Former boxer punched Donegal student in unprovoked assault

A former boxer punched a student from Donegal in the face in an unprovoked attack leaving him with longterm dental damage a recent sitting of Midleton District Court was told.

Court presenter Inspector Tony O’Sullivan said that the assault happened outside the Village Inn pub on Newtown Road in Cobh in the early hours of October 16, 2022.

Friends Jude McCrossan and Daniel O’Sullivan had attended a rugby match at the nearby Cobh Pirates rugby ground earlier that evening and had gone to Mr O’Sullivan’s home for about an hour after the game.

At about 1.30am the two students left Mr O’Sullivan’s residence and made their way back towards Mr McCrossan’s lodgings.

The court heard that Mr McCrossan had only moved to Cork from Inishowen three weeks previously to study and Mr O’Sullivan had intended to walk with him some of the way as he did not know the area.

Giving evidence Mr McCrossan said that as they approached the Village Inn pub a man standing outside began shouting at them but he could not understand what he was saying. As they passed the man mumbled something else and Mr McCrossan turned around to see what he wanted. The man, identified as James Mahony, 58, of Russell Heights, Cobh, then punched Mr McCrossan in the face.

The court saw photographic evidence of the serious injury caused to Mr McCrossan as a result of the assault. His lip was split and there was substantial bleeding and his glasses were knocked into the garden of a neighbouring property.

Mr McCrossan also suffered a broken tooth as a result of the assault which required €1,500 of dental work and may now need to be completely replaced.

James Mahony told the court that Mr McCrossan had approached him in an aggressive manner and had punched him in the shoulder for no reason. Mr Mahony said that he had attended his GP and the Mercy Hospital as a result of the alleged assault.

told the court that he was a former boxer and because he was being threatened he punched both of the friends. He said “I always do for the chin. It’s the natural thing for me to do to defend myself to punch him in the face. I could have kicked him in the groin or something but I always go for the chin.”

The court heard that Mr Mahony was collected by his daughter and went home with his wife. When he attended Cobh Garda Station for interview he complained that “he was in bits” and his shoulder was killing him because he had been assaulted a few days previously.

Defence Solicitor Don Ryan said that his client was the victim of aggression and that the two students had consumed far more alcohol than the “few pints” they claimed.

He said that Mr O’Sullivan tried unsuccessfully to hold back Mr McCrossan who was behaving aggressively and that he had accompanied his friend because he was highly intoxicated.

Judge Marie Keane said that there were clearly many intoxicated people outside the Village Inn that night. She said that Mr Mahony’s evidence was “quite extraordinary” and the court found his medical evidence self-serving.

She said that she was satisfied with Mr McCrossan’s version of events and the court found Mr Mahony guilty of assault.

She remanded Mr Mahony on continuing bail until July 18 to allow time for the preparation of a victim impact statement.