Emmet Prizeman gets suspended sentence for assault

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

Emmet Prizeman received an 18-month suspended prison sentence for assault causing harm at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He pleaded guilty to the charge. The proceedings were reported on 11 April 2019.

The court heard that a dispute between Prizeman and his then partner began inside a Harcourt Street nightclub in Dublin and moved onto the street, where Stephen Merchant tried to intervene. Prosecuting counsel Aideen Collard BL told the court that CCTV captured Prizeman punching Merchant once, after which Merchant fell quickly to the ground. Prizeman then kicked him twice while he was on the ground.

Judge Patricia Ryan noted that Merchant was struck on the head while on the ground. The report said he was moving in and out of consciousness when gardaí arrived and was taken to hospital by ambulance. He later made a full recovery.

Defence counsel Elva Duffy BL said Prizeman had no previous convictions and that the attack was completely out of character. Judge Ryan set a headline sentence of three years, reducing it to 18 months after considering his guilty plea, lack of convictions and good work record. She suspended the sentence on condition that he keep the peace for two years and engage in victim- and offence-focused work with the Probation Service.