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The men were sentenced on Monday. Sasko Lazarov via RollingNews.ie
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court

Men film themselves laughing following 'violent rampage' in Dublin city centre

Video footage from one of the attacker’s phones showed the men laughing together after one of their assaults.

THREE YOUNG DUBLIN men filmed themselves laughing and showing their bloodied fists after a “violent rampage” of assaults on bystanders in the city centre, a court has heard.

Gardaí arrested Harry Walsh (18), Gordon Robinson (20) and Darragh Smith (20) after viewing CCTV of seven separate incidents of violent disorder and assaults on eight members of the public.

Yesterday Judge Melanie Greally imposed a five-year sentence on Robinson and a four-year jail term on Smith, with the final 12 months of each sentence suspended.

She adjourned Walsh’s sentence until July.

Video footage extracted from Robinson’s phone, which was played in court, showed the three men laughing together after their final assault.

Garda Brian O’Reilly pointed out visible damage to Robinson’s and Walsh’s hands in the clip, which was addressed to a fourth youth who had been in their company at the start of the offending. This man is currently before the courts for his role.

Walsh, of Woodfield, Knocklyon, Robinson, of Allenton Avenue, Tallaght, and Smith, of Brehons Chair, Kellystown Road, Rathfarnham, all pleaded guilty to violent disorder and assault causing harm at Camden Street, Harcourt Street and Montague Street between 3am and 4am on 3 November, 2017.

Walsh also pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to criminal damage of a €1,000 Samsung phone belonging to one of the assault victims at Camden Row on the same date.

He has five previous convictions, including assault causing harm and driving offences, while Robinson and Smith have none.

Gda O’Reilly told Ronan Kennedy BL, prosecuting, that one man suffered a shattered eye socket and fractured cheekbone, another man’s jaw was broken and a third victim had teeth knocked out.

He said another injured party was left face-down unconscious on the ground and a different man suffered cracked ribs.

Judge Greally noted that the three assailants had raised €11,000 between them as compensation for their victims. She directed that this be used to offset any medical expenses incurred, with the remaining balance then divided equally among the injured parties.

She described the incident as an hour-long “violent rampage” and that due to its extreme nature, she had to impose custodial sentences.

She noted that Smith did not engage in the more serious violence, but added that it was “clear all three were operating as a unit with common intent to injure unsuspecting people”.

The judge said Robinson was instigator in many of the offences.

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Author
Aoife Nic Ardghail