Courts / Dublin / Report

Jail for random unprovoked attack on woman

Date
2022-05-10

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Tallaght

County
Dublin

Summary

Abubaker Bello, 46, of Fr Peter McVerry Homeless Shelter, was found guilty of assault causing harm to Catherina White in Tallaght on 20 January 2021. The court heard that Bello approached White while she was walking with headphones, pulled her handbag, punched her face, pushed her to the ground and repeatedly punched her face. Witnesses stopped their cars and assisted White, who later received treatment at Tallaght Hospital for a fractured nose, swollen eyes and blurred vision. Bello was arrested at Tallaght Garda Station after refusing to cooperate. He denied the offence during an interview, was shown CCTV footage but did not identify himself, and has 21 prior convictions, including two for assault. He expressed remorse and presented a letter of apology. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to three and a half years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, subject to good behaviour and one year of probation supervision.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Jail for random unprovoked attack on woman. Charges or matters: one count of assault causing harm to Catherina White at Fortunestown Lane in Tallaght on January 20, 2021. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

January 20, 2021 Incident
2022-05-10 Publication

Case subjects

Abubaker Bello

Defendant

Charges: one count of assault causing harm to Catherina White at Fortunestown Lane in Tallaght on January 20, 2021 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Handing down sentence today, Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Bello to three and a half years in prison with the final year suspended under a number of conditions, including that he be of good behaviour and remain under the supervision of the Probation Services for one-year post-release.