Youths to be sentenced for bottle attack on student

A young Dublin man who stabbed a first year college student’s arm with a broken bottle leaving him with a permanent disability will be sentenced later with three other youths.

Garda Christine Griffin revealed she saw Troy Donoghue (aged 21) hit his victim with a glass bottle multiple times, chase him across the road towards her car and stab him in the side with a “shiny implement”.

Gda Griffin said she also saw Craig Kerr (aged 19), Daniel Callaghan (aged 20) and Kenneth Doyle (aged 20) beat and kick the victim while he was crouched down on the ground after being initially struck on the head.

Donoghue pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting Mr Daniel Blain (aged 20) causing him serious harm at Old Lucan Road, Lucan on September 23, 2008.

Donoghue, Kerr and Callaghan with addresses at Foxdene Drive, Clondalkin and Doyle of Fairhaven, Strand Street, Malahide each pleaded guilty to violent disorder on the same date and location.

Donoghue has 15 previous convictions, including theft and public order offences, Kerr has two previous convictions for minor assaults and Callaghan has three previous convictions.

Gda Griffin told Mr Paul Carroll BL, prosecuting, that Mr Blain had gone to a bank machine with friends ahead of getting a bus into the city centre for his Fresher’s Ball at DIT, when he encountered Donoghue and his group and a verbal altercation began.

Mr Blain found himself alone with the four youths when his friends fled the scene and was subjected to the assault, witnessed by Gda Griffin as she drove home from duty that evening.

Gda Griffin said Donoghue hit Mr Blain with a bottle over the head and the other three youths punched and kicked him as he crouched on the ground, until he ran towards the oncoming car seeking help.

Mr Blain fell in front of the garda’s car when Donoghue stabbed him in the abdomen.

He rose covered in blood and ran down the street with Donoghue and the other youths following.

Gda Griffin told Mr Carroll that she “bawled” out Donoghue’s name, drove past him to Mr Blain and called an ambulance.

She said Mr Blain suffered a severed palmar nerve, has little muscle recovery to date and had to wear a splint on his arm following the attack to stop his hand forming a claw shape.

Doctors say his hand function will always be impaired and prone to pain, especially in cold weather.

Mr Kevin Donoghue told Mr Michael Bowman BL, defending Donoghue, that his son’s behaviour changed a short time before the attack when he was victim of a hit-and-run and his uncle and best friend died in close succession.

Mr Donoghue said his son had been offered a chance to play football professionally but stopped training and began keeping “bad company” as a result of these three traumas.

Mr Donoghue said though he had limited means, he would be willing to sell his car and put the money forward as compensation on his son’s behalf.

Mr Bowman submitted to Judge Katherine Delahunt that his client had entered a guilty plea and had a job waiting for him when he gets out of jail.

Ms Gerardine Small BL, for Kerr, submitted that though her client didn’t inflict the serious injuries, he deeply regretted his part in the incident and now wishes to pursue a career in the catering industry.

Mr Garret Baker BL, for Callaghan, submitted to the judge that his client also regretted the incident and hasn’t come to adverse garda attention since.

Mr Ronan Kennedy BL, for Doyle, submitted that his client had the least part in the violent disorder but still regretted getting caught up in the “spontaneous, thoughtless” fracas.

Judge Delahunt remanded Donoghue in custody and Kerr, Callaghan and Doyle on continuing bail pending sentence in July.