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. 7597Assault on a garda · Co. Dublin · 31 Aug 2023

Female garda injured in struggle during arrest in Dublin 2

On a Wednesday, which the case record dates as 31 August 2023, a man allegedly attacked a woman in her front garden in Donnybrook, Dublin 4, slashing her face and cutting her hand. The accused is named by the Irish Times as Sami Skhiri, a 34-year-old man who claims to be French-Tunisian, though gardaí had not yet confirmed his identity. He was arrested nearby and charged with robbery, assault causing harm, trespassing, possessing a blade as a weapon and failing to provide identity documents. He appeared before Judge Paula Murphy at Dublin District Court on Friday, made no reply to the charges, and was refused bail. His latest development is that he was remanded in custody to appear at Cloverhill District Court on 8 September.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court1 Sep
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • A woman was approached in her front garden by a man she did not know, who allegedly lunged and made slash motions.
  • The woman suffered a slashed face and a cut to her hand.
Where
The attack took place in Donnybrook, Dublin 4.
When
The incident happened on a Wednesday; the case record dates it 31 August 2023, while the Irish Times article gives only Wednesday.
Cause
A garda described the attack as serious, unprovoked and random, causing serious facial injuries.
Investigation
  • The accused was allegedly arrested nearby and was in possession of the woman's car keys.
  • Gardaí could not yet confirm the accused's identity and enquiries are ongoing; the Irish Times names him as Sami Skhiri, 34, who claims to be French-Tunisian.
Charges
He is charged with robbery, assault causing harm, trespassing, possessing a blade as a weapon and failing to provide identity documents.
In court
He appeared before Judge Paula Murphy at Dublin District Court on Friday and made no reply to the charges, and has not yet indicated a plea.
Sentence
Bail was refused and he was remanded in custody to appear at Cloverhill District Court on 8 September.
Other details
He was granted legal aid, and the judge ordered that he receive appropriate psychiatric attention in custody.
14 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe woman was approached in her front garden by a man she did not know. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe accused allegedly lunged and made slash motions. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe woman suffered a slashed face and a cut to her hand. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe attack happened on a woman in Donnybrook, Dublin 4. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe incident happened on a Wednesday. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeA garda described the attack as a serious, unprovoked, random attack that caused serious facial injuries. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe accused was arrested nearby and was allegedly in possession of the woman's car keys. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí could not yet confirm the accused's identity, and enquiries are ongoing. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe accused is charged with robbery, assault causing harm, trespassing, possessing a blade as a weapon and failing to provide identity documents. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe accused appeared before Judge Paula Murphy at Dublin District Court on a Friday. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe accused made no reply to the charges and has not yet indicated a plea. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceBail was refused and the accused was remanded in custody to appear at Cloverhill District Court on September 8th. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe accused was granted legal aid. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe judge ordered that the accused receive appropriate psychiatric attention in custody. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 1 Sep2023
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Man in court accused of ‘random’ face-slashing attack on woman in Dublin

    Reports the accused's first court hearing after the attack, the refusal of bail and his remand to Cloverhill District Court on 8 September. The article gives only "Wednesday" as the date of the incident. It says the accused's identity is still being checked and that he has not yet indicated a plea.

    accused, Sami Skhiri, 34, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Sami Skhirivictim, female