In a recent hearing at the Limerick Assizes before the Right Honourable Mr Justice Madden in the County Crown Court, a case involving an assault was brought to the forefront. Michael Normoyle, a farmer residing near Gho, appealed against the decision of the County Court Judge in Rathkeale, who had granted him a compensation of £5 for injuries sustained in an assault. Normoyle had originally sought £50 in damages and appealed on the grounds that the awarded amount was insufficient, considering the nature and extent of the injuries he had suffered.
According to the plaintiff’s account, he had been attacked by two individuals, Daniel Reidy and Patrick Ruddle, both farmers, while he was returning home from a funeral on January 22nd of the current year. He claimed that the two defendants had beaten him severely with sticks, leading to him requiring medical care from Dr Hayes for an extended period.
In their defence, Reidy and Ruddle contended that Normoyle had been the instigator of the altercation and was known for his quarrelsome disposition. They argued that the incident had escalated into a brawl involving multiple parties.
Mr Justice Madden expressed his disapproval of the defendants’ conduct, describing their actions, along with two other individuals not involved in the case, as disgraceful. He noted that they had subjected an elderly and delicate man to a violent attack. To rectify the inadequacy of the original compensation, Justice Madden increased the award to £10. He believed that this amount was still less than what a jury would likely have awarded under similar circumstances.
Mr H. C. Cullinan, represented the plaintiff, instructed by Mr Cosgreave, solicitor from Rathkeale. Mr P. Kelly, instructed by Mr P. J. Liston, solicitor, represented the defendants.
Trespass Case Against Limerick County Council Dismissed
In another legal proceeding at the Limerick Assizes, Mr Denis H. O’Brien, a farmer from Port near Abbeyfeale, had brought a case against the Limerick County Council, seeking £20 in compensation for alleged trespass on his land during county work. The case had initially been dismissed without prejudice by Judge Adams, and Mr Justice Johnson presided over the appeal.
After hearing the evidence presented, Mr Justice Johnson upheld the decision made by the lower court. However, to avoid further litigation, he dismissed the appeal on its merits and awarded costs to neither party. The judge cited a certain level of doubt in the case as the reason for his decision.
This concluded the business of the Limerick Assizes, resolving both the assault case and the trespass case, with outcomes reflecting the complexities and nuances of each legal matter.
Limerick Echo – Tuesday 10 July 1906
