Limerick Prison, Mulgrave Street | LL
FOUR inmates are set to be sentenced for their role in a “riot” which broke out within Limerick Prison.
Thomas McCarthy, aged 32, with an address in Ennis, Danny Connors, aged 30, of Clondrinagh Halting Site, Limerick, and brothers Christopher O’Donoghue, aged 34, of John Carew Park, Limerick, and Dean O’Donoghue, aged 29, of Hyde Road, Limerick, all appeared before Limerick Circuit Court, from custody, charged with violent disorder.
They have entered signed guilty pleas in relation to this matter.
Judge Colin Daly was informed that the victim in this case was a fellow prisoner, who was set upon by the four men in the exercise yard of Limerick Prison on the afternoon of April 13, 2025.
Detective Fiona Reidy, of Roxboro Road Garda Station, told the court that on this date, gardai received a report that one inmate was attacked by five others.
The fifth man in this case was referred to as Mr X and has already been before the courts regarding this incident. All parties were known to each other prior to these events.
Describing this as a “riot,” prosecuting barrister John O’Sullivan said that “excellent” CCTV footage shows Dean O’Donoghue “squaring up” to the victim initially and that after this, his brother Christopher and Mr X then became involved.
From here, the victim was “attacked with a flurry of punches” delivered by both of the O’Donoghues and Mr X.
The injured party attempted to escape this but was unsuccessful in doing so. He then received a “further attack” by Danny Connors and Thomas McCarthy. An implement was used in the second part of this incident.
Footage then shows the victim’s head covered in blood and something being “passed” to Mr McCarthy, who then set upon the complainant in a “swiping manner.”
The violent disorder lasted for a brief time before being broken up by prison officers on duty, with the victim receiving medical attention for cuts sustained to his head.
The court heard that after enquiries were carried out by gardai, it appears that the motive for this attack was the injured party having been involved in an altercation previously with another brother of Christopher and Dean O’Donoghue.
It was the prosecution’s case that Danny Connors and Thomas McCarthy subsequently took part as they wanted to show their support for the pair.
A statement of complaint was made by the injured party but he did not wish to make a victim impact statement. Detective Reidy described this prisoner as being between the ages of 22-25 and said he was a “vulnerable individual” who had a “hard life.”
All four men had a number of previous convictions and following the fight, which was not “pre-planned”, it was heard, each of them received some form of penalisation while in custody as they awaited a hearing on this matter.
Limerick Circuit Court was informed that all of the defendants have since made amends with the injured party in this case.
After hearing mitigating factors from each of the defendant’s barristers, Judge Colin Daly decided to consider the matters and will sentence the four on November 18.
Thomas McCarthy was represented by barrister Nicholas Hall, Danny Connors was represented by barrister Yvonne Quinn, Christopher O’Donoghue was represented by barrister Liam Carroll and his brother, Dean O’Donoghue, was represented by barrister Erin O’Hagan.
Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme.
