Cork man who hit another man in an unprovoked assault, leaving him with a brain bleed, has sentencing adjourned

Judge said after reading the victim impact statement, the assault had a much more serious and lasting effect on the injured party than it initially appeared in the case

Court heard accused was highly intoxicated on the night of the incident and did not have a history of violent offending. Picture: Larry Cummins

A young man was the victim of an unprovoked attack on Washington Street in Cork almost two years ago, which left him with a bleed on his brain, and on Thursday the accused man faced sentencing.

Judge Dermot Sheehan said after reading the victim impact statement, the assault had a much more serious and lasting effect on the injured party than it initially appeared in the case.

22-year-old Ciarán Maguire, of Woodbrook, Glanmire, Co Cork, pleaded guilty to a charge of assault causing harm.

Garda David O’Driscoll testified at Cork Circuit Criminal Court the unprovoked assault occurred on November 20, 2023.

“Ciarán Maguire hit him twice in the head. He fell to the ground, blood coming from the side of his head. It was totally unprovoked. He was taken to Cork University Hospital. He was bleeding on the brain and had a loss of hearing in his left ear. He continued to experience tinnitus but has made a full recovery,” Garda O’Driscoll said.

The injured party was 22 at the time of the assault, and the defendant was 20. They did not know each other directly but were known to each other through friends, Garda O’Driscoll said.

Peter O’Flynn, defence barrister, said the accused was highly intoxicated on the night of the incident. Mr O’Flynn said the accused did not have a history of violent offending.

He said the defendant’s father died when he was a young boy and he was obviously affected by this. He had a long history of substance abuse and was using cannabis from the age of 13, and cocaine from the age of 15.

A bench warrant had to be issued for his arrest during the summer when he failed to show up at Cork Circuit Criminal Court for sentencing.

Mr O’Flynn explained the young man’s thinking at that time: “He turned up in May for sentencing when it was adjourned to a date in June. He panicked when he saw the victim impact statement and did not show up in court in June. He was extremely shocked when he read it.” 

Judge Sheehan said: “I was extremely shocked myself when I read it. It had a much more serious impact than I anticipated.” 

The judge said he would not sentence Ciarán Maguire on Thursday. “I will give him a chance. He is young. It looks like a custodial sentence is warranted but I will put it back to the last day of term for urinalysis.

“I will put it back so he can put his best foot forward. I am not saying a non-custodial sentence won’t be imposed.”