Pensioner gets suspended sentence for assault on garda

A 67-year-old cattle haulier has received a 12-month suspended sentence after he was convicted of assault causing him to a garda whom he stabbed 16 times in the hand with his keys.

Patrick Fuohy of Ballydaw, Castlelyons, Co Cork had denied a sole count of assault causing harm to Det Garda Denis Ryan at Fermoy Mart in Corrin, Fermoy on March 21st, 2013.

But at Cork Circuit Criminal Court, a jury of nine men and three women took just over 90 minutes to find Fuohy guilty of the sole charge against him.

Judge Sean O Donnnabhain said he would grant Fouhy a chance to do the honourable thing on foot of the jury decision to find him guilty, namely to apologise to Det Garda Ryan for the assault.

"The blackguardism has been given a lot of scope and a lot of air. It is about time a man of 67 copped on," said Judge O Donnabhain before giving Fouhy time to consider his position.

Fouhy consulted with his counsel, Dermot Sheehan BL and solicitor, Denis Linehan and returned to court, whereupon he told the judge that he accepted the guilty verdict of the jury.

“You have to accept it, I accept it – I apologise to Det Garda Ryan,” said Fouhy, who attacked Det Garda Ryan when he tried to get him to move his truck from the entrance to the mart.

Fouhy had been in dispute with the mart after he claimed that the mart was selling horned cattle and had refused to move his truck from the mart entrance on the day in question.

The judge noted Fuohy’s apology to Det Garda Ryan and imposed a 12-month sentence, but suspended it on condition Fuohy keep the peace for a period of 12 months.