Cork man who cannot remember assaulting woman and damaging house pleads guilty

The court heard that the incident seemed to have happened 'out of the blue' which indicated that there must be some underlying issue

The judge asked for a probation report to be completed and added: 'If this man is to stay out of prison I need to know what triggered it.' File picture: Dan Linehan

A Cork man who went out to get a Chinese takeaway and committed a violent assault and criminal damage when he returned home cannot remember anything about the incident, the district court has heard.

John O’Leary, aged 29 with an address at Fairfield Drive, Macroom, Co. Cork, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and criminal damage in relation to an incident at his address in July 2025.

Court presenter, Sergeant Trish O’Sullivan, told Macroom District Court that gardaí were called to attend an incident at Fairfield Drive, Masseytown, Macroom at 11.50pm on July 8, 2025. When they arrived at the address an intoxicated male identified as O’Leary was on the road outside the house.

The injured party, a woman who lived at the house was visibly upset and told gardaí that O’Leary had returned home in a highly intoxicated state and became violent, punching her and pulling her by the hair. O’Leary also caused damage to several items in the kitchen of the house including the cooker, air fryer, a high chair, a chair and a tablet device.

When he was arrested, the court was told that O’Leary became more aggressive and “squared up” to arresting gardaí and eventually had to be pepper-sprayed in order to subdue him. The court heard that O’Leary had no previous convictions.

Defence solicitor, Patrick Goold, said the incident was entirely out of character and O’Leary had no memory of it. He said his client was highly embarrassed by what happened and apologised to the injured party and the gardaí. 

He said O’Leary had brought €750 to court in compensation. Mr Goold said that on the night O’Leary had gone to collect a Chinese takeaway he had gone for a drink on the way. 

He said the fact that O’Leary had no previous convictions and that the incident seemed to have happened “out of the blue” indicated that there must be some underlying issue.

Judge Joanne Carroll said a victim impact statement provided by the injured party indicated that she was terrified by the attack. The court heard that the injured party had to replace the cooker because of the damage. 

The judge said not only had O’Leary assaulted the injured party, he had also caused her financial hardship. She said the seriousness of the offence “warrants a prison sentence even if he has no previous”.

The judge said the €750 compensation was also insufficient and O’Leary would need to produce €1,000 more in compensation “and fast”. 

The judge asked for a probation report to be completed and adjourned the matter to November 12. The judge added: “If this man is to stay out of prison I need to know what triggered it.”

This article is funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme