Pair jailed for 'savage' attack on man sleeping in tent in Dublin city centre
Eimear Dodd
A man and a woman have been jailed for their roles in a “savage” and unprovoked attack on a man sleeping in a tent in Dublin city centre last year.
Vasile Manole (46) slashed the tent on Tara Street where the victim was sleeping on April 29th, 2024, after his partner, Daniella Voroneanu (42), pointed it out.
The victim woke up to a burning sensation on his back, and saw a man slashing at him. He sustained stab wounds to his back, arms, chest, neck and face.
The victim was taken to hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery. He received 190 stitches and sustained permanent scarring to his face and back. He lost the sight in his left eye and the eye may have to be removed shortly if muscles near it swell, the court was told.
The court heard that Voroneanu had been assaulted and robbed by two women earlier that day, and later told Manole about this. While this incident was not reported to gardaí, the court was told Voroneanu told staff at the hostel where they were then living about it.
The victim is “utterly innocent”, the court heard, and continues to suffer the effects of the assault.
Manole with an address in Loretto Hall, St Stephen's Green, Dublin 2 pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm.
He has several previous convictions in Ireland, Sweden, Romania and Germany, including for violent offences. The court heard he was convicted of rape in Sweden in 2016.
"Motivated by vengeance"
Imposing sentence on Tuesday, Judge Martin Nolan noted that Manole caused “devastating” injuries to the victim in this “extremely savage” assault.
Judge Nolan said the court accepted the defence's submission that Manole thought he was attacking the parties who had assaulted his partner. But he said Manole was “motivated by vengeance” and his actions were “reprehensible”, causing “severe” consequences for the victim.
He said Manole's previous convictions were an aggravating factor and handed him a sentence of eight years.
Daniella Voroneanu of Lower Gardiner Street, Dublin 1, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm.
She initially faced a charge of assault causing serious harm, but pleaded guilty to the lesser charge after discussions between her defence and the prosecution.
She has previous convictions for road traffic and public order offences.
Judge Nolan noted Voroneanu told Manole about the assault and robbery and that she wanted him to do something, but the court accepted that she probably did not expect the viciousness of what happened.
He imposed a sentence of three years.
Garda Chloe Rochford told Pieter Le Vert BL, prosecuting, that the victim met some friends in the Tara Street area, then went back to an emergency accommodation tent where he fell asleep.
When gardaí arrived after the attack, they obtained CCTV footage which showed a man and woman approach the tents. The woman then pointed at a tent and the man started to slash at a tent.
Gda Rochford said the man then slashed at another tent, which gardaí believe was to clean the knife after use.
The man and woman then left the scene and returned to a hostel. They were arrested on May 1st last, wearing the same distinctive clothes in the CCTV footage from the attack.
Manole and Voroneanu were both intoxicated when they were arrested, and their periods of detention were suspended for six hours due to their level of intoxication.
When interviewed, Manole said he had been drinking before he returned to the hostel. He told gardaí she told him she had been assaulted by two women earlier that day.
He said he could not remember if he left the hotel that night, but added that if the assault was on CCTV, he was prepared to accept the consequences.
He identified himself on CCTV and said Voroneanu was not involved.
Earlier robbery and assault
Voroneanu told gardaí she had been robbed of cigarettes and assaulted by two women earlier that day. She said Manole returned to the hostel around 11pm after he'd been drinking and she told him what happened.
Voroneanu said they went for a walk in the city centre before returning to the hotel. She identified herself on CCTV, and told gardaí she had indicated to Manole the women were in the tent, but did not know what he was going to do.
She said she did not want revenge, but wanted him to make the women apologise. She said she wasn't expecting him to attack the tent and accepted it was a mistake to tell Manole what had happened while he was drunk.
Gda Rochford told the court that the victim is still receiving treatment for his injuries and that the attack had a major effect on him, leaving him feeling isolated. He is also struggling with addiction issues.
A victim impact statement was provided to the court, but not read aloud. The victim's mother and his daughter were in the court during the sentence hearing.
Gda Rochford agreed with John Berry SC, defending Manole, that his client told gardaí about his movements prior to the assault and that he had been drinking.
It was further accepted that Manole came to Ireland in 2018, has some work history here and has severe alcohol issues.
The witness also accepted that Manole indicated early that he would take responsibility for his actions and plead guilty.
Counsel for both Manole and Voroneanu asked the court to take into account their personal circumstances and all available mitigation.
Mr Berry said this was an “extraordinarily savage attack” which had life-changing consequences for the victim, who was an “utterly innocent party”.
Counsel suggested Manole's actions or desire to seek revenge cannot be condoned, but should be understood in light of his personal circumstances at the time.
Mr Fitzgerald asked the court to consider his client's role in this “very serious assault”.
He said his client has a long work history here, but became homeless after her landlord sold the building in 2022. She struggled to find stable accommodation after this and that affected her ability to work.
The judge directed that the sentences should be backdated to the date when Manole and Voroneanu went into custody.
