Dealer jailed for eight years

A drug dealer who held a taxi-driver's face down in a river while a co-accused hit him with a brick has been jailed for eight years in consecutive sentences by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Brian Fearon (26), of Clonard, Brittas, County Dublin pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to the taxi-driver on July 20, 2002 at Windy Arbour.

Judge Frank O'Donnell said the assault was the worst he had heard of for many years and he had to five Fearon some "discount" on the maximum sentence available to him which was five years due to his guilty plea.

He imposed four years on the assault charge and directed it to run consecutive to sentences of one and three years, also consecutive, which had been imposed on Fearon previously for drug dealing but suspended if he remained out of trouble.

Judge O'Donnell suspended the final three years of the total eight years imposed on Fearon .

Garda Darren Kerins told prosecuting counsel Mr Justin Dillon BL the victim had gone to Glasson Court in Windy Arbour to settle for damage to a vehicle there which had been caused by his son. The damage was valued about €2,000.

Fearon shaped up to him and declared the cost would be "€10,000 or a funeral on Monday." He then proceeded to shadow-box the victim who fell into the River Dargle at the scene.

Garda Kerins said Fearon then held the victim's face down in the water while another man hammered him with a brick. Fearon bit the taxidriver on his face when got his head up out of the water.

The victim's head pushed down again into the water by Fearon but he finally succeeded in making his escape after he knocked over one of his attackers against the other.