Ireland Man sentenced for assault on witness at Dublin court by gesture
On 8 September 2022, during a sentence hearing in Courtroom 4 of the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin, Jonathan Kenny, a 40-year-old man, pointed to his eyes and then gestured towards a witness who had given evidence. The injured party reported the incident to gardaí, and Kenny was originally charged with witness intimidation. He pleaded guilty to assault and was acquitted of a trespass offence following an appeal. On 7 June 2024, it was reported that the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court had given Kenny a four-month sentence, suspended in full for two years, with an order to stay away from the injured party, their home and their family.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced7 Jun
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Kenny pointed to his eyes, then gestured towards a witness who had given evidence, and also showed his biceps in a gesture of strength.
- Where
- The gesture was made in Courtroom 4 at the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin during a sentence hearing.
- When
- The incident date is given as 8 September 2022.
- In court
- The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
- Kenny has 108 previous convictions, including for robbery, assault and theft.
- Investigation
- The injured party reported the incident to the investigating garda.
- Charges
- Kenny was originally charged with witness intimidation but pleaded guilty to assault.
- Kenny was acquitted of a trespass offence following an appeal.
- Sentence
- Kenny received a four-month sentence, suspended in full for two years.
- The suspended sentence starts when Kenny's current custodial sentence expires.
- During the suspension, Kenny must stay away from the injured party, their home and their family.
- Other details
- The injured party was distressed and afraid after the gesture, and the judge described the incident as a psychic assault.
- A victim impact statement was handed to the court but not read aloud.
- The suspect's name is given as Jonathan Kenny in the key facts and as Johnathan Kenny in the article, and he is 40 years old.
15 statements extracted from the articles
- whatKenny pointed to his eyes and then gestured towards a witness who had given evidence. (thejournal.ie)
- whatKenny also showed his biceps in a gesture of strength. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe gesture happened in Courtroom 4 at the Criminal Courts of Justice. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe gesture was made at a sentence hearing on 8 September 2022. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationThe injured party reported the incident to the investigating garda. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeKenny was originally charged with witness intimidation but pleaded guilty to assault. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeKenny was acquitted of a trespass offence following an appeal. (thejournal.ie)
- courtKenny has 108 previous convictions, including for robbery, assault and theft. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceKenny received a four-month sentence suspended in full for two years. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceThe suspended sentence starts when Kenny's current custodial sentence expires. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceKenny was ordered to stay away from the injured party, their home and their family during the suspension. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe injured party was distressed and afraid after the gesture. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe judge described the incident as a psychic assault. (thejournal.ie)
- otherA victim impact statement was handed to the court but not read aloud. (thejournal.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 7 Jun2024'Ordinary decent citizen' giving evidence in court subjected to 'psychic assault'
Concerns a witness intimidation-style gesture in a Dublin court and the resulting assault sentence. This is a different incident from existing case 4540 (Jonathan Kenny drug driving in Kilrush, Co Clare).
convicted, Jonathan Kenny, 40, male, named, irish (judged from name)Jonathan Kennyvictim