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64-year-old who attacked garda with baseball bat fails in bid to reduce jail term
Summary
In May 2022, 64‑year‑old Victor Akinlade was convicted at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of violent disorder, assault causing harm and production of a baseball bat. He received five years for violent disorder, four years for assault and four years for the bat, all concurrent. Akinlade pleaded not guilty and claimed he never struck Garda Jonathan Ryan, alleging his injuries were self‑inflicted. He argued he acted in defence under Section 18 of the Non‑Fatal Offences Against the Person Act. In the Court of Appeal, his lawyer argued the sentence was excessive and that mitigating factors had been overlooked. The appeal was dismissed by Mr Justice George Birmingham, who said the judge had considered all circumstances and the sentence lay within the available range. No changes to the five‑year term were made.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 64-year-old who attacked garda with baseball bat fails in bid to reduce jail term. Charges or matters: all three charges. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- May 2022 Incident
- May 28, 2018 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2024-05-07 Publication
Why: Mr Akinlade, when interviewed, claimed he did not know the Garda was an officer because he did not identify himself and that he was dressed in such a way that the appellant thought he was a "junkie or a Traveller". CNI source report
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: all three charges (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Outcome: Akinlade was jailed for five years on the violent disorder charge, for four years on the assault causing harm offence and for a further four years for production of the baseball bat used to assault Garda Jonathan Ryan, with all sentences to run concurrently. Mr Ward said although the appellant deserved no credit for the manner in which he dealt with the case, "the mitigating factors are substantial" and argued that the sentence imposed was "disproportionate". "Five years in relation to what he did, I respectfully submit, is excessive and I would ask the court to reduce it to more fairly reflect his circumstances," said Mr Ward, adding Akinlade has been resident in Ireland for over 40 years and has never been in trouble before.
Places mentioned
- At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Dublin
- Court of Appeal
- Ballyogan Avenue
Topics
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