A man who pleaded guilty to assaulting Circuit Court Judge Brian Curtin has been ordered to do 120 hours community service in lieu of a six-month jail term.
Thomas Hallissey (40) Mitchel's Crescent, Tralee, was convicted of assaulting Judge Curtin at Castle Street Tralee on March 21 st, 2004, at a sitting of Tralee District Court in early April.
Sentencing was adjourned until today. Hallissey, who had previous convictions for assault and domestic violence, as well as for larceny and public order offences had called the judge "a paedophile", before assaulting him, it emerged during the hearing of the case.
However, Judge Curtin requested the state solicitor to ask the court not to treat the defendant harshly, and in view of the victim's attitude Hallissey was offered 120 hours community service "as an alternative" to spending six months in prison - provided he was found suitable by probation officers.
After hearing that Hallissey had been found suitable for community service Judge James O'Connor today ordered him to do 120 hours.