Verbally abused and aassaulted man in street

A man urinating in the street became verbally abusive to a man leaving work in a premises across the street in the early hours of the morning and it led to an altercation, Sligo District Court was told last Thursday.

Arising out of the incident on December 22nd 2017 was Barry Gormley (35), Carrow Garneen, Coolaney who was summoned for assaulting Gilbert Henry at High Street, with damaging his bicycle and with offences under the Public Order Act at O’Connell Street.

The court was told by defence solicitor, Mr Gerard McGovern that when the case first came before the court on January 18th 2018, the defendant had been remanded in custody for a week.

Mr McGovern said the defendant had €100 in court to give tot he victim to [pay for the damage he had caused to his bicycle.

Mr Henry told the court that he was a jeweller and had been working late in his workshop at High Street, trying to finish up jobs before Christmas and recalled leaving his premises at 2.30am with the intention of cycling home.

When he got outside he saw a man across the road at Harry’s Bar urinating in the street.

Witness said he opted not to say anything as it was coming up to Christmas. The defendant shouted over at him asking what he was looking at.

The defendant began to call him gay and came across the road to him.

Gormley continued to be verbally abusive to him and called him a ‘Muslim f ******’.

Gormley went on to say he (witness) was coming into this counrty and taking jobs.

Mr Henry said he jokingly had replied: “And your women too.”

The defendant came at witness and kicked him twice into the leg.

Mr Henry said he got his bicycle in between him and the defendant but he kept coming for him.

At one point, Mr Henry said he put his lock in his hand but this did not deter the defendant from coming at him.

Mr Henry said he kept blocking the defendant and this went on for about six minutes.

He said he ended up on the ground in a skirmish with the defendant.

He tried to get on his bicycle to get away but it wouldn’t work but he did eventually manage to get away down the road.

He had left his phone behind in the workshop but subsequently returned and got it and contacted the Gardaí. He also followed the defendant who was arrested by Gardaí who had been in a patrol car parked close to O’Connell Street.

Mr Henry agreed with Mr McGovern who suggested the defendant had been highly intoxicated on the night.

Mr McGovern said the defendant hadn’t drank since the incident and was apologetic.

Mr Henry confirmed the defendant had apologised on the morning of the court.

Asked what effect the incident had on him by Judge Kilrane, Mr Henry said he was a bit more dubious now working late at night.

The defendant confirmed he hadn’t drank in a year.

The defendant, who has eight previous convictions including a public order offence in 2014 , was fined €200.