Used a child’s hurley to strike a man whose phone he had just stolen

By Eimear Dodd

A man used a child’s hurley to strike another man whose phone he had just stolen, a court has heard.

Michael Quinn (23) of Cara Close, Priorswood, Coolock,  Dublin 5 pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, production of a hurley and three counts of assault at Ennafort Roard, Raheny on June 27, 2018.

He further pleaded to stealing a Google Pixel mobile phone at Harmonstown Dart Station.

Quinn has 20 previous convictions including for theft, possession of drugs, burglary and road traffic offences.

Judge Martin Nolan imposed a sentence of three and a half years with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard yesterday that the injured party was waiting at Harmonstown Dart Station at around 9pm when Quinn asked if he could use his phone to make a call.

The victim gave Quinn his phone, who then refused to return it.

There was a scuffle and Quinn walked away, followed by the victim.

Quinn turned around and threatened the man, telling him “don’t talk to me like that”.

The victim tried again to get his phone and Quinn punched him in the jaw.

Quinn walked away and picked up a child’s hurley before threatening the victim with it, saying: “Don’t make me angry”.

Quinn walked towards the injured party in an aggressive manner.

The man made another attempt to get his phone back, and Quinn hit him with the hurley on the jaw and the left arm.

A third party intervened, and Quinn started to walk away before threatening this individual.

The victim tried to get his phone back again and was struck on the left hip and arm.

The victim was shaken and frightened by the incident, and lay on the ground.

His Google Pixel phone, valued at €730, was not recovered.

Quinn was identified from CCTV and a warrant was obtained to search his home, though nothing of evidential value was identified.

He was arrested, but made no admissions during interview.

A bench warrant was issued in 2019 after he failed to appear on a court date.

He had been in custody since the warrant was executed in July 2023.

A victim impact statement was handed to the court, but not read aloud.

The investigating garda agreed with defence counsel that Quinn was intoxicated at the time of the incident and told gardai that he had addiction issues.

Defence counsel put it to the garda that his client was being threatened in relation to a drug debt, and he stole the phone out of a “motive of self-preservation”, not profit.

The witness accepted this and agreed there was a gap in Quinn’s offending between 2019 and 2023 as he was outside the jurisdiction.

A psychological report and a number of letters were submitted to the court.

Defence counsel said Quinn has a cognitive impairment and is prone to impulsive behaviour.

He was 18 at the time of this offence, had a difficult upbringing and has depressive and anxiety disorders.

He is a member of the Travelling community and members of his family were in court to support him, the court heard.

Quinn left school after Junior Certificate and started to use drugs around this time.

He has worked as a gardener and wishes to complete residential treatment.

Counsel asked the court to consider suspending part of any sentence imposed to put promises made by his client “to the test”.

Judge Nolan said Quinn behaved “atrociously” towards the “kind” and “unfortunate” victim by beating and attacking him.

He noted the mitigating features included Quinn’s guilty plea and his young age at the time of the offence.

However, the judge said Quinn “knew what he did was wrong” and deserved a prison sentence.

Judge Nolan backdated the sentence to July 22, 2023 when Quinn entered custody and noted that he would have imposed a longer sentence if Quinn had been older.