Pub assault came after long campaign of harassment
The case was heard before Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court.
A man who attacked another male in a pub had previously been convicted of harassing the injured party.
Stewart Boles, aged 54, of Knappagh, Westport, pleaded guilty at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court to assault.
Gda Conor O’Malley was on duty at Bridge Street, Westport on June 10, 2023 when the injured party. Cillian Ó Moráin, reported that he had been assaulted in The Jester bar. Mr Ó Moráin had gone to the pub to meet musician friends who were performing at a Bluegrass festival in the town. As he entered the bar with his wife, he stopped around halfway up the pub to speak to people he knew. His wife continued walking not realising her husband had stopped.
While speaking to friends, Mr Ó Moráin was punched to the back and side of the head by Boles. The blows caused him to fall forward, and the defendant muttered something as he passed.
On September 6, 2023, Boles attended Westport Garda Station with a pre-prepared statement. In 2016, he had received a suspended jail sentence for harassing the injured party and was not supposed to come within 500 metres of Mr Ó Moráin and his family at the time of the assault.
In a victim impact statement, which he read out in court, Mr Ó Moráin said Boles assaulted him from behind in the crowded pub.
“The effect the assault has had on me is mostly due to the context in which it occurred. Mr Boles has been an almost constant and unwelcome intrusion in the lives of myself, my wife, and our children since 2011.
“In 2015, he was convicted on two counts of harassment against myself and my wife and in 2016 he was given suspended sentences on both counts and an order was attached to the conviction under Section 10/3 of the Non-Fatal Offences against a Person Act. That order states that Mr Boles was not to communicate in any way with us or our children and is not to approach within 500m of us and our children for a duration of 10 years from sentencing,” said Mr Ó Moráin.
He said his wife affected not to notice Boles when he saw her close to the stage in the bar and when the defendant failed to get a reaction from her “he vented his anger physically upon me".
“I have replayed that assault repeatedly and I continue to do so because I know that it could so easily have been my wife who was assaulted instead of me while I was oblivious to her plight. I find this distressing,” said Mr Ó Moráin.
He said he suffered no lasting physical damage, but the assault has led to a loss of "peace of mind". Mr Ó Moráin said in the immediate aftermath of the attack, Boles would abuse him, his wife, and their children in the street. He said the fact that Boles “vehemently believes that we are the cause of his problems is alarming". Mr Ó Moráin said the threat of bail conditions in this case prompted the behaviour to halt.
“That relief has been enormous,” he stated.
The victim told the court that he and his family “simply want to be left alone".
Judge Eoin Garavan questioned why Boles had a “fixation on Mr Ó Moráin and his family".
“What’s wrong with him?” the judge asked.
The court heard Boles is a father-of-two who runs his own business.
The judge noted that Boles’ statement to Gardaí was “somewhat bizarre” and “peculiar” and contained elements of victim blaming. He said Boles had a privileged upbringing and attended Blackrock College and Trinity College.
Judge Garavan said it was “beyond belief” that a 54-year-old man would behave in this way.
Imposing a three-month suspended prison sentence, the judge directed that Boles come under the auspices of the Probation Service and undertake the MOVE (Men Overcoming Violent Emotions) programme and any additional counselling recommended.
“He needs a bit of help to curtail his anger,” Judge Garavan commented.
- Published in conjunction with the Courts Reporting Scheme.
