Man who assaulted Letterkenny hotel manager in 'drunken stupor' told to pay €750

A man who assaulted the night manager at a Letterkenny hotel has been directed to pay his victim €750.

Samuel McCrea was brought before a special sitting of Letterkenny District Court on Sunday afternoon.

McCrea was one of a large number of males in a room at the Clanree Hotel when staff went to deal with a noise complaint.

McCrea and others who were not booked into the hotel were asked to leave at around 3.45am on Sunday.

As McCrea left, he struck Mr Charlie Harkin on the face. Mr Harkin's glasses, valued at €189, were broken in the incident and the victim sustained bruising to his nose.

Garda Sergeant Jim Collins told the court that McCrea, a 23-year-old of Tattygare Road, Lisbellaw, County Fermanagh, was “fully contrite” when he sobered up.

McCrea, who has no previous convictions, was charged with criminal damage and also with assaulting Mr Harkin.

Mr Patsy Gallagher, solicitor for McCrea, said his client had returned to what he described as “a house party” in the hotel when “matters got out of hand”.

He said his client, an apprentice mechanic, engaged in a “drunken stupor tussle”, but wished to recompense Mr Harkin.

Mr Gallagher said McCrea's family are “rather annoyed” by the incident.

Judge Éiteáin Cunningham said McCrea would have to compensate Mr Harkin.

“It isn't acceptable that someone who is going on foot of a noise complaint should be subjected to that,” Judge Cunningham said. “It simply is not acceptable.”

Judge Cunningham said she would take into account the fact that McCrea has no previous, that he pleaded guilty and the mitigation proffered by his solicitor.

“It strikes me that this incident arose our of Mr McCrea simply drinking far too much and not being able to handle it,” Judge Cunningham said. “The entire incident should have been avoided. The injured party was simply doing his job.”

On the charge of assaulting Mr Harkin, McCrea was convicted and directed to pay €750 to his victim within three months. The criminal damage charge was marked as taken into consideration.

“An expensive night out,” Judge Cunningham remarked.