Corkman waved pitchfork at three people in park and punched women who came to their aid

Judge Mary Dorgan noted the evidence from one of the Cork victims to the attack by James Hogan, of 60 Liffey Park, Mayfield, Cork. The young woman said never in her life did she imagine she would be punched repeatedly in the face and chest by anyone.

“My mother had to come. I had to go to hospital. I was so traumatised my heart was racing — I was still so scared. Afterwards, I got panic attacks and my mother would have to come to my place of work to calm me down. 

"I couldn’t do my job to the best of my ability for a long time. I have to go to counselling every week. I often wake up with flashbacks,” the victim said in a statement.

Judge Dorgan addressed James Hogan from Cork District Court to Cork Prison where he appeared by video link, saying despite the seriousness of the incident, Mr Hogan said he did not even remember it because he had so much alcohol taken.

The 19-year-old said: “Could I write a letter of apology to that woman?” The judge said this could be done by him through An Garda Síochána.

Judge Dorgan said: “You have difficult circumstances I know but there is no excuse for this kind of behaviour — effectively thumping the lady who made the victim impact statement and the other lady who did not. This is difficult to stomach.” 

The judge imposed a jail term of six months and six months of post-release supervision. However, the judge said she would be imposing further sentences on the multiple charges and required the defendant to attend in person for this purpose on December 4.

Background

Sergeant John Kelleher outlined the background to the case where James Hogan pleaded guilty to charges of assault causing harm.

Sgt Kelleher said the incident occurred on July 5, 2022, at Bell’s Field, Richmond Hill, Cork, where a young man and two young women from Brazil were socialising together when Mr Hogan and a young woman arrived.

“Mr Hogan was carrying a pitchfork. He punched the man in the face. He threatened a number of the group with a pitchfork and he made an attempt to take the scooter. He tried to hit one of them with the pitchfork.

“Two local girls observed what was going on but when they tried to assist the Brazilian group one of them was punched in the face by James Hogan [and by the woman with him]. The other woman was punched [by the defendant] in the head and chest. 

“He discarded the pitchfork and left the scene. Their injuries were minor cuts and bruises and they all recovered from their injuries,” Sgt Kelleher said.

Defence solicitor Frank Buttimer said this incident occurred between 8pm and 9pm that night. “He was identified at the scene. He was drunk and when asked afterwards he said, ‘I have no recollection of this, I have no idea why I had a pitchfork, I have no idea what I was doing’,” Mr Buttimer said.

In relation to the pitchfork, Sgt Kelleher said Mr Hogan swung it around when he arrived at the scene but it was not alleged he struck anyone with it.

Earlier incident

There was an earlier incident on June 2 last year when he was found asleep in a ditch at 8.30 in the morning with a claw-hammer beside him at Glenamoy Lawn. On that morning, he was arrested for his own safety due to his level of intoxication.

Most recently, earlier this month, on October 2, he was very intoxicated at Parnell Place, Cork, and when gardaí asked him his name he told them to f*** off and added, “Ye are nothing but f***ing rats.” 

Mr Buttimer said the 19-year-old was put out of the family home because of his drinking and drug-taking and he ended up homeless for a short period. He said the teenager’s background included multi-substance addiction from a very young age.