Cork attack victim ‘felt skull break open’
Detective Garda Pat Barry said the victim pleaded with his attackers to stop but they kept up the violent attack for four minutes.The accused were found nearby with the victim’s blood spattered on their clothing.
Jamie O’Brien, aged 20, of 23 Meadow Hills, the Meadows, Hollyhill, Cork, was jailed for six years with the last year suspended, and Eddie Murphy, aged 26, of 57 Kilmore Rd, Knocknaheeny, were jailed for six years at Cork Circuit Criminal Court yesterday.
Judge David Riordan said: “He had his head stoved in. The effect on his life has been catastrophic, life-changing. He was left almost for dead. This was a truly egregious offence. It resides at the higher end of the scale of seriousness.”
They pleaded guilty to a charge of assault causing serious harm to Mark Lahive at Exchange Business Park, John F Connolly Rd, Churchfield, Cork, on April 28.
Mr Lahive, aged 38, a father of four who worked in a confectionery business, was in an induced coma following medical treatment for injuries sustained in the lunchtime attack. He is still undergoing treatment at the National Rehabilitation Hospital, Dún Laoghaire.
On the day of the attack Mr Lahive saw the two accused acting suspiciously near his van.
The detective said Mr Lahive had an iron crowbar in his hand and told the duo to leave the area. “Unfortunately, things turned sour; they turned on him. He fell to the ground, the iron bar was taken from him. He was severely beaten not by one, but by both of them.
“Both took turns using the iron bar on Mr Lahive. He pleaded with the culprits to stop. One witness to the assault attempted to intervene but he was threatened with violence. The resulting injuries were life-changing. He will never be able to return to work,” said the detective.
In a victim impact report, read by Garda Eimear O’Connell, Mr Lahive said before the day of the attack he was a bright, outgoing, bubbly person who loved life with his wife Rebecca and four young children. He said his life changed with the first blow from the bar when he could feel his skull breaking open and blood streaming down his face and he thought his life was about to end.
“This has destroyed my life. I am not the person I was. Now my wife has to take on two roles: Keeping up a front for the family but inside is crushed for me. No matter what jail sentences they get, it will not be enough.
“It was degrading; you would not do it to a dying dog. I will have to deal with this for the rest of my life. Everything I looked forward to in my life is gone.”
Mrs Lahive said: “These people have ruined our lives. I have to live with flashbacks of my husband lying in a pool of blood, not knowing if he would live or die.”
O’Brien has four previous assault convictions, including two for assault causing harm, and was released from a one-year prison sentence for assault one week before assaulting Mr Lahive.
Katherine McGillicuddy, defending, said he was ashamed and apologised.
He snapped on the day in question after consuming alcohol and drugs, she said.
Murphy had 65 previous convictions, the majority for public order, and some for carrying knives.
Murphy was also sentenced to two and a half years, consecutive to the six years — with the last 18 months suspended — on an unrelated charge of attempted robbery from another man at Western Rd on December 22, 2014. He pulled open the victim’s car door, demanded cash, and when none was forthcoming he tried to rob the car. The victim managed to get away but was terrified by the ordeal, Detective Garda Noel Maxwell said.
