Community service for assault in Dundalk

A young man hit another man with a single punch, in response to a racist slur that was allegedly made during a row over a parking space, Dundalk district court was told last week.

Manan Muhmood (22) of Medebawn, Avenue Road, Dundalk pleaded guilty to assault causing harm arising out of the incident on Park Street, Dundalk on March 21st 2021.

Gardaí were on foot patrol when they saw one man punching another, who appeared to end up unconscious on the ground.

Paramedics who attended the scene said the injured party had sustained concussion.

The court heard the defendant had no previous convictions.

The defendand, the court was told, had never come to the adverse attention of gardaí before the incident and while born in Ireland, his heritage is from Pakistan and it was the racist slur, which caused him to act as he did.

The barrister stressed that the 22 year old was deeply remorseful for his actions and it was a single punch, which knocked the man to the ground, where he hit his head.

He added it arose from an argument over a parking space.

After hearing the defendant is saving to pay for his fees to return to college, Judge Eirinn McKiernan imposed 220 hours community service instead of a four month sentence.