A man who beat two neighbours across the head with a table leg after his wife got into an argument with one of the victims' daughters has been jailed for seven years.
Christopher McDonagh (28), from Kilmahuddrick Road, Clondalkin, pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm to 42-year-old Mr Gerard Nolan and assault causing harm to Mr Robert Sidebottom (32) on April 8th, 2002. He has nine previous convictions.
McDonagh's vicious assault on Mr Nolan as he lay on the ground left him unconscious for two weeks. His skull was fractured in three places and he required brain surgery. His recovery has been good but he still has long-term health problems, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard.
Mr Sidebottom witnessed the assault from his bedroom window and ran to Mr Nolan's assistance, armed with a hurling stick which he used to try and block the blows McDonagh was raining down on Mr Nolan. When the hurley smashed he was also struck a number of times in the head and the body.
Judge Michael White at said such was the serious nature of both assaults that he felt it appropriate to impose consecutive sentences of five and two years, but suspended the last year.
"Had it not been for the courageous intervention of Mr Sidebottom then I have no doubt that Mr Nolan would have lost his life because at this stage his attacker was completely out of control", he said.