Man committed vicious assault in 'moment of jealous rage'
The defendant pleaded guilty at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court.
A Ballina man viciously attacked another man in a local pub “in a moment of jealous rage”.
Dale Hopkins, aged 28, of St Patrick’s Estate, Ballina, pleaded guilty at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court to a charge of assault causing harm.
The injured party Dean McDermott of Ballyfermot Road, Ballyfermot, Dublin, was socialising in Ballina on May 21, 2023, having completed a half-marathon with a friend earlier that day.
State prosecutor Pat Reynolds told the court that Mr McDermott was in Tarbh 47 and CCTV showed him on the dancefloor in the smoking area of the pub. Mr McDermott became “romantically involved” with a girl who was in an “on/off relationship” with the accused, the court was told.
Mr McDermott returned to his friend and the female returned to her group of friends. The CCTV then showed Hopkins entering the area. He spoke to the girl first before approaching the injured party and striking him in the head two to three times before security staff intervened.
Mr McDermott reported the matter to Gardaí when he returned to Dublin and was later treated for facial fractures that required two plates in his cheekbones and the arch of his eye.
Hopkins has no previous convictions and the father-of-two works as an assistant manager in Mr Price.
Barrister Mark Ryan said his client is deeply remorseful and read a letter of apology in court.
“I understand what I did was wrong and I take full responsibility for the pain and suffering I caused you,” said Hopkins in the letter, adding that he remains “haunted” by his actions that night.
The accused has not touched alcohol since the incident and no longer socialises in Ballina, the court was told. A sum of €2,000 in compensation was available in court for the injured party.
Judge Eoin Garavan said Hopkins claimed to have felt “disrespected” before attacking Mr McDermott, noting that the accused was “dangerous that night” and became “a frightening menace on the disco floor".
Describing the assault as “savage unprovoked, and unjustified", Judge Garavan said it was caused by "a moment of jealous rage" but he believed Hopkins was genuinely remorseful.
“A custodial sentence is probably unnecessary in this case,” said the judge before imposing a three-year suspended jail term.
