Two Montrose footballers who carried out a ”shameful attack” during a night out in Dublin have been given suspended prison sentences.
Cousins Liam Callaghan and Craig Johnston, both 27, previously admitted assault causing harm and obstruction in Dublin city centre on December 8 2019.
The court previously deferred sentence because although they each offered €2,000 to their “blameless” victim, Judge Orla Crowe said this was not sufficient to show the “level of sincerity warranted”.
When the pair, from Fife, returned to court on Friday, Judge Crowe accepted a much higher sum and their conduct since was enough to keep them from prison.
Vicious assault
The court was previously told there had been an altercation between the 52-year-old victim and a colleague of the two footballers at a late bar on Baggot Street.
The man was first punched on the jaw outside the bar by Callaghan and Johnston joined in.
A passer-by tried to usher the man away but the pair followed.
One picked up a traffic cone and swung it at the victim.
Another hit him with a box, causing his head to bounce off the ground.
Callaghan and Johnston had been seen by the gardai and, despite trying to flee, were caught by the public order unit officers.
The victim was taken to hospital where he was treated for injuries to his face, lower leg and ankle.
He required three surgeries on his ankle.
His left eye socket was fractured but he sustained no serious injury to his eye.
Gestures of remorse
Judge Crowe said it was a “shameful attack carried out by two people visiting this country” and the men had “involved themselves in a matter that was at an end.”
She said the assault had serious consequences for the victim, which was an aggravating factor in this case.
Defence counsel told Judge Crowe that both accused had brought €6,000 to court as a token of remorse, which the victim was willing to accept.
Judge Crowe said she took into consideration as mitigation the fact neither man has any previous convictions for violence, they are working and are talented footballers.
She noted both are very remorseful and have travelled from Scotland to attend all court dates.
Suspended prison sentences
Judge Crowe said Callaghan was the “more dominant” of the two men during the attack, having thrown the first punch but Johnston joined in.
She imposed a two-year prison sentence on both men but said she would suspend that in full on condition both keep the peace for two years.
She also directed the gesture of remorse from both men was to be handed over to the victim.
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