I got punched in the face last night for no reason

euser1984 · 09-08-2015 01:10PM #1

It's on CCTV. The guards are ringing me to see if I want to make a statement today....

I'm not sure where to go with this because out of adrenaline I punched him back. I suppose I want justice (he was some young fella showing off to his girlfriend I think). The guards said that it's not always the case that punching back means setting myself up for trouble, if I continue to work on bringing this issue to court.

The guards also said though that "two wrongs doesn't make a right".... I have to make a statement though because he was talking about a chipped tooth to the guards. I have other medical issues and major problems going on in my life as it is and I didn't need this.

I don't want legal advice just what people have experienced or know of happening in the courts....perhaps a link to some stories would be very beneficial....this has now taken up my whole day so far.

ScottStorm · 09-08-2015 01:15PM

Define "no reason" was being punched the first time you knew of this guy and his aggression?

Throwing one punch in retaliation is not a big issue, beating him severely would be.

Celly Smunt · 09-08-2015 01:16PM

Punching somebody back after they hit you is clear self defence, don't mind the guard saying two wrongs don't make a right. You reacted reasonably to an unprovoked attack.

Press charges.

BreadnBuddha · 09-08-2015 01:24PM

He hit you, you hit him back.

If you HAD to hit him to defend yourself, you can say so.

If he hit you and you CHOSE to hit him to get even, maybe it's best to consider letting it go at that.

If you have health and other things to deal with, don't be wasting your time and energy on this situation.

He hit you unprovoked, you hit him back, end of story as far as you're concerned. The Gardai will tidy it up from there if you're telling the truth.

Celly Smunt · 09-08-2015 01:26PM

BreadnBuddha wrote: »

He hit you, you hit him back.

If you HAD to hit him to defend yourself, you can say so.

If he hit you and you CHOSE to hit him to get even, maybe it's best to consider letting it go at that.

If you have health and other things to deal with, don't be wasting your time and energy on this situation.

He hit you unprovoked, you hit him back, end of story as far as you're concerned. The Gardai will tidy it up from there if you're telling the truth.

I don't agree with this, the less people persue these issues the more common they become. If the attacker happened to be punished for assault they might think twice about doing it again.

punisher5112 · 09-08-2015 01:37PM

Hi op I have had this happen twice on a night out where one was by a person I had never met before.
Just wanted to fight another was a so called friend who I actually saved from being beaten to a pulp by 4 bouncers and he then turned on me.

Work also a couple of times it seems to be a issue and a lot more aggresive people out there.

Do pursue it as you done nothing wrong and I presume did not start the fight.

I had another incident years ago outside a friends house I had just pulled up on motorbike and had just taken off my helmet when one of the friends neighbours came by me on the path my bike was on the road side and I had just turned when he head but me. There was another guy with him also and I had managed to hit 1st guy back and put him off balance when the other jumped on me causing me to fall back over my bike with bike also hitting the ground.

Gaurds eventually caught the guy and 1 paid compensation to save receiving a charge.

I had never had any trouble with the neighbour and always said hi in passing.

Very weird and dangerous characters out there.

euser1984 · 09-08-2015 02:17PM

I think I threw 2 punches back but I was drunk too....maybe I could be got with "drunk in a public place"....when I say "drunk" though I mean as drunk as any usual people get when they have drank some vodka after a few pints etc. Everything was a blur when I was hitting him back though....my nose was pumping blood and it was all over my shirt at the time....I also got a big cut on the top of my nose....I don't know if it's broken....I was knocked down by a car when I was on a bike a long time ago....I have epilepsy and I can't work, I live in social housing. He just didn't care who it might be.

Regarding what happened, he was getting thick with a fella that was with me and I was the peacemaker....all of a sudden I get a punch in the face but he didn't hit the other guy at all. I was probably the easier target to get his aggression out. I had met the fella earlier on and he seemed sound enough...just said some small talk when I was outside smoking a cigarette.

I will go and look at the cctv shortly...maybe I should get legal advice before I make a statement?

I'm around 30 and he was only about 17 or 18 I'd say....I know the girl he was with was giving me eye contact any chance she got. I don't know if he saw that or not.

BreadnBuddha · 09-08-2015 03:03PM

euser1984 wrote: »

I think I threw 2 punches back but I was drunk too....maybe I could be got with "drunk in a public place"....when I say "drunk" though I mean as drunk as any usual people get when they have drank some vodka after a few pints etc. Everything was a blur when I was hitting him back though....my nose was pumping blood and it was all over my shirt at the time....I also got a big cut on the top of my nose....I don't know if it's broken....I was knocked down by a car when I was on a bike a long time ago....I have epilepsy and I can't work, I live in social housing. He just didn't care who it might be.

Regarding what happened, he was getting thick with a fella that was with me and I was the peacemaker....all of a sudden I get a punch in the face but he didn't hit the other guy at all. I was probably the easier target to get his aggression out. I had met the fella earlier on and he seemed sound enough...just said some small talk when I was outside smoking a cigarette.

I will go and look at the cctv shortly...maybe I should get legal advice before I make a statement?

I'm around 30 and he was only about 17 or 18 I'd say....I know the girl he was with was giving me eye contact any chance she got. I don't know if he saw that or not.

Get legal advice promptly.

There's more to this story than meets the eye, including the possibility of having effectively assaulted a minor, while you were intoxicated etc.

euser1984 · 09-08-2015 03:11PM

It happened in a nationwide fast food store....Would it not be their responsibility to have a security person there?

Penny Tration · 09-08-2015 03:14PM

euser1984 wrote: »

It happened in a nationwide fast food store....Would it not be their responsibility to have a security person there?

They have security to secure the place, not to be a personal bodyguard!

It's got nothing to do with the fast food place.

Because of the complexities involved (you throwing more than one punch, him possibly being a minor, etc), go speak to a solicitor before doing anything.

euser1984 · 09-08-2015 03:47PM

I've found out he's not a minor anyway.

euser1984 · 09-08-2015 03:47PM

Thanks everyone!

09-08-2015 04:03PM

OP - Go to get legal advice right away and get a professional's opinion before proceeding with anything else.

punisher5112 · 09-08-2015 04:40PM

Doesn't matter minor or old age pensioner nobody should attack another.

Self defence no problems.....

09-08-2015 04:49PM

punisher5112 wrote: »

Doesn't matter minor or old age pensioner nobody should attack another.

Self defence no problems.....

Can you unequivocally say that this is the case? I don't know what exactly counts as self defence, especially given that the OP threw more than one punch and acted more aggressively, going by what he said.

punisher5112 · 09-08-2015 04:52PM

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Can you unequivocally say that this is the case? I don't know what exactly counts as self defence, especially given that the OP threw more than one punch and acted more aggressively, going by what he said.

Who threw 1st punch.....

Self defence is a grey area obviously there are limits to what you can do but every situation is different.

I have had issues similar and other stuff too.

Some on the job and some while out at night oh and also even out walking the dogs so sh1t can and does happen.

09-08-2015 04:55PM

punisher5112 wrote: »

Who threw 1st punch.....

Self defence is a grey area obviously there are limits to what you can do but every situation is different.

I have had issues similar and other stuff too.

Some on the job and some while out at night oh and also even out walking the dogs so sh1t can and does happen.

Yes, but if the OP decides to go to court and a judge deems that he was more aggressive, regardless of who threw the first punch, then it could potentially work against them. That's what I mean - it's a grey area and that's why the OP needs to get proper legal advice from a professional. Or just decide not to pursue legal action. It all just depends on what they decide to do.

punisher5112 · 09-08-2015 05:01PM

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Yes, but if the OP decides to go to court and a judge deems that he was more aggressive, regardless of who threw the first punch, then it could potentially work against them. That's what I mean - it's a grey area and that's why the OP needs to get proper legal advice from a professional. Or just decide not to pursue legal action. It all just depends on what they decide to do.

Fully understand your question/point,

I would still follow it up.

Your body/instinct will do one of 2 things fight or flight.

Yes there will be cases where run would be best option but that can also go wrong.

Hopefully the op will be ok and I honestly hope if he is telling the full story the other fella is worse of but I would hazard a guess its not the 1st time the other fella has hit out.

Cops will try anything to put you off following up.

I am still waiting for an assualt case from 2006 where I was assaulted from behind I had no warning or chance to defend myself till I had already got 4 digs one busting my eye. Luckily it didn't blind me.

The guy left the country shortly after believed to be in the UK .

power pants · 09-08-2015 05:26PM

Personally Id let this go, no lasting damage and if you press charges, more than likely you go months until a court date causing stress and worry. IF the other guy is found guilty he will be let off anyway without any conviction

Basically not pursuing it will lead you to the same outcome as pursuing plus the added stress

punisher5112 · 09-08-2015 05:29PM

power pants wrote: »

Personally Id let this go, no lasting damage and if you press charges, more than likely you go months until a court date causing stress and worry. IF the other guy is found guilty he will be let off anyway without any conviction

Basically not pursuing it will lead you to the same outcome as pursuing plus the added stress

That's just playing into what the government want as if nobody reports crime then obviously there isn't a problem which of course we know there is.

Figures been hidden and reports not filed on Garda pulse.

No stress involved screw the other person they should never have started and the sooner more stand up for themselves the better.

freshpopcorn · 09-08-2015 05:57PM

I'd be cautious op and seek legal advice.
From the original post I thought you were standing somewhere and somebody walked up and hit you in the face. From your more recent posts it's sound like you were trying to stop two people from figthing.
Did you by any chance put your hand on the other person at any stage this could look bad bon cctv.
How many times did you actually punch the guy back are you sure it was twice or was it more.
Just be careful op what I'm saying I've no idea how this could escaulate for you.

I got punched in the face last night for no reason

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