Louth man (37) jailed for stamping on elderly victim in the street
A judge has described as “very disturbing” an incident in which an elderly man was stamped on after being knocked to the ground.
Judge Nicola Andrews was speaking at Dundalk District Court as she handed a partially suspended sentence to Thomas Duffy (37).
The defendant, of no fixed abode, appeared via video link when he pleaded guilty to assault causing harm at Bridge Street, Dundalk, on July 17, 2021.
What occurred followed a verbal argument between the two men in a town centre pub.
Mr Duffy, who has previous convictions in this country and in England, apologised through his counsel.
The court heard that he had been in drinking in what was then known as Benny Brady’s Bar, Clanbrassil Street, and got into an argument with an “elderly gentleman”. Nothing more transpired.
Later, some distance away in Bridge Street, Mr Duffy encountered the other man.
Sgt Richie Browne said that the victim was standing in the street when an unknown male approached and, unprovoked, punched him on the head.
He was knocked to the ground in the middle of the road before being kicked in the face and head, and stamped on.
The attack stopped when a car approached. Gardaí responded to a report of the incident at 12.56am. Thomas Duffy was identified from CCTV.
Sgt Browne said that the injured man attended neither hospital nor his GP. He suffered cuts and bruises but no long lasting affects and declined to make a Victim Impact Statement.
Jurisdiction in the case was accepted by Judge Cooney last month.
Mr Duffy has 18 previous convictions, including for criminal damage and public order in England, and for attempted robbery, theft, Section 3 possession of drugs and public order in the Republic of Ireland.
He was extradited on a charge before the Dublin courts and has spent five months in custody.
Barrister Niall Mackin said that his client was “highly intoxicated” on this occasion. No weapon was used. He was remorseful and apologetic.
Single with no children, he had addiction difficulties throughout his life and had undergone treatment in the UK in Newcastle.
Following his arrest he was extradited to Ireland on January 26 last.
Judge Andrews said that Mr Duffy was lucky he was not facing a more significant charge than Section 3 assault.
Kicking someone on the ground was on the more serious end of the spectrum.
A nine-month sentence was imposed, the last three months suspended for 24 months, and backdated to when he went into custody.
The matter was put back to April 8 for the defendant to sign a bond.