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. 21893Murder; assault causing harm; criminal damage; robbery · Co. Louth · 3 Jan 2018

Man found not guilty by reason of insanity in Dundalk murder

Yosuke Sasaki, a 24-year-old Japanese man, was fatally stabbed in the back on Long Avenue, Dundalk, on 3 January 2018 in an unprovoked attack, and two other men were injured in separate unprovoked attacks in the same area within 40 minutes. Mohamed Morei, an 18-year-old Egyptian asylum seeker, was arrested by Gardaí and charged with murder, assault causing harm, criminal damage, and robbery in connection with the attacks. He was found not guilty by reason of insanity at the Central Criminal Court, with two psychiatrists testifying he suffered from paranoid schizophrenia. Morei remains in detention under the Criminal Law Insanity Act at the Central Mental Hospital, Dundrum. In February 2023, two gardaí were awarded Scott Medal Commendations for their role in the 2018 arrest.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Acquitted3 Jan
    2 reports
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Three unprovoked attacks occurred in Dundalk, including a fatal stabbing, a non-fatal stabbing, and a head injury from a wooden post.
  • Yosuke Sasaki, a 24-year-old Japanese man, was fatally stabbed in the back on Long Avenue while returning from work.
  • A 23-year-old man was stabbed in the upper back on the Inner Relief Road, and another 23-year-old man was struck with a wooden post on Quay Street.
  • Mohamed Morei, an 18-year-old Egyptian asylum seeker, was the suspect and claimed to be fighting for ISIS.
Where
The attacks took place on Long Avenue, Inner Relief Road, and Quay Street in Dundalk, County Louth.
When
The fatal stabbing was reported at 9am on 3 January 2018, with the other two attacks at 9.30am and 9.40am.
Weapon
Morei was observed carrying a wooden post and was suspected to be carrying a weapon.
Investigation
Garda Welby and Garda Lynch observed, restrained, and disarmed Morei on the Inner Relief Road, and he was arrested.
Charges
Morei was charged with murder, assault causing harm, criminal damage, and robbery.
In court
Morei was found not guilty by reason of insanity at the Central Criminal Court for all offences.
Other details
  • Two consultant psychiatrists testified that Morei was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia and did not know what he was doing was wrong.
  • Morei remains in detention under Section 5(2) of the Criminal Law Insanity Act at the Central Mental Hospital, Dundrum.
  • Garda Welby and Garda Lynch were awarded Scott Medal Commendations in February 2023 for their role in the 2018 arrest.
51 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA wreath laying ceremony took place on the Avenue Road in Dundalk (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatYosuke Sasaki was 24 years old and a Japanese national (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatYosuke Sasaki was attacked by Mohamed Morei (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatAn anniversary mass was celebrated in St. Joseph's Redemptorist Church (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatMs Mayuko Suzuki, Second Secretary of the Consular Section of the Japanese Embassy in Dublin, attended the ceremony (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatA 24-year-old male was fatally stabbed on Long Avenue, Dundalk, at 9am on 3 January 2018. (donegallive.ie)
  • whatThe fatal stabbing was unprovoked and the victim was stabbed in the back without prior interaction. (donegallive.ie)
  • whatA 23-year-old male was stabbed in the upper back on the Inner Relief Road, Dundalk, at 9.30am the same day, with non-fatal injuries. (donegallive.ie)
  • whatA 23-year-old male was struck with a wooden post on Quay Street, Dundalk, at 9.40am, sustaining a head injury. (donegallive.ie)
  • whatMorei was an asylum seeker who claimed to be fighting for Isis when he fatally stabbed Yosuke Sasaki on Long Avenue, Dundalk. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatThe victim was stabbed in the back without any prior interaction. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatThe second victim was stabbed in the upper back and his injuries were not fatal. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatGarda Welby observed the suspect on the Inner Relief Road carrying a wooden post and suspected to be carrying a weapon. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatThe suspect was highly aggressive and agitated towards both Gardaí who were out of their vehicles engaging with him. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatMohamed Morei was an Egyptian asylum seeker who claimed to be fighting for ISIS. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatMorei fatally stabbed Yosuke Sasaki in the back on Long Avenue, Dundalk, in an unprovoked attack. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatA 23-year-old man was stabbed in the upper back on the Inner Relief Road at 9.30am, with non-fatal injuries. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatA third 23-year-old man was struck with a wooden post on Quay Street by 9.40am, receiving a head injury. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whenThe murder occurred on 3 January 2018 (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whenThe attack occurred in the early hours of the morning while Sasaki was returning from work (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whenOn 3 January 2018 Gardaí received a report that a 24-year-old man had been fatally stabbed on Long Avenue, Dundalk, in a totally unprovoked attack. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whenAt 9.30am a 23-year-old man was stabbed on the Inner Relief Road, Dundalk, in an identical unprovoked attack. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whenAt 9.40am a third 23-year-old man was struck with a wooden post on Quay Street, Dundalk, receiving a head injury. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whenThe fatal stabbing was reported at 9am on Wednesday 3 January 2018. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • weaponThe suspect was observed carrying a wooden post and was suspected to be carrying a weapon. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationGarda Welby observed the suspect on the Inner Relief Road and Garda Lynch arrived to assist; both restrained and disarmed the suspect. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationA description of the suspect was circulated to all Garda Units in Dundalk. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • investigationBoth gardaí managed to restrain the suspect, who was disarmed and arrested in relation to the murder on Long Avenue. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • chargeThe suspect was charged in respect of all offences committed during the morning of 3 January 2018. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtMohamed Morei was found not guilty by reason of insanity at the Central Criminal Court (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • courtThe cases were concluded before the courts. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtMorei was found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity at the Central Criminal Court. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • courtHe was also found not guilty by reason of insanity of assaulting two men causing harm at Quay Street and Inner Relief Road. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • courtThe same verdict was returned for criminal damage to a car and robbery by trespassing and committing criminal damage between 2 and 3 January 2018. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • otherA repatriation fund was set up by the people of Dundalk for Yosuke Sasaki (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • otherOliver Morgan organised the ceremony (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • otherAll three attacks appeared to have been carried out by the same person. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherThe suspect remains in detention under Section 5(2) of the Criminal Law Insanity Act at the Central Mental Hospital, Dundrum. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherThe Scott Medal is the highest award that can be bestowed by the Commissioner of An Garda Síochána, awarded for exceptional bravery involving the risk of life. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherDeputy Commissioner Shauna Coxon presented the awards at Dundalk Garda Station. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherTwo Dundalk Gardaí were awarded the Scott Medal Commendation for their actions in the arrest of Mohamed Morei in 2018. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • otherMorei remains in detention under Section 5(2) of the Criminal Law Insanity Act at the Central Mental Hospital, Dundrum. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • otherGarda Damien Welby and Garda Alan Lynch, both originally from Donegal, were presented with their awards by Deputy Commissioner Shauna Coxon at Dundalk Garda Station. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • otherAll three random attacks appeared to have been carried out by the same person. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • otherGarda Alan Lynch and Garda Damian Welby were awarded the Scott Medal Commendation for their actions in the arrest of Mohamed Morei in 2018. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • otherMorei was 18 years old at the time of the incident. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • otherTwo consultant psychiatrists testified that Morei was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia and did not know what he was doing was wrong. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • otherAn armed car with Karen Coughlan, Dave Devaney and James Kilgallon arrived and drew weapons on Morei. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • otherGarda Lynch charged and wrestled Morei to the ground, after which Devaney and Kilgallon came on top and Welby applied handcuffs. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • otherThe entire encounter lasted three or four minutes. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • otherMorei had blood on his hands that was not his own, as he had no visible wounds. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 15 Mar2023
    Acquitteddundalkdemocrat.ie, follow-up
    “So I put the baton away and then I charged," Dundalk gardaí tell of arresting killer

    Retrospective feature in which the two arresting gardaí recount the 2018 arrest and the trial outcome; reports the Scott Medal Commendation award and confirms Morei remains detained at the Central Mental Hospital, Dundrum.

    victim, Yosuke Sasaki, 24, male, Japanese, non-irishYosuke Sasakiaccused, Mohamed Morei, 18, male, Egyptian, named, non-irishMohamed Morei
  2. 28 Feb2023
    Otherdundalkdemocrat.ie, follow-up
    Two Dundalk Gardai awarded the Scott Medal Commendation for their actions in Mohamed Morei arrest

    Provides a detailed narrative of the three unprovoked attacks on 3 January 2018 (fatal stabbing on Long Avenue, non-fatal stabbing on Inner Relief Road, wooden post strike on Quay Street) and how Garda Welby and Lynch observed, engaged, restrained and disarmed Morei. Confirms Morei remains in detention at Central Mental Hospital, Dundrum, and that the award was presented by Deputy Commissioner Shauna Coxon.

    victim, Yosuke Sasaki, 24, male, Japanese, non-irishYosuke Sasakisuspect, Mohamed Morei, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Mohamed Moreivictim, 23, malevictim, 23, male
  3. 28 Feb2023
    Otherdonegallive.ie, its first report
    Two Donegal gardaí honoured for bravery

    Article reports the awarding of Scott Medal Commendations to two Donegal-based gardaí for their bravery in apprehending the suspect, and provides a detailed account of the three unprovoked attacks and the arrest.

    victim, 24, malevictim, 23, malevictim, 23, malesuspect, male
  4. 3 Jan2023
    Acquitteddundalkdemocrat.ie, first report
    Wreath laying ceremony held for Japanese man killed in Dundalk five years ago

    Reports on a fifth anniversary wreath laying ceremony and mass held in Dundalk for Yosuke Sasaki, attended by Ms Mayuko Suzuki of the Japanese Embassy, and includes statements from the embassy and the victim's mother. Mentions a repatriation fund set up by Dundalk residents and that Oliver Morgan organised the ceremony.

    victim, Yosuke Sasaki, 24, male, Japanese, non-irishYosuke Sasakisuspect, Mohamed Morei, named, non-irish (judged from name)Mohamed Morei