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Pair randomly attacked woman while high on laughing gas

Summary

A court heard that Craig Mains (28) of Hazelcroft Park, Finglas, Dublin 11, and Shane Daly (27) of Woodhazel Close, Ballymun, Dublin 11, were high on laughing gas when they carried out a random unprovoked assault on a woman on Seamus Ennis Road, Finglas, north Dublin, on the evening of July 18, 2021. The woman was pushed to the ground and suffered injuries including a split lip, cuts to her knee, blood on her face and clothing, and a fractured elbow. One of the men took her mobile phone and damaged it. CCTV footage from a nearby funeral home captured the incident. Both men pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and criminal damage of an iPhone. Daly also pleaded guilty to assault. The robbery charges were dropped by the Director of Public Prosecutions. Daly has 23 previous convictions, including one for affray with a suspended prison sentence earlier this month. Mains has five previous convictions, all for road traffic offences. The victim submitted a victim impact report, which the judge said he would take into consideration. Both defendants expressed remorse and offered apologies. Daly handed over €2,000, and Mains brought €1,000 to court. The matter was adjourned to May 12, 2025, for finalisation, with both men remanded on continuing bail to that date.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Pair randomly attacked woman while high on laughing gas. Charges or matters: assault and Mains pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and to criminal damage of an iphone. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• July 18, 2021 Incident
• May 12, 2025 Adjournment
• 2026-01-27 Publication

Why: Judge Munro said it seemed that the men carried out a random unprovoked assault "because it was entertaining". CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Road Traffic Stage Sentence Theft Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report