Suspended sentence for man who attacked his sister with hurley
By Aoife Nic Ardghail
A Dublin man who attacked his sister with a hurley over a fight about a family holiday has received a one-year suspended sentence.
Jason Burke (34) showed up at his two sisters' house after the row, hit one of the women on the shoulder with the hurley and pulled the other woman around the sitting room by the hair.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard both women were traumatised when gardaí arrived on the scene, but that the family have since made up and are looking forward to the holiday.
Burke, of Brookview Avenue, Tallaght, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and criminal damage at the Fettercairn premises in Tallaght on April 26, 2016.
His previous convictions include assaults and public order offences.
Garda Stephen Gillespie told Maurice Coffey BL, prosecuting, that Burke's sisters noticed he had been under the influence when he showed up to the house.
He forced his way into the premises, smashed a glass table and a mobile phone and threatened both women. The court heard one sister was able to call gardaí using a second phone.
Gda Gillespie told Mr Coffey that the family are talking again and have since booked the holiday.
He agreed with Marc Thompson BL, defending, that Burke was fully remorseful and was dealing with his alcohol problem.
Mr Thompson submitted to Judge Martin Nolan that his client had been unfit for interview following his arrest.
Judge Nolan accepted that Burke had been drunk at the time and said he hoped the four weeks he had spent in custody “teaches him something”. The judge suspended the sentence for one year.
