A SOLDIER and his unemployed brother who inflicted €16,000 worth of damage on an Athlone nightclub owner’s teeth in an unprovoked assault two years ago, had their jail sentences extended but suspended in the Circuit Court yesterday.
William (31) and Jason Shine (28), originally from The Cottage, Curraghboy, but now with addresses in Moate and Athlone respectively, set about the owner of Q nightclub, Thomas Conlon, after he ejected the elder brother from a side exit in the early hours of June 21st, 2008.
In Athlone District Court in March both were given eight months in jail for the assault but appealed the severity of their sentences to the Circuit Court.
Though no compensation had been offered during the March hearing, Judge Kennedy was told that the brothers had €10,000 in court yesterday for their victim, and asked where it came from.
In his evidence, William Shine, a married father of three and private in the Defence Forces for 11 years, told the court that €7,500 of their compensation offer had been collected by the congregation of his fellowship church in Curraghboy for them.
Both brothers had originally been charged with a breach of public order until the DPP re-charged them after seeing a medical report on Mr Conlon which stated he would need nine root canal treatments over the next five years – at a cost of €16,000.
“This is at the absolute top of the scale for a summary offence,” said Judge Kennedy.
He increased the brothers’ sentences to 12 months, but suspended them for two years on condition they keep the peace.
He ordered the €10,000 be tendered to the victim “or just given straight to his dentist if he chooses not to be tainted by this wretched pair”.