Keith Johnson given suspended sentence for assault causing harm

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

Judge Martin Nolan imposed a three-year sentence, suspended for three years, with two years of probation supervision on Keith Johnson at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The proceedings were reported on 9 July 2015.

Johnson pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm. The offences occurred at Gill's Indian Mini-Market on Cabra Road on 6 May 2014.

After attempting to steal sweets, Johnson threatened to kill the shopkeeper's son, Daljat Gill, and punched him in the face before fleeing in a Mercedes.

Shopkeeper Sarwan Gill pursued Johnson's car with a wooden training sword. At Hanlon's Corner, he struck the car while it was caught in traffic, breaking the sword in two. Johnson left the car, picked up half the sword and chased Sarwan Gill back towards the shop.

Johnson struck Sarwan Gill, breaking his wrist. Daljat Gill picked up the piece dropped by his father; Johnson struck him about five times on the head, knocking him unconscious. Sarwan Gill then attacked Johnson with part of the sword, forcing him to flee.

Garda Ciaran Whelan said Sarwan Gill needed surgery to repair his wrist with a metal pin and continued to suffer. He said Johnson claimed self-defence in interview. The garda accepted Johnson brought no weapon to the shop and had not intended to attack anyone when he entered.

His defence counsel linked Johnson's 62 previous convictions to addiction. Defence counsel Sean Gillane SC said Johnson had a heroin addiction but had turned his life around through a drug treatment programme, and highlighted his early guilty plea.

Judge Martin Nolan said Sarwan Gill was entitled to act as he had and that Johnson deserved a chance despite his disgraceful behaviour.