By Claire Henry
A man who used a champagne bottle to strike a man 12 times on the head and face will be sentenced later this year.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Daniel Hutchinson (33) pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm on North Earl Street on August 3 of last year.
Garda Colm Maguire told Breffni Gordon BL, prosecuting, that a man who had been walking down North Earl St on the morning in question was attacked and woke up several days later in Beaumont Hospital surrounded by his family.
The court heard that the incident was captured on 11 cameras and Hutchinson was arrested 30 minutes after the attack. CCTV footage was played to the court, where Hutchinson was seen striking the injured man 12 times with a champagne bottle while he lay on the ground.
Hutchinson, who had been living in homeless accommodation at the time, was unable to remember any details of the incident due to being intoxicated. He has 10 previous convictions, all of which are from the District Court.
Gda Maguire told the court that over 600 pages of medical notes were given to the gardai, but medical reports were still outstanding from the hospital. The injured man was in a coma for four days and suffered multiple fractures to the head and face, along with a bleed to the brain.
The court was told that the injured man required surgery and is still attending hospital appointments and has one more surgery to undergo on his finger. A victim impact statement was read to the court on behalf of the man, which outlined that the man is on medication for anxiety and suffers from panic attacks.
He said that he gets overwhelmed easily and can no longer be in crowded places. The injured man worked in a trade and is no longer able to continue in that line of work.
Gda Maguire agreed with Seoirse Ó Dúnlaing SC, defending, that three days before this attack, Hutchinson’s son had died.
Mr Ó Dúnlaing said his client simply cannot remember what happened on the day, as he was intoxicated to a gross extent. He said Hutchinson went on a significant bender, taking anything he could after his son died.
Counsel said his client offers the most profound apology and says that if he could rewind the clock, he would.
He said Hutchinson has been in custody since the offence occurred and is an enhanced prisoner who attended educational and addiction services.
He asked the court to take into account that his client entered a guilty plea at the earliest opportunity and adjourn this case for finalisation until all reports were available.
Judge Jonathan Dunphy asked to see the CCTV footage for a second time and adjourned the finalisation until July 24 of this year.