Two men ordered to halt unauthorised works at ancient burial ground in Castleknock, Dublin
Fingal County Council obtained a Circuit Court injunction on 28 July 2025 ordering Jonathan Coyle and Conor Noone to cease unauthorised earthworks at the Castleknock ancient Christian burial ground in Dublin, a national monument where nearly 400 human remains had been professionally excavated in the 1930s. The new works, which included a metre-deep trench most likely for drainage, were carried out without consents, and more bones were unearthed the week before the hearing. In a separate matter heard the same day, Richard Manson (48) pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing serious harm to Slovakian man Patrik Hudacek outside Pilsner Bar, Usher's Quay, on 3 December 2023. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Manson to four years with the final 18 months suspended after Hudacek required five hours of brain surgery and spent five weeks in a medically induced coma. The judge in the burial ground case said he would deal with it again on Thursday.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court29 Jul
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced29 Jul
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Site clearance works were carried out on a national monument at Castleknock where nearly 400 human remains had been professionally excavated by the National Museum in the late 1930s.
- The new works included excavation of a metre-deep trench, most likely for drainage, with no consents provided.
- More human bones were unearthed at the Castleknock site the week before the court hearing.
- Richard Manson (48) pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing serious harm to Slovakian man Patrik Hudacek outside Pilsner Bar, Usher's Quay, on 3 December 2023.
- Manson punched Hudacek in the face, knocking him to the ground where he struck his head and was rendered unconscious.
- Hudacek underwent five hours of brain surgery and spent five weeks in a medically induced coma before being transferred back to Slovakia by air ambulance.
- Where
- The site is at River Road, Castleknock, Dublin, an ancient Christian burial ground.
- When
- Fingal County Council sought the injunction at the Circuit Court on 28 July 2025.
- In court
- Judge John O'Connor ordered Jonathan Coyle and Conor Noone to cease all earthworks at the site and said he would deal with the case again on Thursday.
- Sentence
- Judge Martin Nolan imposed a four-year sentence with the final 18 months suspended on strict conditions.
- Other details
- Manson had 12 previous convictions from Northern Ireland, including firearm offences and conspiracy to rob from October 2009.
- A second man involved in the assault is due to go for trial.
23 statements extracted from the articles
- whatMr Hudacek had been drinking in the bar with four other Slovakian men who had been singing loudly and asked to quieten down. (irishtimes.com)
- whatA second man went into the kitchen and tried to grab a knife but was prevented by staff, then tried to take a knife from the cutlery basket but was again stopped. (irishtimes.com)
- whatManson punched Mr Hudacek in the face, knocking him to the ground where he struck his head and was rendered unconscious. (irishtimes.com)
- whatManson left the scene, returned to the bar to meet his partner and his dog, and walked twice past Mr Hudacek who was still unconscious on the ground. (irishtimes.com)
- whatMr Hudacek underwent brain surgery for five hours and spent five weeks in a medically induced coma. (irishtimes.com)
- whatMr Hudacek was transferred back to Slovakia by air ambulance. (irishtimes.com)
- whatIt is most likely that Mr Hudacek will never work again. (irishtimes.com)
- whatManson had 12 previous convictions from Northern Ireland, including firearm offences and conspiracy to rob from October 2009. (irishtimes.com)
- whatMore human bones were unearthed at the Castleknock site the week before the court hearing. (irishtimes.com)
- whatSite clearance works were carried out on a national monument where the remains of nearly 400 men, women and children had been professionally excavated by the National Museum in the late 1930s. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe 1930s excavation uncovered blue and white glass beads, a lignite ring, bronze pins, flint arrowheads and some iron objects. (irishtimes.com)
- whatA silver coin of Edgar of England dating to AD 967 was found at the site, indicating it was used in the 10th century. (irishtimes.com)
- whatOnly a third of the Christian cemetery may have been excavated. (irishtimes.com)
- whatNew excavation works included the excavation of a metre-deep trench, most likely intended for drainage. (irishtimes.com)
- whatNo consents were provided for the new works at the site. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe incident occurred on 3 December 2023. (irishtimes.com)
- whenFingal County Council sought the injunction at the Circuit Court on Tuesday, 28 July 2025. (irishtimes.com)
- weaponOne of the men armed himself with a steak knife from a cutlery basket before the group left the bar. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe court played CCTV footage of the assault. (irishtimes.com)
- courtTwo men were ordered to immediately cease allegedly unauthorised earthworks at an ancient Christian burial ground in Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge said he would deal with the case again on Thursday. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceJudge Martin Nolan imposed a four-year sentence with the final 18 months suspended on strict conditions. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceManson had €20,000 in court as a token of remorse, which the judge directed be paid within one month. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 29 Jul2025Two men ordered to immediately halt alleged unauthorised works at ancient burial ground in Dublin
First report of the Circuit Court injunction application by Fingal County Council against two men for unauthorised earthworks at the Castleknock ancient Christian burial ground.
suspect, Jonathan Coyle, male, named, irish (judged from name)Jonathan Coylesuspect, Conor Noone, male, named, irish (judged from name)Conor Noone - 29 Jul2025Man jailed for 2½ years over one-punch assault that left man needing brain surgery
Sentencing hearing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court; Judge Martin Nolan imposed four-year sentence with 18 months suspended; victim transferred back to Slovakia by air ambulance and will likely never work again; a second man involved is due to go for trial.
convicted, Richard Manson, 48, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Richard Mansonvictim, Patrik Hudacek, male, Slovakian, non-irishPatrik Hudaceksuspect, male