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. 0060Burglary · Co. Dublin · 3 Apr 2025

Man jailed over Dublin 8 restaurant burglary

On 3 April 2025, Michael Joyce (50, male, of no fixed abode) was arrested at a Dublin 8 restaurant with another man, who has not been named, after a witness saw them leaving and called gardaí. Joyce pleaded guilty to one count of burglary on his trial date. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced him to two years and six months at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, backdated to when he went into custody, with sentencing taking place on Friday 23 October and reported on 25 October 2026. The latest development is that Joyce has been sentenced.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced25 Oct
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Michael Joyce (50) was charged with one count of burglary of a Dublin 8 restaurant on 3 April 2025.
  • The restaurant had been ransacked and its window damaged, at a cost of €1,200.
When
  • The burglary took place in the early hours of 3 April 2025.
  • Sentencing took place on Friday 23 October, and the case was reported on 25 October 2026.
Investigation
  • A witness sitting in his car on his way to work saw two men climbing out of the restaurant and called gardaí.
  • Gardaí arrived within minutes, caught the men leaving with a till and several iPads, and arrested both men at the scene.
Other details
  • All stolen items were recovered and returned to the restaurant, which operated without a till for several days.
  • Joyce has 110 previous convictions, including two for rape from the Central Criminal Court and 46 road traffic matters, with his first conviction recorded in 1993.
  • Joyce was homeless at the time of the offence and was limping and using a crutch because of a significant leg injury.
  • Medical professionals have told Joyce he will need to have his leg amputated in the future.
  • Joyce began drinking at age nine, began using drugs at 17, and is a long-term heroin user; in prison he is an enhanced prisoner, drug-free, and involved in education.
Charges
Joyce pleaded guilty to the single burglary count on his trial date.
In court
The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with John Quirke BL prosecuting.
Sentence
Judge Orla Crowe sentenced Joyce to two years and six months, backdated to when he went into custody.
16 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatMichael Joyce pleaded guilty to one count of burglary of a Dublin 8 restaurant on April 3, 2025 (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatA witness sitting in his car on his way to work saw two men climbing out of the restaurant and called the gardaí (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatGardaí arrested both men at the scene (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe restaurant had been ransacked and the window was damaged, costing €1,200 (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatAll stolen items were recovered and returned to the restaurant (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe restaurant had to operate without a till for several days (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe sentencing took place on Friday, October 23 (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Orla Crowe sentenced Joyce to two years and six months, backdated to when he went into custody (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherJoyce has 110 previous convictions including two for rape from the Central Criminal Court and 46 road traffic matters (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherJoyce's first record of conviction is from 1993 (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherJoyce was homeless at the time of the offence (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherJoyce was limping and using a crutch due to a significant leg injury (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherJoyce began drinking at age nine and using drugs at 17, becoming a long-term heroin user (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherJoyce has been told by medical professionals he needs to have his leg amputated in the future (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherJoyce is an enhanced prisoner, is drug-free, and is involved in education in prison (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 25 Oct2026
    Sentencedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Vigilant witness helped gardaí catch restaurant burglar ‘red-handed’

    Reports the sentencing of Michael Joyce to two years and six months for the burglary, including details of how a witness spotted the two men leaving the restaurant and the court's consideration of his 110 previous convictions, homelessness, and medical issues.

    convicted, Michael Joyce, 50, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael Joyce