'Cowardly' assault during row over soccer in Cork pizza outlet results in jail for two men

Judge Helen Boyle said: 'People are entitled to eat their fast food in city centre outlets. Even if there are disagreements over football, what of it?'

One man was sentenced to two years in prison with the last six months suspended, while the second man was given a sentence of one year and eight months with the last eight months suspended. File picture: Larry Cummins

A disagreement between strangers at a pizza outlet about soccer resulted in one young man being attacked by three others in an assault which the sentencing judge called unprovoked and cowardly.

Two of the three men who were identified from CCTV were jailed on Tuesday for their part in the crime at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

22-year-old Ryan Condon of Mount St. Joseph’s Heights, Gurranabraher, Cork, was sentenced to two years in prison with the last six months suspended. 20-year-old Jack Lane of no fixed address and originally from Tralee, County Kerry, was given a sentence of one year and eight months with the last eight months suspended.

Detective Garda Des Cogan testified at Cork Circuit Criminal Court on the background to the incident on the night of Sunday, October 3, 2021 at Eskimo Pizza on Grand Parade in Cork.

The injured party began talking to a group of young women and it revolved around football. He had never met either of his attackers before.

“Ryan Condon punched him in the face. Two more males jumped in. (One of them was never identified). Jack Lane punched him in a sustained attack. He fell against the counter and to the floor.

“Ryan Condon kicked him with the sole of his foot directly in the face. The injured party suffered a fractured nasal bone and dizziness.

“Ryan Condon and Jack Lane were identified from CCTV. Ryan Condon accepted he initiated the assault and kicked him in the face. Jack Lane accepted he punched him 15 times to the head and body. There is no victim impact statement. He made a full recovery,” Det. Garda Cogan said.

Nikki O’Sullivan, barrister for Mr Condon said, there was some disagreement over football which escalated. Ms O’Sullivan said: “He had out of control addiction issues at the time.” 

Barrister Richard Liston said his client, Mr Lane, was not the instigator. “When he was shown CCTV footage he accepted that he jumped the gun and said he thought things were escalating more than they were. Looking back he said, ‘I went too far, I would like to apologise’. And he enquired after the victim’s wellbeing. He acknowledged the level of violence was not justified,” Mr Liston said.

Judge Helen Boyle said: “You came forward on signed pleas of guilty to assault causing harm. 

As for aggravating factors this was an unprovoked attack. People are entitled to eat their fast food in city centre outlets. Even if there are disagreements over football, what of it? You outnumbered the victim three to one. That was a cowardly assault.

“You saved the victim the time and trauma of coming to court. You were both relatively young when this occurred. And you had intoxication issues.” 

The judge noted favourable governor’s reports on the two accused as to how well they are behaving in prison. Differentiating in terms of sentencing, the judge said Mr Condon was the more culpable of the two, starting the attack and kicking the injured party in the head.