Plumber who broke man’s skull avoids prison

A Dublin plumber who broke a man’s skull with a claw hammer after finding him in his former partner’s bed has avoided a jail sentence.

Simon Early of Old Brazil Way, Swords, got a suspended sentence for the attack which left the victim with a 2.7cm fracture in his skull.

Early, aged 27, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm to David Griffin at Ashton Rise, Swords, on October 22, 2011.

Judge Mary Ellen Ring sentenced him to two-and-a-half years in prison but suspended it in full on condition Early keeps the peace for 12 months.

She accepted the attack was out of character and that Early was sorry, but said he could have caused permanent or fatal injury. A probation report said there’s a low risk of him reoffending.

Garda David Smith told Anne Rowland, prosecuting, that Early had been dropping their two-year old daughter to the home of his former partner Bethany Hourigan.

The court heard there had been an agreement between the estranged couple that no man would stay at the house while the child was there.

Early went upstairs to find Mr Griffin in bed. He went away, returning with a claw-hammer that he was swinging at Mr Griffin’s head.

The hammer hit his head and Mr Griffin shouted: “You’re going to kill me,” to which Early responded: “I don’t fucking care.”

Mr Griffin told gardaí he was not keen for a custodial sentence to be imposed on Early as he was a father.

Letters were handed to the court from members of the local GAA team where Early plays, describing him as someone whom other players look up to and respect.