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. 1826False imprisonment, assault causing harm · Co. Dublin · 13 Nov 2022

Supreme Court upholds 5½-year sentence for Dublin false imprisonment and assault

In the early hours of 13 November 2022, Soufiane Mountassir, a 40-year-old man, forced his former partner into the boot of her car in Dublin 8 and then beat and kicked her for one hour and 40 minutes on Blackhall Street, Dublin 7. Mountassir pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and assault causing harm at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in December 2023 and was sentenced to three years. The DPP appealed the sentence as unduly lenient, and the Court of Appeal in October 2024 increased it to five and a half years. In December 2025, the Supreme Court unanimously dismissed Mountassir's appeal and upheld the five-and-a-half-year sentence, clarifying that an intimate relationship is an aggravating factor under the Domestic Violence Act 2018.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court21 Apr
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced21 Dec
    2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • In the early hours of 13 November 2022, Mountassir forced his former partner into the boot of her car in Dublin 8 and then beat and kicked her for one hour and 40 minutes on Blackhall Street, Dublin 7.
  • The victim was punched, had her head rammed against the steering wheel, and was left with blood all over her face.
When
The offences took place in the early hours of 13 November 2022.
Cause
Mountassir had been drinking, taking Dalmane and cocaine, and smoking cannabis throughout the day of the attack.
Investigation
  • Three separate witnesses called gardaí about the attack in different areas of the city, and gardaí found the woman with her face and clothing covered in blood.
  • Mountassir was arrested on suspicion of drink driving and later arrested for these offences.
Charges
Mountassir pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in December 2023 to false imprisonment and assault causing harm after initially taking a trial date.
Sentence
Judge Orla Crowe sentenced Mountassir to three years for false imprisonment, taking the assault charge into consideration, backdated to 13 November 2022.
In court
  • The DPP appealed the sentence as unduly lenient, and the Court of Appeal in October 2024 overturned it and imposed five and a half years.
  • In December 2025, a five-judge Supreme Court unanimously dismissed Mountassir's appeal and upheld the five-and-a-half-year sentence, with Ms Justice Iseult O'Malley stating an intimate relationship is an aggravating factor under section 40 of the Domestic Violence Act 2018.
Other details
Mountassir is wanted in Germany for an arson offence, and a European Arrest Warrant was issued.
41 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe man forced the woman into the boot of her own car. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe man subjected the woman to hours of being beaten and kicked, causing her to fear for her life. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe woman said she had blood all over her face after being smashed onto the car boot. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatMountassir is 40 years old and lives at Mountjoy Square, Dublin 1. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatMountassir had been drinking, taking Dalmane and cocaine, and smoking cannabis throughout the day of the attack. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe victim was beaten and kicked for one hour and 40 minutes, including being punched and having her head rammed against the steering wheel. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe victim was forced into the car boot for 10 minutes before being manhandled into the passenger seat. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHe beat and kicked his former partner for one hour and 40 minutes, including punching her and ramming her head against the steering wheel. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereMountassir pleaded guilty to false imprisonment in Dublin 8 and assault causing harm on Blackhall Street, Dublin 7. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe assault took place on Blackhall Street, Dublin 7, and the false imprisonment in Dublin 8. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe attack took place in the early hours of 13 November 2022. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe incident occurred in the early hours of 13 November 2022. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe offences took place in the early hours of November 13th, 2022. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeHe had been drinking and taking drugs throughout the day of the attack. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThree separate witnesses called gardaí about the attack in different areas of the city. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí found the woman with her face and clothing covered in blood. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationMountassir was arrested on suspicion of drink driving and later arrested for these offences. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeMountassir pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and assault causing harm after initially taking a trial date. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeHe pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in December 2023 to false imprisonment in Dublin 8 and assault causing harm on Blackhall Street, Dublin 7. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeMountassir pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in December 2023 to false imprisonment and assault causing harm. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtJudge Orla Crowe described the incident as a sustained, humiliating, violent series of offending. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe judge listed the aggravating factors as a huge breach of trust, the violence and the placing of the woman in the boot. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe Supreme Court is to consider the proper approach to sentencing for violent offences in intimate-partner relationships. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe Court of Appeal decided in October 2024 that his original three-year sentence was too lenient. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe DPP appealed the sentence as unduly lenient. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe appeal raises the proper application of the Domestic Violence Act 2018, an issue not previously considered by the Supreme Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe Court of Appeal overturned the sentence as unduly lenient and imposed 5½ years after a DPP appeal. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtA five-judge Supreme Court unanimously dismissed his appeal and upheld the higher sentence. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtMs Justice Iseult O'Malley said an intimate relationship is an aggravating factor under section 40 of the Domestic Violence Act 2018. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceMountassir was sentenced to three years imprisonment. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe sentence was backdated to 13 November 2022, when he went into custody. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceMountassir is serving a 5½-year sentence. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceJudge Orla Crowe imposed a three-year sentence for false imprisonment, taking the assault charge into consideration. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe Court of Appeal overturned the sentence and imposed 5½ years. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceA man jailed for 5½ years for forcing his then partner into the boot of her car and beating her lost a Supreme Court appeal against his sentence. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe Circuit Court set a headline sentence of five years and imposed a three-year sentence for false imprisonment, taking the assault charge into consideration. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe judge noted mitigating features including his guilty plea, remorse and a difficult background. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe woman said she has become afraid of her own life and has anxiety since the attack. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherDefence counsel said Mountassir had been drinking, taking Dalmane and cocaine and smoking cannabis that day. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherA European Arrest Warrant was issued because Mountassir is wanted in Germany over an arson offence. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherMountassir is wanted in Germany for arson. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 5 Dec2025
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    Supreme Court upholds sentence for man who forced partner into car boot and beat her

    Supreme Court dismissed the appeal and upheld the Court of Appeal's increased sentence, clarifying how domestic violence is treated in sentencing.

    convicted, Soufiane Mountassir, 40, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Soufiane Mountassirvictim, female
  2. 21 Apr2025
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Supreme Court to consider approach to sentencing for violent offences against intimate partners

    Reports that the Supreme Court will hear Mountassir's appeal against his 5½-year sentence, raising issues of general public importance about sentencing for violent offences in intimate-partner relationships and the application of the Domestic Violence Act 2018.

    suspect, Soufiane Mountassir, 40, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Soufiane Mountassirvictim, female
  3. 21 Dec2023
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    Man who attacked former partner leaving her covered in blood after forcing her into boot of car is jailed for 3 years

    Sentencing report at Dublin Circuit Court. Gives the sentence of three years, the backdating to 13 November 2022, the court's account of the attack and the victim's impact statement.

    convicted, Soufiane Mountassir, 39, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Soufiane Mountassirvictim, female