Man jailed for unprovoked attack on couple socialising in Dundalk
Man (30) who has no memory of an unprovoked attack on a couple was jailed for 17 months at Dundalk Circuit Court
A 30 year old man who has no memory of an unprovoked attack on a couple who were out socialising in Dundalk, was last week jailed for 17 months at Dundalk Circuit Court.
Brian Turley formerly of Cedarwood Park, Dundalk, but who had since been living in transitional housing from the Simon Community, pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm, arising out of the incident on Park Street, Dundalk on March 24th 2019.
The couple were at a friend’s leaving party and were making their way to meet a pre-booked taxi when they were attacked.
Neither they, nor the accused remember what happened but Garda CCTV showed Brian Turley walked past the couple before he punched the man several times, and when the woman tried to intervene, he knocked her to the ground where she hit her head.
She remembered waking up in the ambulance shivering and in pain before then coming-to in Our Lady of Lourdes hospital in Drogheda, where she was treated for a small bleed on the brain and concussion.
The other victim woke up in pain and saw his partner was also on the ground.
A garda who responded, came across the defendant on Crowe Street with cuts and blood on his knuckles and trousers.
He initially claimed he had walked home with his fiancée but when shown the CCTV and asked about the assaults, replied “I can’t remember. I’m disgusted”.
He had 28 previous convictions, but none for assault.
The Defence barrister said his client had no idea about the assault until he was shown the footage and thought he was arrested for possessing cannabis.
He added his client had been taking cocaine daily and then street tablets to come down off it, but detoxed two months ago of benzodiapines.
Judge Dara Hayes imposed concurrent sentences of two years and eight months, and suspended the final 15 months on the defendant entering a good behaviour bond, placing himself under the supervision of the Probation Service for 12 months post-release and that he attends addiction services as directed.