Daniel Doyle, aged 31, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment by Judge Terence O'Sullivan after pleading guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply at his home on 12 November 2014. Gardaí had obtained a warrant to search the house following reliable information about cocaine dealing at the address. Doyle answered the door and handed over €985 from his pocket, a bag of 446 MDMA tablets (ecstasy) and a money bag of about €600 from his underpants. In his bedroom a safe contained syringes, weighing scales, €340 in cash and €2,800 elsewhere. Doyle claimed the cash came from a recent car sale, but the Garda said this was not accepted. He has 35 previous convictions, including three for drug dealing, unlawful possession of firearms and two for threatening to kill or cause serious harm.
Ross Thompson, a 19‑year‑old father from Ballymun, was sentenced to five years in jail for possessing heroin worth €128,000 and €2,000 in cash. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, presided over by Judge Martin Nolan, suspended the final two and a half years of the sentence, citing Thompson's youth and the court's hope for reform. Thompson admitted to holding the drugs because of a €12,500 debt and had a history of 43 prior convictions, all dealt with by the Children's Court. Gardaí seized over 900 g of heroin and the cash during a search of Thompson's home a year earlier. Thompson claimed he did not know the contents of the bags or the owner of the cash. He is required to maintain good behaviour, undergo psychological counselling, and be supervised by Probation Services for 18 months after release. Ross Thompson pleaded guilty.
Brandon Crosbie, 19, was sentenced to three and a half years in jail after a high‑speed chase that saw him crash into five vehicles during rush hour. He pleaded guilty to three counts of endangerment, one of dangerous driving and one of driving without insurance at locations in Ballymun and Finglas on 24 April 2017. Garda Carl McSweeney described how Crosbie drove a Hyundai at very high speed toward a patrol vehicle on Longdale Terrace, forcing the garda to take evasive action. Crosbie then drove through traffic, colliding head‑on with a car, then weaving between lanes and hitting a stopped vehicle at a red light, and finally rear‑ended a taxi on St Margaret's Road, pushing it forward. He has 47 prior convictions, all at District Court level, for offences including assault, criminal damage and dangerous driving.
Gerard Neeson, 46, of Ballymun, Dublin, was sentenced to six months in prison for providing false or misleading information in a passport application. Between 23 and 30 April 2015, Neeson submitted an application and four photographs signed by Gardaí at Ballymun Garda Station. He later handed the application and photographs to a third party who altered the photo, replacing Neeson's image with that of a criminal, and mailed the altered application to the passport office. Neeson was to receive €500 if the passport was issued. The court noted Neeson's 29 prior convictions and his admission of involvement. Judge Martin Nolan emphasized that Neeson's lack of sophistication did not absolve him of responsibility, and imposed the six‑month sentence. The case highlighted the use of a passport for illicit purposes. Gerard Neeson pleaded guilty.
In the Special Criminal Court, judges ruled that key prosecution evidence identifying Patrick Hutch as the man dressed as a woman in a photo taken outside the Regency Hotel on the day of David Byrne's murder is admissible. The defence had objected, claiming the two detectives, Fergal O'Flaherty and Jonathan Brady, had not acted separately and that the identification process was tainted. Mr Justice Tony Hunt said there was no evidence the detectives were together when they made the identification, nor that the process was contaminated. Hutch, aged 25, pleaded not guilty to Byrne's murder and to possessing three AK‑47 rifles. The court noted that the detectives had viewed the photo two days after the shooting, with Sergeant Patrick O'Toole supervising and Garda Michael Ryan displaying the image. The trial was adjourned until Monday afternoon.
The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment on an appeal by Brian McHugh, who was found guilty of robbing a woman of her phone in Swords on January 13, 2014. McHugh, who pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment by Judge Pat McCartan on June 16, 2016. His barrister, Michael O'Higgins SC, argued that the trial judge erred by refusing to admit a witness's statement under section 16 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006. The defence contended that this provision, typically used by the prosecution to admit statements from hostile witnesses, should have allowed the admission of a "mixed statement" that both parties agreed was critical. O'Higgins SC submitted that the failure to put this evidence before the jury rendered the trial unfair, as the prosecution is obliged to call all relevant evidence. Mr Justice George Birmingham, sitting with Mr Justice John Edwards and Mr Justice John Hedigan, noted that if the witness was an accomplice, the prosecution would not be obliged to call them. The court has not yet delivered its decision, and the matter remains adjourned pending the reserved judgment.
The Special Criminal Court has ruled that the authorisation of garda listening devices was valid, dismissing defence arguments regarding the application's validity. This decision was issued during the ongoing trial of Edward O'Brien, David Nooney, and Seán Hannaway, who are accused of membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army (IRA) on August 8, 2015. Kevin Hannaway and Eva Shannon are co-accused of knowingly rendering assistance to the IRA by assisting in interviews at Riverwood Park, Castleknock, Dublin 15, on August 7 and 8, 2015. All five defendants pleaded not guilty to the respective charges. The prosecution alleged that gardai, acting on confidential information, used surveillance devices to record interviews conducted for the IRA. Defence counsel argued that the District Court judge's authorisation was invalid due to alleged inaccuracies in the senior garda's information, conflicting evidence, and procedural errors under the Criminal Justice Surveillance Act 2009. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, presiding with Justice Robert Haughton and Judge Gerard Griffin, rejected these arguments, stating that the criteria for authorisation are disjunctive and that the senior garda was satisfied the surveillance was necessary for the security of the State. The court found no basis to invalidate the evidence obtained. The trial continues tomorrow.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Christopher Morgan, aged 33, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for a savage attack and robbery of homeless man Declan Foran, aged 45, on 23 September 2016. Morgan, who lived on Shangan Avenue, Ballymun, pleaded guilty to robbing Foran's HTC phone and using force. The court described the assault as merciless, noting that Foran was sleeping beside his brother when the attack began. A woman and a second man were also charged in connection with the offence. Morgan had 101 prior convictions, including violent and firearms offences, but had completed a 12‑week rehabilitation course and was engaged in parenting and education programmes. He wrote an apology letter and paid €300 to the court as a gesture of remorse. Judge Martin Nolan acknowledged Morgan's attempts to reform and granted him legal aid, emphasising the court's dual role of punishment and rehabilitation.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 23 January 2018, the prosecution of Patrick Hutch for the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel was examined. The court considered whether evidence that two detectives identified Hutch in a photo would be admissible. The defence argued the identification was tainted, citing the detectives' prior interactions with Hutch and the lack of certainty among other Gardaí. Hutch, aged 25, pleaded not guilty and denied possession of assault rifles. The prosecution maintained that Hutch was the man in a woman's dress in the photo and part of a shared intent to commit the offence. Judge Tony Hunt announced a ruling would be made the following week, with the trial adjourned until 2 February 2018.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 23 January 2018, a barrister for Patrick Hutch, aged 25, denied that two detectives had gone to Ballymun Garda Station to identify him as the man dressed as a woman in a photo taken two days after the Regency Hotel shooting. Hutch is pleading not guilty to the murder of David Byrne, 34, and to possession of three AK‑47 rifles. The prosecution maintains that Hutch was the woman in the photo and that he shared intent to commit the offence, though he did not fire the shots. The barrister argued that the detectives had prior interactions with Hutch and that the identification was not a deliberate search for him. He also claimed the procedure was unfair and that 99.6% of officers who viewed the photo did not recognise Hutch. The court heard these submissions and the case continues.
In the Special Criminal Court, Patrick Hutch, aged 25, pleads not guilty to the murder of Mr Byrne, aged 34, at the Regency Hotel on 5 February 2016. Hutch also denies possession of three AK‑47 assault rifles linked to the shooting. The prosecution alleges Hutch was the man dressed as a woman in a photo taken outside the hotel, and that he was part of a shared intention to commit the offence, though he did not fire the gun. Defence counsel Michael O'Higgins SC argues that the identification of Hutch by detectives Fergal O'Flaherty and Jonathan Brady was "sullied and tainted", based on flawed evidence and unfair procedure. He requests exclusion of the identification, citing lack of reliable records, ambiguity in the detectives' statements, and the absence of a clear, documented identification process. The court will hear further submissions tomorrow before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, Judge Patricia Ryan and Judge Ann Ryan.
The Special Criminal Court heard surveillance evidence in the ongoing trial of Edward O'Brien, David Nooney, Seán Hannaway, Kevin Hannaway, and Eva Shannon. All five defendants pleaded not guilty to charges relating to membership of or assisting an unlawful organisation, namely the Irish Republican Army (IRA), on August 7th and 8th, 2015. Detective Garda BK testified that he observed Mr. Nooney and Mr. O'Brien entering and leaving a house in Riverwood Park, Castleknock, Dublin 15, where the prosecution alleges IRA interviews were conducted. Photographs taken by the detective were shown to the judges. Another detective, Detective Garda Y, stated he observed Mr. Nooney meeting two men at a McDonald's in Blanchardstown before they departed in his car. Prosecution counsel Tara Burns SC indicated that covert listening device evidence would be presented regarding the interviews. The trial is currently before Justice Isobel Kennedy, Justice Robert Haughton, and Judge Gerard Griffin. The matter was adjourned and continues tomorrow.
Michael Maughan, 22, of Ballymun, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for theft, assault, and making threats to kill. He pleaded guilty to offences committed on October 29, 2016, at Silloge Golf Club, where he allegedly stole a golf buggy and equipment from three men. Prosecution evidence indicated that after one victim chased him, Maughan struck the man in the chest and threatened to kill him. Later, as a third victim attempted to leave in his vehicle, Maughan allegedly blocked the car with a van and assaulted the occupant. He was arrested at the scene, and all stolen property was recovered. Although the victims did not wish to proceed, the Director of Public Prosecutions instructed that the case continue. Judge Martin Nolan described the conduct as "shameless and arrogant" and "fairly craven," noting the aggravating nature of the threats and return assault. While acknowledging Maughan's guilty plea entered on a trial date and his personal circumstances, including a young child, the judge imposed a sentence of two and a half years' imprisonment. Maughan was ordered to receive credit for time already spent in custody.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence in the ongoing trial of five accused individuals, with proceedings continuing before Justice Isobel Kennedy. Kevin Hannaway and Eva Shannon have pleaded not guilty to charges of knowingly rendering assistance to an unlawful organisation, alleged to be the IRA, by assisting in interviews at Riverwood Park, Castleknock, on August 7 and 8, 2015. Edward O'Brien, David Nooney, and Seán Hannaway have pleaded not guilty to membership of the same organisation on August 8, 2015. Prosecution counsel Tara Burns SC read a statement from landlord Paul Keegan, who alleged he lent the property to a friend's relatives as a favour. Keegan described observing men in the house, noting closed curtains and a smell of smoke, before police broke down the door. A National Surveillance Unit detective sergeant testified that he observed David Nooney at the property on August 7 and 8, 2015, including instances of Nooney moving items into the house. The witness stated his brief was solely to observe Nooney and he could not recall being informed the house was under surveillance. The trial is at the charge or pre-trial stage, with no findings, sentences, or finalisations recorded. The matter was adjourned and will continue on Monday.
In the Special Criminal Court, a barrister argued that evidence used to identify Patrick Hutch as the man dressed as a woman outside the Regency Hotel on 5 February 2016 may have been compromised by press coverage. Hutch, aged 25, pleads not guilty to the murder of David Byrne, aged 34, and denies possession of three AK47 rifles. The prosecution maintains Hutch was the woman‑dressed suspect and part of a shared intent to commit the offence. The defence challenges the identification made by detectives Fergal O'Flaherty and Jonathan Brady after viewing a photograph taken by a Sunday World photographer. The barrister contended that a Garda witness, Michael Ryan, could have been influenced by a January 17 Irish Independent report detailing the detectives' identification. The court is hearing the admissibility of this evidence in a voir dire, with the trial set to resume on Monday before Justice Tony Hunt, Judge Patricia Ryan and Judge Ann Ryan.
The Special Criminal Court heard that Gardai, acting on confidential information, used surveillance devices to listen to conversations at a private house in Riverwood Park, Castleknock, Dublin, on 7 and 8 August 2015. Three people were charged with membership of the IRA and two with assisting the IRA. The prosecution, represented by Tara Burns SC, explained that the house had recently been vacated and was being prepared for new tenants. The owner had agreed to let the house be used by his uncle and nephew for the weekend. Gardai observed the five accused at the house over the two‑day period and arrested them on 8 August. Kevin Hannaway (69), Eva Shannon (60) and Seán Hannaway (48) pleaded not guilty to assisting the IRA, while Edward O'Brien (42), David Nooney (53) and Seán Hannaway (48) pleaded not guilty to membership of the IRA.
During the Regency Hotel shooting trial, the court heard that about 500 Gardaí viewed a photo of a man dressed as a woman holding a gun outside the hotel on the day of the fatal shooting. Two detectives, Fergal O'Flaherty and Jonathan Brady, identified the man as Patrick Hutch, 25, who is pleading not guilty to the murder of David Byrne, 34, and to possession of three AK‑47 rifles. The prosecution alleges Hutch was the woman in the photo and part of a shared intention to commit the offence, though he did not fire the gun. The defence objects to the identification evidence, noting that 498 Gardaí did not recognise Hutch and that no records were kept of whether they knew him. The hearing continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, with Judges Patricia Ryan and Ann Ryan presiding.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Detective Garda Jonathan Brady testified that he and colleague Fergal O'Flaherty had identified a man in a photo taken outside the Regency Hotel as Patrick Hutch, a 25‑year‑old from Dublin 1. The photo, taken by a Sunday World photographer during a boxing weigh‑in on 5 February 2016, showed a man wearing a wig and holding a gun. Brady claimed he "immediately recognised" Hutch and had known him since youth, noting prior Garda records of Hutch's minor incidents. He denied that he and O'Flaherty were separated during the identification. The court heard Brady's statements and cross‑examined him on the timing and context of the identification, noting that the evidence was being considered for admissibility in the trial of Hutch's murder charge. The trial continues under Judge Tony Hunt.
The Special Criminal Court trial was adjourned because three accused were unable to travel from Belfast due to bad weather. Kevin Hannaway, aged 69, is charged with knowingly assisting an unlawful organisation, the Irish Republican Army, by interviewing persons involved in IRA‑related criminal activity on 7 and 8 August 2015. Eva Shannon, aged 60, faces the same charge for those dates. Edward O'Brien, David Nooney, and Seán Hannaway are each charged with membership of the IRA on 8 August 2015. Justice Isobel Kennedy postponed the hearing until the next morning, and none of the accused have yet been arraigned.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Patrick Hutch, aged 25, was tried for the murder of David Byrne, 34, at the Regency Hotel in Dublin on 5 February 2016. The prosecution described the incident as a "resourced, carefully planned, targeted, murderous attack." Hutch allegedly entered the hotel in a silver van with a man wearing a flat cap and a man in a blonde wig. CCTV showed the trio carrying handguns and assault rifles, firing shots that caused panic. Byrne was shot twice by men in garda‑style uniforms while lying on the reception desk. Hutch denied the murder charge and denied possession of three AK‑47 rifles. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, was set to resume the following day.
Mihail Coptu, a 46‑year‑old Moldovan, was jailed for one year after he attempted to choke a 70‑year‑old taxi driver with a seat belt while the taxi was moving onto a motorway slip road. Coptu, who had 23 prior convictions, was found drunk at the time of the offence. He pleaded guilty to endangerment and obstruction of a garda at the M1 motorway on 17 March 2016. The judge, citing the seriousness of the offence and Coptu's intoxication, imposed a custodial sentence, rejecting a non‑custodial alternative. Garda Gerard Mullarkey reported that the driver had freed himself by pulling the seat belt over his head, after which Coptu fled the moving vehicle. The court heard a victim impact statement noting the driver's three‑week loss of work and the cost of installing a screen in the taxi. Coptu later expressed remorse and claimed the incident was an aberration caused by alcohol.
David McDonagh, 42, of St Margaret's Halting Site, Ballymun, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to handling stolen property on 6 April 2015 and possession of stolen property on 16 April 2015. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to two and a half years imprisonment, suspended for the same period on the condition of keeping the peace and good behaviour. He was ordered to pay €4,200 compensation to the victim and to engage with the probation service for 12 months. The judge also suspended his driving licence for two years because he had used a vehicle without insurance and failed to produce insurance. McDonagh was identified as the "front man" in a stolen car operation that involved Volkswagen Passat and Golf vehicles advertised on the Done Deal website, with false number plates, NCT and tax discs. He has 81 previous convictions, 59 of which are road traffic offences, and one theft conviction.
Jason Whelan, 28, of Woodhazel Terrace, Ballymun, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to trespass and theft offences at Clifton Court Hotel and The Gresham Hotel in 2017. He admitted stealing a receptionist's phone and seven bottles of spirits worth €225, and burglary of €257 worth of spirits at Clifton Court. Garda Michelle Fitzpatrick reported that Whelan also took €43 worth of spirits from The Grand Central pub after leaving ten bottles in a bag behind a function room door. Whelan has 28 prior burglary convictions, ten theft convictions and other handling‑stolen‑property offences. Judge Martin Nolan remarked that Whelan "cannot stop himself from committing burglaries" and sentenced him to two and a half years' imprisonment, crediting time already served. His brother, Stephen Whelan, 34, pleaded guilty to the same offences and received a 16‑month sentence. No violence was reported in any incident.
Sean Jackson, aged 27, was convicted of biting off part of another man's ear in the smoking area of Ardlea Inn, Dublin 5, on 23 August 2014. The victim was using the outside smoking area when Jackson, who was highly intoxicated, bent down and bit a large part of the ear off. A witness saw the ear on the ground and alerted the Gardaí. Jackson had 24 previous convictions and was found guilty by a jury. Judge Martin Nolan described the assault as serious and reprehensible, noting the victim's impact statement that the top half of one ear was now missing. The judge imposed a five‑year prison sentence, citing moderate mitigation. Jackson's defence counsel argued the offence was out of character and due to extreme intoxication. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
A legal dispute between farmers Rory Bridgette and Albert Murphy and Sainfoin Property Company, part of the Comer group owned by brothers Luke and Brian Comer, has been resolved. The applicants claimed rights to five acres of land at Turnapin, Cloghran, near Dublin Airport, which they used for grazing horses, alleging they were bullied and intimidated by company representatives. The defendant denied these allegations, stating the farmers had no rights to the land purchased in 2014 and that the claims were made to denigrate the firm. The matter was heard before Mr Justice Brian McGovern at the Commercial Court. Counsel for the applicants, Martin Hayden SC, stated the proceedings had been resolved and the claim withdrawn, requesting a costs order in favour of the defendant. Counsel for the farmers, Eanna Mulloy SC, confirmed an agreement to remove a lis pendens registered against the lands. The judge welcomed the resolution. Previously, in September, Ms Justice Eileen Creedon discontinued a temporary injunction obtained by the farmers, preferring the company's evidence that there was no basis for the claims of interference or trespass. The court noted the farmers had fenced off the land since the early 2000s, while the company alleged the farmers attempted to extort compensation. The current hearing concluded with the withdrawal of the claim and the agreed removal of the lis pendens.
Martin Gilroy, a 34‑year‑old former engineer from Dungannon, was arrested at Dublin Airport after a car was found containing more than €600,000 worth of heroin and cocaine. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing the drugs for sale or supply. The court, hearing that Gilroy was a recovering drug addict who had worked as an engineer, described him as a "valuable player but not a major player" in the offence. Judge Martin Nolan noted that Gilroy had been "less than candid" about his involvement and that he was unlikely to be the ultimate owner of the drugs, whose profit was intended for other parties. Gilroy was sentenced to seven years in prison, a sentence back‑dated to 21 July. The drugs were seized from a car that had been parked outside Terminal Two, and a co‑accused man was also arrested after leaving the terminal.
Bashkim Osaj, 39, pleaded guilty to robbery and false imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended, on the condition of good behaviour and keeping the peace. Osaj had fled to Belgium after informing Gardaí he would not attend his trial, but was later arrested and returned to Ireland. The robbery involved the owner of a takeaway, Nunzio Del Duca, who was bound, gagged, and stabbed with a screwdriver. Osaj was one of two men who entered the premises, and a third man had lured Del Duca to the house. Osaj had 26 prior convictions, including burglary and robbery. The judge noted the violence was "of a particular nasty nature" and considered mitigating factors such as his guilty plea, difficult background, and family responsibilities. The case was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Martin Maughan, aged 28, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for assaulting Michael Reilly in a Nando's restaurant on 7 May 2017. Maughan used a claw hammer to strike Reilly multiple times, chased him into the car park, struck him again and sprayed pepper spray. He pleaded guilty to assault and possession of a weapon. Maughan claimed he acted because Reilly had verbally insulted his daughter, who has spina bifida, calling her legs crooked and spine twisted. The court noted Maughan's 15 prior convictions and his alcohol addiction. Judge Melanie Greally accepted his guilty plea and remorse, ordered anger‑management, offending‑behaviour and addiction programmes, and imposed a 10‑year restriction on contact with the Reilly family. The sentence was three years with 18 months suspended, leaving an effective custodial term of 18 months.
Maggie Nugent, 61, a Dublin grandmother, pleaded guilty to holding €23,000 worth of untaxed cigarettes at her home on Marewood Crescent, Poppintree, Ballymun, on 26 November 2014. She was approached by a man who asked her to keep 46,600 cigarettes of the brands MG and Goal. When Gardaí arrived with a search warrant, Nugent confessed and cooperated fully. The offence caused a loss of €18,000 to the Exchequer. Nugent, who is being treated for cervical cancer and has other significant health difficulties, was described by the court as "mortified" and "guilt‑laden" and was deemed very unlikely to re‑offend. Judge Terence O'Sullivan, noting her good character, lack of prior convictions, and the family duress involved, imposed a two‑month suspended sentence, fully suspended for three months, and ordered the destruction of the cigarettes. The court also noted a probation report showing a very low risk of re‑offending.
Alan Judge, 43, of Shangan Park, Ballymun, Dublin, pleaded guilty to burglary and criminal damage at Sutton Dry Cleaners and trespass at Sutton Rugby Club on 6 May 2016. He entered the dry cleaners with a hammer, smashed a safe, and left coins and a smashed vodka bottle but stole nothing. Garda Marie Geraghty spotted him on a roof and later arrested him at the rugby club after he entered the dressing rooms. Judge was already on bail for other burglary charges. He was convicted on 15 December 2016 and sentenced to four years in prison, with the final 18 months suspended. Judge also received a two‑year suspended sentence, to run consecutively to the four‑year term, and will begin serving it from his scheduled release in August. He apologized, cited drug‑free status, and requested placement in a drug treatment centre after custodial time.
John McGovern, 25, set fire to the Station Hill apartment complex in Clongriffin, Dublin, causing €1.25 million in damage and leaving 25 people temporarily homeless. He pleaded guilty to one count of arson and one count of assault on his partner, Gráinne O'Brien, on 1 November last year. The court found the arson a very serious offence because it placed residents' lives at risk. Judge Karen O'Connor sentenced McGovern to six and a half years' imprisonment, suspended the last 12 months, and imposed a two‑year period of good behaviour and supervision by Probation Services. McGovern had 26 prior convictions, including theft and public order offences, and had been in custody since the incident. The fire was extinguished after four‑and‑a‑half hours, with no injuries, but six homes were destroyed and many residents suffered financial and emotional hardship. The judge noted McGovern was making good use of his time in custody and seeking rehabilitation.
In two High Court actions involving Irish Asphalt Ltd and James Elliot Construction, the disputes were struck out after the parties reached out‑of‑court agreements. The first case, heard by Ms Justice Caroline Costello, concerned allegations that Irish Asphalt and its directors supplied products containing excessive pyrite and misrepresented their quality. James Elliot Construction sought damages and an indemnity, but the claims were denied and the case was dismissed with the parties acknowledging no basis for deceit or misrepresentation. The second case, before Mr Justice Tony O'Connor, involved a petition for the appointment of a liquidator over an alleged unpaid debt of more than €2.4 million. James Elliot Construction withdrew the petition after mediation, and the proceedings were struck out. Both parties agreed to resolve the matters, with Irish Asphalt's legal costs partially covered by James Elliot Construction. The winding‑up application was opposed by Irish Asphalt, its directors and Lagan Holdings Ltd, the company's largest creditor.
Justin Murray, 38, was found guilty of stealing €500 in mass donations from the Church of Our Lady of Victories in Ballymun on 6 November 2016. He entered the church by "creeping" in, was seen by a parishioner taking collection envelopes, and fled on foot when she noticed him. Garda Ross Brierley and colleagues identified him from CCTV footage and arrested him the following day at a shopping centre. Murray, who has 77 prior convictions including ten thefts and 20 burglaries, had previously been on bail for a robbery. He pleaded guilty early, a fact the prosecution said was of great assistance. The court remanded him in custody, ordered a probation report, and noted his wish to be transferred to Cork Prison under an enhanced regime to aid his recovery from heroin use. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
John McGovern, aged 25, pleaded guilty to arson and assault at the Station Hill apartment complex in Clongriffin, Dublin, after a tumultuous relationship with his girlfriend Grainne O'Brien. The fire, set in November, caused €1.25 million in damage, destroyed six homes, and left 25 people, including children, temporarily homeless. McGovern, who had 25 prior convictions, was heavily intoxicated and on drugs during the incident. He threatened O'Brien's ex‑partner, left the building, and later was arrested at Raheny after acting erratically. The court heard that 14 fire trucks responded and the blaze took four‑and‑a‑half hours to control. McGovern's guilty plea and the impact statements from victims were noted, and the case was adjourned for a probation report. The sentencing is scheduled for 27 October.
An application to wind up Irish Asphalt Ltd has been filed with the High Court by James Elliot Construction (JEC). The petition seeks a liquidator for the company, part of the Lagan Group, over an alleged unpaid debt exceeding €2.4 million. Irish Asphalt, its directors, and Lagan Holdings Ltd – the largest creditor – oppose the petition, arguing that JEC's motive is to gain an advantage in separate deceit proceedings involving the company, its directors Kevin and Terry Lagan, John Gallagher, and Lagan Cement Group Ltd. The debt stems from a 2011 High Court judgment concerning a stone infill supplied by Irish Asphalt to JEC for the Ballymun Central Youth Facility, which contained excessive pyrite and required major repairs. The case was appealed to the Supreme Court and then to the European Court of Justice, but the Supreme Court dismissed the appeal and the ECJ's findings did not aid Irish Asphalt.
Michael Hanney, 24, was sentenced by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to five years' imprisonment with the final two years suspended for possessing a 9mm Makarov pistol, a silencer and three rounds of ammunition in a silver case, and for possessing an air pistol at his home. He pleaded guilty to both offences. The Court of Appeal dismissed the Director of Public Prosecutions' application to review the sentence, describing the case as "very serious" but noting Hanney's early admission of responsibility, his age of 22 at the time of the offence, and his positive community involvement. The judge considered the sentence to be at the outer limits of leniency but not unduly so, and therefore upheld the original sentence. No further changes to the custodial term were made.
Stephen Bollard, aged 35, was jailed for a series of thefts committed in 2016, described by the court as a "one man crime wave." He pleaded guilty to two burglaries, one attempted burglary, three thefts and one act of criminal damage across Dublin. The offences, all non‑violent, caused financial loss to businesses and increased security costs. Bollard had 118 prior convictions, including 27 for theft, 33 for burglary and nine for attempted burglary. The judge noted his lack of violent history and his reduced methadone intake while in custody. A consecutive sentence of four years and four months was imposed, with the final 18 months suspended. The case highlighted the impact of repeated non‑violent thefts on victims and the broader community.
Daniel Kavanagh, 26, of Owensilla, Ballymun, pleaded guilty to possession of a double‑barrelled sawn‑off shotgun and robbery of the Mace Store in Clogherhead, Co. Louth, on 20 April 2015. He had originally been sentenced to four years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, on 21 July 2016. Prosecutors appealed, arguing the sentence was "unduly lenient". The Court of Appeal reviewed the case and imposed a five‑year jail term for each of the two counts, to run concurrently. The judge noted Kavanagh's prior 15 convictions, including firearms offences, and the serious nature of the robbery. The new sentence reflects the Court's view that the original penalty was too light given the circumstances and Kavanagh's history. The decision was made by Mr Justice Alan Mahon, sitting with Mr Justice John Edwards and Mr Justice John Hedigan. The revised term is five years for each count, concurrent, with the final two years suspended.
Gary Simpson, aged 29, was jailed for four and a half years after robbing several bookmakers in Dublin in November and December 2015. He used a note under the counter claiming he had a gun, leaving the note with his fingerprints. Simpson had previously been convicted 112 times and had a suspended five‑year sentence for earlier robberies. He was on bail for those offences when he committed the bookmaker robberies. The court noted he had completed a residential drug rehabilitation course and reactivated the suspended portion of his earlier sentence, imposing a concurrent total sentence of six years with the final 18 months suspended. He was captured on CCTV during all incidents and admitted the crimes during a Garda interview. Gary Simpson pleaded guilty.
In 2011 a worker, Barry Gargan, 28, was killed at Kilsaran Concrete's Piercetown plant when a cleaning arm fell on him inside a safety cage. The company pleaded guilty to failing to manage work safely and was fined €125,000 by Judge Michael O'Shea in 2016. The Director of Public Prosecutions argued the fine was too low, citing deliberate safety feature overrides to boost profit. The Court of Appeal, hearing the DPP's application, increased the fine to €1 million. The appeal court found the company had a pattern of incremental safety breaches over more than a year, with senior management encouraging risky practices. The court noted the company's cooperation, guilty plea and prior good safety record as mitigating factors, but deemed the original fine unduly lenient. The final penalty was €1 million, a 50 % reduction from the maximum possible fine. The company apologized to the Gargan family and acknowledged the loss of a valued employee.
David Murray, 56, of Finglas, Dublin, was convicted by the Special Criminal Court for membership in the Irish Republican Army. He pleaded not guilty to the charge of belonging to an unlawful organisation. The court found evidence of a "shopping‑list" of chemicals used to make explosives in his bedroom, described as the most significant and sinister document. The list was remarkably similar to one found in the van of Stephen Hendrick, who was later sentenced to eleven years for firearms and explosives offences. Other items seized included a transcript of a bail hearing, handwritten notes on IRA intelligence about a cigarette delivery‑van in Limerick, security company details, and fund‑raising notes for republican prisoners. Murray was sentenced to four and a half years in prison, back‑dated to 1 April, after a non‑jury trial on 25 March 2015. The judge described his involvement as profound, active and wide‑ranging in subversive activities.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 5 April 2017, Assistant Commissioner Michael O'Sullivan informed the court that he believed 56‑year‑old David Murray of Cappogue Cottages, Finglas, was a member of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). The prosecution, represented by Gareth Baker BL, presented evidence they described as "significant and compelling," including a shopping list of chemicals used for explosives found in Murray's bedroom, which was remarkably similar to a list discovered in the van of Stephen Hendrick, a 48‑year‑old convicted in a separate case of possessing explosives after a bomb‑factory was found in his garden. Baker also cited a "connection" between Murray and Hendrick, noting that Hendrick had been sentenced to 11 years for firearms, ammunition and explosives. David Murray pleaded not guilty.
During a Special Criminal Court hearing on 4 April 2017, a Dublin man named David Murray, aged 56, was questioned by Gardaí about his alleged friendship with Stephen Hendrick, a 48‑year‑old convicted of possession of firearms, ammunition and explosives. Murray, who lives in Cappogue Cottages, Finglas, denied IRA membership and made no reply when asked if he was a friend of Hendrick. Gardaí had previously observed the two men together outside Lloyd's pub on Amiens Street on 12 September 2014. In March 2015, a search of Murray's bedroom uncovered a shopping list for chemicals used in making explosives, which the prosecution said was "remarkably similar" to a list found in Hendrick's van. The case is being heard by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, with Judges John O'Hagan and Ann Ryan presiding. David Murray pleaded not guilty.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, a Bulmers pint‑glass labelled "prisoners' fund" was discovered in the converted shed of David Murray, a 56‑year‑old from Cappogue Cottages, Finglas, who is pleading not guilty to membership of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). The shed, used as a bar, also contained a poster for the Irish Republican Prisoners' Welfare Association. Detective Garda Paul Mulcahy reported that a list of items found in Murray's bedroom included sulphur, potassium nitrate and charcoal – the ingredients of black powder – and other components such as alarm‑clocks, circuit‑boards and flash‑bulbs used in improvised explosive devices. Sergeant Kieran Regan found two black bags of military clothing and T‑shirts in another bedroom. Statements from the National Surveillance Unit noted that on 3 September 2014, Murray and Stephen Hendrick left Power City together; Hendrick, who lives in Ballymun, was sentenced last year to eleven years for firearms, ammunition and explosives.
During a Special Criminal Court hearing, Detective Garda Colm Finnerty reported that a list of items seized from the bedroom of David Murray, a 56‑year‑old man accused of IRA membership, included shotgun cartridges, chemicals for explosives, six small alarm clocks, six large rocket‑type fireworks, six circuit boards, six tubes of solder, six flash bulbs, two steel 45‑gallon drums and face masks. The detective noted that the list was almost identical to one found in the van of Stephen Hendrick, who was sentenced to eleven years for firearms, ammunition and explosives. In addition to the list, documents seized included a transcript of a 2014 Special Criminal Court bail hearing for an IRA‑membership case, a handwritten note about a cigarette delivery van in Red Cow that might be an intelligence document, a photocopy of a Garda letterhead with Chief Superintendent Patrick Leahy's signature, a handwritten note on security companies, and a document noting minutes of a meeting.
During a Special Criminal Court hearing on 28 March 2017, the prosecution presented evidence that a shopping‑list of chemicals used for explosives was found in the home of David Murray, 56, of Cappogue Cottages, Finglas, Dublin. Murray is pleading not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation styled the Irish Republican Army (IRA). The prosecution, represented by Gareth Baker SC, said Chief Superintendent Michael O'Sullivan would testify that he believed Murray was an IRA member on the day in question, and that supporting evidence would include various documents and items seized from Murray's house. The list, which Baker said bore a striking similarity to a list found in the van of Stephen Hendrick, a former IRA member convicted in 2014 of firearms and explosives offences, was presented as a shopping‑list of items commonly used in producing explosives.
Kilsaran Concrete, a manufacturer in Piercetown, Dunboyne, was fined €125,000 in February 2016 for failing to ensure employee safety after Barry Gargan, 28, was killed in September 2011 while operating a wet‑cast machine. The DPP has appealed, arguing the penalty was "unduly lenient." The appeal is pending, with the Court of Appeal reserving judgment until April 6. In the appeal, barrister Carl Hanahoe described how the company used a wet‑cast line, originally for standardised curbing stones, to produce bespoke concrete slabs for regeneration projects in Limerick and Ballymun. He alleged deliberate overriding of safety features, incremental efficiency gains that increased danger, and that employees were positioned on either side of the conveyor belt inside a safety cage. A worker had reported a "near miss" over about 12 months. Kilsaran's counsel, Hugh Hartnett SC, maintained that the system was wrong from the start and that the company had paid civil sums quickly. Kilsaran Concrete pleaded guilty.
A former Latvian policeman, Andresj Krauze, aged 31, is on trial in the Central Criminal Court for the murder of 30‑year‑old Juris Buls, whose body was found in a Galway drain near Glenamaddy. Krauze pleaded not guilty. The prosecution presented evidence that Buls had not shown up for work on the night of 7 July 2011 and that his girlfriend reported him missing, leading to the discovery of his body weeks later. The jury heard that Buls had previously alleged assault against Krauze. In March 2012, Latvian police officer Juris Gabrens testified via video link from Latvia, describing how he was contacted by Irish authorities regarding Buls's death and how he interviewed Krauze in prison on 9 March 2012. Gabrens noted that Krauze refused a solicitor, signed the interrogation minutes, and was warned of potential consequences for refusing to answer.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Dean McCarthy, aged 26, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for possessing €1.674 million worth of cannabis hidden in a consignment of vintage clothing. The drugs were discovered by a customs officer at Highland Shipping in Finglas, who found 115 packets weighing nearly 84 kg. Gardaí re‑packaged the clothes and allowed the owner to collect them. On 26 June 2015, McCarthy drove a transit van to the business park, collected the pallet under undercover Garda surveillance, and later handed the keys to another man. The van was seized by Gardaí, prompting the driver to flee. McCarthy was arrested that night, denied knowledge of the contents, and pleaded guilty. The court noted his 12 prior minor convictions, his early guilty plea, and mitigating personal circumstances, including a difficult upbringing and family support, before sentencing him to six years in jail.
Sean Keenan, aged 26, attacked Anthony Kelly, 79, after Kelly had just exited his car to go home. Keenan struck Kelly from behind, demanding the car keys, and then drove the Mercedes Benz over Kelly, nearly reversing the vehicle onto the garden wall. While Kelly was on a stick after a recent stroke, Keenan also assaulted Joseph Cooke, aged in his 70s, who had come to help. Cooke was struck several times in the head and body with what was believed to be the butt of a sawn‑off shotgun; he later received treatment for a head wound. Keenan fled, driving the wrong way down Malahide Road before abandoning the car in Ballymun after a crash. He was sentenced to five‑and‑a‑half years, with the final two years suspended, for robbery of car keys, hijacking, assault, and other offences. The hijacked vehicle, valued at about €25,000, was later written off by insurance. Sean Keenan pleaded guilty.