Jack Cummins was 'catalyst' for the violent ambush on Alanna Quinn Idris, says judge

Eimear Dodd and Isabel Hayes

A man who orchestrated an attack that left a young woman permanently blind in one eye has been jailed for six years.

Jack Cummins (22) was the person who brought assailants to the scene and “was the catalyst for all that ensued”, Judge Pauline Codd said in sentencing him on Tuesday.

The phone call he made to his cousin that night “had disastrous and tragic consequences for Ms Quinn Idris”, the judge said. “All the tragedy and heartbreak from that evening unfolded from that particular call.”

Cummins, of Rossmore Road, Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty to procuring an assault causing serious harm to Alanna Quinn Idris on Ballyfermot Road on December 30th, 2021. He made two calls to his cousin, Josh Cummins, then 17, who arrived with two others and attacked Ms Quinn Idris and her friend, Louis O’Sullivan.

Ms Quinn Idris, also 17 at the time, was struck in the face with the saddle of an electric scooter, fracturing her eye socket and leaving her permanently blind in her right eye. Mr O’Sullivan was also assaulted.

Cummins also pleaded guilty to violent disorder and assault causing harm to Mr O’Sullivan. He had no previous convictions and was 18 at the time.

Josh Cummins (now 20), of Raheen Drive, Ballyfermot, and Darragh Lyons (21), of Weir View, Glenaulin, Chapelizod, Dublin 20, have already been sentenced. A fourth man, who struck Ms Quinn Idris with the e-scooter saddle, has never been identified.

Judge Codd said Jack Cummins may not have foreseen the level of violence, but he was “highly reckless” in orchestrating an attack by four people on two unarmed teenagers. He led the others to where the victims stood and failed to intervene at any point. He later struck Mr O’Sullivan himself.

The judge described the effects on Ms Quinn Idris as “utterly catastrophic” and said she showed remarkable maturity in dealing with the case.

Cummins now works as a plumber, lives at home, and is engaged to be married. A probation report assessed him as being at low risk of reoffending, and he has expressed deep remorse, telling the court he regrets the phone call “for the rest of his life”.

The judge set a headline sentence of 11 years for the procurement offence but reduced it to seven due to mitigating factors. She imposed concurrent sentences of six years for violent disorder and three years for assault, suspending the final year of the procurement sentence.

The sentence must reflect the “catastrophic outcome” and act as a general deterrent against street violence, Judge Codd said.

Garda Sergeant Michael Noonan told the court that Cummins and his girlfriend were on the same bus from Liffey Valley as the victims. After they all got off on Ballyfermot Road, a verbal exchange took place between Cummins and Mr O’Sullivan.

The court heard that Cummins phoned his cousin following this exchange, and Josh Cummins arrived armed with a hurl and accompanied by two others.

The attack, which lasted around one minute, stopped only when passing motorists intervened. The four men fled the scene.

Mr O’Sullivan was treated in hospital for a head wound, a puncture wound to the arm, and bruising. Ms Quinn Idris underwent emergency surgery that night and has since had multiple reconstructive surgeries, including a bone graft from her hip. She has permanently lost vision in one eye.

Photos and medical reports were handed to the court.

Darragh Lyons received four and a half years for his role in March 2023. Josh Cummins was sentenced to five years with the final two suspended in November 2023 after pleading guilty to causing serious harm, violent disorder, assault, and production of a hurl.

Reading her victim impact statement, Ms Quinn Idris said she is now “permanently facially disfigured” and noted that the incident was not a random act but followed “other unpleasant encounters” with Jack Cummins.

She told the court: “None of this would have happened if he hadn’t made those calls that night.”

The court also heard of earlier incidents, including Cummins pushing her to the ground and putting her in a headlock.

Keith Spencer BL, defending, said his client acknowledged the phone calls but did not intend the resulting violence. He said Cummins acted out of fear after being challenged by Mr O’Sullivan and described his behaviour as “out of character”.

Cummins read a letter of apology to Ms Quinn Idris in court, expressing sorrow and wishing her well in her recovery.