Courts / Dublin / Report

Victim unrecognisable after "brutal" assault with rock

Date
2018-12-05

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Rathfarnham

County
Dublin

Summary

In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Keith Mooney, aged 27, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for assault causing harm and possession of a rock during an attack on Derek Curran at St Enda's Park, Rathfarnham, on 26 June 2017. Mooney struck Curran's face with a rock, causing multiple facial fractures, a dislocated eye socket, fractured ribs and a broken cheekbone, and left him unconscious. The judge, Melanie Greally, described the assault as "particularly violent and brutal" and noted that Curran was traumatised and his mental health severely affected. Mooney's sentence was the maximum five years, with the final 18 months suspended, taking into account his guilty plea, family background and substance‑use history. The case highlighted the severity of the offence and the impact on the victim.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Victim unrecognisable after "brutal" assault with rock. Charges or matters: assault causing harm and production of a rock during the course of an assault at St Enda's Park, Rathfarnham on June 26, 2017. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

June 26, 2017 Incident
2018-12-05 Publication

Why: Gda Foley told Ms Dempsey that his colleague who attended the scene with him knew Mr Curran but did not recognise the man because his injuries were so extensive. CNI source report

Case subjects

Keith Mooney

Defendant

Charges: assault causing harm and production of a rock during the course of an assault at St Enda's Park, Rathfarnham on June 26, 2017 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: The judge said the case was "as serious as they get in terms of this type of offence" before she sentenced Mooney to the maximum term of five years. Judge Greally suspended the final 18 months of the sentence having taking into account Mooney's plea of guilty.