Youth worker assaulted on Portlaoise Main Street 

A court was told a man working for a youth diversion programme was rugby tackled and pinned to a wall in Portlaoise by a man unknown to him.

Luke Philips (29) of 12 Raheen Park, Tallaght, Dublin 24 appeared before Portlaoise District Court accused of assault at Main Street, Portlaoise on March 7, 2024. 

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said a man had reported being assaulted on the Main Street in Portlaoise at 5.45pm on that date.  

He said the man who was working for a youth diversion programme reported being “pinned to a wall by an unknown gentleman” who shouted “something not very nice” at the victim. He said the man wasn’t injured but he was in shock after the incident. 

“He rugby tackled him and pinned him to the wall in front of Ryan’s pub”, said Sgt Kirby. 

He said the defendant had 27 previous convictions but violence wasn’t a feature in the offending. 

Andrew Dunne BL said his client was a bricklayer who had been in a long term relationship which ended. He said the stress over his relationship resulted in addiction difficulties. He said the man also had mental health issues. He said the man is now not taking any drugs or drink. 

“There is little to no memory of the offence on the date in question”, said Mr Dunne. He said the offence should never have happened and his client wished to offer an apology to the man who was bringing youths to the cinema. He said that apology extends to the youths that witnessed the incident. He said his client was eager to engage with restorative justice. 

Judge Catherine Ryan noted the “eloquent” victim impact statement which was before the court and included a quote which is attributed to Carl Jung: “I am not what happened to me. I am what I chose to become.”

She described the injured party as someone who appears to be a valuable member of society and she noted it wasn’t just a physical assault. 

Judge Ryan recommended a restorative justice report and she imposed a one month sentence which she suspended for one year on condition that the accused engages in restorative justice and follows the advice of the probation service.