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. 6594Violent disorder · Co. Dublin · 13 Oct 2022

Three men sentenced over violent disorder at Dublin boys' school

Four men entered a boys' secondary school in Dublin at around 2pm on 13 October 2022 and violently confronted a teenage student, causing fear among students and staff. Jack Craig, Josh Neary (22) and Scott Purdue pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to violent disorder. Each was sentenced to 16 months, with Craig's term suspended in full and Purdue in custody. As of the latest report on 7 February 2024, another man is still before the courts over the incident.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced7 Feb
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Four men entered a boys' secondary school and violently confronted a teenage student, described in the articles as a juvenile.
  • The case record lists the victim as a man, while the articles describe a teenage student.
  • Neary grabbed the student's bag and threw it at him.
Where
The incident took place at a boys' secondary school in Dublin.
When
The incident happened on 13 October 2022, with the four men entering the school at around 2pm.
Weapon
  • The student took a hammer out of his bag in self-defence and then fled.
  • The fourth man took a steel pole and threw it at the student, narrowly missing him.
Investigation
CCTV footage played in court showed the four men entering the school.
Charges
Craig, Neary and Purdue pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In court
Another man is still before the courts over the incident, although one article says the fourth man is not currently before the court.
Sentence
  • Each of the three men was sentenced to 16 months, with the term suspended in full for Craig.
  • The judge described the men as very forceful, boisterous and very violent, and said one would need perfect mitigation to avoid a custodial sentence because a school was involved.
Other details
  • Staff ushered the men out of the school and ended the confrontation.
  • No one was injured, but one staff member retired as a result of the altercation.
  • Craig has no previous convictions and did not play a big role in the incident, while Neary has eight previous convictions and gave €500 to the school as a token of remorse.
  • Purdue has 107 previous convictions and is in custody.
19 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatFour men entered the school and violently confronted a juvenile there. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe teenage student took a hammer out of his bag in self-defence and then fled. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe fourth man took a steel pole and threw it at the student, narrowly missing him. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatNeary grabbed the student's bag and threw it at him. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe incident took place at a boys' secondary school in Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe incident happened on 13 October 2022. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationCCTV footage showed the four men entering the school at around 2pm. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThree men pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtAnother man is still before the courts over the incident. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe judge described the men as very forceful, boisterous and very violent. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceEach of the men was sentenced to 16 months, with the term suspended in full for Craig. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe judge said one would need perfect mitigation to avoid a custodial sentence because a school was involved. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherStaff ushered the men out of the school and ended the confrontation. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherNo one was injured during the incident. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherOne staff member retired as a result of the altercation. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherCraig has no previous convictions and did not play a big role in the incident. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherNeary has eight previous convictions. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherNeary had €500 in court for the school as a token of remorse. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherPurdue has 107 previous convictions and is in custody. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 7 Feb2024
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    Three men sentenced over violent school incident that ‘terrified students and staff’

    Sentencing of three men who pleaded guilty. Confirms that a fourth man is still before the courts. Not linked to any existing case.

    convicted, Jack Craig, 21, male, named, irish (judged from name)Jack Craigconvicted, Josh Neary, 22, male, named, irish (judged from name)Josh Nearyconvicted, Scott Purdue, 25, male, named, irish (judged from name)Scott Purduevictim, maleaccused, male