Courts / Dublin / Report
Phone thief attacked victim with child's hurley
Summary
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 13 February 2024, Michael Quinn, aged 23, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, possession of a hurley, and three counts of assault at Ennafort Roard, Raheny, on 27 June 2018, and to stealing a Google Pixel phone at Harmonstown Dart Station. Quinn, who has 20 prior convictions, was sentenced to three and a half years, with the final 12 months suspended under strict conditions. The court heard that Quinn had repeatedly struck the victim with a child's hurley after refusing to return the stolen phone, causing injuries to the victim's jaw, left arm, and hip. The victim's phone, valued at €730, was not recovered. Quinn was intoxicated at the time and had a history of drug addiction and cognitive impairment. The judge noted Quinn's guilty plea and young age as mitigating factors but imposed a custodial sentence back‑dated to 22 July 2023.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Phone thief attacked victim with child's hurley. Charges or matters: assault causing harm, production of a hurley and three counts of assault at Ennafort Roard, Raheny on June 27, 2018. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- June 27, 2018 Incident
- July 2023 Incident
- July 22, 2023 Incident
- 2019 and 2023 Other
- 2024-02-13 Publication
Why: Defence counsel put it to the garda that his client was being threatened in relation to a drug debt, and that he stole the phone out of a "motive of self-preservation", not profit. Defence account reported by CNI
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: assault causing harm, production of a hurley and three counts of assault at Ennafort Roard, Raheny on June 27, 2018 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Judge Martin Nolan today imposed a sentence of three and a half years with the final 12 months suspended on Quinn under strict conditions. Judge Nolan backdated the sentence to July 22, 2023 when Quinn entered custody, noting that he would have imposed a longer sentence if Quinn had been older.
Places mentioned
Topics
Drugs Stage Sentence Theft Violent Crime
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