Andrew Byrne sentenced to four years for assault outside Dublin GPO

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Andrew Byrne was sentenced to four years, with the final six months suspended on strict conditions, after pleading guilty to assault causing harm on Lower O'Connell Street on January 26, 2021. Judge Pauline Codd backdated the sentence to May 19, when Byrne’s previous sentence ended.

The court heard that the victim spent six weeks in hospital, including a period in intensive care, after suffering a bleed to the brain. A medical report said he would face long-term difficulties. The judge cited the injury and its impact, Byrne’s relevant previous convictions and the fact he was on bail as aggravating features; she also considered his guilty plea, efforts to address addiction and remorse.

The court heard Byrne struck the victim after he intervened while Byrne was being aggressive towards his partner. It was unclear who threw the first punch. Judge Codd said Byrne’s conduct was the catalyst and did not accept that he was acting to defend his partner.