Late-night street assaults a ‘social evil’

A judge has criticised the “social evil’ of late-night street assaults, saying a single blow from a young, fit man can cause catastrophic injuries.

Judge Kevin Kilrane was speaking after hearing from a victim of a single blow assault who said that he now requires surgery on his nose which will cost from €20,000 to €30,000.

At Sligo District Court, Shane Boyle said he had been queuing for food in a premises on Castle St, Sligo, on the night of December 27, 2015, “and the next thing I woke up in the hospital”.

He said he had to go to the Galway Clinic to get his nose straightened, and had only 20% breathing capability in one nostril. He requires surgery “which will cost anything up to €20,000 or €30,000”.

He said he had missed eight weeks of work . He was a member of Sligo Rugby Club but had also been unable to play rugby for a period of months after the incident. The court heard that the accused, Kenneth Kilkenny, had never met the injured party before and struck him believing he had skipped the queue.

Kilkenny, aged 22, of Lisross, Rossinver, Co Leitrim, was convicted of assault causing harm to Mr Boyle on December 27, 2015.

Gerard McGovern, solicitor for the accused, said that he accepted he was “100% wrong” and that Mr Boyle had never laid a finger on him. However, his client had believed Mr Boyle skipped the queue at the food outlet and there was video footage of this. The witness said he had gone to the front to see if there was any food left but had then stepped to the back.

Mr Boyle told Judge Kilrane that he would not accept an offer of €2,000 compensation.

Mr McGovern told the judge that his client had been in the queue for some time. It was a “stupid, foolish outrageous” act but it was only one blow. There had been “drink involved” but he accepted this was not justification, the solicitor added.

Judge Kilrane said the accused had delivered what appeared to be a violent blow into the face of the victim and the injuries were very significant.

The judge added that a single blow from a young, fit man such as the defendant could cause catastrophic injuries. Judge Kilrane said he was aware of a man in Carrick-on-Shannon who had died as a result of an assault.

After the judge imposed a four-month sentence, Mr McGovern appealed for it to be suspended, saying that the defendant had not used a weapon such as a bottle or a knife or a knuckle duster. He said the accused had not sought out the injured party. “It happened in a split second,” he said.

Refusing to suspend the sentence, Judge Kilrane said late-night assaults, which were often alcohol-fuelled, were a social evil. He said a signal had to go out that such assaults can cause shocking injuries.