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Men arrested for unprovoked attack on stranger told to pay compensation or start ‘packing their bags’ for jail

David Franiuc (21) and Simon Franiuc (20) had been drinking when “words were exchanged” with a man in the street and a fight broke out, a court heard.

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​Two men arrested for punching a stranger in an unprovoked attack in Dublin city centre have been told to pay compensation to the victim to avoid jail.

David Franiuc (21) and Simon Franiuc (20) had been drinking when “words were exchanged” with a man in the street and a fight broke out, a court heard.

Judge Gerard Jones told them to pay €1,000 each to the victim “or they can consider packing their bags and heading to Mountjoy.”

The accused, both from the same address at The Paddock’s Square, Adamstown, Co Dublin, pleaded guilty to assault and threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour.

Dublin District Court heard gardaí were on patrol on O’Connell Street, Dublin, on November 5, 2023, when they saw the accused fighting with another man. They were punching this man and gardaí stopped the fight and arrested the accused.

It was an “unprovoked attack,” a garda sergeant told the court.

The victim did not wish to make an impact statement and had made a full recovery.

The accused had consumed too much alcohol, words were exchanged with the victim and the incident went “far beyond what it should have,” defence barrister Donal Pattison said.

The Franiucs came to Ireland three years ago and were working as general operatives. They did not normally drink and “very rarely go out,” Mr Pattison said.

Adjourning the case to a date in July, Judge Jones said the accused could “pack their bags the next day unless they come with the money.”

He said he would treat the accused leniently if the compensation is paid.“Otherwise, they know where they’re going,” the judge warned.

The Franiucs were remanded on continuing bail.