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Sunday World
29-05-2025
- Sunday World
Farmer who left man with broken eye-socket in pub attack avoids jail
Farmer Parke has avoided going to jail after he paid his victim €8,000 A Co Donegal man who attacked another man and left him with a broken eye-socket after a one-punch attack in a bar has avoided going to jail after he paid his victim €8,000. Father-of-four John Parke, 42, appeared before Letterkenny Circuit Court where he was charged with a Section 3 assault on Gary Gibson. Farmer Parke admitted the attack and previously offered his victim a token of his remorse of €1,000 which Judge John Aylmer said "borders on an insult." The accused man returned to court where he increased his offer of remorse to his victim to €8,000. The court had heard Mr Gibson and Parke had been drinking at the Diamond Bar in Raphoe at approximately 11.30pm on August 24th, 2019 when the incident occurred. John Parke News in 90 Seconds - May 29th Prosecutor Ms Fiona Crawford said Mr Gibson had been in the bar when Parke arrived and said to Mr Gibson 'get the f**k out of the bar.' Mr Gibson then turned to Parke and told him he was finishing his half pint of alcohol when Parke suddenly struck his victim with a closed fist to the face. Mr Gibson was cleaned up and taken to Letterkenny University Hospital before being transferred to Sligo Hospital and then on to Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry for treatment. The court heard that Mr Gibson's right eye socket was displaced by 5 millimetres, that he was off work for three weeks, had headaches for six weeks after the incident and that he still has a 'constant drooping' in his eye. He said he was thankful to the doctors at Sligo Hospital who managed to save the sight in his right eye. Garda William Powell, the investigating member, said there had been no CCTV in the bar and nobody present was willing to make a statement. A victim impact statement on behalf of the victim said he was still afraid when he went out socially and was nervous in case he met Parke and that he always had his wife 'on standby' to collect him as he is afraid to walk home. Parke made a voluntary cautioned memo of interview to Gardai on October 2nd, 2019 in which he admitted to meeting Gary Gibson in the bar and saying to him 'what's wrong with you?' Parke said there was not a lot said between the pair but there was some 'pushing and shoving' but that he left and met his wife before going home. When the allegation that he punched Mr Gibson was put to him by Gardai, Parke replied 'Bullshit, that's a load of crap, I did not hit him.' The accused also claimed he could not have punched Mr Gibson as he had cut his hand with a blade a short time earlier and could not make a fist. However, he later entered a guilty plea to assaulting Mr Gibson. The court was told that Parke had two historic previous convictions for criminal damage going back to 2004 but none for assault of any nature. Barrister for Parke, Mr Ciaran Elders, BL, said his client was an active member of the local community and had been involved in training underage sports teams, in various charity events and he knew that he should have walked away on the night in question rather than becoming involved. He said a probation report into Parke said there had been a slight conflict and that a drink may have spilled onto his trousers and there had been a verbal spat with Mr Gibson but said he had no recollection of punching him. The probation service also said he was at a low risk of reoffending and that he was suitable for community service and is also very remorseful for what had happened. Mr Elders added that Parke was a man with a virtually unblemished record and that this incident was totally out of character for him and that there had been no further conflict between the accused and the victim. He said he had the sum of €1,000 in court by ways of compensation to his victim. Judge John Aylmer said that this was clearly a very serious assault given the circumstances adding Mr Gibson suffered a very nasty fracture to his cheekbone as he reflected on the victim's injuries. He said he placed the incident 'very much in the mid range' and one which merited a prison sentence of three years before mitigation. He added that he entered a plea at the last moment but this did not entitle him to one third off his sentence but credit has to be given for it. Judge Aylmer said he recognised the fact that Parke was of limited means but that the offer of €1,000 'is bordering on an insult to Mr Gibson.' Barrister Mr Elders suggested if he had more time but the Judge replied that he 'has had an awful lot of time' but said he was still in denial at giving Mr Gibson such a firm blow that he would cause such injuries. 'He has a long way to go to avoid a prison sentence,' added the Judge. Mr Elders asked if the court had any idea of a figure which it would be satisfied with, to which Judge Aylmer replied 'No. He will have to arrive at it himself. It's not a cattle mart.' A revised offer of €8,000 was made in court which the accused man's barrister said was "a huge amount of money for him to raise." Mr Elders added that he did not think there was a huge benefit to society by incarcerating Parke saying he was a functioning member of his community and broader society as a whole. Passing final sentence, Judge John Aylmer said Parke caused a very serious injury to his victim and he placed the assault at the mid range of such incidents meriting a sentence of three years before mitigation. Judge Aylmer referred to the probation service report which said Parke was deemed a low risk of reoffending, the lack of any major previous convictions as well as a letter from Parke's partner. He said it was clear that incarceration would place an extreme burden on the accused man's family and especially his child with special needs for whom Parke cares for. The Judge added that the increase from €1,000 to €8,000 for Mr Gibson was a more genuine token of remorse and having regard to his otherwise good character, he proposed to deal with the sentence by way of a non-custodial sentence. He ordered Parke to do 240 hours community service in lieu of two years in prison on the basis that the money is paid over to Mr Gibson, not as compensation as he may have a future claim for compensation, but as a token of his remorse.
Irish Daily Mirror
29-05-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Farmer who broke man's eye socket avoids jail after 'token of remorse'
A Co Donegal man who attacked another man and left him with a broken eye-socket after a one-punch attack in a bar has avoided going to jail after he paid his victim €8,000. Father-of-four John Parke, 42, appeared before Letterkenny Circuit Court where he was charged with a Section 3 assault on Gary Gibson. Farmer Parke admitted the attack and previously offered his victim a token of his remorse of €1,000 which Judge John Aylmer said "borders on an insult." The accused man returned to court where he increased his offer of remorse to his victim to €8,000. The court had heard Mr Gibson and Parke had been drinking at the Diamond Bar in Raphoe at approximately 11.30pm on August 24, 2019 when the incident occurred. Prosecutor Ms Fiona Crawford said Mr Gibson had been in the bar when Parke arrived and said to Mr Gibson 'get the f**k out of the bar.' Mr Gibson then turned to Parke and told him he was finishing his half pint of alcohol when Parke suddenly struck his victim with a closed fist to the face. Mr Gibson was cleaned up and taken to Letterkenny University Hospital before being transferred to Sligo Hospital and then on to Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry for treatment. The court heard that Mr Gibson's right eye socket was displaced by five millimetres, that he was off work for three weeks, had headaches for six weeks after the incident and that he still has a 'constant drooping' in his eye. He said he was thankful to the doctors at Sligo Hospital who managed to save the sight in his right eye. Garda William Powell, the investigating member, said there had been no CCTV in the bar and nobody present was willing to make a statement. A victim impact statement on behalf of the victim said he was still afraid when he went out socially and was nervous in case he met Parke and that he always had his wife 'on standby' to collect him as he is afraid to walk home. Parke made a voluntary cautioned memo of interview to Gardai on October 2, 2019 in which he admitted to meeting Gary Gibson in the bar and saying to him 'what's wrong with you?' Parke said there was not a lot said between the pair but there was some 'pushing and shoving' but that he left and met his wife before going home. When the allegation that he punched Mr Gibson was put to him by Gardai, Parke replied 'Bullshit, that's a load of crap, I did not hit him.' The accused also claimed he could not have punched Mr Gibson as he had cut his hand with a blade a short time earlier and could not make a fist. However, he later entered a guilty plea to assaulting Mr Gibson. The court was told that Parke had two historic previous convictions for criminal damage going back to 2004 but none for assault of any nature. Barrister for Parke, Mr Ciaran Elders, BL, said his client was an active member of the local community and had been involved in training underage sports teams, in various charity events and he knew that he should have walked away on the night in question rather than becoming involved. He said a probation report into Parke said there had been a slight conflict and that a drink may have spilled onto his trousers and there had been a verbal spat with Mr Gibson but said he had no recollection of punching him. The probation service also said he was at a low risk of reoffending and that he was suitable for community service and is also very remorseful for what had happened. Mr Elders added that Parke was a man with a virtually unblemished record and that this incident was totally out of character for him and that there had been no further conflict between the accused and the victim. He said he had the sum of €1,000 in court by ways of compensation to his victim. Judge John Aylmer said that this was clearly a very serious assault given the circumstances adding Mr Gibson suffered a very nasty fracture to his cheekbone as he reflected on the victim's injuries. He said he placed the incident 'very much in the mid range' and one which merited a prison sentence of three years before mitigation. He added that he entered a plea at the last moment but this did not entitle him to one third off his sentence but credit has to be given for it. Judge Aylmer said he recognised the fact that Parke was of limited means but that the offer of €1,000 'is bordering on an insult to Mr Gibson.' Barrister Mr Elders suggested if he had more time but the Judge replied that he 'has had an awful lot of time' but said he was still in denial at giving Mr Gibson such a firm blow that he would cause such injuries. 'He has a long way to go to avoid a prison sentence,' added the Judge. Mr Elders asked if the court had any idea of a figure which it would be satisfied with, to which Judge Aylmer replied 'No. He will have to arrive at it himself. It's not a cattle mart.' A revised offer of €8,000 was made in court which the accused man's barrister said was "a huge amount of money for him to raise." Mr Elders added that he did not think there was a huge benefit to society by incarcerating Parke saying he was a functioning member of his community and broader society as a whole. Passing final sentence, Judge John Aylmer said Parke caused a very serious injury to his victim and he placed the assault at the mid range of such incidents meriting a sentence of three years before mitigation. Judge Aylmer referred to the probation service report which said Parke was deemed a low risk of reoffending, the lack of any major previous convictions as well as a letter from Parke's partner. He said it was clear that incarceration would place an extreme burden on the accused man's family and especially his child with special needs for whom Parke cares for. The Judge added that the increase from €1,000 to €8,000 for Mr Gibson was a more genuine token of remorse and having regard to his otherwise good character, he proposed to deal with the sentence by way of a non-custodial sentence. He ordered Parke to do 240 hours community service in lieu of two years in prison on the basis that the money is paid over to Mr Gibson, not as compensation as he may have a future claim for compensation, but as a token of his remorse.
Irish Daily Mirror
16-05-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Woman who snatched baby from hospital 20 years ago jailed over knife attack
A woman who was jailed for snatching a new-born baby from a hospital over 20 years ago is to be returned to prison, after a court found her fully suspended sentence for a 'frenzied' slashing attack on a man she had lured to her apartment was too lenient. Susan McGovern (44) was today jailed for three years by the Court of Appeal, following submissions by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who argued that the fully suspended four-and-a-half-year sentence she received at Waterford Circuit Criminal Court last year was unduly lenient. McGovern with a last address at Barker Place apartments, O'Connell Street, Waterford, had pleaded guilty to robbery contrary to Section 14 of the Criminal Justice Theft and Fraud Offences Act, 2001 on May 21, 2022 at her home address. A charge of Section 3 assault was taken into consideration. She was sentenced by Judge Eugene O'Kelly to four-and-a-half years, suspended in its entirety, on October 10, 2024. The Court of Appeal heard today that McGovern has a "difficult background", with serious drug addiction issues and has 19 previous convictions, including theft, possession of knives and child abduction. In 2001, McGovern was jailed for five years after she admitted abducting a newborn baby from a maternity hospital in Cork. At the time, McGovern was described as a woman with a 'Walter Mitty-like' quality. Cork Circuit Criminal Court was told that McGovern had set up an elaborate plan to abduct a baby which included telling people she was pregnant and buying baby clothes. Delivering judgement at the three-judge Court of Appeal today, Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy said McGovern had invited the victim to her home, where she produced and used a carving knife. She said the respondent then sought to minimise her involvement by making a 'totally unfounded allegation' of a sexual nature in relation to the victim which could only have exacerbated the impact of the incident upon him. McGovern then maintained this position during her interviews with gardaí and during her engagement with the probation officer, where she not only continued to blame the 'unfortunate victim' but also said she acted in self-defence in grabbing the knife. Ms Justice Kennedy said there could be no doubt but that this incident was rendered more serious by the use of the knife, which caused injury to the victim's face. It was 'fortunate' that the injury had not been more severe, the judge added. Quashing McGovern's sentence, Ms Justice Kennedy said the crux of the DPP's application rested with the suspension of the entire term. She said the court was satisfied that the custody threshold was passed in this case and the suspension of the sentence in full was a 'substantial departure from the norm'. Ms Justice Kennedy imposed a new term of four-and-a-half years with the final 18 months suspended on the same terms as in the court below. The sentencing hearing was told that in the early hours of May 21, 2022 gardaí received a call to attend the scene at Barker Place Apartments. The victim told gardaí that he met McGovern on a night out and walked her home. Once there, McGovern changed her clothes, and they began kissing but she then put herself between him and the door so he couldn't leave. The victim said that McGovern started asking him for money and then made two phone calls, which he believed were to her drug dealer. He said he then got up to leave as he wanted nothing to do with it. The man said McGovern then grabbed a nine-inch knife from the table and asked for money and his credit card. He gave her €28 in cash from his pocket and then called gardaí. Transcripts from the call set out threats made by McGovern to the victim, whom she refused to allow leave, before making false claims that he was trying to rape her. The victim told gardaí in a statement: 'I was afraid because she was waving the knife at me. I kept the guard on the loudspeaker so they could hear. 'I was in fear for my life during this ordeal. During this altercation I was struck by the knife on my left cheek, along the jawbone,' he said. The court heard that the victim required stitches inside and outside of his jaw. When interviewed, McGovern gave a false version of events, claiming she was acting in self-defence when she was attacked and sexually assaulted by the victim. This account was entirely untrue. McGovern maintained this position when a probation report was prepared, which found her to be at very high risk of reoffending. McGovern later accepted before the sentencing judge that the allegations of sexual assault were totally unfounded. The respondent has 19 previous convictions, including a relevant conviction for possession of a knife in the course of a dispute.
Sunday World
16-05-2025
- Sunday World
Donegal woman who smashed bottle over ex's head had been ‘pushed too far'
Fiona McInerney appeared at Letterkenny District Court after smashing a glass bottle over the man's head. A Co Donegal woman who smashed a bottle over her partner's head after she became fed-up with his drinking habits has been ordered to enter a peace bond. Fiona McInerney attacked her former partner after she was 'pushed to her wits end.' Ms McInerney, appeared at Letterkenny District Court after smashing a glass bottle over the man's head after a verbal altercation on March 5th, 2023. The court was told that the injured party suffered cuts to his head and shoulder following the attack at Robinson Hall, Port Road, Letterkenny. The accused, who was present in court, has no previous convictions. Fiona McInerney. Photo: Newspix News in 90 Seconds - May 16th The woman's solicitor, Mr Frank Murphy, said it was a case that the woman had simply 'been pushed too far' and that she was otherwise of good character. He said that on the night in question the victim had again consumed a large quantity of alcohol. 'She (Ms McInerny) was simply pushed too far. She was at her wits end and had lost it and struck him with a bottle,' said Mr Murphy. Ms McInerney, aged 40, was charged with a Section 3 assault of the injured party. A further charge of Production of Article under Section 11 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act was struck out. The court was told that the couple were no longer in a relationship and were living at separate locations. Judge Eiteain Cunningham canvassed for a victim impact statement but was later told there was no statement forthcoming. Passing sentence, Judge Cunningham said she had considered the matter in detail as the accused had no previous convictions, that she had entered a plea to the charge and had also considered the mitigation offer by solicitor Mr Murphy. She added that she was also aware that the couple were no longer in a relationship and that there were other orders in place. However, she stressed to the court that this was still a very serious matter and the fact remained that it was a Section 3 assault. She said she planned to deal with the matter by ordering Ms McInerney to sign a peace bond for a 12 month period and warned her that she would be brought before the court again if this bond is breached.
Irish Daily Mirror
16-05-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Woman fed up with partner's drinking habits smashes bottle over his head
A Co Donegal woman who smashed a bottle over her partner's head after she became fed-up with his drinking habits has been ordered to enter a peace bond. Fiona McInerney attacked her former partner after she was 'pushed to her wit's end.' Ms McInerney, appeared at Letterkenny District Court after smashing a glass bottle over the man's head after a verbal altercation on March 5, 2023. The court was told that the injured party suffered cuts to his head and shoulder following the attack at Robinson Hall, Port Road, Letterkenny. The accused, who was present in court, has no previous convictions. The woman's solicitor, Mr Frank Murphy, said it was a case that the woman had simply 'been pushed too far' and that she was otherwise of good character. He said that on the night in question the victim had again consumed a large quantity of alcohol. 'She (Ms McInerny) was simply pushed too far. She was at her wits end and had lost it and struck him with a bottle,' said Mr Murphy. Ms McInerney, aged 40, was charged with a Section 3 assault of the injured party. A further charge of Production of Article under Section 11 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act was struck out. The court was told that the couple were no longer in a relationship and were living at separate locations. Judge Eiteain Cunningham canvassed for a victim impact statement but was later told there was no statement forthcoming. Passing sentence, Judge Cunningham said she had considered the matter in detail as the accused had no previous convictions, that she had entered a plea to the charge and had also considered the mitigation offer by solicitor Mr Murphy. She added that she was also aware that the couple were no longer in a relationship and that there were other orders in place. However, she stressed to the court that this was still a very serious matter and the fact remained that it was a Section 3 assault. She said she planned to deal with the matter by ordering Ms McInerney to sign a peace bond for a 12 month period and warned her that she would be brought before the court again if this bond is breached.
