Courts / Dublin / Report

Man carried out unprovoked chair assault in McDonald's because he "got a bad vibe"

Date
2016-12-15

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

In a McDonald's on Grafton Street, Dublin, 25‑year‑old James Thornton struck trainee firefighter Cian McNally on the head with a chair, causing a wound that required ten stitches. Thornton claimed he had not intended to hit McNally but was aiming at McNally's friend, whom he described as "looking like a little faggot" and who had given him a "bad vibe." He told Gardaí that he had taken heroin that morning and was under a drug‑induced psychosis. At the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Thornton pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. Judge Martin Nolan accepted the psychosis explanation and, after noting Thornton had been in custody for five months, sentenced him to a three‑year term suspended in full. No custodial time was imposed. The case was described as an unprovoked attack with no further motive offered. The victim, who had begun training with the Dublin Fire Brigade the following week, later completed his training.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Man carried out unprovoked chair assault in McDonald's because he "got a bad vibe". Charges or matters: assault causing harm to Mr McNally at McDonald's, Grafton Street on June 9, 2016. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

June 9, 2016 Incident
2016-12-15 Publication

Why: A man has received a suspended sentence for hitting someone with a chair in McDonald's because he "got a bad vibe" from the victim's friend. CNI source report