A former Israeli soldier, Shahar Hlinovsky, aged 53, turned pro‑Palestinian activist and was said to have been persecuted by Mossad. He lived rough in Dublin and, in two separate incidents, attacked people he mistakenly believed were working for Mossad. In the first, he shouted at a man, brandishing a butcher's knife, which forced the man to call gardaí and retreat. Gardaí found two knives on Hlinovsky. In the second, he pushed a young woman who had just arrived from Germany and was calling her mother, causing her to suffer a graze and a partially ripped nail. Hlinovsky pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, two knife‑possession counts and another assault. He was sentenced to three years, with the final two years suspended and conditions imposed, and will be supervised by the Probation Service for one year after release.
Daniel Lynch, aged 25, was sentenced to three and a half years' imprisonment for coercive control of his pregnant partner between 19 September 2020 and 15 January 2022. He had full access to her phone and social media, took her money every Monday, and verbally abused her, telling her no one loved her and hoping she would miscarry. He threatened to kill her in a WhatsApp voice message on 15 January 2022, breaching a protection order. He also left a voicemail saying he would murder her the first chance he got. The judge noted his lack of remorse and imposed a concurrent sentence of three and a half years, suspending the final six months, with strict conditions including victim‑focused work and substance‑abuse treatment. The offence of coercive control carries a maximum penalty of five years. The court heard the victim's impact statement describing physical abuse, isolation, and drug use. The sentence reflects the seriousness of Lynch's conduct.
In February 2023 the Court of Appeal quashed a suspended three‑year sentence for Mark Kearney, 44, who had chained a man to the steering wheel of an abandoned car over an alleged drug debt. The original sentence, imposed in April 2022, was deemed too lenient. Kearney had pleaded guilty to false imprisonment after taking the victim from Ballymun to his Cedarhurst home, where he tied the man's right wrist to the steering wheel with a chain and padlock, removed his shoes and socks, and left him in the cold. The victim described the ordeal as psychological torture, including racial abuse. The Court of Appeal, citing the severity of the restraint, imposed a new sentence of two‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment, with the last two years and six months suspended on conditions of good behaviour and rehabilitation. The decision was based on the State's appeal that the original suspended sentence was unduly lenient.
Robert Ashmore, 54, was jailed for 16 months after an online vigilante group staged a sting operation, posing as a 13‑year‑old in WhatsApp chats. The groups, 'Child Protection Awareness' and 'Justice Reborn', supplied Gardaí with over 2,000 exchanges that were explicit and led to Ashmore's guilty plea at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for attempting to facilitate the sexual exploitation of a child between 3 March and 23 April 2018. He also admitted possession of 71 cartoon images of children aged eight to ten in sexual acts. Ashmore claimed he believed he was talking to scammers and had no notion of engaging with a minor. He was found to have no prior convictions, was deeply regretful, and is now on the sex offender register. The judge accepted his cooperation and the absence of witness statements from the groups, sentencing him to 16 months' custody.
Two men, Thomas Harvey (42) and Daniel Kavanagh (29), were sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan to 18 months in prison, suspended in full, for stealing 60 kilos of meat from Captain Americas on Grafton Street. Harvey climbed a fire‑escape ladder to the storeroom, stole the meat worth €2,000, and passed it to Kavanagh, who tried to sell it in a taxi to a hotel but failed. The meat was later sold to a mother of eight for €100. Both pleaded guilty to trespass and theft. The judge noted their drug use at the time but that they are now drug‑free, and remarked that their burglary was not the most insidious. Kavanagh apologized to Gardaí, saying he acted to survive, and both men had numerous prior convictions. The court heard that none of the meat was recovered.
Michael Campbell, 31, was jailed for three and a half years after being caught driving a Ford van that contained €600,000 worth of cannabis. He had been pressed by third parties to transport the drugs after accruing a drug debt of €1,000 to €2,000. Campbell pleaded guilty to possessing almost 30 kilos of cannabis for sale or supply when stopped at the Ballymun exit of the M50 on 22 June. He claimed he was the "lowest of the low" in the operation and had no knowledge of the quantity of drugs he was asked to transport. Gardaí found six black plastic bags of cannabis in the van's back. Campbell had no prior convictions, had voluntarily relinquished bail in September, and was described as having an excellent work record and a good family background. The sentence was back‑dated to 12 September 2022.
Stacey Harcourt, 41, pleaded guilty to unlawful cultivation of cannabis at her north Dublin home after a Garda search in October 2021 uncovered 448 g of the herb. Harcourt, a cancer sufferer diagnosed with skin cancer in 2010 and treated with eight neck operations and 15 melanoma‑related procedures, said she grew the plant from seed and used about five grams each evening for pain relief, claiming it was the only effective treatment after chemotherapy failed. She denied ever selling the cannabis. Her lawyer, Olan Callanan, argued that the drug was used solely for her own medical comfort. Judge Martina Baxter acknowledged Harcourt's situation but reiterated that each use constituted an offence. The court adjourned sentencing to 21 April, pending a Probation Service assessment and urine drug analysis.
On 1 April 2021, Nathan Kiernan (21) drove an uninsured Ford Focus at high speed, causing a chase that ended in a crash that seriously injured his passenger, Jason O'Rourke, who suffered a ruptured bladder, fractured pelvis and pubic bone fractures. Kiernan was arrested after a patrol car spotted the vehicle with no headlights. He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm, endangerment for driving at high speed, and driving without insurance or a licence. Judge Martin Nolan, after hearing evidence, ordered Kiernan to undergo a Probation Service assessment and imposed 200 hours of community service in lieu of a two‑year prison term, noting he had no prior convictions and was suitable for community service. Kiernan was remanded on continuing bail until the hearing. O'Rourke fully recovered and the two remain friends. The incident involved multiple patrol cars, a high‑speed chase, and a crash into a traffic island and tree.
Kim Kelly, aged 54, was beaten by her partner Ian McCluskey in his home after she refused to lend him money. Six weeks later, McCluskey and his friend David Corr attacked her again, with Corr calling her a "rat". Kelly described being knocked to the ground, struck in the face, and repeatedly kicked and punched. She feared the men would kill her and that they might throw her out of a window. Kelly has suffered black eyes, facial cuts, bruises, and Post‑Traumatic Stress Disorder, and now sleeps with an axe beside her bed. McCluskey pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, threatening to kill, witness intimidation and a second assault. Corr pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, threatening to kill and witness intimidation. Judge Dara Hayes sentenced McCluskey to five years with the final 12 months suspended, and Corr to three years with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions.
Sean Connell, 32, of Poppintree, Dublin, is serving a six‑year sentence for the seizure of €1.5 million of cocaine at Rosslare Harbour. He pleaded guilty to possession of diamorphine for sale or supply on 10 March 2020. Gardaí later found nearly €70,000 of heroin in his car, and he was on bail when he and another man led gardaí on a high‑speed chase after shots were fired at a house in Finglas. The pursuit ended when the car overturned and Connell was taken to hospital. He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and possession of a firearm on 29 September 2020. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced him to seven and a half years for the drug offences, with six months suspended, and to 18 months for the firearm and dangerous driving offences, with six months suspended. The sentences are consecutive to the Wexford drugs matter, and he is disqualified from driving for two years.
Leon Mitchell, 43, of Shangan Green, Ballymun, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm and seven 9mm rounds on 14 April 2022. He was found with a modified, loaded 9mm pistol that could fire automatically. During an altercation with unarmed Gardaí, Mitchell attempted to produce the weapon, lashing out and striking officers. Gardaí restrained him and removed the firearm, which was later confirmed to be loaded. Judge Dara Hayes noted Mitchell's 13 prior convictions, including a firearm offence, and the impact on the Gardaí. He imposed a headline sentence of eight years, reduced to five and a half years after considering a significant period of non‑offending. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the offence and the potential harm caused by the weapon in a public place.
Ryan Dowling, aged 20, was sentenced to ten months' imprisonment for his role in a violent disorder incident on South William Street, Dublin, on 17 June 2021. While on bail, Dowling was part of a group of four men who harassed a heavily pregnant woman dining with her partner, threw furniture and beer cans at restaurant staff, and threw a wine bottle at a worker. Garda Eoin McLoughlin reported that staff intervened and the brawl was captured on mobile phones. The court heard that Dowling was not the chief aggressor, that he had consumed a large amount of alcohol, and that he had a history of 16 prior convictions. He pleaded guilty, apologized, and the judge noted his young age and lack of maturity as mitigating factors. The judge imposed a two‑year sentence, with fourteen months suspended, and strict conditions for release. The final custodial term is ten months.
Craig Hanney, aged 26, pleaded guilty to robbery, production of an article and assault at Sillogue Garden and Sillogue Green, Ballymun, on 10 and 11 November 2021. He was found in custody after throwing a plant pot at a woman, causing serious facial injuries, including a fractured cheekbone and permanent scar. Hanney had previously produced a broken bottle while robbing a taxi, where he was intoxicated and abusive. The court, presided over by Judge Martina Baxter, imposed a four-and-a-half‑year sentence for the robbery, with the final six months suspended on strict conditions, a four‑year sentence for the assault, and a two‑year term for producing a broken bottle. All sentences run concurrently. The victim suffered anxiety, panic attacks and breathing difficulties, and her children were frightened by her injuries. Hanney's mother's letter highlighted his childhood mental health issues and his desire for treatment.
The trial of Gerard Hutch, Jonathan Dowdall, Paul Murphy, and Jason Bonney in relation to the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in February 2016 has reached the sentence stage. Jonathan Dowdall has been jailed by the Special Criminal Court for four years for facilitating the Hutch gang in the murder of Mr Byrne. Gerard Hutch has pleaded guilty to charges of Mr Byrne's murder and participating in or contributing to the murder by providing access to motor vehicles on February 5, 2016. Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney have both pleaded not guilty to the charge of participating in or contributing to the murder by providing access to motor vehicles on the same date. The matter is ongoing, with no finalisation of the cases for Murphy and Bonney. The court is currently considering the admissibility of evidence provided by Dowdall, who has turned State's witness and is expected to give evidence implicating Hutch in the murder. The trial is part of a voir dire to determine the admissibility of this evidence. The case is being heard by three judges, with the defence challenging the admissibility of Dowdall's evidence due to concerns over the circumstances surrounding the dropping of the murder charge against him and the potential quid pro quo arrangement with the DPP.
The Special Criminal Court sentenced Jonathan Dowdall to four years' imprisonment for facilitating the murder of David Byrne. Dowdall pleaded guilty to this lesser offence, having previously been charged with the murder itself. The court report details cross-examination of Detective Sergeant Patrick O'Toole and Detective Garda Cathal Connolly regarding Dowdall's evidence. Defence counsel for co-accused Gerard Hutch argued that the decision to accept Dowdall's plea was a "quid pro quo" for his statement implicating Hutch. However, Detective Superintendent Joseph McLoughlin testified that the Director of Public Prosecutions made the decision to accept the plea in isolation from any potential statement. The defence contended that gardai had no evidence to support Dowdall's allegation that Hutch "effectively confessed" to the murder other than Dowdall's "say so." Prosecution counsel Sean Gillane SC stated the State's case was that Hutch contacted Dowdall days after the 2016 shooting and told him he was "one of the team" involved in the murder. Other defendants Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney pleaded not guilty. The matter regarding Dowdall was finalised with the sentence, while the trial for the other accused continued.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence in a voir dire regarding the admissibility of statements made by former Sinn Fein Councillor Jonathan Dowdall. Dowdall, who pleaded guilty to facilitating the 2016 murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel and was sentenced to four years' imprisonment, is now a State's witness. He faces co-accused Gerard Hutch, who denies the murder, alongside defendants Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney, both of whom have pleaded not guilty. Retired Detective Superintendent Paul Scott testified that Dowdall's solicitor proposed conditions for his cooperation, including immunity from prosecution, which An Garda Síochána did not accept. Detective Sergeant Patrick O'Toole, who interviewed Dowdall and his wife Patricia in May 2022, denied soft-pedalling evidence. He stated that Dowdall expressed fear for his family's safety and alleged threats from the Hutch and Kinahan groups. O'Toole confirmed no discussion occurred regarding dropping the murder charge. The court is currently determining whether Dowdall's unrecorded statements, taken without a caution, are admissible. The matter remains at the procedural stage of a trial within a trial to resolve evidentiary issues before the main proceedings continue.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a woman, protected under the 2018 Domestic Violence Act, recounted how her partner, Daniel Lynch (25), exercised coercive control from September 2020 to January 2022. Lynch accessed her mobile phone and social media, took her money each Monday, and verbally abused her, claiming no one loved her and hoping she would miscarry their unborn child. He threatened to kill her in a January 2022 WhatsApp voice message, breaching a prior protection order. Earlier, in September 2021, he allegedly threatened to "kick the baby out of her" and struck her with a broom handle. The victim described isolation, loss of self-worth, and drug use, including cocaine supplied by Lynch. Lynch pleaded guilty to coercive control and a threat to kill, with sentencing deferred to February. The court noted the victim's bravery and the impact of her statement.
The Special Criminal Court heard submissions in a voir dire regarding the admissibility of garda interviews in the trial of Gerard Hutch, Paul Murphy, and Jason Bonney. All three defendants, who pleaded not guilty to participating in or contributing to the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel on February 5, 2016, face charges related to providing access to motor vehicles. Defence counsel for Mr. Bonney argued that his initial interview on February 21, 2016, was conducted without a caution, rendering it and the subsequent detention on May 27 inadmissible. Similarly, counsel for Mr. Murphy contended that his February 22 interview should be excluded due to the failure to caution. Prosecuting counsel Sean Gillane SC rebutted these claims, describing the exchanges as non-custodial and voluntary, and argued that the defence had legally overreached by suggesting the lack of caution contaminated all subsequent evidence. The prosecution maintained that ample independent material justified the detentions. The three-judge panel, presided over by Ms Justice Tara Burns, will rule on the admissibility of the interviews on Monday. The trial continues.
Darren Thompson, aged 29, had his 2017 gang‑rape conviction quashed by the Court of Appeal after his lawyers discovered that the complainant had made allegations against other men that were either unfounded or not followed up. The conviction had been based on the claim that Thompson and two others raped a woman who had been celebrating her 21st birthday in a nightclub. Thompson was sentenced to six years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, and had already served his term by the time the appeal was heard. In November 2022 Thompson applied for a certificate declaring a miscarriage of justice, arguing that key information—specifically Tusla documents showing the complainant's other complaints—had not been disclosed to the defence. The Court of Appeal, hearing the application, noted that the omission prevented the defence from cross‑examining the complainant on those matters. The judge reserved judgment on the application. Darren Thompson pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence in the trial of Gerard Hutch, Paul Murphy, and Jason Bonney, all of whom pleaded not guilty to charges related to the murder of David Byrne on February 5, 2016. Hutch is accused of the murder, while Murphy and Bonney are alleged to have participated in or contributed to the killing by providing access to motor vehicles. Prosecution counsel Sean Gillane SC stated that the escape route, involving a silver Ford Transit van and other vehicles, is central to the case against Bonney and Murphy. Detective Sergeant Padraig O'Toole testified that Bonney's BMW X5 was tracked to St Vincent's GAA Club, where it allegedly assisted the raiders' escape. In interviews, Bonney claimed he received an invitation to the boxing weigh-in from former boxer Matthew Macklin and stated his son was also invited. He expressed fear regarding alleged threats to his life, asserting the Kinahan Organised Crime Group did not view him as a threat. Defence counsel John Fitzgerald SC indicated that CCTV evidence identifying Bonney in the vehicle would be challenged. The trial continues before Ms Justice Tara Burns, sitting with Judges Sarah Berkeley and Grainne Malone.
At the Special Criminal Court, garda witnesses detailed their investigation into the February 2016 murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in Dublin. Detective Sergeant Alan McGovern testified that Detective Sergeant Brian Hanley had informed him that Paul Murphy, a taxi driver from Swords, was suspected of transporting participants in the killing to Buckingham Village on the morning of the shooting and subsequently driving away from St Vincent's GAA grounds in Marino. CCTV footage showed Murphy's light green Toyota Avensis arriving at Buckingham Village at multiple times that morning and later joining a convoy including a silver Ford Transit van believed connected to the attack. Gardai found Murphy's phone switched off between 1.20pm and 3pm, described as unusual compared to his normal usage patterns. When officers arrived at Cherry Avenue, Swords, on 19 February to seize the vehicle, Murphy reportedly expressed relief and blessed himself upon learning they were gardai. Gerard Hutch, Paul Murphy, and Jason Bonney deny involvement in Mr Byrne's death. Gerard Hutch pleaded not guilty. Paul Murphy pleaded not guilty. Jason Bonney pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence in the trial of Gerard Hutch, Paul Murphy, and Jason Bonney, all of whom pleaded not guilty to participating in or contributing to the murder of David Byrne by providing access to motor vehicles on February 5, 2016. Prosecutors alleged that a silver Ford Transit van containing six people, including three in tactical garda clothing, escaped the Regency Hotel using parked vehicles. Detective Garda Alan Crummey testified that Murphy, a taxi driver, admitted to purchasing his Toyota Avensis from Eddie 'Neddie' Hutch and driving into Buckingham Village on the morning of the shooting. A swipe card found in Murphy's car was identified as one of four missing from a box, with its sequence number adjacent to a card recovered at Patsy Hutch Senior's home. Murphy told gardai his vehicle could have been 'cloned' and claimed he was at the location to collect money from Eddie Hutch. The court heard that Murphy identified himself and his taxi in CCTV footage from the Maxol Garage and The Beachcomber Pub. The matter remains at the trial stage, with no findings, sentences, or finalisations recorded.
Gavin Murphy, 31, is serving a life sentence for the murder of his former partner, Jennie Poole, and will not receive additional jail time for an earlier assault on two men. In January 2021, at a Clondalkin address, Murphy pleaded guilty to demanding money with menaces and two counts of assault. The incident involved Dwayne Jones and his father David, who answered a knock from a relative of Murphy. Murphy demanded €200, and during the confrontation he slashed Dwayne Jones's face with a blade, leaving permanent scarring, while David suffered a broken thumb. The court noted Murphy's remorse and imposed a four‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, which cannot run consecutively to his life term. The sentence is to run from the date of the hearing.
A Special Criminal Court in Dublin heard evidence on 20 October 2022 regarding three AK-47 assault rifles recovered in County Meath approximately one month after David Byrne was fatally shot at the Regency Hotel in Dublin on 5 February 2016. Inspector Padraig Boyce testified that a vehicle was intercepted near Slane on 9 March 2016 and the weapons were discovered in its boot, wrapped in a rug and white shirts. Ballistics evidence later matched cartridge cases recovered from the Regency Hotel to the seized rifles. The trial concerns Gerard Hutch, aged 59, from Clontarf, Dublin, who denies murdering Mr Byrne during a boxing weigh-in. Two co-accused, Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney, deny participating in or contributing to the murder by providing vehicle access. Detective gardaí provided CCTV evidence tracing movements of vehicles on the day of the incident. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Tara Burns with two other judges, is expected to continue for approximately 12 weeks. Paul Murphy pleaded not guilty. Jason Bonney pleaded not guilty.
Daniel Fitzpatrick, aged 32, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for stabbing three men outside a Dublin pub on 9 September 2015. The attacks occurred on Oscar Traynor Road, where Fitzpatrick, who had previously been convicted of manslaughter in Birmingham, had engaged in an argument with other men. The three victims approached the group to intervene; one suffered tendon damage and a large scar on the back of his head, while the other two were treated for stab wounds and have since recovered. No victim impact reports were presented. Garda Alan Roche noted that a metal bar with a pointed end was found near the scene, presumed to be the weapon. Judge Martin Nolan imposed the three and a half year term for the most serious assault and two concurrent two‑year sentences for the other two attacks, back‑dating the sentences to July 2020 when Fitzpatrick first entered custody. Daniel Fitzpatrick pleaded guilty.
Ben Gilroy's claim that he was discriminated against by Decathlon Sports Ireland Limited for refusing to wear a face mask because of a heart‑attack‑related disability was rejected by the Workplace Relations Commission. Gilroy said he had a heart attack in 2015 that left him physically impaired and unable to wear a mask for an extended period. He told the tribunal that on 19 August 2020 he entered a Decathlon store in Ballymun with his wife and three children, was asked by a security guard to wear a mask, and that he politely informed the guard he was exempt under the law. He claimed a young employee, who said he was the manager, offered him a mask and threatened to make him leave if he did not wear one. Gilroy said he again stated his exemption, refused to show a medical certificate, and that the situation became heated.
In October 2021, Paul Clarke (40) and Patrick Byrne (37) carried out an armed robbery of a post office in Baldoyle, Co Dublin. Gardaí from the Emergency Response Unit arrived six minutes after the raid began. Clarke was armed with a hammer and a spade, while Byrne held an imitation firearm. The raiders shouted threats, forced customers to the ground, and threatened to kill or seriously harm them. An elderly pensioner was unable to crouch due to recent knee surgery and later reported that a gun was held to her face. The men also used the spade and hammer to damage the glass screen separating staff from customers. Both pleaded guilty to attempted robbery, false imprisonment of two female customers, and making a threat to kill or cause serious harm. Byrne also pleaded guilty to possession of an imitation firearm.
Chad Redmond, aged 29, was sentenced to 20 months in prison for assault causing harm and criminal damage after a February 2020 incident in which he threatened to throw his ex‑partner off her balcony. The assault took place at her apartment on Hampton Wood Drive, Finglas, after Redmond forced entry, shouted at her friends, struck her on the head, and threatened to push her off the balcony. He had previously been convicted of burglary at the same home, where he also assaulted her. Redmond was intoxicated, having taken cocaine, and had a history of drug addiction. The victim withdrew her statement to Gardaí and did not give a victim impact statement. Judge Martin Nolan reduced the headline sentence of three and a half years to 20 months, citing mitigating factors such as the victim's cooperation and Redmond's intoxication. Chad Redmond pleaded guilty.
Patrick Fahey, aged 47, was sentenced to six and a half years in prison by Judge Martin Nolan at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for a series of robberies and attempted robberies committed between August 2019 and October 2021. The offences included a €400 theft from a Soho adult shop, a €30 theft from a vintage clothes shop where he left with only fruit and a chocolate bar, a €350 theft from Londis, a €700 theft and €500 damage at a café, and a €200‑€300 theft from a Spar shop. Fahey pleaded guilty to seven counts and had 18 prior convictions. He had been remanded since October 2021 and had admitted his involvement, expressed remorse, and apologized for his actions. The judge noted the lack of violence but the fear caused to victims, and highlighted Fahey's previous attempts at reform. The sentence was back‑dated to 3 October 2021.
Vincent O'Connor, 41, was jailed for three and a half years after Gardai seized €254,000 worth of prescription painkillers, €14,500 of illegal drugs and €16,000 in cash from his Ballymun home on 30 October 2020. The drugs were found in a drawer, a jacket and a safe. O'Connor pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply of cocaine and unlawful possession of prescription tablets. He admitted that he had a drug habit and had been approached to hold the drugs, claiming he could not refuse. He expressed remorse and explained that his marriage had broken down, forcing him to sell the family home and that he had turned to drugs and alcohol. The court noted he had no prior convictions and had complied with bail conditions, but the seriousness of the offence warranted a prison sentence. The judge imposed concurrent sentences of three and a half years.
In the Central Criminal Court, the State informed a jury that the accused, George Gonzaga Bento, a 36‑year‑old Brazilian delivery cyclist, may have to consider self‑defence. The prosecution case alleges Bento stabbed schoolboy Josh Dunne, 16, to death after a confrontation over a stolen bicycle on East Wall Road, January 26, 2021. The jury was told that Bento also stabbed two other young men that night and that the events unfolded in a surprisingly short period. The State's case is that Bento used a knife during a stand‑off with a man on a moped, then stabbed Dunne twice in the chest and once in the left hand within five seconds of Dunne's contact. The prosecution claims the force was excessive and unlawful, and that Bento's fear invoked during Garda interviews must be weighed against the alleged intent to kill. The trial will continue before Justice Paul Burns and a jury of five men and seven women.
Nalavan Samy, 42, a former manager at Quinn's Centra in Ballymun, stole €9,349.78 over a nine‑month period from September 2019 to June 2020. He did this by creating false refunds on the till, taking cash up to four times a week. The theft was discovered when an employee noticed a discrepancy in stock levels for a product that had zero sales but seven refunds recorded. Samy admitted the theft to the operations manager and later to Gardaí, citing financial hardship and a gambling problem. He had no prior convictions. The court, considering his role as sole provider for his wife and non‑verbal daughter, imposed a 20‑month prison sentence that was fully suspended on strict conditions. He was ordered to pay €1,000 to the Simon Community over eighteen months and to donate the €4,000 he had saved to the former business owners. The business has since been sold. Nalavan Samy pleaded guilty.
James Murphy, 48, a care worker with no prior drug‑dealing history, was sentenced to five years in prison after Gardaí discovered nearly €30,000 worth of cocaine, a machine gun and a handgun in his Ballymun home. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that following his parents' deaths, Murphy began abusing cocaine, accrued a drug debt and was compelled to store the drugs and firearms for the people who supplied them. He pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine, heroin and cannabis, and to unlawful possession of a submachine gun and a Smith and Wesson revolver. Garda Conor Garland reported that Murphy cooperated with the search, which uncovered the loaded revolver under the floorboards and the machine gun, as well as the drugs. Murphy's only previous convictions were for traffic offences in 2007. The judge noted his good work history, personal challenges and community involvement, and imposed the five‑year sentence.
At the Central Criminal Court, Gavin Murphy, aged 30, pleaded guilty to the murder of his girlfriend, Jennie Poole, 24, who was stabbed to death in her Dublin apartment on 17 April last year. Poole was taken to Connolly Hospital where she died shortly after. Murphy, wearing all black, answered only "guilty" when the registrar read the charge. Mr Justice Paul McDermott adjourned sentencing to 29 April to allow time for victim impact statements, and a November trial date was vacated.
Cian White, 21, of Corduff Park, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to stealing a car in Northwood, Dublin 9, on June 26, 2020. He also admitted to dangerous driving and endangerment by ramming train barriers at Ashtown Level Crossing on the Navan Road while a train was imminent. Additionally, White pleaded guilty to allowing himself to be carried in a stolen car and possessing vice grips on August 8, 2021. Judge Melanie Greally imposed consecutive sentences totalling five years. She suspended the final 18 months of the term on strict conditions, requiring White to engage with alcohol and drug treatment for 18 months upon his release from prison. Consequently, he faces three and a half years of effective custody. The judge also disqualified White from driving for six years. The court noted White had 74 previous convictions and was already disqualified at the time of the offences. Judge Greally acknowledged his young age, expressed remorse, and difficult early life in foster care, while describing the driving as prolonged and intensely dangerous. The matter was finalised with this sentencing.
John Fearon, 55, of Ballymun, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after entering signed guilty pleas to charges of having cannabis valued at €159,438 for sale or supply in a vehicle on March 15, 2021. Fearon alleged he transported the drugs to settle a €6,000 drug debt incurred by his son, claiming he was threatened that his son would be harmed if the debt was not paid. He admitted to Gardaí that he collected the drugs for delivery to a chipper and acknowledged a small amount of cannabis found in his home, which he stated was for personal use. Prosecution evidence indicated he was stopped following a tip-off and had €1,020 in cash, which Gardaí accepted was not proceeds of crime. Defense counsel highlighted Fearon's 20-year record of no further convictions, his remorse, and his rehabilitation from previous substance abuse. Judge Melanie Greally set a headline sentence of six years, reducing it based on his early guilty pleas and favorable probation report. The court imposed a sentence of three years, suspending the final 12 months on strict conditions, including engaging with the Probation Service for 12 months upon release from prison.
Murad Kandokar, 49, of Gleann Ribh, Lusk, Co. Dublin, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 16 months in prison for two sexual assaults. He pleaded guilty to an assault on a Luas train in Dublin on 26 May 2021 and to an assault on a Galway‑to‑Dublin Airport City Link bus on 17 July 2019. The court heard that on the Luas incident a young woman was approached by Kandokar, who pressed his body against her and displayed an erection, causing her to disembark at the Four Courts and seek assistance from Garda Sonya Mooney. In the bus incident, a woman was found with Kandokar's hand in her crotch area; she shouted at him and he moved seats before being arrested. Judge Martin Nolan described the acts as compulsive yet criminal, sentencing Kandokar to two and a half years with fourteen months suspended, leaving a net 16‑month custodial term.
Imran Ali, an applicant with Portuguese citizenship, secured High Court permission to challenge a €2,000 fixed penalty notice issued for travelling to Portugal during 2021 public health restrictions. Mr Justice Garrett Simons ruled that Ali met the legal threshold for a full judicial review hearing, noting the case raises significant issues regarding EU citizens' rights to exit Ireland and free movement under the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. Ali claims the regulations were insufficiently clear and that the potential penalties—including a fine up to €4,000 or one month's imprisonment—are disproportionate and breach the Constitution and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU. He alleges he travelled to assist his wife and sons in extending their immigration permissions, a purpose he argues constituted a reasonable excuse. The State opposed the application for leave. The court did not finally determine the merits of the judicial review but found an adequate factual matrix existed to adjudicate the legal questions. A stay on Ali's prosecution was continued pending the outcome of his action. The matter was adjourned and will return before the court later this month.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, 36‑year‑old Jason Goddard of Cloonlara Road, Finglas, was discharged from an indictment under the Probation Act after pleading guilty to violent disorder on 16 October 2018. The incident involved Goddard and 21‑year‑old Ryan Thompson following a man known to Gardaí who had made a lewd suggestion to teenage girls and produced a knife. The pair entered a nursing home where an altercation occurred; Thompson sustained slash marks and was taken to hospital. Goddard later admitted to Gardaí that he could not recall details due to drug influence. Judge Elma Sheahan noted Goddard had no Garda attention since 2014, had engaged well with the Probation Service, and had reduced his risk of re‑offending to low. She discharged him on the condition of good behaviour for 12 months, citing his minor previous convictions and lack of subsequent offences.
Conor Kirwan, 27, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, after pleading guilty to multiple offences including robbery, impersonation of a Garda, and producing a syringe. He stole 11 pieces of corned beef from Supervalu in June 2020, three legs of lamb from Dunnes Stores in January 2021, and €30 from a student on Eden Quay in September 2020. In each incident he used threats or a syringe to intimidate victims. Kirwan's crimes were linked to his drug addiction, and he was homeless at the time. The judge noted his positive steps since custody. He has 52 prior convictions, including theft, assault and drug offences. The court emphasised that the suspended portion of the sentence was imposed on strict conditions. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
John Jervis, 43, was sentenced to two-and-a-half years' imprisonment for endangerment after he fled in a car while a Garda was holding onto his shoulder. Jervis had been allowed by Gardaí to remove tools from a Land Rover and an Audi that were being seized at his Ballymun address. He then drove away, accelerating aggressively and dragging the Garda along the ground. The Garda narrowly avoided collision with a patrol car. Judge Melanie Greally accepted that high emotions may have been involved but found the offence highly dangerous. The final six months of the sentence were suspended on strict conditions, including abstaining from illicit substances for 12 months after release. Jervis has 105 prior convictions, including unauthorised taking, theft, drug possession and road traffic offences. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Courts. John Jervis pleaded guilty.
Sean O'Neill, a 19‑year‑old from Carton Court, Ballymun, pleaded guilty to assault after refusing a cigarette in a beer garden. On 18 October 2020, outside Lombard's pub on Pearse Street, he approached two men in the smoking area, asked for a cigarette and was refused. He then emptied his beer can, tore it up and used it to cut one man above the eye. CCTV showed O'Neill, heavily intoxicated and unsteady, lunging forward and striking the victim. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced him to nine months imprisonment, fully suspended under strict conditions.
Conor Kirwan, aged 27, pleaded guilty to several offences in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He admitted to stealing three legs of lamb from a Dunnes Stores supermarket in January 2021, intending to sell them on the street to raise money for drugs, and to threatening a security guard with an uncapped syringe while pointing it at the guard. He also pleaded guilty to a robbery at Supervalu in June 2020, where he stole 11 pieces of corned beef, and to impersonating a garda at Eden Quay in September 2020, during which he forced a student to remove shoes and socks, demanded identification, and stole €30 from the student's wallet. Kirwan has 52 prior convictions, including theft, assault and drug offences, and is currently in custody. The court adjourned the case for finalisation on 14 February.
In a High Court trial-stage proceeding, Mr Justice Charles Meenan granted ex-parte leave to three applicants to challenge their exclusion from the State compensation scheme. The applicants, Anthony Duff, Ian Dunne, and Mark McNevin, are alleged to have been victims of serious assaults in 2004, 2008, and 2018, respectively. They claim the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal unlawfully refused their applications because they were submitted outside the allowed time limit. The applicants argue that changes to the scheme in April 2021, which introduced an absolute two-year limit, constitute a retrospective and unlawful interference with their rights. They seek orders quashing the refusals and declarations that the Tribunal breached fair procedures and natural justice. The judge requested that counsel identify one or two lead actions to determine all issues and save court time. Counsel agreed that hearing a lead action was the best approach. The matters were all adjourned to a date in early February.
Gavin Challenger, 27, of Sillogue Green, Ballymun, pleaded guilty to criminal damage and unlawful intimidation after damaging a white Renault Master van and attacking its owner, Jason O'Byrne, with a hatchet on 21 March 2020. CCTV showed Challenger and a co‑accused, a lifelong friend, causing the damage and threatening O'Byrne. Challenger admitted taking "tablets" that day and had 71 prior convictions. He was on bail for 14 months for a drug offence and had previously served a sentence in Mountjoy. Judge Pauline Codd, noting his guilty plea, remorse and potential for rehabilitation, sentenced him to three years' imprisonment with the final two years suspended for the damage charge, and two years for intimidation with the final year suspended, both running concurrently. The suspended periods are conditional on good behaviour, supervision and drug testing upon release.
Dubliner Glen Concannon (24) was sentenced at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for his role in a 'vicious' assault outside Ballymun Garda Station on August 23, 2020. Concannon admitted to assault causing harm, and the court accepted his plea of guilty. The attack occurred after Concannon believed the victim, Aaron Tyrell, had assaulted a member of his family a week earlier. Concannon was in a car while others chased Mr Tyrell until they caught him outside the garda station, where the group punched and kicked him. The victim was hospitalised but did not engage with the investigation. Judge Melanie Greally described the assault as planned and extremely violent, noting the victim faced a risk of serious injury. She accepted testimonials from employers, family members, and a local youth project, which highlighted Concannon's character as a 'hard working, diligent employee and a caring responsible partner'. She noted his genuine remorse, early guilty plea, lack of previous convictions, and low risk of reoffending. The court suspended a two-year prison sentence on condition that Concannon keep the peace and be of good behaviour for that period.
Philip Wesley, 57, suffering from advanced COPD, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to allowing his home to be used for drug preparation in July 2019 to raise money for his funeral expenses. Garda Conor Garland reported that officers entered the house by force, finding Wesley and two other men inside; the co‑accused attempted to flee into the back garden but were apprehended. Gardaí seized heroin worth €6,900, bagging material and other paraphernalia. Wesley had 25 prior road‑traffic convictions. His defence counsel, Keith Spencer, argued that Wesley was a sick man who feared his children would bear funeral costs and had no alternative. Judge Elma Sheahan, after considering evidence of Wesley's severe health and low culpability, imposed a one‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, suspended in full. No custodial term was imposed.
Chad Redmond, aged 28, was sentenced by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three and a half years' imprisonment, with the final nine months suspended, for assault and criminal damage committed on 24 February 2019 at an apartment in Finglas. The offence involved threatening to kill the mother of his child and burn down her apartment while their three‑year‑old daughter witnessed the assault. Redmond pleaded guilty. His appeal to reduce the sentence was dismissed by the Court of Appeal, which found the judge had applied an appropriate discount to the headline term of 4.5 years and had correctly identified aggravating factors, including that Redmond was on bail when the offence occurred. The court held the sentence fell within the margin of appreciation. The case details the assault, the threat of killing, the attempt to take the child, and the subsequent arrest the following day.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Suzanne Maguire (37) and her brother Edward Maguire (46) pleaded guilty to attempting to defraud Axa Insurance by falsely claiming an elderly motorist had reversed into their car and caused damage. The alleged incident occurred in a car park on Glasnevin Avenue on 22 September 2017. Suzanne claimed she had spilled hot coffee on herself and that Edward was in the vehicle, while Edward later tried to lodge a claim with Axa. CCTV footage proved no impact and that Edward was not in the car, leading to the claim's rejection and the pair's arrest. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced Edward to a two‑year term, fully suspended, and imposed strict conditions including Probation Service engagement. Suzanne received a three‑year term, also fully suspended, with similar strict conditions. Both were noted to have extensive prior convictions and ongoing efforts to address drug addiction.
Jonas Mercado, 30, of Castlecurragh Vale, Mulhuddart, was sentenced to 12 months in prison with the final six months suspended on strict conditions after pleading guilty to a single charge of sexual assault. The offence occurred on Middle Abbey Street, Dublin, on 15 July 2017, when Mercado approached a woman speaking on her mobile phone, placed a hand on her leg, and attempted to tear her underwear. Passers‑by restrained him and he fled. The victim, who felt extremely vulnerable, reported the assault to Gardaí and later to the court. Judge Melanie Greally noted Mercado's intoxication, high risk of reoffending, and his remorse, including a €4,500 compensation payment. The sentence aims to be punitive and deterrent while encouraging treatment and responsibility under probation supervision. Jonas Mercado was convicted.