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. 21335Assault causing harm · Co. Dublin · 16 Feb 2020

Man who beat 11-year-old son with umbrella given suspended sentence

On 16 February 2020, a 42-year-old taxi driver beat his 11-year-old son 20 times with a metal umbrella at their Dublin home after locking the boy out of the house in the rain. The boy suffered bruising to his torso and a cut to his knee, and the man reportedly told him not to tell his mother or he would be 'thrown in the hell fire by God'. The man pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to one count of assault causing harm to the child. On 27 April 2023, Judge Elma Sheahan handed him a six-month sentence suspended in full, conditional on his completing a six-month conflict resolution course.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced27 Apr
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
The man beat his 11-year-old son 20 times with an umbrella.
Where
The assault happened in the man's home in Dublin.
When
The assault happened on 16 February 2020.
Cause
The man had locked the boy out of the house in the rain.
Weapon
The umbrella used was a metal umbrella.
Charges
The man pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm to the child.
In court
  • The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
  • Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced the man, with the sentencing reported on 27 April 2023.
Sentence
  • The judge handed down a six-month sentence, suspended in full.
  • The suspension is conditional on the man continuing a conflict resolution course for another six months.
Other details
  • The boy suffered bruising to his torso and a cut to his knee.
  • The man told the boy not to tell his mother or he would be thrown in the hell fire by God.
  • The man has no previous convictions.
  • The boy's victim impact statement was handed in but not read out at his request.
14 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe man beat his 11-year-old son 20 times with an umbrella. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereThe assault happened in the man's Dublin home. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe assault happened on 16 February 2020. (thejournal.ie)
  • causeThe man had locked the boy out of the house in the rain. (thejournal.ie)
  • weaponThe umbrella used was a metal umbrella. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeThe man pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm to the child. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtJudge Elma Sheahan sentenced the man. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge handed down a six-month sentence, suspended in full. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceThe suspended sentence is conditional on the man continuing a conflict resolution course for another six months. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe boy suffered bruising to his torso and a cut to his knee. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe man told the boy not to tell his mother or he would be thrown in the hell fire by God. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe man has no previous convictions. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe boy's victim impact statement was handed in but not read out at his request. (thejournal.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 27 Apr2023
    Sentencedthejournal.ie, first report
    Man who beat 11-year-old son with umbrella given suspended sentence

    No matching existing case. This is the report of the sentencing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, including the suspended six-month sentence and its conditions.

    convicted, 42, malevictim, 11, male