A relapsed drug addict who assaulted a Chinese restaurant owner, causing the man to sell his business, has been given a four-year sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Daniel McCarthy (25), of Spencer Dock, North Wall, told the victim he would burn down his restaurant and his house, punched him in the eye and verbally abused him after he was asked to leave the premises on Sherrif Street.
He pleaded guilty to assaulting the man at Sherriff Street and causing criminal damage to his car on January 15th, 2007. He had 24 previous convictions.
Garda Sarah Ormonde told prosecuting counsel Paul Carroll that McCarthy threatened the victim's life after he saw a Garda squad car pass by. He then smashed the window of the man's car, causing €700 worth of damage.
Judge Katherine Delahunt said the night had very serious consequences for the victim. He has since sold his business, moved from the area and has been left traumatised and living in fear.
She suspended the last 18 months of the sentence having taken into account McCarthy's co-operation with the Garda operation and the fact he has previously dealt with his drug and alcohol addictions.
Defence counsel John Fitzgerald said McCarthy had been a "promising student" before he developed an addiction to sleeping tablets in his teens and soon moved on to using heroin.