Paul Farrell, Sean Tobar, Clogherhead, Co. Louth, denied charges of robbery and assault causing harm following an incident which occurred around midnight on June 16, 2024, when the victim was walking home from his local pub in Drogheda.
A jury at Dundalk Circuit Court last January heard that the man in his seventies was followed by the accused who demanded money from him. After he handed over some money he was asked for his wallet before being punched in the face.
The victim lost a tooth there and then and subsequently lost another which had become loose.
Defence counsel argued that it was a case of mistaken identity as the elderly man made no mention of a cyst on Mr Farrell’s forehead when he gave a description of his assailant to gardaí.
However, on 10-2 majority verdicts, the jury convicted him of both charges.
The court heard of 98 previous convictions in the Republic of Ireland and 34 in England. These included robbery, assault, burglary, criminal damage and possession of knives.
Counsel said that Mr Farrell, a native of Ballyfermot, maintained his innocence but respected the verdict.
The father of two children from previous relationships had a deeply entrenched addiction and was two to three weeks homeless at the time of the incident.
He has been in custody since the verdict on January 16 last. A sentence hearing on February 25 was adjourned for a probation report.
On the adjourned date barrister Donough McDonough said that this offending was a watershed for his client whose partner was seriously ill.
Judge Dara Hayes said that Mr Farrell does not accept the verdict and indicated to his probation officer that he intended to appeal which he was entitled to do.
A report said that his parents separated before he was born and that at age 14 he moved to Drogheda.
He was assessed at high risk of reoffending.
Aggravating factors in this incident were the vulnerability of the victim on account of his age and relevant previous convictions.
Concurrent three-and-a-half year sentences were imposed, backdated to January 16, 2026, and the final 2 years suspended.
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