Man punched shop assistant because he was wearing an apron

By Brendan Grehan

A former project manager punched a shop assistant in a wine shop because he was wearing an apron, tallaght court has heard. Dean Collins received a one-month suspended sentence.

Collins, aged 60, with an address at Ard Mor Close, Tallaght, had pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr O’Shea at Citywest Shopping Centre on August 28, 2015.

Sergeant Michael Ahern told Judge Bridget Reilly that Collins had been in O’Brien’s Fine Wines in Citywest on August 28 last. He said Collins got into an argument with the staff about their attire as they were wearing aprons. Sgt Ahern said Collins was asked by Gareth O’Shea to leave the shop.

Collins then punched Mr O’Shea in the face.

Sgt Ahern said Mr O’Shea suffered from a sore jaw for a few days but he did not receive medical treatment.

He said Collins had three previous convictions. At District Court 51 on February 4, 2011, he had received a €750 fine and a two-year disqualification for having no insurance.

Collins had also two convictions for drunken driving, for one he received a one-year ban and for the other he received a two-year ban.

Collins’ counsel, George Burns BL, said his client is on a CE scheme. He said Collins had been working as a project manager until 2008 when he lost his job.

Mr Burns said Collins had brought €500 compensation to court.

Judge Reilly said that shop assistants should not expect to be assaulted in their place of work. She ordered that the €500 be paid to the injured party.
She sentenced Collins to one month’s jail, suspended for a year.