A Roscommon Fianna Fail councillor said he would rather "rot in prison" than pay court-ordered compensation of £500 to Mr Sean Doherty TD.
"On a matter of principle I will not pay to Sean Doherty. I will pay to the court poor box," an angry Mr Tom Crosby of Tarmonbarry told a sitting of Roosky District Court yesterday. "I'll rot in prison before I pay Mr Doherty. I wouldn't trust him with 5p," he added.
At one stage Judge Bernard Brennan threatened Mr Crosby with a week in prison for contempt, when the councillor suggested the former minister for justice had been involved in the judge's appointment.
Mr Crosby was convicted last September 17th of assaulting Mr Doherty at a private meeting in the village in January of this year.
The original hearing before Judge William Earley was told that Mr Crosby had barged into the home of a local shopkeeper, Mr Fergal McGuinness, where a meeting was going on with Mr Doherty and the Cathaoirleach of the Seanad, Mr Brian Mullooly.
The court had heard that Mr Crosby was upset because those at the meeting were members of the Tarmonbarry Development Association, and as he was a founding member he felt entitled to attend.
According to Mr McGuinness, Mr Crosby went into the kitchen and verbally abused Mr Mullooly. When Mr Doherty stood to leave the councillor "lunged at him, hit him on the back with his right forearm and struck him with his left fist in the back of the head". Judge Earley, who convicted, had ordered Mr Crosby to pay £500 compensation, adding that if he found that unacceptable the money should then go to the court poor box.
At yesterday's sitting Judge Brennan heard that Mr Crosby was quite prepared to pay to the court poor box but not to Mr Sean Doherty. Solicitor for Mr Doherty, Mr Conal Gibbons, said Mr Doherty was prepared to accept the £500 and he would then direct it to a charity of his choice, in this case, the Roscommon-Mayo Hospice. The judge then ruled that the money be paid to the hospice.
At this point Mr Crosby stood to speak but Judge Brennan said he didn't wish to hear from him, and that he hadn't heard the case on the last occasion.
Mr Crosby claimed that he had been done a "very serious injustice". He then added: "He was the minister for justice and he was bragging about appointments to the judiciary. It's about time it came to light."
As he turned to leave the court Mr Crosby said to Judge Brennan: "I respect your decision to withdraw from hearing the case the last day because he was involved in your appointment".
Mr Crosby went to leave the court and Judge Brennan called for him to come back, saying, "I want an apology. I'm not going to put up with any of your nonsense." Mr Crosby apologised to Judge Brennan who accepted the apology and said, "That is fair enough."
Judge Brennan fixed recognisances in the event of an appeal.