A NEWPORT man who was struck over the head with a piece of timber because of an argument over a bag of chips now takes up to nine tablets a day to control ongoing bouts of dizziness and severe headaches which are as a result of the attack.
Martin Donnellan (24) was found unconscious on the footpath at Quay Hill, Westport on June 7, 2009 after he was struck over the head by John Gallagher of 21 Deerpark East, Newport Road, Westport, using a piece of 3x2 timber. As a result of the attack, Mr Donnellan suffers from severe dizziness and headaches which on occasions leaves him crawled up on his heads and knees with the pain.
Last week’s sitting of Castlebar Circuit Court heard that Mr Donnellan had been offered surgery to counteract the dizziness but it would result in the loss of hearing in one of his ears. Mr Donnellan, a construction worker by trade, told the court that he is ‘nothing like the man I used to be’ and because of the medication he has been advised not to go on heights or drive.
“I spend 70 per cent of my time on heights but I have been advised it is not the best place to be. I feel good through the day but in the morning it can be very difficult and sometimes I cannot get out of bed. I try, I have to work but it is very hard. I work every day I can but when I can’t, I can’t. I try every day that is all I can do.
“What gets me the most is that it is long lasting. I want it over so much. This court will be over today but I will still be left with this injuries and not know if they will stay or finish,” he told the court.
Mr Donnellan added that his daughter was nine months old at the time of the assault and because of the severe bouts of dizziness he is not capable of looking after her.
Garda Martin Connelly told the court that Mr Donnellan was found unconscious on a pathway shortly after 4am and had blood on his head and ear area. A piece of 3X2 wood was found a few feet away.
Earlier in the night, Mr Gallagher had left a bag of chips outside the Blue Thunder Take-away and Mr Donnellan, who was intoxicated, removed them. The two men had words and Mr Donnellan threw him some money to the affect he was paying for the chips before walking off.
CCTV showed the defendant walking behind Mr Donnellan up Quay Hill but did not capture the incident. Mr Gallagher later admitted the offence and told gardaí he was infuriated when his chips were taken. Evidence was also heard how on March 17, 2010, Mr Gallagher was found in possession of a knife while intoxicated on Bridge Street, Westport.
The court heard that Mr Gallagher had write a letter to Mr Donnellan apologising but he said this letter was ‘too little too late’.
Mr Gallagher took the stand and said he felt awful for everything that happened and he had no idea Mr Donnellan was so bad until hearing him speak in court.
“I messed up my own life in court and I messed up his through drink and that shouldn’t happen. I can’t say how sorry I am, I was completely in the wrong and had no right to do anything like that,” he said.
The court heard that Mr Gallagher came from an ‘extremely dysfunctional family’ and had lived at 34 different address by the time he was 18 years. He had been abusing alcohol since he was 13 and on one occasion nearly died from alcohol poisoning.
His counsel said that his mother was an alcoholic and did not look after Mr Gallagher or his three younger siblings in a proper manner and let them do what they liked. She added that his parents continually argued and used their children as ‘an instrument of the dispute’.
The court heard Mr Gallagher was in and out of foster care and when he would be settling, his mother would encourage him to leave. Judge Tony Hunt was asked to take all these circumstances into account before sentencing. He adjourned sentencing until February 10.
