A father of five who carried out a hatchet attack on a man in his 50s in a “misguided sense of chivalry” because his girlfriend had a grudge against him has been jailed for five years.
Cork Circuit Criminal Court heard that the victim in the case was left with a fractured skull, broken teeth and facial fractures in the incident which occurred last year.
Judge Colin Daly was told that David Long, of Leitrim Street in Cork, called to the house of a cousin of his then girlfriend in Middle Glanmire Road in the city on the evening of January 18th, 2022. His girlfriend at the time had been there for about an hour at this point.
The victim in the case opened the door to Long. The 39-year-old assailant had a scarf covering his face and his hood was pulled up. He was carrying a hatchet in a bag.
In a victim impact statement, the injured man said that he was subjected to a “terrifying, savage, beating” which happened in the “sanctuary” of his home. He indicated that he was hospitalised for a month as his jaw was badly injured.
“I was on a liquid diet for a month. It was a nightmare. Life is supposed to get easier as you get older but now it is more complicated. It was a terrifying savage beating.”
The man said that he often wakes in his sleep screaming from the horrors he endured. He is still trying to get his life back to normal.
The ex-girlfriend of the man was previously sentenced to three years imprisonment with the last six months suspended for her part in the offence.
'Pawn'
Defence counsel Ray Boland said his client was used by his girlfriend as a “pawn” and that he acted out of a “misguided sense of chivalry” because she held a grievance against the injured party.
The court heard from prosecuting barrister Donal O’Sullivan, who said that the offence carried out by Long was a “targeted offence and a targeted burglary.”
Dt Sgt Liam Finn said that Long had entered a guilty plea to assault causing harm, burglary and the production of a hatchet. He said that Long struck the man with the hatchet for a period of ten to fifteen minutes.
He stated that when Long was arrested following the attack his apartment was searched.
“A number of items were seized. Clothing covered in blood was found in the washing machine. He made no admissions.”
The court heard that Long pleaded guilty when the case was listed for trial. He showed no remorse for his actions.
Prosecution counsel Donal O’Sullivan said that the offence was at the higher range of the scale and merited a long custodial sentence.
Ray Boland, defending, said his client carried out the offence while in the midst of “drug addiction and poor judgment.” He said that his client had engaged in an “unwise and serious assault.”
He told Judge Colin Daly that his client has used his time in custody productively.
“He is a qualified plasterer and painter. He has a lot of certificates from prison and is an enhanced prisoner. He has two jobs in prison.
“He is almost 40 and has taken time to reflect on his life. He comes from a stable and supportive family. He recognised that he needed help with his addiction.”
'Vicious assault'
Long has 66 previous convictions, having previously been sentenced for robbery and aggravated burglary. Judge Daly jailed Long for six years, suspending the final year of the sentence.
He said that Long carried out an “extremely vicious assault on the victim” with a “potentially lethal weapon.”
Judge Daly acknowledged that Long was “using his time in custody well.” He said that aggravating factors in the case included that Long knew that the victim would be present, the accused intended harm to the victim, and that his dwelling would be targeted.
He added that Long had acted “in concert with his girlfriend at the time.”
“He pushed his way in and assaulted the victim with a hatchet. The enterprise was to take certain items from the apartment. CCTV showed them leaving the apartment complex.
“(But) he plans to stay clean. He has engaged fully with the probation service in prison. He has a steady family support when he gets out. He has a good work history.”
