Courts / Dublin / Report

Court hears of 'thuggish' attack on bus passenger who objected to social distancing breaches

Summary

Patrick Stokes, a 24-year-old with over 120 previous convictions, was jailed for 21 months after pleading guilty to assaulting a Dublin Bus passenger who objected to social-distancing breaches during the pandemic. Stokes and his co-accused attacked the victim on a bus, resulting in the victim's tooth being dislodged. Stokes admitted to kicking the victim, while his co-accused punched him in the face. The court heard that Stokes had a history of drug use and mental health issues, and his legal team argued that he had changed his life and was now drug-free, married, and a father. Despite this, Judge Martin Nolan noted the "thuggish" nature of the attack and the harm caused to the victim. Stokes expressed remorse and apologized for his actions, but the court emphasized the seriousness of the incident and the need for justice for the victim.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Court hears of 'thuggish' attack on bus passenger who objected to social distancing breaches. Charges or matters: assault causing harm on the Malahide Road in Clontarf on May 31, 2020. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• May 31, 2020 Incident
• 2026-06-03 Publication

Why: He noted the injured party had suffered quite a bit because of the attack. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Stage Sentence

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Read the original CNI report