Courts / Waterford / Report

Boxer who attacked woman with iron bar fails in appeal

Date
2024-10-09

Stage
Appeal

Primary locality
Dungarvan

Summary

In a Court of Appeal hearing on 9 October 2024, Mr Justice John Edwards dismissed the appeal of 31‑year‑old Richard Walsh, a boxer from Congress Villas, Dungarvan, who had been convicted of assault causing harm for striking a woman with an iron bar at Kilrush Park on 30 November 2020. The appeal centred on two grounds: that the mobile‑phone footage used at trial had been edited, and that the trial judge had misdirected the jury on self‑defence. Mr Justice Edwards found the footage to be authentic, not hearsay, and that no evidence suggested manipulation. He also held that the judge's instructions on self‑defence were adequate and that the jury's decision was sound. Consequently, the appeal was rejected, leaving the original conviction and sentence of two and a half years, with the final 12 months suspended, in place. The court's judgment was delivered in the Court of Appeal, Waterford.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Boxer who attacked woman with iron bar fails in appeal. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Convicted

When:

November 30, 2020 Incident
2024-10-09 Publication

Case subjects

Richard Walsh

Appellant

Finding: Convicted

Outcome: Convicted; Walsh, of Congress Villas, Dungarvan, Waterford, was convicted by a jury of assault causing harm at Kilrush Park, Dungarvan, on November 30, 2020, and sentenced by Judge Eugene O'Kelly at Waterford Courthouse to two and a half years with the final 12 months suspended.