Man acquitted of murder receives fully suspended sentence for assault

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

Connor Rafferty, who was found not guilty of Josip Strok’s murder, received a fully suspended four-year sentence for assault causing harm to Strok’s friend, David Druzinec. The sentence was imposed on 24 November by Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring at the Central Criminal Court.

Rafferty had pleaded guilty to the assault. The judge said six years would have been suitable before taking account of his guilty plea, admissions to gardaí, remorse and changes in his life, including starting an apprenticeship; she then suspended the full four-year term. The judge warned him to comply with the sentence’s strict conditions.