‘The vodka didn’t agree with me’: Limerick man sentenced for ‘unprovoked’ assault on teen

A YOUNG man has received a fully suspended sentence at Limerick Circuit Court after assaulting another male following a night out in the city centre.

Michael Ryan, aged 21, with an address at Dublin Road, Limerick, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm arising from an incident near Top Pizza, located at Cornmarket Row, on September 17, 2023.

Judge Colin Daly heard that the victim in this case, who was aged 17 at the time, was in Limerick city centre socialising with friends at a popular pub. While there, he sparked up a conversation with another group before leaving at about 1am to go get food.

The victim and his friends then walked a short distance to Top Pizza, a well-known fast food restaurant, and entered the premises.

Prosecuting Barrister John O’Sullivan told Limerick Circuit Court that from here, the victim accompanied a friend, who was going home, outside and encountered the group he had been talking to earlier in the night.

A conversation between the victim and members of the group commenced but turned “hostile” soon after as one of them had accused the victim of looking at his girlfriend. The injured party denied this but the woman at the centre of the argument began shouting, saying he was looking at her.

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Following this, it was heard that Michael Ryan, who was aged 18 at the time, hit the victim, who quickly went back into the fast food establishment, but was pursued. Judge Colin Daly was informed that another member of this group went on to headbutt the victim while inside and was then thrown out by security.

Mr O’Sullivan said that after they were removed from the restaurant, the group began gesturing at the victim through the window in a “threatening fashion” but that the injured party thought they wanted to apologise.

The 17-year-old left Top Pizza once again, approached Mr Ryan and the pair shook hands. It was as this interaction was taking place that the defendant used his free hand to strike the victim a second time.

The injured party ran but was chased by the group, knocked to the ground and kicked by a number of people. In a garda statement, the victim said one of these perpetrators eventually told the others to stop and that following this, he ran back to Top Pizza, where gardaí were called.

Limerick Circuit Court heard that the 17-year-old told gardaí he had received a number of punches and kicks to his head and body, mainly from Mr Ryan and another young man, referred to as Mr X throughout proceedings.

He had injuries to his face, knee and elbow and attended a healthcare clinic who referred him to the ED. The victim was found to have a concussion and numerous tests were run due to an eye injury he sustained. All tests came back clear.

A medical report was submitted to the court and it was heard that the injured party has made a full recovery since. He also declined making a victim impact statement.

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Michael Ryan was arrested on November 19, 2023, and was co-operative with gardaí.

When questioned by authorities, Mr Ryan acknowledged being in a bar on the night of September 17 but said he can’t remember anything after that as he had consumed a large amount of alcohol.

Upon being shown CCTV of the incident, pictures of the victim’s injuries as well as his garda statement, the 21-year-old then made full admissions but stated he cannot recall why this occurred due to his level of intoxication.

Prosecuting Barrister John O’Sullivan said it was his view that the victim was “set upon” and struck numerous times despite the incident being “totally unprovoked.” The injured party ran following the assault and never attempted to fight back, and Mr O’Sullivan said that footage shows there wasn’t “the slightest evidence of provocation.”

Judge Colin Daly heard that Mr Ryan showed remorse when interviewed and said that this was “out of character” for him. The young man is currently completing an apprenticeship, has no previous convictions and has not come to garda attention since.

Defence Barrister Pat Barriscale said his client accepts responsibility for his role in the assault and that after gardaí read the victim’s statement to him, Mr Ryan said: “The vodka didn’t agree with me.” A number of references from the man’s employer and sports teams were presented to the judge.

Mr Barriscale reminded Limerick Circuit Court that his client was only 18-years-old at the time of the offence, has made full admissions, entered a signed guilty plea and offered the injured party €5,000 in compensation, who is said to be “happy with that.”

The Defence Barrister stated that Mr Ryan accepts he was out of order, although he can’t explain why, and that the compensation offered demonstrates remorse. It was also Mr Barriscale’s belief that his client is a young man who made a mistake and has now learned a “very significant” lesson.

He asked Judge Daly to be as lenient as possible when sentencing.

The judge said it was clear from CCTV that Mr Ryan had plenty of opportunity not to engage but did so anyway and that harm was caused to the victim, who sustained injuries.

The maximum sentence for assault causing harm is one of five years’ imprisonment but Judge Daly was satisfied that the man’s offending fell into the upper end of the lower scale. He set a headline sentence of two years.

Taking into account his guilty plea, references, previous good character, young age, offer of compensation and the fact that alcohol seems to be the “root cause of his actions,” Judge Daly decided to take a "rehabilitative approach.”

The judge fully suspended Mr Ryan’s two-year prison sentence for a period of two years and imposed a €1,000 fine, to be paid within six months, as long as he keeps the peace, be of good behaviour and not come to garda attention.

The €5,000 compensation was accepted and paid to the injured party via bank transfer, in respect of general damages.