“In the politest possible way – clear off”

Monday 11 October 2021

A man and his stepson have sworn an oath to leave Guernsey and not return for five years after the pair retaliated to the younger man being headbutted.

Danny Meaney, 42, and Thomas O’Shaugnessy, 51, appeared in the Magistrates' Court charged with using unlawful violence against another man.

Meaney and O’Shaugnessy were out in town on 19 August this year, having come to Guernsey temporarily for work. O’Shaugnessy came to the island from Canada and Meaney from Tipperary in Ireland. 

After Folies closed, Meaney left the club and was approached by another man. There was a row and Meaney was headbutted.

The attacker was dealt with separately, having pleaded guilty to assault and been sentenced to six months in Les Nicolles before Meaney and O’Shaugnessy stood trial in the Magistrates Court.

O’Shaugnessy reacted immediately to Meaney getting headbutted by throwing a punch which missed. Meaney followed suit and threw a second punch that connected.

The victim, having fallen to the floor, got to his feet and walked away with O’Shaugnessy following. O’Shaugnessy then hailed a passing police car with the intention of reporting the victim for headbutting Meaney.

The two defendents were charged with using unlawful violence, to which they both pleaded guilty.

Pictured: The incident was caught in part by CCTV outside Folies.

Advocate Chris Green defended O’Shaugnessy by arguing that he was simply reacting to seeing Meaney, his stepson, being headbutted. He said that O’Shaugnessy had never been involved in a violent altercation before.

Meaney stood unrepresented and simply apologised to both Judge Graeme McKerrell and the Guernsey public for the incident. 

Before giving his sentence, Judge McKerrell asked if O’Shaugnessy had any intention of coming back to Guernsey: “He said he’s had enough of Guernsey for now,” said Advocate Green.

“I do not condone what either of you did,” Judge McKerrell replied. “Violence is not accepted in Guernsey.”

He then gave an “exceptional” sentence due to both defendants' previous good character, issuing a ‘bind-over’ to leave the island.

Both Meaney and O’Shaugnessy swore under oath to leave Guernsey within seven days and not return for five years.

“In the politest possible way,” said Judge Mckerrell, “clear off.”