A man who “engaged in the terrorising of a decent family from another country” has been given a four-year sentence with the final three years suspended.
Jason Kane (19), St Attracta Road, Cabra, Dublin, was one of a group who smashed the windscreen of the family’s van and assaulted the father when he confronted them. One of the other youths threatened the father and left the family in fear of further attacks.
Judge Patrick McCartan said the incident appeared to be unprovoked and Kane had “engaged in the terrorising of a decent family from another country.”
He noted the difficulties a family coming to Ireland and looking for work had. “Imagine if your own parents had to leave Ireland to go to another land to earn a living,” he said to Kane.
Judge McCartan said families were entitled “not to have blackguards attacking them in their home and beating them in the street”.
Kane pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to damaging a van windscreen outside the family’s home as well as assault causing harm and producing a knife at Annaly Road on October 29th, 2011.