Ireland Man sentenced for threatening and criminal damage in Dublin
Martin Cunningham, 32, of Blanchardstown, was sentenced to 2½ years in prison at Dublin Circuit Court for threatening a security guard and causing criminal damage. In February 2024 he threatened a security guard with a Stanley knife at a Lidl in Clonsilla, and in September 2025 he was on the roof of houses in Castaheany, throwing solar panels and roof tiles at gardaí while under the influence of cocaine, vodka and ketamine. He believed shadow men were after him and threatened to cut and kill the guard. Cunningham was arrested after attempting to escape, pleaded guilty to three charges, and the judge reduced a four-year headline sentence to 2½ years for his early guilty plea.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced22 Oct
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Cunningham threatened a security guard with a Stanley knife at a Lidl and later threatened to cut and kill him.
- During a rooftop standoff Cunningham threw solar panels and roof tiles at gardaí and said he would shoot them if he had a gun.
- Where
- The first incident occurred at a Lidl in Clonsilla; the second involved the roof of a house in Castaheany and three houses on Castlegrange Avenue.
- When
- The Lidl incident happened shortly before 10pm on 22 February 2024; the rooftop standoff took place on 15 September 2025.
- Cause
- Cunningham was under the influence of cocaine, vodka and ketamine and believed shadow men were after him.
- Investigation
- Cunningham was arrested after trying to escape from gardaí.
- Charges
- Cunningham pleaded guilty to three charges of threatening, producing a knife, and criminal damage.
- In court
- The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Court before judge Martin Nolan.
- Sentence
- The judge set a headline sentence of four years, reduced to 2½ years due to the early guilty plea.
- Other details
- The damage caused was €10,200 to the roofs and a nearby car.
20 statements extracted from the articles
- 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 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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