Man who took part in a “thuggish” attack on a Dublin Bus passenger has been jailed

By Fiona Ferguson

A man who took part in a “thuggish” attack on a Dublin Bus passenger after the victim objected to Covid social-distancing breaches has been jailed for 21 months.

Patrick Stokes (24), of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm on the Malahide Road in Clontarf on May 31, 2020.

He was 18 years old at the time.

Stokes kicked the victim while his co-accused, who previously received a two year sentence, punched the man directly into the face.

The victim’s tooth was dislodged.

Stokes has 126 previous convictions for offences including theft and fraud offences, public order and road traffic offences, threats to kill, making hoax calls, providing false information and possession of drugs.

Garda Kevin O’Boyle told Liam Dockery BL, prosecuting, that the injured party was a passenger on the No 43 bus at around 7.30pm and was travelling home after visiting family at a time when Covid social-distancing restrictions remained in place.

The court heard that three men got on the bus at the Clare Hall bus stop and remained on the lower deck.

The injured party was sitting at the back of the bus, wearing headphones, when the men began wandering around the bus and ignoring Covid social-distancing guidelines.

After the co-accused sat between the injured party and another passenger, there was an exchange with the second passenger.

The injured party overheard the conversation and offered his own view that the two men were not observing the guidelines.

The court heard that Stokes kicked the injured party and that his co-accused followed with a punch directly into his face.

The injured party’s tooth was dislodged and he required treatment.

The court heard the two perpetrators were identified from very clear CCTV footage on the bus.

There was no victim impact statement before the court.

Defence counsel submitted the actual damage to the tooth was attributed to the punch rather than the kick.

The garda agreed that it was the co-accused who initially breeched everyone’s personal space and interacted with the injured party.

He agreed Stokes was co-operative and apologised.

Stokes said he was “off his head” on tablets and blamed himself for his actions.

He apologised to the victim and said he hoped that the man could forgive him.

Defence counsel said Stokes had a difficult childhood and left home at young age, living on the streets.

He had issues with drugs from a young age and suffered with anxiety and depression.

Counsel said Stokes instructed is now drug free, is married and has children.

Counsel said he was a different person now and has changed his life.

He has been using his time in custody productively so he will be better placed to secure lasting employment.

Judge Martin Nolan said the two co-accused had been acting in a “thuggish” way on the bus.

He noted the injured party had suffered quite a bit because of the attack.

Judge Nolan noted Stokes is remorseful and seeking to better himself.

He imposed a sentence of 21 months imprisonment.