A Co Louth man who struck another man with a pick-axe handle before exposing himself to a female garda in a street has been jailed for three years.
Martin Smith (23) from Ashling Park, Coxes Demesne, Dundalk admitted five offences including assault, criminal damage and obstructing a garda.
His barrister Lily Buckley told Dundalk Circuit Criminal Court he was "completely out of control," at the time of his "outrageous and offence behaviour."
The offences took place on the March 24th, 2013, shortly after Smith was released from prison for a robbery during which he threatened a woman with a Samurai sword.
Smith apologised in court and said he has taken anger management and relapse prevention courses in Coolmine therapeutic centre so he “can live a life without crime”.
The court heard he had been in a house in Coxes Demesne when a dispute broke out between him and another man, after which Smith went out to the street “screaming and pulling off his clothes”, prosecutor Kevin Segrave said.
He assaulted his victim with a pick-axe handle Smith had with him. Det Gda David Devaney said the victim had his arm broken in three places. He also had his jaw and chin broken and lost a number of teeth.
He also had a fractured eye socket and was left with a clot behind his eye and his vision has not recovered, the garda told the court.
Smith also admitted a more minor assault on a neighbour who saw him strike the injured man as he lay on the ground.
The court also head that he had been exposing himself when female gardaí were at the scene.
Gardaí called for assistance because of Smith’s behaviour and the court heard he smashed windows on a patrol car and on a vehicle parked nearby. He also admitted obstructing Det Gda Devaney who responded to the incident.
In the witness stand, Smith apologised to his victims and agreed the offences took place shortly after he was released from prison for another offence. He had been jailed in 2011 for robbing a shop during which he threatened a woman with a Samurai sword.
“I was a heavy drug user, I had serious anger problems. I’ve addressed them,” Smith said.
Barrister Lily Buckley said, Smith was “completely out of control,” at the time of his “outrageous and offence behaviour.” He has had difficulties in life and now wants to contribute to society, she said.
Passing sentence Judge O’Shea said what the assault was “shocking and disturbing in the extreme.”
He jailed Smith for three years for assault causing harm, for four months for the more minor assault on the neighbour, four months for obstructing the garda, 12 months for smashing the patrol car window and 18 months for damaging windows on another vehicle. All are to run concurrently.