Man (23) jailed for six years for attacks on neighbour (75) and teenager

A man has been jailed for six years for assaults on his 75-year-old neighbour and on a 17-year-old girl the previous year.

During a roadside attack on the N11 in July 2018, Dean Quigley (23) punched a young woman in the face, pulled her hair and continued to punch her while she was on the ground.

The following year he twice broke into his elderly neighbour’s apartment. During the second attack Quigley assaulted him, telling his victim he would return and kill him if he told anyone what had happened.

The elderly man’s daughter found him when she visited five days later and he was brought to hospital where he remained for a number of weeks. He was treated for a bleed on the brain and this left him at an increased risk of stroke, with ligature marks to his neck and severe bruising to his chest.

Quigley, of Temple Road, Blackrock, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm to the woman at Stillorgan Road on July 5th, 2018.

He also pleaded guilty to entering the 75-year-old man’s home as a trespasser and committing criminal damage on July 7th, 2019, and entering his home as a trespasser and assaulting him on October 11th, 2019.

Judge Karen O’Connor imposed concurrent sentences of two years for the assault on the woman and two years for the July burglary. She imposed a consecutive sentence of six years for the second burglary and she suspended the final two years on condition that he engage with alcohol addiction treatment programmes.

Det Garda Robert Clifford told Garrett McCormack, prosecuting, that in the early hours of July 5th, 2018, the woman had been walking along the N11 with Quigley.

She said they had an argument which turned physical and Quigley punched her a number of times in the face and pulled her hair. He dragged her to the ground where he continued to punch her.

In her victim-impact statement, which was read to the court, the young woman recalled wishing for a passing car to stop and help. She said she never wanted to feel that helplessness and fear again.

She went to a Garda station in May 2019 to make a complaint and gave gardaí photographs of her injuries which included a black eye, hair pulled out and bruising around her neck.

Det Gda Clifford said Quigley was charged, brought before the courts and pleaded guilty in early course.

The woman outlined in her victim-impact statement that she had suffered a “huge decline” in her mental health as a result of the assault. She continues to suffer anxiety and fear.

On October 17th, 2019, Quigley broke into a neighbour’s house, placing the occupant in a headlock and saying if he told anyone he would “come back and kill him”.

The victim’s daughter had called over and found her father in a concerning situation before calling an ambulance. Following on from the attack, the elderly neighbour was in constant fear and would not leave the house. He was also at increased risk of stroke due to his injuries and does not know if he will ever get over this incident.

The court heard that Quigley’s father had died when he was 10 years old and that he had started using illicit substances in his early teens.

Quigley has 14 previous convictions including possession of knives or articles and making a threat to kill or cause serious harm.

Det Gda Clifford agreed with Marc Murphy, defending, that when he was sober and not abusing substances, Quigley was quite civil.

He agreed that Quigley gone to a Garda station the day after he was interviewed and tried to make admissions but he was not in a fit state to be interviewed.

Mr Murphy told Judge Karen O’Connor that Quigley was using his time in custody quite positively. He said Quigley instructed he was now drug free and was reflecting on what the future may hold away from the cycle of drugs and antisocial behaviour.

He told the court that his client had made further progress in custody and asked the court to take into account the positive steps he has made in relation to his mental health and addiction issues.

The judge said it was a “huge concern” that the third offence had been committed while the accused was on bail. Aggravating factors included the use of a knife and the fact that it was a violent attack.

The fact that it was the second time the house was violated by a neighbour, added to the pressure and loss of security in the victim’s own home.

The judge described the attack as “very serious” since it was some days later when the victim’s daughter had discovered him. She added that the impact on him would last for “the rest of his life”.

“There needs to be protection for people living on their own. This was a targeted attack on an elderly gentleman.”

She added that Mr Quigley would “remain on the radar” and sentenced him to six years in prison, ordering him to consider rehabilitation services.