Courts / Dublin / Report

Court watches footage of former Sinn Fein councillor waterboarding convicted fraudster

Date
2017-04-28

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

The Special Criminal Court heard that Jonathan Dowdall and his father, Patrick Dowdall, admitted to falsely imprisoning and threatening to kill Alexander Hurley at their Navan Road, Dublin 7, home on January 15, 2015. Both defendants pleaded guilty to these charges. The court viewed mobile phone footage showing Jonathan Dowdall, wearing a balaclava, holding a tea-towel to Mr. Hurley's face and pouring water over his head. Prosecutors stated the Dowdalls believed Mr. Hurley was attempting to defraud them by seeking bank details under the guise of being a barrister. Mr. Hurley, who has two prior fraud convictions, was bound to a chair for three hours and subjected to threats of violence. In a victim impact statement, Mr. Hurley described the incident as brutal, noting he lost his job and friends and that his psychological injuries would never fully heal. Defense counsel apologized on behalf of the defendants, who have no previous convictions. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, presiding with Judges Sinead Ni Chulachain and James Faughnan, remanded the Dowdalls in custody until May 19, when they will be sentenced.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Court watches footage of former Sinn Fein councillor waterboarding convicted fraudster. Charges or matters: threatening to kill Mr Hurley at the same place on the same date. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

January 15th, 2015 Other
March 9th Other
May 28th Incident
January 1st 2015 Incident
January 12th Incident
January 15th Hearing Or Sentence
January 12th 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
July 2011 Hearing Or Sentence
May 19th Adjournment
2017-04-28 Publication

Why: The court heard that Dowdall believed the victim, Alexander Hurley, was pretending to be a barrister and that he was seeking Dowdall's bank details in order to defraud him. Court evidence reported by CNI

Case subjects

Patrick Dowdall

Defendant

Charges: threatening to kill Mr Hurley at the same place on the same date (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: He said that he has lost his job and his friends and that the "psychological injuries will never heal completely." Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, presiding, sitting with Judge Sinead Ni Chulachain and Judge James Faughnan, remanded the Dowdalls in custody until May 19th, when they will be sentenced.; He said that he has lost his job and his friends and that the "psychological injuries will never heal completely." Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, presiding, sitting with Judge Sinead Ni Chulachain and Judge James Faughnan, remanded the Dowdalls in custody until May 19th, when they will be sentenced.