A man known as Aaron Holland, age 19, residing at Marian Road, Templemore, in the county of Tipperary, was a perpetrator in an utterly deplorable and unprovoked violence on a defenceless individual in Limerick City. Despite the crime, Mr. Holland managed to evade prison, receiving a totally deferred two-year penal sentence from Judge Tom O’Donnell. The assault was categorised as ‘barbaric’ and ‘outrageous’ by the judge.
The fact that Mr. Holland entered an early guilty plea and had no prior record of criminal behaviour worked in his favour. The judge also considered that Holland was the youngest amongst the attackers. Commenting on the gravity of the situation, Judge O’Donnell stated, “A custodial sentence is merited considering the nature of the crime, however, Holland’s clean record and his willingness to admit guilt changes the context.”
The group involved in the assault, described by the Judge as “feral”, were wandering the streets of Limerick City approximately at five in the morning. The unsuspecting victim, a homeless 39-year-old man named Declan Quinlivan, was just going about his day-to-day life when he was targeted.
Mr. Quinlivan was brutally punched and kicked over a hundred times, his money and mobile phone stolen by the trio. The entire incident was captured via CCTV, where it was also audible that the victim was pleading for mercy from his attackers. The beating and theft took place near the intersection of Wickham Street and Thomas Street, in Limerick City, on the 8th of May, 2022. The attackers, pursued Mr. Quinlivan before subjecting him to 109 kick and punch attacks. Holland was only 17 at the time, while the others were aged 15 and 20. The court accepted Holland’s confession to one count of violent disorder.
In the surveillance camera video of the assault that lasted five minutes, previously showcased in the courtroom, the victim, Mr Quinlivan, could be heard pleading with his assailants: “Boys, feel free to take whatever you fancy, just cease this beating.”
The video depicts a brief pause in the assault as a cab drives by, after which the attack is swiftly recommenced.
Despite being brought to the University Hospital Limerick post-attack, there was no information provided in court regarding the extent of Mr Quinlivan’s injuries, and he refrained from delivering a victim impact statement.
When delivering the verdict of a two-year suspended sentence, Judge O’Donnell alerted Holland that he didn’t wish to see him in court ever again. The judge admonished him stating, “Your actions were utterly disgraceful and unwarranted – you came perilously close to landing in prison today – regard yourself as a rather fortunate individual.”