Ireland Man sentenced to six years for harassing and threatening ex-partner in Dublin
Between 26 June 2024 and 18 January 2025, Michael Mooney, a 41-year-old man, harassed his ex-partner Nicola Sweetman in Dublin. He placed a complex tracking device on her car and sent her texts saying he could "meat cleaver everyone to death". He admitted making a threat to kill or cause serious harm on 15 January 2025 and pleaded guilty to harassment, which spared the victim from testifying at trial. Mooney was sentenced to six years' imprisonment, reduced from a headline sentence of seven-and-a-half years, with the sentence backdated to the day of sentencing; the latest reports of the sentence are dated May 2026.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced1 May
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Michael Mooney pleaded guilty to harassing Nicola Sweetman between 26 June 2024 and 18 January 2025.
- Mooney sent the victim texts saying he could "meat cleaver everyone to death".
- Where
- Mooney placed a complex tracking device on the victim's car.
- When
- On 17 January 2025 Mooney texted the victim about her movements in her car.
- One source dates the sentencing report 1 May 2026, while another dates it 8 May 2026.
- Investigation
- Mechanics at a garage found the tracking device in the victim's car.
- Other details
- Mooney admitted in a recorded phone call that he had placed a tracking device in the victim's car.
- The victim said she and her family were forced to leave their home due to safety concerns and that she feared Mooney's next victim may not survive.
- Mooney is serving a 15-month sentence for a previous threat to kill and has 62 previous convictions.
- Charges
- Mooney admitted making a threat to kill or cause serious harm on 15 January 2025.
- In court
- The judge said the guilty plea spared the victim from testifying at trial.
- Sentence
- Mooney was sentenced to six years' imprisonment, from a headline sentence of seven-and-a-half years reduced for mitigating factors.
- The sentence was backdated to start from the day of sentencing.
15 statements extracted from the articles
- whatMooney pleaded guilty to harassment between 26 June 2024 and 18 January 2025. (thejournal.ie)
- whatMooney sent the victim texts saying he could meat cleaver everyone to death. (thejournal.ie)
- whatThe victim said she and her family were forced to leave their home due to safety concerns. (thejournal.ie)
- whereMooney placed a complex tracking device on the victim's car. (thejournal.ie)
- whenOn 17 January 2025 Mooney texted the victim about her movements in her car. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationMechanics at a garage found the tracking device in the victim's car. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeMooney admitted making a threat to kill or cause serious harm on 15 January 2025. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe judge said the guilty plea spared the victim from testifying at trial. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceMooney was sentenced to six years' imprisonment. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceThe judge set a headline sentence of seven-and-a-half years, reduced to six years for mitigating factors. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceThe sentence was backdated to start from the day of sentencing. (thejournal.ie)
- otherMooney admitted in a recorded phone call that he had placed a tracking device in the victim's car. (thejournal.ie)
- otherMooney is serving a 15-month sentence for a previous threat to kill. (thejournal.ie)
- otherMooney has 62 previous convictions. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe victim said she feared Mooney's next victim may not survive. (thejournal.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 1 May2026Woman fears ex-partner’s ‘next victim may not survive’, court hears
Reports the sentencing: six-year sentence after a headline of seven-and-a-half years, the start date of the sentence, Mooney's 62 previous convictions and his current custody for an earlier threat to kill, and the victim impact statements.
convicted, Michael Mooney, 41, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael Mooneyvictim, Nicola Sweetman, female, irish (judged from name)Nicola Sweetman