Courts / Dublin / Report

Three years for gangland machete attack close to garda station

Date
2022-05-09

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Blanchardstown

County
Dublin

Summary

Martin Cunningham, 27, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for assault causing harm and producing a machete. He pleaded guilty to these charges after the DPP dropped an initial attempted murder allegation. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon set a headline sentence of five years but reduced it to four years, citing Cunningham's remorse and early plea. The final 12 months were suspended for two years, with conditions including regular urinalysis and attendance at Probation Services programs. Cunningham, who has been in custody since April 2019, has already served more than three years. The court heard the attack on Kenneth Fitzsimons occurred near Finglas Garda Station and was part of a broader feud between rival gangs. Fitzsimons, who is serving a five-and-a-half year sentence for possession of a firearm, suffered severe injuries requiring four litres of blood. The judge noted Cunningham remains at risk of violent reoffending and must address anger management issues. Cunningham was on bail at the time of the offence and was subsequently fined for driving offences while on remand. He also has previous convictions for driving without insurance, possession of drugs, assault, and making threats while in custody.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Three years for gangland machete attack close to garda station. Charges or matters: assault causing harm and producing a machete. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Convicted

When:

April 2019 Incident
April 10, 2019 Incident
2022-05-09 Publication

Case subjects

Kenneth Fitzsimons

Defendant

Charges: assault causing harm and producing a machete (Proven)

Plea: Guilty

Finding: Convicted

Outcome: Convicted; The court also heard that Fitzsimons is serving a five-and-a-half year sentence for possession of a firearm. He was on bail when he attacked Fitzsimons and while on remand for the assault, he was fined for driving offences.

Martin Cunningham

Defendant

Charges: assault causing harm and producing a machete (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Having considered mitigating factors, including Cunningham's expressions of remorse and his early guilty plea, she reduced the sentence to four years and then suspended the final 12 months for two years after release.