One-punch assault results in suspended sentence for Kilkenny defendant
A ten-month sentence was handed down which was suspended
A young man who admitted punching another male during a night out in Kilkenny City was handed down a ten-month suspended sentence at a recent sitting of the local district court.
Eoin Hanney, 194 Robertshill, Kilkenny admitted assault causing harm at John Street, Kilkenny on July 27, 2025.
Sergeant Morgan O’Connor outlined to the court that on the date in question gardaí were on the beat in the area when they observed a male on the ground in an unconscious state.
Gardaí requested an ambulance and the injured party regained consciousness and travelled by ambulance to St Luke’s Hospital.
The sergeant told the court that a verbal argument had taken place between the two males, who knew each other from playing soccer, and that during the course of the argument the defendant struck the injured party once in the face causing him to fall to the ground.
The injured party received medical attention for a mild to moderate inter cranial bleed at St Luke’s Hospital and did not require surgery.
Sgt O’Connor said that there was a row between the two men on the night and that the defendant was angry and ‘threw a punch’. The sergeant also told the court that the defendant, who has no previous convictions, told gardaí that he was a victim of an assault in the past and was very apologetic over the incident.
Solicitor Ed Hughes remarked to the court that his client had dealt with the matter ‘in an adult way’ and had brought €1500 in compensation with him to court to give to the injured party. Mr Hughes said that his client is twenty years home and was out with his partner on the night in question.
“He was out very late and had a lot to drink. Something derogatory was said about his girlfriend and her friend and my client punched the injured party,” he said.
Mr Hughes also told the court that he told gardaí that he was ‘very sorry’ he had hit the injured party and that he knew ‘it was wrong’.
“I want to apologise, it shouldn’t have happened and it won’t again,” the defendant said to gardaí.
“My client shows a high level of remorse and he knows that it could have been far worse,” said Mr Hughes who also pointed that the probation report before the court showed that his client was deemed to be at ‘a low risk of re-offending’.
“He is supported by his parents, he is a good participant in the community and works with GAA club and plays football.
“This is a huge shock to this young man. He is aware that he is very lucky that it wasn’t much worse,” said Mr Hughes.
Judge Geraldine Carthy remarked that the defendant had ‘fully co-operated with the Probation Services’.
“I am satisfied of your remorse and that you knew the injured party through playing soccer. The injured party does not want to give a victim impact statement,” said that the judge who described the assault as ‘extremely serious’.
“This gentleman fell to the ground and was unconscious and suffered a bleed to the brain,” she said.
The judge convicted the defendant under section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences against the Person Act and imposed a ten-month prison sentence which she suspended for 18 months on condition that the defendant be of good behaviour and not to re-offend and to attend all appointments as directed and to pay over €1500 in compensation.