Courts / Dublin / Report
Suspended sentence for man who fractured garda's eye socket with punches
Summary
Patrick Davis, a 30‑year‑old unemployed butcher, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm to Garda Ciaran Byrne and Desmond Dunphy on Thomas Street on 9 February 2014. The offence involved Davis punching Byrne twice, fracturing his eye socket, and also striking Dunphy. Davis was intoxicated and "out of control" and claimed he did not realise Byrne was a garda. Judge Martin Nolan accepted that Davis may not have known Byrne's identity but found his behaviour reprehensible. The court imposed a suspended jail sentence of two and a half years, conditioned on Davis paying €2,000 to Dunphy within a year. The sentence was suspended, and no custodial term was imposed. The case stemmed from a confrontation that began after a christening celebration and a pub visit on Thomas Street. The court noted that Davis had no prior convictions and that the incident occurred during a period of personal tragedy for him.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Suspended sentence for man who fractured garda's eye socket with punches. Charges or matters: assault causing harm to Garda Byrne and Desmond Dunphy on Thomas Street, Dublin on February 9, 2014. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- February 9, 2014 Incident
- 2015-11-03 Publication
Why: When Gda Byrne arrived Davis was shouting and still acting extremely aggressively and the garda placed himself between the two groups of men in order to prevent another assault. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: assault causing harm to Garda Byrne and Desmond Dunphy on Thomas Street, Dublin on February 9, 2014 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He suspended a jail sentence of two and a half years on condition that Davis pay €2,000 over to Mr Dunphy in the next year.
Places mentioned
- Marrowbone Lane
- Dublin
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Thomas Street
- Dublin
- Thomas Street
Topics
Pubs And Nightclubs Stage Sentence Violent Crime
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