Notorious thug with ‘propensity for violence’ jailed for attacking man on Dublin street

Leroy Roche Dumbrell (37) of Griffith Rath Hall, Maynooth, Co. Kildare pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a charge of assault causing harm .

Imposing sentence today, Judge Jonathan Dunphy said many people won’t go into the city centre because they are afraid of meeting people like Dumbrell.

He noted that Dumbrell’s “propensity for violence” was aggravated by his drug addiction but acknowledged that he has since made great progress in his rehabilitation. He said he clearly needs to be in full time anger management.

Judge Dunphy set a headline sentence for four and half years before he imposed a sentence of three years.

He said to “assist, encourage and incentivise” Dumbrell he would suspend the final 12 months of the term on the condition that he engage with the Probation Service for two years on his ultimate release from prison.

The court previously heard that gardai were called to Essex Quay on the morning of August 30, 2022, in relation to a public order incident.

When they arrived, gardai saw a man who was wearing no top and was covered in blood. The man had a deep cut to his face and other minor injuries but refused to say what had happened.

He also refused the offer of an ambulance or to allow gardai to treat his wound using a first aid kit. The man then told gardai to leave him alone before walking away.

The injured party has since passed away, and his death is unconnected to this incident, the court was told.

CCTV from the Essex Quay area was obtained by gardai and shown to the court. Dumbrell was identified from the footage as the person who assaulted the injured party.

He has 81 previous convictions, including one for assault causing serious harm, for which he received an eight-year sentence, with the final three years suspended.

The investigating garda agreed with John Berry BL, defending that the victim did not want to co-operate with gardai. It was also confirmed that the injured party’s death is under investigation, and Dumbrell is not an active suspect.

The garda accepted that Dumbrell was an active drug user at the time of this offending and is known to gardai.

It was further agreed that Dumbrell was charged in September 2023 and spent several months in custody before the High Court granted him bail on strict conditions last December.

The garda accepted that Dumbrell has been living in Co. Kildare since his release on bail and has caused no issues for gardai during this time.

Urine analysis was handed to the court, which showed that Dumbrell had tested positive for cannabis and benzodiazepines. The garda agreed Dumbrell has been taking steps to address his addiction issues and worked for a period following his release on bail.

The garda said Dumbrell looks healthier, but his “frightening propensity for violence” is of more concern to gardai.

Mr Berry said his client has a “staggering history” of offending, most of which related to his client’s “propensity for violence”.

He noted that the injured party was hurt during this incident and that it would have been frightening for members of the public.

He asked the court to take into account his client’s guilty plea, efforts towards rehabilitation and steps taken to deal with his addiction to opiates and cocaine.

Mr Berry asked the court to give his client an opportunity to continue his efforts to rehabilitate and to consider adjourning his sentence for a period of time or imposing a suspended sentence.