Courts / Dublin / Report

'Once familiar streets filled with shadow' after knife put to victim's neck

Date
2023-07-11

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 43‑year‑old Darren Sweeney pleaded guilty to one count of attempted robbery after he put a knife to a victim's neck on a bus at the Darndale Roundabout on 22 March 2022. The victim, who was waiting for a bus at Clarehall Shopping Centre, fought back, cutting his fingers and punching Sweeney before the attacker fled. Sweeney was identified by CCTV, searched, and arrested. He has 42 prior convictions, including assault, theft and traffic offences, and had recently been fined €200 for theft. The victim's impact statement described the incident as turning familiar streets into places "filled with shadow", causing anxiety, nightmares and hypervigilance. Sweeney, who has a serious drug problem, has been in methadone treatment and has expressed remorse. The judge adjourned the case to 6 November to prepare a probation report. The case remains at the attempted robbery stage.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 'Once familiar streets filled with shadow' after knife put to victim's neck. Charges or matters: one count of attempted robbery on March 22, 2022, at the Darndale Roundabout, on Malahide Road and will be sentenced later this year. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

March 22, 2022 Hearing Or Sentence
April 2022 Incident
November 6 Adjournment
2023-07-11 Publication

Case subjects

Darren Sweeney

Applicant

Charges: one count of attempted robbery on March 22, 2022, at the Darndale Roundabout, on Malahide Road and will be sentenced later this year (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Darren Sweeney (43) of Belcamp Green, Priorswood, Dublin 17, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to one count of attempted robbery on March 22, 2022, at the Darndale Roundabout, on Malahide Road and will be sentenced later this year.