Courts / Dublin / Report
Dealers get life for murdering promising footballer over €6k in stolen cannabis
Summary
Two drug dealers, Viorel Doroscan (23) and Otniel Richardo Clejan (24), were sentenced to life imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of 22‑year‑old footballer Mahamud Ilyas. The court heard that the pair beat Ilyas in an apartment in Blanchardstown, stamped on him, kicked him, and struck his head with a hammer. They tied his hands and feet, wrapped him in a duvet and drove him to a wooded area at Belgree Lane, Co. Meath, where they left him to die. The judge described the killers' conduct as "massive loss of control" and "callous". Ilyas's mother, Muna Ali, spoke of her son's promise and the pain of his death. The sentencing followed a unanimous jury conviction of murder. The case also involved co‑accused Robert Burns and Lorenzo Cantaragiu, who pleaded guilty to impeding the arrest or prosecution of the killers.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Dealers get life for murdering promising footballer over €6k in stolen cannabis. Charges or matters: the murder of Mr Ilyas on December 9, 2022; impeding the arrest or prosecution of Doroscan and Clejan by cleaning Mr Ilyas's blood from the carpet and walls. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Found guilty
When:
- December 9, 2022 Other
- July 4 Hearing Or Sentence
- December 8, 2022 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2025-06-23 Publication
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Finding: Found guilty
Outcome: Found guilty; Lawyers for Cantaragiu and Burns will make submissions to the court on July 4 before Mr Justice Hunt sentences them.
Background Person
Charges: the murder of Mr Ilyas on December 9, 2022; impeding the arrest or prosecution of Doroscan and Clejan by cleaning Mr Ilyas's blood from the carpet and walls (Proven)
Plea: Not guilty
Finding: Found guilty
Outcome: Found guilty; Photo: Collins) Two drug dealers have been sentenced to life in prison at the Central Criminal Court for murdering a promising young footballer who had stolen €6,000 worth of cannabis. My son was everything to me." Handing down the mandatory sentence for murder, Mr Justice Tony Hunt said Doroscan and Clejan had suffered a "massive loss of control and reason" when they assaulted Mr Ilyas.
Convicted Person
Charges: impeding the arrest or prosecution of Doroscan and Clejan by cleaning Mr Ilyas's blood from the carpet and walls (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Lawyers for Cantaragiu and Burns will make submissions to the court on July 4 before Mr Justice Hunt sentences them.
Background Person
Charges: the murder of Mr Ilyas on December 9, 2022; impeding the arrest or prosecution of Doroscan and Clejan by cleaning Mr Ilyas's blood from the carpet and walls (Proven)
Plea: Not guilty
Finding: Found guilty
Outcome: Found guilty; Photo: Collins) Two drug dealers have been sentenced to life in prison at the Central Criminal Court for murdering a promising young footballer who had stolen €6,000 worth of cannabis. My son was everything to me." Handing down the mandatory sentence for murder, Mr Justice Tony Hunt said Doroscan and Clejan had suffered a "massive loss of control and reason" when they assaulted Mr Ilyas.
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
- Blanchardstown
- Dublin
- Belgree Lane
- The way
- Belgree Lane
- Bay Meadows Square
- Dublin
- Blanchardstown
- Castlegrange Park
Topics
Drugs Stage Sentence Theft Violent Crime
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