Robert Melia jailed for eight years for false imprisonment

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

Robert Melia received a 10-year prison sentence with the final three years suspended at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, plus a separate one-year term, resulting in an effective eight-year sentence. He pleaded guilty to false imprisonment, assault causing harm and making threats to kill. The offences occurred at the Caulfields Hotel, Dorset Street Lower, Dublin, on 19 May 2013. The proceedings were reported on 12 January 2015.

Judge Martin Nolan made the suspension conditional on good behaviour for three years after Melia’s release. The separate one-year sentence concerned possession of stolen social welfare cheques at Cappagh Post Office, Finglas, on dates in January and February 2013.

The report said the victim escaped by jumping from a first-floor hotel window after Melia assaulted and threatened her. Judge Martin Nolan said the offences followed a pattern of previous behaviour involving extreme hostility and violence towards women.

Defending counsel Patrick McGrath SC said Melia had experienced violence as a teenager at the Artane Industrial school in Dublin and had struggled throughout his life with alcohol and substance abuse.