Maurice Fitzgerald jailed for false imprisonment and assault

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

Maurice Fitzgerald was sentenced to ten years, with the final 18 months suspended, at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, reported on 30 March 2023. He pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and assault causing harm to a 26-year-old woman.

Judge Martin Nolan said Fitzgerald came to Dublin with a plan to take a woman and was prepared to use force. The attack took place at Meeting House Lane in Dublin city centre on 27 August 2022.

Residents alerted gardaí after hearing the woman shout. Gardaí arrived minutes later and found Fitzgerald dragging her behind a vehicle; she was bound and gagged with duct tape.

The judge imposed the sentence after taking Fitzgerald’s guilty plea into account. The suspended portion was conditional on good behaviour in custody and five years’ supervision by the Probation Service after his release.