This article is from page 16 of the 2013-10-15 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 16 JPG
A TOURIST who almost lost his sight in a “brutal” unprovoked New Year’s Day assault after coming to the aid of a woman in Ennistymon has been praised for his “gallantry”.
Dublin man Richard Mullen and his wife were returning to their holiday home in the early hours of January 1 when they came across a “young woman pinned to the ground by a thug” on Circular Road, Ennis District Court heard on Thursday.
Mr Mullen told the court he saw a young man standing over a woman with his hands over her throat. Mr Mullen said that after helping the woman to her feet, he received a blow to the head from William Donovan (20).
“I went down like a sack of spuds”, the 62-year-old recalled.
The court heard that after returning to Dublin, Mr Mullen received treatment for acute glaucoma caused by a swollen eye and almost lost his sight.
Passing sentence, Judge Patrick Durcan said he had never come across such a brutal assault in his time on the bench in Clare. He said Mr Mullen had required complex medical treatment to save his sight.
“He (Mr Mullen) was set upon in the most appalling, brutal and thuggish fashion,” said Judge Durcan who had considered refusing jurisdiction of the case.
Mr Donovan, with an address at Clancy Park, Ennis, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and other offences including burglary at Wilsons’, O’Connell Street, Ennis on March 22 (2013).
He also pleaded guilty to stealing clothes, cash and a mobile phone from a man who had gone for a swim in Dough Beach, Lahinch on August 28.
Mr Donovan, a father of one, stole an Apple laptop, four Nikon cameras and € 87 from Wilson’s.
He also pleaded guilty to breaking the window and stealing a jacket from a Citroen Berlingo parked behind Wilson’s.
Detective Garda Claire O’Shaughnessy said CCTV footage and DNA evidence from blood found on the broken car window were used to identify Mr Donovan. She said Mr Donovan had not admitted breaking into Wilson’s
Another man has also been charged in connection with the burglary, the court heard.
Storeowner Richard Wilson recalled finding doors to his premises smashed open on the morning after the burglary. He told the court the burglary had an effect on he and his wife. “I was very conscious of security before but even more so now,” he added.
Mr Donovan has 42 previous convictions. On March 28 he committed a string of offences in Ennistymon and Lahinch that included the theft of two Jack Russell terriers.
Defence solicitor Tara Godfrey said her client apologises unreservedly to the victims of his crimes.
She said Mr Donovan had significant problems with drink and tablets in the early part of the year.
She said Mr Donovan had taken steps to address his problems and had cleaned up his act since March.
“I would ask the court to accept this is a man who has changed”, added Ms Godfrey.
Judge Durcan said the devastation Mr Donovan visited upon Wilson’s was akin to something you would see in war-torn Libya and Syria.
“He broke down doors and gates and smashed his way in the very worst John Wayne manner you’d see in the movies of the Wild West”, he added.
He imposed sentences totaling 14 months on Mr Donovan. Recognances were fixed in the event of an appeal.