Horse handler ordered to complete community service for assault on US tourist

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

Scott Clarke, 24, was ordered by Judge Martina Baxter at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to complete 150 hours of community service in lieu of a five-month sentence. Clarke pleaded guilty to assaulting an American tourist. The proceedings were reported on 13 February 2026.

The assault occurred outside the Guinness Storehouse on Market Street, Dublin 8, on 19 February 2023. Clarke threw a vape that struck the tourist in the mouth and caused him to lose a tooth.

Garda Greg Moroney testified that the tourist and his family had earlier hired a horse and carriage, although there was no evidence linking it to Clarke. A question arose about whether they had been charged the correct amount, and they approached horse handlers on Market Street to check.

CCTV showed the tourist taking down a sign displaying the charges and slamming it on the ground, leading to a short scuffle. The tourist was retreating from the men when Clarke threw the vape at him.

Judge Baxter said Clarke had acted aggressively and recklessly, and noted that the victim’s injury had not fully resolved. The court heard that he had undergone dental surgery, continued to experience nerve pain and spent around US$5,000 on dental implants.