Ireland Court of Appeal increases sentence for Dundalk machete attack on sleeping teen
On 23 January 2020 at Castleross, Castletown Road, Dundalk, County Louth, Dean Dullaghan used a machete to attack a 16-year-old boy who was asleep in his bed, cutting his knee and striking his forearm. A jury convicted Dullaghan in June 2022 of causing serious harm and aggravated burglary, and the trial sentence of four years was appealed by the State as unduly lenient. On 9 May 2024 the Court of Appeal set a headline sentence of 10 years and imposed eight and a half years with two and a half suspended, meaning six years in custody, with conditions after release.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced9 May
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- The victim was asleep in his bed when he was woken by being hit, and the attacker cut his knee and struck his forearm.
- Where
- The offences took place at Castleross, Castletown Road, Dundalk, County Louth.
- When
- The attack took place on 23 January 2020.
- Cause
- The two men had fallen out some months before the attack.
- Weapon
- The attacker used a machete.
- Charges
- Dean Dullaghan was convicted by a jury in June 2022 of causing serious harm and aggravated burglary.
- In court
- The trial sentence was four years with a headline sentence of eight years, and the State appealed the sentence as unduly lenient, with the headline held to be too low.
- Sentence
- On 9 May 2024 the Court of Appeal set a headline sentence of 10 years and imposed eight and a half years with two and a half suspended, meaning six years in custody.
- After release Dullaghan must keep the peace, be of good behaviour and engage with probation services.
- Other details
- The victim's right hand was permanently impaired and he has significant scarring.
- The victim declined to give a victim impact statement and declined to attend the trial.
- Dullaghan had nine previous convictions.
13 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe victim was asleep in his bed when he was woken by being hit. (thejournal.ie)
- whatThe attacker cut the victim's knee and struck his forearm. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe offences took place at Castleross, Castletown Road, Dundalk. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe attack took place on 23 January 2020. (thejournal.ie)
- causeThe two men had fallen out some months before the attack. (thejournal.ie)
- weaponThe attacker used a machete. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe State appealed the four-year sentence as unduly lenient. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe trial judge's headline sentence of eight years was held to be too low. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceThe Court of Appeal set a headline sentence of 10 years and imposed eight and a half years with two and a half suspended. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceDullaghan must keep the peace and be of good behaviour after release and engage with probation services. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe victim's right hand was permanently impaired and he has significant scarring. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe victim declined to give a victim impact statement and declined to attend the trial. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe accused had nine previous convictions. (thejournal.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 9 May2024Man who hacked sleeping teen with machete to serve extra two years following State objection
Court of Appeal ruling on the State's undue leniency appeal. The headline sentence was raised from eight to ten years, and the final sentence is eight and a half years with two and a half suspended, so six years in custody.
convicted, Dean Dullaghan, 25, named, irish (judged from name)Dean Dullaghanvictim, 16