Mother describes son as a ‘little monster’ when he was drinking

THE MOTHER of two brothers involved in an attack which left an Enniscorthy publican with head injuries spoke of her disgust at what occurred.

Carmel Cogley was called into the witness box at the District Court sitting in the case of her sons Ryan (19) and Robert (21) from 12 Droim Catha, Shannon Hill, Enniscorthy who assaulted Niall Holohan outside his premises in Slaney Place.

The mother said she was disgusted by Ryan’s involvement in a couple of assaults with his brother.

And she described Robert as being like a little monster when he was drinking.

The same pair also assaulted Francis Fortune on The Promenade in Enniscorthy less than six weeks after the incident in Slaney Place, on February 1 in 2015.

During this assault, Fortune was struck in the face with a bottle of wine which had been stolen earlier from Centra.

Alcohol provided a common theme to the crimes detailed to Judge Gerard Haughton.

It was reckoned that Ryan Cogley consumed seven cans, a bottle of wine and a half bottle of vodka before he met Niall Holohan that night. He was aged 17 at the time.

Defending solicitor Ed King said his teenaged client was also highly intoxicated on the night that he encountered Francis Fortune.

Carmel Cogley, mother of six boys, assured the judge that both her eldest two are no longer taking alcohol and that their behaviour has improved.

She spoke of how Ryan was interested in horses and that he was attending the Cornmarket Project, while the court heard from the parent that Robert had settled down now that he had a girlfriend.

A total of 24 charges against Robert Cogley were reviewed, with guilty pleas entered.

The list included criminal damage to a door at the Riverside Park hotel which he smashed with a patio chair after being told to leave the premises.

On one occasion in July of 2014 a cyclist on Shannon Hill was knocked off his bike, which was then taken by the accused.

Responsibility for the assault and theft was traced to the older Cogley who told gardaí that he bought the bicycle for €20, when in fact it was worth €300.

Also considered were counts of drunkenness and theft or attempted theft of items ranging from a sling shot taken in Smyths Arro hardware to nine bottles of spirits which he tried to smuggle out of Pettitt’s supermarket without paying.

In April of last year he was involved in the taking of a car which was pushed from where it was parked to Convent Road.

The vehicle was discovered in mid-road with a window smashed and the ignition damaged.

On that occasion, Cogley had taken some D10 tablets and a lot of alcohol.

Mr King urged the judge to consider a positive probation report and told the court that the older brother took a rehab course at Ais Eirí.

Offending ceased by the two siblings in 2015, it was suggested, and the pair had no previous convictions.

After listening to a summary of all the crimes and to representations from Ms Cogley and Mr King, Judge Haughton said he would reserve his decision until after Christmas, adjourning to January 4.