Courts / Dublin / Report
Suspended sentence for student who broke woman's jaw during "rolling" football fight
Summary
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 24‑year‑old Sean Flood was given a suspended sentence for punching 18‑year‑old Leah Fay during a "rolling" football fight in the city centre. Flood had previously pleaded guilty to assaulting Ms Fay on D'Olier St on 16 May 2015, an offence that left her with a broken jaw in two places and required steel plates. The judge, Gerard Griffin, noted that Flood had four prior convictions for assault and public order offences, but also that he had undergone significant rehabilitation since the offence, including addressing alcohol abuse. Griffin imposed a headline sentence of three‑and‑a‑half years but reduced it to a two‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended sentence, subject to conditions. Ms Fay testified that the assault caused ongoing pain, depression and social anxiety, and that she had not been able to recover fully.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Suspended sentence for student who broke woman's jaw during "rolling" football fight. Charges or matters: assault of Ms Fay causing her harm on D'Olier St, Dublin, on May 16, 2015. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- May 16, 2015 Incident
- 2018-01-16 Publication
Why: Her social life was affected because she felt anxious and nervous going out. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: assault of Ms Fay causing her harm on D'Olier St, Dublin, on May 16, 2015 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Credit: Collins) A college student who broke a young woman's jaw in a one-punch assault has been given a suspended sentence. The judge said he would have imposed a headline sentence of three-and-a-half years but he noted that Flood had undergone "significant rehabilitation" since the offence.
Places mentioned
Topics
Public Order Stage Sentence Violent Crime
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