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Machete-wielding attacker who 'terrorised family' fails in appeal
Summary
Anthony McNamara, 28, of Ard Mor Drive, Tallaght, was convicted by a Circuit Court jury in 2020 of violent disorder, criminal damage and production of an article capable of inflicting serious injury for an "animalistic" attack on a family home on 9 October 2018. The assault involved a gang of men, most wearing balaclavas, who broke a wooden fence, smashed the house's exterior, and used a machete. McNamara threw a child's scooter at a female resident, who was struck on the head. He was sentenced to five years and six months, with the final six months suspended on condition of keeping the peace. McNamara appealed, arguing that a witness's testimony about a nearby house being "smashed to the ground" was inadmissible and prejudicial. The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, ruling the evidence was not referable to McNamara and did not prejudice the jury.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Machete-wielding attacker who 'terrorised family' fails in appeal. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Convicted
When:
- October 9, 2018 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2021-04-27 Publication
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; Judge Pauline Codd, who presided over the trial and sentenced McNamara to five years and six months in prison, said a gang of men, most of them with their faces covered with balaclavas and hoods, came to the house at around midnight and "terrorised" the occupants. She noted McNamara has some drug abuse and anger issues and suspended the final six months of the sentence on condition he keep the peace.
Places mentioned
- Ardmore Park
- Court of Appeal
Topics
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