Threw kettle at boy
A 44-year-old man who threw a kettle at his partner’s son, breaking some of his teeth in the process, has been spared a custodial sentence after the child’s father said he didn’t want to see the man go to prison.
The case against the defendant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been adjourned to allow time for the payment of €2,000 compensation to the young boy.
The court heard the 12-yearold child was in the care of his mother’s boyfriend at a premises in Drogheda when he threw a kettle at him on July 14th, 2017.
The child’s father said that since the incident the boy has become very self concious.
He said the repairs to the teeth have broken on two occasions already and this is likely to be an ongoing problem.
He said the cost each time these repairs needed to be carried out was €80.
The court heard the defendant has 11 previous convictions, the most recent dating back to 2014 for public order.
Defence solicitor Dermot Monahan said he had been dealing with his client for a long time and said he does believe the defendant has genuine insight into the problems that he has.
He said the man acknowledged he had issues in terms of addiction and anger management and has been attending The Red Door Project in an attempt to address these.
He said the defendant has completed two courses in addiction and anger management and has written three letters of apology to the child in question.
Addressing the court, the child’s father said the man had also apologised to him in person outside prior to the hearing.
He said he didn’t want to see the defendant ‘go down’ for what had happened but was concerned about the financial implications because of the ongoing costs involved in fixing the broken teeth.
Judge Eirinn McKiernan said she had been considering a custodial sentence but in light of the intervention by the child’s father said she wouldn’t go down that route.
She directed the defendant pay €2,000 in compensation and adjourned the case to June 12th to allow time for this warning the accused there was to be ‘no messing around’ and he must have the money in court on that date.