Latest news with #falseimprisonment
BreakingNews.ie
31-07-2025
- BreakingNews.ie
Teenager (17) produced two knives and told victim he was going to kill him and slice him
A teenager has been given two years detention for the false imprisonment of another young man. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that the 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to false imprisonment with other counts to be taken into consideration at a location in Dublin on June 15th, 2023. Advertisement He was aged 15 at the time of the offending and had ten previous convictions from the Children's Court, including seven convictions for theft, one for attempted robbery, one for assault causing harm and one for production of a knife. He was also on bail at the time of this offending. Detective Garda John Hayes from Blanchardstown Garda Station told Stephen Montgomery BL, prosecuting, that a young man then aged 19 was travelling on a bus in the Clonsilla area of Dublin in May 2023. Neither the accused or the victim were known to the other. The detective told the court that the accused was larger in stature than the injured party. When the victim got off the bus, he was followed by the teenager, who started a conversation with him and broke his glasses. The accused then ordered the injured party to walk to a nearby shop and instructed him to withdraw €50 from an ATM. Advertisement The teenager then threatened the victim to keep this a 'secret'. The court heard that a week later, the victim was on the bus again, and the teenager sat behind him and put his hands around his neck and told him to be quiet. They got off the bus together, and the teenager took the victim's iPhone 13, worth €1,300. The teenager then added the victim as a friend on Snapchat. Det Gda Hayes told the court that the victim received a message on June 15th, 2023, from the teenager, who told him to meet him with his bank card, which he did. Advertisement The teenager brought the victim to an apartment where he produced two knives and told the victim he was going to kill him and slice him. He also instructed the victim to remove his clothing, as he would have to burn it. The injured party did not take his clothes off, but his backpack was searched, and his driver's licence with his address on it was taken. The court heard that the victim was then brought to his own home by the teenager, who disposed of one of the knives en-route. While in the injured party's house, the teenager threatened to harm the family dog if he didn't 'put it out of the way'. The teenager searched the victim's bedroom and took a Nike tracksuit, an Under Armour top, Nike runners, a PlayStation, and a camel jacket, all with a total value of € 1,751. Advertisement The teenager then made the victim transfer €500 from his Revolut account to one of the injured party's friends' accounts, as he did not have a Revolut bank card. He told his friend to meet him in a local shopping centre, and the defendant, the victim and the victim's friend went to multiple ATM's while withdrawing €460 in total. The teenager then left with the cash and the items taken earlier from the victim's house. Later that evening, the victim told his mother and showed her the knife left behind by the teenager. They went to the gardaí, and the victim showed them the apartment he had been taken to. Advertisement CCTV footage from the shopping centre and footage from the Ring doorbell of the victim's home were obtained, and the defendant was identified. He was interviewed on two occasions. None of the money or belongings were recovered. A victim impact statement was submitted to the court and read by the prosecuting counsel. It outlined how the victim quit his job in case the teenager came back. He was also afraid that the defendant would come back to his home and described that he was in 'fear for his parents'. He said he was always 'looking over his shoulder' and said he 'can never relax on public transport'. He still has trouble sleeping. Padraig Dwyer SC, defending, said his client was forthright with the Probation Services and is apologetic, showing empathy towards the victim in his case. He stated that his client has taken responsibility for his actions and told the probation officer that he deserves a prison sentence. Counsel said his client was 15 at the time of the offending. He said that his client's parents do not condone this behaviour and are very pro-social people. He said his client 'self-reports that he has used cannabis but is now self-reporting that he is clear at present. He said his client is expressing regret for his actions. On Thursday Judge Martina Baxter noted the defendant had two knives with him and the 'brazenness' of going to the victim's home. 'It wasn't as if it was a once-off situation, the judge said. It was clear that the 'fear and threat' was 'pervasive and real,' said the judge. Judge Baxter said she had have regard for his previous convictions. She said the victim was bullied and traumatised 'while going about his business'. Ireland Man (46) jailed for taking photographs of his teen... Read More She said a significant factor was that the accused was 15 at the time but noted he was 'back in adverse company'. 'Clearly there has to be an intervention,' said Judge Baxter. She said the aggravating factors were the effects on the victim who is 'constantly in fear', the threats and the menace. In mitigation she took account of his age and that the Children's Act states detention is 'the last resort'. Judge Baxter imposed two years detention on him.
BreakingNews.ie
28-07-2025
- BreakingNews.ie
One of five accused in alleged 'branding stamp' Dublin gang assault enters guilty pleas
One of five men accused of falsely imprisoning and assaulting a man at a house in Dublin in an incident in which a 'branding stamp' was allegedly produced has pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm. Devon Hennessy (29) of Edgewood Lawns, Corduff, Dublin 15, also admitted at the Special Criminal Court on Monday to assaulting the victim as part of a joint enterprise aimed at 'enhancing the ability of a criminal organisation to commit a serious offence'. Advertisement Hennessy, who appeared before the three-judge court on Monday morning wearing a black Nike-branded pullover, pleaded guilty to the false imprisonment of Barry Moore at a house on Sheephill Avenue, Dublin 15, on February 12th, 2025. Asked for his plea on a second charge of assault causing serious harm on Mr Moore in the same place on the same date 'for the purpose of enhancing the ability of a criminal organisation to commit a serious offence', Hennessy replied: 'guilty'. Fiona Murphy SC, prosecuting, had said that the pleas were on a 'full facts basis' and that the State was asking the court to take two further charges on the indictment against Hennessy into account. Hennessy has been remanded in custody to October 7th this year for a sentencing date to be fixed. Advertisement Four of his co-accused are awaiting trial in connection with the assault, and are due back before the court on Thursday. They are his brothers Jason Hennessy Jr (28) and Brandon Hennessy (22) of Sheephill Avenue, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15; as well as 45-year-old Kenneth Fitzsimons and his son Dean Fitzsimons, of Castlecurragh Vale, Mulhuddart, Dublin 15. Ms Justice Karen O'Connor has said it may be possible to fit the trial into the court's schedule for the next term. The four are charged with false imprisonment, intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm and with participating in or contributing to the activity of a criminal organisation by assaulting the alleged victim, causing him serious harm. Advertisement Ireland George Nkencho inquest to hear from up to 60 witne... Read More Jason Hennessy Jr is further charged with threatening to damage property and producing a branding stamp to intimidate another person during a dispute or a fight on the same date and at the same location. Brandon Hennessy is charged with producing a "steel breaker bar" in a manner likely to intimidate another person while committing or appearing to be about to commit an assault. Dean Fitzsimons is charged with making a threat to kill or cause serious harm to the alleged victim and producing a metal branding stamp and a steel breaker bar. Kenneth Fitzsimons is charged with producing a steel breaker bar and an axe during the course of a dispute or fight.
CBS News
25-07-2025
- CBS News
Concord police arrest suspect in multiple sexual assaults
Concord police said Thursday a man they believe is responsible for at least four sexual assaults and false imprisonments over the past several months has been arrested. Police arrested 24-year-old Daniel Alejandro Acosta-Montiel, who lived in Concord while allegedly committing the crimes. On Jan. 13, Acosta-Montiel allegedly followed a woman, grabbed her from behind, and sexually assaulted her. The following night, Acosta-Montiel allegedly used a stun gun on a female victim and sexually assaulted her. Police said approximately one month later, Acosta-Montiel was identified as the suspect who followed a female home and allegedly assaulted her in the front yard of her Concord residence. Police said a juvenile female also identified Acosta-Montiel as the suspect who allegedly sexually assaulted her in October. The Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office charged Acosta-Montiel on July 10 with eight crimes related to sexual battery, assault, false imprisonment and battery. Concord police believe there may be more victims. Anyone with information can contact Detective Huffmaster at (925) 671-5080 or Concord police dispatch at (925) 671-3333.
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
NEWS OF THE WEEK: Kanye West claps back at sexual assault accuser
The rapper has hit back at his ex-assistant Lauren Pisciotta's amended lawsuit, in which she accuses the rapper of sexual battery, assault and false imprisonment. 'Lauren Pisciotta's amended complaint is the fourth version she has advanced," a Yeezy spokesperson told Page Six. 'Each new revision contradicts the others; each is more absurd and outlandish than all previous claims combined. Does Ms Pisciotta actually believe her confabulations? We cannot know. But this breathless new instalment of fantasy fiction discredits all past, present and future testimony.'
BreakingNews.ie
17-07-2025
- BreakingNews.ie
Man was delusional while allegedly falsely imprisoning woman and trying to murder her
A man was suffering from a delusional disorder when he is alleged to have falsely imprisoned a former work colleague in his car - where the door handles had been sealed with tape, thrown hot chilli in her eyes, and tried to murder her after becoming convinced she had deliberately given him an STI, a psychiatrist told his trial on Thursday. It was during the opening of the Central Criminal Court trial of attempted murder accused Jineesh John on Thursday that Brendan Grehan SC, prosecuting, said the consultant psychiatrists for both the State and defence are in agreement "of the core facts" that the defendant was suffering from a mental disorder at the time of the offence. Advertisement Jineesh John (43), with an address at The Crescent Building, Park West, Dublin 12 has pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of a woman at a location in West Dublin on May 21st, 2023. Mr John also pleaded not guilty to making a threat to kill or cause the woman serious harm without lawful excuse, intending her to believe that the said threat would be carried out on the same occasion. He further pleaded not guilty to falsely imprisoning the woman by intentionally or recklessly detaining her without her consent at the same time. In addition, the defendant pleaded not guilty to producing in a manner likely unlawfully to intimidate another person, an article capable of inflicting serious injury, to wit a hammer on the same date, while committing or appearing to be about to commit an offence of false imprisonment of the woman. Advertisement Fiona Murphy SC, defending, told the jury that the defence of not guilty by reason of insanity under the Criminal Law Insanity Act 2006 was being sought by the panel. Opening the prosecution's case today, Mr Grehan told the 12 jurors that the issue of insanity had been raised by the defence and the four charges related to a single incident which happened over a 30 minute period between 8:50pm and 9:30pm at an Industrial Estate on May 21st, 2023. Counsel told the jury that the woman in the case came to the public office at a garda station on the morning of May 22nd seeking to speak to officers. He said Detective Garda Tom Balfe interviewed the victim, where she set out how she was falsely imprisoned in the accused's car, that he had threatened to kill her and she believed she was going to be killed by him. Advertisement Mr Grehan said the jury would hear that Mr John and the woman had previously worked together in a health care setting but despite this they were not particularly known to each other. He said they had moved onto different jobs but contact had been re-established. Under the guise that the accused was giving presents to her and was helping her fill out a medical assistance form, Mr Grehan said the woman had agreed to meet Mr John and go with him in his car. Outlining the facts of the case, the lawyer said when the pair got to an industrial estate the accused told her to close her eyes as he had a present for her. He said the woman complied with that request but when she opened her eyes the accused threw hot chilli powder or flakes into her face attempting to blind her in the eyes. Advertisement The woman went to get out of the car but discovered the door handle and the switch activating the window had been duct taped over so it was not usable. Mr Grehan told the jury that the accused had threatened to kill the woman and said he was going to kill her. Mr John then threatened her with a hammer he had in the car whilst she pleaded with him not to kill her, he added. The court heard further evidence will be that the only way the accused agreed to let the woman go was if she was prepared to say on a mobile phone video-recording that she had given him a sexually transmitted disease in 2021. Counsel said the woman had no contact "in any way, shape or form" with Mr John but that the accused had developed "a preoccupation", which she was unaware of. He said the accused made a number of short videos in the car that day, which the jury would see. Advertisement The barrister further stated that the woman was prepared to say anything to be let go and Mr John dropped her back to her home. The woman and her husband later went to the garda station where she handed over her clothing and an investigation ensued. The prosecution barrister went on to tell the court that the woman's clothing was examined and there was a pepper like substance still adhering to parts of them. He said the jury would hear from two consultant psychiatrists on behalf of the defence and the prosecution, who will say the accused was suffering from a mental disorder namely a delusional disorder at the time, which qualifies him for a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. Detective evidence Giving evidence on Thursday, Detective Garda Thomas Balfe told Mr Grehan that the woman was a health care assistant and worked for different agencies. He said the woman had met the accused, who was also a health care worker, at a care home facility in April or May 2021. The detective said the woman and the accused sometimes worked together in the same shift but she didn't know him well. The woman left the health care facility but the accused continued working there. In October 2022, the detective said the accused had contacted the woman by phone looking for advice about a hospital, after her friend gave the woman's number to Mr John. The woman wasn't sure who the accused was but knew he was a former colleague and gave him advice during a brief telephone call. The woman had offered to help the accused with the application process for the hospital and he rang her again a month later. Around Christmas 2022, the accused called the woman to say he wanted to drop off gifts to her children and he met her when she got off the bus, said Mr Grehan. The witness said the accused arranged to call to the woman's house regarding filling out a church form at 8.30pm on May 21st. The woman got into the car to fill out the form and didn't suspect anything. The accused then started to drive his car before pulling up on a footpath beside an industrial estate. The detective said when the car was pulled over the accused told the woman to close her eyes as he wanted to give her a surprise. When she opened her eyes the accused rubbed a handful of really hot chilli powder in her face, which stung her eyes and lips. The accused also had a hammer in one of his hands. The detective said when the woman tried to get out of the car she could see that everywhere was sealed with black sticky tape, including the door handle. The woman thought the accused was going to kill her and started preaching at him not to do so. The witness said the accused kept saying: "I'm going to kill you, say your last prayer". The accused told her he had never killed before but he was going to kill her. The accused told the woman that she had given him a sexually transmitted disease (STD) to which she told him that she had never slept with him. Mr John said he would only let her go on condition she said she gave him an STD. The accused proceeded to record on his mobile phone the woman saying she gave him an STD in 2021 despite never kissing or having sexual contact with him. He made another video of the woman saying she gave him a STD through kissing before dropping her home. The witness said gardai later found a black-handled knife inside the accused's driver's door as well as a hatchet, a lump hammer and containers containing a chilli like substance. Black duct tape and adhesive tapping were also seized from inside the passenger door as well as a Jerrycan containing flammable petrol. Forensic psychiatrist Ireland Commissioner wins court appeal over dismissal of g... Read More Consultant forensic psychiatrist Dr Stephen Monks, who was called on behalf of the defence, told Fiona Murphy SC that when he met with the accused in April and October 2024 the accused remained 90 per cent convinced he was deliberately infected with HIV by the victim in the case, despite medical evidence to the contrary. Dr Monks said the accused is suffering from delusionary disorder and depression, which are both mental illnesses. He said the accused's actions were directly driven by delusional thinking in response to the psychotic belief that he had been harmed by the victim. He said Mr John met the three criteria for a mental disorder under the Criminal Law Insanity Act 2006; namely that he did not know the nature and quality of his act, that he did not know what he was doing was wrong and that he was unable to refrain from committing the act. The trial continues tomorrow before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of seven men and five women.
