Courts / Dublin / Report

Retired fireman forced to move from home of 21 years after violent confrontation with addict

Date
2018-10-22

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, William Deans, 57, was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison, with 18 months suspended, for a violent break‑in at the home of a 73‑year‑old retired fire officer, Michael Hempenstall, on 8 January 2016. Deans, who has 111 prior convictions, entered the house, threatened to infect Hempenstall with AIDS, and assaulted him and a neighbour, causing physical injury and a six‑week hospital stay for Hempenstall. Deans pleaded guilty to trespass, theft, assault, and damaging a door. The court noted the severity of the assault, the victim's vulnerability, and Deans' attempts at rehabilitation while in custody. The sentence was back‑dated to May of the same year to credit the five months he had already served. The case highlighted the impact of the offence on Hempenstall, who had to relocate from his 21‑year home to be closer to his daughter.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Retired fireman forced to move from home of 21 years after violent confrontation with addict. Charges or matters: trespass, theft and assaulting Mr Hempenstall causing him harm at Clonliffe Avenue, Ballybough, Dublin 3, on January 8, 2016; damaging a door at the injured party's home on the same date. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

January 8, 2016 Incident
2018-10-22 Publication

Case subjects

William Deans

Defendant

Charges: trespass, theft and assaulting Mr Hempenstall causing him harm at Clonliffe Avenue, Ballybough, Dublin 3, on January 8, 2016; damaging a door at the injured party's home on the same date (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: She imposed a seven and a half year sentence with the final 18 months suspended.