A man who is practically housebound as a result of a brain injury caused by an assault has been spared jail for two drug dealing offences.
Mark Cooke (26) was caught with heroin and cocaine in March and May 2013. The following July Cooke was the victim of an unprovoked attack with a broken glass bottle and went into a 26 day coma.
His childhood friend Daniel Clarke (20) later pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing serious harm to Cooke at St James Walk, Rialto on July 9, 2013.
The same court heard yesterday that on May 3, 2013 gardaí searched a house in
Crumlin Park, Crumlin, Dublin and found cocaine, heroin and cannabis.
The total estimated street value of the drugs was €2,477. Cooke of Derry Park, Crumlin pleaded guilty to possession of the drugs for sale or supply.
He also admitted possession of Diazepam and heroin for sale or supply at Herberton Park, Dublin on March 6, 2013.
Judge Martin Nolan suspended a three year prison sentence on condition that he keeps the peace for that period. He said it would be unjust to jail Cooke after hearing that he is in rehabilitation for the long term consequences of the assault.
Cooke has nine previous convictions including one for possession of drugs for sale or supply and one for attempted robbery.
As a result of the 2013 assault he suffers weakness on his left side, long term memory impairment and depression, Clarke's sentence hearing heard last May.
John Berry BL, defending, said that a consultant in rehabilitation medicine had concluded that all the gains made by Cooke in rehabilitation might be lost if he went into prison.
He said that Cooke cannot leave his home and that it had been almost impossible to meet him for legal consultations.
Last year Clarke, of Dolphin House, Dolphin's Barn, was sentenced to an eight and a half year sentence with the last 18 months suspended. The court heard how he had straddled his victim before smashing a glass bottle off the ground and driving it into the victim's face.
A witness said he saw Clarke's fists covered in blood as he “danced” on the victim's head and spat on him.
