Ireland Case No. 23639Assault causing harm · Co. Offaly · 13 May 2021
Former Irish soccer player jailed for assaulting intruder in Edenderry
Keith Wright, 30, a former Republic of Ireland under-15 footballer, was sentenced to three years and three months (nine months suspended) at the Midlands Circuit Court in Tullamore for assaulting Todd Morrissey with a pick axe handle in Edenderry on 13 May 2021, after believing the intruder was armed with a gun.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced9 Dec
2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports37 statements extracted from the articles
- whatWright chased Morrissey down a street and beat him with a pick axe handle (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatCCTV showed Wright hitting Morrissey up to 13 times (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatThe victim sustained two skull fractures and a broken finger (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatThe victim was in hospital for two days (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatThe victim smashed a window at the back of Wright's house (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatA black multitool was found at the scene of the assault (offalyexpress.ie, leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatWright won four caps for Ireland at under-15 level in soccer (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatWright suffered a triple leg fracture and became addicted to pain medication, then heroin (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatWright was serving a 12-month sentence since November 9 (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatPrior to that, he had been in custody on remand for the assault since June 12 (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatWright is a father of two (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatThe maximum sentence for the offence is five years (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatThe offence was committed while Wright was subject to a suspended sentence (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatWright had several previous convictions for assault causing harm and a seven-and-a-half-year sentence from 2011 for assault causing serious harm (offalyexpress.ie, leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatWright chased an intruder down a street and beat him with a pick axe handle. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatWright believed the intruder was armed with a gun. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatCCTV showed Wright hitting Morrissey up to 13 times with the weapon on the footpath on St Francis Street. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatGardaí received a report at 6.10pm of an assault and found the victim lying motionless with thick congealed blood at his head. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatMorrissey went to Wright's house, could not get an answer at the door, and smashed a window at the back. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatMorrissey was in hospital for two days and sustained two fractures to his skull plus a broken finger. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatWright initially denied using a weapon, then said he used a pick axe. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whereThe assault took place on St Francis Street, Edenderry (offalyexpress.ie)
- whereWright was originally from Finglas (offalyexpress.ie)
- whenThe incident occurred on 13 May 2021 (offalyexpress.ie)
- whenThe assault took place on 13 May 2021 in Edenderry. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtThe sentencing hearing followed Wright's guilty plea in July to assault causing harm. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- sentenceThe sentence was three years and three months with the last nine months suspended for three years on entry of a peace bond and supervision by the probation service (offalyexpress.ie)
- sentenceWright must undertake a residential drug treatment programme and remain free of drugs (offalyexpress.ie, leinsterexpress.ie)
- sentenceWright was given credit for five months already served (offalyexpress.ie)
- sentenceWright was sentenced to three years and three months, with the last nine months suspended for three years on entry of a peace bond and probation supervision. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- sentenceWright was given credit for the five months he had already served. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherWright had known Todd Morrissey for about 10 years and had drunk with him before. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherWright was a former Republic of Ireland under-15 footballer who won four caps at that level. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherWright suffered a triple leg fracture and became addicted to pain medication, and later heroin. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherThe accused had committed the offence while subject to a suspended sentence. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherWright was serving a 12-month sentence since November 9 and had been in custody on remand for the assault since June 12. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherThere was no victim impact statement from Morrissey because he was believed to be in homeless accommodation in Dublin. (leinsterexpress.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 9 Dec2022Jail for former Irish soccer player who attacked intruder in Midlands
Sentencing hearing at Midlands Circuit Court sitting in Tullamore; Wright pleaded guilty in July 2022 and was jailed for three years and three months, nine months suspended, with a residential drug treatment requirement.
convicted, Keith Wright, 30, male, Irish, named, irishKeith Wrightvictim, Todd Morrissey, male, irish (judged from name)Todd Morrissey - 9 Dec2022Jail for man who attacked Offaly intruder because he thought he had gun
Full sentencing details: Judge Keenan Johnson's reasoning (offending ranked at upper end, grossly disproportionate response), CCTV showing up to 13 blows, victim's injuries (two skull fractures, broken finger), the black multitool found at the scene, Wright's background (Finglas, four under-15 caps, triple leg fracture, drug addiction), prior convictions including a 7.5-year sentence from 2011, and conditions of the suspended portion (peace bond, probation, residential drug treatment).
victim, Todd Morrissey, male, irish (judged from name)Todd Morrisseyconvicted, Keith Wright, 30, male, named, irish (judged from name)Keith Wright