Alison Wilkins, 48, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to nine sample charges of theft committed between July 2013 and March 2014. The accused, a carer for Rita Keogh, a vulnerable widow suffering from dementia, allegedly stole over €30,000 from Keogh's bank account. Gardaí evidence indicated Wilkins carried out 57 unauthorised transactions, including ATM withdrawals and debit card payments, after gaining access to Keogh's card and PIN. Keogh's balance dropped from €33,000 to €13,900 during the period. Wilkins, who has no previous convictions, admitted the offences. Defence counsel Kerida Naidoo BL highlighted Wilkins' prior decent life, her drug habit, and her remorse, submitting that her admissions were useful to the State. Judge Desmond Hogan adjourned the case to October for sentencing. He ordered a probation report to assess Wilkins' suitability for community service, noting he was not ruling out that disposal but emphasizing Keogh's vulnerability. The judge also advised defence counsel to explore the possibility of gathering funds to compensate Keogh. Wilkins was remanded on continuing bail. The matter was adjourned and not concluded.
Kevin Braney, 40, of Tallaght, Dublin, was granted temporary bail by the Special Criminal Court in a trial concerning alleged membership of an unlawful organisation. The court, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Butler alongside Judges Cormac Dunne and Flann Brennan, allowed Braney bail on consent from May 26 until June 3. He was required to enter a €100 bond, surrender his passport, reside at specified addresses, sign on twice daily at a garda station, observe a curfew between 7am and 7pm, and provide a mobile number. Additionally, he must not contact prosecution witnesses or associate with co-accused or persons charged with scheduled offences, except in the presence of his legal team. His independent surety of €3,250 was present in court. Braney's trial is currently listed for June 9. He is one of seven men charged with membership of the IRA on July 3, 2013. His co-accused are Peter Burns, Brian Nick McBennet, Michael Barr, John Brock, Declan Phelan, and Desmond Christie. All six co-accused face the same alleged charge. The matter remains at the trial stage, with Braney's temporary bail period set to expire before his scheduled trial date.
During a drug search at Ross Whelan's Ballymun home, Gardaí found a pipe bomb under floorboards and over €2,000 worth of heroin in a bedside locker. Whelan, 23, pleaded guilty to possession of heroin for sale or supply and possession of an explosive substance on 16 July 2014. He had 14 prior convictions, including theft, handling stolen property, drug possession, public order offences and an 18‑month assault sentence. Judge Martin Nolan accepted Whelan's claim that he kept the bomb for personal protection, describing it as an unusual protective measure, and noted the significant heroin amount. The court sentenced Whelan to four years' imprisonment. Garda Liam Mangan explained the bomb was a pipe packed with explosive powder, lacking a detonator but confirmed explosive by forensic testing. Whelan admitted owning 13.3 grams of heroin, claimed the bomb had been buried and dug up two weeks before the search, and apologized to Gardaí, neighbours and family for the disruption.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Garda Karen Duffy was injured when a stolen Nissan Micra, driven by 19‑year‑old Eoin Murphy, struck her patrol car's passenger door. The impact broke Duffy's nose and left a six‑centimetre scar on her forehead after 30 stitches. Murphy, who had 30 prior convictions including three for car theft, pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment and unlawful use of a car. He claimed he was "stoned" on tablets that night. Duffy suffered severe bruising, a cut to the back of her head, a broken nose, and post‑traumatic stress disorder. The judge adjourned the case to the next month and requested a Probation Services report. The court noted that Duffy would be compensated under the Garda Compensation Scheme. The case remains at the pleading stage.
The Special Criminal Court granted temporary bail to Brian Nick McBennet, one of seven men charged with membership of an unlawful organisation, specifically the IRA. McBennet, aged 56, and his co-accused—Peter Burns, Kevin Braney, Michael Barr, John Brock, Declan Phelan, and Desmond Christie—were charged on July 3, 2013. The three-judge panel, presided over by Justice Paul Butler, allowed McBennet bail from May 22 to May 24 on consent. Conditions included a €100 personal bond, surrendering travel documents, residing at a specified address, daily garda station sign-ins, a curfew, and providing a dedicated mobile phone number. He was also prohibited from contacting prosecution witnesses or associating with persons charged with scheduled offences outside the presence of his legal team. An independent surety of €10,000 was provided, with the surety agreeing to freeze their bank account to maintain that balance. The court noted that an application to adjourn McBennet's trial, currently listed for June 9, will be made on Tuesday. This adjournment is pending an appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions on a point of law in a connected case, which is scheduled for the following week in the Court of Appeal. The matter remains subject to this procedural delay.
Lynne Adderley, a former civil servant at a Dublin Motor Tax Office, pleaded guilty to five counts of making false instruments for forging driver licences for Albanian and Italian nationals between 1 October 2008 and 1 April 2010. The forging involved reusing certificates of competency from genuine test‑passers and attaching them to applications from drivers who surrendered their foreign licences, which were not forwarded to the Road Safety Authority but were still issued replacement Irish licences. An internal audit uncovered the scheme. Adderley was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan to a three‑year suspended sentence, with the judge noting that she had betrayed public trust but was "very lucky" not to go to jail. The judge also highlighted the impact on her career and personal life, while noting the broader implications of white‑collar crime for public services.
The President of the High Court has rejected applications by three men imprisoned for drug possession offences, who sought release following a Court of Appeal decision that struck down provisions of the Misuse of Drugs Act as unconstitutional. Keith Willis was convicted of possessing ecstasy tablets after gardaí discovered drugs in his vehicle in Sligo in 2012. Anthony Murphy and Joseph Carberry were each convicted of possessing synthetic cannabis and pentedrone respectively for supply purposes. The men argued their detention had become unlawful after the Act's regulatory framework was found unconstitutional, contending the substances were not legally prohibited at the time of their arrests. Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns dismissed the applications, finding their detention remained valid. He held that prior Supreme Court authority established that cases concluded under laws subsequently found unconstitutional need not be reopened absent wholly exceptional circumstances. The judge determined none of the applicants satisfied the threshold for such exceptional relief. Anthony Murphy pleaded guilty. Joseph Carberry pleaded guilty. Keith Willis pleaded guilty.
Stephen Hendrick, 47, of Ballymun, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to possessing a 7.62 mm Kalashnikov assault rifle and its components, as well as parts for Glock pistols, at his home on 15 November 2014. He also admitted unlawful possession of a flexible PETN explosive tube at the same address. Additionally, he pleaded guilty to holding 59 rounds of ammunition of various calibres and brands at Furry Park, Turnapin Great, Old Airport Road, Cloghran on 3 July 2013. The court remanded him in custody for sentencing on 15 May of the following year.
Andrew O'Toole, 22, was remanded in custody after a high‑speed chase in which he drove a stolen motorbike the wrong way down a dual carriageway, around roundabouts, and through red lights, ultimately crashing into a parked car. He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and reckless endangerment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. O'Toole had 12 prior convictions and became a father two days after the offence. During the pursuit, motorists were forced to take evasive action, including a bus that swerved into road works. Garda Stephen Walsh chased O'Toole, who eventually crashed on Woodhazel Terrace in Ballymun. O'Toole was arrested after a struggle that injured the Garda's hand. He later said he "blanked" when questioned. Judge Martin Nolan revoked his bail, remanded him until 21 May for sentencing, and urged him to reflect on the danger he posed to himself, the public and the Gardaí.
Stephen Hendrick, 47, of Ballymun, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to possession of 59 rounds of ammunition in suspicious circumstances. He was arrested in July 2013 at a yard in Cloghran by the Special Detective Unit and the Crime and Security Section during investigations into dissident republican activity. Hendrick was also charged with membership of an unlawful organisation, the Irish Republican Army (Oglaigh na hEireann). The court scheduled sentencing for Wednesday, 22 April, and the State anticipated a nolle prosequi on the membership charge.
Stephen Nangle, 31, of Maple House, North Circular Road, Dublin, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after an incident on 30 March 2013 at Forestwood Avenue, Ballymun. He had come to see his two‑year‑old son but was refused entry by the mother, Sarah Jane McSherry, who was at home with her son and her mother. Nangle attempted to force the door open, pushed Ms McSherry against a wall, kicked her, followed her into the apartment, banged her against furniture and pulled her hair. A neighbour intervened and warned him that the Gardaí were on their way. A Garda who arrived noted clumps of hair pulled from Ms McSherry's head. Nangle disputed her account, claiming self‑defence, but accepted his guilt. Judge Mary Ellen Ring sentenced him to two years and six months in prison, with the last 12 months suspended, and ordered that he stay away from Ms McSherry for three years after release.
Declan Phelan, 32, of Tallaght, Dublin, was granted bail by the Special Criminal Court on charges of membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army. The court imposed strict conditions, including surrendering his passport, signing daily at Naas Garda Station between 2 pm and 11 pm, observing a curfew from midnight to 6:30 am, and refraining from leaving the jurisdiction or associating with persons charged or convicted of scheduled offences. He must also maintain a single mobile phone with the Gardaí. Bail was set on an independent surety of €10,000 and his own bond of €100. Phelan is scheduled to appear again on June 9, 2015. This case stems from a special sitting in July 2013, where Phelan and six other men were charged with the same offence on July 3, 2013. The co-accused are Peter Burns, Kevin Braney, Michael Barr, Brian Nick McBennett, John Brock, and Desmond Christie. All seven men face allegations of IRA membership, but no pleas, findings, or sentences have been recorded for the group at this procedural stage. The report confirms only Phelan's bail grant and upcoming court date, while the status of the other accused remains pending further proceedings.
Altin Meci, a 30‑year‑old chip shop owner from Kosovo living in Santry, Dublin, pleaded guilty to eleven counts of making a false instrument for supplying fake driving licences between October 2008 and April 2010. He had an arrangement with a civil servant, identified in court as "Officer A", who worked in the Motor Tax Office. Meci charged foreign nationals €1,000 per licence, which did not require an Irish driving test, and received €5,000 from the scam while Officer A allegedly received €5,000. The court, considering Meci's early guilty plea and full admissions, imposed a one‑year suspended sentence and fined him €5,000. Officer A remains before the courts and has yet to enter a plea. Meci is married to a British woman, has a son, runs a takeaway in Coolock, employs several people, sponsors local soccer teams, and is involved in charity work.
David Murphy, aged 24, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two assault charges after a violent incident on 12 December 2013. He stabbed his mother, Angela Murdock, in the neck and arms with a bread knife, then attacked his brother, Andrew Murphy, stabbing him five times until the knife handle broke, leaving the blade in Andrew's arm. The court noted a long‑standing strained relationship between Murphy and his family. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a four‑year prison sentence, suspending the last 18 months on the condition that Murphy keeps the peace and obeys Probation Services instructions for one year after release. The sentence was back‑dated to December 2013, when Murphy entered custody. Both victims received stitches and reported nightmares from the attack. Murphy expressed remorse and claimed he had always felt like the black sheep of the family.
Three men – Gary Freeman (27), Barry Gannon (36) and John Redmond (38) – were found guilty of assault causing harm and violent disorder after a 12‑day trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The offence took place in the yard of Mountjoy Prison on 28 August 2012 when the men attacked prisoner William McDonagh, pushing him to the ground and kicking him, as shown on CCTV footage. The court saw that Gannon struck McDonagh with a mop head, Redmond kicked and punched him, and Freeman punched and stamped on his head. McDonagh suffered lacerations, a damaged ear and bruising, and required 30 sutures. Each defendant was sentenced to three years' imprisonment with the final year suspended; Freeman's and Gannon's terms were back‑dated to 26 February 2015, and Redmond's to 18 December 2013. The judge noted the defendants' prior convictions and their expressions of remorse and rehabilitation efforts. Gary Freeman pleaded not guilty. Barry Gannon pleaded not guilty. John Redmond pleaded not guilty.
Stephen Dolan, aged 20, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting taxi driver Mohammed Maeem and robbing €90 from The Snuffbox newsagents. On 5 September 2014, Dolan directed Maeem to remote roads outside Finglas, punched him twice in the face, and later robbed the newsagents the day before. Maeem suffered a deep forehead gash, swollen lip, bruising and required stitches; he has since lost a month's earnings. Dolan admitted taking prescription drugs and was described by a newsagent as "an absolute idiot." The court sentenced him to four years, with the final year suspended, citing his 45 previous convictions and attempts to reform. The judge described the assault as sinister and noted Dolan's ADHD and dysfunctional background. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the assault and robbery.
Seven men from Dublin were acquitted of IRA membership by the Special Criminal Court after the prosecution's case collapsed. The court ruled that belief evidence from Chief Superintendent Peter Kirwan, who claimed confidential information that the men were IRA members, was inadmissible because it had not been disclosed to the defence and was based on human sources and telephone intercepts. The men—Kevin Braney, Des Christie, Hubert Duffy, William Jackson, Declan Phelan, John Brock and Darren Murphy—had pleaded not guilty to membership of an illegal organisation. The prosecution had alleged they were part of an IRA operation to extort money from a used‑car dealer in Clondalkin and that they had travelled to the dealership for that purpose. The court found no evidence to support the claim and directed the men to be acquitted.
The Special Criminal Court ruled that the opinion evidence of Garda Chief Superintendent Peter Kirwan, who claimed that seven Dublin men were IRA members, was inadmissible because the defence was not informed beforehand that telephone intercepts underpinned his opinion. Kirwan had previously told the court that he believed, based on confidential information, that all seven accused were IRA members, and he claimed privilege over the sources. During cross‑examination he admitted the evidence was based on human sources and telephone intercepts. Justice Paul Butler declared a basic unfairness of procedure and ordered the belief evidence to be excluded. The trial was adjourned to Friday while the prosecution awaited instructions from the Director of Public Prosecutions. The seven men—Kevin Braney, Des Christie, Hubert Duffy, William Jackson, Declan Phelan, John Brock and Darren Murphy—had pleaded not guilty to membership of an illegal organisation, the IRA, on 29 March 2013.
In March 2015, Thomas Callery, aged 42, was sentenced to 18 months in jail for assaulting Danielle Byrne, aged 22, during a christening event at the Swiss Cottage pub in Santry. Callery threw a pint glass at Byrne after a melee broke out between Byrne and other guests. The glass struck Byrne's face, causing her to black out, suffer nerve damage to her eye, and receive scarring on her brow and cheek. Byrne reported anxiety attacks and the need for daily eye drops. Callery pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and was given a three‑year sentence with half suspended, plus twelve months of probation. The judge noted Byrne's intoxication and the chaotic circumstances but held Callery responsible for the injuries inflicted. The case highlighted the seriousness of violent conduct at public gatherings.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 4 March 2015, Detective Chief Superintendent Peter Kirwan of Garda Security and Intelligence presented confidential information, claiming privilege, to support his belief that seven men arrested in a 2013 Garda swoop on a used‑car lot in west Dublin were members of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). Kirwan said the evidence came from human sources and telephone intercepts. The seven men—Kevin Braney (40), Des Christie (50), Hubert Duffy (47), William Jackson (55), Declan Phelan (33), John Brock (42) and Darren Murphy (44)—had been arrested on 29 March 2013 and had pleaded not guilty to IRA membership. Garda searches of the car lot and subsequent vehicle, office and kitchen searches yielded cable ties, balaclavas, a Glock pistol, a baseball bat, a lump hammer, pepper spray and gloves. The prosecution's case relies on surveillance sightings, seized items, the accused's responses to Garda questioning and Kirwan's opinion evidence. The trial remains ongoing.
In Swords District Court on 2 March 2015, several cases were heard. Dean Whelan, 27, pleaded guilty to stealing €85 from a Polish shop's cash register to pay a drug debt. He was sentenced to two months' imprisonment, a term that will run concurrently with a three‑year sentence he is already serving. Brendan Donovan, 61, admitted possession of a stolen van that had been listed on Done Deal. He was adjourned until 27 April to arrange €500 compensation for the van owner's tools. Kevin Carroll, 27, failed to appear after pleading guilty to damaging a restaurant window, leading to a bench warrant. Patrick Joyce, 22, was convicted of stealing soft drinks worth €5, fined €100, and warned that a further offence could result in custodial time. Each case was addressed with the specific charges, pleas, and court orders as stated in the article.
In Balbriggan District Court on 26 February 2015, two women, Eileen McDonagh (36) and Carolyn Ward (29), were dealt with for stealing €1,782.35 worth of children's clothing from Tesco Extra. McDonagh donated €300 to the Laura Lynn Hospice, leading Judge Dermot Dempsey to apply Section 1.1 of the Probation Act and grant her probation. Ward, who did not attend court and made no donation, was convicted and fined €300. Both had no prior convictions and were described by their solicitor as acting out of desperation with no sophisticated planning. Separately, Ryan Myles (21) was adjourned for a Probation & Welfare Report after pleading guilty to theft of cosmetics and possession of cannabis resin, with 10 prior convictions. A motorist, David Boylan (48), was fined €300 for careless driving after a collision at a crossroads but was not disqualified. Finally, Mathew Lencewicz (21) was convicted of drink driving, fined €200, and received a six‑month driving ban.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 25 February 2015, Eamon McNamee, one of eight Dublin men accused of IRA membership, was released after the Director of Public Prosecutions entered a nolle prosequi. Prosecutor Tara Burns explained that the DPP would not pursue the charge. The court had earlier ruled that McNamee and three others—Kevin Braney, William Jackson, and Darren Murphy—had not been lawfully arrested during a Garda operation at a car lot in west Dublin. Judge Paul Butler noted that these men had previously been arrested for IRA membership and should not have been rearrested for the same offence without a warrant. The remaining seven accused continue to face trial. The case involved surveillance evidence, seized weapons and equipment, and testimony from Detective Chief Superintendent Peter Kirwan. The eight men, all pleading not guilty, were charged on 29 March 2013 with membership of an illegal organisation styled the Irish Republican Army.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Thomas Callery, aged 42, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Danielle Byrne, aged 22, after a melee at a pub during Callery's child's christening. Callery threw a pint glass that struck Byrne in the face, causing her to black out and fall. The glass hit her right eye, resulting in nerve damage, scarring to her eyebrow and cheek, and ongoing anxiety. Byrne reported daily eye drops and anxiety attacks. Callery, who has 14 prior convictions including a 2006 common assault, was remanded in custody pending sentencing. The judge noted Byrne's intoxication and the altercation but emphasized Callery's responsibility for the injury. The case remains at the sentencing stage, with no final sentence announced yet.
Adam Busby, aged 65 and confined to a wheelchair due to multiple sclerosis, was extradited from Ireland to the United Kingdom after a European Arrest Warrant was issued in July 2012. The extradition followed a High Court order in 2013 and a Supreme Court decision in December 2014 that cleared the way for his surrender, though a short stay was granted. Busby is wanted on terrorism charges that include hoax bomb and poison threats. Between November 2009 and June 2010 he allegedly telephoned Scottish newspapers and agencies, threatening to contaminate drinking water in major UK towns, to send caustic packages to public figures including former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, and to detonate bombs at the Argyll Arcade, Hilton Hotel, Forth Road Bridge and Erskine Bridge. He claimed to act for the Scottish National Liberation Army, a group founded in 1980 to use intimidation for Scottish independence.
In a Dublin city‑centre robbery, 38‑year‑old Deborah Lee lured drunken Mark O'Brien onto a dark back street, where two accomplices seized him in a choke hold and threatened him with a syringe. Lee pleaded guilty to the robbery of O'Brien on 9 June 2014 at Great Strand Street. Judge James O'Donoghue sentenced her to six months, noting the sentence was already served from a prior offence, and conditioned it on her participation in a residential drug‑treatment programme. The judge described Lee's role as a minor, non‑violent consort who set up the robbery but did not take part in the assault. CCTV footage of the trio cashing the victim's winning betting slip led to their arrest. Lee had no convictions at the time of the robbery, though she had been on bail for other offences, and the judge believed she could turn her life around with treatment.
The Special Criminal Court trial of eight men accused of membership of an illegal organisation styling itself as the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA on March 29, 2013, heard evidence regarding a Garda operation at a used car lot in Clondalkin. Kevin Braney, Des Christie, Eamon McNamee, Hubert Duffy, William Jackson, Declan Phelan, John Brock, and Darren Murphy have all pleaded not guilty to the alleged charges. Detective Sergeant John Holland testified that the primary purpose of the entry was the preservation of life, following reports of an immediate threat to the safety of the yard's owner by the IRA. The court heard that William Jackson, Darren Murphy, and John Brock were restrained and flexi-cuffed after being removed from a van. Detective Sergeant Donal Prenty stated that pepper spray, cable ties, balaclavas, gloves, and a Glock handgun were found on the premises. The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Paul Butler, Judge Alison Lindsay, and Judge William Hamill.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 5 February 2015, eight men were tried for alleged membership in the Irish Republican Army. The defendants – Kevin Braney, Des Christie, Eamon McNamee, Hubert Duffy, William Jackson, Declan Phelan, John Brock and Darren Murphy – all pleaded not guilty. The case centred on a Garda operation on 29 March 2013 at a used‑car lot in Clondalkin, where the men were arrested after a raid that followed an alleged extortion claim involving the owner of Crystal Cars, Jonathan McSharry. Detective Inspector Michael Gibbons testified that he had been informed that McSharry was being extorted by the IRA and that the men were "significant members" of the organisation. Gibbons described the arrest, the handling of McSharry, and the subsequent change in the Garda's perception of the situation. The trial was conducted before Mr Justice Paul Butler, Judge Alison Lindsay and Judge William Hamill in a non‑jury court. The proceedings remain ongoing.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 4 February 2015, eight men—Kevin Braney, Des Christie, Eamon McNamee, Hubert Duffy, William Jackson, Declan Phelan, John Brock and Darren Murphy—pleaded not guilty to membership of an illegal organisation styled the Irish Republican Army. The court heard that on 29 March 2013, members of the Emergency Response Unit entered Crystal Cars, a used‑car lot in Clondalkin, and arrested five men in a portacabin. Garda Detective Sergeant John Kane described the officers' entry, the presence of five men, and the recovery of a lump hammer, balaclavas and cable ties. He said the operation was prompted by confidential information that a man at Crystal Cars was targeted for extortion by the IRA and his life was in danger. Garda Detective Sergeant Gerald Doherty confirmed that he secured the five men, who were identified as Braney, Phelan, Duffy, McNamee and Christie, and that the officers remained until the arrest team arrived.
The Special Criminal Court upheld a privilege claim by Detective Garda Y of the Garda National Surveillance Unit regarding his exact location when he observed eight men at a used car lot in west Dublin. The officer argued that revealing his location would compromise future surveillance operations by exposing the unit's tradecraft and methodology. The court ordered the exclusion of the public from evidence concerning six NSU members and prohibited the disclosure of their identities. It also ruled that the identities of the eight men arrested—Kevin Braney, Des Christie, Eamon McNamee, Hubert Duffy, William Jackson, Declan Phelan, John Brock, and Darren Murphy—could not be revealed. The men, aged between 33 and 55, pleaded not guilty to membership of an illegal organisation styled the Irish Republican Army. The prosecution case relies on the NSU's observations, items seized, the men's responses to questioning, and opinion evidence from Detective Chief Superintendent Peter Kirwan. The trial continues.
In February 2015, a 40‑year‑old man named Jason White pleaded guilty in Dublin Central Criminal Court to harassing and threatening a neighbour, Jacqueline Hogg, over a three‑month period in 2012. White admitted harassing Hogg between St Patrick's Day and 7 July 2012, threatening to burn her house, and making violent threats to her family. He also threatened to damage the house, shouted threats from his upstairs window, and was found very drunk and aggressive. The court heard that youths had been drinking at his house, causing anti‑social behaviour, and that Hogg lived in a constant state of fear. Judge Patrick McCartan imposed a six‑month jail sentence suspended for two years, ordered White not to return to his former home in Doon Court, and noted his cooperation with Probation Services. White had three prior convictions for assault and criminal damage.
The Special Criminal Court has ruled against surveillance gardaí who claimed privilege over revealing the number of officers observing suspects. This occurred during the trial of eight men—Kevin Braney, Des Christie, Eamon McNamee, Hubert Duffy, William Jackson, Declan Phelan, John Brock, and Darren Murphy—all of whom pleaded not guilty to alleged membership of an illegal organisation styling itself as the Irish Republican Army on March 29, 2013. The prosecution alleges the men were observed by the National Surveillance Unit in Finglas and Clondalkin before being arrested at a used car lot in Clondalkin, where items including a Glock pistol, balaclavas, and cable ties were allegedly found. During cross-examination, a garda claimed privilege regarding the number of officers in his vehicle, arguing disclosure would compromise state security. The court partially upheld this claim but allowed questioning on whether others were present to take notes. The public was excluded during testimony to protect trade craft. The trial continues before Mr Justice Butler, Judge Alison Lindsay, and Judge William Hamill, with the prosecution relying on surveillance sightings, seized items, and interview responses.
The Special Criminal Court has excluded the public during evidence from the Garda National Surveillance Unit in the ongoing trial of eight Dublin men. Kevin Braney, Des Christie, Eamon McNamee, Hubert Duffy, William Jackson, Declan Phelan, John Brock, and Darren Murphy all pleaded not guilty to the alleged charge of membership of an illegal organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA on March 29th, 2013. The prosecution alleges that surveillance officers observed the accused at locations in Finglas and Clondalkin on that morning. Following their arrest by the Emergency Response Unit at a used car sales lot, the state claims gardai recovered items including a Glock pistol, balaclavas, and cable ties. During cross-examination, a detective invoked privilege regarding his location, citing operational security. The prosecution intends to rely on surveillance sightings, recovered items, and the defendants' responses to garda questioning, where some denied membership while others provided untrue answers. The court will hear opinion evidence from Detective Chief Superintendent Peter Kirwan. The matter is currently at the charge or pretrial stage, and the trial is continuing.
The Special Criminal Court has ordered the exclusion of the public during evidence from six Garda National Surveillance Unit (NSU) members in the ongoing trial of eight Dublin men. Presiding Judge Paul Butler ruled that the officers must not be named and that specific details regarding NSU tradecraft and methodology are subject to publication bans, citing risks to their safety. The defendants—Kevin Braney, Des Christie, Eamon McNamee, Hubert Duffy, William Jackson, Declan Phelan, John Brock, and Darren Murphy—each pleaded not guilty to the alleged charge of membership of an illegal organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA, on March 29, 2013. Prosecution counsel Tara Burns SC stated that the men were arrested at a used car sales lot in Clondalkin on Good Friday, 2013, following surveillance. Items allegedly found during subsequent searches included cable ties, balaclavas, a Glock pistol, a baseball bat, and pepper spray. The prosecution case relies on NSU sightings, the seized items, the defendants' responses to garda questioning, and opinion evidence from Detective Chief Superintendent Peter Kirwan. The trial is continuing.
Eight men were arrested after a Garda operation on a used‑car lot in west Dublin. The Special Criminal Court heard that the Garda National Surveillance Unit had observed the men at various locations in Finglas and Clondalkin on 29 March 2013. At midday, the Emergency Response Unit entered the yard of the used‑car sales lot and arrested the eight. Subsequent searches of two vans, an office and a kitchen uncovered cable ties, gloves, balaclavas, a baseball bat, a lump hammer, pepper spray and a Glock pistol. The men – Kevin Braney (40), Des Christie (50), Eamon McNamee (34), Hubert Duffy (47), William Jackson (55), Declan Phelan (33), John Brock (42) and Darren Murphy (44) – all pleaded not guilty to membership of an illegal organisation styled the Irish Republican Army (IRA). The prosecution case will rely on the surveillance sightings, the items found, the men's responses to Garda questioning and opinion evidence from Detective Chief Superintendent Peter Kirwan.
A 22‑year‑old Meath man, Graham McGuinness, was sentenced to four years in prison for driving a stolen car into a crowded viewing area at Dublin Airport. He pleaded guilty to unlawful use of a car and a second charge of dangerous driving. McGuinness, who had been disqualified from driving for ten years, drove recklessly up an embankment, jumped out of the moving car, and caused a large crowd of plane‑spotters to scatter. The judge, Martin Nolan, noted that McGuinness had "put the fear of God" into bystanders and suspended the final year of the sentence, citing his youth and potential for rehabilitation. McGuinness had 41 prior convictions, including criminal damage, theft, burglary, drug offences and threats to kill, and had struggled with alcohol and drugs. The court heard he had been in care from age 12 to 17 and had a very difficult, unsettled life with little stability.
A 22‑year‑old woman from Poppintree, Ballymun, was acquitted of recklessly causing serious harm to Natasha Mooney, a 25‑year‑old woman who lost sight in one eye after an incident at Dusk Nightclub in Coolock on 18 March 2013. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury, consisting of six men and six women, returned a not‑guilty verdict after 1 hour 16 minutes of deliberation. Judge Desmond Hogan thanked the jury, and the defence and prosecution noted the case was still pending further instructions. The unnamed 22-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Tara Scott, 21, testified on the third day of a trial concerning an assault at Dusk Nightclub on 18 March 2013. Scott, who was with Emma Hammond, 22, warned the alleged attacker, Natasha Mooney, 25, to stop smiling at her before the incident. Scott described how Mooney approached her in the smoking area, telling her to stop looking at her with a grin, and that Mooney then said, "Just wait until we get inside." Scott said she tried to intervene, shouting Hammond's name, but Mooney had already begun running at her. During the altercation, Scott sustained scratches from shattered glass and had drink in her eyes. Cross‑examination revealed CCTV footage that contradicted some of Scott's statements, but she maintained that her recollection was not perfect. The trial continues before Judge Desmond Hogan and a jury of twelve. Emma Hammond pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, Emma Hammond, aged 22, pleaded not guilty to assault causing serious harm after an incident at Dusk Nightclub on St Patrick's Day 2013. The case stems from a feud between Hammond's family and that of Natasha Mooney, 25, allegedly sparked by a pair of shoes left at Mooney's house. Hammond claimed she had never fought Mooney before and that she was unaware of the extent of Mooney's injuries until rumours emerged. She described an altercation where she had a phone in one hand and a glass in the other, stating she did not intend to hit Mooney with the glass. A friend of Mooney, Danielle Mahon, testified that she saw glass fall from Mooney's bra in hospital and that she was shocked by the sight of Mooney's eyelid hanging down. The trial continues before Judge Desmond Hogan and a jury.
Robert Melia, aged 48, was sentenced to eight years in prison after pleading guilty to false imprisonment, assault causing harm and making threats to kill. The case stemmed from an incident on 19 May 2013 at the Caulfields Hotel, where Melia forced a drug‑addicted woman to jump from a first‑floor window, threatened to take her to the mountains and chop her up, and strangled her. He had previously been convicted of rape in 1987 and had three other violent sexual assault convictions in October 1997. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a ten‑year sentence, suspending the last three years on the condition of good behaviour for three years. The court noted Melia's pattern of extreme hostility and violence towards women. The victim suffered fractures, bruising and ongoing psychological trauma, but did not attend the hearing as she was in a drug treatment programme. The case was prosecuted by Ronan Kennedy BL.
A 24‑year‑old Dubliner was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment for the manslaughter of a father of three, Jason Flannery, after a quarrel with the victim's daughter at her Junior Cert celebrations. The offender, David Brannock, used an ornamental knife he had received as a gift to stab Flannery in the neck and stomach, causing fatal injuries. He also inflicted serious harm on Flannery's brother‑in‑law, John O'Neill, who was stabbed about seven times, and on the victim's children, Anthony and Jade Byrne, who received stitches for head and back wounds. Brannock was cleared of a murder charge but found guilty of manslaughter and multiple assault offences. The judge noted the aggravating factor of bringing a bladed weapon to the scene and imposed a 12‑year term, with the offender's prior convictions and the severity of the injuries influencing the sentence. The case was heard in the Central Criminal Court, where the jury convicted Brannock on all counts. The unnamed 24-year-old pleaded not guilty.
Adam Busby, a 65-year-old self-styled Scottish separatist, appeared before the High Court in an appeal regarding his extradition to the UK. British authorities seek his surrender on terrorism charges, alleging that between November 2009 and June 2010, he made hoax bomb warnings and poison threats to various Scottish newspapers and agencies. These allegations include threatening to contaminate UK water supplies, sending messages claiming poisonous packages were sent to former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, and claiming bombs would detonate at locations in Glasgow and Edinburgh. Busby, who has multiple sclerosis and is confined to a wheelchair, had previously appealed a 2013 High Court surrender order to the Supreme Court. Last week, a five-judge Supreme Court panel unanimously cleared the way for his surrender but agreed to a short stay on the order to allow for a health-related application. In the current High Court proceedings, counsel for the Minister of Justice and Equality, Mr Diarmaid McGuinness SC, stated that Busby intended to apply for a postponement of the surrender on humanitarian grounds. The State indicated it required time to review medical reports and consult Scottish authorities. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding over the case, told Busby, who was present in court, that the matter was to be adjourned until January 20. The judge ordered that Busby be remanded on continuing bail to appear before the court again on that date.
Swords District Court sentenced five defendants in separate matters. Mark Delaney, 24, pleaded guilty to possessing €300 worth of cannabis for sale or supply and unlawful possession. Judge Dermot Dempsey sentenced him to nine months in prison for sale and supply, with a concurrent three-month term for possession, noting he had exhausted all avenues. Gary Daly, 25, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of PVP. He was ordered to complete 240 hours of community service in lieu of a four-month prison sentence; the case was remanded until February for a review and updated Probation Report. William O'Brien, 58, pleaded guilty to being intoxicated. He received a six-month suspended sentence and a two-year Peace Bond with a condition of sober habits. Caroline Collins, 32, pleaded guilty to stealing €256.81 worth of children's clothes. She received a six-month suspended sentence and a two-year Peace Bond. Dean Whelan, 27, pleaded guilty to stealing €85 in cash. The matter was adjourned until March for an updated Probation Report to assess suitability for community service.
The Supreme Court dismissed Adam Busby's appeal against an extradition order to the UK, where he faces terrorism‑related charges. Busby, a 65‑year‑old Irish resident with a Santry Lodge address, is accused of making hoax threats between November 2009 and June 2010, including phone calls to the Scottish Sun and other newspapers, and text messages alleging bombs and poison deliveries. The High Court had ordered his surrender in 2013. The Supreme Court, hearing the appeal on a point of law, ruled that the executing state need not prove it could prosecute the offence on the same basis as the issuing state, citing the European Arrest Warrant system's principle of mutual recognition. The Court granted a short stay of the extradition order, allowing Busby, who has multiple sclerosis and is wheelchair‑bound, to remain on bail until the next High Court hearing. The decision was unanimous by a five‑judge panel led by Chief Justice Susan Denham.
At Balbriggan District Court, Judge Dermot Dempsey struck out cases against Thomas and Alan Larkin after they paid €500 to St Vincent de Paul. Thomas Larkin (36) pleaded guilty to assaulting a youth causing harm, while Alan Larkin (33) pleaded guilty to producing a wheel brace. The court heard the brothers reacted to youths throwing rocks at their car, which contained a baby. Judge Dempsey warned them they cannot take the law into their own hands. Keith Daly (21) pleaded guilty to handling stolen property, specifically a red Carrera mountain bike. He was placed on a 12-month Probation Bond, ordered to comply with Probation Services recommendations, engage in Offence Focus work, and be assessed for training and employment. Julian Donnelly (28) pleaded guilty to possession of €20 of cannabis resin. He was convicted and fined €300. Judge Dempsey noted he had no evidence Donnelly had stopped using drugs since March and warned he was sailing close to a prison sentence. Damien Costello (35) pleaded guilty to stealing €20 of petrol from two service stations. He paid €100 in compensation and was placed on a 12-month Probation Bond. Meanwhile, cases for John Scott (36), charged with dangerous driving and having excessively worn tyres, and Grainne Kealy (56), charged with driving without due caution and attention, were adjourned until January 8th for a plea or to fix a hearing date, as solicitors awaited outstanding statements and photographs.
Jason Whelan, 24, of Ballymun, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to five counts of burglary, theft and criminal damage committed between 18 August and 1 October 2012. He targeted staff locker rooms at the Swan Leisure Centre in Rathmines, the Crown Plaza Hotel, Blanchardstown Shopping Centre and Maximillian's Bistro. In the Swan Centre he broke into six male staff lockers, stealing items worth €5,867, including a laptop, a Trek bike, iPods, iPads, a Kindle Touch, smartphones, kit bags, cycling shorts, a wash bag and cash. Earlier that year he also burgled a guest room at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, stealing a purse, handbag, hair straighteners and a camera, and damaged 13 hotel staff lockers. Whelan had 71 prior convictions, including 29 burglaries and 30 thefts, and was on High Court bail for four other offences. He was sentenced to three years' imprisonment.
David Brannock, a 24‑year‑old father of one, was convicted of manslaughter for killing Jason 'Jasper' Flannery and of causing serious harm to Flannery's brother‑in‑law John O'Neill and assault causing harm to Flannery's daughter Jade Byrne and son Anthony Byrne. He was cleared of assault causing harm to the mother, Claire Byrne. The trial found that Brannock attacked the family with an ornamental knife after an argument over Jade Byrne's Junior Cert results. He stabbed Flannery in the neck, causing death, and inflicted wounds on O'Neill, Byrne and Anthony. Brannock pleaded not guilty to all five offences. Sentencing was adjourned to 11 December, with the court to consider victim impact reports and a letter from the mother of Brannock's child. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
Swords District Court handed down sentences to four defendants. Adam Errity, 21, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of cannabis herb for sale or supply. Judge Dermot Dempsey sentenced him to three months in prison, noting his 21 previous convictions. Robert Nolan, 46, pleaded guilty to a hit and run, failing to report the incident, and failing to remain at the scene. He was convicted and fined €100, avoiding disqualification. Ehigie Omoruyi, 44, pleaded not guilty to breaching a safety order and stabbing his ex-partner in the right arm. The court convicted him and suspended a six-month prison sentence. Martin Power, 58, pleaded not guilty to drink driving. Judge Dempsey convicted him, fined him €400, and disqualified him from driving for two years. All matters were finalised at the sentencing stage.
Two Dublin men, Stephen Hendrick, 47, of Ballymun, and Pierce Moran, 59, of East Wall, were charged at the Special Criminal Court on 17 November 2014 with membership of the Irish Republican Army, an unlawful organisation. Hendrick faced additional charges of unlawful possession of firearms, ammunition and an explosive substance. The firearms alleged to be in his possession included a Kalashnikov assault rifle, a Glock magazine, a Glock slide and firing pin, and 125 rounds of ammunition for the rifle plus five shotgun cartridges. He was also charged with possession of flexible PETN‑filled tubing. Moran was charged with unlawful possession of four semi‑automatic pistols, a sawn‑off shotgun and assorted ammunition. Both men were arrested at their homes on 15 November, declined to stand when the registrar read the charges, and were remanded in custody until 26 November, when they will appear by video link.
Luke Dunne, 21, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Court to assault causing serious harm after a random unprovoked attack on Joseph Nolan, 24, at Fortlawn Park, Blanchardstown on 9 June 2012. Nolan suffered a life‑threatening skull fracture, a brain clot, severe facial palsy, nerve damage, and hearing loss in one ear, preventing him from working as a DJ. He was left unconscious, choking on his own blood, with his left ear nearly torn. The court sentenced Dunne to five and a half years, suspending the final 12 months. Judge Mary Ellen Ring cited Dunne's admission at arrest and lack of prior convictions as reasons for the suspended portion, noting that his cooperation relieved Nolan of additional trauma. Nolan's victim impact statement highlighted the lasting effects on his health, work, and personal relationships. The case involved a gang of youths, a bottle‑throwing incident, and subsequent drug‑related admissions by Dunne.