James Thornton sentenced for chair assault causing harm

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

James Thornton received a three-year sentence, suspended in full, for assault causing harm at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The proceedings were reported on 16 December 2016.

Thornton pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. The offence happened at McDonald’s on Grafton Street on 9 June 2016.

Thornton struck Cian McNally on the head with a chair, causing a wound that required ten stitches. Judge Martin Nolan said drug-induced psychosis was the likely explanation for the attack. The judge noted that Thornton had spent five months in custody awaiting sentencing and said he did not deserve an immediate custodial term.