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. 21705False imprisonment; assault causing harm · Co. Dublin · 27 Aug 2022

Man sentenced to ten years for false imprisonment in Dublin

On 27 August 2022, Maurice Fitzgerald, 29, of Buttevant, Co Cork, bound and gagged a 26-year-old woman with duct tape and dragged her down Meeting House Lane in Dublin city centre. Residents heard the woman shouting and the sound of duct tape being used, and alerted gardaí who arrived to stop the attack and arrest Fitzgerald. He pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and assault causing harm. On 30 March 2023, Judge Martin Nolan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced him to ten years, with the final 18 months suspended on good behaviour and five years of Probation Service supervision after release.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced30 Mar
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Fitzgerald bound and gagged a 26-year-old woman with duct tape and dragged her down a city centre laneway.
  • He had bought duct tape and a claw hammer in a Dealz shop before the attack.
  • Residents heard the woman shouting and the sound of duct tape being used, and alerted gardaí who arrived to stop the attack and arrest the man.
Where
The attack took place at Meeting House Lane in Dublin city centre.
When
Fitzgerald travelled from Cork to Dublin on 27 August 2022.
Investigation
  • Fitzgerald was arrested at the scene and interviewed six times.
  • A search of his phone found photographs of women bound and gagged with duct tape, which were stock images from the internet or social media.
Charges
Fitzgerald pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and assault causing harm.
In court
Judge Martin Nolan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court said it was clear Fitzgerald came to Dublin that day with a plan to take a woman and was prepared to use force.
Sentence
On 30 March 2023, Fitzgerald was sentenced to ten years, with the final 18 months suspended on good behaviour and five years of Probation Service supervision after release.
Other details
  • Fitzgerald had previous convictions including sexual assault and false imprisonment in which he had used duct tape to incapacitate a woman.
  • Fitzgerald had been released from prison a year before the attack.
  • The woman, who has previously suffered from a psychiatric illness, has remained in hospital since the attack.
18 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatFitzgerald bound and gagged the woman with duct tape and dragged her down a city centre laneway. (rte.ie)
  • whatHe bought duct tape and a claw hammer in a Dealz shop. (rte.ie)
  • whatResidents heard the woman shouting and the sound of duct tape being used, and alerted gardaí. (rte.ie)
  • whatGardaí arrived in time to stop the attack and arrest the man. (rte.ie)
  • whatThe woman was found with her ankles bound, hands taped behind her back, and gagged with duct tape that had to be cut off with a knife. (rte.ie)
  • whatThe woman was incoherent and could only tell gardaí her first name. (rte.ie)
  • whereThe attack took place at Meeting House Lane in Dublin city centre. (rte.ie)
  • whenFitzgerald travelled from Cork to Dublin on 27 August 2022. (rte.ie)
  • investigationFitzgerald was arrested and interviewed six times. (rte.ie)
  • investigationA search of his phone found various photographs of women bound and gagged with duct tape, which were stock images from the internet or social media. (rte.ie)
  • investigationThere was also a photo of an unknown woman that Fitzgerald had been seen on CCTV taking on the Luas. (rte.ie)
  • courtJudge Martin Nolan imposed a ten-year sentence. (rte.ie)
  • courtJudge Nolan said it was clear Fitzgerald came to Dublin that day with a plan to take a woman and was prepared to use force. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge suspended the final 18 months on condition Fitzgerald be of good behaviour while in custody and be supervised by the Probation Service for five years after release. (rte.ie)
  • otherFitzgerald had previous convictions including sexual assault and false imprisonment in which he had used duct tape to incapacitate a woman. (rte.ie)
  • otherFitzgerald had been released from prison a year before the latest attack. (rte.ie)
  • otherHaving previously suffered from a psychiatric illness, the woman has remained in hospital since. (rte.ie)
  • otherDefence Counsel Michael Bowman said his client had spent a considerable amount of his 20s in custody and had pleaded guilty at an early stage and apologised. (rte.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 30 Mar2023
    Sentencedrte.ie, first report
    Serial offender who bound and gagged woman jailed

    Sentencing hearing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court where Fitzgerald received a 10-year sentence (18 months suspended) for false imprisonment and assault causing harm. The court heard CCTV and doorbell camera footage, witness testimony from residents, and details of his previous convictions including sexual assault and false imprisonment.

    victim, 26, femaleconvicted, Maurice Fitzgerald, 29, male, named, irish (judged from name)Maurice Fitzgerald