David McNamara jailed for five years for attacks and taxi hijacking

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

David McNamara was sentenced to five years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 24 February 2025. Judge Martin Nolan ordered the sentence to run from that date.

McNamara pleaded guilty to assaulting his then 16-year-old girlfriend, assaulting and coercively controlling another partner, hijacking a taxi, threatening to kill its driver, and possessing drugs for sale or supply. The proceedings were reported on 24 February 2025.

The first assault took place on 23 September 2019. Garda Shane Gallagher told the court that McNamara attacked the teenager while travelling to a court appearance. Her mother reported the incident to gardaí the next day.

The second assault and coercive control took place at McNamara’s Tallaght home between 17 and 19 July 2023. On 20 July, during a taxi journey, he threatened the driver and took the vehicle after the driver and passenger got out.

McNamara was arrested on 5 September 2023. At Finglas Garda station, he handed over cocaine worth €266, heroin worth €308 and €155 in cash. He claimed he was holding the drugs for a friend. He denied assaulting or coercively controlling his partner and claimed her injuries were caused by a fall or possibly dirt.

The court heard that McNamara had previous convictions for drug possession and assault. His defence counsel described a history of substance abuse and difficulties in childhood and education, and said McNamara offered his apologies to the two women. Judge Nolan described the assaults as vicious and troubling and took account of his youth and guilty pleas.