Cork motorist assaulted while sitting in car in unprovoked attack

A Cork motorist who was sitting in a traffic jam with two of his children in the car with him was attacked by a complete stranger for no reason, the district court has heard.

Sergeant Trish O’Sullivan told Macroom District Court the injured party was in his car in busy traffic at Castle Street, Macroom, Co Cork, on November 15, 2025, at 6.05pm. The man was in the car with two of his children, his 11-year-old son and his 15-year-old daughter.

The court heard 51-year-old Donnacha Lynch, of The Granary, Macroom, Co Cork, was stepping out in front of traffic, shouting and gesturing at passing motorists. Lynch approached the injured party’s car and banged on the bonnet before striking the man through the open driver’s window.

The court heard the man’s glasses were broken in the assault and compensation of €400 was subsequently paid by Lynch. 

In a victim impact statement, the injured party said the attack had traumatised his son, who had nightmares afterwards, and his daughter was “deeply upset” by the incident and feels uncomfortable whenever she sees Lynch in the local area.

The court heard Lynch had nine previous convictions, including one for assault and three for threatening and abusive behaviour. Defence barrister Carmel Goggin said Lynch was pleading guilty to assault, threatening and abusive behaviour and criminal damage.

Ms Goggin said she believed her client had suffered “a psychotic episode” at the time of the incident. She said his previous convictions were on appeal to the circuit court to enable him to take up a referral to psychiatric services. She said Lynch needed to “engage properly” with his GP in order to take up a referral.

The court was told  Lynch was prescribed anti-psychotic medication but on the day in question he had drunk alcohol. Ms Goggin said he was apologetic for his behaviour.

Judge Joanne Carroll said Lynch was not supposed to mix his medication with alcohol and had received a suspended sentence and a probation bond before in relation to a previous incident and despite that: “He goes out and assaults a man.” 

 For the assault, Lynch was sentenced to four months in prison, for the criminal damage, he was sentenced to three months in prison, and for threatening and abusive behaviour he was also sentenced to three months. The sentences will run concurrently and recognisance for an appeal was fixed in his own bond of €100.

This article is funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme