Violent car valet broke woman's jaw before he punched and kicked her friend in unprovoked attack, court hears
On Tuesday, at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Keenan Johnson revoked McDonagh's bail pending his sentence hearing in March
A violent car valet broke a woman's jaw before punching and kicking her friend when she intervened in a "nasty", traumatic and unprovoked assault, a court has heard.
Hugh McDonagh, 25, The Brosna, Friar's Mill Road, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to his two victims in a drink-fuelled incident on March 7, 2022.
On Tuesday, at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Keenan Johnson revoked McDonagh's bail pending his sentence hearing in March.
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He noted the evidence outlined by Garda Sergeant Cliff Harding that the incident happened at a house in Mullingar when the accused had been "highly intoxicated" and had taken other, presumably illegal substances.
The court heard how McDonagh punched one woman and fractured her jaw; the second woman tried to come to her aid, but the accused "punched her in the face three times and kicked her three times on the ground".
The first victim was hospitalised for three days for what the judge described as "nasty" injuries and suffered a loss of work.
The second woman also suffered a traumatic injury and had severe pain over the bridge of her nose.
Judge Johnson noted the aggravating factors: the level of injuries caused, the assault was unprovoked and said McDonagh was "out of control that evening".
He had continued offending and had a case in the District Court stemming from an assault in January, which the judge regarded as "hugely aggravating".
He highlighted that the accused, a married father of two, had anger management problems and a "violent propensity".
He noted McDonagh's guilty plea, that he had apologised to the victims, and that relations had been restored between them.
The court heard he had got employment and suffered from bereavement from the unexpected death of his father in September 2021. However, Judge Keenan said that was "no excuse for his behaviour".
He said the attack on the two ladies merited a four-and-a-half-year sentence and four-year headline sentences, which could be reduced by 18 months due to the mitigation.
However, he adjourned finalising the case and mandated a probation report on McDonagh to be furnished at his sentence hearing.
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