Man (26) jailed for 'vicious and sustained' attack on man in Dublin city centre
Isabel Hayes
A man who took part in an unprovoked, “vicious and sustained” late-night city centre attack in Dublin, kicking and punching the victim as he lay on the ground, has been jailed for 18 months.
Tony Grimes (26) was with two other young men when they set upon the other man in the Wexford Street area of Dublin after socialising until the early hours of the morning on February 29th 2024.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that the victim fell to the ground in the first 30 seconds of the assault, but the three men continued to punch and kick him as he lay defenceless on the path.
After passers-by pleaded with the attackers to stop, they left the scene, but not before Grimes returned to kick the man to the head one more time.
Grimes, of Goatstown Close, Dundrum, Dublin 14, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to the man. It is an offence which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years.
He has 29 previous convictions, including criminal damage, public order and road traffic offences.
The court heard the victim was taken to the hospital with bruising and swelling to the back and face, along with cuts and a black eye.
Sentencing Grimes on Friday, Judge Orla Crowe said the victim in the case was lucky not to be seriously physically injured, but she noted the psychological effects of the attack have had a long-lasting effect on him.
“This was a sustained, vicious attack,” the judge said. She noted that while there may have been a verbal interaction of some kind between both parties prior to the assault, “nothing justifies being attacked in that way”.
“It has had a lasting impact on this injured party,” she said.
She said it was an aggravating factor that Grimes returned to deliver a final kick to the head of his victim.
Gardaí identified Grimes by going through the ticketing process of the nightclub he had attended that night. The court heard he is remorseful for his actions that night and had €2500 in court as a token of his remorse.
The court heard the victim did not wish to take the money, but requested that it be donated to charity.
Judge Crowe set a headline sentence of four years, which she reduced to 18 months, taking mitigating factors into account, including Grimes's family background, his remorse and guilty plea.
