Archili Mindadze jailed for assault causing harm

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

Archili Mindadze received a three-and-a-half-year sentence, with the final six months suspended, for assault causing harm at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Sarah Berkeley referred to a probation report placing him at a moderate risk of re-offending. The proceedings were reported on 23 November 2015.

He pleaded guilty to assaulting Iurii Borta causing him harm. The assault happened at the dentist’s surgery on Summerhill Parade, Dublin, on 1 October 2012.

The report said Mindadze sliced the dentist’s hand and struck him in the face while he and a co-accused questioned him about protection money. They threatened those present against calling police and gave the dentist ten days to leave Ireland or pay. The co-accused subsequently fled the country.

Detective Garda Niamh Coates said colleagues recovered a knife similar to the one used in the attack from Mindadze’s kitchen, bearing DNA matching the injured party. In interview, Mindadze admitted being at the surgery but denied using a knife or force.

The detective accepted that Mindadze had claimed the co-accused’s partner received “substandard” dental treatment. The report said she suffered an infection and Mindadze said he accompanied the co-accused to address it. Gardaí arrested both men when they returned on 12 October.

In his victim impact statement, the dentist described scarring and numbness in his left hand and episodes of anxiety, which he said had eased with time. Mindadze had 14 previous convictions, including dangerous driving and a 2008 theft.

At a sentencing hearing in October, defence counsel Marc Thompson asked the judge to consider that Mindadze fully accepted his role in the knife assault. However, a probation report disclosed on 23 November 2015 recorded his continuing claim that his accomplice brought the knife and used it.

Mr Thompson said Mindadze had suffered PTSD following war service and injuries while working as a police bodyguard. Counsel acknowledged there were no documents supporting that history, but submitted that Mindadze had a PTSD diagnosis and was taking medication. He sought leniency.