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. 0097Assault causing harm · Co. Dublin · 14 Apr 2024

Assault causing harm case at Mountjoy Prison adjourned for sentencing

Dean Boland, 38, a man, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after punching a prison officer on the left side of his face in the medical wing of Mountjoy Prison on 14 April 2024. The officer was knocked unconscious and diagnosed with severe concussion, post-concussion syndrome and PTSD, was off work for 14 months, and attended over 150 medical appointments. Boland, who is currently serving a six-year sentence for arson, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in October 2026. Judge Martina Baxter adjourned the case to December for probation, governor and medical reports and a urine analysis.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court19 Oct
    2 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Dean Boland, 38, a man, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after punching a prison officer on the left side of his face, knocking him unconscious.
  • The officer was diagnosed with severe concussion, post-concussion syndrome and PTSD, was off work for 14 months, and attended over 150 medical appointments.
Where
The assault took place in the medical wing of Mountjoy Prison, Dublin.
When
The assault occurred on 14 April 2024.
Cause
Boland was in bed and refused to get up when the officer told him to collect his medicine.
Charges
Boland pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to a prison officer.
In court
  • The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in October 2026, with Sarah Connolly BL prosecuting and Keith Spencer BL defending.
  • Judge Martina Baxter adjourned the case to December for probation, governor and medical reports and a urine analysis.
Other details
  • Boland is currently serving a six-year sentence for arson with an earliest release date in 2027.
  • Boland has 34 previous convictions and a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia.
  • A letter of apology from Boland was handed to the court and shown to the injured party.
  • The defence accepted any sentence should be consecutive to Boland's current sentence and requested backdating to the date he was charged.
32 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatDean Boland, 38, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to a prison officer in Mountjoy Prison on 14 April 2024. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatThe victim was diagnosed with severe concussion and did not return to work for 14 months. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatThe victim was also diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome and PTSD. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatThe victim has experienced issues with speech, short-term memory loss, balance, neck pain and migraine. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatBoland punched the officer hard on the left side of his face, knocking him unconscious. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatThe victim was found to have sustained an injury to his leg. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatThe assault affected the victim's ability to take part in marathons and other physical activities. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatThe victim has since moved roles within the Irish Prison Service. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatA prison officer was assaulted in the medical wing of Mountjoy Prison and left with concussion. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatBoland punched the officer on the left side of his face, knocking him unconscious. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe assault happened on April 14, 2024. (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeBoland was still in bed and refused to get up when the officer told him to collect his medicine. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGarda Andrew Hart told the court, with Sarah Connolly BL prosecuting and Keith Spencer BL defending. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationBoland declined to speak with gardai. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeBoland pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to a prison officer. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtJudge Martina Baxter adjourned the case to December and directed the preparation of probation, governor and medical reports along with urine analysis. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtThe defence accepted any sentence should be consecutive to Boland's current sentence and asked the court to consider backdating it to the date he was charged. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtBoland was handed an eight-year sentence in March 2023 after conviction for the unlawful killing of Ohari Viera, arson and burglary in August 2018. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtThe Court of Appeal quashed Boland's manslaughter conviction in October 2024 and returned the case for re-sentencing on arson and burglary. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtJudge Elma Sheahan imposed a six-year sentence on the arson count in April 2025, backdated to 16 December 2022. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtThe case was adjourned to December for probation, governor and medical reports and urine analysis. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge noted any sentence must by law be consecutive to the sentence Boland is currently serving. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherBoland is currently serving a six-year sentence for arson with an earliest release date in 2027. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherBoland has a total of 34 previous convictions including burglary, attempted robbery, drugs and public order offences. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherBoland has a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherBoland has addiction issues to cocaine and heroin and is currently stable on a monthly injection. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherA letter of apology from Boland was handed to the court and shown to the injured party. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe judge noted the officer was unarmed and the assault was out of the blue. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe officer was later diagnosed with severe concussion and was off work for 14 months. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe officer said he was diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome and PTSD and feels it is unlikely he will make a full recovery. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherA letter of apology from Boland was handed to the court. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherBoland is currently serving a six-year sentence for arson. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 20 Oct2026
    In courtirishmirror.ie, its first report
    Arsonist who assaulted prison officer behind bars apologises

    First report of the assault causing harm charge. Details the circumstances of the punch, the victim's injuries (severe concussion, post-concussion syndrome, PTSD, 14 months off work, over 150 medical appointments), Boland's background (paranoid schizophrenia, 34 previous convictions, cocaine and heroin addiction, currently serving six-year arson sentence), and the adjournment to December for probation, governor and medical reports.

    convicted, Dean Boland, 38, male, named, irish (judged from name)Dean Bolandvictim, male
  2. 19 Oct2026
    In courtleinsterexpress.ie, first report
    Prison officer had 150 medical appointments after attack

    Sentencing hearing details: victim impact statement read to court describing severe concussion, post-concussion syndrome, PTSD, over 150 medical appointments, 14 months off work, and unlikely full recovery. Defence accepted consecutive sentence and requested backdating. Judge Baxter adjourned to December for probation, governor and medical reports plus urine analysis. Article also recaps Boland's prior eight-year sentence for the Viera killing and the subsequent Court of Appeal quashing and re-sentencing to six years for arson.

    victim, maleaccused, Dean Boland, 38, male, named, irish (judged from name)Dean Boland