Sunday 1 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. 22328Assault (with a knife)

Landlord assaulted tenant with knife in airsoft rifles dispute

A landlord assaulted a tenant with a knife in a dispute over airsoft rifles. The article contains only the headline and website template code, with no further substantive details.

  1. Reported17 Feb
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced16 Feb
    3 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
43 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe dispute arose because the tenant had Airsoft rifles in the property. (thejournal.ie, rte.ie)
  • whatRoche went into the tenant's locked bedroom and found two Airsoft pistols and a rifle. (thejournal.ie, rte.ie)
  • whatRoche was intoxicated and behaving erratically and incoherently during the incident. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatThe victim sustained temporary marks on his hands from the knife. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatRoche had inherited the home after his mother died and rented a room to meet expenses. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatThe victim suffered a financial loss because he left the property and had to pay for hotel accommodation. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatRoche has no previous convictions. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatDes Roche, 60, of Willow Lodge, Booterstown Ave, Booterstown, Dublin, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. (rte.ie)
  • whatThe tenant was a student renting a room in Roche's home. (rte.ie)
  • whatThe airsoft items were described as serious looking guns. (rte.ie)
  • whatRoche was intoxicated, behaving erratically and incoherent in his speech. (rte.ie)
  • whatRoche told the tenant 'I will f**k you up.' (rte.ie)
  • whatThe tenant grabbed Roche's hands trying to get him to calm down, and Roche dropped the knife. (rte.ie)
  • whatThe tenant sustained temporary marks on his hands from the knife. (rte.ie, leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatThe airsoft items would be legally defined as imitation firearms. (rte.ie)
  • whatRoche had inherited the home after his mother died and rented a room out to meet expenses and pay off historical debts. (rte.ie)
  • whatThe victim said he was scared and was lucky not to be injured. (rte.ie)
  • whatThe victim suffered a financial loss because he left the property that day and had to pay for hotel accommodation. (rte.ie)
  • whatRoche had no previous convictions. (rte.ie, leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatRoche was intoxicated and behaving erratically at the time of the incident (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatThe tenant found two Airsoft pistols and a rifle in his locked bedroom (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatThe tenant grabbed Roche's hands trying to get him to calm down (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatRoche was deemed unfit for questioning for six hours due to intoxication (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatA landlord assaulted a tenant with a knife. (extra.ie)
  • whereThe incident took place at Willow Lodge, Booterstown Ave, Booterstown, Dublin. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe incident occurred on 26 October 2021. (thejournal.ie, rte.ie, leinsterexpress.ie)
  • causeThe row was over the tenant having Airsoft rifles in the property (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • causeThe assault occurred in a dispute over airsoft rifles. (extra.ie)
  • weaponRoche picked up a knife and turned towards the victim. (thejournal.ie, rte.ie)
  • investigationGarda Alan Butler responded to the report and met the tenant and landlord outside the property. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationGardaí arrested Roche but he was deemed unfit for questioning for six hours due to intoxication. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationGardaí arrested Roche but he was highly intoxicated and deemed unfit for questioning for six hours. (rte.ie)
  • investigationGarda Alan Butler responded to the incident and met the tenant and landlord outside the property (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtDes Roche pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtSimon Matthews BL was prosecuting and David Staunton BL was defending. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (rte.ie)
  • courtDes Roche pleaded guilty to assault causing harm at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Martin Nolan suspended in full a prison term of 21 months. (thejournal.ie, rte.ie, leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe condition of the suspended sentence was that Roche keeps the peace and is of good behaviour for 21 months. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceThe condition was that Roche keeps the peace and be of good behaviour for that period. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceThe condition was that Roche keeps the peace and be of good behaviour for 21 months (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe tenant suffered a financial loss because he left the property and had to pay for hotel accommodation (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherRoche inherited the home after his mother died (leinsterexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 17 Feb2023
    Reportedextra.ie, first report
    Landlord Assaulted Tenant With Knife In Airsoft Rifles Row

    Article contains only the headline and website template code, with no further substantive details.

    victimsuspect
  2. 16 Feb2023
    Sentencedleinsterexpress.ie, first report
    Landlord assaulted tenant with a knife in a row over air guns

    Court report of the sentencing: Roche pleaded guilty, received a 21-month term suspended in full, and the court heard details of the knife incident and the preceding row over imitation firearms.

    convicted, Des Roche, 60, male, named, irish (judged from name)Des Rochevictim, male
  3. 16 Feb2023
    Sentencedrte.ie, follow-up
    Suspended sentence for landlord who assaulted tenant

    Provides full court details: the sentencing (21-month term suspended in full), the circumstances of the incident on 26 October 2021, the judge's reasoning, and defence submissions.

    victim, maleconvicted, Des Roche, 60, male, named, irish (judged from name)Des Roche
  4. 16 Feb2023
    Sentencedthejournal.ie, follow-up
    Suspended prison sentence for landlord who assaulted his tenant with knife

    Provides the sentencing outcome: Des Roche pleaded guilty and received a fully suspended 21-month prison term. Adds details of the incident including the Airsoft rifle dispute, Roche's intoxication, the victim's minor injuries, and the court proceedings.

    convicted, Des Roche, 60, male, named, irish (judged from name)Des Rochevictim, male