Courts / Dublin / Report

Prisoner "lost his head" and damaged cell after partner's suicide

Summary

In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 29 July 2019, Keith McDonnell, aged 29, pleaded guilty to criminal damage to his Mountjoy Prison cell on 21 May 2013. The offence followed the suicide of his former partner, after which McDonnell reportedly "lost his head" and caused over €1,700 worth of damage, including a smashed washbasin, damaged waste pipes, a 22‑metre glass viewing panel, a modesty screen door, a laminated mirror and a spyhole. McDonnell, who had 68 previous convictions, had been serving a separate sentence for criminal damage at the time. Judge Melanie Greally, noting his guilty plea and efforts at rehabilitation, imposed an 18‑month sentence and suspended it in full for 18 months. The court heard that McDonnell had fled to the UK in 2014, returned to Ireland last year to address outstanding warrants, and that the death of his former partner had had devastating effects on him.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Prisoner "lost his head" and damaged cell after partner's suicide. Charges or matters: criminal damage of his prison cell on May 21, 2013. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• May 21, 2013 Incident
• 2019-07-29 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Sentence

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Read the original CNI report