Cork man violently assaulted three people before fleeing to Australia for three years

Accused fled to Australia after attacking and injuring two men and a woman on their way home from a night out in Cork

Judge sentenced accused to three years and six months in prison, with the last six months suspended. Picture: Dan Linehan

A young man who carried out unprovoked assaults on three people in Cork City before fleeing to Australia for three years was shown CCTV of the violence by gardaí but, he was so ashamed he had to turn away from the footage.

Defence barrister Alan O’Dwyer said the accused could not bear to look at the recordings of the violent assaults he carried out when he was 21 years old.

Now 24, Davin Jackson, of no fixed address, returned to Cork after three years working on fishing boats and in mines in Australia, and was arrested after his recent return to Cork.

On Friday at Cork Circuit Criminal Court, his actions from the early hours of March 6, 2022, finally caught up with him.

Judge Helen Boyle sentenced him to three years and six months in prison, with the last six months suspended for crimes that included assault causing harm to two men and a woman.

Judge Boyle said: “Two people were driving home from a night out minding their own business when you jumped on the bonnet of their car. It involved kicking and punching and pursuing the two people.

“People who tried to intervene were attacked for their good deeds.

“These were people minding their own business trying to get home safely from a night out.

“You are very lucky indeed you did not cause more serious injuries. These types of assaults of kicking people on the ground can resulted in brain injuries or death.

“I have no doubt this was a horrific encounter for people who were only minding their own business and on their way home."

Detective Garda Sharon Sweeney said the attacks were carried out on Sullivan’s Quay, Cork, at about 1.30am on March 6, 2022.

At one stage, the violent disorder got so out of hand the woman who was assaulted feared she was going to be knocked into the river.

One man was punched and kicked and knocked to the ground as he stood between Davin Jackson and a woman he was trying to assault.

The woman who was assaulted was similarly attacked as she tried to protect a man who was about to be struck.

The third victim’s injuries included a kick to the left hand which fractured his thumb and put him out of work for three months.

Mr O’Dwyer said the defendant had written a letter of apology for his actions and was drinking heavily at the time of the incident. He said the young man had a very difficult childhood, with a lack of family support from a very young age.