A YOUNG Dublin man who stabbed a first-year college student’s arm with a broken bottle will be sentenced next month with three other young men.
Garda Christine Griffin said that in September 2008, she saw Troy Donoghue (21) hit Daniel Blain (20) many times with a glass bottle, chase him across the road towards her car and stab him in the side with a “shiny implement”.
Garda Griffin said she also saw Craig Kerr (19), Daniel Callaghan (20) and Kenneth Doyle (20) beat and kick Mr Blain while he was crouched on the ground after being initially struck on the head.
Donoghue pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting Mr Blain causing him serious harm at Old Lucan Road, Lucan, on September 23rd, 2008.
Donoghue, Kerr and Callaghan, Foxdene Drive, Clondalkin, and Doyle, Fairhaven, Strand Street, Malahide, each pleaded guilty to violent disorder.
Donoghue has 15 previous convictions, including theft and public order offences, Kerr has two previous convictions for minor assaults and Callaghan has three previous convictions.
Garda Griffin told Paul Carroll, prosecuting, that Mr Blain had gone to a bank machine with friends ahead of getting a bus into the city centre for his Fresher’s Ball at DIT, when he encountered Donoghue and his group and a verbal altercation began.
Mr Blain found himself alone with the four youths when his friends fled the scene and he was subjected to the assault, witnessed by Garda Griffin as she drove home from duty that evening.
Garda Griffin said Donoghue hit Mr Blain with a bottle over the head and the other three youths punched and kicked him as he crouched on the ground, until he ran towards the oncoming car seeking help.
Mr Blain fell in front of the garda’s car when Donoghue stabbed him in the abdomen. He rose covered in blood and ran down the street with Donoghue and the other youths following.
Garda Griffin told Mr Carroll that she “bawled” out Donoghue’s name, drove past him to Mr Blain and called an ambulance.
She said Mr Blain suffered a severed palmar nerve, had little muscle recovery to date and had to wear a splint on his arm to stop his hand forming a claw shape.
Doctors say his hand function will always be impaired and prone to pain, especially in cold weather.
Kevin Donoghue told Michael Bowman, defending Donoghue, that his son’s behaviour changed a short time before the attack when he was victim of a hit-and-run and his uncle and best friend died in close succession.
His son had been offered a chance to play football professionally but stopped training and began keeping “bad company” as a result of these three traumas.
Mr Donoghue said although he had limited means, he would be willing to sell his car and put the money forward as compensation on his son’s behalf.
Mr Bowman submitted to Judge Katherine Delahunt that his client had entered a guilty plea and had a job waiting for him when he got out of jail.
Gerardine Small, for Kerr, said that although her client did not inflict the serious injuries, he deeply regretted his part in the incident and now wished to pursue a career in the catering industry.
Garret Baker, for Callaghan, told the judge that his client also regretted the incident and had not come to adverse Garda attention since.
Ronan Kennedy, for Doyle, said his client had the least part in the violent disorder but still regretted getting caught up in the “spontaneous, thoughtless” fracas.
Judge Delahunt remanded Donoghue in custody and Kerr, Callaghan and Doyle on continuing bail pending sentence in July.