David Savage, 29, was found guilty of three robberies and two attempted robberies committed in Dublin between December 2019 and January 2020. He first tried to rob Paddy Powers on Manor Street with a toy gun and a Halloween skeleton mask, but fled after a panic alarm was triggered. He then attempted to rob an An Post office and a Lidl store, the latter resulting in a €1,765 theft before he fled. On 14 January 2020 he robbed a Burger King, threatening a cashier with a knife. Savage admitted to daily heroin use and a drug debt that pressured him into the offences. He presented himself at Garda stations, expressed remorse, and sought rehabilitation. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to five years, suspending the final year on strict conditions, including 12 months' probation supervision.
Brandon Brannock, aged 19, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, after pleading guilty to endangering traffic and criminal damage to a car in Ballymun on 6 December 2019. He was 17 when the offence occurred. The court heard that during a high‑speed pursuit in the middle of the day, Brannock's vehicle left the ground on speed ramps, crossed to the wrong side of the road repeatedly, broke a red light and narrowly missed an elderly woman. He crashed into a parked car, causing significant damage, and fled with three male passengers to a nearby house where they were refused entry by a man at the door. Brannock was disqualified from driving for four years. He has 32 prior convictions, including drug and road traffic offences, and the judge noted his youth and the stress and fear caused to others. The incident was not pre‑meditated.
A man has been convicted and sentenced following the shooting of a garda during a raid on a Dublin property in December 2017. Charles Moore, aged 48, of Barnwell Drive, Ballymun, was found guilty on all counts at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, including possession of a firearm without lawful purpose, possession of ammunition with intent to endanger life, and reckless discharge of a firearm. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Moore to nine years imprisonment for the endangerment offence. Sergeant Paul McManus was struck in the forearm when Moore discharged a semi-automatic pistol as gardaí secured the premises for a drugs search. The officer subsequently underwent multiple surgeries and physiotherapy, and was later medically discharged from An Garda Síochána. Moore, who has eighteen previous convictions, maintained he did not intend to shoot a garda, claiming he believed his home was under attack. The judge accepted Moore was intoxicated at the time and unable to properly assess the situation. Charles Moore pleaded not guilty.
Gerard Hutch, 58, appeared before the Special Criminal Court following his extradition from Spain, where he was charged with the alleged murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in 2016. The court, presided over by Justice Tony Hunt with Judges Berkeley and McHugh, fixed a trial date for October 3, 2022, where Hutch will stand trial alongside four other co-accused. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC reserved Hutch's position regarding the lawfulness of his arrest, the charge, and the court's jurisdiction. The court remanded Hutch in custody until October 15, 2022. This proceeding is distinct from the 2019 case of Patrick Hutch, who pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Mr Byrne but was acquitted after charges were dropped. Additionally, Jonathan Dowdall was previously charged with the alleged murder of Mr Byrne and is scheduled to go on trial alongside other co-accused on the same date. The trial date represents a procedural step in the ongoing prosecution, with ancillary matters such as bail and potential applications for separate trials to be addressed in the coming weeks.
A Dublin man, Thomas McConnell, aged 35, will stand trial next year at the non‑jury Special Criminal Court for the murder of Gareth Hutch, aged 36, nephew of Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch. The alleged killing took place on 24 May 2016 at Avondale House, North Cumberland Street, Dublin 1, when Hutch was shot as he entered his car. The State, represented by Fiona Murphy SC, applied to have the case heard before the three‑judge Special Criminal Court, arguing that ordinary courts were inadequate for effective justice. Mr Justice Tony Hunt granted the application and set a trial date of 15 June 2022, with the matter to be mentioned on 11 January 2022. McConnell was present at Tallaght District Court in June on an extradition warrant from Turkey for the murder charge. The case remains pending at the Special Criminal Court.
Gerrard Dunne has lost his appeal against a prison sentence for endangerment and possession of a petrol bomb. The three-judge Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice John Edwards, upheld the sentence imposed by Judge Melanie Greally at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Dunne, who pleaded guilty to throwing an ignited petrol bomb at Garda Karl Kelly on the Link Road, Darndale, Dublin, on April 29, 2019, argued that his original headline sentence was too high and that he deserved greater credit for his early plea and mental health issues. Justice Edwards rejected these arguments, stating the headline sentence of five years and six months was proportionate given the unprovoked nature of the attack and the lethal potential of the weapon. He noted that Garda Kelly avoided injury only by moving out of the way. The Court found no error in principle in the sentencing judge's approach. Dunne was sentenced to four and a half years in prison, with the final six months suspended for 12 months on strict conditions. The appeal was dismissed, leaving the original custodial sentence intact.
David Savage, 29, attempted to rob three premises in Dublin in late 2019 and early 2020. He first tried to rob Paddy Powers on Manor Street while wearing a skeleton mask and holding a toy gun, but fled after staff triggered a panic alarm. Fifteen minutes later he tried to extort money from an An Post cashier on Ushers Quay, again without success. On January 14, 2020, he robbed a Lidl shop in Rathmines, pointing the toy gun at a cashier's rib cage, demanding €1,765, and then fled. Later that day he also robbed a Burger King, threatening a cashier with a knife and taking money. Savage presented himself at a Garda station, pleaded guilty to the attempted robberies and the robbery, admitted heroin use and a drug debt, and was remanded in custody with sentencing postponed to October 11, 2021.
Darren Nolan, aged 28, was given a two‑year suspended sentence after pleading guilty to recklessly discharging a firearm and to possession of heroin and cocaine for sale or supply. He also pleaded guilty to making a false statement to gardaí. The case arose when Nolan was found with a handgun and over €16,000 of illegal drugs in his bedroom. He initially told police he had been shot by three men wearing balaclavas, but later admitted he had shot himself in the face with a blank‑firing gun he had purchased online. The judge noted Nolan's vulnerability, his history of alcohol abuse, and his progress in addressing addiction, and ordered him to attend residential treatment as part of the suspended sentence. No further convictions or outcomes were mentioned in the article.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 30‑year‑old Jonas Mercado pleaded guilty to a single charge of sexual assault after an incident on Middle Abbey Street on 15 July 2017. According to Garda Colm McCloskey, Mercado approached a woman speaking on her mobile phone, placed a hand on her leg, grabbed her underwear and tried to tear them off. Passersby heard shouts, restrained Mercado and he fled. The victim, who felt "extremely vulnerable and frightened," gave a victim impact statement urging the court to protect other women, noting she still feels uneasy when going out. After the assault she reported the incident to Gardaí at Ballymun Station, where she initially thought the act was a joke. Mercado had previously left Ireland for Australia, where he was convicted of a breaking and entering offence; he returned to Ireland last year and was arrested.
Nathan Duffy, 20, of Ballymun, was jailed after a drug bust in which he attempted to escape on a scrambler bike. Gardaí had observed him and a companion moving cannabis between a box and a bag in a field on St Margarets Road on 28 September 2019. Duffy was caught with €99,226 worth of cannabis herb, pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply, and was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan to three years and 11 months in custody. He had spent three weeks in custody before sentencing. The prosecution's psychological report highlighted Duffy's remorse, his past as a talented footballer whose career ended in his teens, his subsequent drug use, family bereavements, and his current drug‑free status, employment, and fatherhood. The judge noted his low risk of re‑offending and his rehabilitation efforts, concluding a lengthy custodial sentence would not benefit him.
Joseph Behan, 45, of Edenmore Park, Raheny, was convicted in February 2020 of robbery, attempted robbery, assault causing serious harm, assault causing harm, possession of a firearm and reckless discharging of the firearm after he shot two workers at Mizzoni's Pizza on New Year's Day 2019. He was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment for assault causing harm. Behan now appeals his conviction, arguing that the search warrant for his house was not lawfully obtained and that a glove found with firearms residue was unconstitutionally seized. His barrister, Ronan Munro SC, contends that the warrant was issued by Detective Superintendent Paul Scott, who was involved in the investigation, and therefore was not independent. The Court of Appeal has reserved its judgement. The appeal focuses solely on the alleged unlawful search and seizure, not on the trial findings or sentencing.
David McConnell, aged 76, was sentenced to a two‑year suspended term for dishonestly claiming disability benefits for his son, Thomas 'Nicky' McConnell, after the son left the jurisdiction. McConnell collected €203 weekly from April 10, 2019 to January 8, 2020, defrauding the State of just over €8,700. He pleaded guilty to four counts of dishonest inducement. The court noted Thomas could not leave the house due to a criminal feud, which the court deemed a psychological condition and a fear of other persons. McConnell claimed he continued to collect the money to support his granddaughter. He had 11 prior convictions dating from 1962 to 1989. The judge, citing McConnell's age and lack of re‑offending risk, imposed a suspended sentence rather than imprisonment.
A Dublin woman charged with dangerous driving following an alleged chase involving Garda vehicles on the M50 motorway has launched a second High Court judicial review action challenging bail conditions imposed by the District Court. Gemma Greene, aged 24, of Coolock, Dublin, contests conditions including a curfew, requirement to sign on daily with gardaí, and a prohibition on driving mechanically propelled vehicles. She argues the District Court lacked jurisdiction to impose or vary these conditions and claims they breach her presumption of innocence. Ms Greene's legal representatives submitted she had previously complied with initial bail requirements and that gardaí did not seek the driving prohibition. Ms Justice Niamh Hyland granted permission to bring the action on Friday and placed a stay on the contested bail conditions, subject to Ms Greene remaining in the jurisdiction. The Director of Public Prosecutions neither opposed nor consented to the application. This represents Ms Greene's second such action; a separate judicial review concerning earlier bail conditions is also ongoing. Both matters will return before the High Court in June.
Jonathan Dowdall, 43, a former Sinn Fein councillor, was charged with the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in Dublin 9 on February 5, 2016. The Special Criminal Court heard that Mr Byrne was shot dead after five men, three disguised as armed gardaí, stormed the building. The Director of Public Prosecutions instructed that Dowdall be tried in the non-jury court. Justice Tony Hunt, sitting with Justices Sarah Berkeley and David McHugh, remanded Dowdall in custody until June 14 for the service of the Book of Evidence. He is represented by solicitor Jenny McGeever. Dowdall's father, Patrick Dowdall, 64, is already before the court, accused of facilitating a serious offence by making a hotel room available to a criminal organisation on February 4, 2016. Co-accused Paul Murphy, 59, is charged with supplying logistical support to a six-man team suspected of carrying out the murder on February 15, 2016, and providing access to motor vehicles on February 5, 2016. Jason Bonney, 50, is also charged with providing access to motor vehicles to facilitate the murder on February 5, 2016. All four defendants are due to appear before the three-judge court on June 14 for the service of their respective Books of Evidence.
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Edward Maguire and Suzanne Maguire pleaded guilty to attempting to induce Axa Insurance to pay out on a false claim dated September 22, 2017. The defendants alleged an elderly motorist reversed into their vehicle, causing damage and spilling hot coffee, but CCTV footage proved no impact occurred and Edward Maguire was not in the car. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced Edward Maguire to two years in prison, suspended in full on strict conditions requiring him to engage with the Probation Service for two years. She described the conduct as a nasty offence against an elderly man, noting he followed through on the claim despite the plan's flaws. Suzanne Maguire's case was adjourned to October 11 to allow her time to complete a drug rehabilitation course, with the court accepting she is making progress with her addiction. She was remanded on continuing bail until that date. The judge stated she was giving Suzanne an opportunity to address her addiction but made no guarantees. Both defendants have extensive prior convictions, including theft and public order offences, though neither had previous Circuit Court convictions. Defence counsel highlighted their difficult upbringings and recent efforts to address addiction and maintain stability.
Robert Wynne, 37, a legitimate nutrition supplements supplier, was jailed for 21 months after pleading guilty to possession of prescription‑only steroids—Metogen, TrenaGen, Clenbuterol and Enegen—without a prescription. He had bought the substances in Northern Ireland and supplied them to friends and acquaintances from his home and two business premises. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court noted his prior convictions for assault and endangerment, for which he had received suspended sentences, and emphasised that the drugs were dangerous and required proper supervision. Judge Martin Nolan highlighted Wynne's lack of qualifications to advise on the substances and his deep involvement in the illicit enterprise. The court ordered the forfeiture of €20,000 found in a locked cash box, and Gardaí seized small amounts of cocaine, zopiclone, and a mix of steroids valued at about €10,000, along with €15,710 of muscle‑bulking and fat‑burning drugs across all locations.
Three men appeared before the Special Criminal Court at an out-of-hours sitting charged in connection with the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in Dublin in February 2016. Patrick Dowdall, Paul Murphy, and Jason Bonney, all from the Dublin area, faced charges under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act relating to alleged participation in activity intended to facilitate a serious offence by a criminal organisation. Dowdall is accused of making a room available at the hotel, whilst Murphy and Bonney are alleged to have provided access to motor vehicles. Gardaí objected to bail for Bonney, indicating he was part of a well-organised crime gang, citing strong evidence including CCTV tracking and mobile phone data. The court granted Bonney bail pending further financial inquiries. Murphy and Dowdall were remanded in custody with bail applications to follow.
The getaway driver, Alan Graham, 49, was sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment with the final year suspended, after pleading guilty to facilitating an attempted murder of 26‑year‑old Lee Boylan. Boylan was shot three times at close range in a highly populated area of west Dublin on 6 March 2019, sustaining life‑changing injuries. The judge described the attack as well‑planned, involving sophisticated surveillance and a stakeout of a car wash. Graham's role was to drive the BMW that carried the gunman, who fired the shots. He had 20 prior convictions, mainly for drug offences, and was believed to have been under pressure to repay a drug debt. The sentence was set at 14 years, reduced to 11 with one year suspended, backdated to 17 June 2019. The prosecution sought to drop the attempted murder charge. Boylan survived due to a rare arteriovenous fistula that prevented fatal bleeding.
In March 2021, Noel McCabe, aged 25, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for obstructing justice after he threatened his ex‑partner, claiming her family, including her young daughter, would be shot if she did not drop assault charges. McCabe, already serving a six‑and‑a‑half‑year term for assault and violent disorder, pleaded guilty to intimidation in June 2018. The court noted the victim's 18‑month relationship with McCabe and her "nightmare" description of it. Judge Melanie Greally suspended the final year of a five‑year sentence on the condition of two years' peace and Probation Service engagement, and ordered no contact with the victim or her family. McCabe also admitted unlawful possession of five shotgun cartridges, receiving a similar concurrent sentence. The sentences run concurrently with his current term, ending after its completion. The judge cited mitigating factors such as remorse and personal hardship.
Jason Freeman, 26, was sentenced to seven years in prison after firing a handgun to "cause terror" in Ballymun. On 28 June 2020, Freeman pointed the gun at a man's head in a driveway, then moved it and discharged two shots that passed through the front door of a neighbouring house. One bullet grazed the head of the woman inside, who had children and a grandchild. She sustained a one‑inch wound requiring eight staples. Freeman pleaded guilty to possession of a 9mm handgun in suspicious circumstances and to recklessly discharging a firearm. He had 48 prior convictions, including robbery and assault. The court noted his intent was to instill fear, not to kill, and imposed the custodial sentence accordingly. The firearm was not recovered. The sentence was back‑dated to 30 June 2020.
During a sentence hearing in the Central Criminal Court, the court heard that Alan Graham (49) was the getaway driver in a gang‑planned attempted murder of Lee Boylan (26) on 6 March 2019. Boylan was shot three times in the shoulder and neck while seated in his van in a busy area of Mulhuddart, Dublin. He survived because the gunshot wounds created an arteriovenous fistula that stopped the bleeding. Boylan suffered life‑changing injuries, including a severe neurological injury, and remained in hospital and rehabilitation until 30 August 2019. The three bullets remain in his body. Graham pleaded guilty to knowledge of the criminal organisation and participation in the attempted murder, but the State will not prosecute the first count of attempted murder after sentencing.
Dylan King, 27, of Longdale Terrace, Ballymun, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after a road‑rage incident on 5 March 2019. King performed a u‑turn to follow victim Gary O'Donovan, opened the victim's car door, and punched him once in the face, breaking his nose and fracturing the area above his right eye socket. O'Donovan required surgery. King had previously been convicted of road‑traffic offences. In court, King admitted the assault and explained that a dispute with his mother over debts owed to the city council had triggered his "road‑rage" reaction. He was described as remorseful and was said to be attending local mental‑health services. Judge Melanie Greally noted King's chaotic upbringing, the recent violent death of his father, and his potential for rehabilitation. She imposed a two‑year prison sentence, fully suspended on strict conditions, with no custodial time imposed. The sentence was delivered at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In 2019, John McDonagh, aged 31, was jailed for a violent assault on Saurjan Syergaz in Dublin. McDonagh, who had over 80 convictions, punched and kicked Syergaz after the victim had intervened in a dispute between McDonagh and his partner, Donna Dineen. McDonagh walked away before Dineen slashed Syergaz with a knife and stole his wallet. The Court of Appeal reduced McDonagh's original three‑year sentence to two years and six months, suspending the final three months. The judges noted that McDonagh was not responsible for the stabbing, had only engaged in punching and kicking, and had retreated when the assault escalated. They also cited evidence of his rehabilitation efforts and a positive letter from a priest. Dineen, who had also been convicted, was jailed for four years for assault and robbery. The case highlights the court's consideration of culpability and rehabilitation in sentencing.
Darren Nolan, 28, was called to his home by gardaí after he claimed he had been shot by three balaclava‑wearing men. His mother told officers that he had actually shot himself. A search of Nolan's bedroom revealed a handgun purchased online, over €16,000 of heroin and cocaine, and blood on the floor. Nolan pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to recklessly discharging a firearm, possession of heroin and cocaine for sale or supply, and making a false statement to gardaí. He also had four prior convictions for drink driving. Judge Karen O'Connor adjourned sentencing twice, first to allow reports to be prepared and then again to direct an updated probation report. The next hearing was set for 11 June 2021. The judge expressed concern about Nolan's perception of a bleak future but also offered encouragement that light exists at the end of a tunnel. The case remains pending.
Brian Reilly, a 24-year-old disqualified driver with 126 previous convictions, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for offences committed on January 29, 2020. Reilly pleaded guilty to two counts of endangerment, one count of dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm to Ellen Armstrong, one count of refusing to provide a blood or urine sample, and one count of driving without insurance. The court heard that Reilly, who had been released from jail six weeks prior, attempted to evade gardaí by driving the wrong way on the M50 and N2. His actions resulted in a collision with the vehicle of John and Ellen Armstrong, who were stopped at a red light in Finglas. Ellen Armstrong suffered significant injuries, including multiple rib fractures and the amputation of the tip of her right thumb, leaving her dependent on others for care. Judge Melanie Greally stated that Reilly exposed four separate drivers to risk and ruined the lives of the elderly couple. She imposed a sentence of seven-and-a-half years, suspending the final 18 months on conditions that include engaging with drug addiction services. Reilly was also disqualified from driving for life. The judge noted Reilly's genuine remorse and difficult background but emphasized the seriousness of his offending and the lifelong pain inflicted on the victims.
Thomas Griffin, 26, of Croftwood Park, Ballyfermot, Dublin, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for his role in a high‑speed Garda chase that exposed multiple cars and a pedestrian to "very considerable danger." He pleaded guilty to two charges of endangerment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 17 June 2018. The judge, Melanie Greally, described the driving as "very extreme in nature" and noted that Griffin was intoxicated with drugs and alcohol during the incident. Griffin had 46 prior convictions, including assault, road traffic and public order offences. The judge suspended the final 12 months of a three‑and‑a‑half‑year term, citing his demonstrated potential and confrontation of his demons while on remand. The chase involved speeding over 140 km/h in a 100 km/h zone, running red lights, driving on the hard shoulder, and forcing other traffic to take evasive action.
Paul O'Shea, 34, of Owensilla, Ballymun, was sentenced by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three and a half years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended on the condition of good behaviour, particularly regarding drugs. He pleaded guilty to assaulting his former partner on 17 May, during which he threw chairs, punched her in the head, kicked her, dragged her to the front garden, and called her names. He also smashed a front door window, an upstairs window, a brick at her bedroom window, and a photo of her children and parents. The victim, who had a protection order against him, described him as "on a mad one" and was terrified, having marks on her left side from kicks and on her face from blows. Gardaí were alerted at 4 am by the partner, and O'Shea fled the scene, later being arrested after attempting to escape from his parents' house.
Chad Redmond, 27, of Belclare Park, Ballymun, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault and criminal damage for an incident on 24 February 2019 at an apartment in Finglas, north Dublin. He entered the apartment of his ex‑girlfriend, shouted, kicked the door down and grabbed her by the throat. Redmond dragged her to the bedroom, threatened to kill her and burn the place down, and attempted to take their three‑year‑old daughter from her mother. He twisted the victim's right hand and fled, later trying to re‑enter. Redmond was on bail at the time and was arrested the following day. He had been under the influence of cocaine. The court noted his prior convictions for burglary, criminal damage, public order and road traffic offences. Judge Elma Sheahan described the case as "disturbing" and sentenced Redmond to three and a half years, suspending the final nine months.
Karl Fields, a 26‑year‑old father of two from Ballymun, was sentenced to 21 months' imprisonment for acting as a lookout during a cocaine‑cutting operation that yielded almost €70,000 worth of cocaine. He pleaded guilty to possession of more than €13,000 of cocaine for sale or supply at a Finglas address on 3 January 2018. The court noted that Fields had a drug debt of about €28,000 and that his parents had died of overdoses, with him placed in state care at 13. He had 173 prior convictions, including drug possession and theft. Judge Karen O'Connor imposed a three‑year, nine‑month sentence, suspending the final two years on strict conditions. The court also heard that his co‑accused received a four‑year sentence with the last two years suspended.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Karl Fields, aged 26, pleaded guilty to possession of more than €13,000 of cocaine for sale or supply at Abbotstown Avenue, Finglas, on 3 January 2018. The court heard that Fields had a drug debt of about €28,000 and that he acted as a lookout while others "cut" the cocaine inside the house. Four men were present in the kitchen when Garda David Moran and his colleagues entered on a search warrant; two escaped, while Fields and a co‑accused were arrested. Gardaí seized large bowls of white powder, a blender, a hydraulic press, weighing scales and mobile phones, with the total value of cocaine found at €69,074. Fields has 173 prior convictions, including drug offences, theft, knife possession, traffic and public order offences. The co‑accused received a four‑year sentence with the final two years suspended earlier in the month.
In a 2018 incident on Finglas Road, 20‑year‑old Ryan Thompson, armed with a golf club shaft, attacked two men he believed were harassing teenage girls outside a supermarket. The men were known to Gardaí. During the confrontation, one target pulled a Stanley knife and cut Thompson's throat under his chin, a wound only millimetres from being life‑threatening. Thompson was taken to hospital and later admitted his role in the attack but expressed fear of the two men, one of whom is awaiting trial. He pleaded guilty to violent disorder. The court, noting his youth and lack of prior convictions, discharged him under the Probation Act, requiring him to keep the peace for two years, rather than imposing a prison term. The judge highlighted the extreme fright caused by the injury and Thompson's good character and family support.
Desmond Murphy, 49, was convicted of attempted robbery and robbery at two south Dublin building societies on 15 February 2018. He first held up a teller at EBS Main Street Blackrock with a gun, forcing the teller to lock the door and push him back into the public area. Fifteen minutes later he returned to EBS Georges Street Dun Laoghaire, pointed a gun at a female staff member and demanded "tiger money" – cash with serial numbers recorded for such incidents. He stole €10,380. CCTV captured a swallow tattoo on his left hand. Gardaí recovered €8,320 from his home, some matching the tiger‑money serials. Murphy has 51 prior convictions, has attended a drug rehabilitation course, and his lawyers argued he had turned his life around. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to 18 months, noting the gun was likely an imitation but the threat was serious. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Desmond Murphy pleaded guilty.
In a High Court sentencing hearing, Mr Justice Tony Hunt imposed a mandatory life sentence on Sebastian Barczuk, 32, for the murder of his former flatmate, Michal Kurek, 33, who was found dead in a country lane in Ballyboughal on 4 August 2017. Kurek's body bore 62 stab wounds, including 25 to his back, and a Nokia 105 phone was recovered from his pocket. Barczuk was convicted by an 11‑1 jury after a trial that presented evidence of DNA on the phone, cell‑site data linking the accused's phone to the area at the time of the discovery, and CCTV footage of a Fiat Punto associated with Barczuk. The judge noted an "air of mystery" surrounding the motive and described the case as tragic, while acknowledging the evidence pointed toward Barczuk's guilt. The sentence was back‑dated to 6 April 2018, when Barczuk entered custody. Sebastian Barczuk pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court heard closing submissions in the trial of Caolan Smyth and Gary McAreavey, who have both pleaded not guilty to charges related to the attempted murder of James Gately. Mr. Smyth is accused of the attempted murder and possessing a firearm with intent to endanger at the Topaz filling station in north Dublin on May 10, 2017. Mr. McAreavey is accused of impeding apprehension by assisting in the burning of the vehicle used in the attack at Newrath, Co Louth. Defence counsel John D Fitzgerald SC argued that the prosecution's circumstantial case relies on a "musical chairs" of shifting associations between the accused, a black Lexus, a mobile phone, and a Louth address. He contended that evidence linking Mr. Smyth to the car, phone, or his home on the morning of the shooting was speculative and lacked clear identification. Conversely, the prosecution maintained that Mr. Smyth was identifiable in CCTV footage and had conducted a "rehearsal" the day before the shooting. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, is in its fourth week. The matter was adjourned to allow Mr. McAreavey's counsel to deliver his closing speech.
A banned repeat driving offender, Brian Reilly, 24, with 126 prior convictions, drove on the wrong side of the M50 to evade Gardaí before crashing into the car of an elderly couple, John and Ellen Armstrong, who were stopped at a red light at Kilshane Cross, Finglas, in January. The collision caused significant injuries to Ellen, including multiple rib fractures and the amputation of the tip of her right thumb, leaving her dependent on others for basic care. John suffered a head wound and a seizure. Reilly, who was disqualified from driving, fled the scene but was later found by Gardaí. He has pleaded guilty to endangerment, dangerous driving causing serious harm, refusing a blood or urine sample, and driving without insurance. He remains in custody and will be sentenced in December, with a Probation Services report ordered and the matter adjourned for finalisation on December 21.
On 7 March 2020, Raymond Neeson (44) and Francis Duffy (43) were caught breaking into Central Park Apartments in Leopardstown. Neeson assaulted three residents, spat blood in a Garda car, broke a wing mirror and defecated in a Garda cell, while Duffy tried to hand Neeson a shatter hammer and fire extinguisher before both were restrained by the residents. Neeson pleaded guilty to burglary, three counts of assault causing harm, a threat to kill or cause serious harm to a Garda, and criminal damage to a squad car. Duffy pleaded guilty to burglary. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Neeson to four and a half years' imprisonment and Duffy to two and a half years' imprisonment, noting Neeson's more serious conduct and Duffy's lesser role. Both men have numerous prior convictions. The case was heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In a Central Criminal Court case, a jury found Sebastian Barczuk, aged 32, guilty of murdering his former flatmate Michal Kurek, aged 33, who was homeless and had addiction difficulties. Kurek was discovered on 4 August 2017 in a country lane in Ballyboughal, north County Dublin, with 62 stab wounds, including 25 to the back. Evidence included a Nokia 105 phone found in Kurek's jeans, still powered on, and DNA from the phone that matched Barczuk. Cell‑site data showed both phones connected to a site near Ballyboughal at the time of the discovery. CCTV footage of a blue Fiat Punto, sold by Barczuk to a woman on 2 August, was also presented. The jury deliberated nearly 13 hours over four days and returned a majority verdict of 11‑1. Barczuk was sentenced to life imprisonment, with the judge reserving the sentencing date for 2 November. Sebastian Barczuk pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Noel McCabe, aged 25, was found to have threatened his ex‑partner after being charged with assaulting her in March and April 2018. McCabe, who is already serving a six‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for multiple offences, allegedly called the victim and warned that if she did not leave the country within a week her entire family, including her daughter, would be shot. He also demanded she drop the assault charges, which she refused. The court noted that the victim had been in a relationship with McCabe for 18 months and described it as a "nightmare" in her impact statement. McCabe pleaded guilty to obstructing the course of justice by intimidating a witness in June 2018 and will be sentenced early next year, with the judge adjourned the sentence to February 1. The case highlights McCabe's history of 34 prior convictions, including assault, possession of ammunition and road traffic offences.
The Court of Appeal has ordered Sidney Sutton, an accountant and father of two, to return to prison for a further 16 months after ruling his original sentence unduly lenient. Sutton, who pleaded not guilty to all charges, was convicted in 2019 at Trim Circuit Criminal Court on four counts of assault, one count of assault causing harm, and one count of producing a knife capable of inflicting serious injury. He had previously served a one-year jail term after being sentenced to two years, with the final 12 months suspended. The offences, alleged to have occurred in February 2016, involved Sutton allegedly assaulting his then-partner, Edele Aherne, and stabbing her in the leg and shoulder. Sutton had accused Ms Aherne of assaulting him and inflicting her own injuries through self-harm. Mr Justice Edwards, presiding with Ms Justice Donnelly and Mr Justice McCarthy, allowed the DPP's appeal on grounds of undue leniency. The court determined the appropriate headline sentence was four years, reduced by 20 months to account for Sutton's lack of previous convictions and good work record. The judges rejected arguments that alcohol consumption reduced culpability, describing the incident as extreme domestic violence. Sutton was ordered to present himself at Ballymun Garda station on October 16. The court also refused an application to adjourn the hearing pending Sutton's separate appeal against his conviction, citing exceptional circumstances and concerns about the abuse of court processes.
In a murder case, 32‑year‑old Sebastian Barczuk pleaded not guilty to the stabbing death of 33‑year‑old Polish national Michal Kurek. Kurek was found in a country lane in Ballyboughal with 62 stab wounds and blunt‑force trauma to the head and chest. Barczuk, who had lived with Kurek in the past, told Gardaí that he did not know who killed Kurek and suggested it was "probably some psychopath". He described their friendship, Kurek's drug use and the last time he saw him in August 2017. Gardaí collected call data and cell‑site analysis of the two men's phones on the night of the murder. The trial, heard by a jury, remains ongoing with no verdict yet.
Jake Kearney, 25, of Coolock Drive, Dublin 17, pleaded guilty on 5 May 2020 to unlawful possession of a Luger‑calibre Grand Power semi‑automatic pistol at Oscar Traynor Road, Santry, Dublin 9, on 30 October 2019. He was arrested after Gardaí observed him with a loaded handgun in a taxi and at a pub, where a black handgun and eight 9 mm bullets were seized. The firearm was intended for use in an imminent attack on a rival north Dublin gang, though it is not known whether Kearney himself would have fired it. The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, noted Kearney's early guilty plea and limited prior convictions, and imposed a headline jail term of eight years, reduced by 25 % for the plea, and suspended the final year. Kearney was sentenced to six years' imprisonment with the last year suspended, back‑dated to 2 November 2019.
Stephen Kearney, 35, a convicted killer with 113 prior convictions, was jailed for one year after robbing a Centra shop in Santry on 12 February 2019. He had previously pleaded guilty to a robbery of a wallet and bag in Dublin on 2 July 2018. On the day of the 2019 robbery, Kearney bought a can of coke and a bag of jellies, left the shop, returned minutes later in new clothes and a snood, addressed the shopkeeper by name, produced a firearm and demanded the till be opened, taking €250. He was known to the shopkeeper and had recently visited his mother. The judge imposed a concurrent one‑year term for both offences, to be served consecutively to his existing sentence. Kearney admitted to using the robbery proceeds to buy crack cocaine and heroin. The victim's impact statement noted no ill effect on her, and Kearney was described as remorseful and struggling with addiction.
Eddie Kiely, aged 29, attacked a resident who had let him into a flat complex, punching and kicking the victim before locking himself in the victim's apartment. Gardaí forced entry and found him highly intoxicated on the couch. Kiely pleaded guilty to burglary and assault at Coultry Terrace, Ballymun, on 7 June 2019. He was already serving a two‑year sentence for robbery and a consecutive three‑year sentence for criminal damage. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a six‑year sentence, with the final 18 months suspended, making it consecutive to the two‑year sentence and concurrent to the three‑year sentence, effectively extending his time in prison by 18 months. The victim, who was asleep at 4 am, was assaulted, suffered bruising and a laceration, and underwent a CT scan. Kiely's defence highlighted his intoxication, past drug misuse, and efforts at rehabilitation, but the judge noted the severity of the assault and his long‑standing alcohol issues.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 27‑year‑old Darren Nolan pleaded guilty to recklessly discharging a firearm, possession of heroin and cocaine for sale or supply, and making a false statement to gardaí. Nolan had claimed he had been shot by three balaclava‑wearing men, but gardaí found evidence he had shot himself in the face with a blank‑firing handgun he had purchased online. Gardaí discovered over €16,000 of illegal drugs in his bedroom and a handgun in a drawer. Nolan admitted to drinking a bottle of whiskey and a shoulder of vodka before the incident and that he had threatened to shoot himself during an argument with his mother. He was described by counsel as a "patsy" who had no employment history and had been prescribed anti‑psychotic medication. Judge Karen O'Connor ordered a probation report and adjourned the case for finalisation on 30 October.
Derek Devoy, 37, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to 17 years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, for a series of violent offences committed on 11 March 2019. He admitted possession of a 9mm Makarov PM63 RAK submachine gun with intent to endanger life and of a Yugoslavian M75 hand grenade with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury. Devoy discharged the gun twice in public and again while being restrained by Gardaí in a bathroom, narrowly missing a garda's head. A hand grenade was found on the floor without its safety mechanism; it was later detonated in a controlled explosion, rendering the house uninhabitable. The court noted Devoy's 27 previous convictions, including two firearm offences, and his personal history of family tragedy. He pleaded guilty to all charges, which led to a 15 % discount on the headline sentence of 20 years, resulting in the 17‑year term.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed the appeal of Damien Metcalfe (34), upholding his conviction for membership of an unlawful organisation, the IRA. Metcalfe was found guilty by the Special Criminal Court in November 2015 and sentenced to two years and six months in May 2019. The trial court found that he played a supporting and logistical role in IRA interrogations of suspected informants at Riverwood Park, Castleknock, in August 2015. The appellate court rejected arguments that the opinion evidence of Chief Superintendent Anthony Howard should have been excluded, stating the remaining evidence was "cogent in the extreme." The court also upheld the trial judge's findings regarding Metcalfe's presence and participation. In a separate matter mentioned in the report, Conor Metcalfe (28), Damien's brother, was previously found guilty of IRA membership by the three-judge court in December 2018 and jailed for four years and six months. The Court of Appeal also recently upheld the convictions and sentences of five other individuals involved in the same Castleknock inquiries, rejecting appeals from both the defendants and the DPP regarding the severity or leniency of their respective sentences.
A 25‑year‑old man, Jake Kearney, was arrested on 30 October 2019 for unlawful possession of a loaded Grandpower semi‑automatic pistol. He was a trusted member of an organised crime gang planning an imminent attack on a rival north Dublin faction. Gardaí seized a silver Skoda Octavia taxi, a Volkswagen Passat, Kearney's black handgun, eight 9mm bullets, his latex gloves and mobile phone. Kearney pleaded guilty on 5 May to the offence. He had previous convictions for drug dealing. His mother's home was burnt out after his arrest, an act described by the judge as a "desperate situation" and a punishment for the crime of her son. The Special Criminal Court adjourned sentencing to 30 July. The case remains at the hearing stage, with no further outcome reported.
Aaron Byrne, 20, of Knowth Court, Poppintree, Dublin, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment after Gardaí seized nearly €100,000 worth of cannabis from him on 28 September 2019. Byrne, who has prior convictions for drug dealing, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession for sale or supply. Garda Kevin Brennan reported that Byrne and another man were seen at a waste ground called "Seven Pitches" near an IKEA store, placing cannabis into clear plastic bags. Byrne fled but was apprehended; the other man was injured in a motorbike crash. Byrne's mother wrote that he had turned to drugs after his sister's death seven years earlier. Judge Martin Nolan noted Byrne's previous record and the seriousness of the drug amount, but also acknowledged his potential for reform, before back‑dating the sentence to the date of arrest.
The Special Criminal Court heard the case of Derek Devoy, 37, who was arrested for possessing a Makarov submachine gun and a Yugoslavian M75 hand grenade with intent to endanger life. Devoy also pleaded guilty to assaulting a garda and a garda sergeant, and to possessing an explosive substance. The incident began when three unarmed gardaí on patrol received a 999 call about Devoy in Doon Court. A chase led to a family house on Crannogue Road where Devoy was found sitting on a toilet with the gun. The firearm discharged, narrowly missing Sergeant Andrew O'Connor and Garda Niall Minnock, and a grenade lay on the floor. Gardaí restrained Devoy, who was later taken to Ballymun Garda Station and then hospital for a perforated ulcer. CCTV footage of Devoy with the gun and grenade was shown to the court. The case was adjourned to 23 July for sentencing.
Derek Devoy, 37, of Balbutcher Lane, Poppintree, Ballymun, admitted to the Special Criminal Court that he had attacked two Gardaí and possessed two sub‑machine guns and a hand grenade near his home in north Dublin last year. He pleaded guilty to four counts: possession of a 9mm Makarov PM 63 sub‑machine gun, possession of a Yugoslavian M75 hand grenade, and assault on Garda Andrew O'Connor and Garda Conor Garland. The charges stem from incidents on 11 March 2019 at Crannogue Road, Ballymun, where the weapons were found in his possession and the Gardaí were attacked while performing their duties. Devoy was remanded in custody to appear before the Special Criminal Court on 22 June 2020. The court heard the four counts and he pleaded "guilty" to each. No further details of the proceedings or potential sentencing were provided in the article.