Former lighting technician jailed for 2½ years after roof‑tile standoff

Martin Cunningham, a 32‑year‑old former lighting technician from Sheephill Green, Blanchardstown, has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison following a four‑hour rooftop standoff with the Garda Armed Support Unit.

Court proceedings

Cunningham appeared before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court where he pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal damage at Castle Grange Avenue, Dublin 15, on 16 September 2025. He also admitted threatening a Lidl security guard and producing a Stanley knife at Lidl, Clonsilla, on 23 February 2024.

Garda Eva Mahedy testified that around 20 officers, including the Garda Negotiation Unit and the ASU, arrived at the scene in the early hours of 16 September. She observed Cunningham on a roof removing tiles and solar panels, then hurling tiles at Gardaí and damaging a parked car. He shouted that he would shoot or stab officers if he had a gun, before jumping down and being arrested.

The court was told that the damage to the houses, owned by Tuath Housing Association, exceeded €10,000. Cunningham’s previous convictions included harassment (three‑year sentence) and drug dealing. He claimed he was under the influence of cocaine, vodka and ketamine and was experiencing psychosis.

At the Lidl incident, Garda Ian Maddocks recounted that Cunningham and a female companion threw fruit, threatened staff with a fire extinguisher and a knife, and forced the security guard to retreat. The guard later gave a victim impact statement describing fear for his life.

The judge noted the extensive use of Garda resources and sentenced Cunningham to 30 months imprisonment. He is currently serving his term at Portlaoise Prison, where he has completed an alternative‑to‑violence programme and is receiving psychological support.

Source: Dublin Gazette. Photo: Jan van der Wolf / Pexels.