A TEENAGER from Mayfield in Cork city travelled to Schull and carried out an unprovoked assault on a man during Calves Week, just four days after his 18th birthday.

Jamie Aloo of 17 Newton Place, Newton Heights, Mayfield, Cork city, pleaded guilty at Bantry District Court to assaulting Paddy Kelly (26) at 2.20am on August 11th 2024.

The accused was was charged with a Section 3 assault causing harm because Paddy Kelly broke his wrist after he sustained a punch and fell to the ground.

Sgt Tom Mulcahy, said Sgt Leonard and Gda O’Shea were on duty that night and broke up the incident with the help of a Russian Good Samaritan who came to Mr Kelly’s aid.

After viewing CCTV recordings of what was happening at the pier during Caves Week, Sgt Mulcahy said an associate of Jamie Aloo was seen bumping into Paddy Kelly.

The sergeant said the footage then showed Jamie Aloo throwing the first punch and he said: ‘Paddy Kelly had no choice but to defend himself.’

Judge Joanne Carroll noted that the accused had ‘the privilege of going to Schull for a summer break’ and she asked his barrister, Carmel Goggin BL: ‘How do you explain that he’d punch a man without any provocation?’

The barrister said her client had just turned 18 and had never consumed alcohol before. She said that, and being away from home, may have contributed to the incident. Ms Goggin said her client had been drinking and was on his way to the camp site and fully admitted his guilt in throwing the first punch.

‘He knows he was wrong. And he has €1,000 in compensation in cash in court to show his remorse for his behaviour on the night,’ she added.

Judge Carroll noted that Paddy Kelly was a student doing his masters with a broken wrist and, in reference to his victim impact statement, she said: ‘When he goes out now he is looking over his shoulder because he thinks he is going to meet another Jamie Aloo.’

After hearing the evidence, the fact that the accused comes from a good home, and has no previous convictions, Judge Carroll said she would consider reducing the charge to the less serious charge of common assault.

The judge said the reduced sentence was conditional on the accused co-operating with the probation service in the production of a report for the April 23rd court sitting, the handing over of the €1,000 that the accused had voluntarily brought to court for the injured party, and the production of a letter of apology.

Judge Carroll requested a probation report and the handing over of the compensation as ‘a small demonstration of an apology.’

The case has been adjourned to the April 23rd sitting of Bantry District Court.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.