Father (42) admits drunken assault on hotel security guard after missing Dublin concert
Tom Tuite
A father-of-one assaulted a hotel security guard in a drunken rage after missing a concert in Dublin, punching him and repeatedly spitting in his face while pulling out his hair.
Mark McAnulty, 42, Rossmara Park, Newry, Co Down, pleaded guilty at Dublin District Court on Thursday to assault causing harm, resisting arrest and criminal damage on November 7th.
Judge John King heard that McAnulty got agitated at 10:50pm in the Premier Inn, Brabazon Place, Dublin 8.
A 26-year-old security officer approached McAnulty and asked him to leave. In response, the accused threw two pint glasses, which smashed and stained the carpet.
The security man tried to remove McAnulty, who "spat into his face a number of times punched and pulled his hair, causing some of his hair to come out from his head".
Gardaí found him outside, very intoxicated and agitated. "He put up a struggle and had to be restrained" before being taken to Kevin Street station," the court was told.
McAnulty remained aggressive in custody and urinated on the cell door, which needed to be cleaned.
He had no previous convictions.
Pleading for leniency, the defence asked the judge to note that the victim did not need medical attention and continued working.
The court heard he came to Dublin by train with friends but started drinking on the trip to the city. He had been going to a concert at the Vicar Street venue but had separated from his companions.
In a plea for leniency, his barrister said McAnulty did not know the city well and instead ended up indulging in several licensed premises and "consumed a considerable amount of alcohol".
It happened after a period of "quite a while" where he had abstained from alcohol.
He also spent two nights in custody in the immediate aftermath until €650 bail was lodged.
Counsel asked the judge to give McAnulty credit for his guilty plea and remorse and to consider that the victim did not suffer any injuries and carried on his shift.
The court heard unemployed McAnulty gets a disability allowance called the Personal Independence Payment due to depression and physical health issues. He brought €500 to court.
Court Garda Sergeant Niall Murphy, who presented the case facts on behalf of the arresting officer, accepted the victim did not seek medical attention and continued working. But he submitted that it did not make it any less serious.
McAnulty has been ordered to pay compensation of €1,500 to the security guard and €120 to cover the cleanup costs at both the Garda station and the hotel.
The judge indicated that if these amounts are paid, he would avoid a sentence and be released on a conditional discharge. The case is set to resume in April.
