Castlebar man gets six years for blinding his cousin

Castlebar man gets six years for blinding his cousin


There was a heavy Garda presence in Castlebar Courthouse on Wednesday last as Simon McDonagh of 43, Cois Abhainn, Castlebar  was sentenced to nine years, the last three of which were suspended, for stricking his cousin Patrick McDonagh with a Bulmers bottle.
The blow resulted in the victim losing almost all of his vision in his left eye. Patrick McDonagh required 199 stitches to the wound and is also left with permanent scarring.
In excess of twenty members of Simon McDonagh’s immediate family were in the court while over ten of Patrick McDonagh’s close family had travelled from Waterford to hear the sentencing under Judge Tony Hunt at Castlebar Circuit Court.
The court had previously heard that on September 26, 2009 members of both families had been out drinking with each other whilst watching a Bernard Dunne fight in Nelly’s Bar on Rush Street, Castlebar when, at approximately 1am the following morning, a dispute arose over a court case in Kerry. Some blows were exchanged and the victim and the defendant became embroiled in a wrestle on the ground. As Patrick McDonagh was walking away from it, Simon McDonagh hit him in the face with a Bulmers bottle.
Simon McDonagh took the stand last Wednesday to apologise for his actions.
“I want to apologise to my cousin for what I done and if I could turn back time, I would. I take full responsibility,” he said.
Barrister for McDonagh, Niamh Stewart told the court that her client had mended his ways whilst he was remanded in custody in Castlerea for the last five months. She said he had lost seven stone in that time and was regularly attending Alcoholics Anonymous. She added that her client wished a condition to be imposed on him for any suspended period of the sentence that, upon release, he would be breaking the bond of the release if seen drinking or drunk in public.
She added that McDonagh, aged 30, has five children aged between eight years and eight months.
Judge Tony Hunt said he was aware of the mitigating circumstances such as McDonagh’s previous record which wasn’t consistent with this type of offence, the early plea of guilty and the burden that would be left on his wife to care for their children, two of whom have special needs.
However, he added that the victim is going to be punished for life for the ‘grievous, almost grotesque injuries’ inflicted. Judge Hunt handed down a nine year sentence for assault causing harm, suspending the final three for a period of ten years for which Simon McDonagh has to sign a bond to keep the peace for ten years. He also imposed conditions on the suspension that McDonagh have no contact with the victim or his immediate family and undergo 12 months post-release supervision.