VIDEO evidence played at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court showed a man being struck with an airgun and threatened with a sword by two men who burgled his home and filmed the attack.
The two armed perpetrators set upon the victim, Erol Ibrhaim, after they broke into an apartment he was staying in at Dooradoyle in Limerick City on January 21, 2025.
One of the two men, Darragh Manning (25), from Clyde Hill Mews, St Alphonsus Street, Limerick, filmed the attack, in which he was armed with a sword.
Mr Manning pleaded guilty in court to aggravated burglary, accepting he also threatened to kill or cause serious harm to Mr Ibrahim, assaulted him causing harm, and caused criminal damage.
The footage showed Ibrahim, who the court heard was known to Gardaí, cowering in his apartment as a gun, capable of firing 6mm calibre pellets, was pointed at him by a masked man.
Mr Ibrahim, who believed the gun was real and capable of firing bullets, was told by the men that he would be stabbed “to death” and he should “pray like a little b*tch”.
Gardaí could not assertion a motive for the attack, the court heard.
Prosecuting barrister John O’Sullivan said that on the day, Gardaí became aware that videos of the attack were circulating online.
In the footage, Mr Ibrahim was struck across the head and face with the firearm.
Manning, who was filming the attack on a mobile phone, at one point turned his face to the camera and laughed.
In the video, Maning’s accomplice, who the prosecution identified only as “Mr X”, aimed the airgun at Ibrahim.
Armed Gardaí responded at the apartment, where Ibrahim later told them he was “trying to keep his head down”.
The court heard Ibrahim told Gardaí he had been staying at the apartment a couple of months. The landlord “did not know” who the tenants were and “years” of rent were outstanding, said Mr O’Sullivan.
Gardaí arrested Manning and, during a search of his home, they found the clothes and runners he wore during the filmed attack, as well as a screwdriver that also appeared in the video footage.
Mr O’Sullivan said that Manning left a mobile phone and a shoe print in Ibrahim’s apartment.
The phone contained a video showing manning holding the gun on his lap as he and an accomplice rode in a taxi to Ibrahim’s apartment.
Ibrahim told Gardaí he didn’t know either of his assailants, adding: “One of them pointed a gun at me, I was sure I was dead, they were jumping on me, they were off their heads.”
“One of them shouted ‘shoot him’ and stabbed me in the leg, I was pistol whipped at least 15 times.”
Clothing, a large knife or sword, an imitation firearm and attached magazine and pellet were later recovered by Gardaí near the scene.
Mr O’Sullivan said Ibrahim had “his own challenges with the criminal justice system” and there “appeared to be an organised criminality involvement” in the attack.
However, Manning’s barrister, Lorcan Connolly, told the court: “The act of filming oneself isn’t indicative of this man (Manning) being involved in a criminal organisation.”
Mr Connolly argued that Manning was vulnerable and something of a “fool” for having gotten involved and forshowing his face in the video of the attack.
Manning had 89 previous convictions, including for burglary, criminal damage, theft, escape from custody, stealing cars, possession of drugs, possession of knives, and other articles.
Mr Connolly said Manning “exercised his right to silence”, saying only that “I did stupid stuff, I was on tablets.”
“He didn’t have a good childhood; he was on drugs at the time, it’s not an excuse but it does give context,” argued Connolly.
“It is one of the most serious offences on the statute, but (Manning) was preyed upon, he is an amateur, an idiot, and a fool perhaps.”
Manning, who giggled and smirked throughout his court appearance, was remanded in continuing custody for sentencing in July.
– Court Reporting Scheme