Serial offender jailed for biting man’s hand at Limerick estate

The court heard a nurse diagnosed the victim as suffering from a human bite.

Published 12th Jul 2026, 18:00 BST The accused man, 37, has amassed 191 previous convictions​ The court heard a nurse diagnosed the victim as suffering from a human bite. Sign up to our Limerick Live newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Limerick Live within your account.

A MAN with 191 previous convictions has been sentenced for an assault in which he bit another man’s hand.

Michael McCarthy, 37, with an address at Bay Four, Kilmurry View Halting Site, Limerick pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, getting into a stationary car without authority, and criminal damage when he was brought before Limerick Circuit Court.

Garda Shane Stanley of Henry Street Garda Station confirmed to the court that Mr McCarthy was found sprawled and rummaging in a car parked outside a house at Oaklawns, Castletroy on February 15, 2024. The man who found him intervened, and an altercation occurred between Mr McCarthy and the victim. Mr McCarthy tried to punch him, pushed him, and bit the man’s hand - breaking the skin.

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The court heard that the attack left the victim with a puncture wound, and the nurse at St. John’s Local Injury Unit diagnosed him as suffering from a human bite. The victim then went to UHL where he was given a shoulder sling to wear for three days, and was referred to a physio.

In another incident, on January 28, 2024, the court heard Mr McCarthy damaged a car at Alder Close, Castletroy, and took a woman’s driving license and a small sum of cash from the car. The items were unrecovered.

Prosecuting Barrister for the State, John O’Sullivan told the court that Mr McCarthy was questioned by gardaí but no evidence was given. A DNA sample was taken, which linked him to the offence.

Both victims declined to make victim impact statements. Mr O’Sullivan told the court that Mr McCarthy’s previous offences include the unauthorised taking of a mechanically propelled vehicle, multiple burglaries, robbery, possession of a knife, three counts of assault causing harm, multiple thefts, resisting arrest, trespass of a building, possession of drugs, criminal damage, endangerment, entering a building with intent, handling stolen property, the unauthorised taking of a pedal cycle, a public order offence and multiple road traffic offences.

Mr O’Sullivan said “there’s a gap there in his offending, that’s because he was incarcerated” to which Garda Stanley agreed.

In mitigation, Barrister Yvonne Quinn, representing Mr McCarthy said “he knows he needs to be punished for these previous offences”.

Ms Quinn further detailed: “Mr McCarthy has a history of taking cocaine and various tablets”. The barrister stated that when two of Mr McCarthy’s family members were diagnosed with illness in 2022, he began smoking heroin.

Ms Quinn said Mr McCarthy is the father of three children, who visit him in prison.

Judge Colin Daly commented that Mr McCarthy “has a serious history of drug addiction fuelling his extraordinary number of previous convictions”.

The judge commented that a modest sum was taken in the offending, but this may mean a bit more to a student.

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The judge stated that Mr McCarthy has 24 previous convictions for unauthorised takings and getting into a mechanically propelled vehicle. Judge Daly said Mr McCarthy has a significant history for burglary and theft offences.

The judge sentenced Mr McCarthy to a total of five years’ imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended for a period of five years. The sentence was backdated to when Mr McCarthy first entered custody in November 2025.