Bench warrant issued for man who attacked tourists

A BENCH warrant has been issued for a man who was jailed for three years for attacking two tourists in Westport in 2013.
Stephen Collins, a former Westport resident who now resides in Dublin, was jailed for three years in July 2013 for his part in assaulting two tourists in Westport on January 6, 2013.  
His brothers, Tom Collins and Joseph Collins, were also sentenced for their part in the assault.
The final 18 months of Mr Stephen Collins’ sentence was suspended for five years on the condition he keeps the peace for five years and stays out of Mayo for five years. He was also placed under the care of the probation service for two years post release.
He was released on June 2, 2014 and his probation officer, Thomas Groome told Judge Rory McCabe that he has failed to meet with him since May 2015 and has missed seven or eight appointments. He said he spoke to him on the phone and had delivered a letter to his address only to be advised he no longer resides there. On hearing the evidence, Judge MacCabe issued the bench warrant.
The attack on the tourists was described as an ‘appalling state of affairs’ by Judge Keenan Johnson when sentencing the Collins brothers.Paul Brannigan and his girlfriend Róisín McGurgan, were nearing the Westport Plaza Hotel in the town where they were staying when they were approached by Joseph Collins who had a cigarette in his mouth.
He approached the couple asking Mr Brannigan if he had a cigarette, and after Mr Brannigan asked Joseph why he wanted one as he ‘already had one’, the three brothers attacked Mr Brannigan.
He was struck with a bottle to the head while Ms McGurgan was punched by Joseph Collins, who also kicked her when she was on the ground.