A man who poured hot sauce over a staff member in a restaurant has agreed to pay his victim €500.
Martin Reilly was in Hillbillys restaurant in Letterkenny with friends.
He thought the staff member was being smart with him and poured hot sauce over the man’s shirt as he passed.
Reilly, aged 44 from Oak Manor, Drumgola Woods, Cavan, appeared at Letterkenny District Court where he was charged with assault.
Judge Paul Kelly asked the solicitor for the accused, Mr Kieran Dillon, why his client had poured the sauce over the man.
Mr Dillon said his client had asked the staff member if he was being smart and the staff member replied he had not and Reilly then poured the hot sauce over him.
Martin Reilly leaving letterkenny District Court where he appeared accused of pouring hot sauce over a man. (North West newspix)
The court was told the staff member had not been injured in the assault.
Reilly had already paid the man €40 for the cost of his short and had apologised to him.
He added that he had another €500 in court which he wished to give to the staff member as a way of compensating him for the ordeal.
Mr Dillon said his client had lost his son and was still grieving when the incident happened as he had been drinking heavily.
He added that his client deeply regretted what he had done but that he was battling with his fight with drink and also the loss of his son.
Judge Kelly said that if the money was paid to the injured party he would apply the Probation Act.