AN 18-year-old man who carried out a late-night unprovoked assault on a student in Schull is considered to be at low risk of reoffending, according to a probation officer’s report.

The report was prepared following a hearing of the State’s case against Jamie Aloo, of 17 Newton Place, Newton Heights, Mayfield, Cork city, at Bantry District Court last February.

At the recent court sitting, Judge Joanne Carroll noted that the accused had carried out the assault at 2.20am on the morning of August 11th 2024, four days after his 18th birthday, while attending Calves Week in Schull.

She noted that the assault was completely unprovoked and that the 26-year-old injured party fell to the ground, resulting in a fracture to his wrist.

In addition to the physical injury, a victim impact statement indicated that the injured party has been ‘hyper vigilant’ since the incident.

Barrister Carmel Goggin pointed out that the accused has no previous convictions and had, out of money earned from part-time work, handed over €1,000 in compensation to the victim.

The court was also told that the accused has no history of any substance abuse, and has not come to garda attention since the 2024 incident.

Jamie Aloo wrote a letter of apology to the injured man, and he apologised in person when both were in court last February.

The barrister said her client is doing a one-year carpentry course and hopes to do a civil engineering course and work abroad.

However, a conviction would prevent him being granted a work visa to the US.

Judge Carroll made one further adjournment in the case to September 10th, to give the accused time to complete a drink awareness course, and a gambling awareness course, so he could understand the risks that both present.

If both are completed by September 10th, the judge indicated that the accused would be given an opportunity to do 60 hours of voluntary work and avoid a conviction.

‘I have no doubt that the accused is a decent young man and comes from a very supportive family,’ said the judge, ‘but he needs to understand that alcohol does him no good whatsoever. It is up to him to take the present that is being offered to him by the court.’

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.