Attackers ordered to pay €5,000 each for victims

Two students were assaulted by a group of up to ten people as they walked away from Supermac’s in Eyre Square late one night, a court has heard.

One of the victims, who is a final year student at Athlone IT, sustained a broken nose, and a fractured cheekbone and eye socket in the attack during which he was kicked and punched.

Evan Deacy (20), 58 Ard Alainn, Ballybane, and co-accused, Aidan Coyle (20), from 250 Castlepark, Ballybane, pleaded guilty to assaulting Ross O’Connor and his friend Jamie O’Roarke, causing them harm, on February 4, 2016, when they appeared before Galway District Court this week.

Mr O’Connor (25) told the court he had severe pain for a time afterwards and he would need to have surgery on his nose due to breathing difficulties as a result of the assault.

He said he had become very wary on nights out since the attack.  The other victim was not in court.

Garda Marvin Lee said he viewed CCTV footage from outside Supermac’s.

He saw the two injured parties walk away with three friends but they were then set upon by a group of about ten people.

Five of the group could be seen throwing punches and kicks and both Deacy and Coyle were later identified from the group and charged.

Garda Lee said CCTV showed Coyle throwing punches while Deacy threw punches and kicks. Both victims, he said, managed to get away and they went to A&E that night for treatment for their injuries.

Medical reports were handed into court which outlined O’Connor suffered fractures to his nose, cheekbone and eye socket, while O’Roarke suffered a suspected broken nose.  O’Connor also suffered bruising to his legs and torso.

Deacy, who is an apprentice carpenter, brought €2,000 compensation to court to offer to the victims.  His solicitor, Gearoid Geraghty, said that if given more time his client would come up with a further €3,000.  He asked for a probation report on his client prior to sentence taking place.

Judge Mary Fahy adjourned sentence in Deacy’s case to May 9 for the payment of a further €3,000 to the victims and she directed the preparation of a probation report for that date.

Barrister Garry McDonald, who represented Coyle, said his client had recently lost his job and he had no compensation to offer to the victims at this point, but he had applied for a bank loan and if given time would pay compensation as well.

Judge Fahy became annoyed on hearing Coyle had been working for two years before losing his job, but had brought no compensation to court.

She rejected an application by the barrister for a probation report and warned Coyle to come to court with his bags packed on May 9 if he didn’t have the first instalment of €2,000 compensation on that date for the victims.