North Longford man jailed for assaulting driver who 'scratched' against friend's car

A North Longford man has been jailed for intervening when a driver 'scratched' against another car and pursuing and then assaulting the motorist.

Gerard Sammon (49) of Bunlahy, Longford pleaded guilty at Longford District Court to assault causing harm.

Sergeant Mark Mahon, for the State said this was an incident that took place on Main Street, Granard on October 30, 2024.

"A verbal altercation took place between the injured party and the defendant at about 4.45pm.

"The argument surrounded a traffic collision that had occurred involving the injured party.

"The defendant approached him and punched him once in the jaw and following this the defendant punched the injured party a second time knocking him back onto the ground.

"The injured party attended Cavan hospital and he sustained bruising to the left side of his face."

Sgt Mahon said an X-ray was carried out on the victim and the injured party was reported to have suffered a mild head injury and soft tissue damage.

Sgt Mahon said the defendant had six previous convictions.

The court heard Mr Salmon is currently serving a prison sentence of two years and three months, which he received at Longford Circuit Court for assault and the 'use of a weapon' and he is due to be released on March 24, 2027.

Solicitor Diarmuid Quinn, defending, handed in a probation report which was completed prior to his Longford Circuit Court sentencing and he submitted some medical letters which he said referred to his mental health.

"Mr Sammon obviously had other matters to be dealt with in the circuit court and as outlined he did receive a three year, nine month sentence with the final 18 months suspended.

"The 18-months that are suspended are under strict conditions that he continue to engage with probation services, to comply with Mr Quinn said his client attended Cuan Mhuire residential addiction treatment centre where he completed a 12 week programme and he engaged with anger management.

"He has totally turned his life around and obviously he has been in custody for a considerable period already and whilst in prison he has become enhanced and he is working in the kitchen."

Mr Quinn, who asked Judge Bernadette Owens not to impose a consecutive sentence, said his client had been walking in Granard when he saw someone pulling out of a space and it scratched the other car.

"Mr Sammon believed that that car was trying to drive away without leaving their details and the other lady he knew was in the shop doing her shopping.

"That is how the confrontation started, he knows he shouldn't have got involved, that's the bottom line."

Judge Bernadette Owens noted the early guilty plea and she imposed the custodial sentence to run concurrently to the sentence being served.

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