Sunday 1 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. 18476Robbery · Co. Dublin · 4 May 2021

Man sentenced for robbing pregnant girlfriend in Dublin

Daragh Houlihan, 33, of Newbridge, Co. Kildare, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbing his pregnant girlfriend of her phone after assaulting her at her home on Rathmines Road, Dublin, on 4 May 2021. He pushed the woman several times, including onto the ground, and threw her phone over a wall before locking the front door from outside. He was arrested the following day at Mater Hospital, where he was being treated for a hand injury, and told gardaí he had taken the phone but denied any violent behaviour. On 26 January 2024, Judge Orla Crowe sentenced him to a headline term of three years, reduced to two years and three months, suspended for three years on strict conditions including no further contact with the victim.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court27 Feb
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced26 Jan
    2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Houlihan assaulted his pregnant girlfriend at her home, pushed her several times including onto the ground, and threw her phone over a wall before locking the front door from outside.
Where
The incident took place on Rathmines Road, Dublin.
When
The incident occurred on 4 May 2021 at approximately 5.30pm.
Cause
Houlihan said he took the phone because he believed the victim was texting someone about him.
Investigation
Houlihan was arrested the following day at Mater Hospital, where he was being treated for a hand injury, and told gardaí he had taken the phone but denied pushing her or any violent behaviour.
Charges
Houlihan pleaded guilty to robbery at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 27 February 2023.
In court
The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Orla Crowe, who noted that intimate partner violence is an aggravating factor.
Sentence
Judge Crowe set a headline sentence of three years, reduced to two years and three months for mitigating factors, suspended for three years on strict conditions.
Other details
  • The conditions include no further direct contact with the injured party and notifying the Probation Service if he begins a new intimate relationship.
  • Houlihan has no previous convictions and has addiction issues with cocaine and heroin, and is completing a residential treatment programme.
38 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatDaragh Houlihan, 33, of Chapel Lane, Newbridge, Co. Kildare, pleaded guilty to robbery. (kildarenow.com)
  • whatThe victim was holding a knife and the pair wrestled for it for about one minute. (kildarenow.com)
  • whatHoulihan grabbed the victim's phone when it started to ring and demanded the unlock code. (kildarenow.com)
  • whatHoulihan pushed the victim several times, including onto the ground. (kildarenow.com)
  • whatHoulihan left the apartment and locked the front door from outside. (kildarenow.com)
  • whatHoulihan threw the victim's phone over a wall and struck her with his leg. (kildarenow.com)
  • whatHoulihan said he took the phone because he believed the victim was texting someone about him. (kildarenow.com)
  • whatDaragh Houlihan pleaded guilty to robbery. (kildarenow.com)
  • whatHe stole the phone of his pregnant girlfriend after allegedly assaulting her at her home. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatHe pushed the woman several times, including onto the ground. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatHe threw the woman's phone over a wall and ran through a set of closing gates. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereThe robbery took place on Rathmines Road. (kildarenow.com)
  • whereThe robbery took place on Rathmines Road, Dublin. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe injured party was making dinner at 5.30pm when the incident began. (kildarenow.com)
  • whenThe robbery took place on 4 May 2021. (kildarenow.com, thejournal.ie)
  • causeThe man stole his pregnant girlfriend's phone after assaulting her at her home. (kildarenow.com)
  • causeThe judge said addiction played a significant role in his offending, though it was not an excuse. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationGardaí went to the Mater Hospital the next day where Houlihan was being treated for an injury to his hand. (kildarenow.com)
  • investigationHoulihan was arrested and told gardaí he had taken the phone but denied pushing her or any violent behaviour. (kildarenow.com)
  • investigationHoulihan was arrested and told gardaí during interview that he had taken the phone. (kildarenow.com)
  • investigationHe was arrested and told gardaí he had taken the phone, but denied pushing her or any violent behaviour. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeHe pleaded guilty to robbery. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe next court date is 19 June. (kildarenow.com)
  • courtA victim impact statement was read by Shaun Smyth BL, prosecuting. (kildarenow.com)
  • courtJudge Crowe noted that intimate partner violence is considered an aggravating factor under legislation. (kildarenow.com)
  • courtThe case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (kildarenow.com)
  • courtHe has no previous convictions. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtHe was assessed as at moderate risk of re-offending. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge set a headline sentence of three years, reduced to two years and three months for mitigating factors. (kildarenow.com)
  • sentenceThe sentence was suspended for three years on strict conditions. (kildarenow.com, thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceThe conditions include no further direct contact with the injured party. (kildarenow.com)
  • sentenceThe judge set a headline sentence of three years. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceThe headline sentence was reduced to two years and three months in light of mitigating factors. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceThe conditions include no further direct contact with the injured party and notifying the Probation Service if he begins a new intimate relationship. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceHe undertook to cooperate with a programme addressing intimate partner violence, anger management and offence-focused intervention. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherHoulihan has no previous convictions. (kildarenow.com)
  • otherHoulihan has addiction issues with cocaine and heroin and is completing a residential treatment programme. (kildarenow.com)
  • otherIn her victim impact statement, the woman said the incident had destroyed her sense of safety and left her terrified. (thejournal.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 26 Jan2024
    Sentencedthejournal.ie, its first report
    Suspended sentence for man who stole pregnant girlfriend's phone after alleged assault

    Reports the sentencing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court: a suspended sentence of three years on strict conditions, the judge's reasoning, and the victim impact statement.

    convicted, Daragh Houlihan, 33, male, named, irish (judged from name)Daragh Houlihanvictim, female
  2. 26 Jan2024
    Sentencedkildarenow.com, follow-up
    COURTS: Kildare man avoids jail for assaulting pregnant girlfriend

    Reports the sentencing of Daragh Houlihan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, including the headline sentence, the suspension, the conditions, the victim impact statement and mitigating factors.

    convicted, Daragh Houlihan, 33, male, named, irish (judged from name)Daragh Houlihanvictim, female
  3. 27 Feb2023
    In courtkildarenow.com, first report
    Kildare man robbed pregnant girlfriend's phone after assaulting her

    Reports the court hearing at which Houlihan pleaded guilty and the case was adjourned for a probation report; provides a detailed account of the incident including the knife struggle, the phone being taken, the victim impact statement, and defence submissions about addiction issues.

    victim, femalesuspect, Daragh Houlihan, 33, male, named, irish (judged from name)Daragh Houlihan