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. 29678Assisting an offender · Co. Dublin · 7 Aug 2017

Man sentenced for assisting an offender in Balgaddy meat cleaver attack

On 7 August 2017, a man walking past Balgaddy playground in Dublin was struck on the arm with a meat cleaver and beaten around the head by a group of six young men, shattering his arm in two places and leaving him with limited use of the arm. Aaron Dardis, a 25-year-old man, was charged with assisting an offender after gardaí traced a blue Nissan Micra, in which a passer-by saw one of the attackers getting in, back to him. At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in October 2021, Judge Melanie Greally handed Dardis a 12-month sentence, suspended on conditions, noting he had no previous convictions and a probation report found him at low risk of re-offending.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced12 Oct
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • A man was struck on the arm with a meat cleaver and beaten around the head by a group of six young men, shattering his arm in two places and leaving him with limited use of the arm.
  • The victim had initially been approached by two young men near his kitchen, from which he took out a knife, causing them to run away before the larger group arrived.
Where
The attack took place near Balgaddy playground in Dublin.
When
The incident occurred on 7 August 2017.
Weapon
A meat cleaver and a bike chain were used in the attack.
Investigation
Gardaí traced a blue Nissan Micra, in which a passer-by saw one of the attackers getting in, back to Aaron Dardis.
Charges
Aaron Dardis, a 25-year-old man, was charged with assisting an offender.
In court
The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with Antonia Boyle BL prosecuting and Phillip Rahn SC defending.
Sentence
Judge Melanie Greally handed Dardis a 12-month sentence, suspended on conditions, in October 2021.
Other details
Dardis had no previous convictions, a probation report found him at low risk of re-offending, and he had a steady job, a nine-year relationship, and two children.
17 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe victim's arm was shattered in two places by a meat cleaver and he has limited use of his arm since. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatThe victim took out a knife from his kitchen, causing the two men to run away. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatThe victim was then approached by a gang of six young men armed with a meat cleaver and a bike chain among other weapons. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatThe victim was struck on the arm with the meat cleaver and beaten around the head with other implements before a passer-by intervened. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatA passer-by witnessed one of the men getting into a blue Nissan Micra car. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatDardis said he put his baby to bed, heard a commotion, and got into his car to check it out. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatDardis said a group of kids asked if he would give them a lift as they were going to a fight. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatDardis dropped the young men off, turned the car around, and picked one of the young men up on the way back. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereThe victim was walking past Balgaddy playground when he was approached by two young men. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationThe blue Nissan Micra was traced back to Dardis by gardaí. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtJudge Melanie Greally noted Dardis has no previous convictions and has not amassed any convictions since the offence over three years ago. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtDetective Garda Damien Reilly gave evidence to Antonia Boyle BL, who was prosecuting. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtPhillip Rahn SC was defending Dardis. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceAaron Dardis was given a one-year suspended sentence for assisting the perpetrators of a meat cleaver attack. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge handed down a 12-month sentence but suspended it on a number of conditions. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherDardis had grown up in a socially deprived area, had a steady job, been in a relationship for nine years, and had two children. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherA probation report found Dardis to be at low risk of re-offending. (thejournal.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 12 Oct2021
    Sentencedthejournal.ie, first report
    Man avoids jail for assisting perpetrators of meat cleaver attack

    Reports the sentencing of Aaron Dardis for assisting an offender in connection with a meat cleaver assault at Balgaddy, Dublin, in August 2017.

    convicted, Aaron Dardis, 25, male, named, irish (judged from name)Aaron Dardisvictim, male