Wednesday 28 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. 6377Assault causing harm · Co. Dublin

Man jailed over knife attack on sex worker found dead in Mountjoy cell

Danilo De Silva (43), a man, attacked a sex worker with a knife at her home in Clondalkin, Co Dublin, in November 2020. He pleaded guilty to assault causing harm in June 2021 and was jailed in 2022 for three years. On 6 March 2024 he was found dead in his cell at Mountjoy Prison, and it is suspected he died in his sleep of natural causes. The Irish Prison Service, the Inspector of Prisons and gardaí are investigating, and the coroner's court will determine the cause of death.

  1. Reported
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Danilo De Silva (43) attacked a sex worker with a knife.
  • De Silva was shouting at the woman to give him money during the attack.
  • De Silva was found dead in his cell at Mountjoy Prison on the morning of 6 March 2024.
Where
The attack happened at the woman's home in Clondalkin, Co Dublin.
When
The attack took place in November 2020.
Other details
  • The victim was working as a sex worker at the apartment.
  • De Silva lived in Jigginstown, Naas, Co Kildare.
Weapon
De Silva struck the woman's head and throat with a knife.
Charges
De Silva pleaded guilty to assault causing harm in June 2021.
In court
The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Sentence
De Silva was jailed in 2022 for three years.
Cause
It is suspected that De Silva died in his sleep of natural causes, and the cause of death has not been confirmed.
Investigation
The Irish Prison Service, the Inspector of Prisons and gardaí are investigating the death, and the coroner's court will determine the cause of death.
14 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatDanilo De Silva was found dead in his cell at Mountjoy Prison. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatDe Silva attacked a sex worker with a knife. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatDe Silva was shouting at the woman to give him money during the frenzied attack. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe attack happened at the woman's home in Clondalkin. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe body was discovered in the morning. (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeIt is suspected that De Silva died in his sleep of natural causes. (irishmirror.ie)
  • weaponDe Silva struck the knife at the woman's head and throat. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationAn investigation has been launched by the Irish Prison Service, Inspector of Prisons and gardaí. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe coroner's court will determine the cause of death. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeDe Silva pleaded guilty in June 2021 to assault causing harm. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceDe Silva was jailed in 2022 for three years. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge sentenced De Silva to three years' imprisonment. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe victim was working as a sex worker at the apartment. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherDe Silva lived in Jigginstown, Naas, Co Kildare. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 6 Mar2024
    Otheririshmirror.ie, first report
    Thug who attacked sex worker with knife found dead in Mountjoy prison cell

    The article reports the death in custody of Danilo De Silva, who had been convicted of assaulting a sex worker with a knife at her Clondalkin home in November 2020. It adds the death, the investigation and the 2022 sentence.

    convicted, Danilo De Silva, 43, male, namedDanilo De Silvavictim, female