'Upsetting and distressing' - Limerick man jailed over vicious and ferocious hammer attack

A YOUNG man  who “viciously beat” a teenager with a hammer has been sentenced to  four and-a-half years’ imprisonment.

Jake Collopy, aged 20, with an address at St Munchin’s Street, St Mary’s Park, Limerick city had earlier pleaded guilty to assault causing harm contrary to Section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997 and to producing a weapon contrary to Section 11 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990. 

Before imposing sentence at Limerick Circuit Court, Judge Colin Daly summarised the evidence which he had heard previously regarding the  incident that  took place on March 23, 2024.

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He said the injured party, then aged 19, was visiting an address at St Ita’s Street, St Mary’s Park in the city  when  the accused, along with two other men, arrived at the residence and knocked on the door.

When the injured party answered the door, he was “viciously beaten with hammers”, which, the court heard, had been purchased in B&Q a short time beforehand.

Judge Daly commented that   CCTV footage of the incident, which was played during the sentencing hearing was “upsetting and distressing in the extreme”.

He noted  the injured party had been struck at least 10 times “with ferocity”.

Following the attack, the man was taken to University Hospital Limerick, where doctors established he had  suffered a fractured skull.

He was subsequently transferred to Cork University Hospital and later required surgery.

However, the court heard  the man has since made “a good recovery”.

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Judge Daly said that it was clear from CCTV footage that Mr Collopy had played a “principal role” in the attack.

He said it was an aggravating factor that the incident had taken place in a residential setting in broad daylight. 

In mitigation, Judge Daly noted the accused’s early guilty plea and his personal circumstances.

The court heard  Mr Collopy has since completed his Leaving Certificate and undertaken some employment. 

He is a father of two young children and lives with his partner.

Judge Daly said that the accused has expressed remorse, saying he is “deeply ashamed” of his actions.

While he has a number of minor previous convictions, Mr Collopy is considered to be of “relatively good character” and he hasn’t come to the attention of An Garda Síochána since the incident.

After formally convicting the accused of the offences, Judge Daly sentenced him to five and-a-half years’ imprisonment, with the final year suspended for a period of five years.