A man who randomly attacked two pensioners because he believed older men were more likely to be sex offenders has been jailed for three years with the last 18 months suspended.
Kyle Duggan, 31, of no fixed abode, targeted the elderly men in unprovoked attacks which occurred in March 2018 in Cork city.
One of the men was headbutted and required surgery to his face.
Judge Sean O'Donnabhain was told that the first assault victim was a 75-year-old man who was standing on a footpath waiting to cross the road at a pedestrian crossing at Bachelor Quay in Cork city.
Duggan hit the pensioner in the back in a "rugby style tackle" sending him sprawling out onto the roadway.
Garda Brian Barron told Cork Circuit Criminal Court that there was no interaction between the man and Mr Duggan. He was found face down on the ground by a passer-by and taken to the Mercy University Hospital in Cork. He sustained cuts and severe bruising down his shoulder.
Ninety minutes later Duggan approached a 73-year-old man who was walking on North Main Street in the city.
Duggan headbutted him causing him to fall. The elderly man suffered three broken bones in his face as a result and needs on-going hospital treatment. He required surgery as a result of fractures sustained in the incident. None of the parties were known to each other.
Duggan was arrested later that day but his explanations for his actions were far from rational according to Garda Barron.
"There was no rational reason for the assaults. He agreed they were completely unprovoked. The explanation he gave was bizarre - that they were older men and more likely to be sex offenders."
Judge O'Donnabhain said that the remarks were "nonsensical" and "without foundation".
The court heard the accused had 95 previous convictions.
Duggan pleaded guilty at Cork Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of assault causing harm to the men at North Gate Bridge and Cornmarket Street in Cork on 5 March, 2018.
Senior Counsel, Dermot Sheehan said his client had entered an early guilty plea in the case and was remorseful for his actions.
Judge O'Donnabhain said Duggan chose members of the public who were extremely vulnerable because of their age.
He said the case was complex given the mental health issues faced by Duggan stating that Duggan was "highly volatile and potentially dangerous without medication".
He added that Duggan required proper supervision and medical help in the community following his release from prison.
