This article is from page 19 of the 2006-07-10 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 19 JPG
A MAN who assaulted his ex-wife’s partner has been jailed for six months.
Michael McNamara (52), of Ballycoree, Gort Road, Ennis, assaulted Wayne King, outside the Auburn Lodge Hotel, Ennis, on September 11, 2005.
He was also convicted of a charge of criminal damage, for which he received a 10month jail sentence, suspended on condition that he pay compensation.
Wayne King, of Charleville, Cork, told the court he lives with the accused’s former wife, Susan. He said he and Susan were to meet the accused outside the Auburn Lodge on September 11.
Mr King said Susan got out of his car and the accused sat in beside him.
“He said, “You f***ing c***. I’ll kill you,” and hit me a slap into the face. He continued to strike me on my head. . . I was covered in blood,” said Mr King in court.
He said the accused then got a hurley and struck the front of his car with it, before striking the wing mirror with his fist. The total damage to the car was €1,120. Mr King said he suffered a broken nose in the assault.
The accused’s solicitor, Tara Godfrey, said while her client was pleading guilty to the assault charge, he was denying the criminal damage charge.
“My client will say you hit him into the face. He then snapped and hit you a couple of slaps,” she said. Mr King denied hitting the accused.
Mr McNamara told the court that Mr King was having a good “skit” at him and he then sat into the car beside him.
“He lashed out at me inside the car and I lashed out at him,” said the accused.
“I didn’t touch the car with the hurley. I got the hurley to protect myself,” he added.
Ms Godfrey said her client acted “completely out of character” on the date in question and had been extremely upset at his marriage breakdown.
Judge Joseph Mangan convicted the accused of two charges and jailed him for six months. He fixed recognisances in the event of an appeal.