A circuit court judge has apologised to a Portuguese man who was assaulted in Longford town on St Patrick's Day 2017.
Judge Keenan Johnson made his comments this afternoon after handing down a ten and eight year prison sentence to two brothers - Brandon McDonnell, 18, and 20-year-old Ciarán McDonnell of College Park, Longford - who pleaded guilty to assaulting Vitor Vieira and causing him serious harm at New Street, Longford on 17 March last year.
A third defendant - a minor - also charged in respect of the matter will be sentenced in October.
Meanwhile, Judge Johnson said that the assault perpetrated on Mr Vieira was one of the worst he had ever dealt with.
"It is horrific and frightening to think that on our national day, a visitor to our country, who has worked for 17 years here and made it his home should have been subjected to such a savage and unprovoked attack," the judge said.
"It is further embarrassing to note that because of his inability to pay the rent due to the effects of the assault, he was evicted from his home.
"At a time when he needed to be shown compassion, there was none forthcoming; I want it put on the record that Mr Vieira is welcome in this country and his contribution over the last 17 years is acknowledged and recognised.
"I also want to apologise to him for the fact that he was subject to such a savage assault on our national day."
Judge Johnson then said that assault cases such as the one before him were the consequence of drug and alcohol fuelled escapes and were all too common and prevalent in today's society.
"It is a sad state of affairs to see so many young people abuse alcohol and drugs with the result that they become extremely aggressive and violent causing injury to innocent victims like Mr Vieira," he added.
"In my opinion we need as a society to have a serious conversation on our attitude towards alcohol and the use of so-called recreational drugs.
"While these substances might give a feeling of euphoria for a short period of time, that feeling is inevitably followed by a dark and violent depression that results in criminality.
"It's a case of short-term gain for long-term pain."
Before handing down sentences in the case, Judge Johnson also pointed to the fact that the attack on Mr Vieira was unprovoked and involved "three perpetrators against one vulnerable and defenseless victim".
He said: "In the case of Ciaran McDonnell it appears from the probation report that he has little remorse or victim empathy and he is not willing to tackle his drug addiction and anger management issues.
"The probation report on Brandon McDonnell indicates that he lacks insight into the seriousness of his offending and attributes it to excess use of drugs and alcohol on the night in question.
"Given the gravity of his offending and the frenzied manner in which he used the knife to inflict injuries on the victim, it is clear that Brandon McDonnell has serious anger management issues which need to be urgently addressed."
The court then pointed to the brothers family background which indicated they were from a family of 16 children with parents who had a history of criminal activity and who had abdicated their responsibilities when it came to rearing their children.
"There is no role model in the household from which any of they could take guidance," the judge confirmed, before pointing out that it was "the combination of drink and drugs that turned Ciarán and Brandon McDonnell into violent criminals".
"The level of aggression displayed by the frenzied use of the knife by Brandon McDonnell is extremely concerning and indicates that he has serious anger management issues which need to be addressed so that he is safe to be released back into society."
Judge Johnson subsequently sentenced Brandon McDonnell to ten years in prison with the final two suspended, while Ciarán McDonnell was sentenced to eight years with the final two suspended, and indicated the sentences were to be backdated to the time the brothers first went into custody.
