Waterford City and County Council has said it “welcomes” the recent verdict in the case of a man who was given a prison sentence for an attack on a traffic warden last year.
Brendan Morrissey (60) of Ballinamult, via Clonmel, Waterford was charged with assault contrary to Section 2 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, relating to an altercation involving the accused and a traffic warden at Grattan Square, Dungarvan on 21 June, 2024.
At a recent sitting of Dungarvan District Court, it was heard that on the day in question, the accused was involved in a verbal altercation with the traffic warden, before he subsequently assaulted the warden.
Judge John O’Leary highlighted that the attack was unacceptable and as the traffic warden is a staff member of Waterford Council, whose representatives are elected by the public – it was essentially an attack on the Waterford public.
Judge O’Leary described the traffic warden as a gentleman and said from the outset, the accused attempted to bully the traffic warden before assaulting him.
Judge O’Leary imposed a five month prison sentence on the accused.
It is understood that the accused, who has a previous conviction, has appealed the Judge’s decision.
When contacted for comment about the incident, a spokesperson for Waterford Council
told The Munster Express: “Waterford City and County Council does not comment on individual cases, however as an employer the Council must provide and maintain a safe workplace for all its employees and welcomes the verdict in this case”.
Fine Gael Councillor Niamh O’Donovan, highlighted to this newspaper that the Council does not tolerate any sort of violence.
She said: “I do not condone violence in any regard. Anyone who thinks violence is the answer for anything deserves whatever they get in court, no matter who they are.
“For people working in the Council or dealing with the Council, there’s so many pathways to make a complaint, air a grievance or bring something up before going to this level.
“I think that as a Council, we’re united and vocal in not tolerating any sort of violence like this,” Cllr. O’Donovan added.
Labour Councillor Thomas Phelan echoed the response from Cllr. O’Donovan.
He said: “Nobody should be assaulted in their line of work, regardless of whether they’re an employee of the Council or not”.
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