Trial

Man who allegedly punched a retired judge set to face trial at Ennis Circuit Court

Jamie O’Connor, 44, of Laurel Lodge, Ennis is charged with the assault causing harm of retired district court judge Joseph Mangan.

3.30pm, 25 Aug 2025

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A CO CLARE man charged in connection with the alleged street assault of a retired district court judge is to face trial at the circuit court.

At Ennis District Court today, Sergeant John Burke confirmed that DPP directions have been received in the case where Jamie O’Connor is charged with the assault causing harm of retired district court judge Joseph Mangan on Saturday 14 June.

O’Connor (44) of Laurel Lodge, Clare Rd, Ennis has been in custody since 18 June after bail was refused.

It is alleged that O’Connor told the former judge “you put me in jail for nothing” before allegedly punching him outside an Ennis cafe.

The retired judge, now in his early 80s, served as a judge for 27 years and was the assigned district court judge for Clare from 2001 to October 2011, when he retired at the age of 67.

At a vacation sitting of Ennis District Court today, Sgt Burke said that the DPP has directed that the case is to go before the circuit court.

The Book of Evidence was today served in the case for O’Connor to go before Ennis Circuit Court where far higher penalties can be imposed on conviction.

In 2023, the Government doubled the maximum penalty for ‘assault causing harm’ under Section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 from five to 10 years imprisonment.

In court today, Judge Fiona Brennan sent forward O’Connor on remand in custody to the next sittings of Ennis Circuit Court.

O’Connor was making his seventh appearance in court today and was today appearing by video-link from Limerick prison.

Judge Brennan told him if an alibi formed part of his defence, his solicitor Stiofan Fitzpatrick had 14 days in which to inform the State.

Judge Brennan today extended the legal aid certificate for Fitzpatrick and a junior counsel to represent O’Connor in the circuit court.

In the case, O’Connor is charged with the assault causing harm of Joseph Mangan at Barrack Court, Ennis contrary to Section 3 of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act on 14 June.

At a contested bail hearing on 18 June, Judge Gabbett said: “This is an extremely serious alleged offence where a retired district court judge now into his 80s was allegedly assaulted for carrying out a public duty when he was a judge.”

Sgt Burke told the bail hearing that at 2.25pm on 14 June, Mr Mangan was sitting outside the Gourmet Store on Barrack Court in Ennis having a coffee.

Sgt Burke said that it will be alleged that O’Connor approached Mangan “and told him aggressively, ‘you put me in jail for nothing’.

He said: “Following a brief interaction, it is alleged that Mr O’Connor stood up and punched Mr Mangan.”

Sgt Burke said that O’Connor then fled the scene in the direction of O’Connell Street and that Mangan went to the local injuries unit in Ennis where he was treated for possible concussion and dizziness.

He detailed that Mangan made a statement to local Gardaí and that O’Connor was later arrested, where he made no admissions “and blamed alcohol for his memory loss”.