A prostate cancer patient who assaulted a mother and son in their home has been given a three year sentence with the final two years suspended.

Ronald Hill (44) was one of three men who pushed their way into the house and grappled with members of the family. Two of the men had knives and the mother and son sustained bruising and lacerations. The family did not complete victim impact statements.

Hill of Reuben Walk, Rialto, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm to a 59-year-old woman and her 42-year-old son at the family’s home in Rialto on December 31, 2010.

He has 52 previous convictions including a seven and a half year sentence imposed in 2012 for carrying a firearm with intent and robbery. He was on bail for that offence at the time of this attack and will serve this new sentence consecutive to his current term.

The court heard Hill is suffering from prostate cancer and had previously been a carer for his brother who had died from cancer.

Michael Bowman SC, defending, said that there was a mistaken understanding that a member of the family involved owed money but that there was no justification for what had occurred.

He said Hill had been the sole carer of his brother and that his judgment had been impaired at the time and he did not give thought to his actions.

Mr Bowman said Hill had been introduced to heroin during time in prison in the 1990’s but was now on methadone and stable in custody.

Judge Desmond Hogan imposed a three year sentence and suspended the final two years.