Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 0552Unlawful seizure, assault · Co. Dublin · 8 Jan 2026

Anthony Cooney jailed for 9½ years for two violent car hijackings in Dublin

Anthony Cooney, 38, was sentenced to nine and a half years in prison on 21 July 2026 for two violent car hijackings in Dublin on 8 January 2026. In the first, at about 5pm, he held a knife to the neck of a 70-year-old woman and threatened to kill her before she escaped; in the second, four hours later, he held a fork to the necks of a 45-year-old teacher and his wife on South Great Georges Street, stabbing the man in the arm and punching him in the head before the couple escaped after 15 minutes. Cooney then drove the stolen car at over 100 km/h on the wrong side of the road and crashed into a commercial van at the junction of the Naas road and Kylemore road. He was arrested at the scene, entered signed pleas to 19 charges, and was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with other sentences to run concurrently.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced21 Jul
    2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Cooney held a knife to the neck of a 70-year-old woman after getting into her car and threatened to kill her before she stopped the car and got out.
  • Cooney held a fork to the necks of a 45-year-old teacher and his wife, stabbed the man in the arm, and punched him in the head during the second hijacking.
  • Cooney drove the stolen car at over 100 km/h on the wrong side of the road and crashed into a commercial van, hospitalising the van's driver and passenger with non-serious injuries.
Where
The first hijacking took place in the Clondalkin area and the second began on South Great Georges Street in Dublin city centre; the car was later tracked to Emmet Road, Dublin 8.
When
The first hijacking occurred at about 5pm on 8 January 2026 and the second four hours later.
Weapon
A knife was used in the first hijacking and a fork in the second.
Investigation
Cooney was arrested at the scene of the second hijacking and was too intoxicated to be interviewed.
Charges
Cooney entered signed pleas to 19 charges including unlawful seizure, threats to kill, and eight counts of dangerous driving.
In court
Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Cooney at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 21 July 2026.
Sentence
Cooney was sentenced to nine and a half years' imprisonment for the unlawful seizure involving the couple, with other sentences to run concurrently.
Other details
  • Cooney has 70 previous convictions and was on bail for a public order offence in Tullamore at the time of the hijackings.
  • The second driver sustained almost total hearing loss as a result of the trauma.
39 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatCooney held a knife to the neck of a 70-year-old woman after getting into her car (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatCooney demanded €1,000 for the return of the car when the woman's daughter called her phone (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatCooney got into the car of a 45-year-old teacher and his wife on South Great Georges Street (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatCooney stabbed the man in the arm with the fork and punched him to the head (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe couple's ordeal lasted 15 minutes before they escaped onto a passing bus (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatCooney drove the car at speeds over 100 km/h on the wrong side of the road (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatCooney crashed into a commercial van at the junction of the Naas road and Kylemore road (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe van driver and passenger were hospitalised but did not sustain serious injuries (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe van was written off with €8,500 paid by insurers and the stolen car was written off with €31,000 paid (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatCooney said he had taken a substantial amount of drugs and could not remember the incidents (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe second driver has almost total hearing loss as a result of the trauma (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereCooney told the woman to drive to Clondalkin (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe car was tracked to Emmet Road Dublin 8 and a dining knife was found in the back (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe car was tracked to Emmet Road, Dublin 8, and a knife was found in the back. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe second hijacking began at South Great Georges Street in Dublin city centre. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe first hijacking occurred at about 5pm on January 8th. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe second hijacking occurred four hours after the first. (irishtimes.com)
  • weaponThe weapon Cooney used on the couple was a fork, not a knife (irishmirror.ie)
  • weaponCooney held a knife to the neck of a 70-year-old woman in the first hijacking. (irishtimes.com)
  • weaponCooney pulled out a weapon later identified as a fork in the second hijacking. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationCooney was arrested at the scene and found too intoxicated to be interviewed (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeCooney entered signed pleas to 19 charges including unlawful seizure, threats to kill, and eight counts of dangerous driving (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Martin Nolan imposed a sentence of nine and a half years for the unlawful seizure involving the couple (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceCooney was sentenced to 9½ years' imprisonment. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherCooney has 70 previous convictions including burglary, robbery and car theft (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherCooney was on bail for a public order offence committed in Tullamore at the time of the hijackings (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherCooney began using drugs before age 10 and was using heroin at 12 (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherAnthony Cooney is 38 years old. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherCooney is described as a chronic drug addict. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe maximum penalty available to the court is 15 years. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherOther sentences on other offences were imposed to run concurrently. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe woman left her mobile phone in the car and Cooney demanded €1,000 for its return. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherCooney held the fork to the necks of the couple in turn. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherCooney stabbed the man in the arm with the fork and punched him in the head. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherCooney directed the man to drive through red lights at pedestrian crossings. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherCooney demanded the driver hand over the keys and cash. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe couple escaped and got on a passing bus after 15 minutes. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe couple's ordeal lasted 15 minutes. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherCooney drove the stolen car across the city and crashed into a commercial van. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 22 Jul2026
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    Man jailed for 9½ years after two violent car hijackings in Dublin

    Reports the sentencing of Anthony Cooney for two car hijackings, including details of both incidents, the weapons used, and the judge's comments on the trauma caused to victims.

    suspect, Anthony Cooney, 38, male, named, irish (judged from name)Anthony Cooneyvictim, 70, femalevictim, 45, malevictim, female
  2. 21 Jul2026
    Sentencedirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Drug addict jailed for hijackings after threats to kill woman and married couple

    Sentencing report detailing the two hijackings, victim impact statements, Cooney's drug addiction history, and the judge's remarks.

    convicted, Anthony Cooney, 38, male, named, irish (judged from name)Anthony Cooneyvictim, 70, femalevictim, 45, malevictim, female