Apartment dweller assaulted neighbour in row over noise
By Brendan Grehan
AN APARTMENT dweller who assaulted his then neighbour in a row over noise has been ordered to pay his victim €500 compensation by Tallaght District Court.
The court heard that Karl Hiney had made 50 complaints about noise coming from Damien Martin's apartment.
Hiney was before Judge Patricia McNamara for a restorative justice report.
Hiney, aged 40, with an address at Loretto Avenue, Rathfarnham, had pleaded guilty to assaulting Damien Martin at Mr Martin's address at Exchange Hall, Belgard Square, Tallaght, on January 24, 2017.
Reading the report, Judge McNamara commented that Hiney did not want to engage with the Restorative Justice Services.
She said: “He does not want to face his neighbour. Restorative Justice would be an ideal way to take this matter further.”
Sergeant Michael Ahern said the victim did not want to make a victim impact statement.
Judge McNamara asked to be reminded of the facts of the case.
Sgt. Ahern said that on the evening of January 24, 2017, Hiney called to Mr Martin’s apartment and tried to barge past him into the hallway.
Sgt Ahern said Mr Martin attempted to push Hiney out of the apartment but Hiney then punched him to the face. Mr Martin fell to the ground and Hiney kicked him on the ground.
Sgt Ahern said Hiney had two previous convictions for road traffic offences from 2004.
Mr Montgomery said Hiney had been living in an apartment under Mr Martin at the time and he had made 50 complaints about noise coming from Mr Martins apartment. He said Hiney claimed that Mr Martin had called him “a mongo”.
Mr Montgomery said his client had since moved to Rathfarnham.
She ordered Hiney to pay Mr Martin €500 compensation and said that if the monies were paid she would place him on a Probation Bond.
Judge McNamara remanded Hiney on continuing bail to a date in November for payment of the compensation.
