Dundalk man who attacked security guard at DkIT avoids conviction

A 42 year old man who smashed his way into an office at the DkIT campus and attacked a security man who had locked himself inside, has avoided a conviction at Dundalk District Court after engaging with the restorative justice programme.

The court heard that Damien Douglas of Mullaharlin Park, Dublin Road, Dundalk had no memory of the incident at the Carroll Building, on May 6th 2021 for which he was charged with assault causing harm and criminal damage.

The case had previously been adjourned to enable the defendant to meet with the victim of the assault.

District Court President, Judge Paul Kelly heard last Wednesday how the injured party had been sitting in a security office alone, at 8.15pm when he spotted a man with a dog on CCTV.

He locked himself into the office, but a wooden sign was thrown through the window and the defendant assaulted him with a wooden baton, which was in the office.

The Defence solicitor said her client was going through personal difficulties at the time and on the day had taken cocaine, morphine and alcohol.

He had no previous convictions and had no memory of the incident.

However, she added that the defendant accepted responsibility for his behaviour which she stressed was out of character.

The solicitor added her client works as a hospital porter and it had previously been indicated that garda vetting might be an issue.

The court heard €5,000 in compensation had been paid - including over €2,700 to cover the damage caused.

Judge Kelly in applying the Probation Act said the restorative justice approach "seems to have worked well".

The judge also noted that a plea was entered at an early stage and the Probation Service speaks highly of the defendant.