A drug-dealer died after having acid thrown at him at his front door in an attack involving his ex-wife due to owing his ‘boss’ a significant sum of money, a court has heard. Danny Cahalane, 38, died on May 3 last year after suffering severe burn injuries.
The Devon dad was victim to the sulphuric acid attack at his home in Plymouth at around 3.55am on Friday, February 21, 2025. A trial started on Thursday, January 22, against ten people who face a slew of charges in relation to the incident and further crimes.
The court were told by lead prosecutor Joanne Martin KC that there was no doubt that Cahalane was murdered, stating: “Whoever threw acid over him, must have intended, at the very least, to cause him really serious bodily harm.”
The court heard that Mr Cahalane was attacked due to being “a drug dealer in Plymouth who owed a large amount of money to another drug dealer further up the chain of command”. Martin told the jury that they would get to know this man as “Frost”, with his real name being Ryan Kennedy.
Kennedy is believed to currently be in Dubai, and operated between Thailand, Spain and Dubai. The prosecutor added that Frost wanted to teach the 38-year-old “a very significant lesson for his lack of respect” after owing around £120,000.
Martin said that all 10 people on trial played a part in Mr Cahalane’s death, being involved in the plot to “get” the man, as instructed. Mr Cahalane claimed that problems began when someone below him ran off to New Zealand without paying anyone higher up.
“To make matters worse,” the prosecutor said. “Danny told police he also gambled with the profits, including money that should have gone back to Frost”.
When Mr Cahalane could not repay his debts he was forced to cut up magazines to pretend he had cash and send photos to Frost. He refused Frost’s request that he brought back suitcases full of cannabis from Thailand and attempted to raise funds by selling smaller quantities of drugs for £300-£400 a week.
As Mr Kennedy became “incensed” by Cahalane’s “stalling” and inability to repay him, the prosecutor said that he attempted to kindnap him on January 19, 2025. Ms Martin read messages in court from Cahalane’s phone showing threats from his “boss”.
One states: “Your gonna die….U jus need to die….You done me £80K…they coming up now…I’m gonna give them extra 40k to come and take your eyes out you’r head.” Cahalane received more messages: “I’m getting your location now mate”, “You violated me remember all I done was try help you”, “I won’t stop throwing money about until you get it”.
Just minutes after the attempted kidnapping Cahalane recieved another message from Kennedy that read: “Close call? Mate I’m telling you they gonna burn gaffes down and your gonna die”, the court heard.
The court heard was told that in the second attack Mr Cahalane’s home was broken into and he had “sulphuric acid being thrown on him, burning into his whole body”. After 10 weeks in hospital he died from his horrific injuries.
Those on trial include Paris Wilson, 35, of Plymouth; Jude Hill, 43, of Plymouth; Abdulrasheed Adedoja, 23, of Neasden, London; Ramarnee Bakas-Sithole, 23, of London; Israel Augustus, 26, of Tottenham, London; Isanah Sungum, 22, of Edmonton, London; and Brian Kalemba, 23, of Barking, London.
Five of the defendants are charged with the attempted kidnapping and attempted grievous bodily harm of Mr Cahalane on January 19. They are Adedoja, Bakas-Sithole and Wilson along with Jean Mukuna, 23, and Arrone Mukuna, 25, both of Camden, London.
Nine of the defendants are also charged with being involved in an organised crime gang involved in the supply of drugs including enforcement of drug debts between January 1 2025 and April 11 2025. They are Adedoja, Bakas-Sithole, Augustus, Wilson, Sungum, Kalemba, Jean and Arrone Mukuna and Jenna Said, 39, of Plymouth.
Speaking after his death, Mr Cahalane’s family said: “Danny was an outstanding father and son.”
