Man guilty of hitting FF with bottle.

Smokey Bear

Last Updated: 07/05/2008 12:07
Man guilty of hitting fireman with bottle


A Dublin man who threw a bottle at a fire-fighter on his way to an emergency, causing him severe facial injuries, may escape jail if he offers more compensation and stays out of trouble.
Darren Lindsay (22) of Spencer Dock, Ringsend was standing on the street in Fairview on the day of a Robbie Williams concert in Croke Park in June 2006 when he threw an unopened beer bottle through the window of the Dublin Fire Brigade vehicle going to a fire in Clontarf.

The bottle struck Jonathan Forbes causing him cuts requiring 35 stitches, a chipped bone and severe bruising.

Lindsay was later identified through CCTV footage and arrested. He admitted throwing the bottle but said he didn’t intend to hit anyone. He said he had been drinking for four or five hours and had drank ten beers.

“It was a mistake, I was drunk. I just want to say sorry to the fireman,” he told gardai.

He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting Mr Forbes. He had 18 previous convictions, including stealing a car and public order offences

Lindsay’s defence counsel offered €10,000 to Mr Forbes on his client’s behalf “as a token of his remorse”. Mr Forbes refused to accept the money.

Judge Desmond Hogan adjourned sentencing and ordered a probation report. He said he was “not making any promises” but said if Lindsay produced additional compensation “it will be of some persuasion as to whether the court will go down the road of a custodial sentence”.

Judge Hogan said Lindsay should increase the compensation offered without taking away from Mr Forbes’ right to a civil recourse. He also ordered Lindsay to make himself known to a community service programme.
© 2008 ireland.com

I think it would be a joke if he does not get time for this.Sends the wrong type of message out it looks like you can buy your way out of prision.
If he goes down it will send a clear msg out to the thugs who throw stones at us, assault us ,ambush us etc that this type of behaviour will mean prision time.

Smokey Bear.

Kintarō Hattori

Wow I would have it a no brainer that he would have went to jail for that. I agree that if he's let off it does sent out the wrong sort of message. I just can't believe that there is a possibility of him getting off.

ojewriej

I remember this case, the pictures of the Firefighters face were horrific.

I think there should be a mandatory jail sentence for any attacks on Emergency service personel, particularly firemen and Ambulance Crews.

It's simply getting ridiculus, calls being made just to set them up.

That reminds me of s situation couple of years back in Poland. We had this really bad wave of fake bomb calls, it started with schools, and then hotels, office buildings and the worst of all hospitals. And every time the call was placed, the building had to be evacuated. It's gotten so bad, that for a while the building I used to work in was evacuated twice a week on average.

Then, the police managed to catch one of the jokers, and judge sent him to prison for 8 years. Basically, he made an example out of him. And the fake bomb alarms just stopped.

I think something like this is needed here, to show this scumbags that this sort of attacks is not a joking matter.

sunnyjim

Hope the ****er goes to jail.

The FF in question is known to be around these parts, so if he's reading this, all of us here hope to see the little scrote go down for a spell.

metman

Its interesting to note the judges comment that if more money is put up it might go towards binning any custodial. Maybe I'm just a cynical copper reading between the lines but methinks the judge has already made up his mind and is simply trying to drop a hint to the scrote's brief; cough up more dosh so the FF say yes and I don't have to embarrass us all by giving your client some iffy non-custodial......call me cynical :rolleyes:

Fair play to the FF involved for refusing the initial offer of compo. I know DFB get a rough ride from the slags same as the LFB do here and do a good job with little thanks.

bubonicus

“It was a mistake, I was drunk. I just want to say sorry to the fireman,” he told gardai.

Ah sure that's grand!!

He was drunk guys leave him alone.

Dave!

Filthbag.... 18 previous convictions as well, ffs! Does the judge think that "ahh sure this time he'll reform his ways" ? :rolleyes:

Fyr.Fytr

ojewriej wrote: »

I remember this case, the pictures of the Firefighters face were horrific.

Whats worse is he took them himself with his camera phone, so that him and his union could go to the media which management wouldn't do.


Fair play to Jonny for saying no to the money.


In this case, I'm in favor of a suspended sentence, from the highest tree preferably