Ireland Case No. 2094Murder · Co. Dublin · 20 Jan 2021
Supreme Court remits Dublin murder sentence for new ruling
A 14-year-old boy stabbed Mongolian woman Urantsetseg Tserendorj in the neck with a knife on a walkway at the IFSC, Dublin, on 20 January 2021, after attempting to rob her as she walked home from work. She was declared brain dead on 29 January and died on 4 February 2021 when life support was turned off. He was found guilty of murder by majority jury verdict on 11 November 2022 after two trials and sentenced to life in detention with a review after 13 years in February 2023. The Court of Appeal rejected his appeals against conviction and sentence in November and December 2023. In March 2025, the Supreme Court ruled the practice of stipulating future reviews of children's sentences unconstitutional and remitted the case for a new sentence.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court2 Nov
2 reports - Convicted2 Nov
- Sentenced28 Jul
3 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A 14-year-old boy stabbed Mongolian woman Urantsetseg Tserendorj in the neck with a knife after attempting to rob her as she walked home from work.
- Where
- The stabbing occurred on a walkway between George's Dock and Custom House Quay at the IFSC, Dublin.
- When
- The stabbing took place on 20 January 2021; Ms Tserendorj was declared brain dead on 29 January and died on 4 February 2021 when life support was turned off.
- Cause
- A stab wound no bigger than 1.5cm partially severed her carotid artery, causing a lack of oxygen to the brain.
- Weapon
- The attack was carried out with a knife.
- Investigation
- The boy admitted stabbing Ms Tserendorj when gardaí called at his home the day after the attack, responding to a report of a stolen bicycle.
- Charges
- The boy denied murder but pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
- In court
- A jury found the boy guilty of murder by majority verdict on 11 November 2022 after two trials, the first of which ended in a jury disagreement.
- The Court of Appeal rejected his appeals against conviction and sentence in November and December 2023.
- The Supreme Court ruled in March 2025 that the practice of stipulating future reviews of children's sentences is unconstitutional under article 13, section 6 of the Constitution, and remitted the case for a new sentence.
- Sentence
- He was sentenced to life in detention with a review after 13 years at the Central Criminal Court in February 2023.
- Other details
- Ms Tserendorj was a mother of two who worked in Dublin city centre.
74 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA teenager has launched an appeal against his murder conviction. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe teenager's conviction for murdering Urantsetseg Tserendorj was upheld on appeal. (irishtimes.com)
- whatMs Tserendorj was stabbed in the neck. (irishtimes.com)
- whatMs Tserendorj was declared dead on the evening of January 29th, 2021. (irishtimes.com)
- whatMs Tserendorj was walking home from work alone when the teenager approached and asked for money. (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
- whatThe young man was sentenced to life in detention with a review after 13 years (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe victim was a Mongolian woman (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe stabbing happened on a walkway between George’s Dock and Custom House Quay at the IFSC, Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
- whereMs Tserendorj was stabbed in the neck on a walkway between George's Dock and Custom House Quay at the IFSC, Dublin. (thejournal.ie)
- whereMs Tserendorj was stabbed on a walkway between George's Dock and Custom House Quay at the IFSC, Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
- whereMs Tserendorj was stabbed in the neck on a walkway between George's Dock and Custom House Quay in the IFSC, Dublin. (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
- whenMs Tserendorj was stabbed on January 20th, 2021. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe stabbing took place on 20 January 2021. (thejournal.ie)
- whenMs Tserendorj was declared brain dead on the evening of 29 January 2021. (thejournal.ie)
- whenMs Tserendorj died on 4 February 2021, when life support was turned off. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe stabbing took place on January 20th, 2021. (irishtimes.com)
- whenMs Tserendorj was declared dead nine days later, on the evening of January 29th. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe teenager approached Ms Tserendorj asking for money and stabbed her when she said she had none. (irishtimes.com)
- causeMs Tserendorj died from a lack of oxygen to the brain caused by a stab wound that partially severed her carotid artery. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe teenager attempted to rob Ms Tserendorj as she walked home after work. (thejournal.ie)
- causeA stab wound no bigger than 1.5cm partially severed her carotid artery. (thejournal.ie)
- causeThe attack happened after the teenager attempted to rob her as she walked home after work. (irishtimes.com)
- causeShe died from a lack of oxygen to the brain caused by a stab wound that partially severed her carotid artery. (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
- weaponThe attack was carried out with a knife. (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe teenager admitted stabbing Ms Tserendorj when gardaí called at his home the day after the attack, responding to a report of a stolen bicycle. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe teenager denied murder but pleaded guilty to manslaughter on January 29th, 2021. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe accused denied murder but pleaded guilty to manslaughter. (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
- courtThe first trial ended with a jury disagreement. (irishtimes.com)
- courtA jury found the teenager guilty of murder last year after two trials. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe appeal argues the trial judge erred in allowing evidence of another attempted robbery by the accused. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe Court of Appeal President said the court would reserve judgment. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe teenager denied murder but pleaded guilty to manslaughter. (thejournal.ie)
- courtOn 11 November 2022 the teenager was found guilty of murder by majority jury verdict after two trials. (thejournal.ie)
- courtEvidence of the other attempted robbery was relevant, and the trial judge did not err in admitting it. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe prosecutor's remark that the teenager went for the jugular did not require the jury to be discharged. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe deceased's words to her husband were admissible as a dying declaration because she believed death was imminent. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe court found the complaints about the trial judge's conduct did not affect the fairness of the trial. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal against conviction. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe appellant had denied murder but pleaded guilty to manslaughter. (irishtimes.com)
- courtOn November 11th, 2022, the teenager was found guilty of murder by majority jury verdict after two trials. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe Court of Appeal held that none of the appellant's grounds of appeal could be upheld. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe Court of Appeal ruled that the trial judge did not err in admitting the hearsay account given by the deceased to her husband. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe appeal against conviction was dismissed. (irishtimes.com)
- courtA jury found the accused guilty of murder after two trials, the first of which ended in a jury disagreement. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe Court of Appeal had previously rejected the teenager's appeal against conviction. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe Court of Appeal rejected all grounds of the appeal against the severity of the sentence imposed by Mr Justice Tony Hunt at the Central Criminal Court in February last year. (thejournal.ie)
- courtA jury found the accused guilty of murder following two trials. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe Court of Appeal had earlier rejected the accused's appeal against conviction. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe sentence appeal argued the sentence was disproportionate. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe court ruled that life sentences should be imposed on a child only in murder cases where the child's intentions and actions resembled those of an adult (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe court ruled that a court may suspend part of a sentence in cases of a minor convicted of murder and other serious crimes (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe Supreme Court held that without legislative authority, a sentencing court may not reserve to itself the power to modify a sentence through a review mechanism (irishtimes.com)
- courtThis amounts to a breach of article 13, section 6 of Bunreacht na hÉireann (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe young man had previously, unsuccessfully, appealed his sentence to the Court of Appeal (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe case was adjourned to late March for the making of final orders (irishtimes.com)
- courtA separate Supreme Court judgment means prohibitions on naming the young man continue to apply in the proceedings (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceIn February of this year the teenager was sentenced to life in prison, subject to a review after 13 years. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceHe was sentenced to life in prison, subject to a review after 13 years. (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe teenager is serving a life sentence with a review after 13 years. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceThe Court of Appeal rejected all grounds of the appeal against the severity of the sentence. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe accused is serving a life sentence with a review after 13 years. (irishtimes.com)
- otherMs Tserendorj was declared dead on January 29th, 2021. (irishtimes.com)
- otherDuring a separate attempted robbery that night, the teenager took out a knife. (thejournal.ie)
- otherMs Tserendorj was a mother of two who worked in Dublin city centre. (thejournal.ie)
- otherMs Tserendorj was declared dead nine days later, on 29 January. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe teenager was 14 at the time of the offence. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe teenager shouted 'f**k off, get me out of this court' after the appeal was rejected. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe Court of Appeal said the robbery intent and use of the knife were clear. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe accused was 14 at the time of the offence. (irishtimes.com)
- otherWhen she said she did not have any money, he stabbed her. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe streets of Dublin were largely deserted at the time due to Covid restrictions. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe accused then cycled away and later attempted to rob another woman. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe accused shouted 'f**k off, get me out of this court' when he realised the appeal would not reduce his detention term. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe practice arose from an interpretation of section 103 of the Children Act, 1908, which was repealed in 2007 with no equivalent provision in the Children Act, 2001 (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 13 Mar2025Practice of reviewing children’s sentences unconstitutional, Supreme Court rules
Supreme Court rules that the review mechanism for children's sentences is unconstitutional under article 13, section 6 of the Constitution; case remitted to Court of Appeal for new sentence. Separate ruling confirms naming prohibitions continue to apply throughout and beyond criminal proceedings.
victim, Urantsetseg Tserendorj, female, Mongolian, non-irishUrantsetseg Tserendorjconvicted, 14, male - 19 Dec2023Tserendorj killer shouts ‘f*** off’ after appeal court declines to reduce sentence
Reports the Court of Appeal's decision on the sentence appeal: the appeal against severity was rejected, the 13-year review was upheld, and the accused shouted abuse and demanded to leave the court when he learned the sentence would not be reduced.
victim, Urantsetseg Tserendorj, female, non-irish (judged from name)Urantsetseg Tserendorjconvicted, 17, male - 19 Dec2023Urantsetseg Tserendorj's killer shouts, 'F**k off, get me out of this court', after losing appeal
Court of Appeal rejected all grounds of the appeal against sentence on 19 December 2023. It adds the court's reasoning, the 13-year review, the defendant's outburst, and details of the attack and his earlier offending.
convicted, 14, malevictim, Urantsetseg Tserendorj, female, non-irish (judged from name)Urantsetseg Tserendorj - 2 Nov2023Teen who murdered Urantsetseg Tserendorj to remain serving life sentence after appeal rejected
Court of Appeal ruling on appeal against conviction; none of the grounds of appeal were upheld, and the life sentence stands.
convicted, 14 at the time of the offence, malevictim, Urantsetseg Tserendorj, female, non-irish (judged from name)Urantsetseg Tserendorj - 2 Nov2023Teen who murdered Urantsetseg Tserendorj to remain serving life sentence after appeal rejected
The Court of Appeal rejected every ground of appeal, including the complaints about evidence, the prosecutor's opening remark, the dying declaration and the trial judge's conduct, and dismissed the appeal against conviction. The teenager remains serving his life sentence, subject to review after 13 years.
victim, Urantsetseg Tserendorj, female, non-irish (judged from name)Urantsetseg Tserendorjconvicted, 14 at the time of the offence, male - 28 Jul2023Teenager who stabbed Urantsetseg Tserendorj to death launches appeal against murder conviction
Court of Appeal hearing of the teenager's appeal against his murder conviction; the appeal centres on evidence of a second attempted robbery and the trial judge's rulings. Judgment reserved.
victim, Urantsetseg Tserendorj, female, non-irish (judged from name)Urantsetseg Tserendorjconvicted, 17, male