Man threw acid at passerby in Dundalk and partially blinded another victim

A man who punched a passerby as he walked by him on the street - which left his victim partially blinded and threw ammonia hydroxide at another man in a separate attack over 16 months later, has been jailed for seven and a half years at Dundalk Circuit Court.

​Jake Keenan (30) of no fixed abode pleaded guilty to causing serious harm at Rampart Lane, Dundalk on March 9th 2024, and admitted assault causing harm, production of a bottle containing the corrosive material, two counts of resisting a peace officer and one count of assaulting a garda on July second 2025.

The first victim, a 52 year old man, had been out drinking in a licensed premises and was making his way home, when he was attacked on Rampart Lane with security from the Imperial Hotel coming to his assistance.

He had no memory of the assault but CCTV footage showed Jake Keenan him punch him once as he walked past.

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A month after he had attended the Emergency Department at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital, he presented at the Mater hospital's Eye Emergency Department over deteriorating vision - due to a detached retina.

He underwent three surgical procedures and a consultant's report said ultimately he lost the vision in his left eye.

The second incident, which happened in the Ramparts area, involved Jake Keenan squirting clear liquid from a Lucozade Sport bottle at him without saying a word - and then said "This is for you - this is acetone" and the man felt something hit his ankle causing immediate pain.

When he was located by gardaí, the defendant claimed it was paint stripper in the bottle, before he swung a punch at a garda but missed. He made threats to gardaí - including that he would snap one officer's ankle as he twisted it.

He subsequently choked himself unconscious in a cell at Dundalk Garda Station and was taken to hospital. The next day he was arrested and denied bail at Drogheda district court and while in the cell of the patrol car threatened to slit a garda's throat.

The court heard the defendant had 98 previous convictions including assault causing harm, many of which from when he was juvenile. They included two for assault causing harm, four for assault and one for endangerment.

Jake Keenan's Senior Counsel said his client had a very difficult upbringing and has been making efforts to become drug free, with his current period on remand the longest period of sobriety in his life.

The cases were adjourned to last Friday for the preparation of a Probation report and urinalysis.

In finalising both matters, Judge Dara Hayes noted the defendant had a chaotic childhood and had a history of substance abuse - beginning with cannabis aged 13, taking tablets at 14 and using cocaine by the age of 16. He was expelled from school in second year and had no history of employment.

The defendant's father was murdered six years ago and the judge noted Mr Keenan was not deemed suitable for Probation supervision 'at this time'. He added the court had received a letter from the defendant who expressed his remorse "which I accept".

Judge Hayes imposed sentences totalling eight and a half year, with the final 12 months suspended on Mr Keenan entering a bond to be of good behaviour during that period as he said the defendant's attitude towards Probation supervision may have changed and he might be more receptive towards it.

The sentences were backdated to July 2nd 2025, when he went into custody following the second incident.