Diarmuid Connolly
After pleading guilty to serious assault charges, Dubs player Diarmuid Connolly saw his case struck out yesterday.
District Court judge Patrick Clyne made the ruling as he said Mr Connolly had “done all that had been asked of him through a serious of restorative justice measures”.
Independent Legal editor Dearbhail McDonald asks:
Will the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) challenge Judge Patrick Clyne’s generous strike out given the fact that judges have huge discretionary power, in particular where there are extenuating circumstances “of a special character”?
Anyone?
Lucky Bounce Of The Ball For All Star Attacker (Dearbhail McDonald, Independent.ie)
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a bit rich for you to get on your high horse here considering Broadsheet thinks certain scofflaw types should be released on foot of “Right On” campaigns/public opinion – Margaretta D’Arcy springs to mind
“People, please. We’re all frightened and horny, but we can’t let some killer dolphins keep us from living and scoring!”
Yeah, an 80 year old anti-war activist being locked up for an unauthorised incursion into Shannon Airport is the exact same thing as a young man violently assaulting another man.
you might have a point except that yer one wears her contempt for the court like a badge of honour
What’s yer point?
Ireland, the best little country in which to commit a crime (as long as your a member of the golden circle).
Who else? You said “types” – who else does BS want released?
You don’t lock up “celebrities”
He was very very sorry and did 2 hours more coaching than asked. Fair enough right?
I heard he had to do 20 laps of the field
And 200 burpies
Anthony Stokes’s lawyers are studying the case in detail.
If he was convicted, he wouldn’t be able to be a “GAA All Star”, as he probably wouldn’t be allowed into the USA with a criminal conviction.
The point of of the courts is to administer justice. This guy immediately apologized for his actions, did 82 hours of community service, paid over €5k to his victim, attended anger management and has not been before the courts since.
Whilst the judges powers are quite broad in terms of strike out/ probation/ conviction, why should the opinion of some hack at the Indo be the basis for a trial by media? A criminal conviction alone can be a crippling burden to carry around in terms of future prospects. Maybe the judge felt this would be unduly harsh on him, seeing as he had fully embraced the restorative justice programme.
Not to belittle the assault and the pain and suffering of the individual attacked, but would this be even mentioned were it not for his prominent GAA career?
You ask “why should the opinion of some hack at the Indo be the basis for a trial by media”. Is that anything more than an insulting way of asking why a journalist should question a judge’s decision? And isn’t that one of the things journalists are for?
Also, I wouldn’t class Dearbhail MacDonnald as a hack.
You know, you are right, hack was a bit strong in this instance. It would be unfair to lump Dearbhail in with some of the other ‘journalists’ at the indo.
I agree that part of a journalists job is to not take things at face value and question decisions, but is this really one of them? To me, it just seems like a slow news day and this guy is taking the heat for it.
Someone famous has been treated with extraordinary leniency for a violent act. That’s not a slow news day. It’s news.
+1
Is she a lawyer even?
Well, she has an LLB from trinners.
Doesn’t answer my question.
“Even”? What difference would that really make? I’m one, and I know fupp all about anyfink.
I think I remember her saying something about being in law school on VB before.. She must have meant the LLB.
I have one of them so shut up
Are you telling me to shut up? And if so, why?!
Sustained!
His disciplinary form or lack thereof on the playing pitch points towards a bad general character all round.
The question is would he have got off it it wasn’t for his prominent GAA career? And therein lies the point. If others are in jailing for smashing someone’s eye sock to pieces, why shouldn’t he? Its a fairly serious assault that.
Yes, He could well have got off on these charges regardless of who he is.
This isn’t a strange occurance. Because he is somewhat prominant it garners headlines though.
Could well of is not the same as yes though. It would be interesting to see a similar case and what the outcome was there.
That’s my point, there are thousands of similar cases a year and some of them result in custodial sentances, some of them result in suspended sentances and some of them result in community services etc
Yes. We have the same point. Go us.
Of course he wouldn’t have got off, but what’s new …???
Oscar Pistorious looks on in envy at the Irish legal system….
The chances of anyone facing jail time or even a conviction for a first time assault in this country are slim, very slim. Look at the lads walking around with 50+ convictions. Connolly received no special treatment, expressed sincere remorse which was accepted by the victim and made every effort: community service, anger management, monetary compensation to make up for the crime so I’m not surprised in any way the judge struck it out. Also despite what some people think about him and how he carries himself on the pitch he’s hugely respected in his community, his club and the GAA as a whole.
Respected/feared. It’s like goodfellas really.
Ireland: Soft on GAA-playing thugs and… soft on most other thugs, really.