Fisherman is told: Come back to court and you’ll be sent to prison

A CO. LEITRIM fisherman who bit a doorman causing him “great distress” has been told to come back to court with €3,000 by October 22 at Sligo District Court.

Thomas Cassidy, 28, from Garmin Lane, Tullaghan, pleaded guilty to assaulting Justin Gray causing him harm on February 22, 2018, at Sixth on Teeling, Teeling Street, Sligo. In a victim impact statement, Justin Gray said he was a doorman and he let the defendant in to the club as he seemed a nice fellow and he had just been hit. But the defendant got aggressive and tried to assault the injured party.

He lunged at the victim and put his face close to the doorman and then fell back. It was later that the victim realised there was blood on his shirt where he had been bitten on his body. He went to A&E in Sligo University Hospital, where he got an anti- tetanus jab.

The incident had been very stressful, and he had not been able to kiss his children goodnight and he feared that he could be infected with something that would stay with him for the rest of his life.

He was also worried that he might pass on an infection to his wife and children and he had a scar that was also stressful. It had also put a great strain on his relationship with his wife and children.

He had given up his work as a doorman for the sake of himself and his family in case something happened again. The victim had been a support worker with children with autism who need constant physical reassurance and when that does not happen, they feel they have done something wrong and that can be stressful.

The injured party said he would be happy if his expenses were covered.

He did not want the defendant to go to jail but asked for him to make a donation for young adults with autism.

The court heard the defendant, who was a fisherman, had 28 previous convictions, that included public order, an assault and forged prescriptions.

Defence solicitor Gerry McGovern said the court knew the defendant and some of his difficulties.

He had been at sea, came home and went on the beer and got in bother.

Mr McGovern said the victim is very forgiving. He asked for the court not to jail the defendant but allow him back to sea to bring back the money for the victim and the charity outlined. Mr McGovern said he did not know what came over the defendant as the doorman was quite kind to let him in. He let the victim down and himself down.

Mr McGovern told the defendant that Judge Kilrane had been good to him allowing him to go back fishing when he could send him somewhere else.

The defendant told the court he was earning good money at sea since he was 16. He said his mother tried to kill herself and he was taking drugs in 2018 and had lost his two best friends. He said he would be fishing out of Belmullet for the next 10 days. The defendant said he could pay the €1,500 expenses if he got three weeks at sea. Mr McGovern told his client not to make commitments that he could not keep.

The defendant said that he was very sorry and said he was “a lot different to some people who come before the court”. When told that he had previous convictions, the defendant said: “I just think I am better.” Mr McGovern told his client to “control your language”. Mr McGovern asked the court to take a chance on the defendant and said it was a “big chance”.

Judge Kilrane noted the plea and adjourned the case until October 22 for a special sitting at 7pm when the defendant was to come back with €3000.

The judge said that jail would be staring the defendant if there were any allegations in the meantime.

“If you come back here again, bring your suitcase with you for Castlerea,” said the judge.