Three Dublin men have been jailed for nine months for their involvement in a racist attack on an English tourist and a local bystander whom they called a "nigger lover" .
Derek Kenny (32), of Meades Terrace, Dublin 2; Brian Lee (24) of Raheen Park, Ballyfermot; and Philip Uzell (20) of Boyne Street, Dublin 2, pleaded guilty to involvement in various stages of the attack on the two men on June 11th, 2000 on Pearse Street.
Det Gda Oliver McEnerney told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court the main culprit, David Colclough (21) of Pearse Street, was jailed for seven-and-a-half years in October 2001.
Colclough stabbed Mr David Richardson (46) several times with a Swiss army knife, leaving him with severe injuries that forced him to give up his work as a metal engineer and go on disability benefits.
Kenny, Lee and Uzell admitted being involved in the attack on Mr Richardson's son, Christian, and on Mr Frank Murray who was an innocent bystander at the scene.
Det Gda McEnerney said Mr Richardson a white man, and his wife, a black woman, were in Dublin to visit their son and jointly celebrate his 24th birthday and their wedding anniversary.
They were returning to Christian's flat in Ringsend around 12.40 a.m. when they encountered a group of youths who started shouting racial remarks at them.
Det Gda McEnerney told prosecuting counsel Mr Hugo Hynes the family had walked about 100 metres past the group before Christian decided to turn back and confront them.
He suffered bruising to his face and lips in the ensuing attack but was able to defend himself better than his father.
Mr Murray had been a passer-by when the attack occurred and had lingered at the scene to watch as gardaí arrived and David Richardson was taken to the hospital in an ambulance.
Det Gda McEnerney said gardaí were still at the scene when some members of the gang asked Murray: "Are you a nigger lover?" and began assaulting him.
They hit, punched and kicked him at least 10 times and chased him from Pearse Street to Townsend Street onto Moss Street where he was hit several more times before he eventually escaped.