Man assaults teen tormentor
A man who assaulted one of a gang of teenagers who had “tormented” him and his elderly mother has been given the benefit of the Probation Act.
37-year-old Paddy Coyle of Courthouse Drive, Grange, appeared at Sligo District Court charged with assaulting a youth and damaging his iphone 4S at Grange on 12 th August 2016.
The court heard from defence solicitor Mr Eddie Henry that a gang of five teenagers were going around in the estate kicking Paddy Coyle’s door and knocking his door knocker.
He said his client chased them away from his property and “technically assaulted” one of them by getting him in a grip.
He said Coyle has since been engaging with the local Garda in Grange who was aware that people were targeting Coyle and his elderly mother.
Inspector Paul Kilcoyne said the youth attended Sligo University Hospital a day after the assault and it was originally thought by doctors that his elbow was fractured.
He was put in a cast for a period of time but it was subsequently diagnosed as a “soft tissue injury” only. The only other injury to the teenager were a cut and “red marks on his neck” from where he was grabbed by Coyle.
Inspector Kilcoyne said that on the day in question, the gang decided to knock on a few doors and run. One youth did the knocking while the rest of the gang hid.
He said the defendant saw one of the gang running away, got in his car to try and find the rest of them and caught up with one youth.
“He grabbed him with one hand in his hair and the other around the neck and said “Tell me who was with you or I’ ll kill you”,” said Inspector Kilcoyne.
He said it was then alleged Coyle put both hands around the youth’s neck, whereupon he found it hard to breath and started shaking him.
The youth fell to the ground, hurt his elbow and cut his arm.
The inspector told Judge Kevin Kilrane that Coyle has previous convictions for Road Traffic Matters between 2005-2011.
Judge Kilrane concluded that Coyle was “being tormented” by the youths “anti-social behaviour” and said that to have youngsters “harassing people in the estate was completely unacceptable.”
“It wasn’t premediated. I don’t think the assault was serious, I don’t think it amounts to a Section 3 Assault in fact,” he said.
Inspector Kilcoyne agreed that “it wasn’t all that serious in the end.”
Speaking in the witness box, Coyle said: “It’s been going on for the last 18 months. The Gardaí knew about it. I put my hands up. I grabbed the young fella by the head. They were kicking and banging the doors.”
Mr Henry pointed out that there had been no incident since.
Judge Kilrane said the defendant “would want to be very careful” as he was “a big strong man and you could do a lot of damage if the temper is up on you.”
“I told them to keep away to f ***,” added Coyle.
Judge Kilrane gave Coyle the benefit of the Probation Act.