Prison sentence for Tullamore man who assaulted taxi driver

A PROBATION report on a man who assaulted a taxi driver in Tullamore was before Judge Andrew Cody at last week's district court.

At a court sitting in June, Judge Michelle Finan heard that Dean Hogan (26) with an address at Cloncollig, Tullamore, but who now lives in Dublin, hit Babatunde Lawai with a plastic glass causing him harm, resulting in the man needing steri strips to the top of his head at Church Street, Tullamore on May 10, 2023.

Mr Lawai was called names by the defendant when the driver spoke to him about the glass of alcohol and the taxi had to stop. Mr Hogan was asked to leave.

Initially gardai believed the container was made of glass but realised it was soft plastic. The accused identified himself on CCTV. He had been released from prison six weeks at the time of the offence.

Judge Tynan had remanded the defendant in custody to appear in court last Wednesday and a probation report had been ordered.

Mr Hogan has been in custody for two months, the court heard. His solicitor said all of Mr Hogan's previous offences had a common thread and that was intoxication. He presents as high risk.

The court heard that his probation officer Elaine O'Reilly had done a lot of work with Mr Hogan and he is on a list for residential treatment.

His mother and partner were in court and he will go back to his partner and children if he is released.

He has a desire to mend his ways. His solicitor asked Judge Cody if he might consider supervised probation. He said he will attend for treatment five days a week.

Judge Cody noted that Mr Hogan had been out of prison just six weeks when the offence occurred. He imposed a six month sentence with the final three months suspended for two years on condition that he doesn't commit any crime or engage in criminal behaviour.

He is to provide the probation officer with his home address and be able to meet with the probation officer when required at his home. He must submit to substance abuse testing when required by the probation officer.

He is to attend group sessions and one on one key sessions. He is to attend Frontline for five days a week until no longer required to do so and attend counselling.

He is also to attend for residential treatment once it becomes available, in the meantime he is to actively pursue his application for a place.

The sentence was backdated to May 23.