Judge John O’Hagan

A man who beat a woman so badly he left the print of his shoe on her body had his two-year prison term substituted to 240 hours’ community service.
Eamon Harkin beat up then-girlfriend Danielle Kerrigan for more than 90 minutes on St Valentine’s Night two years ago. He only stopped his attack to get a drink of water.
…Judge John O’Hagan said there was “simply no excuse for assaulting a defenceless woman”.
He said drink was no excuse but he was impressed by the fact Harkin had no previous convictions and had not got into any trouble since.
…Judge O’Hagan said if Harkin had not pleaded guilty but been found guilty by a jury, he would have been jailed for between two and three years.

 

Community Service For Man Who Beat Partner (Stephen Maguire and Catherine Shanahan, Irish Examiner)

The prospect of a legal challenge to the result remains in light of last week’s Supreme Court ruling that the State had misused public money on its information campaign.

Constitutional law expert Paul Anthony McDermott said if it could be proved that most people did not make up their minds until they received the Government literature and were influenced by it, a credible challenge might be brought.

But, he said, overturning a referendum result would be “a nuclear remedy”.

Prominent No vote campaigner Kathy Sinnott said she hoped there would be a voter willing to take the challenge.

“I will help them in any way I can. This referendum is unsafe in legal terms because the result does not represent a fair choice on behalf of the people. Rules were broken by the Government and they spent our money on a one-sided and misinformed campaign to ensure a Yes vote,” she said.

Piss-up. Brewery. Etc.

Size of No vote proves shock for Coalition (Stephen Collins, Mary Minihan, Irish Times)

(Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland)

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