Meath man pleads guilty to 2020 Dublin city assault

Eoin Reynolds

A 32-year-old man has pleaded guilty to causing serious harm to another man in Dublin city centre four years ago.

Graham McGuinness, of Riverview, Blackcastle Avenue, Flower Hill, Navan, Co Meath, was initially charged with the attempted murder of Martin Reilly on June 11th, 2020, at Store Street in Dublin 1.

He was further charged that at the same time and date he produced a "homemade shank" in a manner likely to intimidate another person and that he caused serious harm to Mr Reilly, contrary to section 4 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997.

At a brief hearing on Wednesday, before a jury had been due to be sworn to hear his trial, McGuinness pleaded guilty to the charge of causing serious harm.

On Thursday morning, Patrick Gageby SC, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, told Ms Justice Karen O'Connor that the plea has been accepted, and a jury would not be required.

Ms Justice O'Connor adjourned the matter to July 19th to hear evidence before imposing sentence.

The judge ordered a prison governor's report, education report and urinalysis.

Eanna Molloy SC, for McGuinness, said his client has been making "steady progress on his educational attainments" since going into custody following the assault on Mr Reilly.

Mr Reilly has also been invited to deliver a victim impact statement to the court ahead of sentencing.