Thursday 5 November 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. 29688Robbery (mugging at knifepoint) · Co. Dublin · 10 Oct 2021

Knifepoint mugging on Royal Canal, Dublin under investigation

On Sunday night, 10 October 2021, Pete Farrell was walking along the Royal Canal in Dublin when a man on a bike approached him and asked if he wanted to buy drugs. After Farrell declined, a second man produced a knife and demanded he empty his pockets. Farrell threw himself into the canal to escape and swam to the other side unharmed, losing only his keys. He reported the incident to the Gardaí, and no arrests have been made.

  1. Reported11 Oct
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • A man on a bike approached Pete Farrell and asked if he wanted to buy drugs, and after he declined, a second man produced a knife and demanded he empty his pockets.
  • Farrell threw himself into the canal to escape and swam to the other side unharmed.
Where
The mugging took place on the Royal Canal in Dublin.
When
The incident occurred on Sunday night, 10 October 2021.
Investigation
Farrell reported the incident to the Gardaí.
Other details
Farrell lost his keys in the canal but his waterproof phone was undamaged.
9 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA man on a bike approached Pete Farrell and asked if he wanted to purchase drugs (extra.ie)
  • whatPete Farrell declined the offer to buy drugs (extra.ie)
  • whatPete Farrell threw himself into the canal to escape the muggers (extra.ie)
  • whatPete Farrell swam to the other side of the canal unharmed (extra.ie)
  • whatPete Farrell's waterproof phone was in perfect condition after the incident (extra.ie)
  • whatPete Farrell lost his keys while in the canal (extra.ie)
  • whereThe mugging took place on the Royal Canal in Dublin (extra.ie)
  • whenThe incident occurred on Sunday night, 10 October 2021 (extra.ie)
  • investigationPete Farrell reported the incident to the Gardaí (extra.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 11 Oct2021
    Reportedextra.ie, first report
    Man dives into Dublin canal to escape knifepoint mugging - Extra.ie

    Victim's account of the mugging as told on RTÉ Radio One's Liveline; he reported the incident to the Gardaí. No arrests mentioned.

    victim, Pete Farrell, male, irish (judged from name)Pete Farrellsuspect, malesuspect, male