Four-year sentence for man who attacked former English Army corporal

The Court of Criminal Appeal has found that the four-year suspended sentence handed down to a man who savagely attacked a former English Army corporal was unduly lenient.

However the court has decided not to increase the penalty imposed on Mark Cummins of St Tereasa’s Gardens, Donore Avenue, Rialto for the assault on Conor Shaw on Easter Sunday 2006.

Mark Cummins repeatedly kicked Conor Shaw at full force in the head as he lay on the ground leaving the former English Army corporal with constant headaches and consigned to a desk job.

The case was featured on RTE's Crimecall and the accused came forward and ultimately pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm.

He was given community service and a four-year suspended sentence.

On appeal, the DPP argued that the sentence imposed was unduly lenient and the court has agreed, given the seriousness and brutality of the attack.

However it has decided not to interfere with the original sentence mainly because the assault happened five-years ago.

The DPP said its decision should not be considered indicative of the approach any trial judge should take in future cases of this sort.