Courts / Dublin / Report
Young autistic man assaulted after girls falsely accused him of following them
Summary
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, George Langan, 37, pleaded guilty to assaulting a 21‑year‑old autistic man on 13 August 2020. Langan and another man had grabbed the victim, questioned him about chasing two 12‑year‑old girls, and restrained him on the ground. A woman at the scene kicked the victim and shouted abuse. Gardaí found no evidence that the victim had acted inappropriately; the accusations were unfounded. Langan expressed remorse and his lawyers requested leniency. Judge Martin Nolan, after hearing the evidence, described the incident as "vigilante justice" and noted the victim's vulnerability. He imposed a two‑year sentence, suspended in full, with conditions including the payment of €3,000 to the victim or a charity within one year. No prison term was imposed. The court recorded the victim's injuries as scrapes to knees and neck, with primary emotional and psychological effects.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Young autistic man assaulted after girls falsely accused him of following them. Charges or matters: assaulting the then 21-year-old man causing him harm on August 13, 2020. Procedural stage: trial
When:
- August 13, 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2022-11-14 Publication
Why: The girls had reported that they perceived the man to follow them and ran because he "looked weird. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: assaulting the then 21-year-old man causing him harm on August 13, 2020 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He noted the case had a very bad effect on the victim and had adjourned sentencing over the weekend.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
Topics
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