A man who assaulted a friend in a “harrowing attack” has been sentenced to five years in jail at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Jason O’Toole attacked Frances Gallagher with a sweeping brush, breaking it in three places, dragged her upstairs by the hair and punched the side of her face.
The attack began after she caught him looking in her handbag for money.
O’Toole (24), Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Ms Gallagher on September 6th, 2009, at her home in the same estate.
In her victim impact statement, Ms Gallagher said she could not get over the psychological effects the attack had on her.
Judge Donagh McDonagh said Ms Gallagher was subjected to “a savage attack and no doubt considerable violence was used”. He noted that to some extent, O’Toole had addressed some of his problems and he did not want to “close off all hope”.
He suspended the final two years of the sentence.