Restorative justice has been suggested in the case of a Buncrana man charged with assault causing harm to another man after taking exception to a remark about his girlfriend.
Jason McClay appeared before Buncrana District Court in connection with an incident at The Lieu’s Bar in Buncrana on June 26, 2022.
McClay, a 30-year-old from Kinnego, Buncrana, was charged with assault causing harm to Thomas McGowan, who he head-butted.
McClay’s solicitor Mr Rory O’Brien told the court that there was an ‘exceptionally positive report’ on his client from the Probation Service.
Judge Éiteáin Cunningham suggested that a restorative justice approach may be the best way in dealing with the matter.
Restorative justice is when a conversation takes place between a victim, a person who has committed a crime against them, and an independent person who is trained to prepare and manage such conversations. The independent person can be a Garda, a Probation Officer, or a person who works with a Community-Based Organisation that offers restorative justice.
Restorative justice challenges people who commit crime to take responsibility, put right the harm done and refrain from further offending so that they can take their place again as law-abiding members of the community.
A previous sitting of the court heard that the men were drinking in the bar at 1.30am along with a woman who was McClay’s girlfriend.
A remark was allegedly made by Mr McGowan about McClay’s girlfriend which he took exception to. Mr McGowan said he was head-butted twice and all he remembered then was waking up on the floor.
The court was told that the victim did not suffer any lasting injuries.
Sergeant McDaid said there was CCTV footage of the incident.
Mr O’Brien said that there were many facets to the incident, at the centre of which was his client’s break-up with his partner.
The court was told that McClay had previous convictions for public order and road traffic offences but they were of some vintage, dating back to 2014.
Mr O’Brien told the court that his client was looking to emigrate and was willing to accept proposals of the court but that recording a conviction would put a stop on his life.
Judge Cunningham adjourned the case until April 11, 2024 to allow the restorative justice process to take place.
Restorative justice after man assaulted over remark about girlfriend was last modified: January 15th, 2024 by