Plumber avoids jail for clawhammer attack

A Dublin plumber who broke a man’s skull with a claw hammer after finding him in his former partner’s bed has avoided a jail sentence.

Simon Early of Old Brazil Way, Swords got a suspended sentence for the attack, which left the victim with a 2.7cm fracture in his skull.

Early (27), pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm to David Griffin at Ashton Rise, Swords on October 22nd, 2011.

Judge Mary Ellen Ring sentenced him to two and a half years in prison, but suspended it in full on condition that Early keeps the peace for 12 months.

She accepted that the attack was out of character and that Early was sorry but said he could have caused permanent or fatal injury. A probation report said there was a low risk of him reoffending.

Garda David Smith told Anne Rowland BL, prosecuting, that Early had been dropping their two-and-a-half-year old daughter to the home of his former partner, Bethany Hourigan.

The court heard there had been an agreement between the estranged couple that no man would stay over at the house while the child was there.

Early arrived at the house and went upstairs to find Mr Griffin in bed. He went downstairs and returned wielding a clawhammer which he started swinging at Mr Griffin’s head.

Mr Griffin retreated to the balcony and shouted at Early to relax. He tried to kick the attacker away with both legs, but was backed into the bedroom and fell onto the bed.

The hammer hit his head and Mr Griffin shouted “You’re going to kill me,” to which Early responded, “I don’t f***ing care.”

Early then ran off shouting “I’ll deal with you again, Griffo.”

Mr Griffin made a statement to gardaí­ about a month later and shortly afterwards he returned to live in Australia.

He gave a victim impact statement over the phone to gardaí­, saying he fears for the long-term effects of his skull fracture and still suffers headaches. He also said he was nervous around people in certain situations.

Mr Griffin told gardaí­ he was not keen for a custodial sentence to be imposed on Early as he was the father of a young child.

Early has four minor previous convictions, all for public order offences.

John Fitzgerald BL, defending, said his client told gardaí­ there had been an “altercation” after he arrived at the house to drop off his daughter.

Letters were handed to the court from members of the local GAA team where Early plays describing him as someone other players look up to and respect. His mother and the mother of his former partner described him as a very good father.

The court heard he is an unemployed plumber, but offered €2,000 as a gesture of remorse to the victim. The victim refused the money, so Judge Ring asked him to nominate a charity.