Courts / Dublin / Report

Man attacked pregnant partner and robbed her phone

Date
2023-02-27

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, 33‑year‑old Daragh Houlihan pleaded guilty to robbery after assaulting his pregnant girlfriend at her home. The incident began while she was cooking; Houlihan entered the kitchen, demanded a knife she was holding, and a one‑minute struggle ensued. He then seized her phone, demanding the unlock code, and pushed her onto the ground. He left the apartment, later pursued her to retrieve the phone, during which he struck her with his leg and threw her phone over a wall before fleeing. The victim, distressed, reported the assault to Gardaí and was later taken to Mater Hospital. Houlihan admitted stealing the phone but denied violent conduct, citing a belief the victim might stab him. He is scheduled for sentencing later this year, with a probation report and urine analysis ordered for the next court date on 19 June.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Man attacked pregnant partner and robbed her phone. Charges or matters: robbery on May 4, 2021 on Rathmines Road. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

May 4, 2021 Incident
June 19 Incident
2023-02-27 Publication

Case subjects

Daragh Houlihan

Defendant

Charges: robbery on May 4, 2021 on Rathmines Road (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Defence counsel asked Judge Crowe to be as lenient as possible when sentencing Houlihan and to consider finalising the case with no immediate custodial sentence.