Courts / Dublin / Report

Family home raided by burglars dressed as gardai

Date
2018-07-25

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

In a Dublin burglary on 28 November 2017, Matthew Fahy (40) and two accomplices, disguised as Gardaí, entered a family home in Castleknock. They presented themselves as police, produced an imitation handgun, and demanded cash from the occupants, who included the homeowner, his wife, their seven‑year‑old son, the homeowner's brother, the brother's partner and a lodger. Fahy escaped through the back door, pursued the child who had run out, and forced him back into the house. The burglary lasted about two minutes and no one was injured. Fahy pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and possession of an imitation firearm. On 25 July 2018, Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to seven years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended, to run consecutively with a term he was already serving. The sentence reflected Fahy's guilty plea, cooperation, drug‑addiction history and the trauma inflicted on the family. No other arrests were made.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Family home raided by burglars dressed as gardai. Charges or matters: aggravated burglary and possession of an imitation firearm at the house in Castleknock on November 28, 2017. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

November 28, 2017 Incident
2018-07-25 Publication

Case subjects

Matthew Fahy

Defendant

Charges: aggravated burglary and possession of an imitation firearm at the house in Castleknock on November 28, 2017 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: She imposed a seven year sentence with final 18 months suspended and ordered that the sentence run consecutive to a District Court term Fahy is already serving.; Damien Colgan SC, defending, said his client disputed that he "manhandled the boy" and asked for the case to be adjourned so that the court could be shown CCTV footage of the burglary.