MIDLANDS FIANNA Fáil senator Camillus Glynn was yesterday ordered to donate €2,500 to charity over an assault on a businessman.
Mullingar District Court heard the incident took place in the men's toilets of the Annebrook Hotel, Mullingar, Co Westmeath, in the early hours of May 25th this year. Mr Glynn pleaded guilty to the assault charge.
The court heard that the senator punched local businessman Tommy Wright, who is a former Fianna Fáil councillor.
Mr Wright, who had been attending a wedding at the hotel, was treated in hospital after the assault.
The court heard that Mr Wright emerged from the incident with a bloody and swollen face. Mr Glynn ran from the toilets and the gardaí were called.
In a statement read out in court, Mr Wright claimed Mr Glynn told him he would shut him up.
Meanwhile, Mr Glynn claimed Mr Wright had called him a "low life" and said he had been poked in the ribs.
However, gardaí said they were satisfied that Mr Glynn had not been assaulted by Mr Wright.
The senator apologised to Mr Wright and to his own family, saying he regretted he incident.
Judge John Neilan said because of Mr Glynn's guilty plea and previous good record, he was applying the Probation of Offenders Act. He was ordered to donate € 2,500 to a charity to be chosen by Mr Wright.
Mr Wright, who was not in court yesterday, selected the St Vincent de Paul in Mullingar.