Dundalk court: Man seriously assaulted cousin's ex boyfriend

A 28 year old man who seriously assaulted his cousin's ex boyfriend outside a local takeaway was last week placed under a 12 month peace bond at Dundalk district court, after paying €5,000 to the victim as a token of his remorse.

Niall Loughman of Drummond Radhairc, Carrickmacross was charged with assault causing harm arising out of the incident on November 14th 2021.

Gardaí were on mobile patrol on Park Street around 3.20am when they saw a man with blood on his face and cut on the bridge of his nose.

When Judge Eirinn McKiernan asked the victim how he had been impacted by the incident, he replied “My confidence was a big thing”.

He added he had gone out with the defendant's cousin for over four years and he was surprised by what happened, saying “I was shocked to be honest”.

The court heard the apprentice electrician was off work for two weeks following the assault and said the scar on his nose gets red sometimes.

He also said “My mother was worried about the rest of us going out”.

The defence solicitor, who stressed there were no fractures involved, said his client had offered his apology and the victim shook his hand outside the courtroom.

He also assured the court his client has no ill feeling towards the man who he said had done nothing wrong whatsoever.

He said the defendant had €3,000 in court as a gesture of his remorse.

However, Judge McKiernan noted the victim had been left with a scar and said “You need to up the compensation a little bit”.

After being told €5,000 was available, the judge placed him under a 12 month peace bond, which she said means he'll have no criminal record.