Homeless man is kicked and punched 109 times by three ‘feral’ youths in Limerick

A VULNERABLE homeless man was "violently and savagely set upon by three feral youths” who struck the victim 109 times in the city, Limerick Circuit Criminal Court heard.

The  victim, who was aged 39 at the time, told his attackers, “Take what ye want, lads, just please stop beating me, will ye please stop, I beg ye”.

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Dean Keane, aged 23, of Lacey Avenue, Templemore, Co Tipperary pleaded guilty to one count of violent disorder at Wickham Street shortly after 5am on May 8, 2022. The other two accused, who have been dealt with by the courts, were 15 and 17 at the time. 

Prosecuting barrister John O’Sullivan, instructed by State solicitor Padraig Mawe, outlined the evidence with the assistance of Garda Jason Walmsley.

Mr O’Sullivan said gardai received an anonymous call that a man was being violently assaulted on Wickham Street. Gardai, including Garda Walmsley, responded at 5.19am.

Garda Walmsley said the victim, aged 39 at the time, had blood on his forehead. Two of the accused were arrested after a foot chase with the third apprehended later.

Garda Walmsley said: “I've interacted with him (victim) at least 10 times personally to try to get either a statement or information from him but he is reluctant to make a statement. He did tell me that he got to the hospital and that he had a head injury.”

Mr O’Sullivan asked if the victim is quite a vulnerable man? The investigating garda agreed. The prosecuting barrister said the CCTV footage shows  the victim was robbed of certain items in the “feral attack”.

Keane can be heard on CCTV saying, “There must be more than that”.

Garda Walmsley gave a breakdown of the 109 strikes during the attack, to Judge Colin Daly. Keane administered 28 kicks and 14 punches. The then 15-year-old kicked the homeless man 36 times and punched him 13 times. The then 17-year-old kicked him 14 times and punched him four times.

The victim can be heard saying on CCTV, “Stop, please stop”. Keane wept in the dock as the CCTV was played.

Keane has a total of 63 previous convictions including sexual assault, possession of knives, criminal damage, theft, possession of drugs.

Liam Carroll, barrister for Keane, said his client accepts his behaviour was completely unacceptable, and was visibly moved when watching the CCTV. The barrister said Keane did not have an easy childhood, started smoking cannabis at 14 before moving onto cocaine and heroin. Mr Carroll said Keane was living vagrantly on the streets of Limerick on the night of the attack.

“He has made positive steps to address his serious substance abuse addiction,” said Mr Carroll.

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The barrister read out a letter of apology penned by Keane in which he said his actions were out of order and completely wrong.

“I know it is too late to change what happened but I am really sorry to the victim and to the guards,” wrote Keane.

He said he has spoken to the victim a few times since. “He knows how sorry I am and we are friends”, he wrote. Keane said it is not an excuse but he was in “a bad place  and heavy on drugs”.

Judge Daly said it was a cowardly attack on a very vulnerable homeless man. He imposed a five-year prison sentence with the final year suspended.