A man has been jailed for three and a half years, and another has pleaded guilty to a 2019 hit and run attack in Longford.
Gerard Donoghue was struck by a car that mounted the path on Pound Street in Edgeworthstown in January 2019.
Eamonn Stokes of 44 Cluain Na Sibhe, Killashee and Alan Whelan of 65 Gleann Riada, Longford pleaded guilty to the attack at Longford Circuit Criminal Court over the last number of weeks.
The pair were accused of striking Mr Donoghue with a Silver Fiat Punto as the victim stood outside of a shop in the town.
Gerard Donoghue suffered a serious break to his leg that required two surgeries and months of follow up treatments.
Extensive CCTV footage from a nearby Bus Eireann Bus and surrounding businesses enabled Gardaí to identify the suspects.
It was put to the court and confirmed by CCTV, that one of the accused, Eamonn Stokes, encountered the victim at Edgeworthstown Post Office the morning of the event before returning to his father’s house nearby.
According to witness statements, after Mr Stokes and Mr Whelan arrived at the house, they changed clothes and left in a Silver Fiat Punto matching the description of the car involved in the incident.
After striking the victim, the two men abandoned the car and fled on foot.
Both men pleaded guilty to the offence at separate sittings of Longford Circuit Criminal Court.
Eamonn Stokes was sentenced yesterday to three years for assault causing harm and the possession of a hatchet, with a further 6 months activated from an existing suspended sentence.
While Alan Whelan will be sentenced for Dangerous Driving Causing Harm in May.
Addressing the court during the sentencing of Mr Stokes, Judge Keenan Johnson took issue with a number of friends and family of the accused taking photos in court, and ordered Gardaí present to seize the devices and delete the pictures.
