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. 23724Assault causing harm; producing a knife; violent disorder · Co. Dublin · 3 Sep 2022

Teenage boy pleads guilty to seven-stab knife attack at Vela nightclub, Dublin

A 16-year-old boy pleaded guilty at Dublin Children's Court to stabbing a youth in his late teens seven times outside Vela nightclub in Liffey Valley, west Dublin, on 3 September 2022. Judge Brendan Toale refused jurisdiction and sent the case to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for sentencing on 15 December 2022.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court28 Nov
    3 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
47 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA youth in his late teens was taken by ambulance to James Connolly Memorial Hospital in critical condition. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe injured party was involved in an altercation with the accused. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe defendant produced a knife and made seven stabbing motions towards the injured party. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe victim had seven stab wounds to his abdomen and leg area. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe victim required two blood transfusions. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe victim suffered a collapsed lung. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe victim spent five days in hospital. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
  • whatWhen arrested a week later, the defendant was carrying a knife in his waistband. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe boy was mannerly but made no admissions when questioned. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
  • whatDet Garda Sheedy could not say the defendant instigated the incident. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatMore than 150 young people attended the Leaving Cert party. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe victim was rushed to James Connolly Memorial Hospital in critical condition. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe victim has to attend physiotherapy for a deep injury to his leg. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe victim was expected to recover fully but it is taking time. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatMore than 150 young people attended an exam results celebration at Vela nightclub at Liffey Valley, west Dublin (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatA youth in his late teens was rushed by ambulance to James Connolly Memorial Hospital in a critical condition (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe victim returned to the front of the premises where he collapsed while the defendant fled (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe wounds required two blood transfusions (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe incident happened at Vela bar and restaurant, Liffey Valley, west Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe incident took place at Vela nightclub in Liffey Valley, west Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe incident occurred at about 12.30am on 3 September 2022. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe incident occurred at about 12.30am on September 3 (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationDet Garda David Sheedy played a compilation of CCTV footage from around the venue. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationCCTV cameras captured the incident, resulting in gardaí nominating the defendant as a suspect. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationCCTV cameras captured the incident and were used to nominate the defendant as a suspect. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationSoftware was used to track the teen in the CCTV footage for 40 minutes. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe defendant was arrested a week later and was carrying a knife in his waistband. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationDetective Garda David Sheedy gave an outline of the prosecution and played a compilation of CCTV footage from around the venue (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeThe 16-year-old boy is accused of assault causing harm to a male at the Vela car park on 3 September. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe 16-year-old is accused of assault causing harm to a male at the Vela nightclub car park. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeThe 16-year-old boy is accused of assault causing harm, producing a knife during a dispute and violent disorder at the Vela nightclub car park (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThere was no application for bail and the boy was held in custody. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe DPP recommended the case be dealt with at Circuit Court level. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
  • courtJudge Brendan Toale held the case was too serious and refused jurisdiction. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtJudge Toale refused jurisdiction, holding the case was too serious for Children's Court. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThere was no application for bail when he first appeared at the Dublin Children's Court nine days after the incident (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtHe has remained in custody on remand since his first appearance (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtJudge Brendan Toale agreed with the DPP that the case was too serious to be dealt with in the Children's Court (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe teenager appeared accompanied by his father and barrister Cecilia Ni Choileain (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtJudge Toale noted from State solicitor Siobhan Matthews that a book of evidence did not need to be served because the youth had signed a guilty plea (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtJudge Toale granted an order sending the boy forward for sentencing to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtHe will face his next hearing at the Circuit Criminal Court on December 15 (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThere was no application for bail at the second hearing (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherMore than 150 young people attended the exam results celebration. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe boy had been doing well in school but started getting into trouble following family bereavements. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe detective could not say the defendant instigated the incident. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherDefence counsel noted the boy's fractured upbringing and the effect of family bereavements. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 5 Dec2022
    In courtirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Youth pleads guilty to stabbing at Leaving Cert party

    Guilty plea signed; case sent from Children's Court to Circuit Criminal Court for sentencing; victim's injuries and recovery detailed; CCTV and arrest circumstances outlined.

    victim, late teens, malesuspect, 16, male
  2. 28 Nov2022
    In courtirishmirror.ie, its first report
    Teen attacked outside Leaving Cert party was stabbed seven times

    Reports the preliminary hearing at Dublin Children's Court where the DPP recommended Circuit Court level, CCTV footage was played, the victim's injuries (seven stab wounds, collapsed lung, two blood transfusions, five days in hospital) were detailed, and Judge Toale refused jurisdiction, remanding the 16-year-old in custody pending a book of evidence.

    victim, late teens, maleaccused, 16, male
  3. 28 Nov2022
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Teen stabbed seven times outside Leaving Cert party, court hears

    Provides detail of the 28 November 2022 preliminary hearing, including CCTV evidence, the victim's injuries (seven stab wounds, collapsed lung, two blood transfusions, five days in hospital), the defendant being found carrying a knife a week after the incident, and Judge Toale refusing jurisdiction.

    victim, late teens, malesuspect, 16, male