Court of Appeal increases sentence to eight years for 250-blow assault in Cork
Daragh McLoughlin, a 23-year-old student from Richmond Hill, Cork, delivered 250 blows to a man over a 20-minute assault on Paul Street, Cork, on 18 October 2022, with no weapons used. He pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm and was sentenced in May 2024 by Judge Johnathan Dunphy to six and a half years, with the final two and a half years suspended. The DPP appealed the sentence as unduly lenient, arguing the headline should have been 15 years. In April 2025, the Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice Michael McGrath, increased the sentence to eight years and two months, with the final two years and two months suspended.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced7 Apr
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- McLoughlin delivered 250 separate blows (punches, kicks, stamps) to the victim during a 20-minute assault, including 50 kicks to the face, with no weapons used.
- McLoughlin pursued the victim through the city and wrestled him to the ground before the sustained assault.
- Phone audio captured McLoughlin ordering the victim to stop protecting himself during a 77-second recording of the attack.
- Where
- The assault took place on Paul Street, Cork.
- When
- The assault occurred on 18 October 2022.
- Charges
- McLoughlin pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm.
- In court
- Judge Johnathan Dunphy sentenced McLoughlin at Anglesea Street Courthouse in May 2024.
- The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice Michael McGrath, heard the DPP's appeal on undue leniency in April 2025.
- Sentence
- The original sentence was six and a half years with the final two and a half years suspended.
- The Court of Appeal resentenced McLoughlin to eight years and two months with the final two years and two months suspended.
- Other details
- The DPP argued the headline sentence should have been 15 years, while Mr Justice McGrath said it should be 12 and a half years.
- McLoughlin is a student from Richmond Hill, Cork, and there was some bad blood between the two men.
20 statements extracted from the articles
- whatMcLoughlin delivered 250 separate blows (punches, kicks or stamps) to the victim during a 20-minute assault. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe phone audio captured McLoughlin ordering the victim to stop protecting himself. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe victim sustained 50 kicks to the face. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatJudge Dunphy noted 14 kicks to the head in the 77-second recording. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatMcLoughlin wrestled the victim to the ground before beginning the sustained assault. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThere was some bad blood between the two men. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatNo weapons were introduced during the assault. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatMcLoughlin pursued the victim through the city. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe assault took place on Paul Street, Cork. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereMcLoughlin is from Richmond Hill, Cork. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe assault occurred on 18 October 2022. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeMcLoughlin pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe original sentencing was by Judge Johnathan Dunphy at Anglesea Street Courthouse in May 2024. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice Michael McGrath, increased the sentence. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe original sentence was six and a half years with the final two and a half years suspended. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe Court of Appeal resentenced McLoughlin to eight years and two months with the final two years and two months suspended. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe DPP appealed the original sentence as being unduly lenient. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe DPP argued the headline sentence should have been 15 years. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherMr Justice McGrath said the headline sentence should be 12 and a half years. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherMcLoughlin is a student. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 7 Apr2025Sentence extended for 'alarming and shocking' attack where 250 blows were thrown
Court of Appeal (Mr Justice Michael McGrath) quashed the original sentence of six and a half years (final two and a half years suspended) imposed by Judge Johnathan Dunphy in May 2024 and resentenced McLoughlin to eight years and two months (final two years and two months suspended) after the DPP appeal on undue leniency.
victim, maleconvicted, Daragh McLoughlin, 23, male, named, irish (judged from name)Daragh McLoughlin