A JUDGE told a Letterkenny man to think of his granny after giving a suspended prison sentence for assault causing harm .
Judge Alan Mitchell was given a number of character references for Caolin O’Donnell, including one from the accused’s grandmother, when he appeared at Letterkenny District Court.
O’Donnell (28) of Bomany, Letterkenny, was charged in connection with an incident at Lower Main Street, Letterkenny, on April 29, 2019.
Sergeant Jim Collins said when that Gardaí attended the scene a man was lying unconscious and bleeding on the street, while O’Donnell was said to have ‘looked confused and dazed’.
Both men were brought to hospital, the Court heard.
O’Donnell had paid €3,000 in compensation to the other man after what Judge Mitchell described as ‘a serious assault’.
Solicitor for O’Donnell, Mr Kieran O’Gorman said that his client, an unemployed man with no previous convictions, had written a ‘very sincere’ letter of apology to the victim.
“This was totally out of character for him,” Mr O’Gorman said, adding that O’Donnell was due to start a horticulture course layer this year.
Judge Mitchell considered handing the accused a period of community service in lieu of a prison sentence.
Mr O’Gorman handed in a number of character references, including a letter from O’Donnell’s grandmother.
Judge Mitchell imposed a three-month prison term, suspending the sentence for 12 months on the basis that O’Donnell has no previous convictions, had paid compensation and was eager to ‘engage’.
“Don’t get into trouble again,” Judge Mitchell warned. “You granny said that ‘he isn’t just a grandson but a friend’. If you think of reoffending again, think of your granny’s letter.”