Tullow couple given suspended sentences after High Court overturns initial decision – News

The initial verdict in the CO CARLOW assault case, which was appealed to the Supreme Court on leniency grounds, was overturned and the defendants were given an 18-month suspended prison sentence.

Cian Byrne, 21, and Shane Corcoran, 22, of Ballyhackett, Tullow, The Links, Rathoe Road, Tullow, pleaded guilty to assaulting a car park in New Road, Tullow, at Carlow Circuit Court in September 2021 last year.

The circuit court heard that the injured party was a friend of the defendants and that the attack caused dental injuries and cost around €15,000 to repair.

Summing up the case in the district court in December 2023, Judge Eugene O’Kelly said the victim’s car was burglarized and a brawl broke out between a group of friends, resulting in the injured party being attacked by Mr Byrne and Mr. Corcoran.

The judge noted that gardaí described it as “a prank gone wrong” and that their actions “had a significant impact on a large group of people”, resulting in “groups of friends being torn apart”. He also noted that the injured man could no longer socialize in his hometown and that he was “an 18-year-old kid outnumbered by farmers.”

To Judge O’Kelly, Mr Byrne and Mr Corcoran, Probation Law, There is no record of any convictions. It was also decided that they should pay compensation of 20,000 Euros.

State attorney Brendan O’Flaherty later appealed that sentence to the Supreme Court on leniency grounds.

The matter came before three judges at the Supreme Court on October 14. Judge Isobel Kennedy, Judge Pat McCarthy and Judge Tara Burns said they decided to overturn the circuit court’s sentence while the charge against Mr. Byrne and Mr. Corcoran was proven. In an oral judgment, Judge McCarthy sentenced Mr Byrne and Mr Corcoran to 18 months’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months.