A father of five hit a man on the head with a hammer in Dundalk

A father of five who hit another man on the head with a hammer after the victim's son frightened the defendant's daughter, was sentenced at Dundalk Circuit Court last week to perform community service instead of a custodial sentence.

Colin Gray (38) of Park Street, Coulter Place, Dundalk pleaded guilty to assault causing harm arising out of the incident at O’Hanlon Park, Dundalk on September ninth 2023.

Gardai were called to the scene shortly before 6pm following a report of a man being attacked with a hammer.

The victim, who was bleeding from a cut to the back of his head, was upset and agitated and said he had been assaulted by two men.

CCTV footage showed the defendant arrive in a vehicle with another person.

Judge Dara Hayes noted the victim's son had targeted the defendant's daughter, and Mr Gray had acted out of a sense of protection and while that provided some degree of extenuating circumstances, the judge said that was not an excuse for what occurred.

He added that the injured party, who had stepped in between his son and the defendant, did not wish the case to proceed to trial and the victim had been sitting in the courtroom with Mr Gray's family on the last date, when the case had been adjourned to establish if he was a suitable candidate to perform community service

Noting that the defendant's seven previous convictions were not relevant to the matter before the court, he made an order that the defendant carries out 180 hours community service within the next 15 months in lieu of an 18 month sentence.