Wicklow brother and sister to be sentenced later for assault
A brother and sister who assaulted a man outside his own home are to be sentenced next year after a judge ordered a probation report on the pair.
Emma O'Brien, (aged 29) Old Connaught View, Bray, Co. Wicklow and her brother Wesley O'Brien (aged 22) Ashlawn Court, Bray, Co. Wicklow had pleaded not guilty to assault causing serious harm to Mr Michael Connors (aged 47), possession of a hatchet with intent to cause serious injury and violent disorder at Old Connaught View, Bray on March 14, 2009.
The brother and sister were re-arraigned in front of the jury on day three of the trial and pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of intentionally causing harm to Mr Connors and to committing violent disorder.
The pleas were accepted by the Director of Public Prosecutions and the charge of possession of a hatchet was dropped.
Judge Patricia Ryan remanded the pair in custody “given the serious nature of the charges” and set a sentencing date for February next.
Wesley, who has nine previous convictions, and Emma, who has three previous convictions, expressed their remorse and regret about the events on the night.
In a victim impact report read to the court by Detective Eamon O’Neill, Mr Connors, a former tree surgeon, said his “whole life has changed” since the assault and he cannot work anymore due to on-going injuries and loss of balance as a result of the assault.
He suffers memory loss and attends a psychologist once a week.
During the trial, Mr Connors, told prosecution counsel, Mr Shane Costelloe BL that he was at the back of his house chopping sticks with a small multi-purpose hatchet when he heard glass breaking and went to investigate.
Mr Connors said he was confronted by Emma O’Brien and he asked her what she had done to his window, which was broken, to which she replied “Get him, get him, get him.”
Mr Connors said he was then set upon by a group of people, including Wesley O'Brien, who he said “beat me and beat me and beat me until there was no life left in me.”
Mr Connor’s said he could identify both Wesley and Emma O'Brien as being among his attackers as they were his neighbours and he had known them all their lives.
