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TWO men who served in the Defense Forces faced sentencing today for what the sentencing judge called an outrageous assault in the center of Cork city.
One of them was sentenced to 18 months and the other was released for sentencing in February after a report was submitted saying that he had post-traumatic stress disorder from serving abroad with the Irish Army.
One of the victims of the assault suffered an eye socket fracture, a broken cheekbone and a significant psychological impact and the other man had a major head injury.
Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin said: “Both injured parties are puzzled, as I am, how such violence could reach innocent parties for no reason on the street.
“The aggravating factors are that they joined repeatedly by kicking and kicking (by Eric Dorgan) one of the injured parties.”
Eric Dorgan of 8 Fairfield Crescent, Farranree, Cork and Shane Galgey of 30 St. Anthony’s Road, Gurranabraher, Cork, both 24, had been in custody for nearly a month until today and appeared via video link from the prison.
Garda Detective Brian Maher said the two friends were socializing the night of November 30, 2019 and ended up on Winthrop Street.
Galgey walked to Winthrop Lane, where three other men were chatting. He approached them and asked, “What are you saying about me?”
No one in that group had ever interacted with him, but when he asked the question, he punched a man in the face. The injured party could not have defended himself as he had his hands in his pockets, Det. Garda. Maher said.
What followed was an assault on a second man and the pursuit of the third man. Eric Dorgan joined later. One of the injured was kicked in the head when he was on the ground.
Both defendants pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm to the same two men on November 30, 2019 on Winthrop Street.
Defense attorneys Hannah Cahill and John Devlin of Dorgan and Galgey respectively said that each defendant brought 6,000 euros compensation to court and that these 12,000 euros were available to injured parties.
Ms. Cahill BL said that Dorgan felt terrible about what he had done and was deeply sorry and sorry. Devlin said Galgey accepted that he was the main aggressor, but was totally cooperative and repentant.
The evidence in the mitigation was that none of the defendants had a drinking problem, but had consumed a lot of alcohol during the night. Neither of them had a criminal conviction and they have not attracted the attention of Gardaí since this violent incident occurred.
Galgey is a serving member of the Irish Army. Dorgan previously served in the Navy.
As Galgey started the assaults and Dorgan later joined in, the judge said it was Dorgan who caused the most damage.
Dorgan was imprisoned for 18 months earlier than when he was detained a month ago.
Galgey was released on bail to return to court for sentencing on February 26, 2021. He will continue to be treated for post-traumatic stress disorder, refrain from intoxicants and maintain a nightly curfew between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.
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