Courts / Dublin / Report

Victim says he doesn't want "family man" attacker to be jailed

Date
2019-11-01

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

Two Dublin men, David Reilly (36) and Daryl Howe (23), were jailed for assaulting Andrew Smith during a feud. Reilly chased Smith into a house, slashed his face with a Stanley knife while Smith tried to shut a door, and Howe followed from the back, striking Smith with a club. Smith sustained lacerations and a facial scar. Both men pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Martin Nolan, noting the seriousness of the offence and the men's remorse, imposed a 27‑month sentence on Reilly and an 18‑month sentence on Howe, each having spent nine months in custody on remand. The judge considered their family responsibilities and prior records, concluding a custodial sentence was necessary. Smith did not give a victim impact statement. The case highlighted the feud's dissipation and Smith's wish that Reilly not be imprisoned.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Victim says he doesn't want "family man" attacker to be jailed. Charges or matters: assault causing harm to Andrew Smith at Elmdale Park, Ballyfermot on June 30, 2016. "There was an ongoing feud, for want of a better word, between David Reilly, his associates and the Smith family" the prosecuting garda told Judge Martin Nolan who asked for a reason for the attack. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

June 30, 2016 Incident
2019-11-01 Publication

Why: "There was an ongoing feud, for want of a better word, between David Reilly, his associates and the Smith family" the prosecuting garda told Judge Martin Nolan who asked for a reason for the attack. CNI source report

Case subjects

Unnamed man

Defendant

Charges: assault causing harm to Andrew Smith at Elmdale Park, Ballyfermot on June 30, 2016. "There was an ongoing feud, for want of a better word, between David Reilly, his associates and the Smith family" the prosecuting garda told Judge Martin Nolan who asked for a reason for the attack (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Two Dublin men have been jailed for assaulting a man in the course of a feud. Judge Nolan imposed a 27 month sentence on Reilly and a 18 month sentence on Howe, taking into account each man had spent nine months in custody on remand.