A man who ‘viciously” assaulted his friend in front of his young daughter and threatened him with a hammer has been given a suspended sentence at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court.
Alex Masuku (34) pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and possession of a weapon at Cloonishlawn, Ballina, Co Mayo on November 21, 2023.
Masuku, of Sarsfield Street, Kilmallock, Co Limerick, told gardaí the reason for the assault was that his former friend had taunted him over a shared video showing Masuku in a compromising position.
However at a court sitting today/yesterday (TUESDAY), Judge Eoin Garavan said there was no evidence that such a video existed, and that Masuku told gardaí he had not seen the video himself.
‘What concerns me greatly is that there’s no basis for his behaviour,’ said the judge, adding that another concern was that Masuka had a ‘propensity for violence’.
Judge Garavan set a headline sentence of three years but reduced this to two years fully suspended, on account of mitigating factors.
The court heard that Masuka has no previous or subsequent convictions and that evidence suggests this offence was an unusual, once-off event.
Masuku was ordered to pay €3,000 to the victim within the next six months and to complete a MOVE course (Men Overcoming Violent Emotions).
Judge Garavan said Masuku had ‘viciously assaulted’ his friend after entering his house, punching and headbutting him and causing facial injuries including a deep cut around the eye.
The court heard that the victim required stitching around his eye but that the physical injuries were not longterm.
Masuku produced a hammer his car and placed it next to the victim’s face while threatening to kill him or cause him serious harm.
The court heard that the attack happened in front of the victim’s two-year-old daughter who was left traumatised.
A victim impact report presented to court at a previous hearing said the victim feels stressed and anxious walking to work and that it has affected his ability to trust people. He said he now questions his ability to protect his children, as he felt he failed to do so.
Judge Garavan said it was difficult to ascertain Masuku’s mental health at the time, although medical reports suggest the effect of work stress was causing a transient impact on his mental health.
The court heard that a former partner of the Masuku spoke of him experiencing sleep disturbance and bizarre, paranoid episodes of behaviour, perhaps affected by his working night shifts at the time.
A probation report placed Masuku as at low risk of re-offending, with no addiction issues.
He has completed a victim empathy course in which he did well, and feels humiliation and shame about his actions, the report said.
Masuku moved to Ireland from South Africa in 2003 and has had a “22-year crime-free existence” since then, the judge said.
Judge Garvan also praised Masuku’s employment history and noted that he had moved to Limerick, where he is working.
Masuku was ordered to keep the peace for three years and abide by supervision from the Probation Service for one year, undertaking any mental health treatment as advised.