Thursday 29 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. 8831Assault causing harm and violent disorder · Co. Dublin · 15 Feb 2025

Two men jailed for five years over Valentine's Day violence in Dublin city centre

Violence broke out in the early hours of 15 February 2025 in Dublin city centre, spreading to Duke Lane and later Dawson Street, where a number of people were punched, kicked and knocked unconscious. The victim, Quham Babatunde, 34, was among those assaulted, and the prosecution said his death was not a result of the assaults by these defendants. John Eghomwanre, 25, and Faraj Odukoya, 20, were identified from CCTV and arrested in March 2025, and both were held in custody from then. Eghomwanre pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm, and Odukoya pleaded guilty to three counts of assault causing harm, one count of violent disorder and two counts of burglary committed on 23 November 2023. Judge Martin Nolan imposed five-year sentences on both men, backdated to when they went into custody, and said they had involved themselves in serious violence that night; the sentencing is reported as taking place on 8 July 2026.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced1 Jul
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
A number of victims were punched, kicked and knocked unconscious, and suffered bruising.
Where
The violence spread from the city centre to Duke Lane and later to Dawson Street.
When
  • The violence broke out in the early hours of 15 February 2025.
  • The sentencing is dated 1 July 2026 in the article listing and 8 July 2026 in the article text.
Investigation
The two defendants were identified from CCTV and arrested in March 2025, and had been in custody since.
Charges
  • John Eghomwanre pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm.
  • Faraj Odukoya pleaded guilty to three counts of assault causing harm and one count of violent disorder.
  • Faraj Odukoya pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary committed on 23 November 2023.
In court
  • The prosecution and defence agreed that both men entered early guilty pleas, which helped the prosecution.
  • Judge Martin Nolan said both men had involved themselves in serious violence that night.
Sentence
Judge Nolan imposed a five-year sentence on both men, backdated to when they went into custody.
Other details
The prosecution said Mr Babatunde's death was not a result of the assaults by the defendants in this case.
11 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA number of victims were punched, kicked, knocked unconscious and suffered bruising. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereThe violence spread to Duke Lane and later to Dawson Street. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe violence broke out in the early hours of 15 February 2025. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationThe two defendants were identified from CCTV and had been in custody since their arrest the following month. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeEghomwanre pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeOdukoya pleaded guilty to three counts of assault causing harm and one count of violent disorder. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeOdukoya pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary committed on 23 November 2023. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtProsecution and defence agreed that both men entered early guilty pleas, which helped the prosecution. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtJudge Martin Nolan said both men had involved themselves in serious violence that night. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Nolan imposed a five-year sentence on both men, backdated to when they went into custody. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe prosecution said Mr Babatunde's death was not a result of the assaults by the defendants in this case. (thejournal.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 1 Jul2026
    Sentencedthejournal.ie, first report
    Two men jailed for five years for involvement in Valentine's Day violence in Dublin

    Reports the sentencing of John Eghomwanre and Faraj Odukoya, each given five years backdated to when they went into custody. No existing case matched this incident.

    convicted, John Eghomwanre, 25, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)John Eghomwanreconvicted, Faraj Odukoya, 20, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Faraj Odukoyavictim, Quham Babatunde, 34, male, non-irish (judged from name)Quham Babatunde