Courts / Dublin / Report

Young autistic man left blind in one eye after vicious attack by former friend

Summary

In a Dublin court hearing, a 20‑year‑old autistic man was left blind in his right eye after a violent assault by a 17‑year‑old former friend. The attack, which took place in St Stephen's Green in 2016, was witnessed by 30‑40 friends and filmed on phones. The perpetrator, who was 15 at the time, pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm on 13 August 2016. He is scheduled for sentencing at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Martin Nolan described the assault as vicious and tragic, noting the victim's innocence and the severe impact of losing an eye. The judge highlighted the victim's autism and the potential long‑term effects on his confidence and employment prospects. The court heard the victim's impact statement, which was not read aloud but submitted to the judge. The defendant, who has no prior convictions, had been working in a Youthreach mentoring programme and expressed remorse.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Young autistic man left blind in one eye after vicious attack by former friend. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• August 13, 2016 Incident
• September 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2018-05-03 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Sentence Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report