Men jailed for crowbar attack on father of four in Cork

Two men, who took turns to beat a father of four with a crowbar so badly that he thought he was going to die, have been jailed for five and six years in Cork.

Jamie O'Brien (20) and Eddie Murphy (26) pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm to Mark Lahive at Exchange Business Park, John F Connolly Road, Churchfield in Cork on April 28th.

Det Garda Pat Barry told Cork Circuit Crimiinal Court that Mr Lahive begged the two men to stop but they ignored his pleas and continued beating him, leaving him with life-threatening injuries.

Mr Lahive worked in the confectionery trade. He was finishing up after a day’s work and attending to deliveries in the back of his van when he saw the two accused acting suspiciously near his van.

Det Garda Barry said Mr Lahive had a four-foot long iron crowbar in his van and he held it in his hand and told the duo to leave the area but they challenged him and grabbed the iron bar.

“Unfortunately, things turned sour, they turned on him. He fell to the ground and the iron bar was taken from him. He was severely beaten not by one but by both of them,” he said.

“The resulting injuries were life-changing. He will never be able to return to work,” said Det Garda Barry, adding that the culprits were found nearby with Mr Lahive’s blood splattered on their clothes.

Mr Lahive was rushed to Cork University Hospital and put an induced coma for several days after undergoing surgery to reduce swelling to the brain which he suffered in the attack.

Judge David Riordan was told that Mr Lahive is currently undergoing treatment at the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dún Laoghaire where he faces several months of further treatment.

A victim impact report on behalf of Mr Lahive was read by Garda Eimear O’Connell in which Mr Lahive detailed how before the attack he was outgoing person who loved life and his young family.

He said his life changed with the first blow from the bar when he could feel his skull breaking open and blood streaming down his face and he thought his life was about to end.

“This has destroyed my life. I am not the person I was .... No matter what jail sentences they get it will not be enough. It was degrading what they did. You would not do it to a dying dog.

“I will have to deal with this for the rest of my life. Everything I looked forward to in my life is gone,” said Mr Lahive in his victim impact statement.

Mr Lahive’s wife, Rebecca said in her statement: “These people have ruined our lives. I have to live with flashbacks of my husband lying in a pool of blood, not knowing if he would live or die.”

O’Brien of Meadow Hills, The Meadows, Hollyhill, Cork has four previous assault convictions, including two for assault causing harm. He was released from jail just a week before the attack.

Defence barrister Katherine McGillicuddy said that on the day in question, her client just snapped after consuming alcohol and drugs and he was deeply ashamed and apologised for the attack.

Murphy of Kilmore Road, Knocknaheeny, had some 65 previous, the majority for public order and some for carrying knives with many of them dating from when he had been a young fellow.

Murphy’s barrister, Niamh Stewart BL said her client knew he was getting a lengthy sentence and accepted he deserved it but she asked for some light at the end of the tunnel for him.

Judge Riordan noted the consequences for Mr Lahive had been life-changing. “He was left almost for dead. This was a truly egregious offence. It resides at the higher end of the scale of seriousness.”

Judge Riordan sentenced O’Brien to six years in jail with the last year suspended while he sentenced Murphy to six years for the assault causing serious harm to Mr Lahive.