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Man who spent 26 days in coma after serious assault spared jail for drugs offences

Summary

Mark Cooke, 26, of Derry Park, Crumlin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for drug offences. He pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply, admitting to being caught with heroin and cocaine in March and May 2013, as well as possession of Diazepam and heroin for sale or supply on March 6, 2013. Judge Martin Nolan suspended a three-year prison sentence on the condition that Cooke keeps the peace for that period. The judge noted it would be unjust to jail Cooke, who is in rehabilitation for long-term consequences of an assault, citing that he is practically housebound. Cooke suffers from weakness on his left side, long-term memory impairment, and depression resulting from an unprovoked attack on July 9, 2013, at St James Walk, Rialto, which left him in a 26-day coma. His childhood friend, Daniel Clarke, 20, of Dolphin House, Dolphin's Barn, pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm to Cooke during that incident. Clarke was previously sentenced to eight and a half years, with the last 18 months suspended. The court heard Clarke straddled the victim and drove a broken glass bottle into his face. Cooke has nine previous convictions, including one for possession of drugs for sale or supply and one for attempted robbery.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Man who spent 26 days in coma after serious assault spared jail for drugs offences. Charges or matters: assault causing serious harm to Cooke at St James Walk, Rialto on July 9, 2013; possession of the drugs for sale or supply. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• May 2013 Incident
• July 9, 2013 Incident
• May 3, 2013 Incident
• March 6, 2013 Incident
• 2015-02-23 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Stage Sentence Theft Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report