A man suffering from schizophrenia who punched a passing pensioner off his bicycle has been jailed for two years.

Ruzmond Muwaniri (27) was also sentenced for a separate assault in which he punched a man in the face and smashed his teeth because he mistakenly believed the victim was racially abusing him.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard Muwaniri had missed several appointments to have his medication injected around the time of the assaults.

Muwaniri, of John McCormack Avenue, Crumlin, had pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to the two men at separate locations on March 9, 2015 and on May 21, 2015.

Judge Melanie Greally imposed a total sentence of three-and-a-half years but suspended the final 18 months on strict conditions, including that he attends all appointments with prison doctors and that he stays away from non-prescribed medication.

Beating

Muwaniri has 60 previous convictions, including several for assault. In 2013 he was jailed for two years for severely beating his then-partner and throwing an electric heater at her.

Defence counsel Pieter Le Vert told the court that at some point after serving the sentence ultimately imposed for these offences, Muwaniri would have to be returned to the community.

Garda Dolores Walsh told Martina Baxter, prosecuting, that the 67-year-old pensioner was out for a cycle with his dog and was travelling along Cheeverstown Road in Tallaght when he was punched by Muwaniri, who was crossing the road. The man was knocked off his bicycle and lost consciousness.

He was assisted by a passer-by and later woke up in hospital, where he was treated for a broken eye socket as well as cuts and bruises.

Muwaniri was identified on CCTV footage and came to Tallaght Garda Station for an interview. He told gardai on viewing the CCTV footage: "It looks like me but it's not me."

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