Kris Collins' assault sentence cut on appeal

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

Kris Collins was resentenced by the Court of Appeal on 12 February 2016 to five years’ imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended.

Kris Collins had pleaded guilty to assaulting a man causing him serious harm. The assault happened in Cork City on 7 September 2014. The proceedings were reported on 13 February 2016.

Judge Donagh McDonagh had imposed the original eight-year prison sentence at Cork Circuit Criminal Court on 17 June 2015.

The report said the victim’s head struck the ground after a headbutt. He lost consciousness the following day. A scan at Cork University Hospital confirmed a clot between his skull and brain, and he underwent emergency neurosurgery. His wife told the sentencing court that his life had changed following the assault, with huge mood swings.

Kris Collins had 15 previous convictions, including one for headbutting a doorman, for which he was required to undertake 100 hours of community service.

The report also recorded positive testimonials, a good work ethic and €4,000 brought to court as compensation. Mr Justice George Birmingham said a combination of factors meant the sentence imposed could not stand.