Thursday 5 November 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 26965Assault causing harm; offensive weapon · Co. Sligo · 2 Dec 2018

Man sentenced for Sligo assault causing harm and offensive weapon

Neil Hegarty, a 36-year-old man from Bundoran, pleaded guilty to assaulting Brian Crossan and Veronica McBrearty causing harm and to having an offensive weapon at JFK Parade, Sligo, on 2 December 2018. The case was heard at Sligo Circuit Court, where Judge Francis Comerford imposed a 240-hour Community Service Order in lieu of four and a half years' imprisonment. He was also ordered to pay €22,500 in compensation to the two victims, of which €15,000 had already been paid the previous November. The offensive weapon charge was taken into consideration in sentencing.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced8 May
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Neil Hegarty, 36, of Shiel Avenue, Bundoran, pleaded guilty to assaulting Brian Crossan and Veronica McBrearty causing harm and to having an offensive weapon.
Where
The assaults took place at JFK Parade, Sligo.
When
The assaults occurred on 2 December 2018.
Charges
He pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm and one count of having an offensive weapon.
In court
The case was heard at Sligo Circuit Court before Judge Francis Comerford.
Sentence
  • He was given a 240-hour Community Service Order in lieu of four and a half years' imprisonment, with 200 hours in lieu of three years for the assault on Brian Crossan and 40 hours in lieu of 18 months for the assault on Veronica McBrearty.
  • He was ordered to pay €22,500 in compensation to the two victims.
Other details
  • €15,000 of the compensation had been paid the previous November (€11,500 to Brian Crossan, €3,500 to Veronica McBrearty), and a further €7,500 was available at court (€6,000 to Brian Crossan, €1,500 to Veronica McBrearty).
  • The offensive weapon charge was taken into consideration in sentencing.
20 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatNeil Hegarty is 36 years old and lives on Shiel Avenue, Bundoran (donegallive.ie)
  • whereThe assaults took place at JFK Parade, Sligo (donegallive.ie)
  • whenThe assaults occurred on 2 December 2018 (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeHe pleaded guilty to assaulting Brian Crossan causing him harm (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeHe pleaded guilty to an identical charge in respect of Veronica McBrearty (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeHe pleaded guilty to having an offensive weapon on the same date and location (donegallive.ie)
  • courtThe case was heard at Sligo Circuit Court (donegallive.ie)
  • courtJudge Francis Comerford ruled that if a sum of money was in court the case would be dealt with by way of a Community Service Order (donegallive.ie)
  • sentenceHe was given a total of 240 hours of a Community Service Order (donegallive.ie)
  • sentenceThe community service was in lieu of a total of four and a half years in jail (donegallive.ie)
  • sentenceHe was ordered to pay a total of €22,500 as compensation to his victims (donegallive.ie)
  • sentence200 hours of community service was imposed in lieu of three years in jail for the assault on Brian Crossan (donegallive.ie)
  • sentence40 hours of community service was imposed in lieu of 18 months in jail for the assault on Veronica McBrearty (donegallive.ie)
  • otherA total of €15,000 had been paid as compensation the previous November (donegallive.ie)
  • other€11,500 of the November payment went to Brian Crossan (donegallive.ie)
  • other€3,500 of the November payment went to Veronica McBrearty (donegallive.ie)
  • otherA further €7,500 was available at the court (donegallive.ie)
  • other€6,000 of the further sum was to be given to Brian Crossan (donegallive.ie)
  • other€1,500 of the further sum was to be given to Veronica McBrearty (donegallive.ie)
  • otherThe charge of having an offensive weapon was taken into consideration in sentencing (donegallive.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 8 May2022
    Sentenceddonegallive.ie, first report
    Bundoran man pays out €22,500 to assault victims

    Reports the sentencing at Sligo Circuit Court, including the 240-hour community service order in lieu of 4.5 years' imprisonment and the €22,500 compensation order, with details of how the compensation was split between the two victims.

    convicted, Neil Hegarty, 36, male, named, irish (judged from name)Neil Hegartyvictim, Brian Crossan, male, irish (judged from name)Brian Crossanvictim, Veronica McBrearty, female, irish (judged from name)Veronica McBrearty