Dunfanaghy man knocked innocent woman unconscious after throwing battle in bar row

A man who threw a bottle and knocked a woman unconscious in a bar on Arranmore island has appeared in court.

Michael Harkin was before Falcarragh District Court on Wednesday.

Harkin faced four charges in relation to an incident at Phil Bans, Leabgarrow, Arranmore island.

Harkin, a 21-year-old of Ballymore, Dunfanaghy, was charged with assault, with producing an article during the course of a dispute and two counts of a breach of the peace.

The incident straddled midnight on the night of June 5, 2022 into the early hours of June 6, 2022.

The court had heard how Harkin was socialising on the night in quesiton.

The court was told that Harkin had been assaulted by another man. Harkin reacted by throwing a bottle in the direction of his attacker.

However, he missed his target and struck an innocent bystander, Aoibheann Walsh.

Ms Walsh was knocked unconscious after she was struck in the head by the bottle.

A victim impact statement on behalf of Ms Walsh was handed into Judge Éiteáin Cunningham.

The full facts of the incident had been outlined to an earlier sitting of the court.

On that occasion, Judge Cunningham ordered the accused to pay his victim €1,500 in compensation before deciding on the sentence.

Judge Cunningham told Harkin's solicitor, Mr Frank Dorrian, that she accepted his unreserved apology but this was a very serious matter and that she was going to record a conviction.

Mr Dorrian said he accepted what the Judge was saying.

“This came about as a result of someone else assaulting him,” Mr Dorrrian said. “It was not a complete wanton gesture on his behalf.”

Judge Cunningham said she accepted this but said it was still "certainly a reckless act."

Judge Cunningham found Harkin guilty of assault, confirming the payment of €1,500 in compensation.

The charge of the production of an article during the course of a dispute into account was taken into account and the breach of the peace charges were struck out.