Calum Ayres of Lawne Park, Ballyshannon, Co Donegal was charged with assaulting Oliver Hickman causing him harm at Yeats Village, Ballinode, Sligo on April 28th 2022.

He was also charged with damaging a television belonging to him at the same address.

Sergeant Derek Butler told the court that at 9am Mr Hickman, who had been out socialising earlier, woke to the sound of broken glass.

There was damage caused and he told the persons present to leave and called them knackers which the defendant took offence to.

Ayres punched him in the face and he fell to the ground and got up and was punched again a number of times and received a number of injuries.

The incident was recorded on a phone, the court heard. The defendant also smashed a television.

He was arrested and interviewed and admitted assaulting Mr Hickman and damaging the television.

He had no previous convictions.

Defending solicitor Mr Rory O’Brien said there was a plea. His client, who was present in court with his mother and is now 20 years old.

He said in terms of the context of the exchange, the injured party kept saying knacker while Ayres said don’t call me knacker and he kept calling him the word.

There was a lot of alcohol consumed and the recording of the incident was not by his client.

He said there were a number of persons in the house. His client had brought the sum of €1,000 to court. He co-operated fully and resides at home with his family who are very embarrassed.

Judge Éiteáin Cunningham said the injured party received a fractured nasal bone and the estimated value of the criminal damage was €300.

She said it was a very serious matter. She said while the defendant had no previous convictions, what was most serious was the injuries sustained.

She said she had also considered the Victim Impact Statement.

She said she was noting the €1,000 regarding compensation but this was not sufficient.

In all the circumstances she said it was beneficial for a Probation Welfare Report.

She said further compensation which was warranted as it was at the upper end in terms of injuries. She said there should be €3,000 paid which was handed over to the injured party’s mother. The case was adjourned to July for monitoring.