Ex-minister Doherty attacked by colleague

FORMER Justice Minister Sean Doherty was the victim of what a judge yesterday described as an outrageous assault, perpetrated by a colleague from his own party.

The Dail deputy suffered a slight abrasion to the back of the head in the attack, which was carried out by Roscommon county councillor Tom Crosby after he had barged into a private meeting in a house in Tarmonbarry, Co Roscommon on January 23 last.

Roosky District Court heard that Cllr Crosby went into a frenzy when he burst into the house at the end of the meeting. He verbally abused a number of people at the meeting, including local Fianna Fail Senator Brian Mullolly, before assaulting Mr Doherty.

Mr Crosby, a publican in the village, struck the Boyle-based TD on the back with his forearm and elbow and followed up with a punch to the back of the head, inflicting what Mr Doherty referred to as a slight abrasion.

The accused denied the assault but admitted in evidence that he was irritated by the fact that he was not invited to the meeting. The meeting was arranged by Fergal McGuinness, who runs a shop and petrol stations in the Co Roscommon village, and was attended by Mr Doherty, Senator Mullolly and members of the Tarmonbarry Development Association, of which the accused was a founder member.

PRIVATE MEETING

Mr McGuinness told the court that the meeting was private and was held to discuss plans he had for a private tourism development as well as a campaign for a public water supply for the village. Deputy Doherty, he said, accepted the invitation to attend, but on condition that Mr Crosby would not be present.

The court heard that Mr Crosby came to the front door just as the meeting was ending and burst in despite being told that the meeting was private. Accused then went straight to the kitchen where the meeting was being held and sat in the chair vacated by Mr McGuinness. He immediately began to abuse Senator Mullolly.

The assault on Deputy Doherty took place as he stood up and announced he was leaving. He (accused) jumped up and lunged at him, hit him from behind with his elbow and forearm and then struck him in the back of the head with his fist.

Mr McGuinness intervened and was struck on the chin himself by another blow from the accused, which he felt was intended for Deputy Doherty.

Mr McGuinness's wife subsequently telephoned local garda Dominic Duffy who told the court that Mr Crosby was hysterical when he met him on the street and accused those present at the meeting of betraying him.

Deputy Doherty, who was also in court, referred to the assault as frenzied and violent and said he made his mind up to report it because of the circumstances of a previous incident.

``It was impossible to understand what he was saying. I saw the first blow coming and it missed me but I didn't see the second one landing,'' he said.

The accused said he was on his way to a business meeting in Athlone when his wife telephoned him to let him know that she had been told by a person in the village that a meeting of the development association was being held.

He admitted in hindsight he was trespassing but denied assaulting Deputy Doherty. ``I was naturally very disturbed about it. I thought it very disappointing that they were holding a meeting behind my back. Not one person said it was a private meeting,'' he said.

``He (Deputy Doherty) was one of the first to make an exit from the room and as he was passing me we were quite close and he pressed fairly firmly against me. He whispered to me that he would nail me for this,'' said Mr Crosby.

Judge William Earley said he had no doubt that the assault against Mr Doherty occurred and that the accused trespassed on the night in question. It was an outrageous assault, exacerbated by the outrageous intrusion by Mr Crosby into a private home, he said.

The judge adjourned the case to October 15 next for sentence.