Courts / Dublin / Report

Teen who pushed older man off mobility scooter for 'fun' is jailed

Date
2024-05-09

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin City

County
Dublin

Summary

Elliot Toale, 18, was jailed for two years after hijacking a mobility scooter and pushing an older man off it for 'fun', fracturing the man's hand and snapping his dentures. The incident occurred outside a Centra shop in Dublin city centre on Capel Street. Toale, who had 23 prior convictions, also stole a kitchen knife from the shop and brandished it at a Scottish tourist. He pleaded guilty to assault and theft. Judge Martin Nolan suspended the final 16 months of the sentence because of Toale's age. The victim, in his sixties, suffered serious injuries, including a broken left hand and damaged fingers. Toale admitted he had taken cocaine and alcohol that night and expressed remorse, noting he would be upset if a family member had been harmed. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Teen who pushed older man off mobility scooter for 'fun' is jailed. Charges or matters: assaulting the victim and causing him harm on Capel Street on February 11 last year. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

February 11 Hearing Or Sentence
2024-05-09 Publication

Case subjects

Elliot Toale

Defendant

Charges: assaulting the victim and causing him harm on Capel Street on February 11 last year (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Judge Nolan sentenced Toale to two years in prison but suspended the final 16 months by reason of his young age. "This injured party was minding his own business when other parties decided to have fun at his expense," said the judge, adding that the victim had sustained reasonably serious injuries in a very upsetting incident. The court heard Toale's father had been serving a prison sentence at the time and that Toale found it difficult to cope with this and was self-medicating with drink and drugs.