Waterford man receives suspended sentence for shopping centre assault involving horse whip
Danny Harty was serving a suspended sentence at the time of the assault.
Danny Harty (28), of Shandon Halting Site, Dungarvan, received a two-year suspended sentence for violent disorder, following a brawl in Dungarvan Shopping Centre on November 15, 2023.
A charge of the production of an article capable of inflicting serious injury was also taken into consideration. Danny Harty carried a horse whip with him on the day of the incident.
On the morning of the incident, the Harty family were involved in an altercation outside the village post office with members of two other families.
The court heard that there was a history of incidents between the involved families.
CCTV footage showed Danny Harty then arriving into the shopping centre alongside his mother at around 9.20am.
Footage shows a relative of Danny Harty’s headbutting a member of the rival families. A brawl between the families then ensued in the shopping centre.
Danny Harty attacked another man with his horse whip.
Footage then shows Danny Harty being shoved to the ground, where a member of the rival families attempted to kick his head whilst lying prone.
At the time of the incident, Danny Harty was serving a 12-month suspended sentence issued by Galway District Court.
As of March 19, 2026, Danny Harty had 77 previous convictions. The majority were made up of Road Traffic Act violations. He had one violent disorder conviction, one for trespassing, three for criminal damage and three for public order offences.
Danny Harty had been in custody since December 12, 2025, in relation to the incident in Dungarvan Shopping Centre.
Different parties involved in the incident had previously been on trial at Waterford courthouse.
Representing the defendant, Brian O’Shea, BL, argued that Mr Harty was not the instigator of the altercation and showed restraint.
Judge Eugene O’Kelly concurred.
A psychological report commissioned in December 2025 for Danny Harty highlighted a lack of coping skills and a difficulty in emotional regulation.
The report said Danny Harty had substandard intellectual function.
Mr O’Shea told the court that Danny Harty had recurring suicidal thoughts and used intoxicating substances as a coping mechanism.
Judge O’Kelly said the incident was “shocking violence in the lead up to Christmas”. Danny Harty’s sentence was aggravated by the fact that the incident took place in the public realm.
Danny Harty will be subject to the supervision of probation services for one of the two years of his suspended sentence.
He also entered a €100 bond to keep the peace for the duration of his sentence.
