Suspended sentence for Galway man who slapped face of boy (7) who spat at him
A four-month suspended prison sentence has been imposed on a 51-year-old man who slapped the face of a seven-year-old boy in Conamara.
The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons to protect the identity of the child, pleaded guilty to simple assault.
The defendant was – and still is – in a relationship with the child’s maternal granny, who accompanied him in court.
At the latest sitting of Derrynea District Court solicitor John Martyn, defending, said that his client and the child had a good familial relationship but “that has broken down” since the incident.
The child was missing that relationship with the defendant, the court heard.
At a previous sitting prosecuting Sergeant Damien Prendergast said the accused was at his partner’s Conamara home on March 8, 2024, when he assaulted the child.
The defendant told the court he was fixing broken glass in the door of his partner’s house on the day of the assault.
He said the boy took his tools and threw them away into a river or drain in a nearby field.
The defendant said when confronted, the boy cursed at him and spat in his face. The man said he struck the boy on his jaw.
He brought compensation of €1,000 “as a token of his remorse”, the court heard.
The latest sitting heard that a victim impact statement from the child’s mother was submitted to investigating Gardaí. The child’s father did not wish to provide a victim impact statement.
Judge Fiona Lydon imposed a four-month prison sentence which she suspended for two years on condition the defendant engaged in counselling as detailed by his doctor and warned him to “look after your mental health”.
The judge ordered that the compensation be kept by his mother in trust for the child.
She confirmed reporting restrictions applied to protect the child’s identity.