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. 3724Murder · Co. Dublin · 23 Feb 2023

Brandon Gavin appeals murder conviction over Tinder evidence in Swords stabbing

Brandon Gavin, 23, convicted of murdering 19-year-old Marius Mamaliga in Swords in February 2023 and sentenced to life imprisonment in December 2024, argued before the Court of Criminal Appeal that evidence of his Tinder activity and messages to another man should not have been admitted at his trial. The three-judge panel reserved judgment.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court25 Feb
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
12 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatGavin stabbed Mamaliga once in the neck with a knife. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatMamaliga was brought to hospital in critical condition and died three days later. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatGavin was messaging women on Tinder minutes before the stabbing. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatGavin fled on foot after the stabbing. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe stabbing took place at Forest Court, Swords. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe fatal stabbing occurred on the evening of 23 February 2023. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeGavin owed Mamaliga €2,500 for drugs. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtGavin was convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury in November 2024. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe appeal is before a three-judge panel at the Court of Criminal Appeal. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe three-judge court reserved judgment. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceGavin was sentenced to the mandatory term of life imprisonment by Judge Eileen Creedon in December 2024. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe appeal hearing took place on the anniversary of the fatal incident, 23 February 2026. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 25 Feb2026
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Man convicted of fatal stabbing challenges evidence on Tinder activity

    Appeal hearing at the Court of Criminal Appeal challenging the admissibility of Tinder activity and text message evidence; the three-judge panel reserved judgment.

    victim, Marius Mamaliga, 19, male, non-irish (judged from name)Marius Mamaligaconvicted, Brandon Gavin, 23, male, named, irish (judged from name)Brandon Gavin