A MARKETING executive who attacked a judge on a panel at an awards ceremony at the Mansion House in Dublin has agreed to pay €20,000 to charity to escape a criminal conviction.
Gary Brown (51), Howth Road, Clontarf, Dublin, had denied assault causing harm to John O’Connor on May 7th, 2009, at the An Post Direct Marketing Awards night.
Mr Brown’s company RMG Target had won the top prize at the event for the fourth consecutive year. In his victory speech he had said: “It’s great to see new faces coming in” which were “making great videos that make us laugh every year”.
Afterwards Mr O’Connor and another judge, Justin Cullen, asked to speak to Mr Brown. They went to a corridor and Mr O’Connor and Mr Cullen criticised the speech but were told by Mr Brown to “f*** off”. The court heard Mr O’Connor called Mr Brown a “knacker” and he was then punched in the face by the accused. Witnesses told the court Mr Brown punched Mr O’Connor five times leaving him bleeding. Mr Brown had claimed that Mr O’Connor and Mr Cullen had been aggressive and he was embarrassed because some of his clients were present when they came to his table.
He claimed Mr O’Connor had said his conduct when he gave his speech was “loutish”. Mr Brown admitted telling Mr O’Connor to f*** off but said the victim had called him a knacker and he feared he would be struck by him.
However, he was found guilty by Judge Ann Watkin earlier this month and remanded on bail to appear again yesterday at Dublin District Court. Brendan Grehan SC, defending, told the court his client had made a €5,000 donation to Temple Street hospital, nominated by Mr O’Connor.
Judge Watkin held he would be left without a criminal conviction and given the Probation Offenders Act if he donated €20,000 to St Vincent de Paul.