Thursday 29 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. 6987Manslaughter; assault causing serious harm · Co. Dublin · 14 Nov 2019

Brothers jailed for combined 12 years over fatal assault on Michael Mulvey in Dublin

On 14 November 2019, Michael Mulvey, a 55-year-old man, was assaulted on the Navan Road in Dublin, close to the Phoenix Park, by two brothers, Ian Connaghan (34) and Daniel Connaghan (43). Mr Mulvey died on 27 November 2019, 13 days later. Ian Connaghan had been charged with murder, but in August 2023 a jury acquitted both brothers of murder, found Ian Connaghan guilty of manslaughter and Daniel Connaghan guilty of intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm. On 4 December 2023 the Central Criminal Court sentenced Ian Connaghan to nine years and Daniel Connaghan to five years, each with the final year suspended, a combined 12 years. The latest development is that on 21 January 2025 the Court of Appeal dismissed Ian Connaghan's appeal against sentence.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced4 Dec
    3 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Two brothers carried out an assault on a 55-year-old man, Michael Mulvey, who died 13 days later.
Where
The assault took place at the traffic lights outside a church on the Navan Road, close to the Phoenix Park.
When
  • The assault took place on 14 November 2019.
  • Mr Mulvey died on 27 November 2019.
Cause
The post-mortem found death was due to a hemopneumothorax caused by blunt force injuries to the chest.
Other details
  • Eyewitnesses said Mr Mulvey, who was very slight in stature, did not fight back against his taller attackers.
  • The judge described the attack as cowardly and cold-blooded.
Charges
Ian Connaghan was charged with murder, and both brothers pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr Mulvey.
In court
  • In August 2023 a jury returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty of murder for both brothers.
  • The jury found Ian Connaghan guilty of manslaughter and Daniel Connaghan guilty of intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to Mr Mulvey.
  • Ian Connaghan appealed the severity of his sentence, and on 21 January 2025 the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal.
Sentence
  • Ian Connaghan was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended for three years, for manslaughter.
  • Daniel Connaghan was sentenced to five years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended for three years, for assault causing serious harm.
  • The two brothers were jailed for a combined 12 years.
33 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatTwo brothers carried out a savage and cowardly assault on a 55-year-old man who died 13 days later. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe sentences were handed down at the Central Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe assault took place on the Navan Road, close to the Phoenix Park. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe brothers are of Ashington Rise, Navan Road, Cabra, Dublin 7. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe attack took place on the Navan Road, close to the Phoenix Park. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe attack took place at the traffic lights outside the church on the Navan Road. (courts.ie)
  • whenThe assault took place on November 14, 2019. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe beating took place on 14 November 2019. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenMr Mulvey died on 27 November 2019, almost two weeks after the beating. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe attack on Michael Mulvey took place on 14 November 2019. (courts.ie)
  • causeMr Mulvey died on November 27, 2019, almost two weeks after the beating. (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeEyewitnesses said Mr Mulvey did not fight back against his taller attackers. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeThe post-mortem found that death was due to a hemopneumothorax caused by blunt force injuries to the chest. (courts.ie)
  • chargeIan Connaghan was charged with murder. (courts.ie)
  • courtA jury found Ian Connaghan guilty of manslaughter. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtA jury found Daniel Connaghan guilty of intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to Mr Mulvey. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe jury returned a not guilty verdict on murder for both brothers. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtA jury returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty of murder for both brothers. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe jury found Ian Connaghan guilty of manslaughter. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe jury found Daniel Connaghan guilty of intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to Michael Mulvey. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtIan Connaghan was found not guilty of murder but guilty of the manslaughter of Michael Mulvey. (courts.ie)
  • courtDaniel Connaghan was convicted of causing serious harm to Michael Mulvey. (courts.ie)
  • courtIan Connaghan appealed the severity of his sentence. (courts.ie)
  • courtThe Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal. (courts.ie)
  • sentenceIan Connaghan was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended for three years, for manslaughter. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceDaniel Connaghan was sentenced to five years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended for three years, for assault causing serious harm. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe two brothers were jailed for a combined 12 years. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge said Daniel Connaghan could think himself lucky to avoid a guilty verdict of manslaughter. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceIan Connaghan was sentenced to 9 years' imprisonment with the final twelve months suspended for three years. (courts.ie)
  • otherEyewitnesses said Mr Mulvey, who was very slight in stature, did not fight back against his taller attackers. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe judge described the attack as cowardly and cold-blooded. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe judge said the attack was cowardly and cold-blooded. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe Court of Appeal delivered its judgment ex tempore on 21 January 2025. (courts.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 21 Jan2025
    SentencedCourts Service judgment, follow-up
    [2025] IECA 19 Court of Appeal: The People (at the Suit of the Director of Public Prosecutions) -v- Ian Connaghan

    Court of Appeal judgment on the appellant's appeal against sentence. The appeal was dismissed. The appellant's brother Danial Connaghan was convicted of causing serious harm to Mulvey.

    convicted, Ian Connaghan, male, named, irish (judged from name)Ian Connaghanconvicted, Danial Connaghan, male, named, irish (judged from name)Danial Connaghanvictim, Michael Mulvey, 55, male, irish (judged from name)Michael Mulvey
  2. 4 Dec2023
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    Brothers jailed for combined 12 years after ‘savage’ fatal attack on man (55) in Dublin

    Reports the sentencing of the two brothers after the earlier trial, where they were acquitted of murder. The article gives the verdicts and sentences for both men.

    convicted, Ian Connaghan, 34, male, named, irish (judged from name)Ian Connaghanconvicted, Daniel Connaghan, 43, male, named, irish (judged from name)Daniel Connaghanvictim, Michael “Mick” Mulvey, 55, male, irish (judged from name)Michael “Mick” Mulvey
  3. 4 Dec2023
    Sentencedirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Dublin brothers jailed over 'savage' and 'cowardly' assault

    Reports the Central Criminal Court sentences: Ian Connaghan nine years (final year suspended), Daniel Connaghan five years (final year suspended). Both were acquitted of murder.

    convicted, Ian Connaghan, 34, male, named, irish (judged from name)Ian Connaghanconvicted, Daniel Connaghan, 43, male, named, irish (judged from name)Daniel Connaghanvictim, Michael 'Mick' Mulvey, 55, male, irish (judged from name)Michael 'Mick' Mulvey