This article is from page 12 of the 2013-02-12 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 12 JPG
TWO Kilrush brothers who beat a man with a golf club and stabbed him in the buttocks in the West Clare town two years ago have received prison sentences.
Daniel and Martin O’Brien were jailed last week for what a Judge described as a “concentrated effort” to assault the man at Place De Plouzone, Kilrush, in March 2011.
Daniel O’Brien (24) punched the man and stabbed him in the buttocks with a sharp object. Martin O’Brien (31) struck the victim four or five times with a golf club.
Ennis Circuit Criminal Court heard on Friday that the brothers assaulted the man over an alleged debt to Daniel O’Brien.
Daniel, with an address at The Square, Kilrush, and Martin, with an address at the Bungalow, Wood Road, Kilrush, initially denied the charge of assault causing harm at Place De Plouzone, Kilrush on March 1 (2011).
However the court heard that after the victim gave evidence at their trial in Ennis last October, the brothers changed their pleas to guilty.
The court heard that the man declined to give a victim impact report, indicating that he was satisfied with the evidence he had given.
Counsel for Daniel O’Brien, Brian McInerney BL, told the court that his client had been a chronic heroin addict at the time of the offence.
He said Mr O’Brien has since kicked his heroin habit and removed himself from the circle of people he had previously associated with.
Mr McInerney said his client, who is currently serving a prison sentence, has remained drug free while incarcerated.
He asked the court to consider suspending a portion of his client’s sentence.
Counsel for Martin O’Brien, Mark Nicholas, said his client had also been a drug user.
He said Mr O’Brien has since stablised his lifestyle.
Judge Gerard Keyes noted that Daniel has 23 previous convictions while Martin has 35 previous convictions.
He said the use of the golf club and sharp object showed the “viciousness” of the assault.
He said the man was “in essence beaten into submission.”
Judge Keyes added, “Neither of the two of you have shown remorse or offered an apology for your outra- geous behaviour.”
He said that on the evidence of Daniel O’Brien’s previous convictions, he had “displayed a violent temperament from an early age.”
Judge Keyes said Martin O’Brien had a propensity to violence.
He said that despite initially acting as peacemaker, Martin O’Brien turned violent and “viciously assaulted” the victim with a golf club.
Judge Keyes said he was satisfied the man had been seriously tramautised by the incident.
He sentenced Daniel O’Brien to three years in prison, suspending the final 14 months.
Judge Keyes sentenced Martin O’Brien to three years in prison, suspending the final 18 months.
Both men were also ordered to refrain from communicating with the victim.