Friday 30 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. 15351Violent disorder, assault, criminal damage and production of a hurley · Co. Limerick

Limerick man jailed for four and a half years over hurley and petrol bomb attacks

John Moloney, a 22-year-old man of Garryown, was arrested by gardaí after a foot chase following two incidents: a hurley attack on cars at Geraldine Villas, Mulgrave Street, Limerick city, on 4 July 2021, and a petrol bomb and car damage attack at Singland Park, Garryowen, on 9 September 2023. He pleaded guilty to assault, criminal damage, production of a hurley, violent disorder and criminal damage of a vehicle. At Limerick Criminal Circuit Court, Judge McMullen imposed a six-year sentence, suspended the final 18 months and jailed him for four and a half years, a sentence reported in November 2024.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced28 Nov
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • A 22-year-old man, John Moloney, of Garryown, pleaded guilty to offences arising from two separate incidents.
  • In the first incident Moloney hit a car with a hurley, causing extensive damage to a red Renault, and the court heard he laughed while doing so.
Where
  • The first incident happened at Geraldine Villas, Mulgrave Street, Limerick city.
  • The second incident happened at Singland Park, Garryowen, where three cars were damaged.
When
  • The first incident took place on 4 July 2021 at around 3.35pm.
  • The second incident took place on 9 September 2023 at around 1pm.
Weapon
Two petrol bombs were thrown over the gate of a house during the second attack; defence counsel said Moloney was not involved in throwing them and the detective garda agreed.
Investigation
Moloney was arrested by gardaí after a foot chase.
Charges
  • Moloney pleaded guilty to Section 2 assault, criminal damage, production of a hurley in a dispute, and criminal damage of a cell at Henry Street garda station.
  • Moloney pleaded guilty to violent disorder and criminal damage of a vehicle at Singland Park.
In court
The case was heard at Limerick Criminal Circuit Court before Judge McMullen.
Sentence
  • Judge McMullen jailed Moloney for three years for production of a hurley, with concurrent three-year terms for two criminal damage offences, and imposed a consecutive three-year term for the violent disorder.
  • Judge McMullen suspended the final 18 months of the six-year sentence, so Moloney was jailed for four and a half years.
Other details
Moloney was in custody from August before sentencing, and €3,500 was in court as compensation for damage to the vehicles.
20 statements extracted from the articles
  • whereThe first incident happened at Geraldine Villas, Mulgrave Street, Limerick city. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whereThe second incident happened at Singland Park, Garryowen. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whenThe first incident took place on 4 July 2021 at around 3.35pm. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whenThe second incident took place on 9 September 2023 at around 1pm. (limerickleader.ie)
  • causeTwo petrol bombs were thrown over the gate of a house during the attack. (limerickleader.ie)
  • investigationMoloney was arrested by gardaí after a foot chase. (limerickleader.ie)
  • chargeMoloney pleaded guilty to Section 2 assault, criminal damage, production of a hurley in a dispute and criminal damage of a cell at Henry Street garda station. (limerickleader.ie)
  • chargeMoloney pleaded guilty to violent disorder and criminal damage of a vehicle at Singland Park. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtThe case was heard at Limerick Criminal Circuit Court. (limerickleader.ie)
  • sentenceJudge McMullen jailed Moloney for three years for production of a hurley during a dispute at Geraldine Villas, with concurrent three-year terms for two criminal damage offences. (limerickleader.ie)
  • sentenceJudge McMullen imposed a consecutive three-year term for the violent disorder at Singland Park. (limerickleader.ie)
  • sentenceJudge McMullen suspended the final 18 months of the six-year sentence. (limerickleader.ie)
  • sentenceMoloney was jailed for four and a half years. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherMoloney laughed while hitting a car with a hurley and caused extensive damage to a red Renault. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherThree cars were damaged by the men in the Singland Park attack. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherMoloney was named as one of the attackers in the Singland Park incident. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherDefence counsel said Moloney was not involved in throwing the petrol bombs, and the detective garda agreed. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherMoloney was in custody from August before sentencing. (limerickleader.ie)
  • other€3,500 was in court as compensation for damage to the vehicles. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherThe judge said the petrol bomb incident has no place in a civilised society. (limerickleader.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 28 Nov2024
    Sentencedlimerickleader.ie, first report
    Laughing Limerick man who smashed up car with a hurley is jailed

    Reports the sentencing of John Moloney for two separate incidents: a 4 July 2021 hurley attack on a car at Mulgrave Street and a 9 September 2023 petrol bomb attack at Singland Park. Gives the sentence, the suspended portion and the court's comments.

    convicted, John Moloney, 22, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Moloney