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. 2056Murder, impeding the apprehension or prosecution of an offender · Co. Dublin · 9 Dec 2022

Four men on trial for murder of Mahamud Ilyas over stolen cannabis in Blanchardstown

The prosecution told the Central Criminal Court jury that Viorel Doroscan (23) and Otniel Richardo Clejan (24) murdered Mahamud Ilyas (22) on 9 December 2022 at a house in Blanchardstown, Dublin, after he took a bag of cannabis from Robert Burns's home, and that Robert Burns (59) and Lorenzo Cantaragiu (21) impeded the apprehension of the two principal offenders. All four accused deny the charges.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court19 Mar
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
16 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatMr Cantaragiu allegedly cleaned the BMW at a garage and sold it. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatIt is alleged that Mr Burns tied the hands and feet of Mr Ilyas, carried him, and cleaned the house where the assault happened. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatIt is alleged that Mr Cantaragiu drove the two murder accused and the deceased to Belgree Lane and cleaned the car. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe body was dumped in a wooded area in Co Meath. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe body was driven to Belgree Lane in Meath where it was carried to a wooded area. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe murder occurred on 9 December 2022. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenMr Ilyas entered the house at Verdemont at about 2.41pm on 9 December 2022. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenMr Clejan contacted Lorenzo Cantaragiu at about 3.20pm on 9 December 2022. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenGardaí were notified of the body at Belgree Lane the day after the murder. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeA stolen bag of cannabis was the trigger for the murder. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeThe pathologist found blunt force trauma to the head causing traumatic brain injury. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe prosecution relies on CCTV footage, phone records, forensic evidence and statements given by the accused to gardaí. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeMr Burns is charged with six counts of impeding the prosecution or apprehension of Clejan and Doroscan. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeMr Cantaragiu faces four charges of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of the two principal offenders. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe trial is before Mr Justice Tony Hunt at the Central Criminal Court with a jury of five women and seven men. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherAll four accused deny the charges. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 19 Mar2025
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Stolen bag of cannabis led to man (22) being beaten to death, court told

    Prosecution opening statement at the Central Criminal Court trial before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, outlining the case against four men in connection with the murder of Mahamud Ilyas and the disposal of his body in Co Meath.

    victim, Mahamud Ilyas, 22, male, non-irish (judged from name)Mahamud Ilyasaccused, Viorel Doroscan, 23, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Viorel Doroscanaccused, Otniel Richardo Clejan, 24, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Otniel Richardo Clejanaccused, Robert Burns, 59, male, named, irish (judged from name)Robert Burnsaccused, Lorenzo Cantaragiu, 21, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Lorenzo Cantaragiu