Schoolgirl (12) left ‘extremely frightened’ after man (50s) ‘lunged’ at her outside Westmeath hotel
Valerii Kaluhin leaving Mullingar Courthouse after he pleaded guilty to assaulting a 12-year-old girl following an incident in Kinnegad almost 12 months ago.
Judge Bernadette Owens said Valerii Kaluhin at 56-years-of-age "should have more sense" after he was arrested and charged with assault and public order outside a hotel in Kinnegad last July.
Valerii Kaluhin.
A Ukrainian man “lunged” at a young girl as she walked past a county Westmeath hotel causing her to run “frantically” from the scene and in an “extremely frightened” state.
Valerii Kaluhin, with an address at Room 5, Harrys Hotel, Kinnegad, Westmeath, pleaded guilty to assault, public intoxication and of engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour at Main Street, Kinnegad, Westmeath on July 10, 2023.
The 56-year-old was arrested after gardaí were called to the scene of the incident at around 6:30pm.
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Sergeant Sandra Keane, in outlining the State’s case at Mullingar District Court, said the young girl was walking past Kaluhin’s residing address when the accused suddenly darted towards her.
Judge Bernadette Owens said Valerii Kaluhin at 56-years-of-age "should have more sense" after he was arrested and charged with assault and public order outside a hotel in Kinnegad last July.
“There was no physical contact between the parties, but the young child was left extremely frightened and frantically ran from the scene,” she said.
Gardaí attended the scene soon afterwards and spoke to the accused about the incident, all of which was captured on CCTV.
Sgt Keane said Kaluhin was highly intoxicated and apologised for his actions which, she said, the accused insisted he could not recollect.
In defence, solicitor John Quinn was acceptive of his state of drunkenness, but did reveal Kaluhin’s shock at being accused of assault when no physical contact occurred between him and the youngster.
“He (Kaluhin) was a bit surprised when he was charged with assault because clearly he accepts the child was in fear and by virtue of that he has pleaded to that,” said Mr Quinn.
The local solicitor continued by saying Kaluhin’s state of inebriation were so acute, his client had “nearly fallen on the child”.
Valerii Kaluhin.
Judge Bernadette Owens said for a man of such adult maturity, Kaluhin “should have more sense” as it was revealed the accused was resident in Ireland almost two years and very much keen to settle here.
In terms of his own personal circumstances, a Ukrainian interpreter through Mr Quinn informed the court Kaluhin was studying at present.
When asked as to what those endeavours entailed, Judge Owens was informed Kaluhin was studying manual handling with a view to securing gainful employment.
“He is at pains to point out to me in no way did he intend to affront or cause any grief to the other party,” added Mr Quinn.
Kaluhim was subsequenly fined €300 for the assault charge with the accompanying public order charges being taken into consideration.
