Courts / Dublin / Report
Criminal in 'psychic assault' on 'ordinary decent citizen' giving evidence
Summary
Jonathan Kenny, 40, was found guilty of a 'psychic assault' after he pointed to his eyes and flexed his biceps in Courtroom 4 at the Criminal Courts of Justice, Dublin, during a hearing where a witness gave evidence. The judge described the gesture as a form of intimidation that caused the witness to feel fear and distress. Kenny had previously been charged with witness intimidation but pleaded guilty to assault, a plea accepted by the Director of Public Prosecutions. He has 108 prior convictions, including robbery, assault and theft, and is serving a custodial sentence for other offences with an earliest release date in February 2027. The judge imposed a four‑month sentence, suspended in full for two years, to commence after the expiry of his current custodial term, and ordered him to stay away from the victim, their home and family during the suspension. The victim's impact statement was submitted but not read aloud. Jonathan Kenny was acquitted.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Criminal in 'psychic assault' on 'ordinary decent citizen' giving evidence. Charges or matters: assault, which was acceptable to the Director of Public Prosecutions. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Acquitted
When:
- September 8, 2022 Incident
- February 2027 Incident
- December 2021 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2024-06-07 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: assault, which was acceptable to the Director of Public Prosecutions (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Finding: Acquitted
Outcome: Acquitted; Having considered the mitigation, she imposed a sentence of four months, suspended in full for two years on strict conditions. Judge Codd directed that this suspended sentence start on the expiry of the custodial sentence Kenny is currently serving.
Places mentioned
Topics
Stage Sentence Theft Violent Crime
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