Thursday 29 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. 7369Assault causing harm · Co. Dublin · 27 Apr 2008

Man given suspended sentence for 2008 Dublin nightclub assault

On April 27th, 2008, Sebastian Betlejewski, a 37-year-old man, punched a man on the dancefloor of the then-named Zanzibar nightclub at Batchelor's Walk, Dublin, and the victim fell and hit his head. Gardaí arrived shortly after the assault, which was captured on CCTV, but Betlejewski was allowed to leave and later left the country before being charged. He was arrested in February 2023 after an Interpol error had listed him as being in the UK, and was extradited from Poland later that year. At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court he pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm, and in October 2023 Judge Elma Sheahan handed him a suspended 18-month sentence on a number of conditions.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced13 Oct
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Betlejewski approached the victim on the dancefloor and punched him.
Cause
The victim fell to the floor and hit his head on the ground.
Where
The assault took place at the then-named Zanzibar nightclub at Batchelor's Walk, Dublin.
When
The assault took place on April 27th, 2008.
Investigation
  • Gardaí arrived shortly after the assault, which was captured on CCTV, but it was initially unclear what had occurred and Betlejewski was allowed to leave.
  • Betlejewski left the country while a file was being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions and before he was charged.
  • Betlejewski was arrested in February 2023 after an Interpol error had listed him as being in the UK.
Other details
  • Betlejewski was extradited from Poland, described as his native country, earlier in 2023 in relation to the assault.
  • The victim suffered a fractured skull and a fractured cheekbone, among other injuries.
  • Betlejewski told gardaí that another man had assaulted him and that he punched the victim in a case of mistaken identity.
Charges
Betlejewski pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In court
A victim impact statement was handed into court but was not read aloud.
Sentence
Judge Elma Sheahan handed down an 18-month sentence, suspended on a number of conditions, in October 2023.
12 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatBetlejewski approached the victim on the dancefloor and punched him. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe victim fell to the floor and hit his head on the ground. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe assault took place at the then-named Zanzibar nightclub at Batchelor's Walk, Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe assault took place on April 27th, 2008. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí arrived shortly after the assault, which was captured on CCTV, but it was initially unclear what had occurred. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationBetlejewski was arrested in February 2023 after an Interpol error had him listed as being in the UK. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeBetlejewski pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtA victim impact statement was handed into court but was not read aloud. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceJudge Elma Sheahan handed down an 18-month sentence, suspended on a number of conditions. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe victim suffered a fractured skull and a fractured cheekbone, among other injuries. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherBetlejewski was extradited from Poland earlier in 2023 in relation to the assault. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherBetlejewski told gardaí that another man had assaulted him and that he punched the victim in a case of mistaken identity. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 13 Oct2023
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    Man attacked on stag party in Dublin nightclub 15 years ago was left with a fractured skull, court told

    Reports the sentencing of Betlejewski, who was extradited from Poland in 2023 and had left Ireland before being charged. The assault occurred in April 2008 at the then-named Zanzibar nightclub.

    convicted, Sebastian Betlejewski, 37, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Sebastian Betlejewskivictim, male