Thursday 5 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. 30218Causing serious harm (intentionally or recklessly) · Co. Dublin · 13 Jun 2020

Man jailed over serious harm to mother and stepfather in Darndale

On 13 June 2020 at Snowdrop Walk, Darndale, Dublin, Phyllis Dreelan, a woman, suffered knife wounds, and David Dignam, a man, was found unconscious with multiple stab wounds. Conor Dreelan, a 25-year-old man, is the suspect named in the reports, and he was initially charged with attempted murder. Those charges were dropped, he pleaded guilty to causing serious harm, and the court accepted that a cocaine-induced psychotic episode was a mitigating factor. On 3 September 2021 he was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court to four years in total, which is the latest development.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced3 Sep
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Phyllis Dreelan had knife wounds to her neck, chest and upper arm and was in hospital for two weeks.
  • David Dignam was unconscious on arrival at hospital with multiple deep stab wounds, was admitted to intensive care and was released from hospital on 1 July 2020.
  • Ms Dreelan said she saw Conor standing over David with something in his right hand, stabbing him.
Where
The assault took place at Snowdrop Walk, Darndale, Dublin.
When
The incident occurred on 13 June 2020, and the parents were asleep in a downstairs room at about 7.20am.
Cause
Dreelan had taken two grams of cocaine the day before the assault.
Charges
Attempted murder charges were dropped and Dreelan pleaded guilty to causing serious harm.
In court
Michael Bowman SC appeared for the DPP, and Patrick Gageby SC was defending with John Griffin BL.
Sentence
  • Conor Dreelan was jailed for four years at the Central Criminal Court.
  • Dreelan was sentenced to six years on each count, with two years suspended on condition of good behaviour and probation supervision, and both sentences were to run concurrently.
Other details
  • Mr Justice Michael White said Dreelan was entitled to a lesser sentence due to his temporary psychotic condition.
  • Dreelan has since received a diagnosis of an acute psychotic episode secondary to drug consumption.
17 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatPhyllis Dreelan had knife wounds to her neck, chest, and upper arm (thejournal.ie)
  • whatPhyllis Dreelan was in hospital for two weeks (thejournal.ie)
  • whatDavid Dignam was unconscious on arrival at hospital with multiple deep stab wounds (thejournal.ie)
  • whatDavid Dignam was admitted to intensive care and released from hospital on 1 July 2020 (thejournal.ie)
  • whatMs Dreelan saw Conor standing over David with something in his right hand, stabbing him (thejournal.ie)
  • whereThe assault took place at Snowdrop Walk, Darndale (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe incident occurred on 13 June 2020 (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe parents were asleep in a downstairs room at about 7.20am (thejournal.ie)
  • causeDreelan had taken two grams of cocaine the day before the assault (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeThe attempted murder charges were dropped and Dreelan pleaded guilty to causing serious harm (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceConor Dreelan was jailed for four years at the Central Criminal Court (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceDreelan was sentenced to six years on each count with two years suspended on condition of good behaviour and probation supervision (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceBoth sentences were to run concurrently (thejournal.ie)
  • otherMr Justice Michael White said Dreelan was entitled to a lesser sentence due to his temporary psychotic condition (thejournal.ie)
  • otherDreelan has since received a diagnosis of an acute psychotic episode secondary to drug consumption (thejournal.ie)
  • otherPatrick Gageby SC was defending with John Griffin BL (thejournal.ie)
  • otherMichael Bowman SC was for the DPP (thejournal.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 3 Sep2021
    Sentencedthejournal.ie, first report
    Jail term for man who stabbed mother and step-father during drug induced psychotic episode

    Sentencing report: Dreelan pleaded guilty to causing serious harm after attempted murder charges were dropped. Sentenced to six years on each count with two years suspended, running concurrently, totalling four years. Psychiatric evidence of cocaine-induced psychosis accepted as mitigating factor.

    convicted, Conor Dreelan, 25, male, named, irish (judged from name)Conor Dreelanvictim, Phyllis Dreelan, female, irish (judged from name)Phyllis Dreelanvictim, David Dignam, male, irish (judged from name)David Dignam