Anthony McGurk, a 29‑year‑old father of five, was found to have smuggled nearly €60,000 worth of MDMA crystal powder into Ireland after a panic attack at Dublin Airport. He had just returned from a flight from Amsterdam, where he had purchased the drugs with the intention of selling them in Belfast. McGurk initially denied ownership, claiming the drugs were planted, but later confessed to buying them and to possessing them for sale or supply. He pleaded guilty to one count of possession for sale or supply. The court, noting his lack of prior convictions, his work as a chef, and his mental health difficulties, sentenced him to two and a half years in prison. He is currently working in the prison kitchen. The case highlighted his strained relationships and the impact on his family's housing situation.
The Court of Appeal heard an appeal by Damien Metcalfe, 34, who was convicted of membership in the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and jailed for two years and six months by the Special Criminal Court in May 2019. The appeal argued that the key evidence was the belief evidence of Detective Chief Superintendent Anthony Howard, who claimed Metcalfe was an IRA member. The appellant's counsel said Howard's belief evidence was unsubstantiated, that Howard failed to revise the file on which his belief was based, and that his cross‑examination was obstructive and evasive. The defence also alleged that Howard asserted privilege and made contradictory statements. The DPP's counsel countered that the belief evidence was weakened but not dismissed, and that corroborating evidence was strong. The Court of Appeal reserved its judgment, noting that it had previously upheld convictions and sentences in similar IRA‑inquiry cases.
Aaron Tyrell, 19, of Woodhazel Close, Ballymun, was granted bail by the High Court after being charged with four counts of breaching the Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Bill 2020. The charges stem from alleged movements on 8 April, 13 April and 21 April, when he was seen at the Omni Shopping Centre and elsewhere. Tyrell denies the charges and claims he was within the 2km radius allowed by the law. He lives in a house where two occupants tested positive for COVID‑19. The court noted the seriousness of the alleged breaches and imposed a €200 surety bond, a curfew from 10 pm to 8 am, and warned that any violation would lead to revocation of bail. The case remains at the bail stage with no further proceedings reported.
A 34‑year‑old Dublin man, who has accumulated 33 bench warrants since 2004, was granted bail by Judge Melanie Greally in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The judge noted that the defendant had pleaded guilty to a theft offence and was due to stand trial in April on a separate, undisclosed offence. Two of the warrants were issued for failing to attend court dates on 2 March and a pre‑trial hearing on 12 March. Prosecutor Garda Shannon Breen had objected to bail on the basis of his warrant history, arguing he would not attend his next court date. Judge Greally, citing the "dire public health situation", decided that it was prudent to avoid adding to prison populations if possible. She set bail conditions requiring the defendant to remain contactable, live at an agreed address, and stay away from the Ballymun area.
Ryan Johnston, a 36‑year‑old truck driver from Cedar Grove, Magherafelt, was found carrying €166,720 in cash in a blue canvas bag in the cab of his tractor unit. He was arrested after a Garda surveillance operation and pleaded guilty to possession of the cash and the proceeds of criminal conduct on 3 June 2016. Johnston had six prior convictions in Northern Ireland, mainly for road traffic offences, and made no admissions during his interview. His defence lawyer, Justin McQuade, argued that Johnston was a valued member of his business, was embarrassed and ashamed, and that the offence was a one‑off transgression committed recklessly. Judge Melanie Greally, noting Johnston's respectable family background, good work record and character references, imposed a three and a half year sentence, suspending the final 18 months, and jailed him for two years. The sentence reflected the seriousness of money laundering and the need for deterrence in the haulage trade.
Shane Fay, who was 18 when he was caught with 15 rounds of 9mm ammunition in his bedroom, was sentenced to two years in prison. He admitted to storing the bullets after being asked to do so and claimed a cocaine dependency. Fay pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 3 October 2018. While awaiting sentencing, he was attacked and stabbed ten times, suffering severe wounds and lung damage. His attackers also cut his fingers, severing tendons. Fay was a carer for his wheelchair‑bound parents; his father had lost his legs to alcohol abuse and his mother had an extreme reaction to a mosquito bite during a state‑funded respite holiday. Judge Melanie Greally suspended the final year of a three‑year term, citing his early guilty plea, his youth and his difficult background.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 17 February 2020, Derek Devoy, aged 37, pleaded guilty to possessing a RAK‑PM63 sub‑machine gun with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury at Crannogue Road, Ballymun, Dublin 11. The court accepted his single‑count plea and set a trial date of 10 June for two additional Public Order charges – assaulting a garda and a garda sergeant on the same day. Devoy had previously faced charges for possession of a Yugoslavian M75 hand grenade, a 9mm Makarov PM 63 sub‑machine gun, and 11 rounds of 9mm ammunition, all with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury to property. The case remains pending for the remaining charges. The court did not impose any sentence at this stage.
In February 2020, the Court of Appeal upheld the sentences of five men and one woman convicted of assisting IRA interrogations in Dublin. Kevin Hannaway, aged 71, received three years and nine months; Eva Shannon, 61, four years; Seán Hannaway, 48, five years and six months; David Nooney, 53, three years and nine months; and Edward O'Brien, 42, 16 months. All were found guilty of membership in the Irish Republican Army at a Special Criminal Court trial in June 2018. Hannaway's appeal argued that his 1971 detention, involving hooding, white noise and sleep deprivation, had left him with PTSD and that prison conditions were "life threatening." The court rejected the appeal, noting no error in principle and that the sentences reflected the gravity of the offences. The DPP's request to reduce Nooney's and O'Brien's sentences was also denied. The Court of Appeal confirmed the original sentences for all six defendants.
In February 2020, Gerard Dunne, aged 32, was jailed for four years after he hurled an ignited petrol bomb toward Garda Karl Kelly, who was waiting for a vehicle to be towed on the Link Road, Darndale, Dublin. Dunne, who had been cycling on a pink and white bike, threw the device across the road; it struck a curb, exploded, and produced a flame. Garda Kelly narrowly avoided injury by moving out of the way. Dunne was arrested, shown CCTV footage of the incident, and later pleaded guilty to endangerment and possession of a petrol bomb. He denied intent to target the Garda but admitted the possibility after being named a suspect. The court noted his 97 prior convictions and his heroin addiction, and sentenced him to four and a half years, suspending the final six months for 12 months on strict conditions.
The Court of Appeal has upheld the convictions of five individuals, including Kevin Hannaway, for their roles in an IRA inquiry conducted in Castleknock, Dublin, in August 2015. The group was originally found guilty at the Special Criminal Court in June 2018 for assisting in the interrogation of suspected informants, a process captured by gardaí listening devices. Kevin Hannaway (71) and Eva Shannon (61), both of Belfast, were sentenced to three years and nine months and four years imprisonment respectively for assisting in the interviews. Seán Hannaway (48) received five years and six months, David Nooney (53) three years and nine months, and Edward O'Brien (42) 16 months, all for membership of an unlawful organisation. Mr Justice John Edwards, delivering the judgment, affirmed that the Special Criminal Court properly handled the admissibility of audio recordings and the opinion evidence of a senior Garda regarding IRA membership. The court rejected challenges to the defendants' arrests and the identification of voices on the recordings. While the convictions were upheld, the report notes that appeals regarding the sentences are scheduled to be heard next week, meaning the sentencing phase of the legal process remains pending.
Slaven Tokic, 41, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after an incident at Dublin's Portobello Bar on 26 May 2018. He claimed the victim, Andy Lynch, had laughed at his penis while Tokic was urinating, and that the victim had pointed at him. Tokic punched Lynch as they left the bathroom, knocking out Lynch's two front teeth and splitting his lip. CCTV showed Tokic swinging twice, with one punch connecting. Lynch suffered pain, headaches, and required stitches and dental treatment. Tokic had no prior convictions. At sentencing, Judge Melanie Greally imposed a two‑year prison term, fully suspended on strict conditions, including payment of €4,000 compensation to Lynch within 48 hours. The court noted Tokic's cooperation and the victim's acceptance of the settlement. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
John Farrell, 47, of Ballymun, Dublin, pleaded guilty to criminal damage after smashing 28 television screens at Boyle Sports in September 2016. He claimed he was owed winnings from a bet he believed had been processed incorrectly and placed on the wrong race. The staff member explained that the first horse on his ticket had not won, making the bet a loss. Farrell returned later with a hammer and smashed the screens, causing €10,450 in damage. He had 25 prior convictions, the most recent in 2001 for handling stolen property. In court, he admitted the act, expressed remorse, and was receiving treatment for an aggressive form of cancer. Judge Melanie Greally, noting the incident was out of character and influenced by his circumstances, imposed a four‑year suspended sentence.
Darren Thompson, 25, was convicted of rape in 2017 and sentenced to six years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended. In January 2020 the Director of Public Prosecutions announced an investigation into alleged "new evidence" that could affect the outcome of the case. Thompson, who maintains his innocence, was released on bail pending the hearing of the application to present this evidence. The bail was granted by Mr Justice John Edwards, with a condition that Thompson appear again on 24 March. The case involved a woman in her 20s who claimed she had consensual sex with a man she met in a nightclub, but later alleged that Thompson and another man attempted to have sex with her while she was under the influence of drugs. No further details were disclosed in court. The Central Criminal Court noted that Thompson's family and girlfriend remain supportive. The application to present new evidence is scheduled for the Court of Appeal.
James Byrne, 45, of Ballymun, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of drugs for sale or supply and to recklessly discharging a firearm at his neighbour's address on 9 December 2017. Gardaí were called after Byrne reported a gunshot wound to his leg. He admitted he had shot himself accidentally while attempting to hide a gun he had bought that day, intending to kill himself. The gun discharged when he was holding the trigger, injuring his leg. A search of his home uncovered a semi‑automatic Makarov pistol in a garden shed and cannabis resin worth €18,000, which Byrne claimed he held to pay a drug debt. He had prior convictions for drug possession, burglary and traffic offences. The judge, citing Byrne's guilty plea, cooperation and family responsibilities, imposed an 18‑month custodial sentence for the drug charge, noting that a suspended sentence would have been appropriate if only the firearms offence had been considered.
Liam Butterly, 26, of Whiteacre Place, Ballymun, Dublin, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to endangerment and dangerous driving for driving a stolen motorbike at high speed, in the wrong direction around a roundabout, and through red lights on 20 January 2017. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to three years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended, and disqualified him from driving for six years. Butterly, who has 53 prior convictions, became agitated after sentencing, telling the judge that people who kill people get three years in jail and that he has two small children and that the incident occurred a week before Christmas. He apologized and said he only wanted the judge to know about his children.
Lewis Larkin (33) was sentenced to seven years with the final 18 months suspended for his role in robbing, falsely imprisoning, and attacking three 15-year-old boys at Fairview Park on June 27, 2018. Judge Martin Nolan described the incident as 'terrifying' for the victims and noted Larkin's 111 previous convictions and intoxication at the time. Craig Douglas (18) was sentenced to three years with the final 20 months suspended. Judge Nolan called the case 'lamentable' and expressed regret over the custodial sentence for Douglas, citing his youth, but noted the 'particularly vicious' nature of the attacks. Both Larkin and Douglas pleaded guilty to three charges of robbery, three charges of false imprisonment, and two charges of assault causing harm to the teenagers. Larkin also admitted to the theft of eight bicycles valued at €6,285. Garda Kevin Murphy stated that the boys were threatened, forced to walk with the accused, and subjected to intimidation and physical violence. The victims were walked around the area to withdraw cash from their bank accounts and were later attacked in a laneway. Victim impact reports were submitted but not read out. The case was heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
David Farrelly, aged 31, was jailed for seven years after admitting possession of €360,000 in proceeds of crime and €25,500 in cash, and for possession of more than €84,000 worth of cocaine and €26,000 cash in a portakabin at his garden. He was caught in 2017 when Gardaí found €364,000 in cash and a pistol in a box in his stepfather's home, and again in 2018 when a raid uncovered cocaine and cash at his residence. Farrelly denied involvement the day after the first discovery, claiming his stepfather had removed the plastic wrapping the cash. His fingerprints were later found on the plastic. He has 45 prior convictions, including drug offences and traffic offences. His stepfather, described as a father figure, had previously served four years for money laundering and firearm possession. Judge Martin Nolan imposed the sentence, noting the seriousness of money laundering.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Wayne Keogh, aged 28, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for stabbing his mother, Carol Keogh, on 28 January. The attack, which began as a verbal dispute over a pair of tracksuit bottoms, escalated when Keogh repeatedly stabbed his mother in the back and neck. Carol suffered four stab wounds, a punctured lung and a laceration to her liver, and a knife blade became embedded in her back, requiring surgical removal at Mater Hospital. She remained in hospital for four days and has fully recovered. Keogh, who had been in custody since the incident and has 102 prior convictions, was apprehended after leaving the house. He pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm, and the judge noted the seriousness of the assault and considered a psychological report in sentencing.
The Special Criminal Court struck out the charge against Paul Casey, a 49‑year‑old Dublin man, over the discovery of a bomb under a police officer's car in Belfast. Casey had been arrested by the Special Detective Unit as part of a cross‑border investigation and charged on 20 August 2019 with membership of an unlawful organisation, the Irish Republican Army (IRA). The Director of Public Prosecutions withdrew the case, and Mr Justice Hunt, with Judges Gerard Griffin and Ann Ryan, granted the request. The court also noted that the book of evidence for Robert O'Leary, 41, who was charged with the same offence and granted bail on 26 August, will be served on 25 November 2019. O'Leary's trial is expected to take place in late February or early March 2020.
In a drunken altercation over a PlayStation game, 36‑year‑old Jonathan Dwane stabbed his friend John Paul Bradley in the back three times, lacerating Bradley's kidney. The incident occurred after the pair, both long‑time drug addicts, had been drinking and playing games in Dwane's bedroom. Dwane, who kept a knife for protection, was arrested and pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and producing a knife. He was sentenced to 40 months' imprisonment by Judge Martin Nolan, who described the act as a gross over‑reaction. Bradley was taken to hospital and underwent surgery; he made a full recovery and declined to give a victim impact statement. Dwane's father intervened and disarmed him during the struggle. The case was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 1 November 2019.
A man who shoved and pushed a 67-year-old woman around her home while demanding money has been sentenced to six years in total for this incident, an earlier robbery, and for breaking into 13 cars. Lee Byrne (21) of Termon Court, Poppintree, Ballymun Dublin pleaded guilty to burglary and theft, assault causing harm and false imprisonment of the woman at her home in Drumcondra on October 9, 2018. He also pleaded guilty to criminal damage of various vehicles on St Margaret's Road in Finglas on April 1, 2018, and to attempted robbery at Spar on Upper O'Connell Street on September 9, 2018. Byrne had 51 previous convictions, 24 of which were committed as a child. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced Byrne to an 18-month term in June this year for the criminal damage charges, which was backdated to when he was first remanded in custody, resulting in a release date in December this year. Today, Judge Greally sentenced Byrne to an additional four and a half years, which is to run consecutive to the 18-month term. She suspended the final 12 months of this sentence, taking into account Byrne's youth, extreme addiction, and genuine remorse. The burglary of the woman's home was deemed the more serious offence due to the violation of her home and the violence inflicted upon her. The matter was adjourned for the purpose of this summary.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 48‑year‑old carpenter Mervyn Heffernan was dragged under the getaway car of 24‑year‑old Daniel Maughan for about 30 yards after Heffernan had confronted Maughan at the side of his van. Heffernan suffered third‑degree burns, 11 missing teeth and a head injury. Witnesses reported Heffernan standing in front of the vehicle with his arms raised, and that workers shouted for the car to be stopped before Maughan fled. DNA from a phone left in the car matched Maughan, and stolen items were found in the van's boot. Maughan pleaded guilty to endangerment, had 56 prior convictions, and was sentenced to four years' imprisonment and a five‑year driving disqualification. Heffernan was discharged from hospital after a week, having incurred €20,000 in dental costs. The court noted Maughan's remorse and his efforts to address drug problems while in custody.
John McDonagh, aged 29, was sentenced to three years in prison for his role in a street assault that left a man, Saurjan Syergaz, with a severe stomach slash wound. McDonagh, who lives in Ballymun, admitted to kicking and punching Syergaz during a confrontation with Syergaz's partner, Donna Dineen, who later inflicted the slash and stole the victim's wallet. Dineen had already been jailed for four years in November for her part in the attack. McDonagh's sentence, imposed by Judge Melanie Greally, reflected his extensive criminal history of 86 prior convictions and the aggravating circumstances of the incident. The judge acknowledged that McDonagh did not participate in the stabbing but noted the "extremely nasty" nature of his assault. The final 12 months of the four‑year term were suspended on conditions. The victim, who has since returned to Mongolia, was not given a victim impact statement. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. John McDonagh pleaded guilty. Donna Dineen pleaded guilty.
Paul Casey, 49, of Ballymun, Dublin 11, was granted bail by the Special Criminal Court following a trial-stage hearing. He is charged with membership of an unlawful organisation, styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA, on August 20, 2019. His co-accused, Robert O'Leary, 41, of Finglas, Dublin 11, faces the same alleged offence. The charges relate to a cross-border investigation into a car bomb discovered under a police officer's vehicle in Belfast on June 1. At the hearing, the court accepted an independent surety for Casey. Bail conditions require him to sign daily at Ballymun Garda Station, reside at his Ballymun address, provide a mobile number, refrain from applying for travel documents, and avoid Northern Ireland except for visits to his mother with 24 hours' notice to the Special Detective Unit. He must also not associate with IRA members or those charged with offences before the Special Criminal Court, nor contact prosecution witnesses. Justice Carmel Stewart, sitting with Judges Ann Ryan and Sinead Ni Chulachain, released Casey on his own bond of €100 and an independent surety of €5,000. The matter was adjourned until October 21, when a book of evidence is expected to be served on the accused.
Two Dublin men, Paul Casey (49) and Robert O'Leary (41), were charged with membership of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) before the Special Criminal Court. Both were arrested on Tuesday morning by the Special Detective Unit (SDU) as part of a cross‑border investigation linked to a car bomb discovered under a police officer's car in Belfast in June. The charges, brought on 20 August 2019, fall under section 21 of the Offences against the State Act 1939, amended by the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005. Casey was arrested at Londonbridge Road, Dublin 4, and O'Leary at the same location later that day. Both men were taken to Irishtown Garda Station, presented with the charge sheets, and cautioned. They appeared before a three‑judge panel—Justice Tony Hunt, Judge Gerard Griffin, and Judge Sinead Ni Chulachain—where they were remanded in custody pending bail applications due on Monday.
A 36‑year‑old man named Derek Devoy has been ordered to stand trial before the Special Criminal Court, a non‑jury court, after the Director of Public Prosecutions applied for a Section 49 order. The court, composed of three judges, will hear the case on 8 October. Devoy was previously charged at Dublin District Court in March with possession of a RAK‑PM63 submachine gun, a Yugoslavian M75 hand grenade, a 9mm Makarov PM63 submachine gun, and 11 rounds of 9mm ammunition, all with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury. He is also charged under the Public Order Act for assaulting a garda and a garda sergeant on the same day. The court has accepted the DPP's request that the ordinary courts are inadequate to secure effective justice in this matter. The case will proceed in the Special Criminal Court.
Glen Carolan, 21, pleaded guilty to robbing a McDonald's in Santry on 1 May 2018, taking €513. He claimed he was forced to do it or be killed, citing debts from drug addiction and gambling. Carolan admitted he used a knife to threaten staff while wearing a balaclava and blue latex gloves, demanded money, and placed the cash in a plastic bag. He fled on a push bike, which was later found, and was subsequently located hiding in shrubbery. Judge Melanie Greally suspended a five‑year prison sentence for five years, ordering him to engage with the Probation Service for 12 months for addiction services and drug screening. The court noted his lack of prior convictions and the "do or die" situation he described. The sentence was imposed on the condition of compliance with the probation order.
A 30-year-old man from Ballymun has received a two-year suspended sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for stealing twenty bottles of spirits valued at €900 from Copper Face Jack's nightclub on Harcourt Street in May 2017. Jason Whelan pleaded guilty to the burglary charge after being identified on CCTV footage removing the alcohol from the venue's Premier Bar. The court heard that Whelan has 91 previous convictions, 43 of which relate to burglary offences, and that his criminal activity was motivated by a long-standing drug addiction. Judge Melanie Greally noted that since the theft, Whelan had undertaken treatment at Coolmine and received a favourable probation report. The judge cited his guilty plea, demonstrated remorse, and rehabilitation efforts as mitigating factors. The suspended sentence is conditional on Whelan maintaining the peace and accepting twelve-month supervision from the Probation Service.
The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment on the appeals of five individuals convicted by the Special Criminal Court for their involvement in an IRA inquiry at Riverwood Park, Castleknock, Dublin 15, on August 7th and 8th, 2015. Kevin Hannaway (71) and Eva Shannon (61), both of Belfast, were sentenced to 45 months and 48 months imprisonment respectively for assisting the interviewing of persons involved in IRA-organised criminal activities. Seán Hannaway (48) received five years and six months, David Nooney (53) three years and nine months, and Edward O'Brien (42) 16 months, all for membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the IRA. All five defendants, who had denied the charges, are appealing their convictions. DPP counsel Anne-Marie Lawlor SC argued that covert audio recordings were authentic evidence, rejecting defence claims that they were fabricated by Garda HQ. She contended the Special Criminal Court erred in ruling that gardaí breached the Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Act 2009, stating such issues went to the weight of evidence rather than admissibility. Defence counsel highlighted gaps in surveillance coverage and alleged statutory breaches regarding the handling of the recordings. The bench, comprising Mr Justice George Birmingham, Mr Justice John Edwards, and Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, heard submissions before reserving judgment.
In a 2019 Court of Appeal hearing, the appeal was made that the voices heard on a covert audio recording of an IRA "inquiry" should not have been attributed to the five men and one woman on trial for assisting the IRA. Kevin Hannaway, one of the "hooded men", was among those jailed for participating in an IRA interrogation of suspected informants at a Dublin house. The gardaí had installed listening devices and used the recordings to arrest and convict the defendants. The appeal argued that the audio was of poor quality and that the prosecution's attempt to attribute voices to the accused was improper, as the evidence was not disclosed to the defence early enough. The hearing continued before the Court of Appeal judges, with counsel for the defendants challenging the reliance on a Chief Superintendent's belief that they were IRA members.
Kevin Hannaway, Eva Shannon, Seán Hannaway, David Nooney, and Edward O'Brien have appealed their convictions for roles in an IRA inquiry. The group was convicted at the Special Criminal Court in June 2018 for assisting interrogations of suspected informants at Riverwood Park, Castleknock, on August 7th and 8th, 2015. Kevin Hannaway (71) and Eva Shannon (61) were sentenced to three years and nine months and four years imprisonment respectively for rendering assistance to an unlawful organisation. Seán Hannaway (48) received five years and six months, David Nooney (53) three years and nine months, and Edward O'Brien (42) 16 months for membership of the IRA. Counsel Ronan Munro SC argued that the sole evidence against Kevin Hannaway was an audio recording, challenging its admissibility due to surveillance gaps and alleged breaches of the Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Act 2009. He noted Hannaway's request to leave the courtroom during playback due to trauma from 1971 detention. Counsel Vincent Heneghan SC contended that Eva Shannon's charge regarding an 'unlawful object' was unclear, though President George Birmingham described the charge as clear and unambiguous. The three-day appeal hearing continues and is expected to conclude on Thursday.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Miguel Pintos, 38, was sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment for endangering two pedestrians after losing control of his motorbike on Shangan Road, Ballymun, on 6 May 2018. He was found guilty of endangering a pedestrian and of endangering a second woman, who suffered a fractured ankle. The court imposed a two‑year sentence, suspending the final nine months on strict conditions. The first victim, who sustained broken legs and required 20 stitches to her head and further surgery for plates in her legs, was described as having suffered lasting pain and a fear of motorcycles. The second victim suffered a fractured ankle and became nervous around motorcycles. Pintos had 29 prior convictions, including drug offences, drunk driving and other road traffic offences, but no alcohol or drugs were involved in this incident. He pleaded guilty, expressed remorse, and had taken steps to improve his literacy and engage in voluntary work.
Leroy Dumbrell, 32, of Carriglea Gardens, Dun Laoghaire, withdrew a sentence appeal after a senior judge warned that the Court of Appeal could increase his sentence. Dumbrell had pleaded guilty to violent disorder in 2013 and to threatening a detective in 2015. He had over 70 prior convictions, including arson and a prison brawl. He was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment with the final year suspended in 2016. The appeal was to challenge the severity of the six‑year term, but the judge noted Dumbrell's extensive criminal record and the Court of Appeal's power to increase sentences. Dumbrell's lawyers requested withdrawal, and the judge described him as "very wise." The case was dismissed before hearing.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Paul O'Beirne and Jeffrey Morrow, who are charged with murdering Vincent Ryan, continued before Mr Justice Michael White. Both defendants, aged 36 and 37 respectively, have pleaded not guilty to the murder of the 25-year-old victim at McKee Road in Finglas on February 29, 2016. Prosecution counsel Paul Burns SC called Kelly Smyth, the victim's partner, who testified that she heard five loud bangs after taking their five-week-old daughter inside her home. She discovered Mr Ryan seriously injured in his car with smashed windows. Her brother, Keith Smyth, corroborated the account, describing the sounds as gunshots and noting a grey car fleeing the scene. Dr Edmund Carton stated that Mr Ryan was pronounced dead at the Mater Hospital at 21:10. Neighbour Lorcan Buckley reported hearing approximately 12 or 13 gunshots, while Dublin Fire Brigade officer Stephen O'Reilly described finding bullet holes in the vehicle and multiple wounds on the victim. The trial is ongoing with a jury of four women and eight men, and no verdict or sentence has been recorded.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Denis Kaczor Niecko, aged 30, was sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment for handling stolen vehicles. He admitted to dealing with a stolen Audi A3 in Balscadden, Co. Dublin, between 9 and 22 February 2017, and a stolen Nissan Juke in Poppintree, Dublin 11, between 19 April and 11 May 2017. The judge, Melanie Greally, suspended the final 12 months of the sentence on strict conditions, citing a probation report that showed a willingness to cooperate. Niecko had raised €2,000 in compensation for the owners of the vehicles, but both owners refused the money; it was directed to the McVerry Trust. He was also found to have been involved in a jet‑ski sale to an undercover Garda, during which he fled in a van and crashed 200 metres up the road. The court noted his prior 23 convictions, his mental‑health difficulties, and his expressed remorse. Denis Kaczor Niecko pleaded guilty.
Simon Whelan, 32, of Ashtown, Dublin, was sentenced to a global term of three and a half years for a series of burglaries, including four student apartments in Gateway Student Village on 4 October 2018, and several shop and restaurant break‑ins between 2017 and 2018. The judge suspended the final 12 months, so the effective custodial term is two and a half years. Whelan admitted all offences and pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He had a long history of offending, 105 prior convictions, and a longstanding drug addiction. The judge noted no violence was used and that some burglaries were committed while he was on bail for earlier offences. He was offered residential treatment and was committed to rehabilitation services. The sentence was back‑dated to 4 October 2018.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Glen Campbell, 42, was found guilty of sexually assaulting a 16‑year‑old girl in her home on 18 April 2015. He had previously denied two counts of assault, one in 2013 and the other in 2015, and was acquitted of the 2013 offence. The court noted that Campbell had been known to the victim and had frequent access to her home, and that he had abused her without warning by grabbing her waist and fondling her genitals. Judge Cormac Quinn imposed a headline sentence of three years' imprisonment but fully suspended a two‑year term, citing Campbell's cognitive difficulties, the death of his mother, remorse, and lack of prior convictions. Campbell will remain under Probation Service supervision for two years and must comply with all directions, including offence‑focused work to reduce re‑offending.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced Dubliner Jason Spooner to four and a half years in prison for the attempted robbery of cigarettes valued at €300 and possessing a crowbar to intimidate staff at a Centra store in Finglas on February 25, 2017. Spooner, of Ballymun, pleaded guilty to the charges. Judge Karen O'Connor imposed the sentence with the final 18 months suspended, reducing a headline six-year term due to mitigating factors, including the death of Spooner's father. The judge noted that Spooner's guilty plea, entered a week before trial, was diluted by its late timing. The court heard that Spooner, wearing a balaclava, entered the shop, locked the doors, and threatened a five-months-pregnant employee with the crowbar, demanding she open the safe. Although the victim fled to a back office, Spooner attempted to force entry and began loading cigarettes into a bag. He was arrested by Sergeant Conor Scully after threatening the garda with the weapon. Spooner told gardaí he had taken pills and intended to steal cigarettes. The judge acknowledged the ongoing fear experienced by the victim and noted Spooner's history of addiction and 16 previous convictions. Spooner's solicitor conveyed his client's apologies to the victim.
In May 2019, Boy B, a 14‑year‑old, told Gardaí that his co‑accused, Boy A, had said he was planning to kill Ana Kriegel, a 14‑year‑old schoolgirl. Boy B claimed he did not believe Boy A was serious and did not know what Boy A intended to do. He also admitted lying to Gardaí about Ana's disappearance because he feared being framed by Boy A. Both boys are minors and have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Ana Kriegel at Glenwood House, Lucan, and Boy A has also pleaded not guilty to an aggravated sexual assault charge. Gardaí have reviewed 16 hours of Boy B's interviews, during which he described seeing Boy A wearing gloves, a mask and other items, and witnessing Boy A "flip" Ana and choke her while removing her clothes.
James Broderick, 45, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after punching his supervisor at Cleveland Cable Company in Finglas on 10 October 2016. The supervisor suffered a fractured jaw and a black eye but did not file a victim impact report. Broderick, who lives in Markievicz House, claimed he had been treated unfairly by the supervisor before the incident. The court noted that hostilities had been brewing for days. Broderick had 37 prior convictions, mainly for public order offences, and had voluntarily met with Gardaí. He was sentenced by Judge Cormac Quinn to a headline term of two years, reduced to 12 months suspended for two years. He must pay €3,000 to the victim within four months, comply with Probation Services for 12 months, and keep the peace for two years.
Three men – Michael Maughan (23), Martin Maughan (30) and John Reilly (30) – pleaded guilty to discharging a shotgun at Edenmore Crescent, Raheny, on 12 June 2016. The offence stemmed from a dispute over a €30,000 insurance payout following a traffic accident involving Michael Maughan. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced Michael and Martin to four and a half years' imprisonment, suspending the final two years on strict conditions and requiring 12 months' supervision by the Probation Service. John Reilly received a three and a half year sentence, suspended in full, reflecting his lesser role and fewer serious prior convictions. The judge noted the men's remorse, positive changes since the offence, and the absence of further hostilities, but emphasised that a custodial sentence was unavoidable given their previous offending histories. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Joseph Dillon, 32, of Ballymun, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm at his home on 9 February 2018 after his girlfriend was "poked" on Facebook by another man. Dillon told her to delete the man and threatened her, then struck her, knocking her to the ground, kicking her in the face and ribs, punching her repeatedly, spitting at her and calling her a tramp. He had previously hit her once, prompting her to leave for a day before returning. In court she described fractured ribs, soft‑tissue damage to her right eye and bruises all over her body, saying the assault lasted hours and she feared for her life. Dillon had no prior convictions, had sole custody of his son, and the child's mother had died in 2009. Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced him to two and a half years, suspended the final six months, and back‑dated the sentence to 27 November, the date he first entered custody.
A 54‑year‑old South African grandmother was sentenced to two and a half years in prison, with the final 15 months suspended, for illegally trafficking a nine‑year‑old child into Ireland. She flew into the country with the child, claiming to be the child's mother at immigration control, and presented a forged affidavit and birth certificate. WhatsApp messages between her and the child's father, who had abducted the child from the mother's custody, directed her on what to say at the border. The father had been living in the UK and had arranged the fake documents and €1,310 found on her. The grandmother pleaded guilty, admitted she had no knowledge that the child had been kidnapped, and expressed a desire for a romantic relationship with the father. The judge noted her lack of prior convictions and her difficult background, and imposed the suspended sentence on the condition she leave the jurisdiction and never return.
A 40‑year‑old Dublin man, Justin Murray, was given a suspended 12‑month prison sentence for stealing €500 in mass donations from the sacristy of the Church of Our Lady of Victories in Ballymun. The theft occurred on 6 November 2016 when a parishioner witnessed him taking money and he fled. Gardaí identified him via CCTV and found his bicycle, marked with his name, abandoned on the church grounds. Murray had previously pleaded guilty to the offence and had 77 convictions, including ten thefts and 20 burglaries. He is already serving a separate prison term for another offence, due for release in July 2019, and the new suspended sentence will run consecutively. Judge Elma Sheahan, noting his efforts to recover from drug addiction and his current drug‑free status, imposed the suspension on the condition that he continue treatment and keep the peace.
Jason Spooner, 45, was arrested after attempting to rob cigarettes from a Centra store in Finglas on 25 February 2017. He waited outside the shop, entered when a pregnant staff member opened the doors at 7.30 am, locked the doors behind him, and used a metal bar to try to open the safe. The staff member fled to a back office and locked herself in; Spooner followed and attempted to force the office door open. He was stopped by Garda Sergeant Conor Scully, who tackled him and removed the bar. Spooner admitted he had been awake all night after taking a load of pills and wanted to "go grab a smoke and leg it." He pleaded guilty to attempted robbery of cigarettes worth €300 and possession of a crowbar. He has 16 prior convictions, including traffic, theft and public‑order offences. The pregnant victim, five months along, expressed concern for her baby and difficulty sleeping after the incident.
Sean Jackson, 27, of Doon Court, Ballymun, was jailed for biting a large portion of another man's ear off in the smoking area of Ardlea Inn, Dublin 5, after a very minor altercation on 23 August 2014. He had no memory of the incident due to intoxication and pleaded not guilty to assault causing serious harm. A jury found him guilty and Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to five years imprisonment on 4 December 2017. Jackson had 24 prior convictions, including drug possession and public order offences. In the Court of Appeal, Justice Isobel Kennedy upheld the sentence, noting the violent and unprovoked nature of the attack and that intoxication was not a mitigating factor. The appeal was dismissed with no error found. The case remains at the five‑year imprisonment stage.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 2 April 2019, Simon Whelan, aged 32, pleaded guilty to trespassing and theft in four student apartments at Gateway Student Village, Ballymun, on 4 October 2018. He also admitted to burglaries at Salamanca Restaurant (23 July 2017), Lush (16 August 2018), 777 Restaurant (20 August 2018) and Nisbits Catering Equipment (7 September 2018). Garda Sergeant Colm McGallagher recounted that Whelan broke into the apartments while occupants slept, stole laptops, speakers, watches, wallets and cash, and was caught after a garda saw him struggling with a heavy bag. Whelan claimed "I don't care about getting caught, it's about the hit." He has 105 prior convictions, including 57 burglaries, and has been in custody since 2007, developing an addiction to crack cocaine and heroin. The judge ordered a probation report, urine analysis, and remanded him in custody, with sentencing set for 30 May.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Miguel Pintos, 38, was found guilty of endangering pedestrians after losing control of his motorbike on a speed bump. The incident occurred on Shangan Road, Ballymun, on 6 May 2018, when Pintos's bike skidded into a pedestrian, breaking both her legs, and later collided with another woman, fracturing her ankle. Pintos, who has 30 prior convictions, pleaded guilty. The first victim, who received 20 stitches to her head and requires further surgery for leg plates, reported limited memory of the event and ongoing pain. The second victim now feels nervous around motorcycles. Pintos apologized repeatedly, describing the event as a moment of stupidity, and the court noted no alcohol or drugs were involved. Judge Karen O'Connor ordered a Probation Service report and adjourned sentencing to July.
Gregory Kelleher, 44, of Clondalkin, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of €1,675,000 worth of cannabis with intent to sell or supply. The drugs were found in a white van at the car park of Bottom of the Hill public house, Finglas, on 23 June 2015. Customs officials, acting on confidential information, had discovered a pallet of 83.7 kg of cannabis at a Finglas shipping company on 22 June 2015, which had been misdeclared as second‑hand clothes. Kelleher drove the van to the shipping company, loaded the drugs, and later abandoned the vehicle in Poppintree where Gardaí seized it. His fingerprints were found on a plastic bag containing duck tape, a knife, gloves and bin bags. He had eleven prior convictions, including criminal damage and intoxication in public. Judge Patricia Ryan sentenced him to six years' imprisonment, back‑dating the term to 26 February 2015, the day he first entered custody.
In a 2019 court hearing, Gardaí used a sting operation to investigate a series of car thefts by purchasing a stolen jet ski listed on Adverts.ie. The seller, Denis Kaczor Niecko, 30, fled in a van and crashed 200 metres up the road. Niecko later pleaded guilty to handling a stolen Audi A3 in Balscadden, Co Dublin, between 9 and 22 February 2017, and a stolen Nissan Juke in Poppintree, Dublin 11, between 19 April and 11 May 2017. He was arrested when Gardaí found a car key to the Audi in his van and subsequently located the stolen vehicles, both fitted with false registration plates, tax and NCT discs, and certificates. Fingerprint evidence linked Niecko to both cars. He has 23 prior convictions, including handling and possessing stolen property and theft, and has lived in Ireland for about ten years.