Jail for Limerick man who filmed ‘abhorrent’ violent attack that went viral online

The court heard that Darragh Manning, pictured above, filmed videos of an attack in which a man was pistol whipped with an imitation firearm | Screenshot from the viral video

placeholder image — The court heard that Darragh Manning, pictured above, filmed videos of an attack in which a man was pistol whipped with an imitation firearm | Screenshot from the viral video

AN OFFENDER who filmed a man in an assault that went viral was sentenced at Limerick Circuit Court.

Darragh Manning, 25, with an address at Clyde Hill Mews, St Alphonsus Street, Limerick, and a man referred to in court as “Mr X”, set upon a man in a filmed attack at an apartment in Dooradoyle on January 21, 2025.

Judge Colin Daly said gardaí were alerted to eight videos circulating on social media of the assault, which amounted to considerable video evidence for the court.

The videos show the victim being hit repeatedly, and held at knife point by Mr Manning and gunpoint by Mr X. Over the course of the violent assault, the man was aggressively shouted at, threatened, and called “a rat”.

Another clip played in court showed Mr Manning filming the victim as he was held at gunpoint, and then laughing.

The victim told gardaí that the men were off their heads, and that he thought he’d be shot.

“They made me give them my phone, took my passport, and stabbed me in the leg with a sword,” he said.

“I was sure I was dead,” the victim stated.

Barrister Lorcan Connolly previously said in court that when Mr Manning was arrested by gardaí, he told them: “I do stupid stuff when I’m on tablets”

During the sentencing, Mr Manning was smiling as the judge explained his reasoning for the sentence.

Judge Colin Daly said “the occupant was known to be vulnerable by the men”, and “serious violence was used and threatened” by the assailants.

The judge said the pair “ransacked” his home.

The judge called the attack "abhorrent", and commented on the “level of cruelty" involved in the attack.

Judge Daly commented that the publishing of the videos on social media was intended to humiliate the victim.

As a mitigating factor in his sentencing, the judge said that he accepted that the accused may have accrued drug debts and suffered from addiction.

Judge Daly also took note that Mr Manning was 24 years old when the attack took place, and that the accused’s accomplice, who was older, was the one who wielded the realistic imitation firearm.

Judge Daly commented that Mr Manning was not “a sophisticated criminal”, a point which Manning’s defence had previously stated.

The judge said that Mr Manning entered a plea at an early stage, and that he has been in custody since October 2025.

The court previously heard that Mr Manning has 89 previous convictions, including an escape from lawful custody, assault causing harm, criminal damage, burglary, possession of stolen property, possession of drugs, multiple unauthorised takings of a mechanically propelled vehicle, the unauthorised taking of a pedal cycle, damaging property, possession of knives and other articles, and a number of thefts.

Judge Daly said that Manning’s previous record of six burglary offences, 13 fraud and theft offences, and assault cause harm charge were aggravating factors in his sentencing.

Judge Colin Daly sentenced Mr Manning to 10 years’ imprisonment for the aggravated burglary, with the final 18 months suspended for a period of nine years. Mr Manning was directed to remain under the supervision of the Probation Service, and keep the peace following his release from prison.

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