Two Men Sentenced to Prison for Assault in Connection with Nigerian Man's Murder in Ireland
Two violent convicted drug dealers have been handed prison sentences of three years for their involvement in the assault and affray connected to the murder of a 34-year-old Nigerian man, Quaham Babatunde, in Ireland. Bruno Tache, aged 21, and Rory Carr, aged 22, attacked Babatunde after he had been fatally stabbed in Dublin city centre, leading to his tragic death.
Details of the Violent Incident
Babatunde died following an attack that occurred after a St. Valentine's night out on South Anne Street in February 2025. The violence erupted in the early hours of February 15, 2025, after an event at Club 22 on South Anne Street, which attracted 400 ticket buyers, including the two men. Tache, who had consumed large measures of spirits in the club, was ejected at approximately 2 a.m. due to intoxication.
When his friends exited the club an hour later, Tache and Carr became embroiled in a series of fights on South Anne Street, Duke Lane, and Dawson Street. During these altercations, Tache assaulted one man, while Carr punched another individual twice. It was during this chaos that Babatunde was attacked and fatally stabbed by another assailant, who is currently facing murder charges in Northern Ireland.
Court Proceedings and Sentencing
Detective Superintendent Katherina Joyce informed the court during the sentence hearing that gardaí identified suspects from the Balbriggan area and initiated arrests two days after the incident. Both Tache and Carr pleaded guilty to affray and assault charges. Notably, neither man was directly involved in the fatal stabbing, but after Babatunde was stabbed, Carr punched him eight times, though not all blows landed, and Tache kicked him in the head.
Judge Orla Crowe emphasized the seriousness of the crimes, highlighting that both defendants had significant previous convictions—Carr with 34 and Tache with 20—and were on bail for other charges at the time of the attack, while also serving suspended sentences for prior offences. She stated that the events, though brief, involved a substantial amount of violence and lawlessness, necessitating a custodial sentence.
In mitigation, both men expressed remorse and submitted letters of apology, with Tache noted as an enhanced prisoner. Considering their relatively young ages and to encourage rehabilitation, Judge Crowe sentenced each to three years and six months in prison, with the final six months suspended.
Victim Impact and Statements
Six victim impact statements were submitted to the judge last month, with one read in court detailing an eye injury that left the victim blind for several months. The victim expressed ongoing distress, stating, "I have never been at peace since the day it happened" and adding, "the man who died was my best friend and it could have been me."
During police interviews, Carr claimed ignorance of the stabbing, saying, "I had nothing to do with this murder, I didn't know anyone was stabbed, I didn’t see a knife, I heard it on the news the next morning and God rest his soul." Tache exercised his right to silence but admitted when questioned about his clothing, "I’ll be honest with you the clothes are gone, everything is gone after the lads were arrested."
This case underscores the tragic consequences of violent altercations and the legal repercussions for those involved, even indirectly, in such severe incidents.
