Courts / Dublin / Report

Man who fled to UK is jailed over violent 2009 knife attack

Date
2020-07-13

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

Patrick Carter, of Coombe Court, Dublin city, was sentenced at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for his part in a violent 2009 knife attack on Patrick Fowler. Carter pleaded guilty to assault causing harm but had previously failed to appear on his sentence date, fleeing to the UK where he was later imprisoned for aggravated burglary before being extradited to Ireland. The court heard that on April 19, 2009, Carter and Gerard Howe assaulted Fowler in a restaurant on Dame Street. Fowler alleged that Howe slashed his face with a blade, causing severe injuries including exposed facial muscles and a permanent scar. Carter admitted his role in the assault, stating he intervened to help a friend. Judge Martin Nolan rejected defense arguments that Carter had changed, noting he should not benefit from evading justice. Carter received a two-year prison sentence, with the final nine months suspended on conditions of good behaviour and payment of €2,000 to the victim. The sentence was backdated to June 19 of the previous year. Gerard Howe, who was jailed in 2013 for the same offence, was not present for this sentencing.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Man who fled to UK is jailed over violent 2009 knife attack. Charges or matters: the same offence but failed to appear on his sentence date, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard today. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

April 19, 2009 Incident
June 19 Incident
2020-07-13 Publication

Why: He said the victim had done nothing to him and he became involved in the assault because he saw "me friend in a bit of trouble and went to help". CNI source report

Case subjects

Gerard Howe

Convicted Person

Charges: the same offence but failed to appear on his sentence date, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard today (Alleged Or Contested)

Outcome: Patrick Carter, of Coombe Court, Dublin city pleaded guilty to the same offence but failed to appear on his sentence date, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard today.

Patrick Carter

Defendant

Charges: the same offence but failed to appear on his sentence date, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard today (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Patrick Carter, of Coombe Court, Dublin city pleaded guilty to the same offence but failed to appear on his sentence date, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard today. Carter received a suspended four year prison sentence in 2006 for a robbery and has convictions for road traffic offences.

Patrick Fowler

Convicted Person

Charges: the same offence but failed to appear on his sentence date, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard today (Alleged Or Contested)

Outcome: Patrick Fowler was jailed in 2013 after pleading guilty to assault causing harm.