Courts / Dublin / Report

Man avoids jail for assault after victim's 'generous' attitude

Summary

In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 12 January 2024, Aaron Costello, 24, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to a male victim in Ballymun on 12 October 2022. The court noted that the victim, who had no animosity toward Costello, accepted the apology and expressed a "generous and spirited" attitude, stating he did not wish the defendant to be jailed. Judge Pauline Codd, after viewing CCTV footage showing Costello striking the victim from behind and kicking him twice while he was on the ground, found the assault unnecessary and placed the offence in the upper mid‑range of offending. Costello had no prior convictions and expressed genuine remorse, bringing €5,000 to court as a token of regret. The judge sentenced him to 18 months' imprisonment, suspended in full for two years, and imposed a lifetime criminal conviction.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Man avoids jail for assault after victim's 'generous' attitude. Charges or matters: assault causing harm to another male in the Ballymun area on October 12, 2022. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• October 12, 2022 Incident
• 2024-01-12 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Sentence Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report