Man acquitted of criminal damage after smashing train windows during panic attack at Connolly Station, Dublin
Tony Joyce, 28, of Barrack Street, Dundalk, Co Louth, was arrested on the afternoon of 29 June 2024 after smashing seven windows on a locked train at Connolly Station, Dublin, causing €3,500 in damage. He told the court he had woken in a train with no power and non-functional door buttons, had suffered a head injury, and had taken a large amount of painkillers before panicking and using an emergency shatter hammer to climb out. He pleaded not guilty to criminal damage at Dublin District Court, where counsel cited section 6 of the Criminal Damage Act and a defence of necessity. On 5 September 2025, Judge Michele Finan dismissed the charge, accepting that Joyce acted out of necessity during a panic attack.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Acquitted5 Sep
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Tony Joyce, 28, of Barrack Street, Dundalk, Co Louth, was accused of smashing seven train windows, causing €3,500 in damage.
- He was found sitting on the ground with blood on his legs and cuts on his hands and legs after using an emergency shatter hammer to climb out of the train.
- The train's electricity was powered off, the door buttons did not work, and the door required a special manual technique to open that a member of the public would not have.
- Joyce maintained he had suffered a head injury, had been in hospital in Drogheda beforehand, and had taken a large amount of painkillers before the incident.
- Where
- The incident occurred at Connolly Station, Dublin, where the train was parked in a secure yard.
- When
- Joyce was arrested on the afternoon of 29 June 2024.
- Investigation
- No CCTV footage of the incident was available.
- In court
- Joyce pleaded not guilty to criminal damage at Dublin District Court, and counsel cited section 6 of the Criminal Damage Act tied to a defence of necessity and lawful excuse.
- Sentence
- On 5 September 2025, Judge Michele Finan dismissed the charge, accepting that Joyce acted out of necessity during a panic attack.
19 statements extracted from the articles
- whatTony Joyce, 28, of Barrack Street, Dundalk, Co Louth, was the accused. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatSeven windows were smashed, causing €3,500 worth of damage. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe accused was found sitting on the ground with blood on his legs. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHe used one of the train's emergency shatter hammers to climb out. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe train's electricity was powered off and the door buttons did not work. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe garda thought the accused was intoxicated and unsteady on his feet. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe accused had a phone on him at the time. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe accused maintained he had suffered a head injury and had been in hospital in Drogheda beforehand. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHe had taken a lot of painkillers. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHe was cut on his hands and legs. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe station's crime prevention officer confirmed people had been locked in before, usually on late-night services. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe door needed to be opened manually using a special technique a member of the public would not have. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe incident occurred at Connolly Station in Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe train was parked in a secure yard. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenHe was arrested on the afternoon of 29 June 2024. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThere was no CCTV footage available. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtHe pleaded not guilty and the case was heard at Dublin District Court. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtCounsel cited section 6 of the Criminal Damage Act, tied to a defence of necessity and lawful excuse. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtJudge Michele Finan dismissed the case, accepting the defence application. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 5 Sep2025Man locked on train smashed windows after having a panic attack, court told
Reports the acquittal of Tony Joyce at Dublin District Court on 5 September 2025, with Judge Michele Finan dismissing the criminal damage charge on the basis of necessity during a panic attack.
accused, Tony Joyce, 28, male, named, irish (judged from name)Tony Joyce