Courts / Dublin / Report

Jail for man who took part in violent assault of Copper's bouncer

Date
2016-04-08
Stage
Sentence
Primary locality
Dublin
County
Dublin

Summary

Paul Rice, 25, of Tallaght, was jailed for two years after taking part in a violent assault on a bouncer at Copper Face Jacks nightclub on 23 September 2014. He pleaded guilty to violent disorder. The incident began when a group of six men, including Rice, were refused entry to the club. They returned with four other men and, after being denied entry again, Rice and another man dragged a bouncer across the street and punched him 17 times, delivering nine punches. The bouncer suffered a cut ear and facial bruising. Rice was identified on CCTV footage and arrested. He had 11 prior convictions, including public order offences. The judge, Terence O'Sullivan, noted the attack was pre‑meditated and extremely violent, and sentenced Rice to three years' imprisonment with the final year suspended. The sentence effectively amounts to a two‑year custodial term.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Jail for man who took part in violent assault of Copper's bouncer. Charges or matters: violent disorder. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

Case subjects

Paul Rice

Defendant

Charges: violent disorder (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: The door man was isolated on his own and attacked quite viciously." Another man who attacked the bouncer has since been jailed for four years, the court heard. But Judge Terence O'Sullivan said it was a serious attack that was pre-meditated. "People get intoxicated on a regular basis but they don't go out hitting people as a result of it," he said. "In my view, there's an element of pre-meditation, serious violence in a public place and an attack on people just doing their job." The judge sentenced Rice to three years' imprisonment, but suspended the final year.

Places mentioned

Residence
Court Venue
  • Harcourt Street
  • Dublin
  • Dublin Circuit Criminal Court

Topics

Public Order Stage Sentence Violent Crime

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