A man from Co Longford who attacked an Irish Rail ticket inspector on a train at Connolly Station has received a two-year prison sentence, reports RTE.
The court heard that 32-year-old Gerry Nevin assaulted the ticket inspector on a Dublin to Sligo service at Connolly Station after being told to leave the train because he was carrying a can of alcohol, reports RTE.
Nevin, who lives on Mostrim Road in Ballymahon, Co Longford, admitted to assault causing harm at Connolly Station on 21 September 2024.
During the incident, the ticket inspector suffered a split lip along with cuts to his nose and face, and his glasses were damaged, reports RTE.
In a victim impact statement read out in court by prosecuting counsel Marc Murphy BL, the injured party said he had been “forced to live with the fear and anxiety of being a victim of violence” and he “truly wishes this had never happened”, reports RTE.
While sentencing Nevin, Judge Martina Baxter said the ticket inspector was “only working, was just doing his job when he was undermined” and assaulted. She added that although Nevin later accepted he struck the man, “it’s clear [Nevin] had him in a headlock and was not letting go”.
“Mr Nevin could have turned the other cheek and walked away, but he didn’t,” she said. She outlined a headline sentence of three-and-a-half years, which was reduced to two-and-a-half years due to mitigating circumstances, including Nevin’s early guilty plea, reports RTE.
Judge Baxter suspended the final six months of the sentence subject to several conditions, including Nevin remaining under Probation Service supervision for six months after his release and completing offence-related programmes.
Garda Oisin O’Toole told Mr Murphy that gardaà attended Connolly Station following reports that an Irish Rail employee had been assaulted, reports RTE.
CCTV footage shown in court captured Nevin and the ticket inspector involved in a verbal dispute on board the train.
The court heard Nevin had been instructed to leave the commuter service because he had a can of alcohol.
Nevin exited the train but continued arguing with the Irish Rail worker, who then re-entered the carriage, reports RTE.
Nevin then attacked the ticket inspector by pushing him against a locked carriage door, striking him, and putting him in a headlock.
The court also heard evidence regarding an earlier interaction between Nevin and the ticket inspector, reports RTE.
The ticket inspector initially told Nevin to dispose of his can of alcohol or leave the train. Nevin placed the can in a bin and the inspector continued his duties. When he returned later, Nevin had another can, leading to him being asked to leave.
When gardaà arrived at the station, Nevin was being restrained by security staff. Gda O’Toole said officers took around two hours to reach the scene due to it being a particularly busy night, reports RTE.
After being cautioned, Nevin said: “I did hit the driver. I know I’m in the wrong”, reports RTE.
Gda O’Toole said the injured party continued his journey to Sligo and later provided a statement. In another victim impact statement read by Mr Murphy, the injured party said he was attacked while performing his duties on the train.
He said the defendant “threatened to have me killed” and “punched me several times”, reports RTE.
He said he was left in pain and required hospital treatment. He also told the court he was unable to work for four months due to both physical injuries and psychological trauma.
The injured party said the incident continues to affect his mental health and wellbeing. He said it damaged his sense of safety at work, has “made me afraid of trains” and at times he feels that “I don’t want to go on trains again”, reports RTE.
Nevin, who was on bail at the time of the offence, has 119 previous convictions, including five for assault, with most relating to public order matters.
Gda O’Toole agreed with defence counsel Luigi Rea BL that Nevin’s guilty plea had been helpful, reports RTE.
Nevin repeatedly interrupted the hearing, at one stage saying “I know the case better than anyone. I know what happened”. Mr Rea said Nevin had instructed him that he asked the ticket inspector not to remove him from the train as he was trying to get home.
Defence counsel said Nevin recalled that a woman asked to use his charger and that the ticket inspector approached aggressively, alleging Nevin was harassing her, reports RTE.
Counsel suggested to the garda that Nevin overreacted due to having been stabbed and robbed in Mullingar a week earlier.
Gda O’Toole said the injured party’s statement noted that Nevin had been speaking to a woman who later asked to change seats. After she moved, Nevin also relocated, and a second interaction with the ticket inspector followed, reports RTE.
Gda O’Toole also agreed that Nevin had been held by station security for around 90 minutes and was moved from lying on the floor to sitting on a chair once gardaà arrived.
Nevin gave evidence, telling the court the incident was “never meant to happen”. He said he had consumed only one beer when boarding the train after drinking in Dublin. He confirmed he had a can of beer when the ticket inspector told him he would have to leave.
Nevin said he pleaded to remain on the train and disposed of the can. He said the ticket inspector accused him of harassing the woman he had been speaking with, reports RTE.
Nevin said he was restrained on the ground for almost 90 minutes and that someone “stood on my back”. “I could barely get air into my lungs, I’ll never forget that experience, I nearly died,” reports RTE.
He said he was “disappointed for touching that man” and explained he had been stabbed two days earlier. He said his “emotions were high” and “I do feel bad for not walking away”, reports RTE.
Nevin told the court he began drinking at 15 and later developed a drug addiction. He said he plans to complete courses focused on alternatives to violence while in custody.
Mr Rea argued that while his client’s behaviour was unacceptable, it occurred in “the heat of the moment” and no weapon was involved. He added that Nevin needs to address his addiction and anger issues, reports RTE.
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