‘Act of gross stupidity which was out of character’

Airman Anthony Lynch was “inherently decent and honest” his defence barrister Mr Michael Bowman SC submitted to Judge Keenan Johnston. He said that he was known to all the bouncers and they had no issue with him.

“He never caused any trouble before,” he said. Garda Sandra Deery said he had co-operated fully with the investigating Gardaí.

Mr Bowman said his client had “apologised profusely and it was never his intention that any injury was caused.” “That error of judgement has cost him very dearly,” he said, adding that Lynch came from a “very decent hard-working local family.”

Garda Deery said his family had supported him and were in court that day.

“This was an act of gross stupidity and violence and completely out of character,” said Mr Bowman. He said Lynch had gotten out a Credit Union loan himself and not borrowed from his family to compensate Mr McGarrigle.

A book of testimonials was handed into the judge from past principals of Lynch’s primary and secondary school, the local parish priest in Carraroe and his current supervisor in the Air Corps, Mr Joshua O’Shea who was “shocked and surprised” when he heard about the assault. He said Lynch was “an intelligent young man, gaining maturity and diligent.”

In sentencing, Judge Johnston said the punch was a “one-off aberration” on an otherwise “unblemished record.”

“One wouldn’t have anticipated a single blow would have the catastrophic effect on Mr McGarrigle, who suffered “life changing” effects as a result of the assault. This level of violence was an aggravating factor in the case he said.

In mitigation, he took into account his early guilty plea and “exemplary record.”

He gave Lynch a deferred three year sentence on condition he pay €22,000 compensation to his victim within six months as a form of “restorative justice.” He also ordered Lynch to have no contact with his victim and adjourned to 29 th May.