Case No. 2053Assault causing harm · Co. Dublin · 15 Dec 2020
Alan Melia jailed for two years for headbutting cemetery flower seller in Dublin
Alan Melia, 31, of Ballyfermot, Dublin, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment (consecutive to an existing robbery sentence) at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after admitting assault causing harm for headbutting a cemetery flower seller at Palmerstown Cemetery on 15 December 2020.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced19 Mar
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports17 statements extracted from the articles
- whatTwo men approached the flower seller (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe accomplice asked for flowers for €6 and threatened to rob the seller (irishtimes.com)
- whatMelia headbutted the flower seller, breaking his glasses and causing a cut on his nose (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe offence took place at Palmerstown Cemetery, Dublin (irishtimes.com)
- chargeMelia admitted assault causing harm on 15 December 2020 (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceJudge Orla Crowe set a headline sentence of three years and suspended the final year on strict conditions (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe two-year sentence was ordered to run consecutive to the robbery sentence (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceMelia was ordered to remain under Probation Services supervision for two years post-release (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe victim had been selling flowers at the cemetery for 40 years without incident (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe victim spent €900 on new glasses (irishtimes.com)
- otherMelia had 113 previous convictions (irishtimes.com)
- otherMelia was on bail at the time of the offence (irishtimes.com)
- otherMelia was serving a seven-and-a-half-year sentence for a robbery in 2020 (irishtimes.com)
- otherMelia had been spending €600 a week on heroin and medications (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe robbery sentence will expire in May 2026 (irishtimes.com)
- otherA psychological report outlined Melia had a happy home life but spent most of his adulthood in prison (irishtimes.com)
- otherMelia has one child and his partner was present in court (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 19 Mar2025Man with 113 previous convictions jailed for attacking graveyard flower seller
Sentencing report: Melia, who had 113 previous convictions and was on bail at the time of the offence, received a headline sentence of three years (final year suspended) to run consecutive to his existing seven-and-a-half-year robbery sentence. He was also ordered to remain under Probation Services supervision for two years post-release.