Ireland Two men plead guilty over Dublin assault on Canadian tourist Neno Dolmajian
On 23 June 2024, Neno Dolmajian, a 42-year-old Canadian man, was assaulted after a row outside the Living Room nightclub on Cathal Brugha Street in Dublin and later on O'Connell Street, and he died nine days later in hospital. Ionut Danca, a 25-year-old man, had been charged with murder, and Madalin Ghiuzan, a 24-year-old man, with manslaughter. In 2025 Danca pleaded guilty to unlawful killing and Ghiuzan pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, and the DPP dropped the murder and manslaughter charges. At the Central Criminal Court on 9 February 2026, the victim's sister gave an impact statement and Ghiuzan's counsel asked for a fully suspended sentence, with sentence due to be delivered on Tuesday 17 February 2026.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court9 Feb
- Convicted1 Feb
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- The victim was Neno Dolmajian, a 42-year-old Canadian man of Armenian heritage.
- Where
- Dolmajian encountered a group of men outside the Living Room nightclub on Cathal Brugha Street after midnight.
- He followed the group to O'Connell Street, where he was pushed to the ground again.
- When
- Dolmajian was assaulted on 23 June 2024 and died nine days later at the Mater Hospital.
- Cause
- Ghiuzan punched and pushed Dolmajian during a row, causing him to fall to the ground.
- Danca delivered a running kick to Dolmajian's face on O'Connell Street.
- Other details
- The victim's sister, Maral Dolmajian, gave a victim impact statement to the Central Criminal Court.
- Charges
- Danca had previously been charged with murder and Ghiuzan with manslaughter.
- Danca pleaded guilty in 2025 to the unlawful killing of Dolmajian at O'Connell Street Upper.
- Ghiuzan pleaded guilty to assaulting Dolmajian, causing him harm, at Cathal Brugha Street, Dublin 1.
- Following the guilty pleas, the DPP is not pursuing the murder charge against Danca or the manslaughter charge against Ghiuzan.
- In court
- The victim's sister told the court about the impact of her brother's death and asked for a sentence reflecting the violence he suffered.
- Ghiuzan's counsel asked the court to consider a fully suspended sentence.
- Sentence
- The court will deliver sentence on Tuesday 17 February 2026.
23 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe victim was Neno Dolmajian, a Canadian national of Armenian heritage. (thejournal.ie)
- whereDolmajian encountered a group of males outside the Living Room nightclub on Cathal Brugha Street after midnight. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe first altercation took place outside the Living Room nightclub on Cathal Brugha Street. (rte.ie)
- whereMr Dolmajian followed the group to O'Connell Street, where he was again pushed to the ground. (rte.ie)
- whenNeno Dolmajian was assaulted on 23 June 2024 and died nine days later. (thejournal.ie, rte.ie)
- causeGhiuzan punched and pushed Dolmajian during a row, causing him to fall to the ground. (thejournal.ie)
- causeDanca delivered a running kick to the face of Dolmajian on O'Connell Street. (thejournal.ie)
- causeGhiuzan punched and pushed Mr Dolmajian during a row, causing him to fall to the ground. (rte.ie)
- causeDanca delivered a running kick to Mr Dolmajian's face. (rte.ie)
- chargeDanca had previously been charged with murder. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeGhiuzan had a manslaughter charge brought against him. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeDanca pleaded guilty to the unlawful killing of Neno Dolmajian on 2 July 2024 at O'Connell Street Upper. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeGhiuzan pleaded guilty to assaulting Dolmajian, causing him harm at Cathal Brugha Street, Dublin 1. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeThe DPP is not pursuing the murder charge against Danca or the manslaughter charge against Ghiuzan. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeDanca pleaded guilty to the unlawful killing of Mr Dolmajian on 2 July 2024 at O'Connell Street Upper. (rte.ie)
- chargeGhiuzan pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr Dolmajian, causing him harm at Cathal Brugha Street, Dublin 1. (rte.ie)
- chargeDanca had previously been charged with murder and Ghiuzan with manslaughter. (rte.ie)
- chargeFollowing the guilty pleas, the DPP is not pursuing the murder charge against Danca or the manslaughter charge against Ghiuzan. (rte.ie)
- courtThe victim's sister told the Central Criminal Court about the impact of her brother's death. (thejournal.ie)
- courtGhiuzan's counsel asked the judge to consider a fully suspended sentence. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe victim's sister asked the court to impose a sentence reflecting the violence her brother suffered. (rte.ie)
- sentenceThe court will deliver sentence on Tuesday 17 February. (thejournal.ie, rte.ie)
- sentenceCounsel for Ghiuzan asked the court to consider a fully suspended sentence. (rte.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 9 Feb2026Canadian man beaten to death was 'loved by everyone'
Central Criminal Court report on guilty pleas and sentencing submissions; sentence to be delivered 17 February. Adds details of the two assaults, the guilty pleas, and the DPP dropping the murder and manslaughter charges.
victim, Neno Dolmajian, 42, male, Canadian, non-irishNeno Dolmajianconvicted, Ionut Danca, 25, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Ionut Dancaconvicted, Madalin Ghiuzan, 24, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Madalin Ghiuzan - 1 Feb2026Canadian tourist beaten to death in Dublin had head 'treated like a football', his sister says
Reports the victim's sister's victim impact statement at the Central Criminal Court, the guilty pleas of Danca and Ghiuzan, the DPP not pursuing the murder and manslaughter charges, and that sentence will be delivered on 17 February. The article is dated 9 February 2026 and says the court will deliver sentence next Tuesday, 17 February.
victim, Neno Dolmajian, 42, male, Canadian, non-irishNeno Dolmajianconvicted, Ionut Danca, 25, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Ionut Dancaconvicted, Madalin Ghiuzan, 24, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Madalin Ghiuzan