Pair on way to taxi were ‘viciously assaulted’

The Circuit Criminal Court in Tralee has been told of a totally unprovoked assault by a group of young men in the early hours of St Patrick’s Day 2014, in which two hard-working men in their late 40s, on their way to a taxi outside a pub in Listowel, were “viciously assaulted” and set upon for no reason.

Richard Coffey, of Dahereens West, Castleisland, Co Kerry, now aged 19, and Jason O’Brien, of Killeen Woods, Tralee, now aged 26, admitted assault causing harm to Martin Sheehy, 47, a scaffolder from Listowel, and Robert Heffernan, 48, a heavy machinery driver.

A third man is denying the charge and is to go on trial, the Circuit Criminal Court was told.