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. 1186Assault (offensive weapon) · Co. Dublin · 3 Aug 2025

Garda injured while arresting sword-wielding man in Ballyogan, Dublin 18

In the early hours of 3 August 2025, a man in his 40s was walking through the Clay Farm housing estate in Ballyogan, Dublin 18, armed with a two-foot-two samurai sword attached to a chord on his wrist. A male Garda officer sustained cuts to his hand while trying to remove the sword and was taken to hospital before being discharged. Zbigniew Pisula, 45, a man originally from an Eastern European country, was charged with assaulting a Garda, possession of a samurai sword, and resisting arrest under the Public Order Act. Pisula is also among eight men connected to the torture of Natalie Ennis in a Dublin 7 flat, where five pleaded guilty and received sentences of nine to 15 years. He appeared before a special sitting of Dublin's District Court on 4 August 2025, where bail was refused and he was remanded in custody to appear again via video link on Wednesday.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Charged3 Aug
    3 reports
  4. In court4 Aug
    2 reports
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced3 Aug
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • A man in his 40s was walking through the Clay Farm housing estate in Ballyogan, Dublin 18, armed with a two-foot-two samurai sword attached to a chord on his wrist.
  • A male Garda officer sustained cuts to his hand while trying to remove the sword and was taken to hospital before being discharged.
  • Natalie Ennis, a woman, was beaten, tortured and held captive for three hours in a flat at Henrietta House, Dublin 7, over a false accusation about missing drugs.
When
The incident occurred shortly after 1:30am on Sunday 3 August 2025.
Where
The incident took place in the Clay Farm housing estate, Ballyogan, Dublin 18.
Weapon
  • The suspect was carrying a two-foot-two samurai sword that was attached to a chord on his wrist, preventing him from dropping it.
  • Ms Ennis was beaten with a metal pole, burned with a makeshift blowtorch and a heated hammer head, and cut with a knife.
Investigation
Gardaí based in Blackrock responded to a 999 call, armed Gardaí were called, pepper spray was deployed without effect, and the incident was captured on CCTV from a house across the road.
Charges
Zbigniew Pisula, 45, a man originally from an Eastern European country, was charged with assaulting a Garda, possession of a samurai sword, and resisting arrest under the Public Order Act.
In court
  • Pisula appeared before a special sitting of Dublin's District Court on 4 August 2025, where bail was refused and he was remanded in custody to appear again via video link on Wednesday.
  • Five of the eight men present in the Ennis case pleaded guilty and were sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Pauline Codd, while another man and a juvenile remain before the courts.
Sentence
Sentences ranged from nine years for Mark Keogh to 15 years for Braxton Rice, with Sean Conroy receiving 13 years, Mark McMahon 12 years, and Kian Walshe 11 years.
Other details
  • Gardaí have mental health concerns regarding the sword incident, and the accused stated he was defending himself and often trains with weapons in public.
  • Pisula is also listed among the eight men present in the Ennis case at Henrietta House, Dublin 7.
80 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatSean Conroy, 21, of Sillogue Road, Ballymun, North Dublin, pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and assault causing harm. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatConroy posted a video from Mountjoy Prison around 9 July 2025 showing himself making a bacon and sausage bap on a grill. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatIn the video Conroy told his online audience "Work hard, stay humble". (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatThe video showed what appears to be a large amount of cannabis. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatConroy was hit with a P19 prison disciplinary notice and officers seized a phone and SIM card from his cell. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatNatalie Ennis was beaten, tortured and held captive for three hours in a Dublin flat over a false accusation about missing drugs. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatMs Ennis had her hair cut off and was threatened with rape. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatThe men threatened to make Ms Ennis drink ammonia and threatened to rape her teenage daughter. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatThe assault ended when gardaí entered the flat with a search warrant. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatMs Ennis lost teeth, had a disc removed from her back, had spine bone carved, and suffered a blow out elbow. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatFive of the eight men present pleaded guilty, while another man and a juvenile are still before the courts. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatA man was walking around the Ballyogan area of South Dublin armed with a sword (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe suspect is a male in his 40s (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • whatThe suspect is originally from an Eastern European country and has been residing in Ireland for some time (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatGardaí have mental health concerns regarding the incident (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • whatOne Garda officer was minorly injured during the arrest (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe injured Garda was taken to hospital and has since been discharged (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • whatA man was walking around the Ballyogan area of South Dublin armed with a sword in the early hours of 3 August 2025 (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatOne officer was minorly injured during the arrest (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatA garda was hospitalised after suffering injuries while arresting a man armed with a sword in south Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatA male garda sustained injuries while arresting the suspect. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatZbigniew Pisula, 45, has an address at Drimnagh Park, Ballyogan Road in Dublin (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatPepper spray was deployed but did not have any effect (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • whatArmed gardai were called and pursued the accused who fled on foot (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe accused ran across a green area into the front garden of a home of a family with a small child (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • whatThe sword was attached to a chord on his wrist, preventing him from dropping it (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatArmed gardai drew their firearms and made verbal demands for him to disarm himself (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe samurai sword was a two foot two long blade (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • whatHe stated he was defending himself when gardai approached him (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe accused told Gardaí he often trains with weapons in public (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • whatZbigniew Pisula, 45, has an address at Drimnagh Park, Ballyogan Road, Dublin (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatGardaí were alerted via a 999 call to a man walking through a housing estate at Clay Farm in Ballyogan with a large samurai sword in the early hours of Sunday morning (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatArmed Gardaí were called and pursued the accused who fled on foot (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatThe sword was attached to a chord on his wrist, preventing him from being able to drop it (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatArmed Gardaí drew their firearms and made verbal demands for the accused to disarm himself (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatOne Garda received cuts to his hand from the weapon while trying to remove the sword (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatHe stated he was defending himself when Gardaí approached him (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatThe accused allegedly admitted possession of the weapon (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatThe accused waved the weapon at officers who were standing only a few feet away (dublinlive.ie)
  • whereThe attack took place at Henrietta House, Dublin 7. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whereThe man was taken to Blackrock Garda station (dublinlive.ie)
  • whereThe incident occurred in the Ballyogan area of Dublin 18. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe incident took place in the Clay Farm housing estate in Ballyogan (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe incident occurred shortly after 1:30am on 3 August 2025 (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe incident occurred shortly after 1:30am (dublinlive.ie)
  • whenThe incident took place just after 1.30am on Sunday. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenGardaí were alerted via a 999 call in the early hours of Sunday morning (irishmirror.ie)
  • weaponMs Ennis was beaten with a metal pole, burned with a makeshift blowtorch and a heated hammer head, and cut with a knife. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationThe suspect remains in Garda custody (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí based in Blackrock responded to reports of a man wielding a sword. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe incident was captured on CCTV from a house across the road (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationThe accused was interviewed in Dundrum Garda station (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe accused was arrested, detained and interviewed in Dundrum Garda station (dublinlive.ie)
  • chargeThe man was charged with assault (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeThe man was charged under the Public Order Act (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeThe man was charged with possession of a weapon (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeHe was charged with assault (dublinlive.ie)
  • chargeHe was charged under the Public Order Act (dublinlive.ie)
  • chargeHe was charged with possession of a weapon (dublinlive.ie)
  • chargeThe suspect, a man in his 40s, has been charged in connection with the incident. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeHe was charged with assaulting a Garda, possession of a samurai sword, and resisting arrest under the Public Order Act (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • courtThe sentencing took place at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Pauline Codd. (dublinlive.ie)
  • courtThe man is due to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice on 4 August 2025 (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtHe is expected to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice on Monday 4 August 2025 (dublinlive.ie)
  • courtThe suspect is due before Dublin District Court on Monday morning. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe maximum sentence on conviction for the alleged section three assault is ten years imprisonment (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • courtGardaí objected to bail arguing there was a danger to the life and personal safety of the community (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • courtThe presiding Judge refused bail (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • courtThe accused was remanded into custody to appear again via video link on Wednesday (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtHe appeared before a special sitting of Dublin's District Court (dublinlive.ie)
  • sentenceConroy was sentenced to 13 years with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions. (dublinlive.ie)
  • sentenceBraxton Rice was sentenced to 15 years with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions. (dublinlive.ie)
  • sentenceMark McMahon was sentenced to 12 years. (dublinlive.ie)
  • sentenceMark Keogh was sentenced to 9 years. (dublinlive.ie)
  • sentenceKian Walshe was sentenced to 11 years with the final two-and-a-half years suspended on strict conditions. (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherConroy has 89 previous convictions including drug dealing and possession, burglary and possession of knives. (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherThe man is originally from an Eastern European country (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherThe man has been residing in Ireland for some time (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherHe remains in Garda custody (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherThe injured garda was taken to hospital for assessment and has since been discharged. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 4 Aug2025
    In courtdublinlive.ie, follow-up
    Man in court over alleged sword attack on Garda: 'I will f****** kill you all'

    Reports the court appearance where the accused was charged, bail was refused, and he was remanded in custody to appear again via video link on Wednesday.

    suspect, Zbigniew Pisula, 45, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Zbigniew Pisulavictim, male
  2. 4 Aug2025
    In courtirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Man in court over alleged sword attack on Garda: 'I will f****** kill you all'

    Court appearance with full evidence of arrest, charge and caution; bail refused and accused remanded in custody to appear again via video link on Wednesday.

    accused, Zbigniew Pisula, 45, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Zbigniew Pisulavictim, male
  3. 3 Aug2025
    Chargedirishtimes.com, first report
    Garda injured while arresting sword-wielding suspect

    Reports the initial incident and the charging of the sword-wielding suspect; the injured garda was discharged from hospital.

    victim, malesuspect, 40s, male
  4. 3 Aug2025
    Chargeddublinlive.ie, follow-up
    Garda injured after being assaulted while arresting man brandishing sword

    Details of the incident, the three charges, the garda's minor injury, and the suspect's expected court appearance at CCJ 2 on 4 August 2025.

    victim, malesuspect, 40s, male, non-irish (judged from name)
  5. 3 Aug2025
    Chargedirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Garda hospitalised after being assaulted while arresting sword-wielding man

    First report of the incident; suspect charged at Blackrock Garda station and due to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice on 4 August 2025.

    suspect, 40s, male, non-irish (judged from name)victim, male, irish (judged from name)
  6. 3 Aug2025
    Sentenceddublinlive.ie, follow-up
    Man jailed for torture of woman in Dublin flat punished for posting prison video

    Reports the sentencing of five men for the torture of Natalie Ennis and Conroy's prison disciplinary matter (P19) for posting a video from Mountjoy Prison showing himself cooking, with cannabis visible, and smoking a hand-rolled cigarette.

    victim, Natalie Ennis, female, irish (judged from name)Natalie Ennisconvicted, Sean Conroy, 21, male, named, irish (judged from name)Sean Conroyconvicted, Mark Keogh, 33, male, named, irish (judged from name)Mark Keoghconvicted, Mark McMahon, 55, male, named, irish (judged from name)Mark McMahonconvicted, Braxton Rice, 21, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Braxton Riceconvicted, Kian Walshe, 22, male, named, irish (judged from name)Kian Walshe