Man warned Court's patience 'well and truly at an end’ over outstanding compensation

A Newmills man, who owes a victim of an unlawful assault over €1,000, has been told that the ‘patience of the Court is well and truly at an end’ in the matter.

Daniel McConnell, a 32-year-old of Newmills, is before Letterkenny Circuit Court charged with assault causing harm. The charge relates to an incident at Ramelton Road, Letterkenny, on October 23, 2016 where he unlawfully assaulted Victor Neely, thereby causing harm.

McConnell was not present in court when the case was called on Wednesday.

His solicitor, Mr Frank Dorian, told the court that his client ‘doesn’t respond well to pressure’. Mr Dorrian said that €9,800 has been paid in respect of compensation to the victim and that there is €1,050 outstanding. He said McConnell had previously struggled to pay ‘and I suspect that has happened here’.

“Given that he has substantially discharged the amount, maybe I could ask for a final adjournment,” Mr Dorrian said, asking Judge John Aylmer to give his client a further chance before issuing a bench warrant.

“The good will is there. He has had a recent arrival and he is now a father who is the sole breadwinner. I can only account for his absence with a concern that he is maybe afraid of the position he finds himself in.”

Ms Patricia McLaughlin BL, counsel for the State, said she had ‘no great objection’ to an adjournment.

“I’m sure you’ll impress upon him that the patience of the court is well and truly at an end,” Judge Aylmer told Mr Dorrian.

He said he was marking the case preemptory against McConnell and added: “The peremptory nature of the adjournment will take full effect on the next occasion.”

Judge Aylmer adjourned the case until the June session of Letterkenny Circuit Court.