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. 29634Aggravated burglary · Co. Louth · 15 Apr 2019

Man sentenced for aggravated burglary in Dundalk

Joel Maguire, a 21-year-old man from Muirhevnamor, Dundalk, was sentenced at Dundalk Circuit Court on 14 October 2021 for an aggravated burglary committed on 15 April 2019. He had pushed a woman in her 60s back into her home and held a knife to her throat while looking for her son, then left with a pillow case containing an aftershave set, two watches, and a jewellery box. Maguire was arrested on the day of the incident and has been in custody since. He pleaded guilty and received a four-year term with the final 18 months suspended for three years, back-dated to 15 April 2019.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced14 Oct
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • A 21-year-old man pushed a woman in her 60s back into her home and held a knife to her throat during an aggravated burglary.
  • The defendant was looking for the victim's son and returned to her home about 10 minutes after first visiting.
  • The defendant left the house about 10 minutes later carrying a pillow case containing an aftershave set, an Armani watch, a Pulsar watch, and a small jewellery box with the son's name engraved.
Where
The incident took place in Muirhevnamor, Dundalk, County Louth.
When
The incident and the defendant's arrest both occurred on 15 April 2019.
Investigation
The defendant has been in custody since his arrest on the day of the incident.
Charges
The defendant pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary.
In court
The case was heard at Dundalk Circuit Court.
Sentence
The defendant was sentenced to four years with the final 18 months suspended for three years, back-dated to 15 April 2019.
Other details
  • The defendant had 30 previous convictions and had begun abusing drugs following the death of the first of two siblings.
  • The defendant expressed his shame in a letter of apology and said he never wants to touch drugs again.
18 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe defendant is 21 years old (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatThe victim is a woman in her 60s (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatThe defendant was looking for the victim's son (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatThe defendant pushed the woman back into the house and held a knife to her throat (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatHe waved the knife at the woman to follow him up the stairs, which he climbed three at a time (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatThe defendant left the house about 10 minutes later carrying a pillow case (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatThe pillow case contained an aftershave set, an Armani watch, a Pulsar watch, and a small jewellery box with the son's name engraved (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatThe defendant is now clean of all substances (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatThe defendant had begun abusing drugs following the death of the first of two siblings (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatThe defendant had 30 previous convictions (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatThe defendant expressed his shame in a letter of apology and said he never wants to touch drugs again (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whereThe defendant lives at Doolargy Avenue, Muirhevnamor, Dundalk (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whereThe defendant went to his own home in the same estate (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • investigation15 April 2019 was the day of the defendant's arrest (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • investigationThe defendant has been in custody since his arrest on the day of the incident (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • courtThe case was heard at Dundalk Circuit Court (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • courtThe defendant pleaded guilty to the offence (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • sentenceThe sentence was back-dated to 15 April 2019 (dundalkdemocrat.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 14 Oct2021
    Sentenceddundalkdemocrat.ie, first report
    Dundalk man who held a knife to a female neighbour's throat jailed

    Reports the sentencing of Joel Maguire for an aggravated burglary in Muirhevnamor, Dundalk, in which he held a knife to a woman in her 60s's throat. He received a four-year term with the final 18 months suspended for three years, back-dated to his arrest on 15 April 2019.

    accused, Joel Maguire, 21, male, named, irish (judged from name)Joel Maguirevictim, 60s, female