Man who hit fellow coaching student with car avoids jail

A 21-year-old Dublin man has received a two-year suspended sentence after pleading guilty to assaulting a fellow soccer coaching student with his car at Raphoe Road, Crumlin on 9 March 2017. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that the injured party had approached the defendant's vehicle to apologise for a punch thrown 15 months earlier. Garda evidence indicated that after the apology was acknowledged, the defendant accelerated and struck the man, causing him to be thrown into the air. The injured party sustained injuries to his right side, lower back, and left leg. The defendant, who has 16 previous convictions, was arrested following CCTV review. He initially claimed panic but later denied claiming the injured party had threatened him. Judge Martina Baxter suspended the sentence on condition the defendant keep the peace for two years and complete 200 hours community work. The court noted his guilty plea, his €1,000 compensation payment, and his current plumbing apprenticeship.