Man jailed for attacking a couple outside Louth pub

A man who was involved in an unprovoked attack on a couple after they left a licensed premises, was jailed for a year at Dundalk Circuit Court last Friday.Sean Schiavone (27) of Fernwood, Red Barns Road, Dundalk pleaded guilty to a separate charge of assault causing harm at Park Street, Dundalk on September 14th 2021.

The court had previously heard how both victims had left the pub where they’d been socialising, when the defendant asked the woman for a cigarette.

There was some conversation between the pair when his co-accused approached and began shouting at the woman, before slapping her in the face.

The woman’s partner stood between them to stop the assault, but both injured parties ended up on the ground, with the defendant kicking the man, who was knocked unconscious.

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The defendant, who had 27 previous convictions, had not come to garda attention in the interim and had a total of €3,000 in court to show his remorse.

He had previously been misusing drugs, but no longer takes them. He continues to drink alcohol on a social basis.

Judge Dara Hayes, who said it was an unprovoked attack on two people standing outside a pub "who were severely beaten", imposed a two and a half year sentence and suspended the final 18 months on the defendant placing himself under the supervision of the Probation Service for 12 months post release.

He must also engage with addiction services and offence-focused work for anger management.

A second charge of violent disorder was marked "taken into consideration". His 24 year old co-accused Aoibhean Quilton of Oakland Park, Dundalk had her sentencing adjourned for a week to allow her make contact with the Probation Service, after the court heard she had missed all five appointments she had been offered with a Probation officer.

Her barrister explained that his client had difficulty arranging child care before 5pm.