Tommy Doran (32) and Jamie Griffin (29), each pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm
Tommy Doran (32) and Jamie Griffin (29), both with addresses at The Iveagh Trust in Dublin City had each pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm at Bow Lane Bar, Aungier Street on October 13, 2019.
They were before Judge Pauline Codd of the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on Monday for sentencing.
Judge Codd noted that the incident had arisen out of someone bumping off another person in the pub, and that it was an unidentified person who had initiated the attack on the three men.
Doran joined in with insulting gestures, which escalated to violence.
She said that Doran punched one of his victims in the head from behind. He also kicked this man on the ground, something she described as a significant aggravating factor.
The most significant aggravating factor in Doran’s assault on the other man was that he had hit him with a chair. This man sustained a fractured nose.
The judge noted that Griffin, who was on bail at the time, had also not initiated this violence. However, he quickly became involved and inflicted violence on two men, one of whom had also been hit by Doran.
She said that the entire incident had lasted just a minute but pointed out that much damage can be done in the course of a minute during a fight.
Each defendant had brought €4,000 to court in compensation for the victims.
Judge Codd said that Doran, unlike Griffin, was a person with no previous convictions for violent offending.
She said that the appropriate headline sentence was three and a half years in prison.
However, she took into consideration his guilty plea, personal circumstances, background, and the fact that he has expressed remorse. She noted the various testimonials, including from his employer, who described him as dedicated, and his local football club, where he is involved in coaching.
She imposed a sentence of two and a half years but suspended it in full on a number of conditions, including that he engage in victim-focused work and with addiction services.
The court heard Griffin had more than 40 previous convictions, including six for assault causing harm. He was under the influence of alcohol and cocaine at the time.
“Unfortunately, this is what happens,” the judge said, referring to the intoxicants. “People become disinhibited and aggressive.”
She said that a five-year headline sentence would be warranted before his mitigating factors were considered. These included his remorse and a letter from his partner, who attested to his level of awareness and the changes he had made in his life since the incident.
She imposed four years but suspended it in full on condition he engage in offence-focused and victim awareness work and with addiction support services.
“Mr Griffin, I don’t want to see you back in here again,” she warned before both men walked free from court.
During an earlier hearing, Keith Spencer BL, defending Griffin, said his client was turning his life around. He said he is working as a personal trainer and life coach, regularly posting inspirational material on TikTok.
Defence counsel for Doran submitted it was out of character for his client, and he has not come to any further garda attention. He said he was a working family man
