Reporting an assault

LegacyUser

I'm a little unsure about what has even happened and I'd like to know what other people make of it and how I should go about getting assistance with it from the authorities.

In or about 3 o'clock last Friday (i.e. this weekend) I popped into my local off licence on the Bandon Road here in Cork. I went to make a purchase and unfortunately couldn't get served because I'd forgotten photo ID. This was quite understandable really so I went outside where my friend was waiting and he offered to go back inside and make the purchase for me.

Another individual, a young male that couldn't have been more than 16, seemed amused at what had transpired. A friend of his, I guess about the same age - but taller - emerged from the off-licence a short time afterward and at this point the two then thought they could round on me.

'You not over 18 then?' one of them said, laughing. To which I replied '**** off'. Which was a bad idea. What happened then was that the two threatened me with violence for my insolence and said that they would have decked me if it were not for the security cameras. I just laughed this off, as they seriously expected me to leave a position of safety and come around the corner to 'fight' them. One performed a high kick with his shoe and just about avoided my face thinking that would intimidate me.

Anyway, by this stage my friend emerged from the off licence and the two lads carried on up the road and seemed to stop and wait there some distance away but still visible. They seriously expected me to come looking for trouble. Instead my friend and I made tracks in an entirely different direction.

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I thought this would be the end of the matter but what happened today has left me quite shaken. As I was walking down Barrack Street today, not really more than two hours ago at this stage, I started hearing a voice behind me as I approached Elizabeth Fort and the Garda Barracks. I didn't immediately realise it was addressed toward me and thought it was directed toward someone else. It seemed to go along the lines of 'Hippy! Hey Hippy!' (presumably as I have long hair) and 'Small guy!' The voice also seemed someway off so I didn't bother to look behind me and carried on walking. Next thing I know I get a ferocious kick from a boot into my back and I've fallen from the ground.

I picked myself up and turned around and there was a lad, and he'd drawn back some distance as if fleeing, saying 'See, I told you I'd get you.' He seemed to be part of a larger group this time who were dressed the same as he was (tracksuits.) There was an older gentleman in front of me on the footpath and apart from seeming startled when I was kicked to the ground he carried on as if nothing had happened.

I crossed the road toward the Garda Barracks and tried to get out of sight. I would have walked into the station at that point and explained what had happened but it seemed to be closed. Surveying the damage I've got two grazed knees that hurt quite a bit and holes have been torn in my trousers where I hit the ground.

I just want to know what the best course of action from here is as this has never happened to me before. I'm only trusting vague acquaintance with the law to tell me that what happened was an assault and not something else. Is it even worth my time reporting it? What I've surmised so far is:

a) it's obviously the same individual as outside the off-licence on the Friday
so
b) they're going to be on the off-licence security cameras

I'd know my assailant to see him but I honestly cannot describe him in any detail. So I think my best chance is to pull the security camera footage. I just don't know where to start with any of this though.

Salome

Unless you've got a witness to say that it was one of the guys from the off-licence, you don't have a case I'm afraid. It's your word against his, when it comes down to it. Sorry.

Wibbs

Closing this as it's going to go down the legal advice road which nobody here can give. I would suggest talking to a solicitor or ask in the local Garda station. I've found them very helpful in the past and honest too about whether something is worth pursuing.