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A soldier with an exemplary record in the military is now at risk of losing his job as he was held in pre-trial detention today awaiting sentencing for his involvement in a violent and unprovoked assault on Cork City.
His friend, who served in the Irish Naval Service for more than five years before leaving before this assault, was also in custody until November 23 for his involvement in the violence.
For Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin, it was confirmed that any fine of more than 1,500 euros and any type of prison sentence, even a suspended sentence, would lead to the discharge of a soldier from the Army.
Judge Ó Donnabháin commented that even if he was being extremely lenient in the present case, it could not be less than a suspended jail sentence. And even so, the judge made it clear that he was not promising a suspended sentence.
“There is no question that if I am to complete the sentence now, both men will go to jail for a considerable period despite exemplary service to the state.
“This was a terrifying assault, it was continuous and determined. Kicking a man on the ground and injuring him. There can be no other outcome than imprisonment. I will be put in pre-trial detention until the last day of the term (Cork Circuit Criminal Court) …
“There has to be a result of at least one period of detention. This damage was done on a city street, “said judge Ó Donnabháin.
Eric Dorgan, of 8 Fairfield Crescent, Farranree, Cork, and Shane Galgey, of 30 St Anthony’s Road, Gurranabraher, Cork, both 24, were in custody until 23 November.
Garda Detective Brian Maher said the two friends were socializing on the night of November 30, 2019 and ended up at Winthrop St.
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 his hands were in his pockets, Sgt. 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 in Winthrop St.
Hannah Cahill and John Devlin, who were defending Dorgan and Galgey, respectively, said that each defendant brought a compensation of 6,000 euros to the court and that these 12,000 euros were available to the injured parties.
Ms. Cahill said that Dorgan felt very bad for 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 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.
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