Ireland Case No. 13611Assault · Co. Donegal · 24 Aug 2019
Man avoids jail after one-punch assault in Raphoe bar
John Parke, a 42-year-old man, struck Gary Gibson, a man whose age is not given, with a closed fist to the face at the Diamond Bar in Raphoe, Co Donegal, at about 11.30pm on 24 August 2019. Parke was charged with a Section 3 assault on Gibson and later pleaded guilty before Letterkenny Circuit Court. Judge John Aylmer ordered 240 hours of community service in lieu of two years in prison, with €8,000 to be passed to Gibson as a token of remorse, as reported on 29 May 2025.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced28 May
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- John Parke, 42, struck Gary Gibson with a closed fist to the face in a one-punch attack.
- Where
- The incident took place at the Diamond Bar in Raphoe, Co Donegal.
- When
- The incident occurred at about 11.30pm on 24 August 2019.
- Weapon
- No weapon is reported; the attack was carried out with a closed fist.
- Other details
- Gibson's right eye socket was displaced by five millimetres, described in one report as a broken eye socket, and he still has a constant drooping in that eye.
- Parke had two previous convictions for criminal damage, dating from 2004, and none for assault.
- The judge placed the assault in the mid range, meriting three years in prison before mitigation.
- Parke increased his offer of remorse to Gibson from €1,000, which the judge said borders on an insult, to €8,000.
- Investigation
- There was no CCTV in the bar and no one present would make a statement.
- Charges
- Parke was charged with a Section 3 assault on Gary Gibson.
- In court
- Parke appeared before Letterkenny Circuit Court and later entered a guilty plea to assaulting Gibson.
- Sentence
- Parke was ordered to do 240 hours of community service in lieu of two years in prison, with the €8,000 to be passed to Gibson as a token of remorse, not as compensation; one report says Parke paid the €8,000.
14 statements extracted from the articles
- whatParke struck Gibson with a closed fist to the face. (donegallive.ie)
- whereThe incident took place at the Diamond Bar in Raphoe. (donegallive.ie)
- whenThe incident occurred at about 11.30pm on 24 August 2019. (donegallive.ie)
- investigationThere was no CCTV in the bar and no one present would make a statement. (donegallive.ie)
- chargeParke was charged with a Section 3 assault on Gary Gibson. (donegallive.ie)
- courtParke appeared before Letterkenny Circuit Court. (donegallive.ie)
- courtParke later entered a guilty plea to assaulting Gibson. (donegallive.ie)
- sentenceParke was ordered to do 240 hours of community service in lieu of two years in prison. (donegallive.ie)
- sentenceThe €8,000 is to be paid to Gibson as a token of remorse, not as compensation. (donegallive.ie)
- otherGibson's right eye socket was displaced by five millimetres. (donegallive.ie)
- otherGibson still has a constant drooping in his eye. (donegallive.ie)
- otherParke had two historic previous convictions for criminal damage, dating from 2004, and none for assault. (donegallive.ie)
- otherThe judge placed the assault in the mid range, meriting three years' prison before mitigation. (donegallive.ie)
- otherParke increased his offer of remorse to Gibson from €1,000 to €8,000. (donegallive.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 28 May2025Man who broke victim's eye socket in one-punch attack in Raphoe bar avoids jail
Court report on sentencing: 240 hours community service in lieu of two years in prison, on condition that the €8,000 paid by Parke is passed to the victim as a token of remorse. The article also gives the injuries, the garda evidence and the judge's view of the offence.
convicted, John Parke, 42, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Parkevictim, Gary Gibson, male, irish (judged from name)Gary Gibson