A 40-year-old grandfather and father of six was yesterday given community service in lieu of a prison sentence for assaulting Circuit Court Judge Brian Curtin on a street in Tralee over a year ago.
The matter had been adjourned from last month to yesterday's sitting of Tralee District Court to allow for the preparation of a community service report.
In April, Thomas Hallissey, Mitchel's Crescent, Tralee, Co Kerry, was convicted of assaulting Judge Curtin at Castle Street on March 21st, 2004. Hallissey, who is unemployed and is a member of the settled Traveller community, had previous convictions for assault and domestic violence, as well as for larceny and public order offences. He must do 120 hours' community service in lieu of six months in prison.