Ireland Man sentenced for criminal damage and threatening in Dublin
Martin Cunningham, a 32-year-old man from Blanchardstown, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Court in October 2026 to two and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of criminal damage and one count of production of an offensive weapon. In February 2024, he threatened a Lidl security guard in Clonsilla with a Stanley knife and a fire extinguisher, saying he would cut and kill him. In September 2025, while under the influence of cocaine, vodka and ketamine, he climbed onto the roofs of three Tuath-owned houses on Castlegrange Avenue and threw roof tiles and solar panels at 20 Gardaí for four hours before being arrested. Judge Martin Nolan set a headline sentence of four years but reduced it to two and a half years due to the early guilty plea.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced22 Oct
2 reports
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A man climbed onto the roofs of three Tuath-owned houses on Castlegrange Avenue, Dublin 15, and threw roof tiles and solar panels at 20 Gardaí for four hours.
- In a separate incident, he threatened a Lidl security guard in Clonsilla with a Stanley knife and a fire extinguisher, saying he would cut and kill him.
- Where
- The suspect lives at Sheephill Green, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15.
- When
- The Lidl incident occurred shortly before 10pm on February 22, 2024, and the rooftop standoff took place on September 15, 2025.
- Cause
- Cunningham was under the influence of cocaine, vodka and ketamine during the standoff and believed that shadow men were after him.
- Investigation
- Cunningham was arrested after trying to escape from gardaí.
- Charges
- He pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal damage and one count of production of an offensive weapon.
- In court
- The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Court before judge Martin Nolan.
- Sentence
- He was sentenced to two and a half years in prison, reduced from a headline four-year sentence due to the early guilty plea.
- Other details
- The damage caused was €10,200 to the roofs and a nearby car.
28 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA man climbed onto the roofs of three Tuath-owned houses in Dublin 15 (gript.ie)
- whatHe threw roof tiles at 20 Gardaí for four hours (gript.ie)
- whatIn a separate incident he threatened to kill a Lidl security guard in Clonsilla (gript.ie)
- whatCunningham was sentenced to 2½ years in prison for making threats and criminal damage. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe security guard said he had been threatened by a man with a Stanley knife. (irishtimes.com)
- whatCunningham threatened the security guard with a fire extinguisher. (irishtimes.com)
- whatCunningham threatened to cut and kill the security guard. (irishtimes.com)
- whatCunningham threw solar panels and roof tiles at gardaí. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe suspect lives at Sheephill Green, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15 (gript.ie)
- whereThe first incident happened in the Lidl in Clonsilla. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe second incident involved a roof of a house in Castaheany. (irishtimes.com)
- whereCunningham was on the roof of three houses on Castlegrange Avenue. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe Lidl incident happened shortly before 10pm on February 22nd, 2024. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe rooftop standoff with gardaí took place on September 15th, 2025. (irishtimes.com)
- causeCunningham was under the influence of cocaine, vodka and ketamine during the standoff. (irishtimes.com)
- causeCunningham believed that shadow men were after him. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationCunningham was arrested after trying to escape from gardaí. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal damage (gript.ie)
- chargeHe pleaded guilty to one count of production of an offensive weapon (gript.ie)
- chargeCunningham pleaded guilty to three charges. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe Dublin Circuit Court judge, Martin Nolan, said gardaí took a very patient approach during the standoff. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceHe was jailed for two years and six months (gript.ie)
- sentenceThe judge set a headline sentence of four years. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe sentence was reduced to 2½ years due to the early guilty plea. (irishtimes.com)
- otherHe was high on drink and drugs during the incident (gript.ie)
- otherThe security guard said he was left in fear of his life and his partner asked him to quit his job. (irishtimes.com)
- otherCunningham said he would shoot gardaí if he had a gun. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe damage caused was €10,200 to the roofs and a nearby car. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 22 Oct2026Man (32) thought ‘shadow men’ were after him during rooftop standoff with armed gardaí
Provides full detail of the sentencing hearing at Dublin Circuit Court, including the Lidl incident in February 2024, the rooftop standoff details, Cunningham's drug use and belief in 'shadow men', and the judge's reasoning for reducing the headline four-year sentence to two and a half years.
convicted, Martin Cunningham, 32, male, named, irish (judged from name)Martin Cunninghamvictim, male - 22 Oct2026Intoxicated man threw roof tiles at 20 Gardaí for four hours - Gript
Provides the specific sentence (two years and six months), the suspect's full address, details of the roof incident (three Tuath-owned houses, 20 Gardaí, four hours, high on drink and drugs), and the exact charges (two counts of criminal damage, one count of production of an offensive weapon).