Courts / Dublin / Report

Man broke into terminally ill woman's home and beat son for hours

Date
2019-02-15
Stage
Sentence
Primary locality
Dublin
County
Dublin

Summary

In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 36‑year‑old Graham Stafford was found guilty of false imprisonment after breaking into a terminally ill woman's home in the early hours of the morning. Stafford, who had previously been convicted of minor drug and public order offences, entered the house believing a family member owed him €3,000. He repeatedly struck the 32‑year‑old male occupant, who was the son of the ill woman, for over four hours. Stafford kicked, hit, and used a kitchen knife to threaten the man, and struck him with a Yankee Candle. The victim sustained a cut to his left eye, head lumps, and mouth wounds, and reported dizziness and headaches afterwards. Stafford was remanded in custody pending sentencing, with a Probation Service report to be submitted before the April hearing. The court did not read the victim impact statement.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Man broke into terminally ill woman's home and beat son for hours. Charges or matters: false imprisonment at Corduff Gardens, Blanchardstown, Dublin, on January 24, 2015. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

Why: At one point he told the injured party he was stopping because his mother asked him to. CNI source report

Case subjects

Graham Stafford

Defendant

Charges: false imprisonment at Corduff Gardens, Blanchardstown, Dublin, on January 24, 2015 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Counsel submitted that Stafford is in a drug-free wing in prison while awaiting sentence, has strong family support and job prospects on his release.; Judge Codd remanded Stafford in continuing custody and ordered a report from the Probation Service ahead of sentencing in April.

Places mentioned

Secondary Mention
Court Venue
  • Dublin
  • Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
Residence

Topics

Drugs Public Order Stage Sentence

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

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