Ballybofey and Stranorlar Golf Club member Enda McMenamin leaving Letterkenny Court. (North West Newspix)
A head green-keeper at a golf club has been accused of assaulting another member of the club after being told he could not cut the grass because it was too frosty.
Leo McGlinchey, 52, is accused of assaulting Enda McMenamin, a voluntary green convener at Ballybofey and Stranorlar Golf Club.
CCTV footage of the assault showed Mr McGlinchey chasing Mr McMenamin around the car park of the golf club before striking him with at least two punches.
The incident happened on February 27th, 2013.
Mr McMenamin told Letterkenny District Court he had asked for the greens not to be cut as it was too frosty on the morning in question and suggested Mr McGlinchey and another man trim trees instead.
When he returned 15 minutes later, he found Mr McGlinchey was on a lawnmower.
Mr McMenamin told Mr McGlinchey that he was in charge of the course but the accused replied that as head greenskeeper he was in charge.
Mr McMenamin said he was a former psychiatric nurse and knew from the colour of Mr McGlinchey’s face and his demeanour that he was getting very angry.
He claimed that Mr McGlinchey eventually chased after Mr McMenamin.
“I saw by the look on his face that he was going to attack me and I ran towards clubhouse. He pursued me and I shouted “I’m going, I’m going” but he kept following me. At the fifth green I ran through a bunker and I hurt my right thigh. I struggled on to the car park about 30 metres on and my right leg was hurting me.
“I said to myself “he’ll stop now” but he continued to chase me around the car. I bent over to wait for a blow. He reached for me above shoulder and gave me a bit of a shaking and pushed me out towards the Main Road and told me to clear and not to come back,” said Mr McMenamin.
In his statement Mr McGlinchey said he had been employed as a greenskeeper at the club for 22 years and had had no problems until Mr McMenamin came along.
On the morning in question he said Mr McMenamin came along and shouted at him five times about his work but that he had ignored him.
“He has been on my case the whole time, spitting at me, eyeballing me and constantly on my case,” said Mr McGlinchey.
Mr McGlinchey, of Breathy, Castlefin, claimed that there had been no frost that morning so there had been no reason not to be working on the greens.
“I saw Enda coming and was pure white with rage and his eyes were straight out of his head. I could hear him roaring at me even above the machinery. It was personal abuse. I just did not take him on,” he said.
Mr McGlinchey said that he eventually got out of his machine as Mr McMenamin tried to reach into it.
As he got out, he claimed Mr McMenamin ran off and he ran after him.
He claimed he did not attack him but that Mr McMenamin bent down in the car park and that he had tried to lift him up.
“When he stood up I told him to settle down and go home. I had simply wanted to know why he was over to me six times.
“He bent down and put his hands on his head. I think he only did that when he saw two women in the car park. He’s shrewd like that,” he said.
Judge Paul Kelly was then shown CCTV footage of the incident.
Solicitor for Mr McGlinchey, Patsy Gallagher said his client was off on sick leave from his position at the club as he had been the victim of bullying and harassment.
However, Judge Kelly said he was not dealing with such a charge and the charge was one of assault against his client.
He added “It seems to be extremely clear. What I have seen on the video evidence is your client chasing this man around cars and into a hedge and grabbing him by the dollar and delivering at least two punches,” he said.
He added that the CCTV footage was ‘crystal clear.’
Judge Kelly then said he would give Mr Gallagher a chance to consult with his client on the matter and allow him to view the CCTV footage again.
Mr Gallagher returned and said his client was a man he was never before the court in his life, had never been in trouble before this incident and had not been in trouble since.
He said his client was supported in court by several members of the golf club
He said he would like the opportunity to take an adult caution and Garda Inspector Goretti Sheridan said this had previously been offered to Mr McGlinchey but he had turned it down.
Judge Kelly adjourned the case until February 22nd for mention telling Mr Gallagher and Inspector Sheridan to discuss the matter.
He added that if it was not dealt with or an agreement reached, he would deal with the charge by way of a plea.