Man was left with a fractured skull after attack in Castlebar
The defendant was convicted by a jury at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court.
A man has been found guilty of an assault that left another male with a fractured skull.
Levi Barrett, aged 29, of Glenisland, Castlebar, was found guilty by a jury at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court. He had denied a charge of assault causing harm to Jack O’Donnell outside Cox’s Bar on Tucker Street, Castlebar, in the early hours of December 24, 2023.
The 22-year old victim from Islandeady was knocked to the ground and sustained a fractured skull, temporary loss of hearing and blurred vision. The court heard an occasional ringing in his ear is the only lasting injury.
CCTV of the incident was played in court. It showed Levi Barrett striking Mr O’Donnell and then running away.
Mr O’Donnell said he “vaguely” remembered the incident. He believed that sometime between 1.30am and 2am he was outside the bar having a cigarette with his friend Patrick Graven. He saw Levi and Stephen Barrett walking towards him.
Stephen Barrett said to him ‘Howya Mr Superdry’ in a reference to the jacket he was wearing.
Mr O’Donnell said Levi Barrett had walked further ahead and he [O'Donnell] called him back. A “bit of a shuffle broke out” and the next thing he remembered was waking up on the ground with blood coming out of his ear.
Mr O’Donnell said he knew Levi Barrett but only knew Stephen Barrett, who is Levi's distant cousin, “to see”. He had “got the vibe” that Stephen Barrett was “looking for trouble".
The court heard Stephen Barrett moved to Australia shortly after the incident but has returned home several times since.
Barrister Brendan McDonagh, representing Levi Barrett, claimed his client was trying to be a peacemaker and acted in self-defence as he felt threatened by Mr O’Donnell.
Levi Barrett alleged that Mr O’Donnell was “towering over” him and he felt that something was going to happen. He claimed the victim was “lunging” at him before he struck out in self-defence.
“I was in fear of getting hit myself,” he said, adding that he was sorry for hurting Mr O’Donnell.
Levi Barrett said he plays football with Islandeady GAA club and knows Mr O’Donnell’s family. He did not want any trouble on the night. He ran away following the incident because he panicked.
“As a peacemaker you decked Jack O’Donnell, you left him unconscious with a fractured skull and you ran away,” replied State Prosecutor Patrick Reynolds. “You didn’t stop to see if he was injured. You ran away."
Mr Reynolds contended that there was no lunge and that Mr O’Donnell was punched twice by Levi Barrett.
The jury returned a unanimous verdict. The warehouse worker has no previous convictions.
“I believe this was probably out of character for the man,” remarked Judge Eoin Garavan after the verdict. “I don’t believe Mr Barrett will be before the court again."
The case was adjourned until March 11, 2026 for sentencing.
- Published as part of the Court Reporting Scheme.
