Courts / Dublin / Report

Suspended sentences over terrifying daytime attack by balaclava-clad group

Date
2023-03-06

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Tallaght

County
Dublin

Summary

Three men – Glen Keegan (41), Karl Keegan (31) and Thomas McAllister (48) – pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm at Killinarden Heights, Tallaght, on 25 April 2017. The attack involved a balaclava‑clad armed group that struck an orange car carrying two children, damaged two motorists' vehicles, and caused a taxi driver to lose his car. The men had a combined 78 prior convictions. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced Karl Keegan and McAllister to four years' imprisonment, suspended in full on strict conditions, and Glen Keegan to a three‑and‑a‑half‑year term, also suspended. The judge noted the men's remorse, their progress in rehabilitation, and the family's forgiveness. No jail time was imposed, and the men were required to pay €6,000 as a token of remorse. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 6 March 2023.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Suspended sentences over terrifying daytime attack by balaclava-clad group. Charges or matters: two counts of assault causing harm at Killinarden Heights, Tallaght to two men on April 25, 2017. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

April 25, 2017 Incident
2023-03-06 Publication

Why: The investigating garda agreed with Sarah Jane O'Callaghan BL, defending McAllister, that her client's previous drugs convictions related to one incident and occurred because he was helping his brother with a drugs debt. Defence account reported by CNI

Case subjects

Glen Keegan

Defendant

Karl Keegan

Defendant

Thomas McAllister

Defendant

Charges: two counts of assault causing harm at Killinarden Heights, Tallaght to two men on April 25, 2017 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Judge Codd sentenced both Karl Keegan and McAllister to four years in prison which she suspended in full on strict conditions, while Glen Keegan got a three-and-a-half year suspended term.