Man jailed for seven years for part in raid where shopkeeper was attacked with hammer
By Declan Brennan
A Dublin man who took part in a newsagent raid, during which the shop keeper was viciously attacked with a hammer, has been jailed for seven years.
Daryl McKeon (23) pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to attempted robbery and assault causing serious harm to Kevin Tansey at Tansey's newsagents in Finglas, Dublin on March 18 last year.
McKeon and another man had their heads and face covered when they went into the shop just after 8am. Kevin Tansey tried to get out of the shop but McKeon blocked the door and held on to the victim.
During the struggle, the other man pulled out a hammer and viciously struck the back of Kevin Tansey's head three times, Detective Sergeant Alan Brady said.
CCTV footage played in court showed Mr Tansey slumping to the ground. He lay there in a pool of blood while McKeon stepped over him to try to open up the cash register.
A passing milkman who saw the assault tried to enter the shop but the other raider lunged at him with the hammer. The two raiders then made off in a car.
Dt Sgt Brady said that McKeon, of North Cumberland Street, Dublin, was linked to the attack by his fingerprints. The other raider is still under investigation.
The victim suffered extensive fractures to his skull which caused bleeding on the brain. He suffered a seizure en route to hospital and later slipped into a comatose state, Gerardine Small BL, prosecuting, told the court.
A medical report stated that the severe traumatic brain injury caused by the assault was potentially fatal and could cause disability. Mr Tansey had been acting as the sole carer to his wife, who is blind, and took care of all the driving for them and their three children.
In a victim impact statement, Michelle Tansey, said that during the days after the assault she feared she would lose her husband. He pulled through but his condition later deteriorated.
His normal mood changed to impatience and irritability and Ms Tansey said she found this upsetting. His character remains altered by the injuries and his mood alternates from high to low, she said.
“The Kevin I knew was so loving, caring and understanding. He was always there. Since the assault this has changed. Kevin is still not himself,” she said.
McKeon's 12 previous convictions include car theft and trespass. He was on bail for district court offences at the time of the attack.
Aisling Kelly BL, defending, said her client became addicted to cocaine and MDMA and began committing crimes to feed his habit.
She said that he was sincerely remorseful for his actions and was incredibly grateful that the victim had made a limited recovery. Counsel said her client pleaded guilty on the basis of joint enterprise and she asked the court to take into consideration that he was not the man wielding the hammer.
Today, Judge Melanie Greally said it would not do justice to summarise the victim impact statement made on behalf of Mr Tansey about how the assault had affected his and his family's lives.
She acknowledged that McKeon didn't strike the victim, but noted that he participated “whole heartedly” in the attempted robbery from CCTV footage of the incident.
She imposed an eight-and-a-half year sentence with the final 18 months suspended and backdated the jail term to when McKeon entered custody in March 2017.
