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. 23668Assault causing harm · Co. Dublin · 13 May 2021

Laois man sentenced for punching man in Criminal Courts of Justice after sex assault trial collapse

A Laois man, the boyfriend of a sexual assault complainant, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for punching the son of the sex assault accused in the round hall of the Criminal Courts of Justice on 13 May 2021, after the complainant's trial collapsed. Judge Pauline Codd suspended a 3½-year prison term for four years.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced7 Dec
    2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
30 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe punch victim made a gun gesture towards the woman as she was leaving the courthouse (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatThe victim hit the marble floor and suffered injuries to his head (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatThe victim continues to suffer from loss of smell and taste due to brain damage (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatThe victim had to take anti-seizure medication for six months after the assault (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatThe punch victim allegedly made a gun gesture to the woman as she was leaving the courthouse. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatCCTV footage showed the punch victim making a hand gesture and the woman running towards him while her boyfriend tried to hold her back. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe boyfriend suddenly turned and punched the assault victim, who hit the marble floor and suffered head injuries. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe punch victim continues to suffer from loss of smell and taste due to brain damage. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe punch victim had to take anti-seizure medication for six months after the assault. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe punch victim said the psychological damage was harder to deal with than the physical injuries. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe punch took place in the round hall of the Criminal Courts of Justice, Parkgate St, Dublin 8 (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereThe assault took place in the round hall of the Criminal Courts of Justice, Parkgate Street, Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe assault occurred on 13 May 2021 (leinsterexpress.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • causeThe assault occurred after the collapse of a sexual assault trial in which charges against the punch victim's father were dropped (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • causeThe assault happened after the sexual assault trial collapsed and charges against the accused were dropped. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationCCTV footage played in court showed the hand gesture and the woman running towards the punch victim while her boyfriend tried to hold her back (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationGarda Ciaran Kallaghy gave evidence to the court. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe defendant pleaded guilty to assault causing harm (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtJudge Pauline Codd suspended a three-and-a-half-year prison term for four years on condition he keep the peace and be of good behaviour (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtGarda Ciaran Kallaghy gave evidence to the court with Marc Thompson BL prosecuting (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtThe case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtMarc Thompson BL was prosecuting and David Perry BL was defending. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtJudge Pauline Codd accepted the gesture could be interpreted as threatening but said it did not excuse the violence. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceJudge Pauline Codd suspended a prison term of 3½ years for four years on condition the defendant keep the peace and be of good behaviour. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherSeven people made sexual assault allegations against the father of the punch victim (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe defendant has previous convictions for drug dealing and public order offences, none involving violence (leinsterexpress.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe defendant is the sole breadwinner for his partner and their young children (leinsterexpress.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe defendant made a genuine apology in a letter to the court (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe sexual assault accused is still before the courts on other charges of sexual assault of other complainants (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherSeven people made allegations of sexual assault against the father of the punch victim. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 7 Dec2022
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, its first report
    Boyfriend of sex assault complainant punched man after collapse of trial

    Sentencing report: the defendant pleaded guilty to assault causing harm; Judge Pauline Codd suspended a 3½-year term for four years with conditions to keep the peace and be of good behaviour, taking into account the provocation of a gun gesture, the defendant's role as sole breadwinner, his apology, and his non-violent prior convictions.

    convicted, malevictim, male
  2. 7 Dec2022
    Sentencedleinsterexpress.ie, first report
    Laois man punched son of sexual assault accused at Dublin court

    Sentencing hearing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court; suspended prison term imposed after guilty plea to assault causing harm.

    convicted, male, irish (judged from name)victim, malevictim, female