Community service for Longford man who punched victim in head during vicious assault

A county Longford man who viciously assaulted another man has been directed by a judge to complete 240 hours of community service in lieu of two years imprisonment for a serious and assault.

Matthew Cox (28) of Cloncallow, Ballymahon pleaded guilty at Longford Circuit Court to assault causing harm on the grounds of St Mel’s Cathedral in Longford town on October 23, 2023.

At an earlier hearing in January of this year, Judge Kenneth Connolly directed the 28 year-old, who showed signs of remorse to pay €5,000 compensation to the victim and he requested a probation report and a community service report.

Gardaí were alerted shortly after 1.30am that a serious assault had been reported after Midoc contacted them after a 26 year-old man walked into their office with serious head and facial injuries.

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Officers attended Midoc, however, when they arrived the injured party had already been taken by ambulance to Mullingar General Hospital by ambulance.

The Gardaí went to the grounds of St Mel’s Cathedral, and they noticed some blood and the area was cordoned off and preserved.

The complainant provided a written statement in hospital and Mr Cox was quickly identified as a suspect.

The court heard the defendant, through his solicitor Frank Gearty made contact with Garda Inspector Declan McGlynn and informed him he wished to cooperate.

Gardaí drove to Mr Cox’s apartment in Ballymahon at 5pm the day after the incident and they seized clothing, footwear, a hat and bedsheets with blood on them as evidence and Mr Cox handed officers a voluntary written statement and he was arrested.

The defendant's partner told Gardaí she remembered Mr Cox arriving home at around 2.30am and she noticed there was blood on his hands and on his cheekbone.

Mr Cox, who was born in Florida, USA and moved to Ireland when he was eight, also admitted to officers he had taken the victim’s phone and he described his recollection as being ‘hazy’.

The victim, who said he saw one or several people outside the Cathedral and the next thing he remembered was waking up on the ground about two hours later, had no memory of the incident and there were no witnesses or CCTV footage.

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Mr Cox told Gardaí he consumed, “maybe 12 bottles, six or seven pints” and he could recall punching the victim in the head and body and he then “put him in the recovery position".

Garda Fleming said after Mr Cox viewed photographs of the injuries and he was charged he asked Gardaí to pass on an apology to the victim and showed signs of 'remorse, shock and horror'.

Dr Richard Lynch examined the victim who suffered a large wound and laceration on the back of his head, his nasal septa deviated to the right side and he had bruising all over his face.

Last January, the victim was said to be still suffering from constant pressure behind his nose, a painful nose when touched and frequent nose bleeds and he suffered with severe headaches for one month after the assault.

The victim declined to make a victim impact statement or attend court.

Mr Cox, who entered an early guilty plea and who cooperated with Gardaí had no previous convictions.

The defendant, who earlier this year was working remotely for British Telecom, previously worked as a lifeguard at Center Parcs.

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Judge Connolly had requested a probation and community service report earlier this year and he was informed last Tuesday they were positive and the defendant was deemed to have a low risk of reoffending.

"It was a very serious matter for the victim in this case but it does seem to be entirely out of character."

Judge Connolly noted that 'considerable compensation' of €5,000 had been paid to the victim and he directed  the defendant to complete  “240 hours community service in lieu of two years imprisonment" to be completed by October 28, 2026.

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