Courts / Dublin / Report
Nine years for man who killed friend over 'paltry' €100 debt
Summary
John Titiloye, aged 28, was sentenced to ten years in prison with the final year suspended for two years, backdated to his arrest on 11 August 2021, after being found guilty of murdering his 25‑year‑old friend Ademola "Dizzy" Giwa. The killing occurred on 10 August 2021 in Tallaght, following a dispute over a €100 debt and a stolen scooter. Titiloye stabbed Giwa in the neck with a knife he had bought that afternoon, an act described by the judge as a rapid, spontaneous response triggered by the defendant's perception that his father had been attacked. The court noted that Titiloye had 23 prior convictions, mainly for minor traffic offences and some drug offences, and that he had attempted to justify his actions to the probation service. The judge highlighted the disproportionate use of force and the fact that the victim's father was also assaulted during the altercation. John Titiloye pleaded not guilty and was acquitted.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Nine years for man who killed friend over 'paltry' €100 debt. Charges or matters: murdering Mr Giwa (25) in the Mac Uilliam Road area in Tallaght on August 10, 2021. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Acquitted
When:
- August 10, 2021 Incident
- August 11, 2021 Hearing Or Sentence
- August 11 2020 Incident
- August 10 Incident
- 2023-07-24 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: murdering Mr Giwa (25) in the Mac Uilliam Road area in Tallaght on August 10, 2021 (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Finding: Acquitted
Outcome: Acquitted; Before delivering the sentence today, Mr Justice McDermott said that Mr Giwa, who was a very much loved son and was of great support to his parents and siblings, was unlawfully killed by Titiloye one month before his 26th birthday. Titiloye was sentenced to ten years in prison with the final year suspended for a period of two years.
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
- Mac Uilliam Road
- Mac Uilliam Crescent
- Michael McGrath from Ronanstown Garda Station
Topics
Related court reports
- Solicitor agrees not to contact former tenant following High Court settlement
- No jail for Afghan man who laundered €45k while on social welfare
- 'I guess this is just my turn': visually impaired woman describes panic during false imprisonment by bogus taxi driver
- 'Nuisance' offender gets life for murdering 'drunken bowsie' after 'lewd requests'
- Parcel from South Africa contained €210k worth of cannabis
- Custody records of Ana Kriegel killer 'crucial to appeal', court told
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request