Ireland Case No. 1120Threatening with a weapon (knife) · Co. Limerick · 19 Aug 2025
Man jailed for knife threats at Newcastle West takeaway
Dermot Knapp Ryan, a 34-year-old man from Sharwood Estate, Newcastle West, Co Limerick, was arrested on 19 August 2025 after allegedly entering Pizza Point takeaway on Maiden Street, producing a knife, threatening staff, and smashing a window with a rolling pin, before threatening a woman driver on North Quay. He was charged the following day and remanded in custody at Limerick District Court, with the case later directed to trial by the DPP. In May 2026, Ryan pleaded guilty to burglary, criminal damage, and production of a knife at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court, where he was sentenced to four years and six months imprisonment with the final 18 months suspended.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested20 Aug
- Chargednot reported
- In court21 Aug
5 reports - Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced7 May
2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A man entered Pizza Point takeaway, produced a knife, threatened staff, smashed a window with a rolling pin, then threatened a woman driver on North Quay.
- Where
- The incident took place in the Maiden Street and North Quay areas of Newcastle West, Co Limerick.
- When
- The incident occurred at approximately 9pm on 19 August 2025.
- Weapon
- Ryan allegedly used a knife and a rolling pin taken from behind the counter.
- Investigation
- Armed gardai from the Divisional Armed Support Unit were deployed; Ryan was pepper-sprayed and batoned during his arrest and detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.
- Charges
- Ryan was charged with burglary, possession of a knife, criminal damage, production of an article, public intoxication, threatening behaviour, and criminal damage to a vehicle; the knife charge was later withdrawn and three additional charges including threats to kill were added.
- In court
- Ryan appeared before Limerick District Court on 20 August 2025, was remanded in custody, and later pleaded guilty at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court.
- Sentence
- Judge Fiona O'Sullivan sentenced Ryan to four years and six months imprisonment with the final 18 months suspended, plus a good behaviour bond of 100 euros for four years and six months.
- Other details
- Ryan had almost 100 previous convictions in Ireland and England and had resided in the United Kingdom since 2013 or 2014.
- No injuries were reported from the incident.
84 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA man in his 30s was arrested for brandishing a knife and threatening members of the public (limerickleader.ie)
- whatNo injuries have been reported (limerickleader.ie)
- whatThe man entered a number of premises while in possession of a knife (limerickleader.ie)
- whatA number of people were allegedly threatened by a male with a knife. (limerickpost.ie)
- whatNo injuries were reported. (limerickpost.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- whatA male was threatening members of the public with a knife (irishmirror.ie)
- whatDermot Knapp Ryan is aged 34 and has an address at Sharwood Estate, Newcastle West (limerickleader.ie)
- whatHe threatened to kill and stab staff while brandishing a knife at Pizza Point (limerickleader.ie)
- whatHe damaged a pane of glass in the front door using a rolling pin he took from behind the counter (limerickleader.ie)
- whatHe concealed a knife in his shorts before leaving and threatening motorists on North Quay (limerickleader.ie)
- whatHe banged on the door of a car being driven by a woman and attempted to open the door while shouting at her to get out (limerickleader.ie)
- whatHe was directed to show his hands and was observed reaching towards the front of his shorts (limerickleader.ie)
- whatA verbal warning was issued which he did not comply with, and incapacitant spray was deployed (limerickleader.ie)
- whatHe continued to resist arrest and was restrained by uniformed gardai, with armed support members arriving shortly after (limerickleader.ie)
- whatHe was arrested and conveyed to Henry Street (limerickleader.ie)
- whatA man was charged with threatening several people with a knife in Newcastle West. (limerickpost.ie)
- whatRyan pleaded guilty to burglary at Pizza Point takeaway, producing a knife and smashing a window with a rolling pin. (limerickpost.ie)
- whatRyan threatened staff members and said he would kill them. (limerickpost.ie)
- whatRyan threw the knife at a car, jumped on its bonnet, punched the driver's window and tried to open the driver's door. (limerickpost.ie)
- whereThe incident occurred in the Maiden Street and North Quay areas of Newcastle West. (limerickpost.ie)
- whereThe incident took place in the Maiden Street and North Quay areas of Newcastle West, Co Limerick (irishmirror.ie)
- whereGardaí responded to reports of a male threatening people in the Maiden Street and North Quay areas. (limerickpost.ie)
- whereThe initial charges relate to Pizza Point on Maiden Street, Newcastle West. (limerickleader.ie)
- whereThe offences took place at Pizza Point, Maiden Street, Newcastle West. (limerickleader.ie)
- whereThe burglary took place at Pizza Point takeaway in Newcastle West. (limerickpost.ie)
- whenThe incident occurred on 19 August 2025 at approximately 9pm (limerickleader.ie)
- whenThe incident occurred at approximately 9pm on Tuesday 19 August 2025. (limerickpost.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- whenAt 9.10pm on 19 August, gardai were alerted to reports of a man brandishing a knife and threatening members of the public in Maiden Street (limerickleader.ie)
- whenArmed gardaí were called to the incident on Tuesday 19 August. (limerickpost.ie)
- whenThe incident happened shortly after 9pm on 19 August. (limerickleader.ie)
- whenThe offences took place on 19 August 2025. (limerickleader.ie)
- weaponRyan is alleged to have damaged a glass pane in the front door with a rolling pin taken from behind the counter. (limerickleader.ie)
- weaponRyan is alleged to have concealed a knife in his shorts before leaving. (limerickleader.ie)
- weaponRyan pulled a knife from his shorts inside Pizza Point. (limerickleader.ie)
- weaponRyan took a knife out from inside his pants and chased staff with the blade. (limerickpost.ie)
- investigationThe man was conveyed to Newcastle West garda station (limerickleader.ie)
- investigationThe man is being detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 (limerickleader.ie)
- investigationGardaí are appealing for mobile phone or dash-cam footage from witnesses (limerickleader.ie)
- investigationThe man was arrested at a nearby location with assistance from the Divisional Armed Support Unit. (limerickpost.ie)
- investigationThe man was detained at a Garda station in County Limerick under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. (limerickpost.ie)
- investigationThe Divisional Armed Support Unit was deployed to assist (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe man was arrested at a nearby location and detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationMultiple reports were received via 999 from members of the public (limerickleader.ie)
- investigationThe Armed Support Unit was requested from Henry Street due to the risk to public safety (limerickleader.ie)
- investigationGardai searched the Sharwood Estate area and observed Mr Ryan (limerickleader.ie)
- investigationA man was arrested at a nearby location with help from the Divisional Armed Support Unit and detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. (limerickpost.ie)
- investigationGardaí received multiple 999 calls reporting a man threatening people with a knife. (limerickleader.ie)
- investigationThe Armed Support Unit was requested from Henry Street garda station due to the risk to public safety. (limerickleader.ie)
- investigationArmed gardaí from the Emergency Response Unit were deployed, and Ryan was pepper-sprayed and batoned during his arrest. (limerickpost.ie)
- chargeHe was charged with a number of offences (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeHe is charged with burglary, possession of a knife, criminal damage and production of an article at Pizza Point, Maiden Street, Newcastle West (limerickleader.ie)
- chargeHe is further charged with intoxication, threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour and criminal damage of a vehicle at North Quay, Newcastle West (limerickleader.ie)
- chargeHe was originally charged on 20 August with a number of offences following an incident in Newcastle West. (limerickpost.ie)
- chargeRyan was initially charged with burglary, possession of a knife, criminal damage and production of an article. (limerickleader.ie)
- chargeRyan is also charged with public intoxication, threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour and criminal damage to a vehicle at North Quay. (limerickleader.ie)
- chargeThree additional charges were added, including threats to kill or cause serious harm to two named individuals. (limerickleader.ie)
- chargeThe original knife charge is being withdrawn. (limerickleader.ie)
- chargeRyan pleaded guilty to burglary, criminal damage with a rolling pin and production of a knife. (limerickleader.ie)
- chargeCharges of threats to kill, public order and criminal damage to a car were taken into consideration. (limerickpost.ie)
- courtThe man appeared before a special sitting of Limerick District Court on Wednesday evening, 20 August 2025. (limerickpost.ie)
- courtHe appeared before a special sitting of Limerick District Court on Wednesday evening, 20 August 2025 (irishmirror.ie)
- courtHe appeared before Judge Fiona Brennan at Limerick District Court in Mulgrave Street, Limerick city (limerickleader.ie)
- courtA direction from the Director of Public Prosecutions in the case is awaited. (limerickpost.ie)
- courtJudge Brennan remanded the accused in custody in Limerick Prison until 9 September, pending directions from the DPP. (limerickpost.ie)
- courtThe matter is to proceed on indictment before the circuit court. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtRyan is to face trial before Limerick Circuit Court. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtRyan was remanded in continuing custody after being previously refused bail by the High Court. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtRyan appeared before Judge Fiona O’Sullivan at Limerick Circuit Court. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtRyan was jailed at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court. (limerickpost.ie)
- sentenceThe judge imposed a sentence totalling four and a half years imprisonment with the last 18 months suspended. (limerickleader.ie)
- sentenceRyan must keep the peace and be of good behaviour for four years and six months on his own bond of €100. (limerickleader.ie)
- sentenceJudge Fiona O’Sullivan jailed Ryan for four years and six months, with the final 18 months suspended. (limerickpost.ie)
- sentenceConcurrent sentences of two years were imposed for criminal damage at the premises and for possessing the knife. (limerickpost.ie)
- sentenceThe suspended 18 months could be activated if Ryan commits further offences within four years and six months. (limerickpost.ie)
- otherThe man is known to gardaí (limerickleader.ie)
- otherIt is expected that further serious charges will be preferred against Mr Ryan (limerickleader.ie)
- otherHe has resided in the United Kingdom since 2013 or 2014 (limerickleader.ie)
- otherHis barrister stated his client visited the grave of his brother, who died tragically in 2020, for the first time that day (limerickleader.ie)
- otherHe has an appointment on Friday to have an alcohol and drug chip inserted (limerickleader.ie)
- otherNo injuries were reported from the incident. (limerickpost.ie)
- otherRyan is alleged to have banged on the door of a car driven by a woman and tried to open it while shouting at her to get out. (limerickleader.ie)
- otherOther charges were to be taken into consideration, including two threats to kill, public order and criminal damage to a car. (limerickleader.ie)
- otherThe driver, a woman, drove away from the scene in panic. (limerickpost.ie)
- otherRyan had almost 100 previous convictions in Ireland and England. (limerickpost.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 13 May2026Man who threatened pizza parlour staff with knife jailed for three years
Sentencing report. The article's opening line says he was jailed for three years, but the judge's sentence later in the article is four years and six months with the final 18 months suspended. Incident date is not given.
convicted, Dermot Knapp Ryan, 34, male, named, irish (judged from name)Dermot Knapp Ryanvictim, female - 7 May2026Limerick town 'terrorised' by man armed with knife after visiting his father and brother's graves
Sentencing report. The article gives the sentence as four and a half years with the last 18 months suspended, while its photo caption says jailed for a total of three years. Also records other charges to be taken into consideration, including two threats to kill, public order and criminal damage to a car.
convicted, Dermot Knapp Ryan, 34, male, named, irish (judged from name)Dermot Knapp Ryan - 7 Nov2025Man to face trial over alleged death threats at fast food restaurant in Limerick town
Reports that the charges were updated, the knife charge was withdrawn, three additional charges were added, the DPP directed trial on indictment before the circuit court, and Ryan was remanded in custody after previously being refused bail by the High Court.
accused, Dermot Knapp Ryan, 34, male, named, irish (judged from name)Dermot Knapp Ryanvictim, female - 3 Sep2025Armed Gardaí arrested man accused of threatening people in Newcastle West with knife
Adds that the case is awaiting a DPP direction, that the accused was remanded in custody to Limerick Prison until 9 September, that no injuries were reported, and the Maiden Street and North Quay locations. Reports the accused's address as Sharwood Estate, Newcastle West.
accused, Dermot Knapp Ryan, 34, male, named, irish (judged from name)Dermot Knapp Ryan - 27 Aug2025Limerick town ‘terrorised’ for two hours by knife-wielding man with multiple calls to 999
Bail refused at special late-night sitting; remanded in custody to appear via video-link on 27 August and further to 9 September for DPP's directions. Details of the arrest (incapacitant spray, resistance, Armed Support Unit) and the woman whose car he banged on North Quay are provided.
accused, Dermot Knapp Ryan, 34, male, named, irish (judged from name)Dermot Knapp Ryanvictim, female - 21 Aug2025Man in court after allegedly threatening people with knife in Limerick town
First report of the incident and court appearance. The Divisional Armed Support Unit was deployed. No injuries were reported. The exact charges are not specified, only described as 'a number of offences'.
suspect, 30s, male - 21 Aug2025Man charged after alleged knife threats in County Limerick town
First report of the incident and the man's appearance before a special sitting of Limerick District Court.
suspect, 30s, male - 20 Aug2025BREAKING: Knife-wielding man threatens members of the public in Limerick town
Initial report of the arrest; the man is from Newcastle West, known to gardaí, and entered a number of premises with a knife; no injuries reported; gardaí appealing for mobile phone or dash-cam footage.
suspect, 30s, male