FOUR New York City police officers and one civilian were charged with misdemeanors on Friday, February 15, for their involvement in the beating of an Irish immigrant who lost his sight in one eye in Yonkers in September.Peter Cummins, 26, from Kilmallock, Co. Limerick, suffered a cracked skull, nasal fractures and permanent loss of sight to his left eye when a fight broke out on McLean Avenue in Yonkers on September 14, just after 3 a.m. Words were exchanged between two off duty New York City police officers and their friend, insulting Cummins female friend, which resulted in a brawl. The investigation, which has been ongoing since September, led to five people being arraigned in Yonkers City Court before Judge Michael Martinelli on Friday. Three of the officers, who all pleaded not guilty, were suspended without pay at the arraignment while the other officer, who also pleaded innocent, had recently resigned. The two police officers, off duty on the night in question, Michael McGhee, 30, and Thomas Wimmer, 25, and their friend Patrick Tully, 26, were charged with one count of third-degree assault, a charge that is considered a misdemeanor. McGhee's lawyer, Howard Tanner told the Journal News last week that his client "didn't' assault anyone . . . we look forward to trying the case, and I'm sure he will be exonerated."Wimmer, who resigned a few weeks ago from the force told the media through his lawyer Richard Murray that he was not pressured or told to resign. "There was another economic opportunity, and these charges were facing him," said Murray. According to the district attorney's office in Westchester County, the fight erupted on the sidewalk of McLean Avenue just as two New York City police officers on patrol arrived at the scene, after crossing over into the Yonkers border. (McLean Avenue is on the border of the Bronx and Yonkers). Patrol officers Stella Ibanez, 39, and Jeffrey Alicea, 32, immediately intervened handcuffing McGhee. According to prosecutors, as soon as McGhee identified himself as a police officer he was released. It later emerged that Ibanez and Alicea agreed to devise a story that, if asked, they would say the person involved in the attack was not a police officer. On Friday they pleaded not guilty. They were each charged with two counts of official misconduct. All five defendants, if convicted, face up to a year in jail. The judge also issued an order of protection barring all five defendants from having any contact with Cummins or the seven witnesses that have come forward in the case. Tully, McGhee and Wimmer are due back in court April 8. Alicea and Ibanez are due back April 17.The Irish community has expressed disdain with the charges as they emerged over the weekend. Asked not to be identified, a businessman in the community said it was ridiculous that "they are going to get away with this." "The lad (Cummins) was in hospital for a few days after this assault and the cops are only being charged with a misdemeanor. Third degree assault is usually when someone is left with a bruise or a bad pain. This poor young man is waiting on his eye to be removed - that's more than a bruise to me," he said infuriated. "I was under the impression they were going to be charged with first degree assault, which is a gang felony. If these were Irish lads who attacked a cop you can be sure that they would be up for first degree assault." Speaking about the general feeling in the community about the case, he added, "The Irish community here is outraged that after five months of serious investigating this is all they get charged with." Cummins, who has been living in the U.S. for a year and a half, is no longer able to do the things he loved to do. Since the attack, he had to give up playing rugby for Lansdowne Bhoys, he can only take on work that doesn't require heavy lifting and, according to a friend, who asked to remain anonymous, "He is afraid to go out at night now. This whole thing has really affected him."