A driver who knocked down two pedestrians after a row, causing one of them "catastrophic injuries", has been jailed for seven years by Judge Patricia Ryan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Gerard Grey (23), Edenmore Crescent, Raheny, Dublin, was found guilty by a jury of six charges of causing serious harm, assault causing harm, reckless endangerment, dangerous driving and having shotgun cartridges at Woodbine Road, Edenmore on October 30th, 2004.
Judge Ryan said she had taken into consideration the "catastrophic injuries" suffered by one of the victims, Dominic Cummins. She also took into account Grey's previous conviction for a similar offence and the fact that he was disqualified from driving for 20 years at the time of the offence. Judge Ryan imposed concurrent sentences of seven years on the count of causing serious harm, seven years on the count of assault causing harm, four years for reckless endangerment, two years for having shotgun cartridges and disqualified Grey from driving for 20 years.
Paul Greene, prosecuting, said Mr Cummins and Anthony Trimble were "mowed down" by Grey when he drove the car on to a footpath following an altercation.
The medical reports showed Mr Cummins had suffered "life-threatening injuries", as well as a "badly shattered" leg which left him permanently crippled and facial injuries including "almost total loss of sight in one eye".
Mr Greene said Mr Trimble had suffered a fractured leg which required him to occasionally wear a knee support.
The jury heard that the occupants of a passing car, including Grey, had earlier shouted abuse at a group of four or five men, including the victims, who were outside a chip shop after drinking at the Raheny GAA club.
Mr Cummins was annoyed and he, his brother and Mr Trimble followed the car on foot to the Greys' family home. People came out of the house, an altercation broke out and the car was driven away.
The injured parties turned to rejoin their friends, but the car again drove past them and a gunshot was fired from it in their direction.
The car then did a U-turn and headed back in the injured parties' direction. Mr Trimble pulled a gate off its hinges and threw it at the car which mounted the footpath and hit him and Mr Cummins.
Mr Greene said Mr Trimble was fortunate in that he was struck and thrown away from the car, suffering injuries to his knee and arm, but Mr Cummins was "pinioned" by it and suffered "catastrophic injuries".