This article is from page 16 of the 2011-05-31 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 16 JPG
AN ENNISTYMON man who launched an unprovoked attack on a Polish national in Lahinch was yesterday remanded in custody, after a court heard he has not paid all of the compensation as directed by a court.
In February of last year, a threeyear suspended jail term was imposed on Christopher Collins (19), after he pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Cezary Leszczynski in Lahinch on April 28, 2009.
The victim was knocked unconscious in an unprovoked attack as he withdrew cash from a pass machine.
Six of his teeth were broken in the assault, his nose was broken in three places, while his left cheekbone was also fractured.
At Ennis Circuit Court, the sentencing judge Seán Ó Donnabháin said he had “rarely seen so much physical damage done to an unfortunate victim as was done in this case.”
In suspending the sentence, the judge ordered Collins, of Kilcornan, Ennistymon, to pay € 20 a week to cover Leszczynski’s dental costs, which cost € 3,000. The case was subsequently adjourned on a number of occasions and the compensation issue was monitored. At Ennis Circuit Court yesterday, Counsel for the State, Stephen Coughlan, said that to-date, € 1,300 of the total of € 2,655 should have been paid. However, “only a sum of € 345 has been paid,” said Mr Coughlan.
“At the moment he is in default to the tune of € 955,” he added.
Defence Counsel Pat Whyms, BL, said, “I am not really in a position to contradict any of that. He is in default.”
Mr Coughlan said, “He has had ample opportunity to make the payments.” He told the court that 11 payments – ranging from € 20 to € 80 – have been made in total.
Two payments were made in June 2010; one in October 2010; three in November and one in December. Two payments were also made in February and another two in March of this year.
Mr Whyms told the court: “It’s a question of the payments being made but not being paid every week.”
Judge Carroll Moran noted that it was recommended by the judge who heard the facts in the case that the three-year sentence had been suspended on condition that the compensation be paid. He said he would have to think about it and adjourned the case until Thursday of this week. “He is to stay in custody until then,” said the judge.