Romanian national who killed Canadian tourist in Dublin with 'full force running kick' to head jailed

Canadian national Neno Dolmajian was assaulted on June 23, 2024, in Dublin and died nine days later having been treated at the Intensive Care Unit of the Mater Hospital. File picture

A Romanian national who killed a Canadian tourist in Dublin city centre by “brazenly” delivering a “full force running kick” straight to his head has been jailed for five and a half years.

Sentencing 25-year-old Ionut Danca at the Central Criminal Court, Mr Justice Paul McDermott said this was an attack on a defenceless man, who was lying prone on the ground under the influence of alcohol and was no threat to anyone: 

“The kick to the head was deliberately aimed and carried out brazenly in public view on a main street in Dublin City. There was no need and no justification for this.”

Instead of Danca getting help or walking away, the judge said the defendant had run at Canadian national Neno Dolmajian, kicking him in the head, causing his death resulting in the loss of “such a valuable life”.

Mr Justice McDermott added the victim came across as a “positive person” who was full of life, vigour, creativity, and laughter.

Ionut Danca pleaded guilty last year to the unlawful killing of Neno Dolmajian, aged 42, on July 2, 2024, at O’Connell St Upper.

Danca’s co-accused, Madalin Ghiuzan, aged 24, had pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr Dolmajian, causing him harm at Cathal Brugha St, Dublin 1.

The judge said the appropriate sentence for the “spontaneous and short-lived” assault inflicted by Ghiuzan was 12 months in prison. 

However, as the offender had already spent four-and-a-half months in custody, he was satisfied that the balance should be suspended in full for 12 months.

Mr Dolmajian was assaulted on June 23, 2024, and died nine days later at the Mater Hospital.

Danca, with an address at Rathdown Sq, North Circular Rd, Dublin 7, had previously been charged with murder. Ghiuzan, with an address at Summerhill Parade, Dublin 1, had a manslaughter charge brought against him.

The murder charge against Danca and the manslaughter charge against Ghiuzan are no longer being pursued by the DPP.

The deceased’s sister, Maral Dolmajian, told the court last week in her victim impact statement that her brother Neno was “loved by everyone”. However, she said his head was “treated like a football” during the attack. Ms Dolmajian said her brother’s death has forever destroyed their family.