KILL THREAT | 

Jogger (32) swung martial arts kicks at dog walker after row at Dublin seafront

David McCarthy (32) attacked the walker who he claimed had stood blocking his path as he jogged in Clontarf.

Andrew Phelan

Today at 09:30

​A trainee fitness instructor swung “martial arts kicks” at a dog walker, threatening to kill the man and his German shepherd in a violent confrontation at a Dublin seafront promenade.

David McCarthy (32) attacked the walker who he claimed had stood blocking his path as he jogged in Clontarf.

McCarthy had denied the charges, maintaining he was acting in self-defence and it was the victim who attacked him with his dog’s ball-thrower.

Judge John Hughes said he did not accept the accused’s evidence, found him guilty and jailed him for five months, with another three suspended.

McCarthy, of Howth Road, Clontarf, had pleaded not guilty to assaulting and threatening to kill James Milliken.

Mr Milliken told Dublin District Court he was walking his dog on October 21, 2022, when McCarthy, with whom he had two previous encounters, came running in his direction.

The accused “drew himself up close” to Mr Milliken, who “pushed him back after an exchange of words”.

“He said, ‘I’m going to kill your effing dog’,” Mr Milliken said.

The victim raised his ball-thrower and shouted at McCarthy to get back.

The accused “drew himself into a martial arts pose” with his fists up to his chest and Mr Milliken stepped back as McCarthy approached.

He felt threatened, so in self-defence, he struck the accused with the thrower on the head and body. As he turned and ran, McCarthy began “martial arts kicking” at him, striking him on the back of his leg.

This knocked him to the ground and when he got up, McCarthy said “I’m going to effing kill you”.

He was “terrified” and McCarthy aimed another “turning kick” at him, striking his arm.

The victim suffered bruising to his leg.

McCarthy alleged Mr Milliken stepped in front of him, chased him in a circle with his unmuzzled “attack dog” and he fell on the slippy grass. He alleged Mr Milliken then “beat me with a weapon” – the ball-thrower.

Mc Carthy said he stood up and “defended myself” by “booting” the victim. He denied issuing any threats.

In a victim-impact statement, Mr Milliken said he became “a target of pure and utter violence” by a man “half my age whose skill set is MMA fighting”.

“I now live a paranoid life, constantly checking who is behind me,” he said. He had not walked on the promenade since the attack.​