Five jailed for roles in slash-hook attack on man in front of his young daughter

Five men have received prison sentences for their part in a slash-hook attack on a man in front of his young daughter.

Martin Collins (39) received cuts to his scalp and shoulder and his upper arm was fractured in the attack which took place after his car was rammed at Hartstown Road, Dublin on February 7th, 2015.

The victim’s young child was seated in the back of the car and the gang of men began attacking the car with weapons, including a slash-hook and a hatchet.

Mr Collins managed to drive away but some of his assailants pursued him and his car ended up crashing on to the footpath. They then attacked him with the weapons.

Brendan Donavan (30) of Brackenwood Drive, Balbriggan, Dublin; Eddie McDonagh (32) of Hampton Green, Balbriggan; James McDonagh (28) formerly of Bath Road, Balbriggan; Michael McDonagh (36) of Chapel Gate, Balbriggan and James Whelan (30) of Hampton Woods, Balbriggan, all pleaded guilty.

Their pleas were entered last October after the trial had begun at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, sitting at Croke Park.

At a sentence hearing on Friday, Judge Elma Sheahan said this was a violent incident where the victim understandably experienced “real and tremendous fear” for his safety.

The judge said the aggravating factors were the seriousness of the offending and the fact that there was a child present at the time. She said the fact that some of the defendants have previous convictions for violence was also a factor she was taking into consideration.

Judge Sheahan said all the men were part of the incident though varying roles were played by each of them. She said the roles taken by Donovan, Eddie McDonagh and Michael McDonagh were more significant.

She said no explanation or reasoning was ever provided for the attack.

The judge noted the mitigating factors were each defendant’s guilty plea, their expressions of remorse and the offer of compensation to the victim, even though this was not accepted by the victim.

Sentencing Michael and Eddie McDonagh and Brendan Donovan, she suspended the final six months of a three-year prison term imposed on each of them.

She imposed an 18-month prison term with the final eight months suspended on James McDonagh. She also imposed a consecutive sentence of 12 months with six suspended for a separate offence for production of a metal baseball during a dispute.

James McDonagh was on bail for the Hartstown attack when he raised the bat in a threatening manner at two gardaí. The court heard he had been on an alcohol and drug bender and had blacked out. Dealing with Whelan, the judge suspended the final 10 months of an 18-month sentence. The court heard there are others still to come before the courts in relation to the attack.