Two men jailed for five years over involvement in violence in Dublin city centre

Eimear Dodd

Two men have been jailed for five years for their involvement in violence in Dublin city centre on the night of St Valentine’s Day last year.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that fights broke out on South Anne Street in the early hours of February 15th, 2025.

The violence then spilled onto Duke Lane and later onto Dawson Street and a number of victims were punched, kicked, knocked unconscious and suffered bruising.

During the violence, Quham Babatunde (34) was allegedly stabbed by another man, who has since been charged with murder and is before the courts in Northern Ireland.

John Berry, prosecuting, previously told the court that Babatunde died that night, but not as a result of the assaults perpetrated by any of the defendants in this case.

John Eghomwanre (25) of Dun Emer Glade, Lusk, Co Dublin pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm to Babatunde and another man.

Faraj Odukoya (20) of Brega, Hamlet Lane, Balbriggan, Co Dublin, pleaded guilty to three counts of assault causing harm to Babatunde and two other men and one of violent disorder.

Odukoya separately pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary on November 23rd, 2023.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court previously heard he was one of the looters who entered two Footlockers and a Lifestyle Sports in Dublin City Centre after others had already breached these premises.

The court heard he took items, but gardaí are unable to say the value of what he took.

'Serious violence'

Imposing sentence on Wednesday, Judge Martin Nolan said both men had involved themselves in “serious violence” that night.

He noted that anyone who saw the violence would have been intimidated, adding that a man died during the incident. He said the court accepted Odukoya’s behaviour was more serious, but that he was the younger of the two defendants and that the burglaries were “opportunistic”.

The judge noted both men’s youth, their expressions of remorse and sorrow at the death of Babatunde.

He said both men could contribute to society upon their release from custody. “Hopefully, they can change and reform,” the judge said.

He imposed a five-year sentence on both men, backdated to when they went into custody.

Two other men have already been sentenced for their involvement in the violence that night.

Rory Carr (22), of Ard Na Greine, Seapoint Lane, Balbriggan, pleaded guilty to three counts of assault causing harm to Babatunde, Adetola Adetuilehim and a third man.

The court heard that Carr punched Babatunde eight times on South Anne Street after he had been fatally injured. Babatunde was still standing at this point but later fell to the ground.

The court was told that Bruno Tache (21) kicked Babatunde in the head while he was lying on the ground dead on Duke Lane.

Tache, of Trimleston, Balbriggan, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Babatunde and another man. He further pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

Carr and Tache were both handed prison sentences of three years and six months for their respective roles in the violence earlier this year, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions for two years.

Four other men are currently before the courts in relation to the incident.

CCTV

Detective Sergeant Patrick Traynor told Caroline Latham, prosecuting, on Wednesday that there had been a music event on the night of St Valentine's Day in Club 22, on South Anne Street, which was attended by the defendants and the injured parties.

CCTV from the club showed limited interaction between the groups and no indication of any fights or arguments.

Eghomwanre was also seen on the footage taking a latex glove from his pocket and putting it on while leaving the club.

Latham told the court that the prosecution’s case is that the co-accused men were the aggressors in the violence which started outside the club.

An initial fight started outside the club and shortly after this, a large scuffle involving multiple individuals started outside Isabelle's restaurant.

It was during this incident that Babatunde received a fatal stab wound.

All defendants were involved in the violence to various degrees at this point. The court was told Eghomwanre was the first of the defendants to assault Babatunde, shoving and punching him. Odukoya then punched Babatunde several times.

The court was told there were subsequent attacks on the deceased man, who later fell to the ground unconscious on Duke Lane.

Odukoya also assaulted Adetuilehim and another man by punching them repeatedly. Adetuilehim was seriously injured and was taken to hospital. The other man sustained bruising.

Eghomwanre punched Adetuilehim and kneed him in the face.

CCTV footage played to the court showed this assault took place in close proximity to where Babatunde was lying on the ground following his death.

There was further violence on Dawson Street, during which Odukoya assaulted three bystanders who were unconnected to the earlier violence.

Victim impact statement

A victim impact statement from Babatunde’s family was handed to the court and not read aloud.

During the sentence hearing, Judge Nolan noted that in relation to these accused that “their blood was up and they were going to attack anyone they encountered”.

Det Sgt Traynor acknowledged the men were “part of a group”.

The two defendants were identified from CCTV and have been in custody since their arrest the following month.

Nothing of evidential value was obtained when gardaí interviewed Eghomwanre.

He told gardaí that he didn’t take part in any stabbing and didn’t know anything about a knife.

His previous convictions including one of violent disorder which occurred in 2019, road traffic and drugs offences. He was on bail and serving a suspended sentence at the time of this incident.

Odukoya identified himself on CCTV and took responsibility for his actions when questioned by gardaí. His 12 previous convictions include obstruction, drugs and road traffic offences. He was not on bail at the time.

Det Sgt Traynor agreed with defence counsel that both men entered early guilty pleas, which were of assistance to the prosecution.

It was further accepted that there was no evidence that either of the two defendants possessed a knife at any stage.

References and other documents including letters of apology were handed to the court on behalf of both men. Family members were in court to support the defendants, who have had difficulties with drugs and some work history.

Tony McGillicuddy, for Eghomwanre, said the death of his client’s mother when he was 16 had a destabilising effect on his life.

Referring to his client’s letter of apology, McGillicuddy said his client is aware Babatunde’s family have suffered a terrible loss and acknowledges the pain caused to them.

He said his client accepts he will be spending most of his 20s in custody for his “deplorable” actions on the night and is aware he should be working to support his family.

Eoin Lawlor, defending Odukoya, noted his client’s young age at the time of his offending. He said his client wished to apologise, express unreserved remorse and acknowledged the effects of his actions that night.

He submitted his client’s violent offending that night was not consistent with his previous convictions.

Lawlor said his instructions are that his client’s understanding was affected that night as he had taken a significant amount of intoxication and a mistaken belief that “his friends had been attacked or wronged in a manner which warranted the use of force”.

Lawlor said his client experienced “racist bullying” while at school which affected his behaviour and saw him leave school without a qualification.