A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has convicted three men of participating in a violent attack on a farm property near Strokestown, County Roscommon, on 16 December 2018. Following a 50-day trial, PJ Sweeney, aged 44, from Ramelton, County Donegal; Martin O'Toole, aged 58, from Claremorris, County Mayo; and Paul Beirne, aged 56, from Boyle, County Roscommon were each found guilty of 15 of 17 charges. These included false imprisonment, assault causing harm to four security personnel, aggravated burglary, three counts of arson, criminal damage and violent disorder. They were also convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. A fourth defendant, David Lawlor from County Meath, was acquitted of all 17 charges. The three convicted men have been remanded in custody and will return to court for sentencing on 30 June. Martin O'Toole pleaded not guilty. Paul Beirne pleaded not guilty.
Miranda McCabe, 37, of Tubberclare Meadows, Navan, was sentenced to nine months in jail for a planned assault on Stephanie Dunne, a new mother who had just returned home after visiting her premature baby in hospital. On 27 November 2021, McCabe jumped from a car, head‑butted Dunne, punched her repeatedly, and placed her in a headlock. A man in the car, dressed in black with gloves and a scarf, was also present and reportedly held knives. Dunne's son was struck when McCabe swung. DNA from a hair clump matched McCabe. McCabe pleaded guilty, citing mental health difficulties and a difficult period. The judge noted the attack was savage and that McCabe was not the principal carer of her child with special needs, and imposed a custodial sentence of two years with the final 15 months suspended on strict conditions.
Anthony Glynn, a 52‑year‑old Dublin man, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to six years' imprisonment for his role in a large Kinahan Cartel drugs and ammunition operation. Glynn pleaded guilty to possessing €1.4 million in drugs—cocaine and cannabis—and 335 rounds of ammunition, including .44 Remington Magnum, .357 Magnum, .45 ACP and .22 LR rounds, between 25 January 2017 and 12 April 2017. The court described him as a "conduit" who passed information between Douglas Glynn and Emmet Fogarty. The judge imposed a six‑year term with the final year suspended for three years, and ordered a Section 26 monitoring order for the same period. Glynn had no prior convictions and had worked as a porter at Mater Hospital before the offence. The sentence was intended to encourage him to abandon criminal activity.
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, the prosecution concluded its case against four men accused of participating in a violent attack on security personnel at a repossessed farm in Falsk, Co Roscommon, in December 2018. Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne, David Lawlor, and Patrick Sweeney, who are currently defending themselves or represented by counsel, have all pleaded not guilty to 17 charges each. The alleged offences include false imprisonment, assault causing harm to four guards, aggravated burglary, arson of four vehicles, criminal damage, violent disorder, robbery, and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. Senior Counsel Anne Rowland argued that the defendants were part of a common enterprise to ensure the guards would not return through violence and humiliation. She presented evidence including body-cam footage, mobile phone data, and witness testimony linking each accused to the scene or the organisation of the event. The trial is at the sentencing stage following the completion of the prosecution's closing speech, with defence submissions scheduled to begin immediately. The court has not yet delivered a verdict or sentence, and the matter remains under active judicial consideration.
Anthony Glynn, a 52‑year‑old Dublin man, pleaded guilty to two serious offences for the benefit of the Kinahan Organised Crime Group. He admitted possessing €1.4 million in drugs—cocaine and cannabis—and 335 rounds of ammunition between 25 January 2017 and 12 April 2017. Glynn acted as a conduit, relaying messages from his brother Douglas Glynn to Emmet Fogarty, who managed the business premises at Mount Dillon Business Park where the drugs were seized. The court noted Glynn's cooperation and lack of prior convictions, but also his role in the industrial‑scale operation. He will be sentenced at the Special Criminal Court on 19 May, with the maximum penalty for each offence being 15 years' imprisonment. The article reports only the charges and the forthcoming sentencing date, without any outcome or further legal developments.
Terry Jackson, a 72-year-old man from Leixlip, Co Kildare, pleaded guilty at the hearing to knowingly possessing 2,887 images and 669 videos of child pornography on a hard drive at his home on April 17, 2018. The defence submitted that Jackson claimed he collected the material to stop others from distributing it, stating he was appalled by its availability online. A Forensic Psychological Services report placed him at low risk of reoffending. Prosecution evidence indicated gardaí were alerted to the images in September 2017 via a peer-to-peer app, leading to a search warrant executed at Jackson's home in April 2018. Jackson admitted responsibility for the seized hard drive. He has one previous conviction for a road traffic offence from 2008. The defence highlighted his health issues, including arterial fibrillation and chronic Crohn's disease, and noted that none of the material was classified as extreme. Judge Orla Crowe adjourned the matter for finalisation to May 10, requiring the prosecution to furnish further information regarding the categorisation of the material, the number of children involved, the level of abuse, and the duration of the videos.
Chelsea Dooley, a 23-year-old childcare worker from Blanchardstown, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to two counts of possessing the proceeds of crime. The court heard that Dooley allowed her bank account to be used to receive €23,899 of funds stolen from a victim's AIB account following a 'smishing' fraud. Gardai were contacted in January 2021 regarding the theft, which involved nine transactions totaling €24,900 between December 2020 and January 2021. Prosecutors stated that Dooley's account, opened when she was a child, received the majority of the illicit funds, while a separate account received one euro. During her interview, Dooley claimed she had lost her bank card but could not explain CCTV footage showing an unknown male using it to withdraw cash. Defense counsel argued that Dooley did not profit from the scheme and had no previous convictions. Judge Martina Baxter noted Dooley's remorse, lack of financial gain, good employment history, and further education. The judge handed down a 12-month sentence but suspended it in lieu of Dooley carrying out 200 hours of community service.
Sergeant Cathal Middleton, a Garda officer since 2002, has launched a High Court action to challenge his proposed dismissal from An Garda Síochána. The 42-year-old sergeant, who was found guilty of sexual assault at Blanchardstown District Court in October last year, claims the Garda Commissioner's decision to dismiss him before his criminal appeal is heard breaches fair procedures and natural justice. Middleton, who denied the charge, was sentenced to five months in prison following his conviction on one count of sexual assault. He alleges that the Commissioner acted outside their powers by recommending dismissal without a disciplinary hearing, despite an outstanding appeal. Represented by Mark Harty SC and Oisin Clarke BL, Middleton seeks orders to quash the dismissal recommendation and prevent further steps toward his removal. The case came before Mr Justice Charles Meenan, who granted permission for the challenge on an ex-parte basis. The matter was adjourned and will be mentioned before the court later this year.
In a landmark case, Daniel Kane, aged 54, was convicted by a jury of coercive control, intimidation, assault and 12 counts of assault causing harm after a 20‑month abusive relationship in which he repeatedly attacked his partner, burned her foot, cut her face with a pizza slicer, head‑butted her after nasal surgery, punched her and stamped on her arm causing fractures, and strangled her. He also threatened to send explicit images to her family if she withdrew the case. Kane was sentenced to 10.5 years in January 2021. On 30 March 2023 the Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal, finding no error in the trial judge's sentencing. The court noted the prolonged, oppressive, domineering and violent conduct, the significant physical and emotional harm inflicted, and that the sentence was within the mid‑to‑upper range of penalties available. The appeal was dismissed, leaving the 10.5‑year sentence in place. Daniel Kane pleaded not guilty.
Daniel Kane, the first man convicted by a jury of coercive control in Ireland, is appealing his 10.5-year sentence at the Court of Appeal. Kane, 54, pleaded not guilty to charges of coercive control, intimidation, assault, and 12 counts of assault causing harm arising from a 20-month relationship between May 2018 and January 2020. He separately pleaded guilty to intending to pervert the course of justice between March and July 2020, allegedly by threatening to send intimate images to the victim's family to force her to withdraw her statements. At the appeal hearing, Kane's counsel, Padraig Dwyer SC, argued the cumulative sentence was excessive and disproportionate for a first-time offender with no relevant prior convictions, citing his alcohol issues and current remorse. The State, represented by Anne Marie Lawlor SC, countered that the sentence was proportionate given the severity of the violence, including burning, cutting, and strangulation, and the continued coercive control exercised via 250 prison phone calls. The trial judge had noted Kane's lack of remorse and the brutal nature of the attacks. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham, has adjourned the matter, with a judgment expected on Thursday of this week.
Gavin Minto, 29, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of three controlled drugs for sale or supply at Kingswood Cross, Clondalkin on 16 July 2020. Judge Martin Nolan imposed an eight‑and‑a‑half‑year jail term, reducing the mandatory minimum of ten years because of Minto's guilty plea and cooperation with Gardaí. Gardaí searched a residential property on the day in question, finding 151 MDMA tablets, 33 kilos of cannabis and a third controlled drug, with a combined value of €2.21 million, plus a tablet press. CCTV showed Minto entering the garage at 2:36 pm, spending 56 minutes there, and leaving at 4 pm, while a white Renault van reversed into the premises. Minto has nine previous convictions, including three for possession of drugs, and was described by defence as homeless at the time of the incident. The court considered his plea, cooperation, and the mitigating circumstances presented by his counsel.
Joshua Bennet, 21, was given a suspended three‑year prison sentence after a high‑speed chase in which he drove up to 140 km/h on suburban streets around Blanchardstown and Dublin 15. He refused to stop when ordered by Gardaí, drove the wrong way around roundabouts, ran a red light, and drove onto footpaths, forcing pedestrians to flee. The chase lasted about 15–20 minutes and ended when Bennet skidded after a sharp left. He pleaded guilty to five endangerment charges and one dangerous driving charge. At sentencing, Judge Martin Nolan described his conduct as "appalling" and "extraordinarily reckless", noting he had not hit or injured anyone. Bennet was ordered to keep the peace, be of good behaviour for three years, and was disqualified from driving for six years. He tested negative for drugs and alcohol. The court considered his youth and lack of prior convictions in suspending the sentence.
Douglas Glynn, a manager for the Kinahan cartel, was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment by the Special Criminal Court for managing an industrial-scale drugs warehouse. Mr Justice Tony Hunt described Glynn as "cannon fodder" used by higher-level members. Glynn pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess 335 rounds of ammunition and to conspiracy to possess cocaine and cannabis worth over €13,000. The judge fixed a headline sentence of 12 years for the drugs charge, discounted by 25% for his early plea, with the final year suspended for four years under probation supervision. He was also sentenced to four years for the ammunition charge to run concurrently. These sentences run from February 20, when he entered his first plea. Glynn is already serving a seven-and-a-half-year sentence, with the final year suspended, for his role in a foiled plot to murder James 'Mago' Gately. His brother, Anthony Glynn, pleaded guilty to possessing the ammunition and drugs for the gang and was sentenced in February of last year to seven-and-a-half years' imprisonment with the final year suspended. Emmet Fogarty, alleged to be responsible for the unit, was jailed for five years in November 2018 after pleading guilty to possession of the drugs and ammunition. The matter was concluded with these sentences.
A man has received a fully suspended one-year sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for careless driving causing the death of a cyclist. Mariusz Karpinski, aged 32 and from Ashbourne in County Meath, pleaded guilty to careless driving causing the death of a cyclist on a local access road near Kilshane Cross in north County Dublin on 4 May 2021. Judge Martin Nolan imposed the suspended sentence, finding the case tragic but noting that Karpinski had been driving into strong sunlight that obscured his vision. The judge stated that while Karpinski was driving reasonably carefully, he failed to take appropriate steps to address the weather conditions. Evidence indicated the cyclist had been visible for approximately two seconds before impact. Karpinski, who has since relocated to Cavan and works in factory employment, was not disqualified from driving. The deceased's mother submitted a victim impact statement and was noted by the judge as displaying forgiveness toward the accused.
Aaron Cunningham, aged 20, and his uncle John Cunningham, aged 38, avoided jail after pleading guilty to threatening to kill a man over unpaid Canada Goose jacket deposits. Aaron pleaded guilty to four counts of threatening to kill or cause harm and threatening to damage property between 1 and 7 February 2021. John pleaded guilty to five counts of threatening to kill or cause serious harm between 7 January and 1 February 2021. The threats were made in person, via voicemail, text and Snapchat voice messages. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced John to five years' imprisonment, suspended in full on strict conditions including probation for two years, and Aaron to four years' imprisonment, also suspended in full on strict conditions. The court noted the men's remorse and Aaron's lack of prior convictions, while John had 19 previous convictions. The case involved a series of deposit disputes and escalating threats over a year.
Douglas Glynn and his brother Anthony Glynn pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to charges related to the possession of ammunition and drugs for an organised crime gang. Douglas Glynn admitted to conspiracy to possess 335 rounds of ammunition and various calibres of ammunition, as well as conspiracy to possess cocaine and cannabis valued over €13,000 for sale or supply. Anthony Glynn pleaded guilty to possessing the ammunition and drugs for an organised crime gang. The court heard that gardaí seized 20kg of cocaine, cannabis, and ammunition from a Dublin 15 business park in March 2017. Evidence included encrypted phone messages using code words for drugs and firearms, which identified Douglas Glynn as a manager of the operation. Douglas Glynn is already serving a six-and-a-half-year sentence for his role in a foiled Kinahan Cartel plot to murder James 'Mago' Gately, for which he was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years with the final year suspended. Mr Justice Hunt adjourned the matter to March 16 for sentence finalisation.
A 51‑year‑old pizza delivery driver, Earl McKevitt, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of 19‑year‑old Conor O'Brien, who was shot once in the chest on the evening of 26 August 2021 while McKevitt was delivering a pizza to O'Brien's studio in Enfield. McKevitt admitted to shooting the teenager after failing to read the delivery instructions and claimed that shooting people was part of his job. He was also found guilty of possessing a firearm and a knife on 31 August 2021 at the Talbot Hotel in Carlow, where he had retrieved the gun. Concurrent sentences of seven‑and‑a‑half years and two years were imposed for the firearm and knife offences. McKevitt's life sentence was back‑dated to 31 August 2021, the date he entered custody.
Earl McKevitt, a 51-year-old man from Avondale Park in Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, pleaded guilty to the single charge of murdering Conor O'Brien, 19, at An Seanchrann on Trim Road in Enfield, Co Meath. The alleged incident occurred on a date between August 26 and August 27, 2021, both dates inclusive. Mr John Fitzgerald SC, representing the Director of Public Prosecutions, informed Mr Justice Paul McDermott at the Central Criminal Court that McKevitt could be arraigned on count one of the indictment, noting that further counts may be required in due course. Upon arraignment on Thursday morning, McKevitt admitted to the charge. The judge remanded McKevitt in custody until March 3, when he will be sentenced. This procedural stage constitutes a remand for sentencing rather than a final conclusion of the case.
Miranda McCabe, 37, of Navan, Co Meath, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Stephanie Dunne at Priorswood Avenue, Blanchardstown, Dublin, on November 27, 2021. The court heard that Ms Dunne, who had just returned from visiting her premature baby in hospital, was attacked by McCabe on her porch. Garda Mark Reilly stated that McCabe head-butted and punched the victim, while a male co-accused, who is still before the courts, held knives and later dragged McCabe away. DNA from a hair clump found at the scene matched McCabe. Judge Martin Nolan described the incident as a "savage" attack on a vulnerable woman, noting the motive remained unclear. Although the judge expressed an instinct to imprison McCabe, he cited concerns for her three children, one of whom has significant medical needs. Considering McCabe's five previous convictions and her status as a single mother, Judge Nolan did not finalise the sentence immediately. Instead, he ordered a Probation Services report to assess her suitability for community service. The matter was adjourned to May 12.
In February 2023 the Court of Appeal quashed a suspended three‑year sentence for Mark Kearney, 44, who had chained a man to the steering wheel of an abandoned car over an alleged drug debt. The original sentence, imposed in April 2022, was deemed too lenient. Kearney had pleaded guilty to false imprisonment after taking the victim from Ballymun to his Cedarhurst home, where he tied the man's right wrist to the steering wheel with a chain and padlock, removed his shoes and socks, and left him in the cold. The victim described the ordeal as psychological torture, including racial abuse. The Court of Appeal, citing the severity of the restraint, imposed a new sentence of two‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment, with the last two years and six months suspended on conditions of good behaviour and rehabilitation. The decision was based on the State's appeal that the original suspended sentence was unduly lenient.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 16 February 2023, Meraj Ahmed, a 27‑year‑old pizza chef from Lucan, was sentenced to 20 months' imprisonment for a knife attack on a housemate. The incident occurred on 18 February 2018 when Gardaí were called to a Lucan property where Ahmed was found with severe hand injuries. Ahmed pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. The court noted that he had attacked the victim with punches and attempted to stab him in the stomach, while the victim defended himself and sustained serious hand injuries. Judge Martin Nolan highlighted Ahmed's guilty plea, lack of prior convictions, work history and cooperation as mitigating factors, but ruled a custodial sentence was unavoidable. The sentence was imposed from the date of the hearing. The case involved a history of conflict between the two men and the victim's injuries were treated at Blanchardstown Hospital. The court did not consider any future appearance of Ahmed.
Mark Carty, 55, of The Mill Race, Chapelizod Village, pleaded guilty to several counts of theft and fraud involving €13,662 taken from various post offices and a Bank of Ireland ATM in January 2017. He also admitted fraudulently obtaining a Visa debit card in the name of Edward Glennon in April 2019 and using it to check Glennon's bank balance. The court heard that Glennon had been reimbursed for the €52,000 stolen, but the bank remained at a loss. Carty, who has 25 prior convictions, was arrested in August 2019 and denied knowledge of the thefts, claiming he was a recovering drug addict with a gambling problem. He was given a suspended two‑year sentence, with the judge citing his role as a caretaker for his terminally ill partner and their eight‑year‑old child. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Alexandru Petica, 39, pleaded guilty to possessing €408,820, the proceeds of crime, after being involved in moving the money for an organised crime group. Petica, who drove a Toyota carrying the cash, was given a headline sentence of four years, but the judge suspended the sentence in full for three years on strict conditions. The case also involved Ion Nostas, 42, who arranged Petica's participation and was jailed for four years. Petica's defence highlighted his early plea, remorse, good character and employment record, while the judge noted his role was limited and that an immediate custodial sentence was unnecessary. The court's decision reflected mitigating factors and the absence of a broader criminal role for Petica.
Chelsea Dooley, a 23‑year‑old childcare worker from Blanchardstown, pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of the proceeds of criminal crime after her bank account was used to launder nearly €25,000 stolen from an AIB account. Gardaí were alerted on 5 January 2021 when a man reported money missing from his account. Between 21 December 2020 and 4 January 2021, nine transactions totalling €24,900 were taken, with €23,899 transferred to Dooley's account and €1 to another account. The theft was linked to a smishing fraud. Dooley was arrested, interviewed, and admitted she had lost her bank card; CCTV showed an unknown male using it. Her defence argued she did not profit and had no prior convictions. The court accepted her guilty plea, noted her good character, and ordered a probation report before sentencing on 31 March 2023.
Christina Anderson, 41, of Brownsbarn Wood, Kingswood, Dublin 22, is charged with murdering Gareth Kelly, 39, who was stabbed five times on 25 February 2020 as he tried to start his car outside her home. She pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. The trial, heard in the Central Criminal Court, focuses on whether her behaviour when she stabbed Mr Kelly was driven by mental illness or by cannabis intoxication. Her husband, Mark Anderson, called her psychiatric clinic the day before the incident, but did not testify. Dr Thomas McMonagle, one of her treating psychiatrists, testified that Anderson used cannabis sometimes daily but also abstained for long periods, and that she had told doctors it did not cause paranoia. He described her as normally measured and in control, but at the Garda station she appeared psychotic and not in contact with reality, though he found her fit for interview.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Aaron Cunningham (20) and his uncle John Cunningham (38) pleaded guilty to threatening to kill or cause harm and to threaten property damage over a dispute about Canada Goose jackets. The case began when the victim, who sold jackets online, received a deposit from Aaron in November 2019 and later requested more jackets. After the jackets were delayed, the Cunninghams demanded money, threatening to burn the victim's house and shoot him. They sent threatening voicemails, texts and Snapchat messages. Both were arrested after police traced a phone number linked to John's van. Aaron admitted the threats were made in anger and had not followed through, while John had 19 prior convictions. The matter was adjourned for sentencing on March 3, with probation reports ordered for both.
In a 2021 incident, Daniel Goulding, a 39‑year‑old diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, fired a semi‑automatic pistol and a sub‑machine gun at two Gardaí outside his home, forcing them to take cover behind their patrol car for nearly 30 minutes. The gunfire lasted three and a half minutes, during which both officers were shot in the legs and one in the hand. The shooting ceased after Garda Brendan O'Hora intervened, persuading Goulding to surrender his firearms. Goulding pleaded guilty to attempting to murder the two officers. He has 33 prior convictions, including a 2009 ten‑year sentence for misuse of drugs. The Central Criminal Court will sentence him next Friday, with the DPP noting his psychotic episode at the time of the offence but not a premeditated intent to kill. The case remains at the sentencing stage. Daniel Goulding was found not guilty by reason of insanity.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Laimonas Baltrusis, aged 31, was sentenced to five years and three months in prison for unlawfully possessing €280,000 worth of cocaine and a semi‑automatic pistol. Gardaí discovered the drugs and firearm in hidden compartments of two cars, accessed by a button under the steering wheel when the engine ran and lights were on. Baltrusis admitted possession of cocaine at two addresses on 19 and 20 September 2020 and possession of the pistol on 20 September 2020. He cooperated with investigators, pointing to a kitchen shelf where 22 g of cocaine and €3,250 in cash were found. The court noted his prior minor convictions, his completion of a rehabilitation programme, and his apology to the court. Judge Martin Nolan emphasised that Baltrusis had created the problems for himself by becoming involved in the drug trade. Laimonas Baltrusis pleaded guilty.
Ramadan Kulla, 62, of Blanchardstown, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after striking a man with a claw hammer at Westend Retail Park on 25 March 2016. Kulla, who had no prior convictions, claimed an unknown grievance prompted the attack. He took a hammer from his jacket, hit the victim on the head, and a struggle ensued in which the victim seized the hammer and struck Kulla. Both men were hospitalized; the victim required three stitches. Garda Michael McClean presented CCTV of Kulla buying the hammer and a victim impact statement. Kulla's defence argued the victim's self‑defence and that the injury was self‑inflicted. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a three‑year custodial sentence, suspending the final 20 months, citing the seriousness of the offence and Kulla's lack of prior record. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Two men have been sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for their roles in a violent robbery at a hotel in Swords in November 2019. Ioan Galben, aged 40, and Samuel Pop, aged 28, both pleaded guilty to robbery and false imprisonment. The court heard that over €6,000 was taken from a sex worker, along with personal items including phones and jewellery. A third man, now deceased, entered the room during the incident and threatened the victim with a blade. Gardaí identified the suspects through CCTV footage relating to a similar incident in Roscommon in October 2019. Judge Martin Nolan noted a pattern of similar crimes and described the victim as left terrified by the incident. He imposed a sentence of five and a half years on Galben and three years on Pop, finding both men equally culpable despite their different roles.
A man convicted of perverting the course of justice in connection with a 2013 dissident Republican murder has appealed his conviction at the Court of Appeal. Raymond Kennedy was sentenced to eighteen months imprisonment in May 2022 after the Special Criminal Court found him guilty of destroying a mobile phone SIM card on the day Peter Butterly was shot dead at Gormanston, County Meath. Kennedy's legal team argued he was unlawfully detained when gardaí instructed him to remain at the scene and that he should have been cautioned before making admissions about the device. The Director of Public Prosecutions' counsel contended Kennedy approached gardaí voluntarily and was afforded procedural fairness, including the option of a formal interview at a station. Justice John Edwards reserved judgment on the appeal. Four men have previously received life sentences for Mr Butterly's murder. Raymond Kennedy pleaded not guilty.
Ion Nostas, 42, pleaded guilty to money‑laundering for moving €408,820 in cash for an organised crime group. He was arrested after Gardaí observed him and two others transporting large bags of cash between a BMW and a Toyota in Rosemount Business Park, where the money was recovered. Nostas claimed he was paid €1,000 for the job, kept €800, paid €200 to a co‑accused, and had no role beyond moving the cash. He admitted the mistake and apologized. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, hearing the case on 25 October 2022, imposed a four‑year prison sentence, back‑dated to 13 January 2022, after considering mitigating factors such as his lack of prior convictions and cooperation with Gardaí. The sentence reflects the seriousness of assisting in the relocation of criminal proceeds.
Daniel Goulding, aged 39, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to the attempted murder of two detective gardaí during a siege and shoot‑out at his family home on 25 May 2021. The incident, which lasted up to two hours, left the detectives with non‑fatal limb injuries: one to the foot, one to the hand, and another to the foot. Goulding's defence, represented by Michael Bowman SC, noted that a psychiatric report had only been received on Friday and requested a governor's report from Cloverhill Prison. Mr Justice Paul McDermott adjourned the case to 21 November. Earlier, the court heard that Goulding had been receiving psychiatric treatment for several years. The incident began when gardaí were alerted to gunshots at Whitechapel Grove; the detectives were shot from an upstairs bedroom, took cover behind an unmarked patrol car, and after two hours of negotiations surrendered firearms.
Michael Lawrence, 55, filmed his daughter Jessica Maughan, 28, viciously beating his mother‑in‑law Mary Maughan, 65, as she left a doctor's appointment, and also recorded his other daughter Marie Stokes, 31, attacking Mary's daughter Rosie while Rosie waited in her car. The video was shared on social media and viewed 3,500 times. The court heard that the victims, though physically recovered, suffered psychological harm from the humiliation. Lawrence and the two daughters pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced each to a two‑year suspended sentence, ordered them to pay €1,000 to the Garda, and remanded Stokes and Lawrence in custody pending sentence while allowing Jessica Maughan to remain on bail. The judge described the assaults as disgraceful and vicious, noting the humiliation was aggravated by the footage's online presence. The court did not impose any custodial term on the father or the daughters.
In a 12‑year saga that began when 17‑year‑old Daniel McAnaspie vanished in February 2010, the Supreme Court rejected Richard Dekker's appeal against his murder conviction. Dekker, 35, had been acquitted in 2013 but was later retried and found guilty in 2017. The jury heard that Dekker stabbed Daniel in Tolka Valley Park, then placed the body in a suitcase and dumped it in a drain 30 km away, where it was discovered three months later. Dekker's appeal argued that the final interview conducted by Gardaí at Cabra Garda Station was improper and that his statements should not have been admitted. The three‑judge court, led by Mr Justice George Birmingham, found the interview admissible, noting that Dekker's answers were self‑serving but not excluded. The appeal was dismissed, ending the case with Dekker's conviction upheld. The article does not report any subsequent sentencing or further legal action.
Daryl McCarthy, 29, was sentenced to ten years in prison for raping a 19‑year‑old woman twice after breaking into her home and threatening her with a crowbar. He pleaded guilty to rape, oral rape and aggravated burglary on 2 December 2019. The Central Criminal Court heard that the victim remains deeply affected, having moved from her home to feel safe. Justice Tara Burn, hearing the case via video link, noted McCarthy's intoxication and lack of recall but described the offences as "absolutely and utterly dreadful." She set a headline sentence of 14 years, reduced to 12 years for his guilty plea and remorse, and suspended an additional two years on the condition that he comply with probation recommendations and avoid contact with the victim. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the sexual acts and the burglary with a crowbar. The victim's impact statement detailed ongoing trauma, including flashbacks, nightmares and PTSD.
Judge Pauline Codd, presiding over the sentencing of Michael Collins, 32, imposed an eight‑year prison term with the final year suspended on strict conditions for the knife‑point robbery of two taxi drivers in April and May 2021. Collins, who had been arrested on 13 May 2021 after a TV was found in a trolley and a stolen credit card recovered, pleaded guilty to robbery, four counts of theft, handling stolen property and criminal damage. He had 43 prior convictions, mainly for robbery and burglary. The judge highlighted the seriousness of the robberies, the aggravating factor of the knife, and the impact on the drivers, who suffered financial loss and ongoing psychological effects. Collins expressed remorse, citing family tragedies and substance abuse, and seeks assistance with reading and writing while serving his sentence.
At a sentence hearing on 11 July 2022, Judge Martin Nolan imposed a suspended sentence of two and a half years on 34‑year‑old Valentin Radu for money laundering involving €1,500 withdrawn from an AIB account in November 2020. Radu had withdrawn the money for a friend who did not have a face mask, claiming he was not involved in a criminal organisation and that he had been taken advantage of. The judge noted that the State and the court had suspicions but was confined by the plea entered. Radu had a prior road‑traffic conviction. Gardaí believed he was in control of an account that had received a fraudulent transfer of €743,000, but all but €2,100 of that sum was recovered. Radu denied knowledge of the fraudulent emails and said he had no online access to the account. The judge emphasised that the plea limited the court's ability to impose a harsher sentence. Valentin Radu pleaded guilty.
The Workplace Relations Commission has dismissed a discrimination claim brought by Dorin Dusa against Heatons Unlimited Company and security contractor Bidvest Noonan (ROI) Ltd. Dusa alleged he was harassed and assaulted by a security guard at a Blanchardstown store in August 2020 for refusing to wear a face mask, claiming a medical exemption based on disability. During the hearing, Dusa refused to disclose his medical records to opposing counsel or the public, demanding that adjudicating officer Penelope McGrath review them privately. He also attempted to compel the defending barrister to reveal his own medical history. Andrew Reilly, representing Bidvest Noonan, cross-examined Dusa, who admitted he did not report the alleged incident to gardaí. Bidvest Noonan stated it conducted a thorough investigation and wholly rejected the claims. In her decision, McGrath found that Dusa failed to prove he had a valid medical exemption or that he informed the guard of his disability on the day. She noted that Dusa raised the possibility of an exemption without proving it and that the security guard eventually allowed him to enter the shop. The adjudicator ruled that Dusa did not establish a prima facie case for either respondent to answer, finding that neither Heatons nor Bidvest Noonan discriminated against him.
Anthony Bradley, aged 28, pleaded guilty to robbery at a McDonald's in Blanchardstown on 17 January 2020. He threatened the manager with a broken bottle and demanded money from the till, taking about €40. The court found the offence "drugs‑fuelled" and linked it to Bradley's addiction history. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to three and a half years, suspending the final 12 months on the condition of a bond to keep the peace. Bradley has 42 prior convictions, including assault, theft and drug offences, and has previously completed a residential treatment programme. He is a father of one and has expressed a desire to address his addiction and support his family.
Six workers from Keelings Fruit, four men and two women, were used as money mules by an unnamed "money mule herder" to launder between €4,500 and just under €110,000 for a West African gang between 2016 and 2017. They each pleaded guilty to laundering specific amounts: Albert Joseph (€34,236 and €25,575), Josip Vlahovic (€79,000), Toni Kudro (€8,869), Mate Vlahovic (€6,760), Krisztina Baradlai (€5,900) and Claudia Onofrieciuc (€4,592). The court noted they were recruited from various countries, had no prior convictions, cooperated with Gardaí and were unlikely to reoffend. Judge Martin Nolan imposed suspended sentences ranging from 18 months to three and a half years, with the longest for Albert Joseph. The alleged money mule herder remains before the courts. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Sean Kershaw, 38, of Blanchardstown, pleaded guilty to harassment for a four‑month period from 1 January to 11 April 2021. He placed a tablet in his ex‑partner's kitchen to secretly film her and accessed her emails and WhatsApp. Garda Jessica Maguire testified that the device recorded for 36 days and that Kershaw had also accessed her laptop and copied messages. Kershaw admitted watching her from the kitchen window on three occasions and had approached her new partner, telling him not to disclose their encounter. He was arrested on 13 April 2021 and had a tablet and phone seized. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a three‑year jail sentence, suspended for three years on the condition of good behaviour, and ordered Kershaw to have no contact with his former partner except for child‑access arrangements. He was also ordered to destroy all recordings and hand over any other material to Gardaí.
A 43‑year‑old taxi driver, Keith Banks of Castleknock, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing drugs for sale or supply and to having €19,000 in cash from criminal conduct. He admitted that he was pressured to transport almost €300,000 worth of drugs, including cannabis worth €135,000 and cocaine worth €158,000, and that he had a drug debt. Garda Thomas McDaniel secured a warrant to search a Clonsilla property where Banks was found standing at a kitchen counter and throwing a white powder onto the floor. The Gardaí found the drugs in various locations. Banks claimed he was taken advantage of and that he had only a small role in the deliveries. Judge Melanie Greally, after hearing the evidence and a psychological report, imposed concurrent sentences totalling seven and a half years, suspending the final two and a half years on strict conditions, including 12 months of probation supervision upon release.
Megan Creighton, 34, pleaded guilty to robbery on Old Navan Road on 3 December 2020. The victim was approached by Creighton and her partner, who demanded money, phone and wallet. Creighton threatened to bite his nose, bit him, and then told her accomplice to use a knife. The accomplice struck the victim with a screwdriver, causing facial damage and neck marks. An off‑duty Garda intervened, leading to the muggers' arrest. The victim's injuries were documented and a victim impact statement was submitted but not read. Creighton, a mother of five with 17 prior convictions and a history of heroin addiction, claimed she was a victim of domestic violence. She expressed remorse and accepted responsibility. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced her to three years' imprisonment.
In the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, former solicitor Michael Lynn faces 21 counts of theft, accused of stealing about €27 million from seven banks between October 2006 and April 2007. Lynn maintains he had "custom and practice" among bankers to obtain multiple mortgages on the same properties and claims he had secret deals allowing loan money to be used for overseas property developments. Bankers, including Stephen McCarthy of Ulster Bank and Ciaran Farrell of Irish Life and Permanent, testified that the loans were strictly for the 11 residential investment properties and that no alternative use was permitted. Both McCarthy and Farrell denied any special arrangements or receipt of money from Lynn. The trial continues with Judge Martin Nolan and a jury hearing the prosecution's case and rebuttal evidence. Michael Lynn pleaded not guilty.
Dylan Mooney, 26, a cystic‑fibrosis sufferer, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of cannabis resin, cannabis herb, a semi‑automatic pistol and two charges of handling stolen property. He had accrued a €15,000 gambling debt and agreed to hold the gun, ammunition, €20,600 worth of cannabis and two motorbikes to settle it. Judge Melanie Greally, after considering his medical condition and lack of prior convictions, imposed a four‑year prison sentence, suspended in full, with conditions of good behaviour, peace‑keeping and 18 months' engagement with the Probation Service. Mooney had not attracted Garda attention since May 2019 and had cooperated with the investigation, including admitting responsibility for the firearm and drugs found in a safe in his grandfather's attic. The motorbikes, each valued at about €1,750, were also seized. The case was adjourned in 2019 to allow for a probation report and to assess the risk of infection in custody.
Martin Cunningham, 27, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for assault causing harm and producing a machete. He pleaded guilty to these charges after the DPP dropped an initial attempted murder allegation. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon set a headline sentence of five years but reduced it to four years, citing Cunningham's remorse and early plea. The final 12 months were suspended for two years, with conditions including regular urinalysis and attendance at Probation Services programs. Cunningham, who has been in custody since April 2019, has already served more than three years. The court heard the attack on Kenneth Fitzsimons occurred near Finglas Garda Station and was part of a broader feud between rival gangs. Fitzsimons, who is serving a five-and-a-half year sentence for possession of a firearm, suffered severe injuries requiring four litres of blood. The judge noted Cunningham remains at risk of violent reoffending and must address anger management issues. Cunningham was on bail at the time of the offence and was subsequently fined for driving offences while on remand. He also has previous convictions for driving without insurance, possession of drugs, assault, and making threats while in custody.
Michael Lynn, a former solicitor aged 53 from Red Cross, County Wicklow, gave evidence in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in the thirteenth week of his trial on charges of theft. Mr Lynn pleaded not guilty to 21 counts of theft totalling approximately €27 million from seven financial institutions between October 2006 and April 2007. The prosecution alleges he obtained multiple mortgages on identical properties without the knowledge of lending institutions. Under questioning from his defence barrister, Mr Lynn outlined his career progression from a Mayo farming background through Trinity College education to establishing his own legal practice in 1997. He described expanding his Blanchardstown-based firm and concurrent involvement in property development and overseas ventures through his company Kendar Holdings Limited. Mr Lynn testified that between late 2005 and October 2007, he was not involved in day-to-day management of his legal practice, stating he was travelling constantly during this period. The trial, which resumed following Mr Lynn's Covid-related absence, continues before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
Martin Cunningham, 27, struck Kenneth Fitzsimons, 41, with a machete during a gang feud near Finglas Garda Station. Fitzsimons suffered severe injuries, including exposed ribs and required four litres of blood. Cunningham had previously been charged with attempted murder but the DPP dropped that charge after he pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and producing a machete. Fitzsimons, who had a five‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for firearm possession, declined to testify at trial, citing drug‑related memory loss. Cunningham, who has prior convictions for driving offences and drug possession, was fined for driving while on remand and had been convicted of assault and threats while in custody. The Central Criminal Court heard that the assault was Cunningham's reaction to attacks on his home, including a firearm discharge, and that he accepted responsibility for his actions. The court will sentence him next Monday.
A group of seven retail managers at Paddy Power, represented by the Mandate trade union, have lodged claims under the Payment of Wages Act against Flutter Entertainment PLC, alleging unlawful deductions from their pay. The managers claim they were blocked from working overtime hours they had routinely performed before the first pandemic lockdown, which became part of an implied contract by custom and practice. Flutter Entertainment maintains that overtime has always been voluntary and that reduced business levels post-lockdown made it unaffordable. Marie McKenna, a manager since 2004, stated she was initially told to return to her normal 48-hour week but was instead taken off overtime hours, with other staff filling in. She described the situation continuing from June 2020 until October 2021, during which time part-time staff were brought in to cover her hours at lower pay rates.