Dentist assaulted and spat at neighbour in noise dispute, court hears

Eimear Dodd

A dentist assaulted and spat at his neighbour following a noise dispute, a court has heard.

Lutfi Hamuda (54), formerly of Marrowbone Lane Close, Marrowbone Lane, Dublin 8, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. He has no previous convictions.

Garda Lee Gorman told John Gallagher, prosecuting, that there was some dispute between Hamuda and the injured party about noise before this incident occurred.

The injured party was walking to his car to get his sunglasses on July 5, 2021, when he saw Hamuda speaking to another neighbour. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court was told the injured party believed Hamuda was complaining to this neighbour about him.

Hamuda then approached the injured party, saying along the lines of “I’m going to fuck with you, I’m going to kill you”.

The injured party heard Hamuda walking behind him, then turned to face him as he thought Hamuda was going to hit him from behind.

Hamuda then tried to punch him, but the injured party pushed him away. He then spat in the victim’s face, before punching him twice to the side of the head and nose.

The court was told the injured party was terrified and believed Hamuda when he said he was going to kill him. He was treated for a fracture to his nose, which later required surgery.

Gardaí were called, and as part of their investigation, they obtained CCTV and a phone recording made by another neighbour.

When interviewed by gardaí, Hamuda claimed the injured party was the aggressor and that he was the victim of an assault. He also suggested that the injured party was trying to provoke him to get him to court.

A victim impact statement was handed to the court and not read aloud.

Gda Gorman agreed with Carol Doherty, defending, that her client has other interactions with gardaí after this incident due to difficulties with his landlord. It was further accepted that Hamuda has moved, and there have been no further interactions relating to the property.

The witness also agreed that Hamuda had made several noise complaints to gardaí before this incident and that this conviction may affect his future employment. A letter of apology from Hamuda and a reference were handed to the court along with certificates outlining his education.

Ms Doherty said her client came to Ireland from Libya in 2013. She noted Hamuda states in his letter that he should have acted with greater maturity, feels great shame and had been experiencing mental distress for a year before this incident.

She noted he moved approximately three months after this incident and is now living in Inchicore.

Ms Doherty submitted that this conviction may affect her client’s ability to work as a dentist in the future, and the potential impact on his career has caused him great stress.

Counsel noted her client’s otherwise unblemished record and asked for leniency.

Judge Orla Crowe said this was an “inherently serious” case. Remanding Hamuda on continuing bail, she adjourned the case until July and directed the preparation of a probation report.