Man with alcohol and gambling addictions attacked neighbour

A Mullingar man with chronic alcohol and gambling addictions violently attacked his neighbour in his own home, leaving him with soft tissue damage to his face, a court has heard.

John Nevin of 82 Ardilaun Heights, Mullingar, Westmeath assaulted the man during an incident at 33 Grange Heights, Mullingar, Westmeath on September 18, 2022.

Mr Nevin, who is currently in custody serving a three-and-a-half-year sentence for an unrelated matter, was before Mullingar District Court last week, where the 46-year-old entered a guilty plea and facts relating to the case were heard.

Sgt Orla Keenan said Mr Nevin’s victim has been sitting in the front living room of his house when he heard a knock at his door at around 10.15pm. On opening a window, Sgt Keenan said, the man identified Mr Nevin along with another man he was unable to put a name to.

The heard that Mr Nevin told the man to “get the stuff”, to which the victim said he had nothing to do with it.

After asking Mr Nevin to close the window, the man, it was heard, momentarily turned his head, resulting in the accused delivering a punch, hitting his nose and mouth.

Sgt Keenan said the man recalled a number of rings Mr Nevin had on his hand.

The assault led to the man’s attendance at the local Emergency Department four days later. The court was told the man was examined and X-rays showed soft tissue damage.

The accused was also before the court concerning 15 diesel drive-off thefts at a number of filling stations in Mullingar, Kilbeggan and Ballymahon, County Longford between August and November 2024.

Defence solicitor Louis Kiernan said Mr Nevin had previously entered guilty pleas to each of the thefts and a probation report had been ordered, though the accused “didn’t engage” with the process.

Mr Kiernan said his client, having now been incarcerated, had taken stock of his predicament and was now willing to renew efforts subject to the court’s approval.

“He (Mr Nevin) has had time to reflect as these issues came from a serious alcohol and gambling addiction he was hiding from his family,” he said.

Having previously intended to plead not guilty to the assault before later changing his plea, Mr Kiernan said that despite attempts to gather compensation, Mr Nevin’s addictions had led to their dissipation.

Judge Owens was told that since Mr Nevin had gone into custody, he had engaged in counselling through Alcoholics Anonymous.

“He regrets what happened with his neighbour,” stated Mr Kiernan, saying the pair were “well known” to one another.

Judge Owens adjourned finalising sentencing and instead directed a probation and governor’s report to be carried out on Mr Nevin and put the case back to Mullingar District Court on March 5.