Injured party ‘begged’ for attack to stop

A court has heard how a man continues to carry the psychological weight of a savage and “unprovoked” street attack - an assault so violent that he no longer feels safe walking the streets of his own town.

Patrick Konieczny still vividly remembers lying on the ground, desperately shielding himself as he “begged” Warren Reilly to stop punching and kicking him in the head, face, and body.

Full details of the ordeal were outlined during the November sittings of Cavan Circuit Court.

On February 26, 2023, Mr Konieczny had been socialising in Cavan Town with his partner when Reilly and another man began following the couple as they made their way home. Just metres from their front door on Church Street, Judge John Aylmer heard that Reilly suddenly struck Mr Konieczny, sending him head-first into a wall and knocking him to the ground.

Grainy CCTV footage captured Reilly then raining punches and kicks on Mr Konieczny’s head, neck, and body.

In a victim impact statement read by investigating Garda Emmett Harte, Mr Konieczny said he “begged” for the assault to stop. He recalled repeatedly pleading with Reilly, fearing the attack would continue indefinitely until his partner arrived screaming - an intervention that caused the defendant to flee.

Reilly pleaded guilty to assault causing harm in June 2025.

Although Mr Konieczny’s phone was stolen during the incident, Reilly was not charged in relation to the theft.

Medical reports outlined that Mr Konieczny sustained multiple facial fractures. His injuries made eating difficult, and even weeks later brushing his teeth caused pain rated at “six or seven-out-of-ten”. A permanent scar remains beneath his cheek, but Mr Konieczny said the psychological impact has been far more enduring.

Three years on, he told the court he still does not feel safe walking through Cavan Town, and that each day reminds him of the attack. While Reilly was on bail, Mr Konieczny said the defendant approached him at one point and showed little genuine remorse.

The court heard Reilly had 40 previous convictions - covering assault, violent disorder, drugs offences, burglary, criminal damage, theft, trespass and others - dating back to 2018. His life had been dominated by addiction, beginning with cannabis and later involving cocaine, alcohol, and gambling.

Following the assault, Reilly co-operated fully with gardaí. He went on to serve 13 months in prison on separate district court matters. In one of those cases, evidence was given that he attempted to steal mobile phones while in a hospital A&E Department and spat at a patient when challenged.

After his release, Reilly completed a residential treatment programme at Cuan Mhuire. His barrister, Niamh Murtagh Quinn BL, said her client had phoned the service daily for five weeks to secure a place. He now attends Narcotics Anonymous and Gamblers Anonymous and has enrolled in a two-year aftercare programme.

Reilly, who failed his Leaving Cert and was later expelled from Youthreach for non attendance and drug use, was assessed by probation as being at “high risk” of reoffending.

Ms Murtagh Quinn acknowledged Reilly was well known to gardaí. She said he blamed drug abuse for the assault, that he feels shame and guilt, and asked the court to recognise that Reilly views the violence as the behaviour of a different version of himself.

On the night in question, she said, he had little recollection and was known to have consumed a cocktail of drugs, causing “paranoia” and a mistaken belief that the injured party had been involved in stealing drugs from him. “It was a level of violence he did not believe himself capable of,” she said.

Reilly has had no convictions since 2024 and is actively seeking work. His partner, who attended court for the sentencing, is five months’ pregnant. Ms Murtagh Quinn said Reilly is trying to rebuild his life.

As a gesture of remorse, he brought €2,000 to court, a sum accepted by Mr Konieczny.

“It’s his own actions that have brought him here today,” Ms Murtagh Quinn said, after Judge Aylmer warned that a custodial sentence was inevitable.

Reilly also wrote a letter to the court and to Mr Konieczny, expressing his “deepest and most sincere apologies”. “I take full responsibility for what I did, and I am truly sorry for the harm, fear, and distress that my behaviour caused. There is no excuse for my actions, and I am deeply ashamed that I allowed myself to behave in that way.”

Reilly said he has worked “very hard to turn my life around”, completing a 12-week alcohol and drug treatment programme and remaining sober and out of trouble for the past 18 months. He said he continues “to focus on my recovery and on bettering myself every day.” He acknowledged the “pain and distress” he caused Mr Konieczny and expressed hope that his efforts at change show genuine remorse and a commitment to becoming a better person. He said he is working to “reflect, seek help, and begin rebuilding my life”, adding: “I have learned a very serious lesson from this experience. I will continue working to keep my life on a positive path and to contribute meaningfully to my community.”

A letter from Reilly’s father was also submitted.

In considering sentence, Judge Aylmer emphasised the “unprovoked” nature of the attack and the level of violence involved, which resulted in facial fractures. He noted that Reilly was “very lucky” not to be facing more “serious” charges, placing the offence at the upper end of the scale and meriting a four-year prison term before mitigation.

Mitigating factors included Reilly’s early plea, cooperation, the €2,000 payment, and the steps taken towards rehabilitation—though these were described as “relatively recent”.

The judge said the letters submitted added nothing further to what had already been considered. He reduced the sentence to three years and, to encourage continued rehabilitation, suspended the final 18 months on condition that Reilly engage with the probation service for 18 months post-release; follow all recommendations; abstain from alcohol, illegal drugs, and gambling; undertake victim-focused work and support services; and keep probation informed of any changes in his personal circumstances.