A 56-year-old man has been given a five-year sentence for his role in what Judge Tony Hunt at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court called "a crime motivated by xenophobia and racism".
Thomas Atkinson, Kildare Park, Crumlin, was part of a mob that forced its way into a neighbour's house and beat up a Chinese student they wrongly believed had abused two girls, as a result of a false claim by one of them that they were held there against their will.
The mob forced its way past house-owner Rosaleen Hickey and cornered Ailikanu Helili (then 23) in the kitchen. They told Ms Hickey they wanted to see "the f***ing Chinese student" and that she "shouldn't have foreigners" in her home.
Atkinson was found guilty by a jury in October of assault, aggravated burglary, possession of a dangerous implement and violent disorder on March 12th, 2006.
Judge Hunt said he did not agree with a defence suggestion that the attack was not racially motivated, and noted with concern reports that Ms Hickey had been forced to move out of her home of 22 years following the incident and had been "shadowed" when she did this.
When Daniel Fagan (28) and Jason Atkinson (32), both from Kildare Park, were jailed on March 27th last for their roles in the crime, Judge Katherine Delahunt told them: "Your actions evoke memories of lynch mobs and vigilantes."
