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. 0552Unlawful seizure, assault · Co. Dublin · 8 Jan 2026

Man sentenced to nine and a half years for Dublin car hijackings

Anthony Cooney, a 38-year-old man of no fixed abode, was sentenced to nine and a half years' imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for two violent car hijackings in Dublin city centre on 8 January 2026. He allegedly held a knife to the neck of a 70-year-old woman and a metal fork to the necks of a married couple in their 40s, demanding cash and threatening to kill them before crashing the stolen car into a commercial van. Cooney was arrested at the scene, charged with 19 offences including unlawful seizure, threats to kill, and eight counts of dangerous driving, and remanded in custody after bail was denied at Dublin District Court. The judge also disqualified him from driving for eight years, with other sentences running concurrently.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court1 Jan
    2 reports
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced1 Jul
    3 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Anthony Cooney allegedly hijacked a 70-year-old woman's car and a married couple's car on South Great George's Street, Dublin, demanding cash and threatening to kill the victims.
Where
The hijackings began on South Great George's Street in Dublin city centre, and the stolen car crashed into a commercial van at the junction of the Naas Road and Kylemore Road.
When
The first hijacking occurred at about 5pm on 8 January 2026, and the second occurred four hours later.
Weapon
Cooney allegedly used a knife on the 70-year-old woman and a metal fork on the married couple, stabbing the husband in the left upper arm.
Cause
The offending was linked to Cooney trying to get money to feed his chronic drug addiction.
Investigation
Cooney was arrested at the scene, found too intoxicated to be interviewed, and CCTV evidence was available.
Charges
Cooney entered signed pleas to 19 charges including unlawful seizure, threats to kill, and eight counts of dangerous driving.
In court
Bail was denied at Dublin District Court before Judge Brendan Toale, and Cooney was remanded in custody.
Sentence
  • Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Cooney to nine and a half years' imprisonment for the unlawful seizure involving the couple, with other sentences running concurrently.
  • Cooney was disqualified from driving for eight years.
Other details
  • Cooney, 38 (reports differ: 37), is of no fixed abode, has 70 previous convictions, and was on bail for a public order offence in Tullamore at the time.
  • The van driver and passenger were hospitalised but did not sustain serious injuries, and the second driver has almost total hearing loss as a result of the trauma.
86 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatAnthony Cooney was charged with robbery and two counts of assault causing harm to the couple. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatThe couple were assaulted, stabbed and received death threats during the alleged hijacking. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatThe woman was allegedly grabbed by the neck and a fork was held to her neck. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatThe man allegedly demanded cash and threatened to kill the wife. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatThe alleged attacker drove off, crashed into a Mercedes van and left on foot. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatAnthony Cooney is 37, of no fixed abode, recently using hostel accommodation on Lord Edward Street, Dublin 2. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe couple were in their car when a man got into the back seat. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe woman was told to get back in the car or the man would kill her husband. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe man demanded cash, telling the husband he would kill his wife. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe man grabbed the woman by the back of her neck and held a fork to it. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe car was written off. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatCooney held a knife to the neck of a 70-year-old woman after getting into her car. (thejournal.ie, irishmirror.ie)
  • whatCooney told the woman he was going to kill her. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatCooney opened the back door of the couple's car and got in. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatCooney drove the car across the city at speeds over 100km/h and broke red lights. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatThe stolen car crashed into a commercial van at the junction of the Naas road and the Kylemore road. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatCooney demanded €1,000 for the return of the car when the woman's daughter called her phone (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatCooney got into the car of a 45-year-old teacher and his wife on South Great Georges Street (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatCooney stabbed the man in the arm with the fork and punched him to the head (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe couple's ordeal lasted 15 minutes before they escaped onto a passing bus (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatCooney drove the car at speeds over 100 km/h on the wrong side of the road (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatCooney crashed into a commercial van at the junction of the Naas road and Kylemore road (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe van driver and passenger were hospitalised but did not sustain serious injuries (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe van was written off with €8,500 paid by insurers and the stolen car was written off with €31,000 paid (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatCooney said he had taken a substantial amount of drugs and could not remember the incidents (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe second driver has almost total hearing loss as a result of the trauma (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe alleged hijacking happened on South Great George's Street in Dublin. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereThe second carjacking involved a 45-year-old teacher and his wife, picked up from South Great Georges Street in Dublin city centre. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereCooney told the woman to drive to Clondalkin (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe car was tracked to Emmet Road Dublin 8 and a dining knife was found in the back (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe car was tracked to Emmet Road, Dublin 8, and a knife was found in the back. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe second hijacking began at South Great Georges Street in Dublin city centre. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe alleged incident happened on a Thursday evening. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe first carjacking happened at about 5pm on 8 January. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe first hijacking occurred at about 5pm on January 8th. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe second hijacking occurred four hours after the first. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeThe offending was linked to Cooney trying to get money to feed his chronic drug addiction. (thejournal.ie)
  • weaponThe man was allegedly stabbed several times in the left upper arm with a metal fork. (thejournal.ie)
  • weaponThe man used a metal fork to stab the husband several times in the left upper arm. (irishtimes.com)
  • weaponA dining knife was found in the back of the car. (thejournal.ie)
  • weaponA fork, which the victims thought was a knife, was held to the necks of the couple. (thejournal.ie)
  • weaponThe weapon Cooney used on the couple was a fork, not a knife (irishmirror.ie)
  • weaponCooney held a knife to the neck of a 70-year-old woman in the first hijacking. (irishtimes.com)
  • weaponCooney pulled out a weapon later identified as a fork in the second hijacking. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí stopped the accused, who allegedly matched the description and was said to have the car key. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationThe court heard there was CCTV evidence, though the prosecution's evidence could be challenged at trial. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationGardaí stopped the accused who allegedly matched the description and had the car key. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationCCTV evidence was available. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationCooney was arrested at the scene and was too intoxicated to be interviewed. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationCooney was arrested at the scene and found too intoxicated to be interviewed (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeGardaí said they would seek further charges, including false imprisonment. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeHe was charged with robbery and two counts of assault causing harm. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeGarda McConkey said he would be seeking further charges including false imprisonment. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeCooney was charged at Dublin District Court and refused bail. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeCooney entered signed pleas to 19 charges. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeCooney entered signed pleas to 19 charges including unlawful seizure, threats to kill, and eight counts of dangerous driving (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtBail was denied when Cooney appeared before Judge Brendan Toale at Dublin District Court. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtCooney was remanded in custody to appear again for directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtCooney made no reply when charged and has not entered a plea. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtLegal aid was granted. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtBail was denied at Dublin District Court before Judge Brendan Toale. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtHe was remanded in custody to appear in court on Thursday for DPP directions. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe sentencing was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceCooney was sentenced to nine and a half years for the unlawful seizure involving the couple. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceThe other sentences were ordered to run concurrently. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceCooney was disqualified from driving for eight years. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Martin Nolan imposed a sentence of nine and a half years for the unlawful seizure involving the couple (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceCooney was sentenced to 9½ years' imprisonment. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe couple, in their 40s, could not attend the hearing as they were traumatised but had given statements. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe driver and passenger of the van were hospitalised but did not sustain serious injuries. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe maximum penalty for the unlawful seizure is 15 years. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherCooney has 70 previous convictions, including burglary, robbery and car theft. (thejournal.ie, irishmirror.ie)
  • otherCooney was on bail for a public order offence committed in Tullamore at the time of the hijackings (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherCooney began using drugs before age 10 and was using heroin at 12 (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherAnthony Cooney is 38 years old. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherCooney is described as a chronic drug addict. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe maximum penalty available to the court is 15 years. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherOther sentences on other offences were imposed to run concurrently. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe woman left her mobile phone in the car and Cooney demanded €1,000 for its return. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherCooney held the fork to the necks of the couple in turn. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherCooney stabbed the man in the arm with the fork and punched him in the head. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherCooney directed the man to drive through red lights at pedestrian crossings. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherCooney demanded the driver hand over the keys and cash. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe couple escaped and got on a passing bus after 15 minutes. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe couple's ordeal lasted 15 minutes. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherCooney drove the stolen car across the city and crashed into a commercial van. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 22 Jul2026
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    Man jailed for 9½ years after two violent car hijackings in Dublin

    Reports the sentencing of Anthony Cooney for two car hijackings, including details of both incidents, the weapons used, and the judge's comments on the trauma caused to victims.

    suspect, Anthony Cooney, 38, male, named, irish (judged from name)Anthony Cooneyvictim, 70, femalevictim, 45, malevictim, female
  2. 21 Jul2026
    Sentencedirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Drug addict jailed for hijackings after threats to kill woman and married couple

    Sentencing report detailing the two hijackings, victim impact statements, Cooney's drug addiction history, and the judge's remarks.

    convicted, Anthony Cooney, 38, male, named, irish (judged from name)Anthony Cooneyvictim, 70, femalevictim, 45, malevictim, female
  3. 1 Jul2026
    Sentencedthejournal.ie, first report
    Man who threatened to kill victims in two Dublin carjackings jailed for nine-and-a-half years

    Reports the sentencing of Anthony Cooney, including the sentence length, concurrent sentences, driving disqualification, victim impact and his previous convictions.

    convicted, Anthony Cooney, 38, male, named, irish (judged from name)Anthony Cooneyvictim, 70, femalevictim, 45, malevictim, femalevictimvictim
  4. 10 Jan2026
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Couple ‘traumatised’ after violent car hijacking in Dublin city centre, court hears

    Bail denied; further charges including false imprisonment expected; CCTV evidence available; couple traumatised and unable to attend hearing.

    accused, Anthony Cooney, 37, male, named, irish (judged from name)Anthony Cooneyvictim, 40s, malevictim, 40s, female
  5. 1 Jan2026
    In courtthejournal.ie, follow-up
    Couple 'traumatised' after alleged violent car hijacking in Dublin City centre, court hears

    Court report: Cooney was charged with robbery and two counts of assault causing harm, refused bail by Judge Brendan Toale at Dublin District Court and remanded in custody. Gardaí said they would seek further charges including false imprisonment. The couple were described as traumatised and the court heard CCTV evidence existed.

    accused, Anthony Cooney, 37, male, named, irish (judged from name)Anthony Cooneyvictim, 40s, femalevictim, 40s, male