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. 3031Burglary · Co. Dublin · 29 May 2017

Gavin Cooke jailed for eight years for burglary of south Dublin home

Gavin Cooke, 48, of Clondalkin, Dublin 22, was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment at the Criminal Courts of Justice for a burglary on 29 May 2017 in which three men in balaclavas entered a home, one brandishing a metal bar at the homeowner while the other two went upstairs to where her two daughters were. The sentence is to run consecutively to a sentence he is currently serving.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced21 May
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
19 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThree men wearing balaclavas forced the front door open and entered the house. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatOne man grabbed the homeowner and brandished a metal bar while demanding cash. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatOne daughter hid under her bed and the other climbed out a window onto the roof. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe homeowner gave the man her purse containing €50 cash, cards and personal items. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe metal bar was used to threaten the woman but was not used as a weapon of assault. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe burglary occurred at a house in Clondalkin, Dublin 22. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe burglary took place on 29 May 2017. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe investigation focused on a gold Volvo and a silver Audi. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe Audi was found on fire nearby with tracksuit bottoms hanging from the window. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationCCTV showed Cooke and a co-accused entering the location and appearing to wipe down the door and parts of the car. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe Volvo was registered to Cooke. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe co-accused was found driving the Volvo around 3am the following morning. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeCooke pleaded guilty to burglary after the indictment was amended from aggravated burglary on a trial date. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceCooke was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment to run consecutively to his current sentence. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherCooke has 69 previous convictions including 12 for robbery, four for false imprisonment and five for drugs offences. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherCooke was on bail at the time of the offence. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherCooke is currently serving a sentence with an earliest release date in July 2027. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherCooke has longstanding addiction issues and is stable on methadone while in custody. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe co-accused has since died. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 21 May2026
    Sentencedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Mother feared her daughters would be raped during home burglary, court told

    Sentencing report detailing the burglary, the investigation (CCTV, tracksuit with prisoner number, vehicles), the victim impact statements from the homeowner and her two daughters, and the eight-year consecutive sentence imposed by Judge Elma Sheahan.

    convicted, Gavin Cooke, 48, male, named, irish (judged from name)Gavin Cookevictim, femalevictim, femalevictim, femalesuspect, male