Pensioner 'thought he was going to be killed' during attack by Limerick man with screwdriver

A 26-YEAR-OLD man from “a good home” attacked a pensioner in County Limerick with a screwdriver during an attempted robbery of a window from a caravan -  and rammed a garda car while collecting his dole, a court has heard.

The victim of the assault, aged in his 70s, suffered two lacerations to his scalp which required procedures, a bruised forehead and eye and “thought he was going to be killed”. 

Sean Byrnes, aged 26, with an address at Limerick City Hotel, Dock Road pleaded guilty to attempted robbery, assault causing harm and production of a screwdriver at an address in Dromcollogher on May 14, 2024.

Judge Colin Daly gave his judgement after the evidence was outlined on an earlier date by prosecuting barrister Lily Buckley, instructed by State solicitor Brendan Gill, with the assistance of Detective Garda Neil O’Gorman. 

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Judge Daly said the victim’s daughter rang her father after observing a man in his yard at around 8.30pm on the date in question.

“He went from his house to the yard where he was confronted by the accused who was trying to steal a window from a caravan which was parked in the yard. When the victim got out his phone to photograph the accused, Byrnes came at the victim, brandished a screwdriver, callously assaulted him, knocking him to the ground and demanded his phone

“Byrnes punched him with his fists, hit him with a screwdriver and stood on his hand to try to force him to release his phone. The victim suffered bruising to his forehead and eye, two lacerations to his scalp requiring procedures and prolonged psychological consequences as he thought he was going to be killed and now fears going into his yard,” said Judge Daly.

The court heard Byrnes went to the yard to steal a window of a caravan to replace a broken window in a caravan that he and his family were living in. 

“There are far less criminal ways to put that problem right,” said Judge Daly. The cost of the damage to the victim’s caravan was €3,500.

Byrnes also pleaded guilty to criminal damage of a garda vehicle and endangerment - at O’Grady’s supermarket in Ballingarry on June 23, 2021.

Judge Daly said Byrnes was “at large” at the time of these offences as there were three bench warrants and an arrest warrant outstanding.

“He attended at the local post office to collect his social welfare payment. He parked in his car and got out but when he saw gardai approaching he quickly returned to his car. Gardai blocked the parking space, got out and identified themselves. 

“Byrnes drove his car forward, hit the garda car, reversed and drove forward again. He forced his way past the garda vehicle and drove away at high speed.

 “Gardai were put in danger during this manoeuvre and the garda car was ultimately written off,” said Judge Daly.

The judge told Limerick Criminal Circuit Court that Byrnes made the decision to use the car as a weapon to facilitate his escape on the afternoon of June 23, 2021. 

“When a car is used to ram a car it is potentially a lethal weapon. He showed scant regard  for the safety of the gardai or patrons at the supermarket at a time of the day when it would be busy ,” said Judge Daly, who added that the aggravating factors were that Byrnes was disqualified from driving and on bail at the time.

The mitigating factors that the judge took into account were that Byrnes has two young children and his wife, who has health issues, will now be a lone parent while he is in jail for an extended period.

“The accused comes from a good home who fell into bad company at a young age. He appears to be doing well in prison and has expressed remorse,” said Judge Daly.

The judge said Byrnes is currently serving an 18 month jail sentence for endangerment which was imposed last November.

Judge Daly imposed concurrent two year prison terms for criminal damage and endangerment at O’Grady’s supermarket.

These are to be served consecutively to the 18 month prison sentence for endangerment that Byrnes is currently serving.

The judge handed down a four year sentence for attempted robbery in Dromcollogher. It is to be served consecutively to the two year prison term. 

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The assault causing harm and production of a screwdriver offences were taken into account.

Judge Daly said the total sentences of seven years and six months that Byrnes has received “proportionally punishes him for the seriousness of the offending”.

Byrnes was also disqualified from driving for 10 years.