Ireland Teenager pleads guilty to Kilrush knife attack on Jeffrey Ryan
On 13 June 2025, Jeffrey Ryan, a 25-year-old man, was stabbed and slashed at Francis Street, Kilrush, County Clare, in an attack by a 16-year-old teenager using a serrated kitchen knife. Ava Moloney, a 23-year-old woman, intervened by grabbing the teenager in a headlock. At Ennis Circuit Court, the teenager pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and the teenager's mother pleaded guilty to assaulting Ms Moloney, with the reports published on 10 March 2026. Judge Francis Comerford remanded the teenager in continuing detention, placed the mother on continuing bail, and adjourned the case to 28 April for sentence.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Convicted10 Mar
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Jeffrey Ryan required 80 stitches for his wounds.
- Jeffrey Ryan had a 15cm slash wound to his head and ear that cut through to his skull.
- One of the stab wounds was close to Jeffrey Ryan's lung area.
- The teenager made eight to 10 attempts to stab Jeffrey Ryan.
- Ava Moloney grabbed the teenager in a headlock during the attack.
- Where
- The attack took place at Francis Street, Kilrush, County Clare.
- When
- The attack took place on 13 June 2025.
- Cause
- The attack followed the teenager's younger 14-year-old brother telling their mother that Mr Ryan had grabbed the boy by the throat.
- Weapon
- The attacker used a serrated kitchen knife.
- Charges
- The teenager pleaded guilty to assault causing harm of Jeffrey Ryan under Section 3 of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act.
- The teenager's mother pleaded guilty to assaulting Ava Moloney.
- In court
- Judge Francis Comerford sat at Ennis Circuit Court, where the pleas were entered.
- Sentence
- The teenager was remanded in continuing detention and his mother was placed on continuing bail, with the case adjourned to 28 April for sentence.
- Other details
- The teenager has no previous convictions.
14 statements extracted from the articles
- whatJeffrey Ryan required 80 stitches to his wounds. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatJeffrey Ryan had a 15cm long slash wound to his head and ear that cut through to his skull. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatOne of the stab wounds was close to Jeffrey Ryan's lung area. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatThe teenager made eight to 10 attempts to stab Jeffrey Ryan. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatAva Moloney grabbed the teenager in a headlock. (limerickleader.ie)
- whereThe attack took place at Francis Street, Kilrush, County Clare. (limerickleader.ie)
- whenThe attack took place on 13 June 2025. (limerickleader.ie)
- causeThe knife assault occurred after the attacker's younger 14 year old brother told their mother that Mr Ryan had grabbed the boy by the throat. (limerickleader.ie)
- weaponThe attacker used a serrated kitchen knife. (limerickleader.ie)
- chargeThe teenager pleaded guilty to assault causing harm of Jeffrey Ryan under Section 3 of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act. (limerickleader.ie)
- chargeThe boy's mother pleaded guilty to assaulting Ava Moloney. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtJudge Francis Comerford sat at Ennis Circuit Court. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtThe teenager was remanded in continuing detention and his mother on continuing bail to April 28th for sentence. (limerickleader.ie)
- otherThe teenager has no previous convictions. (limerickleader.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 10 Mar2026Limerick woman praised for saving life of the man she loved from 'murderous knife attack'
Reports the guilty pleas of the teenager and his mother at Ennis Circuit Court, the judge's praise for Ava Moloney's intervention, the injuries to Jeffrey Ryan, and the adjournment for sentence to April 28th.
victim, Jeffrey Ryan, 25, male, irish (judged from name)Jeffrey Ryanvictim, Ava Moloney, 23, female, irish (judged from name)Ava Moloneyconvicted, 17, maleconvicted, 38, female