Courts / Dublin / Report

Row between six year old girls led man to encourage daughter to stab other child

Date
2026-04-17
Stage
Sentence
Primary locality
Dublin
County
Dublin

Summary

An unnamed 30-year-old man was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to making a threat to kill or cause serious harm in April 2025. The defendant, whose identity is protected to preserve the anonymity of the children involved, admitted to the charge following an incident where a dispute between two six-year-old girls escalated. Prosecution evidence, including door camera footage, alleged the man threatened to set a neighbour's house on fire and encouraged his daughter to stab the other child with scissors. The court heard the man had prior convictions for assault, theft, and road traffic offences, though he has not been in trouble with gardaí since this incident. Defence counsel David Fleming BL described the man's reaction as disproportionate and noted his client's remorse, anger management attendance, and voluntary work. Judge Orla Crowe remarked that the offence should not have taken place and that the reaction was completely disproportionate. She imposed a sentence of 18 months, which was suspended in full for two years. Strict conditions were applied, requiring the man to stay away from the injured party and their family. Additionally, the judge ordered that €1,000, brought to court as a token of remorse, be paid over to the injured party.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Row between six year old girls led man to encourage daughter to stab other child. Charges or matters: making a threat to kill or cause serious harm in April 2025, has not been named in reporting of the case to protect the children's identities. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

Why: The witness said gardai left the scene with no further concerns because they believed the dispute had been resolved. CNI source report

Case subjects

Unnamed 30-year-old

Defendant

Charges: making a threat to kill or cause serious harm in April 2025, has not been named in reporting of the case to protect the children's identities (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Mr Fleming said his client is truly apologetic and asked the court to consider requesting the Probation Service to assess the man's suitability for community service. The judge imposed a sentence of 18 months, which she suspended in full for two years on strict conditions including that the man stay away from the injured party and their family.

Places mentioned

Court Venue
  • Dublin
  • Dublin Circuit Criminal Court

Topics

Road Traffic Stage Sentence Theft Violent Crime

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

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