Ireland Case No. 3126Assault causing serious harm · Co. Dublin · 31 Jul 2022
Man jailed for 10 years for assault causing serious harm in Dublin
Three men assaulted Austin Doherty, a man aged 38, outside a casino on Old Navan Road, Dublin 7, in the early hours of 31 July 2022, leaving him with life-changing head injuries that have made him a wheelchair user. Conti Birali, a man aged 28, Craig Maples, a man aged 28, and Graham Dunphy, a man aged 31, were all charged with assault causing serious harm. Birali was sentenced to nine years in March 2024 and withdrew his appeal in October 2024, while Maples received seven years on the same date. Dunphy, the last of the three to be dealt with, was sentenced to 10 years at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in May 2026.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced21 Mar
3 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Austin Doherty, a man aged 38 (reports differ: 37), was left with life-changing injuries after an unprovoked 45-second assault in which he was repeatedly punched, kicked and stamped on, leaving him unconscious on the ground.
- Where
- The assault took place at Old Navan Road, Dublin 7, outside a casino, in the early hours of the morning.
- When
- The assault took place on 31 July 2022.
- Cause
- Birali hit Doherty with a bottle several times in the nightclub, and after Doherty was ejected, the three men waited and chased him before the street assault.
- Weapon
- A broken bottle was found on the ground beside the victim.
- Investigation
- Birali left the jurisdiction and was arrested in November 2022.
- Charges
- All three men were charged with assault causing serious harm; Birali also admitted violent disorder with others on the same occasion.
- In court
- Birali pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm and violent disorder; Dunphy pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm.
- Sentence
- Birali was sentenced to nine years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in March 2024 and withdrew his appeal in October 2024.
- Craig Maples was sentenced to seven years in prison for violent disorder and assault causing serious harm in March 2024.
- Graham Dunphy was sentenced to 10 years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in May 2026.
- Other details
- The victim is now a wheelchair user who needs daily care, cannot walk long distances, work or drive, and his condition is unlikely to improve.
- Birali told gardaí he had been highly intoxicated and had argued with his ex-girlfriend, who was the woman Doherty was talking to in the nightclub.
47 statements extracted from the articles
- whatAustin Doherty was left with life-changing injuries after an unprovoked assault. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe attack left Mr Doherty unconscious on a roadway. (irishtimes.com)
- whatMr Doherty was stamped on and kicked repeatedly. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe victim walked for about 13 minutes before being hunted down by three accused, two in a jeep and one on foot. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatTwo of the accused were captured on CCTV stamping on the victim's head and kicking him repeatedly. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatBirali hit Doherty with a bottle a number of times, causing a laceration to his head, while Doherty was talking to a female acquaintance in a nightclub. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatAfter being ejected from the club, Birali phoned two other co-accused men who arrived separately, and the three began circling the area in wait for the victim. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatBirali got out of the jeep and joined the assault a few minutes before it ended with the victim being kicked three times in the back. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe victim, aged 38 at the time, is now a wheelchair user who needs daily care, and his condition is unlikely to improve. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatIn a victim impact statement, Doherty said he would never be able to walk again. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe assault on the ground lasted 45 seconds. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe victim was left lying unconscious on the street and no effort was made to contact emergency services. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe victim, aged 37, spent the evening watching football before arriving at the casino. (irishtimes.com)
- whatCCTV showed the victim being chased by Dunphy, tripping and falling, then the three men repeatedly punching, kicking and stamping on him. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe victim lost consciousness during the assault and the three accused fled, leaving him motionless on the ground. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe victim was brought to Connolly Hospital with serious head injuries and spent several weeks in a coma. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe victim suffered seizures, spastic paralysis on his left side, and rigidity in his legs. (irishtimes.com)
- whatFour years later there had been limited improvement and the victim needed continued rehabilitation. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe victim is unable to walk long distances independently, cannot work or drive, and struggles with basic household tasks. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe victim is dependent on a powered wheelchair for mobility outside his home. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThree men waited for Mr Doherty to leave a Dublin nightclub before attacking him. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe assault took place at the Old Navan Road, Dublin 7. (irishtimes.com)
- whereBirali has an address at Parslickstown Drive, Mulhuddart, Dublin 15. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe attack took place at Old Navan Road, Mulhuddart, outside a casino. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe assault took place on 31 July 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe victim left the club on foot at 4.17am. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe attack occurred in the early hours of 31 July 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- causeBirali hit Mr Doherty with a bottle several times in the nightclub. (irishtimes.com)
- weaponA broken bottle was found on the ground beside Mr Doherty. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationBirali left the jurisdiction and was arrested in November 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeBirali also admitted committing violent disorder with others on the same occasion. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeDunphy pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm. (irishtimes.com)
- courtBirali pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm and admitted violent disorder. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge said Birali was the author of the entire incident. (irishtimes.com)
- courtBirali withdrew his appeal against his nine-year jail term after being warned the Court of Appeal could increase the sentence. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe judge noted the guilty plea came late and attracted limited weight, and observed deficits in Dunphy's insight and empathy. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceBirali was sentenced to nine years in prison. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceCraig Maples was sentenced to seven years in prison for violent disorder and assault causing serious harm. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceBirali was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to nine years in prison after pleading guilty to assault causing serious harm to Austin Doherty at the Old Navan Road, Dublin 7, on 31 July 2022. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceCo-accused Craig Maples, 28, was jailed for seven years for violent disorder and assault causing serious harm on the same date. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceConti Birali was previously sentenced to nine years in prison for the same offence and violent disorder. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceCraig Maples was previously sentenced to seven years in prison for violent disorder and assault causing serious harm. (irishtimes.com)
- otherBirali told gardaí he had been highly intoxicated and had argued with his ex-girlfriend. (irishtimes.com)
- otherMr Doherty is a wheelchair user, and the prognosis is that his condition is unlikely to improve. (irishtimes.com)
- otherBirali had been previously in a relationship with the woman Doherty was talking to. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherBirali has three previous convictions, including a drugs offence and two minor traffic offences. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherDunphy has one previous conviction for a road traffic offence. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 9 May2026Man who took part in ‘ferocious’ attack outside Dublin casino is jailed for 10 years
Sentencing of Graham Dunphy, the last of three co-accused to be dealt with; the other two (Birali and Maples) were sentenced in 2024. Details of the attack, the victim's injuries and ongoing impairment, and the judge's reasoning are provided.
victim, Austin Doherty, 37, male, irish (judged from name)Austin Dohertyconvicted, Graham Dunphy, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)Graham Dunphyconvicted, Conti Birali, 28, male, namedConti Biraliconvicted, Craig Maples, 28, male, named, irish (judged from name)Craig Maples - 7 Oct2024Attacker in horrific beating drops appeal after judge hints at longer sentence
Reports the withdrawal of Birali's appeal at the Court of Appeal on 7 October 2024, with detailed account of the assault, the victim's injuries, and the co-accused Craig Maples's seven-year sentence.
victim, Austin Doherty, 38, male, irish (judged from name)Austin Dohertyconvicted, Conti Birali, 28, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Conti Biraliconvicted, Craig Maples, 28, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Craig Maples - 21 Mar2024Man jailed for nine years after assault outside Dublin nightclub that left victim’s head ‘nearly concave’
Sentencing of Conti Birali at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with the victim impact statement, the defence plea and the judge's remarks. It also records co-accused Craig Maples's earlier seven-year sentence.
victim, Austin Doherty, 38, male, irish (judged from name)Austin Dohertyconvicted, Conti Birali, 28, male, namedConti Biraliconvicted, Craig Maples, 28, male, named, irish (judged from name)Craig Maples