Courts / Dublin / Report
'Institutionalised' prisoner gets life sentence for 'vicious' murder of fellow inmate
Summary
David Dunne, 40, was convicted of murdering fellow inmate Robert O'Connor, 34, at Mountjoy Prison on 29 July 2022. CCTV footage showed Dunne luring O'Connor into his cell, where he was knocked to the ground and stamped on the head repeatedly. Prison officers heard a yell and a cry of "No, no" before silence, and later saw Dunne stamp on O'Connor's head more than once. O'Connor was taken to Mater Hospital, placed on life support, and pronounced dead three days later after brain‑stem testing revealed no activity. Dunne, who had 123 convictions since 1998 and was serving a four‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for robbery, was found guilty by a jury in less than three hours. Robert O'Connor pleaded not guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 'Institutionalised' prisoner gets life sentence for 'vicious' murder of fellow inmate. Charges or matters: the murder of Mr O'Connor (34) on the 29th of July 2022 at Mountjoy Prison, North Circular Road, Dublin 7. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- July 2022 Hearing Or Sentence
- September 1, 2023 Other
- July 27, 2022 Incident
- August 1 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2024-12-16 Publication
Why: It's killing me inside because he was a good friend of all who knew him. CNI source report
Case subjects
Background Person
Charges: the murder of Mr O'Connor (34) on the 29th of July 2022 at Mountjoy Prison, North Circular Road, Dublin 7 (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Outcome: She imposed the mandatory life sentence for the murder of Mr O'Connor, adding that the victim's family will "serve their own life sentence" due to Dunne's crime. "When violence takes a child from a parent, no explanation is enough. Ms Justice Ring said she would impose the life sentence from the date Dunne went into custody on this matter on September 1, 2023 and wished the victim's family well as they go forward.
Defendant
Charges: the murder of Mr O'Connor (34) on the 29th of July 2022 at Mountjoy Prison, North Circular Road, Dublin 7 (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Outcome: At the time of the killing, he was serving a four and a half year sentence for robbery and other offences and was due to be released just a few days before the attack on Mr O'Connor. She imposed the mandatory life sentence for the murder of Mr O'Connor, adding that the victim's family will "serve their own life sentence" due to Dunne's crime. "When violence takes a child from a parent, no explanation is enough.
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
- Mountjoy
- Mountjoy Prison
- The prison
- Mater Hospital
- North Circular Road
- St Anne's Park
Topics
Stage Sentence Theft Violent Crime
Related court reports
- Garda murderer Brady's 'contempt' for trial with secret recording lands him with increased sentence
- Prisoner who tried to shoot 'Monk's' brother caught with drugs between his legs
- Mountjoy inmate made 'graphic' threats to prison officers
- 'They're not OK, so you can stop saying that': Riad Bouchaker denied that he 'went for the smallest children' in alleged Parnell Square attack
- Riad Bouchaker told gardai he was upset over negative social welfare decision
- Jury views 24cm carving knife recovered from scene of Parnell Sq stabbing
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request