Courts / Dublin / Report

'Put your weapon down sir, please': judge refused to leave 'terrifying siege' in order to help others

Date
2021-01-22

Stage
Appeal

Primary locality
Smithfield

County
Dublin

Summary

During an appeal hearing, Edmund Dunican (47) admitted to one count of carrying an imitation firearm with criminal intent at Smithfield on December 20, 2018. The charges relate to an incident where Dunican held up a judge, a barrister, and his estranged wife with a fake pistol and a hoax pipe bomb during a 'terrifying' siege in a Dublin court. Dunican, a fitter by trade, made the fake bomb at home. The judge in the courtroom refused to leave when Dunican told her she could go, instead repeatedly appealing to him to drop the gun and helping the other two women. The 17-minute siege ended after an armed garda negotiator persuaded Dunican to surrender the gun and let the women go. Dunican pleaded guilty to the charge, which carries a maximum penalty of 14 years' imprisonment and a mandatory minimum sentence of five years. Dunican has no previous convictions. Judge Patricia Ryan adjourned the matter to next Tuesday, January 26, for sentencing.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 'Put your weapon down sir, please': judge refused to leave 'terrifying siege' in order to help others. Charges or matters: one count of carrying an imitation firearm with criminal intent at Smithfield on December 20, 2018. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

December 2018 Hearing Or Sentence
December 20, 2018 Incident
Tuesday, January 26 Adjournment
2021-01-22 Publication

Why: The judge told gardaí that Dunican told her she could leave but that she remained "in order to defuse the situation as best she could". CNI source report