A lifeguard who filmed himself beating up his former girlfriend’s new boyfriend has been ordered to pay the victim €1,500.
Josh Moffitt attacked Joshua Murdock outside a bar in Letterkenny, Co Donegal on March 11th last while the pair were on a stag party.
The pair had spent the day in each other’s company but things turned nasty when Moffitt began to ask Mr Murdock about his ex-girlfriend.
Without warning, Moffitt attacked his victim outside McGinley’s Bar on Letterkenny’s Main Street.
He punched Mr Murdock and then filmed him with his phone while he kicked him in the face.
Judge Paul Kelly asked Gardai what Moffitt had done with the video footage he made of the attack and if it was circulated.
However, Gardai revealed they seized the phone and the footage was not made public.
The innocent victim was left covered in blood and also suffered deep wounds over both eyes for which he had to be hospitalised and receive stitches.
Moffitt, aged 25, appeared at Letterkenny District Court where he was charged with assault.
Solicitor Patsy Gallagher said his client had been drinking heavily at the stag party and although he had no memory of what happened, he accepted full responsibility for it.
“This should never have happened and he only realised what he had done when the alcohol left his system,” said Mr Gallagher.
He added that the entire incident had had a profound impact on Moffitt and his circle of friends.
Moffitt, of Avonbrrok Gardens, in Coleraine, Co Derry, had no previous convictions, the court was told.
A victim impact statement from Mr Murdock was also handed into court.
Judge Kelly adjourned the case until February 18th to allow for the payment of compensation.