Courts / Dublin / Report
"We're going to kill her": man helped violent friend attack couple in their own home
Summary
Ben Merriman, aged 20, pleaded guilty to assault, trespass and criminal damage after helping a friend break into a house in Balbriggan on 27 March 2018. The pair searched for the couple's daughter, Chloe, shouting "Where's Chloe? We're going to kill her". They struck the front door with a metal bar, smashed a living‑room window and kicked the door down. They confronted the parents, demanded the daughter's location, and when she was not found, Merriman spat in the mother's face. The other man threatened to slice her from ear to ear, struck the father on the head with the metal bar and continued to hit him while Merriman kicked him. The court accepted that the other man was the main aggressor and that Merriman acted out of "blind loyalty" and fear. Merriman had no prior convictions and had cut off all contact with the other man.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: "We're going to kill her": man helped violent friend attack couple in their own home. Charges or matters: assault, trespass and criminal damage at a house in Flemington Lane, Balbriggan, Dublin, on March 27, 2018. Procedural stage: charge_or_pretrial
When:
- March 27, 2018 Incident
- November 5 Adjournment
- 2019-03-05 Publication
Case subjects
Accused
Charges: assault, trespass and criminal damage at a house in Flemington Lane, Balbriggan, Dublin, on March 27, 2018 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Judge Melanie Greally adjourned the matter to November 5 next and ordered that Merriman keep the peace and be of good behaviour and follow all directions of the probation service until that date.
Places mentioned
- Kenmore Heights
- Wicklow
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Flemington Lane
- Balbriggan
- Dublin
Topics
Stage Charge Or Pretrial Violent Crime
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