Sentencing delayed for barman in assault case

The sentencing of a barman who assaulted two people on a violent rampage through Dublin city centre, during which his friend killed a Vietnamese man, has been put back for a third time.

The judge at the Central Criminal Court said there was a question mark over how much empathy he had shown in a probation report.

Last year Noel O’Flaherty (aged 35) with a previous address at McCormack Gardens, Baldoyle, Co Dublin pleaded guilty to the assault of Christopher Murphy on August 16, 2002.

He is also due to be sentenced for assault causing harm to a Chinese man, Mr Dong Wei, earlier on the same night in Temple Bar.

Mr Wei was out with his friend Mr Ly Minh Loung, who died after being attacked by O’Flaherty’s friend James Harmer.

Harmer (aged 31) of Abbey Court Hostel, Bachelors Walk in Dublin was jailed for five years for killing Mr Loung who died from brain injuries three days later.

Mr Justice Paul Butler who was due to pass sentence today for both assaults said he was not happy with part of the probation report into O’ Flaherty.

Victim impact reports from both men who were attacked had also not been handed into the court. Mr Justice Butler said: “This should go back but I don’t know what the solution is. This has been dragging on for a long time.”

He said he would deal with the case as quickly as he could once he had all the information before him.

Harmer was also jailed for a year for assaulting Christopher Murphy and his wife Geraldine just minutes after Mr Loung was attacked.

O’Flaherty also took part in the assault on Mr Murphy who was punched and kicked, before an attempt was made to throw him in the River Liffey.

O’Flaherty was released on continuing bail and the case has been listed for mention again on March 6th.