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Ennis Man Jailed For “Unprovoked And Terrible Assault” On Off-duty Garda

An Ennis man has been jailed for what's described an "unprovoked and terrible assault" on an off-duty Garda.

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At Ennis District Court Judge Patrick Durcan ignored pleas from a parish priest in the case of 36 year-old Shane O'Brien of Ballybeg, Ennis and sentenced him to nine months in prison.

Ennis District Court heard that Shane O’Brien assaulted Garda Brennan from behind and knocked him onto the ground near the Cloister Restaraunt in Ennis and continued to punch and kick the Garda into the head and body.

The judge said an aggravating factor in the case was Mr O’Brien’s ire for the Gardai and knowledge that he knew Garda Brennan was a member of the force when assaulting him.

He also pleaded guilty to a lesser assault charge against another woman during the same incident.

In evidence from the witness box, Parish Priest Fr Tom Hogan made a mercy plea that a custodial sentence would not be handed down as the 36-year-old electrician had never been in trouble before.

He said "if you were to bring Shane for a cup of tea, you will see that he is a good guy – the alcohol is the problem".

However, Judge Patrick Durcan said the Ennis man "engaged in very serious criminal activity" and jailed Shane O’Brien for nine months for the assault on Garda Brennan and two months for the assault on Ms O’Regan with both sentences to run concurrently.

He was freed on bail pending an the appeal against severity at the circuit court.

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