Man pays €2k compensation after assault case

A FATHER-of-five who punched and injured a man in a row at a west Dublin pub has been given a six-month suspended sentence.

Darren King had been drinking since lunchtime after his child’s christening when he “misread” a situation and assaulted the other man.

He paid €2,000 in compensation and Judge Gerard Jones suspended the sentence for two years.

King, aged 34, with an address at Colepark Road, Ballyfermot pleaded guilty at Blanchardstown District Court to assault causing harm to a man at Penny Hill Pub, Ballyowen Lane, Lucan on July 7, 2019.

Sergeant Walter Sweeney said the victim had been socialising in the pub at 1.55am. He was on a corner of the dancefloor when he was approached by the accused who struck him “one single punch to the face”.

The resulting impact caused the man to fall back to the ground, grazing his head on the side of the bar.

This resulted in a large laceration to the top of the man’s head and he fell to the ground, where he lay unconscious for a few seconds, Sgt Callaghan said.

An ambulance was called and the injured party was taken to Connolly Memorial Hospital, Blanchardstown where he received five stitches to his head. He also suffered concussion.

King had prior convictions and was now serving another sentence.

One of King’s children was christened on the day of the assault and the accused had been drinking, his barrister Ciaran MacLoughlin said. He misread something that was “no fault” of the victim’s, Mr MacLoughlin said.

Previously, the court had heard the men did not know each other prior to the assault and “words were said” between them.

The accused had €1,000 to pay to the victim on an earlier court date, but the judge had suggested €2,000 would be more appropriate.

The money was paid and Judge Jones suspended the sentence.