Man who hit victim over the head with a life buoy in Cork City sent to prison

The court heard the accused 'was fearful for an elderly lady in the area but he entirely accepts he overreacted'

The court in Cork was told that the defendant first punched the victim in the face before returning with a life buoy and hitting him over the head with it twice. File picture: Denis Minihane

A life buoy was used to strike a man over the head in the course of a city centre assault and now the 51-year-old man who carried out the crime has been sentenced to 18 months in jail.

Judge Helen Boyle sentenced Gordon Sheerin, aged 51, of no fixed address in Cork, to two years imprisonment with the last six months suspended, backdated to October 15, 2025, when he went into custody.