Longford man left victim with broken collarbone after assaulting man outside his front door

Alan Kelly (35) 8 Colmcille Terrace, Granard, Longford appeared at a sitting of Longford District Court today (Tuesday) charged with assaulting his victim, Ciaran O’Reilly, at 9 Trumra Road, Granard, Co Longford on July 27 2022.

The court heard how Mr Kelly arrived at Mr O’Reilly’s home at around 6pm where it is alleged the accused “called out” his victim to the front garden.

Sgt Mark Mahon, for the State, said it was at that juncture, Mr Kelly attempted to grab Mr O’Reilly from behind the garden wall. 

In an attempt to avoid a confrontation, Mr O’Reilly retreated before Mr Kelly re-entered the garden and “ran at” his victim, knocking him to the ground.

Judge Bernadette Owens was told that Mr O’Reilly, while on the ground, was “punched and kicked”, resulting in the victim sustaining a broken collarbone to his left shoulder.

The court heard Mr Kelly had six previous convictions to his name, the bulk of which related to hunting and hare coursing.

In defence, solicitor Frank Gearty described the episode as a “rather complicated case” and said the incident occurred as his client was walking by Mr O’Reilly’s house.

Mr Gearty said as he passed by, Mr Kelly came under verbal abuse, causing him to lose his cool and confront Mr O’Reilly.

“He has to go past the house where the victim’s family are,” he said.

“He was walking by and he was being slagged a lot and unfortunately he just lost it momentarily.”

Mr Gearty added his client was a father of four who suffered from depression and was in receipt of a blind pension owing to the loss of an eye having previously been accidentally shot in a separate incident some time ago with an air rifle.

He said the accused, while offering a “fulsome” apology, insisted there were certain extenuating factors at play. 

“He (Mr Kelly) does say the victim did a lot of slagging,” said Mr Gearty, in a submission Judge Owens said was in danger of diluting Mr Kelly’s guilty plea.

Judge Owens, in noting a victim impact statement which had been handed in, revealed how Mr O’Reilly had not attempted to “over exaggerate” the incident.

In adjourning the case, she said Mr Kelly could count himself fortunate the case was not being sent forward to the Circuit Criminal Court.

Judge Owens remanded Mr Kelly on continuing bail to a sitting of Longford District Court on July 4.