A man who carried out a “vicious assault” on two US tourists in the lift of a Dublin hotel, has been jailed for two years.
Sean Dunne, 26, of St Catherine’s Foyer, Marrowbone Lane in Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, to two counts of assault causing harm against a man and woman, both in their 60s, on 7 April 2023 at the Ashling Hotel, Parkgate Street.
Ms Justice Sarah Berkeley described it as a “vicious assault” on a married couple who were visiting from the US.
She sentenced Dunne to two-and-a-half years with the final six months suspended and backdated it to April 2023 for time spent in custody.
Garda Stephen Lawlor told Michael Horrigan BL, prosecuting, that he was on mobile patrol on the night in question and received a call about an alleged assault just after 9pm.
When he arrived at the hotel, he saw one man, who was later identified as Dunne, being restrained on the corridor floor.
He also noted blood on the carpet.
The court heard that Dunne was arrested and cautioned at the scene.
Gardaí spoke to the couple, who said they had returned to the hotel after eating dinner locally.
They went to the hotel bar and ordered a drink before getting into the lift.
Dunne also entered the lift.
Gda Lawlor said Dunne told the woman that he was going to “rape her and kill him”, indicating the woman’s husband.
Dunne then struck the woman in the mouth and began to attack her husband.
The woman pressed the panic button.
When the door of the lift opened, the woman screamed for help, and two other people came to their assistance.
The court heard that Dunne was still attacking the man, and there was blood everywhere.
As Dunne was being subdued by onlookers, he continued to say that he was “going to kill” the man.
The man fell to his knees and was shaking.
The couple received treatment at the scene from the emergency services but did not require hospital treatment.
‘Frenzied attack’
The woman told gardaí that this was an unprovoked attack.
The court heard that this was the couple’s last night in Ireland, and they returned to the US the following day.
Images of the injuries sustained by both people were handed into the court.
Dunne was interviewed but denied that he assaulted either of them. He took a trial date but pleaded in advance of his trial.
Gda Lawlor agreed with defending counsel that this was a “frenzied attack” and that Dunne had not known the couple.
He agreed with counsel that Dunne exhibited signs of someone going through a psychotic break. The court heard that Dunne was diagnosed with schizophrenia in 2020.
The court also heard that Dunne had been homeless and turned to addictive substances.
Since he went into custody, he has been doing very well, and his mental health has improved significantly.
Dunne is currently on medication. He is off all addictive substances and is tested regularly in prison.
On the last hearing date in June, Ms Justice Berkeley had ordered the probation services to carry out a report and adjourned the case for sentencing.
Passing sentence, the judge said the victims were in their late 60s and much older than the accused.
She noted Dunne had been diagnosed with schizophrenia but also chose to use illicit substances.
Ms Justice Berkeley placed the offending in the “middle upper range”, but took account of his guilty plea.
The judge said she was imposing two-and-a-half years, but would suspend the final six months and ordered him to engage with probation services.
“I have a real concern in relation to this man,” she said, noting had a history of not taking his medication and of using illicit substances.
Dunne who has been in custody since April 2023 will have served most of his detention and is shortly due for release.
The judge also ordered he undergo 18 months post-release supervision and to follow all recommendations and advice in relation to treatment.
He is also to follow all recommendations of the probation services and keep them informed in relation to his contact details and whereabouts.
