A Limerick man who slashed the forehead of an 80-year-old retired taxi driver has been remanded in custody after a jury found him guilty of attempted robbery.
Following a three day trial at Limerick Circuit Court last week, Ian Murrihy (26) of O’Callaghan Avenue, Kileely was found guilty of attempting to rob Brendan Beacom on May 14, 2014.
Mr Beacom, who was recovering from heart surgery, was a retired taxi driver who liked to walk in the evening as part of his recovery.
Shortly after 8 pm, he was attacked near Cleeves Bank by Murrihy who knocked him to the ground. Another young man was present but did not participate in the attack.
Murrihy shouted, “Give me what you have”, before pulling a knife and Mr Beacom was struck over the eye with the knife.
He suffered a cut to his forehead before he managed to grab his attacker and wrestle him to the ground.
The two men ran off and Mr Beacom received assistance from people who arrived at the scene.
Samantha Ryan, who saw Mr Beacom after the attack, said she was walking near St Michael’s Rowing Club when she encountered a man who was “destroyed in blood”.
Despite his bravery, Mr Beacom was shaking and distressed. Ms Ryan called for an ambulance and Gardaí after she heard what had happened.
Ian Murrihy’s half-brother, Aaron Bourke said he saw him attack the man knocking him to the ground before they ran off.
Garda Brian Jackman, who was off duty at the time, was driving across the Shannon Bridge when he saw two men jumping over a wooden fence on the Clare side of the bridge.
He noticed that they were agitated and acting suspiciously. One of them removed his jacket and threw it over the fence. He then contacted Henry Street Garda Station and notified them of what he had witnessed.
After just 90 minutes of deliberations, the jury of eight women and four men returned a unanimous verdict of guilty to the court.
After being told that Murrihy had 30 previous convictions, Judge John Hannan remanded him in custody until next January for sentencing.
