Ireland David McNamara jailed for five years for vicious attacks on two former girlfriends in Dublin
David McNamara, a 24-year-old man from Tallaght, Dublin, was sentenced to five years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 24 February 2025 after pleading guilty to assaulting two former girlfriends, coercive control, hijacking a taxi, threatening to kill a driver, and possession of drugs for sale or supply. In September 2019 he assaulted his then 16-year-old girlfriend in a car in the city centre, choking her and using a broken gear stick, and in July 2023 he assaulted another girlfriend at his home and hijacked a taxi on the M50, threatening to kill the driver. He was arrested at Finglas Garda station in September 2023 after gardaí required armed support and a helicopter unit to surround his house following two failed attempts. Judge Martin Nolan described the assaults as vicious and troubling, and McNamara, who has previous convictions for drugs and assault, was sentenced to a total of five years to run from the day of sentencing.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced24 Feb
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- He assaulted his then 16-year-old girlfriend on 23 September 2019 while on his way to a court appearance in the city centre, grabbing her, trying to choke her, pushing her head to the floor of the car, kicking her, pulling her hair, and using a broken gear stick to choke her.
- He assaulted another girlfriend and exercised coercive control at his home in Tallaght between 17 and 19 July 2023.
- He hijacked a taxi on the M50 and threatened to kill the driver on 20 July 2023.
- He was found in possession of €266 of cocaine, €308 of heroin, and €155 in cash at the time of his arrest.
- Where
- The 2019 assault took place in a car in the city centre with a stop in Phoenix Park, and the 2023 offences occurred at his home on Kiltalown Road, Tallaght, and on the M50.
- When
- The offences occurred between 23 September 2019 and 20 July 2023, and he was arrested on 5 September 2023.
- Investigation
- Gardaí required armed support and a helicopter unit to surround his house to arrest him after he fled out the back on the first two occasions they attended.
- Charges
- He pleaded guilty to assault, coercive control, hijacking, threatening to kill, and possession of drugs for sale or supply.
- In court
- He was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 24 February 2025.
- Sentence
- He was sentenced to a total of five years in prison to run from the day of sentencing.
- Other details
- He has previous convictions for drugs possession and assault, and his defence counsel said he was 22 at the time of the second offence and has a history of substance abuse.
- Judge Martin Nolan described the assaults on the two women as vicious and troubling.
16 statements extracted from the articles
- whatHe assaulted his then 16-year-old girlfriend on 23 September 2019 while on his way to a court appearance in the city centre. (irishtimes.com)
- whatHe grabbed her, tried to choke her and pushed her head to the floor of the car. (irishtimes.com)
- whatAt an unknown location he kicked her, pulled her hair and used a broken gear stick to choke her. (irishtimes.com)
- whatHe assaulted another girlfriend and exercised coercive control at his home between 17 and 19 July 2023. (irishtimes.com)
- whatHe hijacked a taxi and threatened to kill the driver on 20 July 2023. (irishtimes.com)
- whatHe was found in possession of €266 of cocaine, €308 of heroin, and €155 in cash. (irishtimes.com)
- whereHe stopped in Phoenix Park and told her to get out of the car. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe pleaded guilty to a number of offences including assault, coercive control, hijacking, threatening to kill, and drugs for sale or supply. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe had drugs for sale or supply at the time of his arrest on 5 September 2023 at Finglas Garda station. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe sentencing took place at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceMcNamara was sentenced to a total of five years in prison to run from the day of sentencing. (irishtimes.com)
- otherHe claimed he was holding the drugs for a friend. (irishtimes.com)
- otherHe fled out the back of his house on the first two occasions gardaí attended. (irishtimes.com)
- otherHe has previous convictions for drugs possession and assault. (irishtimes.com)
- otherHis defence counsel said he was 22 at the time of the second offence and has a history of substance abuse. (irishtimes.com)
- otherJudge Martin Nolan described the assaults on the two women as vicious and troubling. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 24 Feb2025Man (24) jailed for five years for ‘vicious’ attacks on two former girlfriends
Sentencing report detailing the full circumstances of both assaults, the taxi hijacking on the M50, the difficult arrest requiring armed support and helicopter unit, and the drugs found at Finglas Garda station.
convicted, David McNamara, 24, male, named, irish (judged from name)David McNamaravictim, 16, femalevictim, femalevictim, male