Wednesday 28 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. 4374Assault, threat to kill · Co. Dublin · 6 Nov 2024

Dean Joyce jailed for three-and-a-half years over hammer threat to kill pregnant partner in Tallaght

Dean Joyce, 33, of Clondalkin, Dublin, who has 341 previous convictions, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 8 December 2025 to three-and-a-half years in prison for assaulting and threatening to kill his then partner with a hammer at an address in Tallaght on 6 November 2024, when she was eight months pregnant.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced8 Dec
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
19 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatDean Joyce has 341 previous convictions. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHe pleaded guilty to assaulting his then partner and threatening to kill her. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe victim was eight months pregnant at the time of the incident. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHe threatened to kill her and their unborn child and forced her back into the property. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHe took her phone and she could not retrieve it until the following morning. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe incident took place at an address in Tallaght. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe incident occurred on 6 November 2024. (irishtimes.com)
  • weaponCCTV footage showed Joyce pursuing his partner outside their home while brandishing a hammer. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí were called to the house on 7 November 2024. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationJoyce was arrested and has been in custody since. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceJudge Orla Crowe set a headline sentence of six years, reduced to four years. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe final six months of the sentence were suspended on condition of Probation Service supervision. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherHis remaining convictions included assault, escaping from custody, unlawful taking of a vehicle, criminal damage, possessing stolen property, theft, and public order offences. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherHis mother was a heroin addict who died when he was 13. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherHe had no father present in his life. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherHe had no second-level education. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherHe had been institutionalised from years spent in custody. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherHe managed to rehabilitate for two years and was living in the UK for a period before relapsing on his return to Ireland. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 8 Dec2025
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    Man with 341 previous convictions is jailed over threat to kill heavily pregnant partner

    Sentencing report: Judge Orla Crowe set a headline sentence of six years, reduced to four years, with the final six months suspended on condition of Probation Service supervision, resulting in three-and-a-half years in custody.

    convicted, Dean Joyce, 33, male, named, irish (judged from name)Dean Joycevictim, female