Man avoids jail for attack that left his victim with brain injury
A MAN (24) has received a four-year suspended sentence after a one-punch attack that left his innocent victim with a fractured skull and a bleed on the brain.
Liam Stoneham, from Bewley Drive in Lucan, Dublin, pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm to father-ofthree Adam Ward (42), from Knocklyon in Dublin. The attack took place outside Sinnott’s pub on King Street close to St Stephen’s Green, Dublin, on February 3, 2019.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Mr Ward suffered serious injuries when he fell to the ground after being punched from behind by Stoneham, who was being thrown out of the pub along with his friend after causing a nuisance earlier at the table where Mr Ward had been sitting with friends. Mr Ward was in the smoking area outside when he was attacked.
Garda Jemma Holmes told Judge Martin Nolan that, when CCTV footage of the assault was shown to Stoneham following his arrest, he accepted it was him.
After the attack, staff sought medical attention for Mr Ward while Stoneham left the scene and went to another pub.
Mr Ward was treated for a traumatic brain injury and, although he has made a good recovery, he has a future risk of epilepsy. He also has poor senses of smell and taste, suffers reduced balance and dexterity, feels nervous in crowds and has less trust in strangers.
Counsel for Stoneham, John Fitzgerald SC, told the court that his client was ashamed of his actions.
Stoneham was ordered to offer his victim €10,000 by way of compensation now, and a further €10,000 in the future.
If this is not accepted by the victim, who is pursuing a civil claim, the first €10,000 is to be donated to a charity chosen by Garda Holmes.
In his victim impact statement, Mr Ward said: “My wife had a lot to deal with during my recovery and carried the burden of a lot of the psychological trauma.
“I suffered a lot of upset over the fact that my young daughters could have been left without a father due to this cowardly attack.”