Courts / Dublin / Report

Attacker who left victim needing 24-hour care brings limited appeal

Date
2020-12-15

Stage
Appeal

Primary locality
Dublin City

County
Dublin

Summary

Aaron Wilson, aged 31, attacked Aaron Kiely, aged 33, three times after seeing Kiely and his girlfriend interfere with Wilson's partner's car in Dublin. Wilson pursued the pair, punching, kicking, stamping on Kiely and beating him with a chair. Kiely was found on Patrick Street, breathing poorly and bleeding from his mouth. He was taken to hospital, where he suffered severe injuries: deafness in one ear, loss of hearing in the other, fractures to both sides of his skull, a brain blood clot, and now requires 24‑hour care. Wilson pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm and was sentenced to eight and a half years. He appealed to the Court of Appeal, seeking a reduction of six months and one day to avoid being classed as a long‑term prisoner. The appeal was heard by Justice George Birmingham, with counsel arguing the sentence was not excessive, and a decision is pending.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Attacker who left victim needing 24-hour care brings limited appeal. Charges or matters: assault causing serious harm to Mr Kiely in the city on January 19, 2014. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

January 19, 2014 Incident
November 2016 Incident
2020-12-15 Publication

Why: Counsel explained that a sentence of eight years or more brings a prisoner into the 'long-serving' category and means that it will be a considerable time before such prisoners begin cooperation with the parole board. CNI source report