Courts / Dublin / Report

Cancer patient broke victim's leg in vicious robbery

Summary

Martin Hanley, aged 55, was sentenced by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for a violent robbery on 23 November 2017 in Gardiner Lane. He knocked victim Frank O'Neill to the ground, demanded money, and stamped on O'Neill's leg, breaking his tibia. O'Neill, aged in his 60s, was left unable to run and later unable to walk, with the injuries likely to cause arthritis. Hanley, who is undergoing cancer treatment and has had a lung removed, pleaded guilty. Judge Karen O'Connor described the attack as vicious and frightening, suspended the last two and a half years of a five‑year term, and imposed a longer custodial period. Hanley was placed on a two‑year bond for good behaviour and required to engage with Probation Services. No order was made regarding a €2,000 offer of remorse from Hanley's family. The Probation Service assessed him as a moderate risk of re‑offending.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Cancer patient broke victim's leg in vicious robbery. Charges or matters: robbery at Gardiner Lane, Dublin on November 23, 2017. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• November 23, 2017 Incident
• 2019-03-29 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Sentence Theft Violent Crime

Related court reports

• 'Brilliant law academic' who stabbed elderly father to death found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity
• 'He told me he loved me, but I just kept stabbing him' - lawyer on trial accused of murdering father
• Mentally ill man who received suspended sentence for harassing barrister contacted her within days of release, court hears
• Former solicitor at prestigious firm pleads not guilty to murdering father by reason of insanity
• Sentence adjourned for broadcaster Brendan Courtney's attacker
• 'I'm going to kill you' - Carjacker held knife to elderly woman's throat

Read the original CNI report