridge St, Clonakilty, on January 12, 2014.

Garda Clinton Rock said the parties had just returned by bus from a nightclub in Skibbereen and that it flared up very quickly. It was described as a moment of madness from two otherwise respectable young men.

Murphy gathered €20,000 in compensation for the victim. He was given a two-year suspended sentence.

O’Donovan brought €7,000 to court for the injured party. Judge Ó Donnabháin said that if he gathered another €7,000 within 18 months then he too would get a suspended two-year sentence.