3 MONTHS FOR JAIL FOR BOOTING FEMALE JOGGER TO THE GROUND

A WOMAN was the victim of a random “unprovoked” attack where she was kicked in the stomach, knocked to the ground and left in pain after she went jogging, a court has heard.

- BY TOM TUITE

Hoyda Hamad, a Syrian national of no fixed abode who has used multiple identities, was jailed for three months yesterday over the incident at East Wall Road, Dublin 3, on the morning of July 26 last.

It happened 18 days after Hamad was handed a suspended sentence for an earlier theft crime.

The 35-year-old, a barber by trade, was charged with a section 2 assault, which carries a six-month sentence, as well as with providing a false or misleading name and address to a member of An Garda Siochana and with using threatening, abusive, or insulting words or behaviour.

"This was an unprovoked attack on a female member of the community who was going about her own business, out for a jog, and was attacked by someone who was unknown to her, and suffered pain and suffering," said Judge Patricia Cronin at the sentence hearing at Cloverhill District Court.

Hamad pleaded guilty last week, and the case was adjourned until yesterday for facts and a victim statement.

The woman did not have to attend the hearing or give evidence because of the guilty plea.

Court Sergeant Olyn Murphy outlined the prosecution's evidence on behalf of investigating officer Garda Ruth Redmond.