Courts / Galway / Report

Man accepts alleged attacker is shorter than description

Summary

In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 35‑year‑old Raymond Leonard of Sliabh Ban, Ballybane, Galway pleaded not guilty to assaulting Nicholas Devlin at Anna Villa, Ranelagh, on 30 August 2015. Devlin testified that his lasting impression of the attacker was 6ft tall and wearing a dark shirt, but the court noted that CCTV footage showed the accused in a white shirt. Defence counsel Keith Spencer BL highlighted that Leonard is 5ft 8 and slim. Devlin also described being ejected from McSorley's pub by a bouncer, after which he was punched and kicked in the groin by a group that included Leonard. Leonard's alleged assault involved a claim that he had been "shorter" than described, a point he accepted during cross‑examination. The case remains at the trial stage.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Man accepts alleged attacker is shorter than description. Charges or matters: assaulting Nicholas Devlin causing him harm at Anna Villa, Ranelagh, Dublin, on August 30, 2015. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• August 30, 2015 Incident
• 2018-10-04 Publication

Why: Mr Devlin said he watched the footage a number of months after the assault, but "felt clearer in making an identification because at the time of the incident the attacker's face had been so close to mine". CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report