Man partially paralysed in Midlands attack pays compensation

A man who was partially paralyzed in an attack has paid 5,000 euros in compensation to a man he attacked in 2022.

James Rickard (23), of Charlotte Rooms, Tullow Street, Carlow, was absent from Portlaoise District Court when €4,000 was handed over to the victim of an assault in Main Street, Portlaoise, on 20 August 2022. The accused was charged with assault occasioning bodily harm in Main Street on the date in question.

Brian Mallon BL said his client was undergoing rehabilitation at Peamount Hospital following a serious attack which left him “paralysed on one side”. He said the defendant had already handed over €1,000 to the victim of the 2022 attack.

Judge Andrew Cody noted that the victim had been “hit on the head with a beer glass” and that the case was set for the payment of €4,000, the remainder of the €5,000 compensation. He noted that the defendant had entered a guilty plea and that the money had been handed over to the victim.

Garda Sergeant JJ ​​Kirby said a victim impact statement had been presented to the court but the injured party did not want it read out loud.

After the 4,000 euros had been handed over, Judge Cody convicted the defendant of assault and imposed a fine of 500 euros.