Mayo man who attacked sibling with iron bar gets prison term

A man struck his brother with an iron bar after he had been “annoying” him, a court heard.

Noel Tierney, aged 43, of Summerfield, Castlebar, pleaded guilty at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court to assault.

Tierney attacked his brother Jason in the home they shared on October 18, 2022.

Jason reported to gardaí that he had been struck with an iron bar and punched several times.

When arrested, Noel Tierney told gardaí his brother had been annoying him in the house and he believed his sibling had been telling lies about him in town.

He attacked his brother with a bar that had been on a weights bench.

The 43-year-old has a number of previous convictions and has spent time in the Adult Mental Health Unit at Mayo University Hospital.

He previously spent three months in hospital in Australia due to a drug-induced psychosis.

Garda Deborah Gilroy said their was no victim impact statement as Jason just wanted his brother to get the help he needs.

“Clearly this man has mental health issues,” said Judge Eoin Garavan who imposed an 18-month prison sentence with the final six months suspended.

This was backdated to reflect the time Tierney has already spent in custody, meaning he will be released within days.

* Published under the Courts Reporting Scheme.