Man who failed to pay compensation in full has six month sentence hanging over him

A man who failed to pay full compensation to his victim now has a six month prison sentence hanging over him if he fails to pay by April 17, Judge Andrew Cody warned him at a recent sitting of Tullamore District Court.

Jack Delaney, Cuan Mhuire, Belvedere Hills, Mullingar, Westmeath is charged with assaulting James Murphy causing him harm at The Granary, Tullamore on November 10, 2022.

Mr Delaney was to have paid €2,000 to his victim. He failed to appear at a previous sitting and a bench warrant was issued.

Judge Andrew Cody said he had given the defendant three months to pay. He said a bench warrant had been issued when he failed to show.

The injured party was present in court and he told Judge Cody that Mr Delaney had given him a ''heap of abuse.''

Mr Delaney is working in a hospital in Mullingar. He had been paid in full while he was out on sick leave. He had brought €250 to court. Judge Cody told him he was ''still a long way off'' paying full compensation.

Adjourning the case to April 17, he told him to hand over the € 250 and said he would need to add another €500 plus €1,250 or he would impose a six month sentence.

''He needs to behave himself inside and outside the court,'' said Judge Cody.

Patrick Martin, solicitor for the defendant said the injured party had approached him.

''It's a very tense situation,'' he said.