Courts / Dublin / Report

Gold medal-winning Dublin boxer jailed for "prolonged and vicious attack"

Date
2015-04-29
Stage
Sentence
Primary locality
Tallaght
County
Dublin

Summary

Thomas Finnegan, a 26‑year‑old Dublin boxer who had won a gold medal at a European competition, was sentenced to two years in prison by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for assault causing harm. The offence occurred on 15 May 2013 at Cookstown Industrial Estate, Tallaght, when Finnegan, after a dispute over a tyre, repeatedly punched tyre fitter Mr Mantis Viknius. Viknius suffered a fractured eye socket, a broken nose, nerve damage and permanent loss of memory, and required a steel plate in his right eyebrow. Finnegan pleaded guilty and was described by the judge as a strong man who had applied his skills destructively. He had 23 prior convictions and had been stabbed in a previous assault, which ended his boxing career. Finnegan brought €3,800 to court as a token of remorse. The court noted his sporting achievements and the letters of support from mentors, but also his history of drug and gambling problems.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Gold medal-winning Dublin boxer jailed for "prolonged and vicious attack". Charges or matters: assault causing harm at Cookstown Industrial Estate in Tallaght on May 15, 2013. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

Why: He said the first six months after the attack were the worst because of the bruising, his broken nose, fractured eye socket and the daily pain from nerve damage. CNI source report

Case subjects

Thomas Finnegan

Defendant

Charges: assault causing harm at Cookstown Industrial Estate in Tallaght on May 15, 2013 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Passing sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Martin Nolan said Mr Viknius was seriously injured during the "grossly reprehensible" and "prolonged and vicious" assault.

Places mentioned

Secondary Mention
Residence
Court Venue
  • Dublin
  • Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
Incident

Topics

Drugs Stage Sentence Violent Crime

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

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