Courts / Dublin / Report
Man avoids jail for attacking boy (14) on street
Summary
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Damien Gray, aged 25, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after punching a 14‑year‑old boy on James Joyce Street on 28 March 2018. The incident followed a verbal exchange after Gray had attended a friend's funeral earlier that day and had been drinking in a nearby pub. The boy, who was returning to his hotel with his mother, was punched in the face, knocked to the ground and later received stitches at hospital. Judge Melanie Greally noted the assault was not "particularly lengthy" but had a significant physical and psychological impact on the victim. Gray, who has 71 prior convictions, was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment, fully suspended on strict conditions: nine months of probation, compliance with the Probation Service, and payment of €1,200 to the victim or a charity if he declines to accept it.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Man avoids jail for attacking boy (14) on street. Charges or matters: assault causing harm at James Joyce Street, Dublin City centre, on March 28, 2018. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- March 28, 2018 Incident
- 2022-02-04 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: assault causing harm at James Joyce Street, Dublin City centre, on March 28, 2018 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Judge Greally sentenced Gray to 18 months imprisonment but suspended the sentence in its entirety on strict conditions including that he follow all directions of the Probation Service for nine months and that the sum of €1,200 be paid over to the victim or to a charity, should he decline to accept it.
Places mentioned
- Railway Street
- Dublin City
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- James Joyce Street
- Dublin City
Topics
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