Ireland Case No. 3060Assault causing death · Co. Dublin · 16 May 2026
David O'Mahony, 38, killed in Artane home after suspected headlock during row
David O'Mahony, 38, died after being put in a suspected headlock during a row at a home in Brookwood Heights, Artane, North Co Dublin, in the early hours of Saturday 16 May 2026. A man in his 60s known to the victim was arrested at the scene and released without charge, with Gardaí preparing a file for the DPP and set to launch a homicide investigation.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested16 May
5 reports - Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports47 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe 38-year-old victim was treated at the scene and pronounced dead a short time later (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe victim's father, a man in his 60s, was arrested at the scene (irishmirror.ie)
- whatGardaí are exploring a theory that the victim and another related man were fighting and the father intervened (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe accused claimed it was an accident and he did not intend to kill the victim (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA 38-year-old man was treated at the scene and pronounced dead a short time later (dublinlive.ie)
- whatGardaí are probing whether the man died after being 'choked out' by his father following a fight (dublinlive.ie)
- whatThe victim's father, in his 60s, was arrested at the scene and detained under Section 4 at a north Dublin Garda station (dublinlive.ie)
- whatOne theory being explored is that the victim and another related man were fighting and the arrested man intervened (dublinlive.ie)
- whatIt is being examined whether the victim was placed in a headlock by his father and 'choked out' (dublinlive.ie)
- whatThe accused has claimed it was an accident and he did not intend to kill the victim (dublinlive.ie)
- whatThe victim was engaged in a fight with another man at the time. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatGardaí and emergency services arrived after receiving reports of a disturbance. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe victim and another man were believed to be fighting before the fatal incident. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA man in his 60s intervened and placed the victim into a headlock, choking him to death. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe man in his 60s was known to both the victim and the other man. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe arrested man claimed the death was an accident and he did not intend to kill the victim. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatDavid O'Mahony, 38, died after being put in a suspected headlock amid a row in a north Co Dublin home. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA man in his 60s known to the victim allegedly choked him to death after placing him in a headlock. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe accused is being held at a north Dublin Garda Station where he is being quizzed by detectives (irishmirror.ie)
- whereGardaí and emergency services responded to a call at a residence on Brookwood Heights, Artane, shortly after 12.30am. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe incident occurred at a residence on Brookwood Heights, Artane, Dublin 5. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe incident occurred at a house in Artane, North Co Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenGardaí responded to a disturbance at a residence on Brookwood Heights, Artane, shortly after 12:30am on Saturday 16 May 2026 (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- whenThe body was discovered at around 12:30am on Saturday 16 May 2026. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe row occurred after midnight at the home in Brookwood Heights. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationA technical examination of the scene was conducted by the Garda Forensic Bureau on Saturday morning (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- investigationGardaí said the outcome of a postmortem will determine the course of the investigation (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationA Senior Investigating Officer was appointed, a Family Liaison Officer assigned, and an incident room established at Clontarf Garda Station (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe body of the deceased remains at the residence preserved for examination by the Garda Technical Bureau (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe local Coroner and the Office of the State Pathologist have been notified and a postmortem examination will be arranged (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe body remains at the residence preserved for examination by the Garda Technical Bureau (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationThe local Coroner and Office of the State Pathologist have been notified and a postmortem examination will be arranged (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationAn SIO was appointed, a FLO assigned, and an incident room established at Clontarf Garda Station (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationGardaí will send a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe investigation is described as complex and establishing the facts will take time. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationA technical examination of the scene was conducted by the Garda Technical Bureau on Saturday morning. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe scene remains preserved and a post-mortem examination is expected to take place later that day. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe man in his 60s was arrested at the scene and detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at a Garda station in North Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe scene was preserved for forensic examination by the Garda Technical Bureau. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationAn incident room was established at Clontarf Garda Station. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationA post-mortem examination will be arranged and its results will dictate the direction of the investigation. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationA Senior Investigating Officer was appointed and a Garda Family Liaison Officer was assigned. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe man in his 60s was arrested at the scene and released without charge. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí are preparing a file for the Director of Public Prosecutions. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí confirmed the scene remains preserved and investigations are ongoing. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherClaims were made to Gardaí that the alleged perpetrator did not intend to kill the victim. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherDavid O'Mahony was a Shelbourne FC season ticket holder who had attended a match in Inchicore on Friday night. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 18 May2026Face of man killed in Artane home as gardai probe fight intervention claims
First report of the death, identifying the victim as David O'Mahony, 38, a Shelbourne FC season ticket holder, and detailing the arrest and release without charge of a man in his 60s who allegedly placed the victim in a headlock while intervening in a row.
victim, David O'Mahony, 38, male, irish (judged from name)David O'Mahonysuspect, 60s, male - 18 May2026Gardai launch probe after man's body found in house in north Dublin
Initial report of the death and arrest; post-mortem pending to determine cause of death and direction of investigation. Suspect claims the death was accidental.
victim, 38, malesuspect, 60s, malesuspect, male - 17 May2026Man who died after being placed in a 'headlock' amid alleged row named locally
Names the victim as David O'Mahony, 38, and adds that the man in his 60s intervened in a row between O'Mahony and another man, putting the victim in a headlock. Confirms the arrested man was released without charge and a file will be sent to the DPP. Notes the investigation is complex and a technical examination was conducted by the Garda Technical Bureau.
victim, 38, male, irish (judged from name)suspect, 60s, male - 16 May2026Gardai probe if man died after being 'choked out' by father following fight
Adds detail on the theory that the victim was placed in a headlock and 'choked out' by his father, the father's claim that it was an accident, the involvement of another related man in the fight, and the establishment of an incident room at Clontarf Garda Station.
victim, 38, malesuspect, 60s, male - 16 May2026Gardai probing if man, 38, died after being 'choked out' by his father
Adds detail on the headlock/'choked out' theory, the accused's claim of accident, the Garda Forensic Bureau technical examination, and the establishment of an incident room at Clontarf Garda Station with an SIO and FLO assigned.
victim, 38, malesuspect, 60s, male