Thursday 29 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. 6937Assault causing harm; threatening to kill or cause serious harm; possession of a realistic imitation firearm · Co. Dublin

Dublin man jailed for five and a half years over garda threat and prison officer assaults

Michael Farrell, 31, pleaded guilty in 2020, 2021 and 2022 to possessing a realistic imitation firearm at his home in Montpelier Gardens, Dublin 7, threatening to kill or cause serious harm to a garda, and assaulting two prison officers. The firearm offence took place on 9 October 2020, the threat on 3 March 2021 at Cloverhill Prison, and the assaults on 10 March 2022 at Mountjoy Prison. He was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to six years with the final six months suspended, a sentence reported on 14 December 2023, which is the latest development.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced14 Dec
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Michael Farrell, 31, was jailed for offences against a garda and two prison officers.
  • On 3 March 2021 at Cloverhill Prison, Farrell threatened to throw ammonia over a female garda, which was a threat to kill or cause serious harm.
Weapon
A realistic imitation firearm was found hidden in a tree at Farrell's home in Montpelier Gardens, Dublin 7.
When
  • The firearm possession offence took place on 9 October 2020 at Farrell's home.
  • The assaults on two prison officers took place on 10 March 2022 at Mountjoy Prison.
Cause
The assaults on the prison officers were unprovoked.
Investigation
Gardaí searched Farrell's house under warrant the day after the firearm offence and found a quantity of drugs.
Charges
Farrell pleaded guilty in 2020 to possessing a realistic imitation firearm, in 2021 to threatening to kill or cause serious harm, and in 2022 to two counts of assault causing harm.
In court
Farrell was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, as reported on 14 December 2023.
Sentence
  • Farrell was sentenced to six years in prison with the final six months suspended, meaning 5½ years in effect; the Irish Times headline gives the term as five years, while the article text and key facts give 5½ years and six years with six months suspended.
  • The imitation firearm offence received 18 months, concurrent with the other sentences; the threat to a garda received three years; and the assaults on prison officers received three years, consecutive to the garda threat sentence.
Other details
  • The court heard that Farrell has 231 previous convictions.
  • The judge said mitigating factors included Farrell's serious brain injury from being knocked down by a coal truck at age six, and a resulting mild intellectual disability.
18 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA Dublin man was jailed for five and a half years. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe firearm offence took place at Farrell's home in Montpelier Gardens, Dublin 7. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe first offence took place on October 9th, 2020, at Farrell's home. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe second offence, a threat to a garda, took place on March 3rd, 2021, at Cloverhill Prison. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe third offences, assaults on two prison officers, took place on March 10th, 2022, in Mountjoy Prison. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeThe assaults on prison officers were unprovoked. (irishtimes.com)
  • weaponThe firearm found hidden in a tree was an imitation firearm. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí searched Farrell's house under warrant the day after and found a quantity of drugs. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeFarrell pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm in 2022. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeFarrell pleaded guilty to one count of threatening to kill or cause serious harm in 2021. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeFarrell pleaded guilty to possessing a realistic imitation firearm in 2020. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtFarrell was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceFarrell was sentenced to six years in prison with the final six months suspended. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe imitation firearm offence received an 18-month sentence to run concurrent to the other sentences. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe threat to a garda received a three-year sentence. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe assaults on prison officers received three years, to run consecutively to the sentence for threatening the garda. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe court heard that Farrell has 231 previous convictions. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe judge said the mitigating factors included Farrell's brain injury and associated difficulties. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 14 Dec2023
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    Man jailed for five years over garda ammonia-attack threat and prison guard assaults

    Reports the sentencing of Michael Farrell on three separate groups of offences from 2020, 2021 and 2022, including the sentence terms and the mitigating and aggravating factors the judge identified.

    convicted, Michael Farrell, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael Farrellvictim, femalevictimvictim