Plumber Jailed for 6 Years After Instigating ‘Cowardly’ Attack

UPDATE: A 22-year-old plumber, Jack Cummins, has been sentenced to six years in prison after instigating a brutal attack that left Alanna Quinn Idris permanently blind in her right eye. The attack, which occurred on December 30, 2021, in Ballyfermot, has been described by the judge as “cowardly” and “premeditated.”

During a sentencing hearing today, Judge Pauline Codd revealed that Cummins orchestrated the violence by making a phone call to his cousin, Josh Cummins, leading to a violent confrontation with Ms. Quinn Idris and her friend, Louis O’Sullivan. The judge stated, “All the tragedy and heartbreak from that evening unfolded from that particular call.”

The attack occurred shortly after a verbal exchange between Cummins and O’Sullivan on Ballyfermot Road. Following the conversation, Jack Cummins initiated a series of phone calls that summoned three assailants to the scene, including Josh Cummins, who was armed with a hurl.

Ms. Quinn Idris, then 17, suffered catastrophic injuries when she was struck in the face with an electric scooter, resulting in a fractured eye socket and permanent vision loss. Her friend Mr. O’Sullivan was also attacked, sustaining injuries that required hospitalization.

In court, the judge emphasized that Cummins was the “catalyst for all that ensued” and that his recklessness contributed significantly to the violence. “He may not have foreseen the level of violence that was about to ensue, but he was highly reckless,” Judge Codd stated.

Cummins pleaded guilty to procuring the assault, violent disorder, and assault causing harm to O’Sullivan. Despite having no prior convictions, the court deemed his actions as warranting a severe penalty. The judge initially set a headline sentence of 11 years, but reduced it to six years after considering mitigating factors, including Cummins’s age and remorse.

The impact of the assault on Ms. Quinn Idris has been devastating. In her victim impact statement, she described her permanent facial disfigurement and the emotional scars left by the attack. “This was not just a random incident between strangers,” she said, reflecting on a history of unpleasant encounters with Cummins.

Both Josh Cummins and another assailant, Darragh Lyons, have already been sentenced for their roles in the attack. Lyons received four and a half years in March 2023, while Josh Cummins was sentenced to five years in November 2023, with two years suspended.

The court heard that the group of attackers had outnumbered the victims, creating a high risk of serious harm. The assault lasted just over a minute and ended when passing motorists intervened. Ms. Quinn Idris has undergone multiple surgeries since the incident and continues to face a long road to recovery.

As the community reacts to this shocking case, the judge’s remarks highlight the urgent need to address street violence and its severe consequences. The court’s decision aims to serve as a deterrent against similar acts in the future.