A 21-YEAR-OLD Sydney man was yesterday jailed for 19 years for a “horrendous” attack on Corkman David Keohane on August 9th, 2008.
Thomas Isaako was sentenced to 19 years in jail with a non-parole period of 14 years for assaulting Mr Keohane, and a separate attack on a foreign student nine days later.
Isaako pleaded guilty to robbery and inflicting grievous bodily harm on Mr Keohane after being acquitted of attempted murder by a jury.
With time already spent in custody, Isaako will be eligible for release on September 15th, 2022.
Outside Sydney’s District Court yesterday, Christopher O’Mara, a former workmate of Mr Keohane, read a mobile phone text message from him which said: “Good result . . . locked up until 2022.”
The Keohane family watched the sentence hearing on a live video link-up from Cork. A spokesman for the family said: “The investigation is not finished, but in relation to this phase of it, the family are pleased.” Mr Keohane was in a coma for seven months and in hospital for more than a year after being attacked in the beachside suburb of Coogee by Isaako and an accomplice, who is still at large. Mr Keohane was repatriated to Ireland while still in a coma, from which he emerged on St Patrick’s Day 2009.
At yesterday’s sentencing, Judge Ronald Soloman said the injuries sustained by Mr Keohane were “horrendous”, and have serious consequences for him and his family. “The injuries suffered by the victim are more serious than almost any case of robbery.
“The savage attack in a matter of moments tragically changed the course of the victim’s life from that of a successful, independent young man to that of a dependent person confined to a wheelchair.”
During Isaako’s trial, the court heard Mr Keohane was beaten so severely that almost every bone in his face was fractured, and doctors did not expect him to survive.
The court heard that Isaako consumed a large quantity of alcohol and was under the influence of crystal methamphetamine on the night of the attack, and that he and an accomplice decided to “roll” someone.
On March 16th this year, after Isaako was acquitted of attempted murder, Mr Keohane’s father Tom, who was in Sydney for the trial, told reporters he was “very disappointed” with the verdict. “I feel that it’s my son who has been given a life sentence.
“I just hope the judge comes down hard on this guy for the attempted robbery and the wounding,” he said.
Mr Keohane’s sister Carol also attended the trial. In her victim’s impact statement, she said: “I remember during this time Sinéad and I ringing his voicemail just to hear the sound of his voice . . .
“It was soul-destroying and heartbreaking to see such a fit and active young man travel back [to Ireland] unconscious, with no control over his body, and no awareness that he was even leaving Australia and the successful life he had built for himself.” Ms Keohane said her brother “struggles at times coming to terms with the simplicity of some of the things he has to be taught”.
The New South Wales police last night renewed their appeal for information as to the whereabouts of a second man they wish to speak to in relation to the attack on Mr Keohane.