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. 3466Manslaughter · Co. Dublin · 7 Jun 2021

Joshua Rush, 25, to be sentenced for manslaughter of pensioner Charles McCaughley in Fairview, Dublin

Joshua Rush (25) pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to the manslaughter of Charles McCaughley (69) at Fairview Strand, Fairview, Dublin 3, on 7 June 2021. A witness said Rush used a back spin kick that made McCaughley fall backwards, and a postmortem found the cause of death was traumatic brain injury from a significant fall to the back of the head. Rush was arrested a couple of days after the assault, and McCaughley died in hospital on 26 June 2021. Rush entered his guilty plea in March 2026, and the case was adjourned to 20 April 2026 for further background on the deceased and a DPP sentencing assessment, so no sentence has yet been imposed.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court24 Mar
  5. Convicted25 Mar
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Joshua Rush (25) pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Charles McCaughley (69).
  • A witness waiting for a bus said he saw three youths pass McCaughley as he walked along Fairview Strand, and saw Rush use a back spin kick on him.
Where
The incident happened at Fairview Strand, Fairview, Dublin 3.
When
  • The incident happened on 7 June 2021.
  • McCaughley was taken to hospital by ambulance, where his condition deteriorated, and he died on 26 June 2021.
Cause
  • McCaughley fell on his back and was unconscious with blood coming from his mouth when a witness ran to help him.
  • A postmortem by Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margot Bolster found the cause of death was traumatic brain injury due to a significant fall to the back of the head.
Other details
  • McCaughley had been drinking on the night in question, according to the case facts.
  • Rush said he acted in self-defence, and gardaí accepted this.
  • Rush told gardaí he had a difficult family background and that his father was physically abusive.
  • Rush has no previous convictions and took responsibility for his actions.
  • McCaughley, a former glazier, had one surviving sister and no wife or children; his sister did not wish to make a victim impact statement but said she did not want anyone to go to jail.
Investigation
Rush was arrested a couple of days after the assault, after gardaí made inquiries at the Fairview accommodation he was seen entering.
In court
Det Sgt David Ennis gave evidence for the prosecution, led by barrister Diana Stuart, and defending barrister Ronan Kennedy raised mitigation points.
Sentence
Judge Martina Baxter adjourned sentencing to 20 April 2026 so gardaí could learn more about the deceased man's background; the maximum sentence for manslaughter is life imprisonment.
33 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatMcCaughley was unconscious with blood coming from his mouth when a witness ran to his assistance. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatMcCaughley was taken to hospital by ambulance and his condition deteriorated over the next few weeks. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatRush had no previous convictions. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatRush said he was acting in self-defence, which was accepted by gardaí. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatRush told gardaí he had a difficult family background and that his father was physically abusive. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe deceased had one surviving sister and no wife or children. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe sister did not wish to make a victim impact statement but told gardaí she did not want anyone to go to jail. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatRush took responsibility for his actions. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe deceased had been drinking on the night in question. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatJoshua Rush, 25, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Charles McCaughley, 69. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatMcCaughley was unconscious with blood from his mouth when a witness ran to assist him. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatMcCaughley was taken to hospital by ambulance and died on 26 June 2021. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe incident occurred at Fairview Strand, Fairview, Dublin 3. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe incident occurred on 7 June 2021. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenMcCaughley died on 26 June 2021. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeThe cause of death was traumatic brain injury due to a significant fall on the back of the head. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeThe postmortem found the cause of death was traumatic brain injury due to a significant fall to the back of the head. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationA postmortem was carried out by Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margot Bolster. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationRush was arrested a couple of days after the assault after gardaí made inquiries at the Fairview accommodation he was seen entering. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationRush was arrested a couple of days after the assault after gardaí made enquiries at the Fairview accommodation he was seen entering. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeJoshua Rush pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Charles McCaughley. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtDet Sgt David Ennis gave evidence to prosecuting barrister Diana Stuart. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtDefending barrister Ronan Kennedy questioned the garda and raised mitigation points. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtJudge Martina Baxter adjourned the case to April 20 to allow gardai to find out more about the deceased man's background. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceThe maximum sentence for manslaughter is life imprisonment. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
  • otherRush has an address at Fairview Strand, Fairview, Dublin 3, and no previous convictions. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherRush said he was acting in self-defence, which was accepted by gardai. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherRush told gardai he had a difficult family background and his father was physically abusive. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherMcCaughley had one surviving sister and no wife or children. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherMcCaughley's sister did not wish to make a victim impact statement but told gardai she did not want anyone to go to jail. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherMcCaughley used to work as a glazier. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherA witness waiting for a bus saw three youths passing an older man as he walked along Fairview Strand. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe trio left the scene and were seen entering accommodation nearby. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 25 Mar2026
    Convictedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Man to be sentenced for killing a pensioner with a 'back spin kick, like MMA'

    Plea of guilty entered at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court; sentencing adjourned to 20 April 2026 for further background on the deceased and a DPP assessment of the appropriate sentencing range.

    victim, Charles McCaughley, 69, male, irish (judged from name)Charles McCaughleyconvicted, Joshua Rush, 25, male, named, irish (judged from name)Joshua Rush
  2. 24 Mar2026
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Man pleads guilty to killing pensioner with spinning kick as he walked along Fairview Strand, Dublin

    Guilty plea entered; case adjourned to 20 April 2026 for mitigation and DPP sentencing assessment.

    victim, Charles McCaughley, 69, male, irish (judged from name)Charles McCaughleyaccused, Joshua Rush, 25, male, named, irish (judged from name)Joshua Rush