A FATHER-TO-BE who struck a man on the head with a golf club in “a moment of madness” and fractured his skull has been jailed for a year.

Dean Sutcliffe, 21, of Cushlawn Park, Tallaght, Dublin – who was 17 at the time of the offence – has been found guilty by a jury of assault causing serious harm to Keith Fennelly at Cushlawn Park on 3 November 2013.

Detective Garda David Jennings told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that prior to the assault the victim and his brother became involved in an argument with the accused, who was sitting on a wall outside his home.

He told Dean Kelly BL, prosecuting, that words were exchanged before Sutcliffe hit Fennelly from behind with a golf club “with such force that the head of the club came off”.

Farrelly suffered a fractured skull and internal bleeding, and spent a number of days in intensive care.

The court heard that Sutcliffe had no previous convictions at the time of the assault and was not known to gardaí.

“I believe he saw the red mist on the day, it was a moment of madness,” Jennings told the court.

Carer for his father

Ciaran O’Loughlin SC, defending, said Sutcliffe had no previous offences at the time of the assault and the incident was “wholly out of character”.

Sentencing Sutcliffe yesterday, Judge Elma Sheahan said she agreed with Jennings that the assault was a “moment of madness with very serious consequences for the victim”.

She noted that Farrelly has since made a full recovery.

Sheahan made reference to several mitigating factors – the accused’s youth, the absence of previous convictions, his impending fatherhood and the fact he was a valued member of his family, acting as a carer for his father.

Handing down a three-year sentence with the final two years suspended, she said she believed he was “on the path to rehabilitation” but warned him that it was now over to him to ensure he did not end up before the courts again.

Sheahan directed that upon his release, Sutcliffe engage with the probation services for a period of two years and undergo anger management treatment.

Read: Man sentenced to 10 years after stabbing a homeless man and cutting his face

Read: Catalan police chief appears in court over sedition investigation as tensions rise in Spain