Sentencing of man who punched Brendan Courtney adjourned

Updated / Wednesday, 21 Oct 2026 16:00

The sentence hearing of a man who punched broadcaster Brendan Courtney several times has been adjourned to allow his suitability for community service to be assessed.

Ross Deegan, 22, of An Riasc, Finglas, Dublin 11 pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr Courtney causing harm on 27 February 2025, at Usher's Quay in Dublin city centre.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court previously heard that Mr Courtney was walking home along the quays around 9.30pm on 27 February 2025, when he was beckoned over to a car stopped at traffic lights.

The court heard the front passenger appeared to roll down the window and call him over. Mr Courtney went over thinking he knew the occupants of the car and later described to gardaí that he believed they were ridiculing him.

He turned to leave, tapping on the window as he went.

Deegan, who was a back seat passenger, left the vehicle, then assaulted Mr Courtney along with a co-accused, who is also before the courts.

Mr Courtney went to hospital the following day after waking up in pain. He sustained a concussion and a fracture of his eye socket.

After hearing the facts of the case in March, Judge Martina Baxter directed the preparation of a probation report and remanded Deegan on continuing bail.

The case was then adjourned on the next date in July as it was affected by the ongoing action by solicitors in relation to the criminal legal aid scheme.

Today, Oisín Clarke BL, defending, confirmed the case could go ahead.

He said Deegan had completed an anger management course. He said the probation reports were positive and his client is assessed at low risk of reoffending.

The court heard the injured party does not wish to accept €1,500 previously brought to court by Deegan and Judge Baxter directed it should go to the Mater Hospital as he suggested.

Judge Baxter considered the probation reports which were before the court and said she would adjourn the case one final time to allow Deegan’s suitability for community service to be assessed.

She also ordered a random urine test to be carried out, noting the court has been told Deegan does not abuse drugs or alcohol. She adjourned the case to 9 December 2026 for finalisation.

No victim impact statement was provided to the court.

Deegan has no previous convictions and has not come to other garda attention.

Two letters of apology, including one written to Mr Courtney, and letters of reference from family members were handed to the court. Mr Clarke said these letters speak of a man who is "supportive and helpful to others".

He said his client was supportive of his two sisters, who are gay. He noted that his client is adamant that he did not know who the injured party was.

Mr Clarke asked the court to order a probation report to assess his client’s risk of re-offending and said his client is willing to engage in an anger management course.

He said his client earns €734 a week after tax and gives approximately €50 a week to his parents. He said bank statements could be provided to the court outlining how the €1,500 gesture of remorse was accumulated.

Judge Baxter said the court had concerns as Deegan behaved in "such a reprehensible fashion" on the night and has not come to other negative attention before or since.

She also directed that the €1,500 gesture of remorse should be given to gardai for transmission to the Mater Hospital.