Courts / Dublin / Report

Dealer smashed 21 doors at hotel, leaving 'trail of absolute destruction'

Summary

Gerard Hughes, 25, was sentenced to one year in prison for criminal damage after smashing 21 doors at Citywest Hotel, Saggart, Dublin, in September 2018, causing over €7,000 in damage. He received an additional 18‑month consecutive sentence for possessing cannabis for sale, found at his home in March 2021. Witnesses, including security officer Conor Flynn, reported Hughes breaking hotel doors and attempting to smash a safe with a fire extinguisher. The hotel paid €7,717 for repairs, and an office was broken into with keys later found on Hughes. Hughes admitted the acts, expressed remorse, and cited the murder of his brother a year earlier as a distressing factor. He has 81 prior convictions, including drug offences, and was on bail for the criminal damage charge at the time of sentencing. The judge back‑dated the sentences to May 21, when Hughes entered custody for a separate robbery and endangerment matter. Gerard Hughes pleaded guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Dealer smashed 21 doors at hotel, leaving 'trail of absolute destruction'. Charges or matters: criminal damage at Citywest Hotel, Saggart, Co Dublin on September 5, 2018. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• September 5, 2018 Incident
• March 1, 2021 Incident
• March 2021 Other
• May 21 Hearing Or Sentence
• October 6 Other
• 2022-07-14 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Stage Sentence Theft Violent Crime

Related court reports

• Jail sentence for smashing window is overturned
• Parcel from South Africa contained €210k worth of cannabis
• CAB to sell high-end cars seized from former Real IRA member Nathan Kinsella
• Uninsured driver who believed he was covered escapes ban
• Doctor of social studies jailed for possessing €285k of heroin
• Restorative justice after 'opportunistic' scratch cards swipe

Read the original CNI report