Courts / Dublin / Report
Man who attacked stepson and threatened to slit his throat avoids jail
Summary
David McDermott, 43, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm after a dispute over a garden. He entered his stepson Daniel Conlon's house, punched him in the eye, repeatedly struck him in the head, kicked him in the torso and threatened to slit his throat. Conlon, 23, recorded the assault and later presented the audio to Gardaí. McDermott initially denied the assault and the threat, claiming he had only urged Conlon to get a job and that he loved him. He admitted to drinking heavily before the incident. The court noted McDermott's lack of prior convictions, his relationship with Conlon's mother, his four children, his health issues and his father's critical condition. Judge Martina Baxter sentenced him to two and a half years imprisonment, fully suspended on the condition of good behaviour and peacekeeping. The sentence was imposed after McDermott's early guilty plea and other mitigating factors. Conlon was commended for not retaliating.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Man who attacked stepson and threatened to slit his throat avoids jail. Charges or matters: one count of assault causing harm at Summerville Avenue, Walkinstown, on June 23, 2017. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- June 23, 2017 Incident
- 2018-12-10 Publication
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: one count of assault causing harm at Summerville Avenue, Walkinstown, on June 23, 2017 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Judge Martina Baxter sentenced McDermott to two and a half years imprisonment, but suspended the entirety of the sentence provided he keep the peace and be of good behaviour.
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