A MAN has been given a five-year sentence for assaulting two middle-aged men and a good Samaritan who came to their rescue.
Jonathan Johnson (21), Sillogue Gardens, Ballymun, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three counts of assault causing harm to the men at Sillogue Road on November 6th, 2008.
Judge Patrick McCartan said the offences were carried out “for no good reason and with no provocation on two middle-aged men waiting for a taxi” before he suspended the last 12 months of the sentence.
The judge said the assaults were of “a serious and gratuitous nature” and said Johnson must serve a prison sentence.
He said the lives of the men had utterly changed and that he did not believe Johnson’s proposition that he could not remember the assaults.
Garda Michael Ryan told Garnet Orange, prosecuting, that Edward Sweeney and William Larkin were waiting for a taxi when they were attacked by three youths. Peter O’Flaherty, who came to their aid, was also attacked.
Mr O’Flaherty, who was 40 at the time, was the most seriously injured and was struck to the back of the head with a bottle and beaten on the ground before a number of bottles were thrown at him. The court heard he was left with a fractured skull, he had not regained full strength and was still on medical treatment.
Mr Sweeney, who was then 62, was punched to the body and head and knocked to the ground where he was kicked to the ribs and body.
He had to be taken to hospital later on that day.
Mr Larkin, who was then 54, received a punch to the side of the face, was knocked to the ground and kicked in the ribs but was not kept in hospital.
Garda Ryan agreed with Damien Colgan, defending, that Johnson was “intoxicated” and had taken “a few tablets”, but he agreed with Mr Colgan that he could not conclusively say Johnson was holding the bottle.
Mr Colgan said Johnson could not offer any explanation but did express remorse. He said Johnson had problems with drink and drugs over the years but urine analysis results would show he was not taking them any more.