And from my own observations it would seem the army would tend to draw from more disadvantaged areas where the crime rates are generally higher?
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Ex-Dublin GAA star Connolly avoids conviction for âunprovokedâ attack
TOM TUITEFormer Dublin GAA star Diarmuid Connolly has been spared a custodial sentence and an assault conviction for punching two men and dragging one of them along the ground in an âunprovokedâ New Yearâs Eve attack.
Connolly (36) with an address at Collinswood in Beaumont, admitted assaulting Stephen Grimes and Stephen Kiely at Shantalla Road in Santry on December 31st, 2022.
He appeared at Dublin District Court again for sentencing yesterday after he pleaded guilty last month before Judge Michele Finan.
He said âYeah,â when Judge Finan asked if he understood the seriousness of the case having delayed complying with a âŹ2,000 compensation payment by four weeks and leaving the court âwaitingâ for him last time.
She noted that he admitted the offence. âIâll take it as an isolated incident but this behaviour cannot be tolerated, do you understand,â she said, and Connolly nodded in reply.
Taking it seriously
âI am,â he said, when asked if he was taking it seriously.At an earlier hearing of the evidence, on May 30th, Garda Niamh Carolan said officers responded to an incident and attended the scene.
âMr Kiely and Mr Grimes made statements and identified the suspected offender as Diarmuid Connolly,â the garda said.
âMr Kiely alleged that in an unprovoked assault, he was punched and dragged to the ground by Mr Connolly, resulting in Mr Connolly ripping a North Face jacket belonging to Mr Kiely.
âIt was then reported that Mr Grimes came to the aid of Mr Kiely and was subsequently assaulted also, having received a punch to the right side of his face by Mr Connolly.â
The court heard a later Garda interview with the accused âwas of a no-comment natureâ.
However, CCTV evidence from the area that night was obtained.
Judge Finan asked if the two injured parties were present at the hearing and was told they had come to court.
State solicitor Niall McGinty explained that they decided not to stay after learning about Connollyâs guilty plea. The judge noted they suffered facial bruising and swelling but did not want to provide victim impact statements.
The assault charge in this case is in a category that could result in sentences of up to six months in prison per offence, but the judge noted that Connolly had no recorded convictions.
Defence solicitor Daniel Hanahoe said his client worked as an electrician and has two young children.
The judge described it as an unfortunate offence, but she remarked that Connolly dealt with it appropriately.
She noted he informed the prosecution he would plead guilty, relieving the witnesses from having to give evidence.
She told him to pay âŹ1,000 to each complainant and suggested doing it that day.
âIâll get it todayâ
Connolly spoke up and insisted, âIâll get it todayâ. Connolly left to get the money and the case stood adjourned until his return. However, three hours later, Judge Finan saw that he was still not back and she adjourned the case until yesterday when he brought the compensation to court.
I suspected as much. Also the classic sensationalist tripe lumping minor and major crimes in together to inflate the headline figure v
Bastard said heâd get the money and he probably went for a coffee with Clucko, who shouldâve been in school.
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He had to tear off and do a deal with Boyle Sports
Itâs a sad case really.
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Met a lady in it from Tyrone one nightâŚa massive spotâŚ
Ah⌠the memories
Well if the Limerick sham can get away with it why not the dub?
In fairness to the Dublin lad he pleaded guilty
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True boy
This lout left the other guy with impaired vision,fractured eye socket etc etc
Interestingly, there has been a notable silence regarding the two current Cork hurlers recently entangled in serious incidents with the law. One who was involved in a drunken driving incident with an uninsured vehicle (panel member) , the other (1st 15) who committed a serious assault, resulting in a substantial financial settlement to dissuade the victim from pressing charges.
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It was mentioned here plenty of times
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Welcome to last
May.
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Fair enough I hadnât seen that . What about the serious assault incident by the first team player?
I actually could be thinking of something else now Iâve woken up a bit.
Fellas are always quick to throw stones at the Limerick lads but invariably you have the same issues in all counties where thereâs success and young fellas involved.
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Cork has had a notable number of such incidents this year. Another particularly case involves a recently retired first-team player, now an underage coach, who was involved in another serious drink-driving incident.
I didnât hear about that anyway.
Somebody should tell their supporters anyway. The abuse Kyle hayes got in the round game was a joke.
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Not just drink either.
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