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. 4353Aggravated burglary · Co. Dublin · 20 Nov 2021

William Doyle jailed for eight years for aggravated burglary in Drimnagh, Dublin

William Doyle, a 24-year-old man of Knocknarea Road, Drimnagh, took part in an aggravated burglary at a couple's home in Drimnagh, Dublin, on 20 November 2021. During the burglary a woman was attacked with a wrench in her bedroom while a baby slept in a cot beside her bed, and her husband was struck on the head with the wrench about seven times in the sittingroom. Doyle, who was 19 at the time, initially denied the offences and elected for trial, then fled to the UK and was extradited to Ireland in July 2025. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, and in December 2025 Judge Martin Nolan imposed a nine-year sentence with the final year suspended, which the article reports as eight years effective.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced10 Dec
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • William Doyle, 24, of Knocknarea Road, Drimnagh, pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary.
  • A woman was attacked with a wrench in the bedroom of her home while a baby was in a cot beside her bed.
  • Her husband was struck on the head about seven times with the wrench in the sittingroom.
Where
The burglary took place at a couple's home in Drimnagh, Dublin.
When
  • The aggravated burglary took place late at night on 20 November 2021.
  • The case notes say Doyle was arrested in April 2021, while the article says he was arrested and extradited back to Ireland in July 2025.
Other details
  • The woman required stitches to a cut around her left eye and to the back of her head.
  • Doyle has 20 previous convictions, 11 from Ireland and the rest from the UK, including road traffic offences and attempted fraud.
Investigation
  • Neighbours saw the men leave the house and gave vehicle details to gardaí, and the vehicle was tracked to Tyrconnell Road, Dublin 8.
  • Gardaí recovered a blood-covered wrench from an abandoned van, and CCTV showed Doyle and his accomplice buying gloves, two hammers, scissors and the wrench.
Charges
Doyle initially denied the offences and elected for trial.
In court
The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where Doyle pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary.
Sentence
  • Judge Martin Nolan imposed a nine-year sentence with the final year suspended, which the article reports as eight years effective, in December 2025.
  • The co-accused who carried out the attacks on the woman and her husband was previously jailed for 12 years.
20 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatWilliam Doyle, 24, of Knocknarea Road, Drimnagh, pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary on 20 November 2021 (irishtimes.com)
  • whatA woman was attacked with a wrench in the bedroom of her home (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThere was a baby in a cot beside the woman's bed (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe woman required stitches to a cut around her left eye and to the back of her head (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe burglar struck the husband on the head with the wrench about seven times in the sittingroom (irishtimes.com)
  • whatNeighbours witnessed the men leaving the house and provided vehicle details to gardaí (irishtimes.com)
  • whatGardaí recovered a blood-covered wrench from the abandoned van (irishtimes.com)
  • whatCCTV footage showed Doyle and his accomplice buying gloves, two hammers, a scissors and the wrench (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe vehicle was tracked to Tyrconnell Road, Dublin 8 (irishtimes.com)
  • whenDoyle was arrested in April 2021 (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceJudge Martin Nolan imposed a nine-year sentence but suspended the final year (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe co-accused who carried out the attacks was previously jailed for 12 years (irishtimes.com)
  • otherDoyle has 20 previous convictions, 11 from Ireland and the rest from the UK (irishtimes.com)
  • otherDoyle has convictions for road traffic offences and attempted fraud (irishtimes.com)
  • otherDoyle was 19 at the time of the burglary (irishtimes.com)
  • otherDoyle initially denied the offences and elected for trial (irishtimes.com)
  • otherDoyle fled to the UK and was extradited back to Ireland in July 2025 (irishtimes.com)
  • otherDoyle became drug-free in the UK and got engaged (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe husband said it was the most terrifying incident he had ever experienced (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 10 Dec2025
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    Man jailed for eight years for role in late night aggravated burglary in couple’s home

    Sentencing report. Doyle pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary; Judge Martin Nolan imposed nine years with the final year suspended (eight years effective). He had fled to the UK and was extradited in July 2025. His co-accused, who carried out the attacks, was previously jailed for 12 years.

    convicted, William Doyle, 24, male, named, irish (judged from name)William Doylevictim, femalevictim, maleconvicted, male