supermarket assault Couple who punched and attacked nephew with handbag told to keep their troubles in Slovakia

A MIDDLE aged couple who punched their nephew and attacked him with a handbag in a row that started in Slovakia claimed they “saw red” when they spotted him in a local supermarket.

Oskar and Maria Hangurbadzo, both 50, were told by a judge they “should keep their troubles in Slovakia and not bring them to Balbriggan” after they were convicted of assaulting Miroslav Pompa.

The couple, of Dun Saithne View in Balbriggan, Co Dublin, pleaded guilty to Section 2 assault on Mr Pompa on January 8, 2020 at Tesco Extra in the town. They have no previous convictions.

Balbriggan District Court heard Mr Pompa was at the self service checkout in the supermarket when Oskar walked up to him and punched him in the left side of his face.

Maria then tried to assault him by swinging her handbag at him but he managed to grab the bag before it struck him.

The couple were then escorted off the premises by security staff and gardai arrived at the scene.

Defence solicitor Siobhan MacNeilis told Judge Dermot Dempsey the injured party is known to the couple.

“He is their nephew and there had been a serious incident in Slovakia between the nephew and Maria.

“When they were leaving the supermarket they saw him. They hadn’t seen him in a year and they saw red.

Ms MacNeilis said Oskar accepts full responsibility and he shouldn’t have hit him.

When asked by Judge Dempsey why Maria got involved, Ms MacNeilis said when Oskar “carried out his actions she attempted to hit him with her handbag.”

Ms MacNeilis said the couple have a total of €500 in compensation to offer to Mr Pompa as a token of remorse.

However, Judge Dempsey refused to accept compensation.

Instead he convicted and fined Oskar €150 and Maria €100 for the assault offence.

“They should keep their troubles in Slovakia and not bring them to Balbriggan,” remarked Judge Dempsey.

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Online Editors