Man admits unprovoked attack on Athlone train passenger

A 65-year-old man who admitted carrying out a "completely unprovoked" assault on an Athlone resident while they were both travelling on a train has been ordered to hand in a sum of €300 to the district court.

The attack, described during a court hearing as "a random act of violence", took place at Athlone Train Station on April 17 this year.

The defendant, Barra O’Tuama (65), of George’s Hill Apartments, Haltston Street, Dublin 7, repeatedly punched the victim in the face, and told Gardai upon his arrest that he had done so in order to "get the venom out".

Sergeant Paul McNally told Athlone District Court that Gardaí were called to the scene shortly after 1pm having received a report of a young man being struck in the face a number of times.

Judge Bernadette Owens heard that the young man had "no interaction" with Mr O'Tuama in the moments leading up to the assault. The court was told that, despite his ordeal, the victim opted not to seek medical attention afterwards.

Sergeant McNally said that, after his arrest, Mr O'Tuama admitted the victim had done "nothing" to him and was "completely innocent".

The defendant, who first appeared before Athlone District Court in April, was charged with assault and with engaging in abusive or threatening behaviour. In May Mr O'Tuama entered guilty pleas, resulting in the judge ordering a victim impact statement.

The defendant's solicitor, Patrick Carty, said the circumstances of the incident were "very peculiar" and "alarming".

He said his client had been diagnosed with schizophrenia at the age of 17 but had been law-abiding throughout his life and had not come to any adverse Garda attention until now.

The solicitor asked the court to take into account Mr O'Tuama unblemished record up to this point but said the court may wish to undertake "further vouching and investigation" to ensure there would be no repeat of the April incident.

The defendant's sole income, the court was informed, was a €240 weekly disability allowance.

Referring to an impact statement prepared on behalf of the victim, who lives locally in Athlone, Judge Owens said it included a mention of how the young man had been "very shocked" by the attack and was now "more anxious and aware of my surroundings".

The judge said that, notwithstanding this, the victim appeared to have "picked up the pieces and got on with his life".

Judge Owens remanded Mr O’Tuama on continuing bail and ordered him to return to a sitting of Athlone District Court on February 24 next with €300 in compensation.

The judge said this sum would be given either to the victim or to a charity selected by the victim.