Man gets 18-month term in jail for ‘uncontrolled’ attack on woman

A man who dragged a woman to the ground and repeatedly kicked her in the face and head has been given a three-and-a-half year sentence with the final two years suspended.

George Croitoru, aged 29, of St John the Baptist Church, Long Mile Rd, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm to Dawn Critchlow-Burke on the North Circular Rd, Dublin, on March 9, 2014.

The victim’s injuries included a perforated ear drum, a fractured nose, two black eyes, and extensive bruising.

Judge Martin Nolan said the assault was persistent, vicious and prolonged. He said that it seemed that Croitoru “lost complete control” while kicking and beating Ms Burke.

Croitoru, who has no previous convictions, made an offer of €1,000 as a token of his remorse and this was accepted by the victim.

Garda Conor Mackin told Martina Baxter, prosecuting, that, at around 10pm, Ms Burke was walking home after visiting a friend and she passed Croitoru. The Romanian national asked her for a cigarette and she said she offered him the end of the cigarette she was smoking. He initially told her to “fuck off” but then apologised and took her up on the offer.

He asked her to come back to a friend’s but she refused. He moved closer to her and she pushed him away.

He then grabbed her hand and punched her in the mouth. She ended up on the ground.

The victim swung out at the man using the broken handle of a china cup that had fallen from her bag and cut him. He then grabbed her hair again. He started kicking her on her face and her head.

Croitoru finally stopped and left the woman, taking her mobile phone with him.

A passerby called the gardaí and a passing driver followed Croitoru and pointed him out to gardaí.

Tom Neville, defending, said his client was drunk that evening.

He said his lack of other convictions suggested this attack was not deeply ingrained behaviour.

“This assault is so serious that the defendant must spend time in custody,” said Judge Nolan on handing down the sentence.