Man admits assaulting young boy over bullying in the Midlands

A man grabbed an 11-year-old boy from a bike in a Portlaoise estate because his son was allegedly being bullied. 

Stanislav Moravcik, 44, of 12 Walnut Close, Portlaoise admitted assaulting the boy at Foxburrow, Portlaoise on August 25 last year. 

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby told a sitting of Portlaoise District Court that the incident occurred at about 6pm. 

“This gentleman grabbed the injured party, an 11-year-old boy, by the body and told him to stop bullying his son,” he explained. 

He said the man pulled the boy from a bicycle causing him to cut his arm and hand. 

Solicitor Barry Fitzgerald said that while it is no excuse, there was a particular background to the offending. 

He said the man has been living in Ireland for 18 years and works part time in a pizzeria. His nine-year-old son has psychological issues from bullying, he said.

Mr Fitzgerald said his client “saw something happening” and had “reacted totally over the top.”

He explained that his reply when charged was to apologise and that the man had brought €1,000 to court and had written a letter of apology for the court. 

Mr Fitzgerald said the man was on a waiting list to move house and had a letter from the HSE in relation to his own son.  He said a victim impact statement from the boy’s father is to be commended for being “magnanimous”. 

“He does say that he doesn’t want severe legal consequences for the client,” he said. 

Judge Nicola Andrews said children get bullied and although it isn’t pleasant, people can’t act in the way the defendant had.

She said she was quite “moved” by the victim impact statement from the father. She ordered that the €1,000 be directed to the victim and applied the probation act to the defendant. 

“It is not up to you to take matters into your own hands,” Judge Andrews warned the man.