Retired teacher hit neighbour in face with torch in row

A retired assistant school principal struck his neighbour in the face with a torch when “tempers boiled over” amid a dispute over noise and barking dogs.

Colm McElroy (70) attacked the victim on the man’s doorstep after being confronted for “making a racket” at bins outside their homes late at night.

Dublin District Court heard there had been a history of issues between them and McElroy “may have seen the red mist”.

Finding him guilty, Judge John Hughes said the parties had been “very fond of their dogs” but “weren’t behaving like good neighbours”.

He ordered a probation report on McElroy and adjourned the case.

McElroy, of Oak View, Santry, had pleaded not guilty to assault and assault causing harm to his neighbour, Graham Gordon, on February 5 last year. His defence claimed it was the victim who had actually assaulted him.

Dublin District Court heard Mr Gordon heard a noise in the lane, looked out and saw the accused at the bins with his dog, which was barking. Mr Gordon’s own dogs started barking and he approached McElroy about the noise. McElroy looked shocked, smelled of alcohol and told him “not to talk to him” and “get out of my way”. The accused appeared to stumble and fall into a hedge.

Mr Gordon called him a “pathetic, drunken old man”, which he regretted.

McElroy then attacked from behind, hitting the back of his head before striking him in the face with a metal torch, causing a cut to the bridge of his nose.

McElroy also shouted “obscene words” in the victim’s door while in a state of “manic aggression” and called him a “pervert”.

There was a “history” between the neighbours, with Mr Gordon saying McElroy had “ignored him” for years.

Mr Gordon and his husband worked at home on Zoom meetings and complained that McElroy would disturb them by frequently going to the bins with his dog, making their dogs bark.

Mr Gordon said the assaults had a severe impact on him, affecting him mentally, and he had had counselling.

McElroy had been a secondary school teacher for 45 years before retiring, his lawyer said.