Four years for man who terrorised his neighbours

A man who terrorised his neighbours in a drunken early morning attack while wearing only his boxer shorts and assaulted a garda has been given a four year sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Joseph Cahill (aged 25), of Bawnlea Avenue, Tallaght, headbutted Garda Donal O’Sullivan and kneed him in the face as he was being arrested after bursting into a neighbour’s house claiming to be looking for his sister.

Cahill, who has 28 previous convictions, pleaded guilty to criminal damage, trespass and assaulting Garda O’Sullivan causing him harm on August 10, 2006.

Garda O’Sullivan had several teeth fractured and chipped, requiring ongoing dental treatment.

Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a four year sentence and suspended the final year on condition that he attend for alcohol treatment and pay €300 compensation to each of the injured parties.

Garda Maria Dempsey told Mr Sean Gillane BL, prosecuting, that the incident began when Cahill woke a woman at 3.30am by knocking on her door and began “shouting and screaming” for his mother and sister who he seemed to believe were in the house

She opened her door after he threatened to throw a brick through the window and ran around the house “shouting and roaring” while she tried to calm him down.

Garda Dempsey said Cahill also shouted profanities at her daughter who had been awoken by the commotion. He eventually left the house but soon returned and the woman saw “the door coming in on top of her”.

The gardaí were alerted and found the partially clothed Cahill further down the street. Garda Dempsey said Cahill became violent as she and Garda O’Sullivan attempted to arrest him. Another individual tried to help him resist arrest and a struggle ensued as they tried to get him into the patrol car.

Garda Dempsey said Cahill grabbed at her and then headbutted Garda O’Sullivan who came to her assistance. Garda O’Sullivan was also kneed in the face by Cahill but still managed to restrain him.

Garda Dempsey said the woman and her daughter remained “very frightened” for days after the incident.

Garda O’Sullivan told Judge Ryan that two of his fractured upper teeth had been replaced by porcelain dentures. Other teeth were chipped and resultant nerve damage caused difficulties eating and drinking.

Defence counsel, Mr Bernard Condon BL, said he was instructed to apologise to all those Cahill had met on the night when he had drink taken. “This was not a determined, thought out, planned attack.”

Mr Condon said Cahill’s “personal and emotional difficulties” were driven by the break-up of his family. He accepted responsibility for the incident and had the “miserly sum” of €1,000 to offer as compensation.