Cork man with broken cheekbone is in jail for vandalizing attacker’s car

“It is not up to you to take the law into your own hands. If you were attacked, it wasn’t up to you to grab a knife and go after their car. It is a very serious matter to have a bread knife (in such circumstances),” Judge Kelly said.

At Cork Crown Court, Judge Kelly handed down a six-month prison sentence to Derek Lynch, who lives in a flat at Cois Abhainn, 184 Lower Glanmire Road, Cork.

He pleaded guilty to possessing a knife, causing criminal damage and being so drunk as to pose a danger to himself or others.

Evidence

Sergeant Dave Delea said gardaí received a report of a disturbance involving damage to a car at Cois Coille, Tivoli, at 2.30am on September 21. When dealing with Derek Lynch at the scene, they discovered he had a large bread knife in the pocket of his pants.

Sergeant Delea said the suspect had 72 previous convictions.

Defense barrister Joseph Cuddigan said as soon as the DPP gave directions for the hearing of the case at Cork District Court, Mr Lynch entered his guilty plea.

“On the date he took a pretty severe beating. It left him with a broken cheekbone and quite serious damage to his eardrum,” said Cuddigan.

The suspect complained through his lawyer that while in custody he had indicated to prison authorities that he wanted to make a formal complaint to gardaí that he had been assaulted, but he had not yet been charged.

“Yes, he did indeed bring a bread knife. He was very foolish to take out his pent-up anger on the attackers’ property. There are no innocent parties as such in this case,” Cuddigan said.