Sunday 1 November 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. 7516Coercive control; assault causing harm; intimidation · Co. Dublin

Appeal dismissed in Dublin coercive control case

Daniel Kane, a 54-year-old man from Blanchardstown, Dublin, was convicted by a jury in November 2020 of coercive control, intimidation, assault and 12 counts of assault causing harm after repeatedly attacking his partner during a 20-month relationship that included burning her foot, cutting her face with a pizza slicer, and stamping on her causing multiple fractures. He was sentenced to 10 and a half years at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in January 2021. The Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal on 30 March 2023, upholding the sentence and finding no error in principle by the trial judge. Kane was the first man convicted of coercive control by a jury in Ireland.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court30 Mar
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced30 Mar
    2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Kane repeatedly attacked his partner during a 20-month relationship, including burning her foot, cutting her face with a pizza slicer, headbutting her while she was recovering from nasal surgery, punching and stamping on her causing multiple fractures, stamping on her head, and strangling her leaving finger marks on her throat.
  • While in custody, Kane threatened to send explicit images of the victim to her family if she did not withdraw the case, and he tried to stop the victim testifying hours before his trial began.
Where
The offences took place in Blanchardstown, Dublin, where Kane lived at Waterville Terrace.
When
The coercive control under the Domestic Violence Act 2018 commenced in January 2019 and lasted until September 2019.
Weapon
A pizza slicer was used to cut the victim's face and head.
Investigation
Gardaí recorded phone calls between Kane and the victim while he was on remand, and the investigation produced over 250,000 pages of evidence including A&E medical records and mobile phone analysis.
Charges
Kane was charged with coercive control, intimidation, assault and 12 counts of assault causing harm.
In court
  • A jury convicted Kane in November 2020 of coercive control, intimidation, assault and 12 counts of assault causing harm.
  • The Court of Appeal dismissed Kane's appeal on 30 March 2023, finding no error in principle by the trial judge and upholding the 10.5-year sentence.
Sentence
Kane was sentenced to 10 and a half years by Judge Elma Sheahan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in January 2021.
Other details
Kane was the first man convicted of coercive control by a jury in Ireland.
39 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatKane repeatedly attacked the woman during their 20-month relationship. (rte.ie)
  • whatKane burned the woman's foot. (rte.ie)
  • whatKane cut the woman's face with a pizza slicer. (rte.ie)
  • whatKane headbutted the woman while she was recovering from nasal surgery. (rte.ie)
  • whatKane punched and stamped on the woman, causing multiple fractures. (rte.ie)
  • whatKane stamped on the woman's head and strangled her, leaving finger marks along her throat. (rte.ie)
  • whatWhile in custody, Kane threatened to send explicit images of the victim to her family if she did not withdraw the case. (rte.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • whatDuring a 20-month relationship, Kane repeatedly attacked the woman, including burning her foot, cutting her face with a pizza slicer, headbutting her, and punching and stamping on her arm causing multiple fractures. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatKane also stamped on her head and strangled her, leaving finger marks along her throat. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe victim described living under constant threat of violence, waking up daily not knowing if she would be beaten. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe victim was made to sit in the front room of the apartment unclothed while Kane berated her. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatKane interfered with the victim's relationship with her family and her access to her friends. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe victim did not attend hospital for a couple of days with a comminuted fracture of her arm. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatKane subjected his girlfriend to a 20-month campaign of violence and terror. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatKane stubbed a cigarette out on the victim's foot. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatKane headbutted the victim while she was recovering from nasal surgery. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatKane stamped on the victim's arm, causing multiple fractures. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatKane slammed the victim's head into the railings of a bridge, leaving her needing staples. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatKane forced the victim to strip naked and sit on the couch, and she recorded it on her phone. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whereKane was from Waterville Terrace in Blanchardstown, Dublin. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whenKane's coercive control under the Domestic Violence Act 2018 commenced in January 2019 and lasted until September 2019. (irishtimes.com)
  • weaponKane cut the victim's head and neck with a pizza slicer. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationGardaí recorded phone calls between Kane and the victim while he was on remand. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationThe investigation produced over 250,000 pages of evidence, including A&E medical records and mobile phone analysis. (dublinlive.ie)
  • courtThe Court of Appeal dismissed Kane's appeal on 30 March 2023, finding no error in principle by the trial judge. (rte.ie)
  • courtKane was convicted by a jury in November 2020 of coercive control, intimidation, assault and 12 counts of assault causing harm. (rte.ie)
  • courtMs Justice Isobel Kennedy described Kane's conduct as a campaign of fear and humiliation causing the victim to be fearful, submissive and on edge. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe grounds of the appeal were that the trial judge failed to have proper regard to the proportionality of the sentences, including the accused's age, previous good character and personal circumstances. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe Court of Appeal found it difficult to see how the 10.5-year sentence was disproportionate. (rte.ie)
  • courtIn November 2020, a jury convicted Kane of coercive control, intimidation, assault and 12 counts of assault causing harm. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtIn 2020 Kane became the first person convicted of coercive control under the new legislation, after the victim gave evidence by video link. (dublinlive.ie)
  • courtKane was convicted of coercive control, intimidation, assault and 12 counts of assault causing harm. (dublinlive.ie)
  • sentenceThe Court of Appeal upheld the 10.5-year sentence. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceKane was sentenced to 10 and a half years by Judge Elma Sheahan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in January 2021. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceKane was sentenced to 10 and a half years. (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherKane was the first man convicted of coercive control by a jury in Ireland. (rte.ie)
  • otherDaniel Kane was the first man convicted of coercive control by a jury in Ireland. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe court found Kane's moral culpability was high and the harm done to the victim was significant. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherKane tried to stop the victim testifying hours before his trial began. (dublinlive.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 17 Sep2023
    Sentenceddublinlive.ie, first report
    Man convicted of coercive control tried to get victim to drop case in jail calls

    Feature on the case published alongside a TV programme. Adds details of the abuse, recorded jail calls, the evidence gathered, the 2020 conviction and the 10.5-year sentence.

    convicted, Daniel Kane, 54, male, named, irish (judged from name)Daniel Kanevictim, female
  2. 30 Mar2023
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Court upholds 10½-year sentence for first coercive control conviction in Ireland

    The Court of Appeal dismissed Kane's appeal against his 10.5-year sentence, with Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy finding no error in principle by the trial judge and describing the offending as prolonged, oppressive and frequently brutal.

    victim, femaleconvicted, Daniel Kane, 54, male, named, irish (judged from name)Daniel Kane
  3. 30 Mar2023
    Sentencedrte.ie, follow-up
    Court upholds 10.5 year sentence for coercive control

    Court of Appeal dismissed Kane's appeal against the severity of his 10.5-year sentence on 30 March 2023, upholding the original sentence. The article provides further detail on the specific assaults and the court's reasoning for upholding the sentence.

    victim, femaleconvicted, Daniel Kane, 54, male, named, irish (judged from name)Daniel Kane