Plumber jailed for ‘atrocious and appalling' attack on delivery driver in Wicklow

Sunday World

5 days ago

Leon Cooney (37), a plumber of Ardmore Drive, Herbert Road, Bray, Co Wicklow pleaded guilty to a charge of assault causing harm to the delivery driver
A Bray man has been jailed for two years for beating up and robbing a delivery driver near his home during a violent drunken attack which a judge described as 'appalling and atrocious.'
Leon Cooney (37), a plumber of Ardmore Drive, Herbert Road, Bray, Co Wicklow pleaded guilty to a charge of assault causing harm to the delivery driver on January 15, 2024 outside his home, contrary to Section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997.
Cooney also pleaded guilty during a sitting of Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court to a separate charge of robbing a mobile phone from his victim on the same occasion, contrary to Section 14 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act, 2001.
Garda Stephen Farrell told the court that the defendant was highly intoxicated on the night and had physically attacked the delivery driver who suffered abrasions to his head, hands, knees and lower back.
The court heard Cooney had assaulted his victim before the man managed to get away from him but pursued him again before physically attacking him a second time and then robbing a phone from his vehicle.
Counsel for the DPP, James Kelly BL, said the victim had not wanted any further role in the proceedings and had not provided a victim impact statement.
Judge John Martin said the accused had engaged in 'outrageous conduct' and described his offending as 'appalling and atrocious' for someone who had previously been a perfectly normal functioning member of society.
The judge said he appreciated how terrifying it must have been for Cooney's victim who had not only suffered physical injuries but also the psychological impact of a prolonged, sustained attack.
He said an aggravating factor in the case was that the victim's phone was never recovered.
However, Judge Martin said mitigating factors were Cooney's early guilty plea, his genuine remorse and an offer of €2,500 which he had brought to court which had been accepted by the delivery driver.
The judge said a custodial sentence could not be avoided given the circumstances of the case and the need to send out a message that such conduct is not acceptable.
Judge Martin expressed concern that attacks on delivery drivers were becoming 'all too prevalent.'
'Such an unprovoked, unwarranted, savage attack cannot be tolerated,' he added.
The judge sentenced Cooney to three years in prison for the conviction for assault causing harm but suspended the final 12 months for a period of two years on certain conditions.
They include that the accused keeps the peace for two years after his release from prison and places himself under the supervision of the Probation Service for that period as well as a requirement to complete a course in anger management.
Cooney had been remanded overnight in custody following a court appearance the previous day.
At the start of the hearing, the defendant's counsel, Justin McQuade BL, told the court that Cooney had had a difficult night as it was his first time in a prison cell.
Bray Courthouse, where Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court sits
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