Jeffrey Crowley sentenced over bicycle collision and assault

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

Jeffrey Crowley was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 21 February 2020 to nine years and three months in prison, with the final 15 months suspended. Judge Elma Sheahan imposed the sentence. The proceedings were reported on 21 February 2020.

Crowley pleaded guilty to cycling into Christine Booth at Smithfield Square, Dublin, on 2 August 2019, causing a substantial risk of death or serious harm. He also pleaded guilty to damaging a bike lock and stealing a phone there on the same date, and to assault causing harm to Jason Kidd at Merchants Quay on 24 October 2018.

He further pleaded guilty to stealing a phone at Queen Street on 24 July and damaging a phone at Georges Lane on 11 December 2016, during which he pushed a woman to the ground and kicked her. The report described the Queen Street offence as having occurred “this year”.

Detective Garda Shane Connolly told the court that Crowley stole a bicycle and a phone at Smithfield Square. The report said Crowley then crashed into Booth while travelling at high speed on the stolen bicycle. Booth suffered a shattered elbow and broken hip; the court heard she would never regain full strength in her arm.

The court heard that Crowley hit Kidd in the head without warning, leaving him with a broken nose. When gardaí asked why he hit Kidd, Crowley said he was on drugs and frustrated. He had 92 previous convictions. Judge Sheahan said many of his offences involved gratuitous violence.

Keith Spencer BL, defending, said Crowley was disgusted at his behaviour, acknowledged the harm caused and wanted residential treatment for his addiction. The report said Crowley was also serving a previously suspended sentence for assault causing harm, which had been reactivated after he failed to engage with Probation Services.