TWO youths have been sentenced to three years imprisonment at Limerick Circuit Court for their part in an “unprovoked” violent attack in the city two years ago where a young man suffered extensive injuries including two broken jaws, black eyes a fractured nasal bone and loosened teeth. For a period of time afterwards.
During the incident, the victim was targeted and was subjected to a “savage beating” in an unprovoked attack. Paul Edwards (21) of Broad Street and also with an address in Templemore, pleaded guilty with Niall Joyce (20) of Cosgrave Park, Moyross, to the attack that still has the victim suffering difficulties chewing his food and needed counselling for the trauma associated with the attack.
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Splints were also fitted and the court heard in evidence that the injured man said that 90 per cent of his lip and chin area was numb after the attack and that he had to eat liquidised food for three months afterwards.
John O’Sullivan, prosecution for the State outlined to the court the evidence where gardai said that the pair “targeted their victim while he was on his way to get a taxi after a night out.”
Garda Tracey Draper told the injured party had left a night club shortly after 3am and walked towards Bedford Row to get a taxi when he was attacked by the two men.
A witness to the attack said that they saw the man being kicked in the stomach and head.
The court heard that the pair stole a mobile phone and up to €40 in cash from the man’s wallet before he staggered, “covered in blood” to a nearby take away after the attack.
The court heard that CCTV captured the two leaving the scene in the same “distinctive clothing” but there was no footage of the actually assault. Both Mr Joyce and Mr Edwards were arrested a short time later and admitted their involvement in the unprovoked attack.
Garda Draper said the victim was nervous leaving his home on a daily basis and that he was hesitant returning to town.
In jailing the two men, Judge Carroll Moran said that it was a vicious attack and a “pretty savage beating”. Judge Moran said the injured party had suffered serious injuries as a result of a “pretty savage beating”.
He added that a three-year sentence was suitable in this case but he suspended the final year.
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