Man chooses to serve jail term

A householder who used a hurley to attack a man calling to his house for a party could have avoided a jail sentence.

But the accused, William Hutchinson, of 186 Kilnap Place, Cork,

told Judge Olann Kelleher he would not be willing to do community service.

Judge Kelleher said he was left with no option but to sentence Hutchinson to jail.

He sentenced the accused to six months in prison on a charge of assault, causing harm, and a concurrent four months for a common assault count.

Hutchinson had pleaded guilty at Cork District Court earlier in the week to a charge of assault, causing harm to Martin Healy, 43, and to a charge of assaulting Luke Hurley, also 43.

The background to the case was Hutchinson, aged 37, was at home at Glenfield Avenue, Ballyvolane, when three men with the wrong directions called to his house looking for a house party.

His solicitor, Graham Hyde, said while Hutchinson completely over-reacted to the men looking for a party, he did have reason to feel under threat from others at that time.

A viable explosive device had previously been found under his car and, on another occasion, a device was posted through his letterbox.

Detective Sergeant Kieran O’Sullivan had explained that, on February 15 last year, the two injured parties and a third man were at a social event and got a taxi to Glenfields Avenue to go to a house where they had been told a party was taking place.

“Unfortunately, they went to the wrong address. That was the home of William Hutchinson,” said the garda witness. “Mr Hutchinson came out and, without saying anything, he struck Mr Healy over the head with a hurley causing him to fall to the ground.

“His friend, Mr Hurley, went to his assistance and Mr Hutchinson attempted to strike him also,” Det Sgt O’Sullivan said.

The three men, the two injured parties, and their friend, left the house where the party was taking place, and gardaí were notified.

Later, Mr Healy received four staples for his head wound.

Hutchinson had a security camera at his front door and footage from that was examined. While it did show the various parties, it did not capture the assaults.

Mr Hyde, meanwhile, referred to two previous attempts on Hutchinson’s life, but he did not outline the background to the incidents except to say Hutchinson had liaised with the gardaí.

The solicitor said the accused was so concerned about his safety he varied his daily routines.

Judge Kelleher said he considered all of the facts of the incident and mitigating factors put forward by Mr Hyde before asking Hutchinson if he would be willing to perform community service to avoid a prison sentence.

But the accused declined.