Man struck friend with a glass in Clonakilty bar

A MINOR verbal altercation in the smoking area of a bar in Clonakilty was followed by a spur of the moment assault where one man picked up a glass and struck his then friend in the head and neck.

A two-year suspended jail term was imposed on Luke Knowles of Lislee, Courtmacsherry, who pleaded guilty to the charge of assault causing harm to the other young man at Fahey’s Bar in Clonakilty, on St Stephen’s Day, December 26, 2021.

In fairness to the accused, Judge Colin Daly was told that he was remorseful and apologetic and did not come to the attention of gardaí before or subsequent to this incident.

Compensation of €7,000 was brought to court last week for the injured party.

Defence barrister Emmet Boyle said of Mr Knowles, “He came to Clonakilty garda station and presented himself. He answered each and every single question. He struck the unfortunate injured party with the glass in a one-stage movement. There was no CCTV available.

“They were friends before this and played team sports together. In terms of the pro-social activities they shared Mr Knowles has withdrawn himself from those so that there would be no contact between them, lest he would add any further insult to injury.

“He is working fulltime. He would have been 18 at time. He is now 20. He caused egregious harm to a person. He has stayed away from the injured party.”

Judge Colin Daly said at Cork Circuit Criminal Court, “The accused hit the victim on the head and neck with a glass requiring the injured party to have 20 stitches or staples to his wounds. It happened more or less in the spur of the moment.

“The true harm cannot be identified as the victim declined to give a statement. That may be because the accused and the injured party are known to each other in a small community.

“There may have been a degree of immaturity as he (the defendant) was 18 at the time.”