Man jailed for New Year's Day assault in Tallaght

A man has been sentenced to 12 months in prison for assaulting 20 year old Dale Creighton, who died in hospital after being attacked in Tallaght in Dublin on New Year's Day.

A man has been sentenced to 12 months in prison for assaulting 20-year-old Dale Creighton, who died in hospital.

Mr Creighton was attacked in Tallaght, Dublin on New Year's Day.

The victim was at a house party in Tallaght, while the accused James O'Brien celebrated at a local nightclub.

Mr. Creighton left the party at around 3am, and was allegedly chased as a far as a footbridge on St Dominic's Road after being accused of stealing a handbag and phone.

The court heard O'Brien got out of a car at the bridge at around 3.50am and was caught on camera punching and kicking Dale as he lay on the ground.

O'Brien (aged 22) of The Mill, Baltinglass, Co. Wicklow, initially claimed he only stopped after seeing two people arguing, but later admitted the offence.

Today, Ms. Justice Isobel Kennedy described the 90-second attack as "cowardly" and sentenced him to two and a half years, but suspended the final 18 months.

Seven other young people from the Tallaght area are due to stand trial in connection with the death next year.