‘VERY LONG DAY’ | 

No jail time for IT worker who punched woman in pub if he pays €3k

Today at 02:30

An IT worker who made “the worst mistake of his life” when he punched a woman on the jaw in a pub row will be spared a criminal record if he pays €3,000 compensation to the victim.

Hughes Foucart (51) had been having a “very long day” before he got into a dispute with the woman’s group, lost his temper and struck out, hitting her, a court heard.

Judge Michele Finan adjourned the case to next month and said she would apply the Probation Act if the compensation was paid. If the victim did not want it, a charity could be nominated for a donation instead, she said.

Foucart, a French national of Arthur Griffith Park, Lucan pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to the woman at O’Neill’s pub, Main Street, Lucan on June 17, last year.

Blanchardstown District Court heard the victim was socialising with friends in the smoking area when Foucart came out and got into a verbal dispute with the people she was with “over something trivial.”

Foucart lost his temper and punched the woman on the side of the jaw, causing swelling and bruising. The victim and accused were strangers and had no previous dealings with each other. The dispute had been with another person in her company.

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Foucart had no prior convictions. Defence solicitor Luke Staines said a restorative justice report was “mixed” but this was due to “miscommunication” and the accused was clear that he was very sorry and could stay away from the victim “forever” if required.

“He had too much alcohol and the other group were acting in a way he wasn’t very happy with” when he acted in anger, Mr Staines said. It was an “outrageous thing” to do and “the worst mistake he’s made in his life.”

“I just want to apologise for what I’ve done, this will never happen again, I can confirm that I will never see that person again,” Foucart told the court. An assault conviction would be “devastating” for the accused, Mr Staines said, asking for leniency.