Man jailed after one-punch attack in Bundoran left victim fighting for life

A man who left another man in a coma fighting for his life after an unprovoked one-punch attack has been jailed for three years.

David Walsh was just 20 days past his 18th birthday when he struck his victim with such force that he left him in a coma fighting for his life.

Walsh appeared at Donegal Circuit Court where he pleaded guilty to causing serious harm to Conor Gorman-Hogan, also then 18.

The assault happened in the smoking area of Paris Nightclub in Bundoran on November 27, 2022.

Graphic CCTV footage of the incident was shown to the court which showed the moment both young men's lives changed forever.

The footage showed Walsh chatting with Mr Gorman-Hogan, before putting his arm around him and then suddenly unleashing one punch to the face of his victim.

The victim can be seen falling backwards unconscious and his attacker walking away.

Garda Keelan Cawley of Ballyshannon Garda Station outlined the terrifying incidents of the night and Mr Gorman-Hogan's fight to survive to barrister for the state, Ms Fiona Crawford, BL.

Garda Cawley told how he had taken a statement from Aaron Maguire, a friend of Conor, who had been with him at the time of the assault.

Mr Maguire told how Walsh, whom he knew through the accused man's sister, began talking to Mr Gorman-Hogan.

He added that "out of nowhere" Walsh punched Conor "straight in the face below the nose" and watched his friend's face and his eyes close before he hit the ground and banging his head off the floor.

The witness said he heard a "smack" and Walsh walked off "like a shot, like a coward. He knew well what he had done."

Mr Maguire said he got down on his knees to his friend and a woman began doing chest compressions on the victim.

He added that there was blood coming out of Conor's nose and it looked like he was having a fit.

Statements were also given from a number of security personnel at the nightclub saying that word went around the nightclub that David Walsh had inflicted the injuries on the man and he was escorted out of the premises.

As he was being escorted out, Walsh said to a security man "I know I hit him and I shouldn't have. I don't want to be getting into trouble."

The victim said he had no recollection of the incident and all he recalls is paying into Paris Nightclub and then waking in Dublin's Beaumont Hospital.

A medical report read out in court outlined the extent of Mr Gorman-Hogan's injuries.

He was initially rushed to Sligo University Hospital before being taken to Beaumont Hospital because of the extent of his injuries.

Mr Gorman-Hogan received a sustained severe traumatic brain injury and an Intracranial Pressure Monitor had to be inserted into the victim and he remained in intensive care for a number of days.

However, the victim did remarkably well, has made a good physical recovery but will require further progress.

In his victim impact statement, Mr Gorman-Hogan said his memory of the event went from fun filled to waking up in a hospital, feeling confused, scared, and overwhelmed.

He said "This assault has left me feeling vulnerable and defenceless. The thought of being attacked again terrifies me, as even a single blow to the head could have catastrophic consequences.

"This sense of physical fragility is something I carry with me every day, and it has fundamentally changed how I live my life."

Walsh, now aged 21, was arrested and interviewed on November 27, 2022, and he admitted punching Mr Gorman-Hogan and knocking him out.

He said he felt "disgusted and ashamed" when he was shown CCTV footage of the assault.

The court was also told that the accused has no previous convictions.

Barrister for the accused, Mr Colm Smyth, SC, said his client had been fully cooperative and had asked Gardai: “Can you tell me if he is badly hurt because I didn't mean to hurt him?"

The court was told that Walsh was born and raised in Dublin but had moved to Bundoran with his sister when he was aged 14 because his father was physically abusive.

He left school early after his grandmother died and had worked in a number of places such as the Holyrood Hotel and KFC but was now in phase two of seven phases of a plumbing apprenticeship.

Letters of reference were handed in from his plumbing company and also from Seanie McEniff of the Holyrood Hotel.

The accused man took to the witness stand and apologised to his victim.

Walsh said that "it may be hard to believe" but he never could have imagined that he would put anybody through this.

Describing it as the biggest mistake of his life, Walsh said he never intended to be in a place like this ever again (the court) and that he was disgusted and ashamed of what he had done.

Mr Smyth said his client had pleaded guilty at an early stage.

He outlined the accused man's upbringing in Dublin saying himself and his older sister left Dublin because of physical abuse from his father.

Mr Smyth referred to a probation report on his client which he said placed Walsh at a low risk of reoffending.

A psychological report carried out on the accused showed he was a man suffering from anxiety because of his forthcoming sentence but which also displayed symptoms of childhood adversity which included neglect, violence and multiple traumatic episodes.

Mr Smyth added that his client had not drunk alcohol until he was aged 18 years and has reduced his intake significantly since.

He added that the accused was now godfather to his sister's son and he takes care of him from time to time.

Passing sentence, Judge John Aylmer said he had to decide where on the scale of offending the incident lies and said he had to have regard to the fact that the victim suffered a very serious brain injury.

He added that while the victim has thankfully made a good recovery he will be left with constant reminders of the incident including migraines and not being able to play sport again.

He placed incident in the mid-range and deemed an appropriate sentence as one of seven and s half years before mitigation.

In mitigation he said the accused had just turned 18, had no previous convictions and had not come to Garda attention since.

He also noted that he was a boy who strove through a difficult childhood and through his own strength of character had come through it and had moved to Bundoran to live with his sister.

He was fully cooperative with the investigation and was now in his second year as an apprentice plumber and had recently scored a "fabulous" score of 93% in his exams.

He added: "Apart from this aberration, you are a young man of good character and it is most unfortunate you became involved in this serious offence."

Because of these mitigating factors, he reduced the sentence to one of five years and because the probation report also indicated that he was of a low risk of reoffending, he could suspend some or all of this sentence.

However, he said because of the gravity of the case, he could not suspend all of the sentence but did suspend the final two years meaning Walsh will serve three years in prison.