A 26-year-old man who subjected a vulnerable hospital patient to an ordeal grabbing his crutches from him and beating him in the head, face and back with them, before dragging him up the road, has been jailed for five years.
Adam Sheehan, of Seamus Murphy Place in Mallow, Co Cork, had pleaded guilty to the robbery of former All-Ireland minor medal winner Seamus Troy on May 20th last year on Brian Boru Street in Cork.
He accosted Mr Troy as he came out of hospital and stole his rucksack, crutches, his mobile phone, travel pass and €65 in cash.
Mr Troy, who played hurling for Tipperary as a young man, winning All-Ireland minor medals in 1989 and 1991, submitted a victim impact statement to Cork Circuit Criminal Court.
The 47-year-old said that prior to this vicious assault by the accused, who was not known to him, his life was somewhat normal.
Mr Troy told how he had left Cork University Hospital and was later dropped by taxi at the station, where he was going to get the bus to Limerick.
Beaten with crutch
"I had my bag hanging off my crutches. I could feel a presence behind me. The accused approached me asking for money. I replied 'I am only out of hospital and I am heading home'."
"He grabbed the bag from my crutches. I shouted to him to bring my bag back. Before I knew it he had knocked me to the ground. He grabbed one of my crutches. He hit me with the crutches across my face and my head repeatedly. He also hit me across my back. I could feel the blood running down my head and face."
Sheehan kept hitting him until the crutch broke. He said Sheehan then put a knee to his neck. At this stage Troy said he had gone weak and “had no strength.” Sheehan took his phone and his money.
He then demanded the PIN number for a bank card. Mr Troy said he felt he had to give it to him.
Dragged along street
"He then dragged me along the street. I thought I would never see my family again. I finally built up some energy and started shouting for help. A passer-by heard me and ran to my aid. I blacked out. I was not able for anymore."
Mr Troy said that since the attack occurred he only leaves home to go to appointments with the doctor. He will never travel on a bus again.
He suffers from bad dreams and roars in his sleep. He was diagnosed with PTSD arising out of the incident.
Mr Troy also struggles with his speech and his balance since the attack. He has paid €850 to repair three teeth and is on numerous medications for his mental health.
Mr Troy said he was so badly beaten that when his son arrived at hospital he didn't recognise him.
Merciless act
Barrister Peter O'Flynn, representing Mr Sheehan, said that his client had taken the drug Spice which caused psychotic behaviour.
Judge Sean O'Donnabhain said the consumption of Spice was no excuse for the trauma Sheehan had inflicted on Mr Troy. He said it was a "merciless act" committed towards a man who had just got out of hospital.
Judge O'Donnabhain said that Sheehan was a "long-standing addict" who had significant previous convictions for knife and arson offences.
He jailed Mr Sheehan for seven years suspending the final two years of the sentence.
