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Staff who beat man who they said spat in shop avoid jail
Summary
In April 2020, two Spar staff members, Dean Bheemal (33) and Victor Carvalho (23), punched a man who they believed was attempting to steal after CCTV showed him spitting in the shop. The men pleaded guilty to assaulting the victim, who was hit many times and later received stitches. Judge Martin Nolan found the assault grossly disproportionate, noting it involved only punches and no weapons. He imposed a two‑year suspended sentence on each, ordered the men to pay €3,000 to the victim and to each provide an additional €1,000 within 18 months, and expressed that imprisonment would be unjust at this point. The case was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with the men cooperating and returning the stolen phone to the victim. The judge highlighted the men's guilty pleas and cooperation as mitigating factors. The incident occurred during the first Covid lockdown, a context mentioned by the defence. The men were not sentenced to prison.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Staff who beat man who they said spat in shop avoid jail. Charges or matters: assaulting the man causing him harm at Spar, Mountjoy Street, on April 26, 2020. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- April 2020 Incident
- April 26, 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2021-04-15 Publication
Case subjects
Accused
Charges: assaulting the man causing him harm at Spar, Mountjoy Street, on April 26, 2020 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He said it seemed unlikely they would come before the court again. "I think it would be unjust to imprison them at this point," said Judge Nolan, and imposed a two-year suspended sentence on both men.
Accused
Charges: assaulting the man causing him harm at Spar, Mountjoy Street, on April 26, 2020 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He said it seemed unlikely they would come before the court again. "I think it would be unjust to imprison them at this point," said Judge Nolan, and imposed a two-year suspended sentence on both men.
Places mentioned
- Adair Terrace
- Blessington
- Blessington Street
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Mountjoy Street
- he attended at Mountjoy Garda Station
- Mountjoy
Topics
Stage Sentence Theft Violent Crime
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