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. 9784Assault causing harm · Co. Dublin · 18 Jul 2021

Two men sentenced for unprovoked assault on woman in Finglas

On the evening of 18 July 2021, a woman was assaulted on Seamus Ennis Road in Finglas, north Dublin, by two men, Craig Mains (28) and Shane Daly (27). Gardaí identified the men, who were originally due to be tried on robbery and assault causing harm charges. The robbery charges were dropped by the Director of Public Prosecutions after both men pleaded guilty to a new indictment, with Mains pleading guilty to assault causing harm and criminal damage to an iPhone and Daly to assault. On 1 May 2026, Mains was sentenced to three years with the final 18 months suspended and two years' Probation Service supervision after release, and Daly to three months suspended for 12 months.

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

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • One man began punching the woman from the left and the right.
  • The woman may also have been kicked while she was on the ground.
  • One man took the woman's mobile phone, taunted her and damaged the phone.
  • The woman had a split lip, cuts to her knee, blood on her face and clothing, and a fractured elbow.
Where
The woman was pushed to the ground on Seamus Ennis Road, Finglas, north Dublin.
When
The attack happened on the evening of 18 July 2021.
Cause
  • The judge said the men carried out a random, unprovoked assault and described it as a savage attack.
  • The defence said both men had been inhaling nitrous oxide on the night.
Investigation
  • CCTV footage from a nearby funeral home recorded two men running to and from the scene.
  • Gardaí identified the attackers as Craig Mains (28) and Shane Daly (27).
Charges
  • A trial was originally set charging both men with robbery and assault causing harm.
  • The Director of Public Prosecutions dropped the robbery charges after guilty pleas to a new indictment: Daly pleaded guilty to assault, and Mains pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and criminal damage to an iPhone.
In court
The judge noted the victim's lengthy victim impact report and said he would take it into consideration.
Sentence
  • Mains received a three-year sentence with the final 18 months suspended on strict conditions, and was placed under Probation Service supervision for two years post release.
  • Daly received a three-month sentence suspended for 12 months on strict conditions, and the court noted he had spent five months in custody on this matter.
20 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatOne man began to punch the woman from the left and the right. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatThe woman may also have been kicked while she was on the ground. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatOne man took the woman's mobile phone, taunted her and damaged the phone. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatThe woman had a split lip, cuts to her knee and blood on her face and clothing. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatThe woman suffered a fractured elbow. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereThe woman was pushed to the ground on Seamus Ennis Road, Finglas, north Dublin. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe attack happened on the evening of 18 July 2021. (thejournal.ie)
  • causeThe judge said the men carried out a random, unprovoked assault. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationCCTV footage from a nearby funeral home recorded two men running to and from the scene. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationGardaí identified the attackers as Craig Mains and Shane Daly. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeA trial was originally set charging both men with robbery and assault causing harm. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeThe robbery charges were dropped by the Director of Public Prosecutions after guilty pleas to a new indictment. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeDaly pleaded guilty to assault, and Mains pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and criminal damage to an iPhone. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe judge described the attack as a savage attack. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe defence said both men had been inhaling nitrous oxide on the night. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe judge noted the victim's lengthy victim impact report and said he would take it into consideration. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceMains received a three-year sentence with the final 18 months suspended on strict conditions. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceMains was placed under the supervision of the Probation Service for two years post release. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceDaly received a three-month sentence suspended for 12 months on strict conditions. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceThe court noted that Daly had spent five months in custody on this matter. (thejournal.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 1 May2026
    Sentencedthejournal.ie, first report
    Two men 'off their heads' on laughing gas sentenced for unprovoked assault on woman

    Reports the sentencing of Craig Mains and Shane Daly, including their guilty pleas, sentences, compensation payments and background. No matching case appears in the existing list.

    convicted, Craig Mains, 28, male, named, irish (judged from name)Craig Mainsconvicted, Shane Daly, 27, male, named, irish (judged from name)Shane Dalyvictim, female