Darragh O'Hare, 27, was sentenced to 28 months in prison for stealing a €150 bicycle and a burglary that occurred in Balbriggan in May 2017. He had 91 prior convictions, 73 of which were committed while on bail for other offences. The Director of Public Prosecutions sought a review of the sentence as "unduly lenient", but the Court of Appeal upheld the judge's decision, noting the sentence was within the discretionary range, though at its outer limits. O'Hare had previously been on bail for dangerous driving and unauthorised vehicle use when the theft and burglary took place. He pleaded guilty on his first appearance in the Circuit Court, and the judge considered his past drug difficulties and a letter from Fr Peter McVerry stating he was now drug‑free. The appeal was dismissed, leaving the 28‑month sentence in place.
Scott Grant, 31, of Balbriggan, north Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to two counts of attempted robbery. The offences occurred on December 11, 2016, at a Costcutters shop on Hampton Street, and on April 17, 2018, on Clonard Street. In the first incident, Grant allegedly threatened staff while holding a piece of timber; in the second, he used a tree branch. He was identified in the first case by pink gloves and in the second by cashing scratch cards. The court also heard that while on bail for these charges, Grant allegedly robbed a woman of her handbag on September 26, 2018. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a six-year prison term, suspending the final two years on conditions that Grant keep the peace and engage with the Probation Service for two years post-release. Defence counsel Pieter Le Vert BL noted Grant's efforts to address his addiction and his history as a labourer, stating he had previously served a two-year sentence for attempted robbery and became clean of heroin during that custody before relapsing. The matter was finalised with this sentence.
Two men have been convicted and sentenced by the Special Criminal Court in connection with the 2013 murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly. Michael McDermott of Ballinagh, County Cavan, received four years imprisonment with the final six months suspended after pleading guilty to assisting an unlawful organisation in the killing. Frank Murphy of County Meath was sentenced to three years with the final year suspended after pleading guilty to impeding the apprehension of a prosecution witness. Mr Butterly, aged thirty-five, was fatally shot outside The Huntsman Inn in Gormanston on 6 March 2013. Four other men have previously received life sentences for his murder. The three-judge panel took into account both men's guilty pleas, clean records, and family circumstances when determining sentences. Both sentences were backdated to reflect time already spent in custody.
Stephen Finn, aged 32, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, for a series of burglaries at Trinity College and other locations in 2017. He had 115 prior convictions, including 21 burglaries, and was known for stealing to fund a drug habit. The court heard that Finn stole laptops from outside lecture halls, causing a student to fail an exam due to the loss. CCTV identified Finn, who evaded detection during the thefts. He pleaded guilty to burglary at two Trinity departments, the Central Hotel, and a business on Pearse Street. The judge noted the severe consequences for victims, Finn's remorse, efforts to address drug addiction, and his role as a father. Finn's sentence reflects the seriousness of the offences and his established pattern of theft.
The Special Criminal Court has adjourned the sentencing of Frank Murphy and Michael McDermott to April 1, remanding both men in custody. Murphy, 58, pleaded guilty in November 2018 to committing an act to impede the apprehension or prosecution of David Cullen, whom he allegedly believed was guilty of possessing a firearm. McDermott, 60, pleaded guilty to helping an unlawful organisation, identified as the IRA, murder Peter Butterly. The court heard evidence that Butterly was shot dead in a Meath car park in March 2013. David Cullen, who was originally charged with murder, pleaded guilty to the unlawful possession of a semi-automatic pistol. His plea was accepted by the DPP, resulting in a nolle prosequi on the murder count. Cullen turned State's witness and was sentenced to seven years in prison, with three and a half years suspended, for the firearm possession. The court noted that four other men have already received life sentences for Butterly's murder. Neither Murphy nor McDermott has previous convictions. The judges, presiding over the non-jury court, indicated they will deliver their sentences on April 1.
Nicholas Keane, 41, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to ten counts of handling stolen vehicles and two charges of inducing another to purchase a stolen vehicle between 11 July 2016 and 25 October 2016. He admitted selling ten stolen cars on the "Donedeal" website for €88,795, receiving about €500 for each sale. Keane, who used the alias David O'Brien, met buyers in public areas around Dublin, handed over registration details and accepted cash payments. He claimed he was motivated by financial hardship and wanted to provide for his eight children. Keane apologized to victims, expressing guilt and offering to repay them if he won the lottery. Judge Melanie Greally ordered a probation report, remanded him in custody, and adjourned the case for finalisation on 28 May. The article reports that Keane's role was limited to selling the cars, not stealing them, and that he was not responsible for placing the adverts on the website.
Ben Merriman, aged 20, pleaded guilty to assault, trespass and criminal damage after helping a friend break into a house in Balbriggan on 27 March 2018. The pair searched for the couple's daughter, Chloe, shouting "Where's Chloe? We're going to kill her". They struck the front door with a metal bar, smashed a living‑room window and kicked the door down. They confronted the parents, demanded the daughter's location, and when she was not found, Merriman spat in the mother's face. The other man threatened to slice her from ear to ear, struck the father on the head with the metal bar and continued to hit him while Merriman kicked him. The court accepted that the other man was the main aggressor and that Merriman acted out of "blind loyalty" and fear. Merriman had no prior convictions and had cut off all contact with the other man.
In a 2019 court hearing, Gardaí used a sting operation to investigate a series of car thefts by purchasing a stolen jet ski listed on Adverts.ie. The seller, Denis Kaczor Niecko, 30, fled in a van and crashed 200 metres up the road. Niecko later pleaded guilty to handling a stolen Audi A3 in Balscadden, Co Dublin, between 9 and 22 February 2017, and a stolen Nissan Juke in Poppintree, Dublin 11, between 19 April and 11 May 2017. He was arrested when Gardaí found a car key to the Audi in his van and subsequently located the stolen vehicles, both fitted with false registration plates, tax and NCT discs, and certificates. Fingerprint evidence linked Niecko to both cars. He has 23 prior convictions, including handling and possessing stolen property and theft, and has lived in Ireland for about ten years.
In a robbery on Station Road, Lusk, on 9 March 2016, Folarin Odunlami (22) and an accomplice used a long steak knife to threaten a young man, demanding his phone, wallet and €110. The victim fled to a nursing home, called Gardaí, and later identified the two men at a train station. Gardaí chased them; they fell 15 feet from a footbridge into a carpark and hid. Garda Air Support Unit detected them a short time later, lying under brambles, using thermal imaging from a helicopter. Odunlami pleaded guilty to robbing the victim's phone, wallet and cash. At a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Melanie Greally noted his remorse and lack of further offences, ordering 240 hours of community service. The case highlighted the use of thermal imaging to locate suspects hiding in vegetation.
In December 2016, 31‑year‑old Scott Grant armed with a wooden branch threatened staff at a Costcutters shop on Hampton Street, Balbriggan, demanding money. He fled when the shop manager confronted him with a wooden sweeping brush. Later that month he damaged a parking meter to obtain coins for his drug habit. A witness described him wearing black clothes and pink gloves; a Garda arrested a man matching that description, and Grant was found with a hammer in his pants. He was released on bail and, in September 2017, he again robbed a local shop armed with a tree branch, taking €100 worth of scratch cards. He was identified when he tried to cash the cards at a newsagent and was arrested. Grant pleaded guilty to attempted robbery in December 2016 and robbery in September 2017, and admitted a further attempted robbery on 17 April 2018.
Kevin Braney, the Dublin leader of the New IRA, was convicted of murder for the killing of dissident republican Peter Butterly. The New IRA, formed in 2012 from remnants of the Real IRA, Republican Action Against Drugs, former Provisional IRA activists and criminal elements, is regarded by the gardai and PSNI as the biggest terrorist threat in Ireland. Braney's conviction followed extensive garda operations involving the Special Detective Unit, Garda Security and Intelligence and the National Surveillance Unit (NSU). NSU members observed Braney's movements before, during and after the murder, and provided evidence in court, though the public were excluded from the proceedings. Braney was also convicted of IRA membership in 2022 and is serving a four‑year sentence in Portlaoise Prison. The New IRA remains a primary target of Garda Security and Intelligence, with about 50 active members and several hundred sympathisers across the island.
The leader of the so-called New IRA in Dublin, Kevin Braney (44), was today jailed for life for the murder of Peter Butterly (35) almost six years ago. Braney was found guilty by the Special Criminal Court last Monday of the 'premeditated' murder of Mr Butterly, who was chased and shot dead outside The Huntsman Inn, Gormanston, Co Meath, on March 6, 2013. Braney had pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Butterly. Mr Justice Paul Coffey, presiding, said the court was driven 'irresistibly' to the conclusion that Braney was involved in the organisation and planning of Mr Butterly's murder beyond a reasonable doubt. In 2018, Braney was sentenced to four years and six months after he was found guilty of IRA membership by the Special Criminal Court. Mr Justice Coffey, sitting with Judge Martin Nolan and Judge James Faughnan, then sentenced Braney to the mandatory term of life imprisonment, backdated to when he first went into custody for this matter on September 14, 2017. Ms Caroline Cummings BL asked the court that a 'nolle prosequi' be entered on the outstanding count of membership, meaning the State will not be proceeding with the prosecution in relation to this count. Edward McGrath (37), Sharif Kelly (49), and Dean Evans (27) have all received life sentences at the Special Criminal Court after they were convicted of Mr Butterly's murder. The court found that Braney had been involved and participated in Mr Butterly's murder.
Kevin Braney, 44, of Tallaght, Dublin, was found guilty by the Special Criminal Court of the premeditated murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly. The three-judge panel, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Coffey, concluded beyond reasonable doubt that Braney was involved in the organisation and planning of the killing, which occurred outside The Huntsman Inn, Gormanston, Co Meath, in March 2013. Mr Butterly, 35, was chased and shot dead in view of students waiting for a school bus. Braney had pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. The court accepted evidence from State's witness David Cullen, who testified that Braney attended a meeting at Cullen's Balbriggan flat the night before the shooting, where the plan was discussed. Circumstantial evidence further linked Braney to the location and the other perpetrators. The court noted that Edward McGrath, Sharif Kelly, and Dean Evans have already received life sentences for the same murder. In a separate 2018 proceeding, Braney was sentenced to four years after being found guilty of IRA membership by the Special Criminal Court. Following today's verdict, the convicted man was remanded in custody until Friday, when he will be sentenced.
Andrei Negura, a 36‑year‑old Moldovan, was sentenced to a three‑year prison term that was fully suspended on strict conditions after pleading guilty to assaulting Bohuslav Kalias with a claw hammer and causing criminal damage to a car. Negura claimed a fight with Kalias and denied attacking him, but evidence showed he struck Kalias's arm repeatedly, leaving the victim with a broken arm, 38 stitches, and lasting pain that limits arm movement and affects daily activities. The assault also damaged the victim's car, costing €1,900. Negura had six prior convictions and had addressed heavy drinking. The judge noted his remorse, lack of prior violent convictions, and low re‑offending risk, and accepted the victim's willingness to accept the €1,900 compensation. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with the judge's decision announced on the day of the hearing.
Kevin Braney, 44, of Tallaght, was charged with murdering dissident republican Peter Butterly in March 2013. He pleaded not guilty to the murder and was also charged with possession of a 9mm Beretta pistol and seven rounds of ammunition. The Special Criminal Court, after the prosecution's case closed, refused a defence application for a direction to acquit on the firearm charges. The court directed an acquittal on those counts. Braney's defence argued that State witness David Cullen's evidence was unreliable and that no forensic or DNA links tied Braney to the crime. The court noted the absence of any evidence linking Braney to phones or the weapons. The case remains pending, with a judgment expected early next year. Braney was remanded in custody until 18 January.
The Special Criminal Court refused to exclude the testimony of former murder accused David Cullen, who has become a State witness, from the trial of Kevin Braney, accused of murdering Peter Butterly. The defence argued Cullen was a 'parody of a witness' and his evidence was riddled with inconsistencies, but the court found the circumstantial evidence supporting his testimony—such as CCTV footage, the recovered firearm and ammunition, and surveillance of Braney's car—sufficient to establish a prima facie case. The court also rejected two other defence applications: one to acquit Braney on related firearms charges and another to discharge the judges. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Coffey with Judges Martin Nolan and James Faughnan, continues with Cullen's evidence admitted. Braney, aged 44, has pleaded not guilty to the murder and to possession of a 9mm Beretta pistol and ammunition. The prosecution closed its case on Monday.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, defence counsel for Kevin Braney, aged 44, argued that evidence from former murder suspect David Cullen should be excluded because Cullen's testimony was a "parody" and riddled with inconsistencies. Braney, charged with the 2013 murder of Peter Butterly, denied the murder and possession of a 9mm Beretta pistol and ammunition. Cullen, who had originally been charged with Butterly's murder, later became a State witness after pleading guilty to unlawful possession of a pistol. Braney's defence sought to exclude Cullen's evidence, withdraw it from the jury, and have the court discharge itself from the prosecution's opening address. The prosecution countered that independent evidence supported Braney's guilt and that opening speeches are not evidence. The court will rule on the applications tomorrow. Kevin Braney pleaded not guilty.
Judges at the Special Criminal Court trial of Kevin Braney have refused an application to exclude mobile phone evidence. Braney, 44, of Tallaght, Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Peter Butterly and the possession of a 9mm Beretta semi-automatic pistol and ammunition at Blackthorn Apartments, Balbriggan, on March 5, 2013. The defence argued that a recent High Court ruling in the case of Graham Dwyer rendered the retention of such data unlawful under EU law. However, presiding judge Mr Justice Paul Coffey, sitting with Judges Martin Nolan and James Faughnan, ruled the evidence admissible, stating there was no evidence that the operation of the 2011 Act was inappropriate at the time. The prosecution subsequently closed its case. The trial continues, with defence counsel Bernard Condon SC indicating he is unlikely to call evidence but may make a short application. The court previously heard from State's witness David Cullen, who pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a semi-automatic pistol at the Huntsman Inn on the day of the shooting. Cullen described his role as picking up and burying a gun. Prosecution evidence stated that Butterly was shot multiple times outside the Huntsman Inn in Gormanston on March 6, 2013, while students waited for their school bus.
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, prosecution counsel has outlined what it characterises as compelling evidence linking Paschal Kelly, aged 52, from Cootehill, Co. Cavan, to a tiger kidnapping at Malahide in September 2014. Mr Kelly has pleaded not guilty to charges including false imprisonment of a postmistress and two other persons, robbery from Bayside Post Office, threats to kill, trespass, and unauthorised use of a vehicle. The prosecution submitted that physical descriptions provided by the victim matched the accused, that mobile phone tracking placed a getaway driver at the crime scene, and that DNA evidence recovered from discarded clothing and items found in gardens corresponded with Mr Kelly's profile. Counsel argued the combination of eyewitness descriptions, CCTV footage, forensic evidence, and witness testimony created a case leaving no reasonable doubt as to guilt. The trial before Judge Karen O'Connor is continuing, with defence submissions to follow.
In a 2018 hearing, Gardaí used thermal imaging from a helicopter to locate Folarin Odunlami (22) and Arnaud Farel (20) after they robbed a young man on Station Road, Lusk, on 9 March 2016. The pair had stolen a phone, wallet and €110, and the victim fled to a nursing home and called the police. Gardaí chased them, who fell 15 ft from a footbridge into a carpark and hid under brambles. Thermal imaging detected them, and Gardaí recovered the victim's items and the men's driving licence. Farel received a three‑year sentence with 18 months suspended, to run consecutively with a six‑year sentence for a prior assault. Odunlami's sentencing was adjourned pending a suitability assessment for community service. The court heard Odunlami had two prior minor convictions and was studying computer systems in Dundalk. The case was heard by Judge Melanie Greally. Folarin Odunlami pleaded guilty. Arnaud Farel pleaded guilty.
The Special Criminal Court trial of Kevin Braney, 44, of Tallaght, Dublin 24, continued before Mr Justice Paul Coffey. Braney has pleaded not guilty to the murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly in March 2013 and the unlawful possession of a semi-automatic pistol. Protected witness David Cullen, who turned State's evidence after his murder charge was dropped, was cross-examined regarding his credibility. Cullen admitted to past dishonesty, including retaining WPP rent allowance and avoiding prosecution for harassment of an ex-girlfriend, which he denied. The court heard that Cullen was sentenced on July 2, 2014, to seven years in prison for unlawful possession of a firearm, with three and a half years suspended. The trial remains ongoing, with the defence challenging the witness's reliability and the prosecution presenting evidence of the shooting at The Huntsman Inn in Gormanston.
The Special Criminal Court trial of Kevin Braney, 44, of Tallaght, Dublin, continues before a three-judge panel. Mr Braney, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly and the unlawful possession of a semi-automatic pistol and ammunition, faces evidence from protected witness David Cullen. Cullen, who turned State's witness after his murder charge was dropped, testified that he was asked to pick up a gun. He described an evening in March 2013 when Edward McGrath and Mr Braney visited his Balbriggan home, with Mr Braney allegedly stating, "Make sure this is done right and he doesn't get away." Cullen identified a silver Toyota Corolla used in the operation and stated that Dean Evans and McGrath stayed at his apartment the day before the shooting. He further testified that Sharif Kelly dropped him near the scene, where a gun was thrown from a vehicle, leading to his arrest. In related proceedings, Michael McDermott admitted to assisting an unlawful organisation in the murder. Frank Murphy pleaded guilty to impeding the prosecution of Cullen. Meanwhile, Edward McGrath, Sharif Kelly, and Dean Evans have all received life sentences at the Special Criminal Court after being convicted of Mr Butterly's murder. The trial of Mr Braney is ongoing.
Frank Murphy, 58, pleaded guilty in the Special Criminal Court to impeding the apprehension or prosecution of State witness David Cullen, who had previously pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a semi-automatic pistol. Murphy had originally pleaded not guilty to the murder of Peter Butterly, a trial underway since October, but the DPP directed that he be recharged under Section 7(2) of the Criminal Law Act, 1997. Prosecution counsel confirmed the DPP would not proceed with the original murder charges against Murphy. Co-accused Michael McDermott, 59, pleaded guilty last Friday to assisting an unlawful organisation in the murder of Mr Butterly. Both men were remanded in custody by Mr Justice Paul Coffey, sitting with Judges Martin Nolan and James Faughnan, until January 28, 2019, for sentencing. Kevin Braney, 43, who pleaded not guilty to the murder and related firearm charges, remains in the trial. The court refused Braney's application for the judges to discharge themselves. The trial against Braney continues.
A man from Cavan has pleaded guilty before the Special Criminal Court to assisting an unlawful organisation in the murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly. Michael McDermott, aged 59, of Ballinagh, Co. Cavan, admitted to knowingly rendering assistance to the IRA in furthering the unlawful killing of Mr Butterly at various locations between 3 and 6 March 2013. Mr Butterly was shot outside the Huntsman Inn in Gormanston, Co. Meath, on 6 March 2013 in the presence of schoolchildren awaiting buses. McDermott had initially pleaded not guilty to murder and related firearms charges, with trial proceedings commenced in October. He was recharged under the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005 this morning and entered a guilty plea to the fresh count. The prosecution entered a nolle prosequi on the three original charges. McDermott has been remanded in custody pending sentencing on 28 January 2019. Two further defendants, Frank Murphy and Kevin Braney, both deny murder and firearms possession charges relating to the incident. The trial continues before the three-judge court.
A man on trial at the Special Criminal Court for the murder of a father-of-two was removed from proceedings in an ambulance after falling unwell before the hearing commenced. Frank Murphy, aged fifty-eight, of McDonough Caravan Park, Bettystown, County Meath, is one of three defendants charged in connection with the fatal shooting of Peter Butterly outside The Huntsman Inn in Gormanston, County Meath, on March 6th, 2013. The thirty-five-year-old victim was shot in view of schoolchildren awaiting transport. Paramedics assessed Mr Murphy outside the courtroom and conveyed him by stretcher to the waiting ambulance. His barrister assured the three-judge court that his client was not deliberately absenting himself. The trial, which began in October, was adjourned until afternoon to allow Mr Murphy's solicitor to receive instructions once his medical situation had been clarified. Mr Murphy has pleaded not guilty to murder and to firearm possession charges. Two co-accused, Michael McDermott of County Cavan and Kevin Braney of Dublin, also deny the allegations against them.
Brian Quinn, a 51-year-old psychiatric nurse from Balbriggan, Co Dublin, was convicted by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to Lee Harte. The incident occurred on October 9, 2011, following an altercation outside Quinn's former residence in Tallaght. Prosecution evidence stated that Quinn stabbed Harte in the leg and stomach after Harte intervened to protect his cousin. Harte, who was 18 at the time, required surgery and reported long-term trauma and career disruption in a victim impact statement. Judge Patrick Quinn sentenced Quinn to five and a half years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended on condition he keep the peace and be of good behaviour for two years post-release. Additionally, Quinn received a concurrent two-year sentence for using an offensive weapon. The judge ordered credit for the two years and one month Quinn had already served following a previous conviction that was later quashed by the Court of Appeal. Defence counsel Giollaíosa Ó Lideadha SC argued the incident occurred during an attack by multiple individuals and highlighted Quinn's lack of prior convictions. The judge acknowledged mitigating factors, including Quinn's loss of employment and good character, while noting the tragedy of the case and Harte's innocence.
In a High Court decision on 2 November 2018, Mr Justice Seamus Noonan granted summary judgment to Launceston Property Finance Designated Activity Company against Mr John Walls, a businessman from Coney Hill, Balbriggan. The fund sought €1.32 million, the amount of loans it had acquired from the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation in 2014, including a €1 million loan advanced by the now-defunct Anglo Irish Bank to Mr Walls in 2008. Launceston demanded repayment in November 2016; when Mr Walls failed to pay, the fund sued for summary judgment. Mr Walls argued he had a defensible case, citing a binding compromise agreement entered in 2016 between his solicitor, Mr James Flynn, and an agent of Launceston. The judge found no evidence of such an agreement and dismissed all of Mr Walls' defenses, concluding that he had no reasonable probability of establishing a bona fide defense.
In November 2018 the High Court heard a claim by joint receivers Stephen Tennant and Nicholas O'Dwyer of Grant Thornton, appointed over about 27 acres at Coney Hill, Ballbriggan, to prevent the sale of the land. The receivers alleged that the landowner John Walls Senior, his son John Walls Junior and Fingal Target Sporting Club were attempting to frustrate the sale by obstructing access. Temporary injunctions were granted requiring the Walls and the club to remove any vehicle or obstacle from entrances and exits and to surrender vacant possession to the receivers. The receivers said they feared the sale agreement, entered in mid‑October, could be lost due to the defendants' alleged unlawful actions. They also sought a judgment of €1.4 million against Mr Walls Senior for failing to repay a loan secured by the land. The injunction was granted ex‑parte by Justice Teresa Pilkington and is returnable next week.
In October 2018, a Moldovan national, Andrei Negura, aged 36, was charged with assault and criminal damage after an incident at a neighbour's home in Drogheda. Negura allegedly attacked Bohuslav Kalias, who was working on a car with his brother, using a claw hammer. The assault left Kalias with a broken right arm that required a rod, screw, and 38 stitches, and caused him long‑term functional impairment. Negura also smashed the car, inflicting €1,900 worth of damage. He denied the assault but later pleaded guilty to the use of a claw hammer while assaulting Kalias and to criminal damage. The court dropped the assault charge after the guilty plea, and a trial date was set for January 2020, with Negura remanded on continuing bail pending a probation report on his alcohol use. The case highlighted the severity of the injuries and the property damage caused.
Three men have been arraigned at the Special Criminal Court on charges of murdering a dissident republican shot dead outside a public house in Meath over five years ago. Michael McDermott, aged 58, of Ballinagh, County Cavan; Kevin Braney, aged 43, from Dublin; and Frank Murphy, aged 58, of Bettystown, County Meath, have all pleaded not guilty to murder. McDermott and Braney also deny possessing a 9mm semi-automatic pistol and ammunition in March 2013, while Murphy denies possession of the same firearm and rounds on the date of the killing itself. The prosecution opened its case before three judges, outlining that the victim was shot multiple times in a carpark whilst in his vehicle, with witnesses present. The court heard that a stolen vehicle was used in the attack and subsequently recovered. The prosecution indicated that accomplice evidence will feature prominently, noting that a protected witness will testify regarding the planning and execution of the murder. The trial is expected to last approximately ten weeks.
Dean Evans, 27, of Raheny, Dublin, received a mandatory life sentence at the Special Criminal Court for the murder of Peter Butterly. Evans pleaded guilty to shooting Butterly outside The Huntsman Inn, Gormanstown, Co Meath, in March 2013. He was extradited from Spain in April after failing to appear for a trial scheduled in January 2017. Evans expressed remorse, stating he made decisions as a younger man that he would not make today. The court heard from the victim's widow, who described the family's trauma. Evans is the third person to receive a life sentence for this murder, following convictions for Edward McGrath and Sharif Kelly. Frank Murphy, 58, of Bettystown, Co Meath, also appeared at the Special Criminal Court today, where he was charged with firearms offences arising out of the events at the Huntsman Inn. Previous firearms charges against Murphy were struck out. Three other men, Kevin Braney, Michael McDermott, and Frank Murphy, are due to go on trial later this year on the same murder charge.
A man arrested in Spain following his failure to appear at trial has pleaded guilty to murdering dissident republican Peter Butterly at the Special Criminal Court. Dean Evans, aged 27 and from Dublin, admitted to the charge of murdering Mr Butterly, who was shot dead outside The Huntsman Inn, Gormanstown, County Meath on 6 March 2013. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy remanded Evans in custody pending sentencing on 31 July, when he will receive a mandatory life sentence. Evans is the third person to receive a life sentence for the killing, following the conviction last year of Edward McGrath and Sharif Kelly. Three other men remain scheduled to stand trial later this year on the same charge, including a man with an address in Cavan. Evans had absconded before his trial was due to commence in January 2017, prompting a European Arrest Warrant. He was apprehended in Spain in April and subsequently surrendered to Irish authorities.
James McDonagh, aged 26, was sentenced to four years in prison after he pointed a handgun at Dolores Doyle's head when she asked his children to stop pulling down bunting she had erected in her garden. The incident occurred after Doyle and her husband Patrick, both in their sixties, had repeatedly asked McDonagh's two children to leave their garden. McDonagh threatened violence, including burning the house and killing Doyle's son, and returned with a black six‑inch handgun. He pointed it at Doyle as she tried to return home, then at her husband's face, and later pleaded guilty to threatening to kill or seriously harm the Doyles. The court accepted evidence that the gun was likely not real and that McDonagh had a history of road traffic offences. He had taken steps toward rehabilitation and had moved away from the area. The judge imposed a custodial sentence, suspending the final two years of the four‑year term.
In a 2018 Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Alan Donoghue, aged 35, received a three‑year sentence for his part in a pre‑meditated violent assault on fellow inmate Gary Hanley at Wheatfield Prison on 29 April 2015. Donoghue, who was already serving an eight‑year manslaughter sentence, pleaded guilty to violent disorder. He admitted leaving the scene after the initial assault and not pursuing Hanley when the stabbing began. The court noted that Donoghue had no weapon and had left the area before the spoon‑shaped improvised weapon was used by co‑accused Gary Howard, who was sentenced to four years, and Mark Dignam, who received three and a half years. Judge Melanie Greally imposed the three‑year term to run concurrently with part of Donoghue's existing sentence, with the final three years suspended for possession of a firearm and assisting an inmate to escape.
Former Anglo Irish Bank CEO David Drumm was found guilty by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on two charges: conspiracy to defraud and false accounting. The jury returned unanimous verdicts after 87 days of trial, the third-longest in the State's history. Drumm, who pleaded not guilty to both charges, was convicted of conspiring with former bank officials Denis Casey, William McAteer, John Bowe, and others to defraud depositors and investors by dishonestly creating the impression that 2008 deposits were €7.2 billion larger than they were. He was also found guilty of false accounting on December 3, 2008, for furnishing misleading information to the market regarding the bank's deposit figures. The prosecution alleged the scheme involved fraudulent circular transactions between Anglo and Irish Life & Permanent to artificially inflate customer deposits from €44 billion to €51 billion. Although Drumm was on bail throughout the trial, Detective Sergeant Michael McKenna opposed its continuation, citing flight risk and the substantial prison terms received by his co-conspirators. Defense counsel Brendan Grehan SC requested bail on humanitarian grounds, noting Drumm's family was in the US. Judge Karen O'Connor granted bail, requiring Drumm to sign daily at Balbriggan Garda Station. The matter is now at the sentencing stage, with the maximum penalty for conspiracy to defraud being unlimited and ten years for false accounting.
John Devereux, a former HSE paramedic and volunteer ambulance driver, lost an appeal against his conviction for the repeated sexual assault of a nine‑year‑old child. In 2012 and 2013, he was charged with ten counts of sexual assault. A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court acquitted him of seven counts but found him guilty of three. He was sentenced to three‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended. Devereux's lawyers argued that the trial judge should have directed the jury to find him not guilty because the prosecution had not cross‑examined him after he gave evidence. Judge Birmingham rejected this claim, noting that the prosecution had cross‑examined Devereux over two court sessions before and after lunch, and that there was no obligation to formally present the prosecution's case to him. The Court of Appeal dismissed all grounds of appeal, finding no evidence of an unfair trial or an unsafe verdict.
In a Charleton tribunal hearing, former Garda press officer Superintendent David Taylor denied that he was directed by former Commissioner Martin Callinan to brief journalists negatively about Sgt Maurice McCabe's 2006 sexual‑assault allegation. Taylor said he had been instructed to mention that McCabe was motivated by revenge and that the allegation was a "smear campaign." He claimed he had clarified to reporters that the DPP had not prosecuted the case and that the narrative was "there was no smoke without fire." Taylor also testified that the campaign ended when Callinan left office and that he had been moved from the press office to the traffic division, a transfer he described as a "fall from grace." He argued that he should not have been placed in a police cell after an inquiry into Garda leaks, stating he was not a flight risk and that custody was unnecessary. No other Garda officials confirmed Callinan's alleged direction.
David Lawrence, aged 22, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for a drunken rampage that took place on 23 April 2017 at a house in Lusk. He admitted assaulting a teenage boy and a 15‑year‑old girl, smashing windows with a bale of briquettes and a lump of timber, and threatening to kill the boy. The court heard that Lawrence knocked on the door, used the bathroom, returned to demand a phone, knocked the girl to the ground, struck the boy, smashed the front‑door window, and threatened to slit the boy's throat with a knife. He also smashed another window with a wooden stick and tried to open the bathroom door. The family, who had known Lawrence before, were frightened and suffered long‑term emotional damage. Judge Martin Nolan noted that alcohol was not an excuse for his behaviour. Lawrence's sentence was back‑dated to 7 September 2017 when he entered custody. David Lawrence pleaded guilty.
Ben Gilroy, an anti‑eviction campaigner, received a one‑month suspended prison sentence for criminal contempt of court after he posted a video on social media in which he described the judge presiding over a contempt case involving a Dublin couple as a "satanic cult member" and claimed the Irish Constitution was "redundant." In the clip, Gilroy also suggested that the judge had "vacated his oath of office," urged people to use the Defence of the Dwelling Act, and said they should "just wait for anyone coming through the door and blow their heads off with a gun." The High Court judge, Tony O'Connor, found the remarks to be contempt and adjourned the matter to allow Gilroy to respond. When the case returned, Gilroy apologized and said the remarks were "out of character." The judge imposed the suspended sentence, which will remain in force for 30 months on the condition that Gilroy does not repeat such statements.
In a High Court hearing on 1 May 2018, Mr and Mrs Gordon and Linda Smith were released from custody after apologising and agreeing to vacate their home at Hamlet Avenue, Balbriggan. The couple had been detained for contempt of court following their refusal to comply with an injunction issued by KBC Bank Ireland Plc, which had obtained a possession order for the property in 2016. KBC had sought to enforce the order in February 2018, but its security staff were forced to leave after an alleged attack. The Smiths claimed they were assaulted by armed men acting on behalf of the bank and that the bank had committed perjury. Mr Justice Tony O'Connor ruled that the couple had refused to comply with the injunction, ordered their detention at Bridewell Garda Station and directed that they be sent to Mountjoy Prison until they purged their contempt.
Pawel Wisniewski, 43, was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison for stealing thousands of litres of diesel from an Applegreen service station in Balbriggan over three days in August 2019. He also received a two-and-a-half year sentence for possession of cannabis for sale or supply and a firearm at a grow‑house in Tallaght, and a two‑year sentence for the diesel offence, all to run consecutively. Wisniewski, a qualified electrician and former Polish army serviceman, used a cloned Applegreen card to pump diesel into his van, stealing €5,220 worth of fuel. He was also convicted of driving without insurance. His girlfriend received a suspended one‑year sentence. Wisniewski was disqualified from driving for three years and his sentence was back‑dated to October 2019. The court noted this was the first case involving large‑scale diesel theft of this nature. Pawel Wisniewski pleaded guilty.
In a High Court hearing on 26 April 2018, Mr Justice Tony O'Connor adjourned proceedings brought by KBC Bank against Mrs Linda Hussey Smith and her husband Gordon Smith. The bank had obtained a 2016 Circuit Court order for possession of the Smiths' home at Hamlet Avenue, Chieftain's Way, Balbriggan, after the couple failed to repay their mortgage. KBC's security staff were forced to leave the property after an altercation, and the bank subsequently secured a High Court injunction requiring the Smiths and anti‑eviction campaigner Ben Gilroy to vacate the premises by late March. The Smiths, representing themselves, claim that information was withheld during the injunction proceedings and that perjury occurred in the Circuit Court. Mrs Smith alleged she was assaulted when possession was attempted, while Mr Smith was removed from the court by Gardai after refusing to answer the judge's questions. Mr Justice O'Connor warned Mr Smith not to threaten the judge, a claim Mr Smith denied.
Joseph Kiernan, aged 34, was deported from the Netherlands after serving a partially suspended three‑year robbery sentence. He was then jailed in Ireland for six years for a series of driving and drug offences. In November 2014 he pleaded guilty to unlawful use of a stolen Ford Mondeo and possession of €648 of cannabis near Dublin Airport. In January 2015 he pleaded guilty to unlawful use of a stolen BMW and dangerous driving around Gormanston, Meath. In May 2015 he pleaded guilty to possession of €3,566 of cannabis at a premises he shared with his partner on Gardiner Street, Dublin. The court imposed a four‑year sentence for the earlier drugs charge, consecutive to another four years for the later drugs offence, with the final two years suspended. Kiernan was banned from driving for 20 years. He had 55 prior convictions, including robbery, vehicle theft, burglaries and possession of stolen property.
Mercie Wambui, 32, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two years' imprisonment with 15 months suspended for fraudulently claiming €88,877 in Social Welfare payments between August 2010 and September 2016. She had arrived in Ireland from Kenya in 2006 as an asylum seeker and was only entitled to a Direct Provision weekly payment of €19, later rising to €28, and to a One Parent Allowance after her son's birth in 2011. In 2008 she obtained false identity papers and secured a job with the Daughters of the Cross, earning €650 a week, which she did not declare. She also claimed maternity benefit for six months under the false name. Wambui pleaded guilty, admitted financial pressure, and has already paid €7,000 to the State and is repaying €25 per week. The judge acknowledged her remorse, low re‑offending risk, nursing work history, and role as a mother, and back‑dated the sentence to 29 December 2017.
Gerard Neeson, 46, of Ballymun, Dublin, was sentenced to six months in prison for providing false or misleading information in a passport application. Between 23 and 30 April 2015, Neeson submitted an application and four photographs signed by Gardaí at Ballymun Garda Station. He later handed the application and photographs to a third party who altered the photo, replacing Neeson's image with that of a criminal, and mailed the altered application to the passport office. Neeson was to receive €500 if the passport was issued. The court noted Neeson's 29 prior convictions and his admission of involvement. Judge Martin Nolan emphasized that Neeson's lack of sophistication did not absolve him of responsibility, and imposed the six‑month sentence. The case highlighted the use of a passport for illicit purposes. Gerard Neeson pleaded guilty.
A trial date of 2 October 2018 has been set at the Special Criminal Court for five men charged in connection with the murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly. The 35-year-old was fatally shot outside The Huntsman Inn in Gormanston, County Meath on 6 March 2013. Books of evidence were served on the defendants during proceedings before the non-jury court. Michael McDermott of Ballinagh, County Cavan faces charges including murder, membership of an unlawful organisation, and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. Kevin Braney of Tallaght, Dublin and Frank Murphy of Bettystown, County Meath face similar charges. Laurence Murphy of Bettystown and Ray Kennedy of Blanchardstown, Dublin are charged with membership of an unlawful organisation. The trial is estimated to last up to ten weeks. Additional legal representation has been approved for each defendant.
David Aminu, a 42‑year‑old Nigerian national, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment by Judge Martin Nolan after pleading guilty to fraudulently claiming €136,449 in social welfare payments over seven years. Aminu used his cousin's name to obtain a PPS number and claim Family Income Support, Jobseekers Allowance, Supplementary Welfare Allowance, and other benefits from 2006 to 2013. In 2015 he wrote a letter to the Department of Social Welfare revealing his true identity and date of birth, an act that prompted the Gardaí to investigate and ultimately detect the fraud. The court noted that Aminu had no prior convictions, had cooperated fully, and had used the funds to support his family rather than for a lavish lifestyle. The judge emphasised the need for deterrence in such difficult‑to‑detect crimes, while acknowledging Aminu's remorse and good family background. The sentence may have long‑term consequences for Aminu, including potential deportation.
Craig May, aged 19, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Daniel Kelly on Balbriggan beach on 27 May. May, 17 at the time, was part of a group that kicked Kelly repeatedly to the head, breaking his wrist and causing significant psychological injury. The attack occurred while Kelly and his girlfriend were returning from a graduation celebration. Kelly's girlfriend identified May, who later gave a statement. Kelly suffered facial abrasions, a broken wrist that required eight weeks in a cast, and was forced to abandon his defence forces cadet training. May had seven prior convictions and was described as having a low risk of re‑offending. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced him to two‑and‑a‑half years, suspended on conditions, and awarded Kelly €1,000 as a token of remorse. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Patrick Murphy and Gavrila Puscas were sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to illegally dumping two skip-loads of mixed waste at a vacant site in Santry on the night of May 14/15, 2015. Judge Petria McDonnell described the act as "odious" and a "blight on the landscape." She sentenced Murphy to nine months suspended and Puscas to six months suspended, both for a period of 12 months, with conditions to keep the peace and be of good behaviour. The judge indicated she would have imposed tougher sentences had she not been constrained by the one-year suspended sentence previously imposed on their employer, Wayne O'Hare, in April. O'Hare, the former director of W K Waste Ltd, was sentenced by Judge Patricia Ryan. The court heard that Murphy, on a JobBridge scheme, and Puscas, a new driver, were directed by O'Hare to dump the waste. Gardaí arrested the men after surveillance by a Dublin City Council officer tracked the truck. Both defendants have no previous convictions. Defending counsel highlighted Murphy's intention to impress his boss and Puscas's limited industry knowledge. The illegally dumped waste was removed six weeks later. W K Waste Ltd has since gone into liquidation.
Oyindamola Ojo, a 37‑year‑old Nigerian mother of six living in Balbriggan, Dublin, received a three‑year suspended sentence for her role in a complex money‑laundering scheme that involved Ireland, the UK and Nigeria. She opened seven credit‑union accounts across three Irish counties, using forged Electric Ireland bills and "compromised" UK debit and credit cards to withdraw €1,800 from St Mary's Credit Union, €2,500 from Palmerstown Credit Union and attempted to withdraw €4,800 from Dunboyne Credit Union between December 2014 and January 2015. Ojo also pleaded guilty to using false bills at Dunboyne, Nolan's and Waterford Credit Unions, and to dishonestly inducing a replacement of an iPhone 6 Plus at Carphone Warehouse. She claimed she was drawn into the operation by an ex‑partner and a friend, both based in Nigeria, and that she feared for her three children's safety. Ojo had no prior convictions.