A man who attacked his landlord after being asked to vacate a rented property has been sentenced to 12 months in prison.
Philip Lalor (36) also assaulted another tenant during the incident before producing a knife and directing it towards the landlord, reports Breaking News.
Lalor attempted to flee by climbing out of a window after armed gardaí were called to the scene but was later arrested in a nearby laneway.
Formerly of Celtic Park Avenue in Beaumont, Dublin 9, Lalor was found guilty of two counts of assault causing harm and one count of producing a Stanley knife during a dispute, following a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in March, reports Breaking News.
He was also convicted of two counts of threatening and abusive behaviour, including one incident that occurred at Clondalkin Garda Station.
Garda Leanne Connell told prosecuting counsel Patrick McCullough that Lalor had been renting a room in a shared property in Whitehall, reports Breaking News.
On June 20th, 2020, the landlord and his wife went to the house to ask Lalor to leave.
Although Lalor initially refused, it was agreed that his rent and deposit—totalling around €1,000—would be returned, reports Breaking News.
After receiving the money, Lalor again refused to leave, saying he still had laundry in the washing machine, and the landlord offered to help him take it to a nearby laundromat.
Lalor then went upstairs, and after some time, the landlord followed him to his bedroom, where Lalor again insisted he would not leave, reports Breaking News.
The landlord picked up a bag near the door and walked into the hallway.
At that point, Lalor grabbed him from behind and placed him in a chokehold, causing him to fall to the ground, reports Breaking News.
The landlord’s wife and other tenants heard the disturbance and came upstairs, where she saw her husband being held in a chokehold, his face turning blue.
Another tenant intervened and tried to assist, but Lalor pushed him into a door frame and wall while he attempted to restrain him, causing bruising, reports Breaking News.
Lalor then released the landlord, returned to his room, and re-emerged holding a Stanley knife, which he pointed towards the landlord who was standing nearby.
Gardaí were called to the scene, and the other occupants left the house, reports Breaking News.
When the Armed Support Unit arrived, Lalor remained inside and was asked to come out after officers knocked on his bedroom door.
He instead exited through an upstairs window and was later apprehended while attempting to escape down a laneway, carrying a black holdall bag containing a Stanley knife, reports Breaking News.
Lalor resisted arrest and behaved aggressively, and upon being taken to Clondalkin Garda Station, he continued to act in a threatening manner.
He threatened to headbutt gardaí and had to be placed in a cell for his own safety, reports Breaking News.
The court heard he continued to behave aggressively in the cell and was deemed too intoxicated to be interviewed for six hours.
During interview, Lalor acknowledged being in the house but minimised his actions, claiming the landlord had entered his room and taken a bag containing tools, reports Breaking News.
He denied assaulting the landlord or using a chokehold, saying he may have grabbed him around the waist or shoulders.
He also claimed the knife had fallen from the bag and that he picked it up, denying that he had brandished it, reports Breaking News.
Lalor said he fled through a window because he believed those at the door might not have been gardaí but associates of the landlord.
The court heard Lalor has 20 previous convictions, including 12 for public order offences and three for criminal damage, reports Breaking News.
In a victim impact statement, the landlord said he suffered a swollen throat and later required injections in his back.
He described experiencing cold sweats for a year afterward, fearing he was being strangled, and said stress from the incident led to his demotion at work, reports Breaking News.
The court was told the landlord and his wife have since moved abroad, while the second tenant did not submit a victim impact statement.
Garda Connell agreed with defence counsel Luigi Rea that there were no medical reports for the injured parties, reports Breaking News.
It was also accepted that Lalor only brandished the knife and had been drinking the night before.
Defence counsel said Lalor does not accept the verdict but regrets renting the property, drinking beforehand, and his reaction to events, reports Breaking News.
He added that Lalor believes alcohol affected his judgement and that he wishes he had recorded the incident.
The court heard Lalor intends to attend counselling for alcohol issues, has a strong work history, and hopes to return to work on his family farm in Co Laois, reports Breaking News.
He is willing to engage with the Probation Service and keeps to himself while in custody, reports Breaking News.
Judge Martina Baxter described the case as a “serious incident” and acknowledged the impact on the victims.
She said mitigation was limited because Lalor does not accept the verdict, though there was an “element of remorse” in his instructions to his counsel, reports Breaking News.
The judge noted his willingness to engage in counselling and said he must address anger management and alcohol issues.
She imposed a total sentence of two years, suspending the final 12 months under strict conditions, including a year of post-release supervision by the Probation Service, reports Breaking News.
The sentence was backdated to February 4th, when Lalor was taken into custody.
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