A MAN was fined £1,200 at Galway District Court yesterday after he was convicted of assault of two young women.
Ivor Robinson, of Barna Road, Galway, had pleaded not guilty to assault of Ms Amy Mulryan (16) and Ms Gemma Totman (17) at the Oasis nightclub in Salthill on March 16th last.
The court was told that Robinson had gone to the nightclub to collect his daughter, Lorraine (16), after she rang home saying she had been attacked. Ms Mulryan and Ms Tot man said they had been assaulted by Robinson on the premises and that bouncers had to restrain him after he lost his temper.
Ms Mulryan told a previous sitting of the court that she was a former classmate and friend of Ms Robinson, but had to leave the school she was attending when they fell out.
She said that Ms Robinson had jeered at and taunted her about her weight and called her names.
At the disco that night Ms Mulryan believed Ms Robinson was jeering at her again. She said she "couldn't handle it" and slapped her on the face and threw a drink over her. Ms Robinson subsequently threw a drink over her and then Ms Totman got involved.
Robinson denied assaulting either of the girls, saying he was annoyed but was restrained by the bouncers.
The defendant's wife and daughter and four nightclub staff gave evidence that they saw no assault take place.
Judge John Garavan said it was "a strange and bizarre case involving children in a nightclub". While he was impressed with evidence from prosecution witnesses, he felt that at least two defence witnesses had discredited themselves.
He fined Robinson £1,200 and ordered that he pay £30 witnesses expenses in relation to each conviction.
Recognisances were fixed in the event of an appeal.