Judge seeks Victim Impact Statement in adjourned Offaly assault case
The man had pleaded guilty to the charge of assault causing harm arising from an altercation at George's Bridge, Drumcooley, Edenderry
JUDGE Andrew Cody made an order seeking a Victim Impact Statement in an assault case before him during the May 15 sitting of Tullamore District Court.
At a previous sitting of Tullamore Court, Dawid Ostasz, Number 26, Derrybeg, Edenderry and his father, Wojiech Ostasz, Cloncannon, Edenderry, had pleaded guilty to the charge of assault causing harm arising from an altercation at George's Bridge, Drumcooley, Edenderry on June 2 last year.
Appearing before Judge Andrew Cody, both admitted assaulting a man, causing him harm.
The prosecutions arose after gardaí received a report about a number of males fighting at a location in Edenderry and they recovered a large stick and other items.
The allegation was that the injured party received a cut to the top of his head which required his attendance at a hospital accident and emergency department and he received stitching and staples. Neither of the accused men had previous convictions.
Marc Bairead, solicitor defending both men, said Dawid, 23 years of age, was in full-time employment and his father, who is 44 years of age, was on a disability payment.
Mr Bairead set out a “back story” where the injured party arrived at the defendants' property to pick up a truck. The defendants became suspicious of the injured party and asked him to leave the property immediately and subsequently called the gardaí.
They decided to get into a car and follow the injured party in his pick-up truck and the altercation occurred when they caught up with him.
Both sides involved in the dispute sustained injuries, said the solicitor. There had been a history of items going missing from their property, he added. “They are both very sorry for what happened,” commented Mr Bairead. “It got out of hand totally.” He said they had paid €1,500 each in compensation as ordered.
Judge Andrew Cody said he was looking at photos of the injured party. “He received a blow to the head needing stitching and ten staples. I don't have a Victim Impact Statement. I would need that before making a decision.
Mr Bairead pointed out that his clients also received injuries during the melée.
The case was adjourned to June 12 next.