Courts / Dublin / Report

Visually impaired girl (11) dragged away from mother at busy shopping centre

Date
2025-06-20

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Tallaght

County
Dublin

Summary

In a Dublin shopping centre, 24‑year‑old Stephan Obelngoa, who was on bail, dragged an 11‑year‑old visually impaired girl away from her mother and brother. The mother, who was walking with her family, saw the boy, who was topless, and tried to avoid him. She then noticed her daughter had vanished from her peripheral vision and turned to find the child being dragged by Obelngoa. The girl screamed, cried and struggled; Obelngoa threw her into a concession stand. Two security guards subdued him, and when Gardaí arrived he shouted, spat a mixture of blood and saliva, and tried to bite them as they attempted to cuff him. The girl was examined the next day, suffering minor spinal tenderness and abrasions, and reported extreme anxiety and trouble sleeping in public places thereafter. Stephan Obelngoa pleaded guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Visually impaired girl (11) dragged away from mother at busy shopping centre. Charges or matters: assault causing harm, assault of a peace officer and resisting arrest at The Square, Tallaght, on October 2, 2023. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

October 2, 2023 Incident
2025-06-20 Publication

Case subjects

Stephan Obelngoa

Defendant

Charges: assault causing harm, assault of a peace officer and resisting arrest at The Square, Tallaght, on October 2, 2023 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Judge Sinead Ni Chulachain said that these were very serious offences and adjourned this matter for two weeks to consider her sentences and read all documents handed into the court.; Judge Sinead Ni Chulachain said that these were very serious offences and adjourned this matter for two weeks to consider her sentences and read all documents handed into the court.