Daryl Coyle sentenced for assault causing harm in Dublin

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Daryl Coyle was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 7 July 2020 to three years in prison, with the final two years suspended. Judge Pauline Codd ordered that he be of good behaviour for two years after his release, among other conditions.

Coyle pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Magdi Mustafa Rashid. The assault took place on South Richmond Street on 5 May 2015. A separate count of producing a broken glass was taken into consideration.

The court heard that Rashid had stopped at an ATM when three men, including Coyle, approached him. Coyle smashed a pint glass against a wall behind Rashid and approached him holding the broken glass. He then headbutted Rashid, who fell to the ground and suffered a broken nose.

After his arrest, Coyle told gardaí he had been drunk but had not assaulted anyone. Shown CCTV footage, he said he did not recognise himself. He later pleaded guilty after taking a trial date.

Prosecuting counsel Gerardine Small said Rashid considered leaving Ireland after the attack, which he described as terrifying. He also experienced nasal problems for some time.

Defence counsel Pieter Le Vert said Coyle had alcohol and drug problems and was self-medicating with steroids at the time. Judge Codd described the assault as completely unprovoked. The proceedings were reported on 7 July 2020.