Wednesday 28 October 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. 4393False imprisonment, assault causing harm · Co. Dublin · 13 Nov 2022

Supreme Court upholds 5½-year sentence for man who forced partner into car boot and beat her

On 13 November 2022, in the early hours, a man aged 40, Soufiane Mountassir, forced his then partner, a woman, into the boot of her car and beat her for one hour and 40 minutes on Blackhall Street, Dublin 7, after drinking and taking drugs throughout the day. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in December 2023 to false imprisonment in Dublin 8 and assault causing harm, and the Circuit Court set a headline sentence of five years and imposed three years for false imprisonment, taking the assault into consideration. After a DPP appeal, the Court of Appeal overturned that sentence as unduly lenient and imposed 5½ years. The latest development, reported on 5 December 2025, is that the Supreme Court unanimously dismissed his appeal and upheld the higher sentence.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced5 Dec
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • He beat and kicked his former partner for one hour and 40 minutes, including punching her and ramming her head against the steering wheel.
  • He forced his then partner into the boot of her car before the beating.
Where
The assault took place on Blackhall Street, Dublin 7, and the false imprisonment in Dublin 8.
When
The offences took place in the early hours of 13 November 2022.
Cause
He had been drinking and taking drugs throughout the day of the attack.
Charges
In December 2023 he pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to false imprisonment and assault causing harm.
Sentence
The Circuit Court set a headline sentence of five years and imposed a three-year sentence for false imprisonment, taking the assault charge into consideration.
In court
  • The Court of Appeal overturned the sentence as unduly lenient after a DPP appeal and imposed 5½ years.
  • A five-judge Supreme Court unanimously dismissed his appeal against the higher sentence, reported on 5 December 2025.
  • Ms Justice Iseult O'Malley said an intimate relationship is an aggravating factor under section 40 of the Domestic Violence Act 2018.
Other details
  • She feared for her life during the attack.
  • Mountassir is reported to be wanted in Germany for arson.
11 statements extracted from the articles
  • 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)
  • whereThe assault took place on Blackhall Street, Dublin 7, and the false imprisonment in Dublin 8. (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)
  • chargeMountassir pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in December 2023 to false imprisonment and assault causing harm. (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)
  • 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)
  • 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