Dean Hayes jailed for 10 years over assault causing serious harm and aggravated burglary

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

Dean Hayes was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court by Mr Justice David Keane to concurrent 12-year terms for assault causing serious harm and aggravated burglary, with the final two years suspended. The sentences were backdated to June 2024.

Hayes pleaded guilty to the lesser charges when arraigned in October. The Director of Public Prosecutions entered a nolle prosequi on the attempted murder charge, meaning the State would not proceed with that count. The proceedings were reported on 3 February 2026.

The judge set a headline sentence of 15 years for each offence. He said Hayes' admission of guilt was the most significant mitigating factor. The report said Hayes had 129 previous convictions and had been under the influence of intoxicants, with limited recollection of the offence.

The victim, Waleed Mustafa, suffered multiple stab wounds and grave psychological harm, according to the report. Hayes was originally charged with attempting to murder Mustafa at his home in Castletroy on 20 June 2024.