Courts / Dublin / Report
No jail for role in two-hour attack where woman scalded with boiling water
Summary
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 19‑year‑old Josh Conlon received a fully suspended three‑year sentence for his involvement in a two‑hour assault on Ms Lyndsey Byrne in November 2021. Conlon pleaded guilty to assault causing harm but was deemed not the "prime mover" of the attack, which was led by Paul Clarke. Judge Martin Nolan noted Conlon's lesser role, early guilty plea, youth and lack of prior convictions, and ordered him to maintain good behaviour under Probation Services supervision for one year. Clarke, aged 29, was sentenced to four years and three months for the assault, while Craig Kelly, 38, received a five‑month sentence for simple assault. The court highlighted the brutality of the attack, including the use of a broom handle and boiling water, and the severe injuries sustained by Byrne. The sentences were back‑dated to the November 2021 incident.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: No jail for role in two-hour attack where woman scalded with boiling water. Charges or matters: assault causing harm of Ms Lyndsey Byrne at The Maltings, Watling Street, Dublin 8 in November 2021; one count of assault causing harm to Lyndsey Byrne; the lesser charge of simple assault; the other two who entered guilty pleas on the first day of his trial. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- November 2021 Incident
- November 12 Incident
- 2023-02-08 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: one count of assault causing harm to Lyndsey Byrne; the lesser charge of simple assault; the other two who entered guilty pleas on the first day of his trial (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Judge Nolan handed Kelly a five-month sentence for his role in the incident and took into account the time he has already spent in custody, noting Kelly would not spend much longer in custody as a result.
Convicted Person
Charges: assault causing harm of Ms Lyndsey Byrne at The Maltings, Watling Street, Dublin 8 in November 2021; one count of assault causing harm to Lyndsey Byrne; the lesser charge of simple assault; the other two who entered guilty pleas on the first day of his trial (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: The judge sentenced Conlon to three years but suspended it in full, ordering him to be of good behaviour and abide by the supervision of the Probation Services for a year.
Convicted Person
Charges: one count of assault causing harm to Lyndsey Byrne; the lesser charge of simple assault; the other two who entered guilty pleas on the first day of his trial (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Yesterday, Judge Nolan sentenced Paul Clarke to four years and three months for attacking Ms Byrne and her partner Emmet Black at their apartment over the course of two days. He handed down a sentence of four years and three months and backdated it to November 2021 when Clarke went into custody.
Places mentioned
Topics
Related court reports
- Man charged with having 56k child abuse images and videos remanded on bail
- Ex-Dáil hopeful's allegations against former employer 'complete fantasy', WRC told
- Mater must pay €10k to worker who said he was wrongly accused of abusing patient
- 'I think we know I won't be getting bail' - Daniel Kinahan charged with directing criminal organisation
- Letting agent who claimed alleged domestic violence victim abandoned tenancy by fleeing to refuge must pay €14.7k
- 77-year-old with 470 convictions told Luas staff to 'f**k off'
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request