Case No. 0105False imprisonment, assault causing harm, production of articles as weapons · Co. Dublin · 7 Oct 2026
Three charged over alleged 13-hour torture ordeal in Tallaght, Dublin
A woman was allegedly tortured for 13 hours in the early hours of 7 October 2026 at a home on Fortunestown Close, Tallaght, Dublin, where she was bound, beaten, burned, drugged, placed in a car boot and had her hair shaved. Paul Walsh (39), Sarahanne Smith (36) and James Colton (44), all from Tallaght, were charged with false imprisonment, with Walsh and Smith also facing charges of assault causing harm and production of articles as weapons. The violence was suspected to stem from the loss of a handbag and an accusation that the complainant was seeing her partner. At a bail hearing before Judge Treasa Kelly at Dublin District Court on 14 October 2026, Walsh and Colton were denied bail while Smith was granted bail with conditions. Walsh and Colton are due to appear at Cloverhill District Court on 20 October 2026.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Charged19 Oct
- In court14 Oct
- Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- The woman was allegedly bound, beaten, burned, drugged, gagged, placed in a car boot and had her hair shaved over a 13-hour ordeal.
- Where
- The false imprisonment allegedly took place at Colton's home on Fortunestown Close, Tallaght, Dublin.
- When
- The incident commenced in the early hours of 7 October 2026.
- Cause
- The violence was suspected to be caused by the loss of a handbag and a paranoid accusation that the complainant was seeing her partner.
- Weapon
- Items allegedly used included zip ties, metal bars, a head shaver, a mastic sealant gun tool, a heated builder's trowel, boiling water, ammonia and Tranax tablets.
- Investigation
- Gardaí from the serious crime unit in Tallaght recovered high-quality CCTV footage with audio from a neighbouring property showing the defendants at the house.
- Charges
- All three defendants were charged with false imprisonment, and Walsh and Smith face additional charges of assault causing harm and production of articles as weapons.
- In court
- The three appeared before Judge Treasa Kelly at Dublin District Court on 14 October 2026 for a bail hearing.
- Walsh and Colton were denied bail, while Smith was granted bail with a cashless €1,000 bond and must provide an alternative address outside Tallaght.
- Walsh and Colton are to appear at Cloverhill District Court on 20 October 2026.
- Other details
- Walsh is of no fixed abode in Tallaght, unemployed and had no legal representation; Smith is a mother of three.
36 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe woman was bound, placed in a car boot, attacked, gagged, drugged and had her hair shaved during a 13-hour ordeal. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe complainant said she was kidnapped, tied up, struck with metal bars, repeatedly assaulted and burned. (irishtimes.com)
- whatShe was forcibly restrained with zip ties to her wrists and ankles and severely beaten with kicks and punches. (irishtimes.com)
- whatShe was burned by boiling water to her head and by heated instruments to her face. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- whatClumps of her hair were removed by force with a head shaver and her hand was crushed with a mastic sealant gun tool. (irishtimes.com)
- whatHer attackers poured ammonia onto her head. (irishtimes.com)
- whatWalsh and Smith sustained the assault for two to three hours, punching and kicking her as she lay on the floor. (irishtimes.com)
- whatWalsh told the complainant that the pain was going to start. (irishtimes.com)
- whatWalsh and Smith forced the complainant to consume Tranax tablets, which she did out of fear. (irishtimes.com)
- whatColton and Walsh spoke to an unknown driver and placed the woman in the car, which brought her away and returned with Walsh driving and Smith in the passenger seat. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe complainant was bound, placed in a car boot, attacked, gagged, drugged and had her hair shaved over 13 hours. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe complainant was forcibly restrained with zip ties to her wrists and ankles and severely beaten with kicks and punches. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe complainant alleged her attackers poured ammonia onto her head. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe pair forced the woman to consume Tranax tablets, which she did out of fear. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe woman woke back in Mr Colton's house with a tourniquet around her arm, implying she had been injected with heroin. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe driver of the car enquired "What is that, is that a bird?" referring to the woman placed in the boot. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatMr Colton told the woman he thought they were going to kill her because they were afraid she would go to the police. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereSmith lived 180 metres away at Fortunestown Crescent, Tallaght. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe false imprisonment took place at Mr Colton's home on Fortunestown Close, Tallaght. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe incident commenced in the early hours of 7 October 2026. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- causeThe violence was suspected to be caused by the loss of a handbag and a paranoid accusation that the complainant was seeing her partner. (irishmirror.ie)
- weaponClumps of her hair were removed by force with a head shaver. (irishmirror.ie)
- weaponHer hand was crushed forcefully using a mastic sealant gun tool. (irishmirror.ie)
- weaponMs Smith heated a builder's trowel until hot and placed it on the complainant's face. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationCCTV footage obtained by gardaí showed the defendants at the house. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí from the serious crime unit in Tallaght recovered high-quality CCTV footage with audio from a neighbouring property showing the defendants at the house. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeWalsh and Smith face additional charges of assault causing harm and production of various articles as weapons. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- chargeAll three defendants were charged with false imprisonment. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe court denied Walsh's bail application. (irishtimes.com)
- courtWalsh and Colton are to appear at Cloverhill District Court on Tuesday. (irishtimes.com)
- courtSmith was granted bail with a cashless €1,000 bond and must provide an alternative address outside Tallaght. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe three appeared before Judge Treasa Kelly at Dublin District Court on 14 October 2026 for a bail hearing. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherWalsh is of no fixed abode in Tallaght and had no legal representation. (irishtimes.com)
- otherSmith is a mother of three. (irishtimes.com)
- otherSarahanne Smith is the mother of three. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherPaul Walsh is of no fixed abode in Tallaght and is unemployed. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 19 Oct2026Woman and two men charged over 'torture' during 13-hour ordeal in Tallaght
Bail hearing details: Walsh and Colton denied bail; Smith granted bail with conditions. All three to appear at Cloverhill District Court on 20 October 2026.
victim, femaleaccused, Paul Walsh, 39, male, named, irish (judged from name)Paul Walshaccused, Sarahanne Smith, 36, female, named, irish (judged from name)Sarahanne Smithaccused, James Colton, 44, male, named, irish (judged from name)James Colton - 14 Oct2026Woman allegedly tortured for 13 hours, drugged and had head shaved, court hears
Provides detailed evidence from the bail hearing: the complainant's account of being zip-tied, beaten, burned with boiling water and a heated builder's trowel, had her hair shaved, hand crushed with a mastic sealant gun, poured with ammonia, and forced to take Tranax tablets; CCTV footage; the car-boot episode; the alleged heroin injection; and the bail outcomes for each defendant.
victim, femaleaccused, Paul Walsh, 39, male, named, irish (judged from name)Paul Walshaccused, Sarahanne Smith, 36, female, named, irish (judged from name)Sarahanne Smithaccused, James Colton, 44, male, named, irish (judged from name)James Colton