Prisoner jailed for violent incident while behind bars

By Eimear Dodd

A man who took €20,000 worth of property in two burglaries was later involved in a violent incident at Wheatfield Prison, a court has heard.

Austin Byrne (49) cut himself while entering two unoccupied properties through windows in June 2024. He was identified by DNA analysis of blood found at both scenes.

On October 15, 2025, Byrne was involved in a violent incident at Wheatfield Prison, during which he hit another man with a brush handle six times. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court was told that Byrne’s involvement in this incident was brief and he also attempted to de-escalate the situation.

Byrne of Clarence Place, Pearse Street, Dublin 2 pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary in the Dublin 2 area. He also pleaded to violent disorder at Wheatfield Prison.

Byrne has 98 previous convictions including 38 for burglary, one for aggravated burglary, three for assault, and two for attempted burglary.

He is currently serving a sentence of three years and six months, imposed in March 2025.

In relation to the first burglary, the court heard that the family, who had recently moved from South Africa, arrived back around 11pm, and noticed the front door was open. They later discovered some of their property, including a jewellery box, had been moved.

They also noticed a skylight had been smashed and there was glass on the floor.  Blood was also found on shelves and fingerprints were identified on the skylight.

Approximately €12,000 worth of items were taken including necklaces, earrings, an engagement ring, cameras, bags, headphones and battery packs.

The court was told that many of the items taken by Byrne were of sentimental value and nothing was recovered. The family moved out of the house that night, Conor McKenna BL, prosecuting, said.

€5,300 of damage was caused to the skylight.

The second burglary took place the following night. The homeowner returned around 10.45pm to find their lights on, which they found suspicious.

They noticed the apartment was ransacked and a window had been smashed.

Byrne took over €8,200 worth of jewellery, bags, wallets, cash and gift cards, none of which was recovered.

Byrne was interviewed in May 2025, but nothing of evidential value was obtained.

Two victim impact statements were handed to the court and not read aloud.

The investigating garda agreed with Katherine McGillicuddy BL, defending, that both properties were unoccupied at the time of the burglaries.

It was further accepted that the burglaries were not well planned and poorly executed, and that Byrne would have sold the items taken to feed his longstanding drug addiction.

CCTV of the violent incident at Wheatfield Prison was played to the court. Byrne declined to make a statement to gardai.

The garda witness agreed with Ms McGillicuddy that Byrne’s role in the incident at Wheatfield Prison was limited and he was not involved in other acts of violence.

Ms McGillicuddy told the court her client has a “long catalogue” of offending which goes back to his teenage years.

She said her client is ashamed and is aware that the items taken represent “unfortunately a significant loss” to the injured parties.

Ms McGillicuddy said her instructions are to apologise to the injured parties and for the damage and financial loss.

Byrne left school at ten and started to use drugs around the same time.

In relation to the violent disorder incident, Ms McGillicuddy noted that her client did not bring the plastic brush to the scene, but picked it up.

She said he was shocked by the number of times he struck the man, who remained upright. Her instructions are that Byrne hoped to de-escalate the situation by hitting the man.

Ms McGillicuddy said her client wishes to address his addiction and engage with services.

She said her instructions are that urine analysis before the court do not relate to her client.

Judge Orla Crowe said Byrne is “undoubtedly looking at a very serious state of affairs”.

Remanding Byrne in custody, the judge directed urine analysis and adjourned the finalisation of sentence until October.