The Special Criminal Court heard evidence in the ongoing trial of Laurence Murphy and Ray Kennedy, who have pleaded not guilty to IRA membership charges dated March 6, 2013, and April 2010. Mr. Kennedy also faces a charge of perverting the course of justice by destroying a SIM card. Prosecution witnesses described a meeting at Bewleys Hotel, Dublin Airport, on May 22, 2010, where Mr. Murphy was observed with Marian Price, Alan Ryan, and Anthony Ryan. The group entered a private function room, though the Ryans did not. Other testimony detailed Mr. Kennedy's presence at a 2011 meeting in Mulhuddert and at a 2012 bail hearing. The court also heard about a 2012 funeral for Alan Ryan, where three shots were fired over the coffin. While four men have already received life sentences for the murder of Peter Butterly, and Michael McDermott and Frank Murphy have been jailed for their roles in the killing, the current proceedings against Murphy and Kennedy remain at the trial stage. The matter was adjourned and continues before Justice Tara Burns, Judge Sarah Berkeley, and Judge Michael Walsh.
A man charged in connection with the 2013 murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly was observed on multiple occasions with slain Real IRA leader Alan Ryan, the Special Criminal Court heard. Laurence Murphy, aged 62, of Bettystown, Co Meath and Ray Kennedy, aged 40, of Blanchardstown, Dublin have pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the IRA on 6 March 2013. Mr Kennedy faces an additional charge of perverting the course of justice. Detective gardaí gave evidence they saw Mr Ryan and Mr Kennedy together in Donaghmede, Dublin on separate occasions in 2011 and 2012. The court heard garda interviews wherein Mr Kennedy stated he and Mr Butterly had arranged to meet at the Huntsman Inn, Gormanston, Co Meath at 2.30pm on the day of the shooting. Mr Murphy was interviewed and denied IRA membership. Four men have already received life sentences following convictions for Mr Butterly's murder, with two others imprisoned for roles in the killing. The trial before Ms Justice Tara Burns continues.
In the Special Criminal Court, the prosecution presented evidence regarding the March 6, 2013, shooting death of Peter Butterly at the Huntsman Inn, Gormanston, Co Meath. Laurence Murphy and Ray Kennedy, both accused of IRA membership on that date, have pleaded not guilty. Mr Kennedy is additionally charged with perverting the course of justice by destroying a SIM card. Prosecutors read witness statements from Mr Kennedy, who alleged he met Mr Butterly to discuss false car logbooks and claimed he destroyed his phone's SIM card in panic when a garda requested the device. Mr Kennedy denied IRA membership, stating he attended marches with slain Real IRA leader Alan Ryan because he was "nosy." He also denied luring Mr Butterly to the scene. The court heard that Mr Kennedy knew David Dodrill, who was convicted of IRA membership in April 2010, and acknowledged knowing Dermot Gannon, jailed for IRA membership in 2001. The matter is at the sentence stage, with the accused maintaining their not guilty pleas to the alleged offences.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence in the trial of Ray Kennedy and Laurence Murphy, who have pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation, styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh Na hÉireann, otherwise the IRA on March 6th, 2013. Mr Kennedy is also charged with carrying out an act intending to pervert the course of justice by destroying a mobile telephone SIM card. Prosecution evidence detailed that Mr Butterly was shot dead in the car park of the Huntsman Inn, Gormanston, Co Meath, on that date. Detective Garda Shane Curran testified that a text was sent from Mr Kennedy's phone to the victim's wife at 1.43pm, joking about an IRA arrest, minutes before the killing. The prosecution alleged Mr Kennedy destroyed a SIM card to pervert the course of justice. While four other men have already received life sentences for the murder, and Michael McDermott and Frank Murphy have been jailed for their roles, the current proceedings against Mr Kennedy and Mr Murphy remain at the trial stage. The matter was adjourned to continue on Monday before Ms Justice Tara Burns, presiding alongside Judge Sarah Berkeley and Judge Michael Walsh.
The Special Criminal Court trial of Laurence Murphy and Ray Kennedy, both charged in connection with the killing of Peter Butterly, entered legal argument regarding the retention of mobile phone data under the Communications (Retention of Data) Act 2011. This legal challenge is linked to the case of convicted murderer Graham Dwyer, whose appeal against a High Court declaration that the Act breached EU law is due before the Supreme Court in December. Murphy and Kennedy pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation, styled the IRA, on March 6, 2013. Kennedy is additionally charged with carrying out an act intending to pervert the course of justice by destroying a mobile telephone SIM card. The prosecution alleges the killing was meticulously planned. Four men—Kevin Braney, Edward McGrath, Sharif Kelly, and Dean Evans—have already received life sentences for the murder. Michael McDermott and Frank Murphy, the latter being Laurence Murphy's brother, have also been jailed for their roles in the killing. The trial continues before Ms Justice Tara Burns, Judge Sarah Berkeley, and Judge Michael Walsh.
A witness in the Special Criminal Court has testified that the shooting of dissident republican Peter Butterly in Gormanston, County Meath on 6 March 2013 was an "IRA operation". David Cullen, now in the Witness Protection Program, gave evidence in trials of Laurence Murphy and Ray Kennedy, both charged with membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the IRA. Mr Kennedy also faces a charge of perverting the course of justice. Cullen said he was asked to dispose of a firearm immediately after the shooting and that he knew beforehand someone would be targeted, though not the victim's identity. He recovered the gun near Gormanston College and was arrested shortly after. Four men have previously received life sentences for Mr Butterly's murder, while two others received custodial sentences. During proceedings, Justice Tara Burns ruled on disclosure issues concerning Cullen's earlier statement that Mr Murphy was "never a member of the IRA", which defence counsel argued was belatedly provided. Laurence Murphy pleaded not guilty. Peter Butterly pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court trial of Laurence Murphy and Ray Kennedy, both accused of IRA membership on March 6, 2013, continued with the court listening to a secret audio recording from a KFC in Charlestown. Both men pleaded not guilty to the membership charge; Mr. Kennedy also faces a charge of perverting the course of justice by destroying a SIM card. The prosecution alleges the men attended a "debrief" meeting the day after the murder of Peter Butterly. The court heard that gardai surveillance identified Kevin Braney, Frank Murphy, and Laurence Murphy at the outlet. Kevin Braney was previously sentenced to life imprisonment for the premeditated murder of Mr. Butterly, a finding he had denied. Frank Murphy, a brother of the accused, was jailed for three years, with the final year suspended, after pleading guilty to impeding the prosecution of State witness David Cullen. Other individuals, including Edward McGrath, Sharif Kelly, and Dean Evans, received life sentences for the murder. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Tara Burns, Judge Sarah Berkeley, and Judge Michael Walsh, was adjourned and resumes next Wednesday.
The Special Criminal Court has adjourned the trial of Laurence Murphy and Ray Kennedy, who both pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation. The court heard that Dave Cullen, a State's witness in the Peter Butterly murder case, was not prosecuted for alleged perjury due to fears he would not return to Ireland from a protection program abroad. Cullen had previously pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm in suspicious circumstances. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Tara Burns, was paused after the defence requested documentation regarding the decision not to prosecute Cullen. The matter was adjourned until tomorrow. In related proceedings, Kevin Braney was found guilty of premeditated murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. Frank Murphy, brother of the accused Laurence Murphy, pleaded guilty to impeding the apprehension of Cullen and was jailed for three years, with the final year suspended. Michael McDermott, who played a role in the murder, has also been jailed. The court noted that Cullen's evidence was used in the convictions of four individuals for Butterly's murder.
An accused man was observed meeting two individuals convicted in connection with the fatal shooting of dissident republican Peter Butterly one day after the killing, the Special Criminal Court heard today. Surveillance officers told the non-jury court that on March 7, 2013, Laurence Murphy was seen at a fast-food outlet in Charlestown Shopping Centre in Dublin alongside Kevin Braney and Frank Murphy. Butterly, aged 35, was shot dead on March 6, 2013, outside a public house in Gormanston, County Meath. Braney was sentenced to life imprisonment earlier this year following conviction for the premeditated murder. The prosecution contends the group gathered for a debrief regarding the previous day's events. Murphy, of Bettystown, County Meath, and Ray Kennedy, of Blanchardstown, Dublin, have pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the IRA on that date. Kennedy faces an additional charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice. The trial continues.
Keegan Davidson, 25, was sentenced to three years in prison, with the final two years suspended, for laundering €104,107 obtained through an "invoice redirection" fraud. He supplied his bank account details to a criminal gang that used them to receive payments from a bogus email sent to an engineering company. Davidson withdrew about €43,759 from various bureaux de change and post offices in Dublin, converting portions to British pounds and US dollars. He pleaded guilty to four offences under the 2010 Money Laundering Act for transferring or converting money knowing it was the proceeds of crime. The court noted he had no evidence of involvement in the fraud beyond laundering, and that the bank recovered roughly €46,000 from his account. Davidson's prior convictions include possession of knives, public order, theft, trespass, and a suspended sentence for possession of a sawn‑off shotgun. The judge acknowledged his efforts at rehabilitation and imposed the suspended sentence on conditions.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence in the trial of Ray Kennedy (39) and Laurence Murphy (62), who have pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the IRA on March 6, 2013. Kennedy is also charged with perverting the course of justice by destroying a mobile SIM card. The prosecution presented the statement of Eithne Butterly, widow of dissident republican Peter Butterly, who was shot dead outside The Huntsman Inn in Gormanston, Co Meath, on that date. Mrs Butterly told gardai that Kennedy was a "good friend" to both of them and that her husband had received five death threats, including one from Alan Ryan. She stated her husband told her he was meeting Kennedy at 2pm on March 6, 2013, though Kennedy maintains the meeting was scheduled for 2.30pm. The court heard that four men—Kevin Braney, Edward McGrath, Sharif Kelly, and Dean Evans—have already received life sentences for the murder, while Michael McDermott and Frank Murphy have also been jailed for their roles in the killing. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Tara Burns, Judge Sarah Berkeley, and Judge Michael Walsh, resumes tomorrow.
Ray Kennedy (39) and Laurence Murphy (62) are on trial at the Special Criminal Court, having pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation, styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh Na hÉireann, otherwise the IRA on March 6, 2013. Mr Kennedy is also charged with carrying out an act intending to pervert the course of justice by destroying a mobile telephone SIM card. The prosecution alleges the pair were involved in the "meticulously planned killing" of dissident republican Peter Butterly (35), who was shot dead outside The Huntsman Inn in Gormanston, Co Meath, on that date. Testimony from Detective Garda Alan Waters indicated that Mr Kennedy arrived at the scene shortly after the shooting, claiming he was meeting his "friend" Mr Butterly. The prosecution suggests Mr Kennedy destroyed the SIM card to destroy evidence. While the current trial is ongoing, four other men—Kevin Braney, Edward McGrath, Sharif Kelly, and Dean Evans—have already received life sentences for Mr Butterly's murder. Additionally, Michael McDermott (60) and Frank Murphy (59), who played roles in the murder, have also been jailed. The trial resumes before Justice Tara Burns, sitting with Judges Sarah Berkeley and Michael Walsh.
Christian Herbert, 40, of Blanchardstown, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply. The court heard that on November 16, 2018, the accused was caught transporting approximately €136,000 worth of cocaine at Blackcourt Road, Corduff, allegedly on behalf of another person in exchange for a €500 reduction in a drug debt. Judge Elma Sheahan noted the offence was aggravated by its seriousness but mitigated by Herbert's early guilty plea, cooperation with gardaí, genuine remorse, and his previous work as a drug counsellor. The judge also considered his moderate risk of re-offending due to addiction, his current methadone treatment, and his status as a cleaner in custody. Judge Sheahan sentenced Herbert to three-and-a-half years' imprisonment. However, she suspended the final 12 months of the sentence for 24 months on strict conditions. The sentence was backdated to November 16, the date Herbert first went into custody. The matter was finalised with this sentencing order.
The Special Criminal Court heard the opening of the prosecution case against Ray Kennedy and Laurence Murphy, who have pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation, styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh Na hÉireann, otherwise the IRA. Kennedy, 39, is additionally charged with carrying out an act intending to pervert the course of justice by destroying a mobile telephone SIM card. The trial concerns the killing of dissident republican Peter Butterly in March 2013. Prosecution counsel alleged that Kennedy arrived at the scene shortly after the shooting, having arranged a meeting with the victim, and subsequently destroyed a SIM card. It was further alleged that Murphy's vehicle passed the location two days prior to the incident and that he attended a debriefing meeting afterwards. The court heard that four other men have already received life sentences for the murder, while Michael McDermott and Frank Murphy, the latter being Laurence Murphy's brother, have also been jailed for their roles in the killing. David Cullen, whose plea to a lesser charge was accepted in 2014, turned State's witness. The trial is ongoing before a three-judge panel and resumes tomorrow.
James Leddy, 55, of Blanchardstown, was convicted in December 2019 of three counts of indecent assault on 13‑year‑old Colm Bracken, aged 51, at Leddy's former home in Artane between May and September 1981. Leddy pleaded not guilty but was found guilty by majority verdict. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced him to eight months' imprisonment, suspending the final five months on strict conditions, including engagement with the Probation Service. The sentence was the maximum of two years allowed for offences committed in 1981. Leddy admitted guilt, expressed remorse, and has since led a pro‑social life, never re‑offending. He is now on the Sex Offenders' Register. The case highlighted the long‑lasting impact on Bracken, who described the abuse as a living nightmare and reported suicidal thoughts and hospitalisation. The trial was conducted at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The judge noted Leddy's lack of recollection but acceptance of the verdict and his mental health history.
The Special Criminal Court will open a trial tomorrow for Laurence Murphy, 62, and Ray Kennedy, 39, who were charged with membership of an unlawful organisation, the Irish Republican Army, in connection with the murder of Peter Butterly, a 35‑year‑old father of two, who was shot dead on 6 March 2013 outside The Huntsman Inn in Gormanston, Co. Meath. Both men pleaded not guilty to the membership charges. Justice Tara Burns, Judge Sarah Berkeley and Judge Michael Walsh remanded them on continuing bail until the trial opens.
A Dublin man, Ray Kennedy, 39, was charged at an out‑of‑term sitting of the Special Criminal Court on Tuesday with an act intended to pervert the course of justice by destroying a mobile telephone SIM card. The SIM card was in his possession on 6 March 2013, the day Peter Butterly, a 35‑year‑old father of two, was shot dead outside The Huntsman Inn in Gormanston, Co. Meath. Kennedy had previously been charged in September 2017 with membership of an unlawful organisation, the Irish Republican Army, also known as Oglaigh Na hÉireann. He was warned of a warrant and given a copy of the charge sheet. Kennedy appeared before the three‑judge court wearing a black hoodie and jeans, stood as requested, and was served a book of evidence.
Dubliner Christopher Dunne (34) has been sentenced to five and a half years in prison for his role in a series of robberies and attempted robberies across Dublin between October 24, 2017, and December 11, 2017. Dunne, who has no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to the charges at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Karen O'Connor imposed consecutive sentences of three years and four and a half years. A portion of the sentence was suspended for 24 months on the condition that Dunne keep the peace. The court heard that Dunne used weapons such as a knife, screwdriver, and claw hammer during the crimes. Garda Aoife O'Brien stated that Dunne robbed cash from Applegreen, Howth Road, Clontarf, on four occasions and committed further robberies in Killester, Artane, and Clontarf. Dunne was also involved in a robbery at a shop in Waterville, Blanchardstown, and acted as the getaway driver in another robbery on Oxmantown Road, Stoneybatter. Dunne has 89 previous convictions, including for robbery, burglary, theft, and drug possession. His defence acknowledged that he was a drug user who committed the crimes to fund his addiction. Judge O'Connor noted that the crimes caused fear and distress to victims and that Dunne is a chronic drug addict who pleaded guilty to the charges.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Brian Bridgeman, 36, was sentenced to 28 months' imprisonment for burglary and criminal damage at St Michan's Church. Bridgeman admitted stealing the mummified head of an 800‑year‑old Crusader from the crypt, leaving two skulls in a bag on the church grounds with a note. He also pleaded guilty to five counts of criminal damage, including two for damaging a dead body. The court heard that the crypt's outer wrought‑iron doors were opened and an inner metal door was pulled down, a lock on the Hamilton family vault was damaged, and a coffin was broken. The 300‑year‑old mummy of "the nun" was disturbed, with bones broken and the head set at an almost 180‑degree angle. Reverend David Pierpoint delivered a victim impact statement, describing the burglary as devastating to clergy and parishioners and citing a loss of €35,000 in revenue and €15,000 in repairs.
Lee Murray, 24, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to two separate assaults. In November 2016, he attacked Sam Hess on a Luas tram, using a screwdriver and attempting to rob him, causing Hess to suffer injuries and seek medical attention. In July 2017, he assaulted shopkeeper Brian O'Carroll on Drumcondra Road after a dispute over stolen alcohol, knocking O'Carroll unconscious. The court imposed a four‑year term for the Luas assault and a consecutive two‑year term for the shop assault, suspending the final 18 months on the condition that Murray keep the peace. Murray's history of 34 prior convictions, drug addiction, and homelessness were considered in sentencing, and he expressed remorse and has entered a rehabilitation programme. The judge noted the seriousness of the assaults and the use of a screwdriver as aggravating factors.
James Leddy, 55, was convicted of three counts of indecent assault on 13‑year‑old Colm Bracken between May and September 1981. The sentencing hearing was adjourned to October because the judge, Pauline Codd, could not determine whether Leddy accepted his guilt. Leddy had pleaded not guilty but accepted the jury verdict, while a prior probation report stated he "adamantly denies" his guilt. Leddy, a former scout leader and father of five, had no prior convictions. Bracken, 51, gave a victim impact statement describing the abuse, his subsequent mental health struggles, and the lasting trauma. The court noted Leddy's participation in counselling and his status on the Sex Offenders' Register. No sentence was imposed at the time of the article.
During the murder trial of Paul O'Beirne and Jeffrey Morrow, Dr Rebecca Weld presented DNA evidence linking a bulldog to a car seat cover found at the accused's home. Dr Weld, a PhD in animal identification and former director of Weatherbys DNA laboratories, had examined DNA from a black cocker‑spaniel named Lily and an English bulldog named Bailey in 2016. She matched a partial DNA profile from a white hair on the cover to Bailey, noting the probability of a match with another dog was one in a billion. The cover, recovered from a bin in O'Beirne's garden, was similar to a canvas sheet from Joseph Cogan's stolen Volkswagen Golf GTI, which he claimed was used to protect his car from dog hairs. Cogan had provided hair samples from his fawn bulldog and black cocker‑spaniel. The prosecution argues the fatal shots were fired from the Golf. Paul O'Beirne pleaded not guilty. Jeffrey Morrow pleaded not guilty.
Alice Byrne, 44, of Dublin 15, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Sarah Comer outside James Connolly Hospital on 13 August 2017. She also pleaded guilty to trespass and criminal damage on 1 October 2015 when she directed the smashing of a domestic dwelling with baseball bats. Byrne was sentenced to four years imprisonment, with the final year suspended, by Judge Pauline Codd on 17 December 2018 for the assault. The sentence was consecutive to nine months imprisonment for the trespass and criminal damage. She lost an appeal against the severity of her sentence on 2 July 2019. The Court of Appeal, in a three‑judge panel, found no error in principle and dismissed the appeal. The judge noted Byrne's 21 previous convictions and the seriousness of the victim's injuries, including permanent facial disfigurement and nerve damage.
Two men have been jailed for six years at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following their admission of involvement in transporting cocaine valued at €350,000. Arvydas Steponkus, aged 45, of Clondalkin, Dublin and Thomas O'Boyle, aged 33, of Sligo pleaded guilty to possession of the drugs for sale or supply on Cruiserath Road, Blanchardstown on 24 February 2018. Steponkus handed over €280,000 worth of cocaine to O'Boyle, with a further €70,000 discovered in a hidden compartment of the Ford Mondeo Steponkus was operating. Gardaí intervened following surveillance after a tip-off revealed the exchange. Judge Martin Nolan noted both men transported the drugs for payment and were aware of their involvement, acknowledging their co-operation and useful admissions to investigating gardaí. O'Boyle has 29 previous convictions including a 2008 drug offence, whilst Steponkus has no prior convictions.
A 36‑year‑old man named Brian Bridgeman admitted stealing the mummified head of an 800‑year‑old 'Crusader' and a second skull from St Michan's Church in Dublin. The theft occurred between 23 and 24 February when Bridgeman entered the vaults as a trespasser. Gardaí recovered both skulls on 5 March. Bridgeman was arraigned at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, pleaded guilty to trespassing and theft, and was remanded in custody. The case was adjourned for sentencing on 24 July, with a victim impact report due at the next hearing.
Nicolae Vlad, a 28-year-old Romanian national, appeared at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on appeal regarding his conviction for possession of cannabis for sale or supply. The offence occurred on September 13, 2018, at Beacon South Quarter, Sandyford, following a controlled delivery operation where gardaí intercepted a package from Spain containing €80,000 in cannabis. Vlad was observed acting suspiciously near the delivery address and was arrested after signing for the parcel. He admitted to being paid €2,000 to collect the package, though he claimed ignorance of its contents. Vlad pleaded guilty to the charge. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a five-year custodial sentence. The final year of the sentence was suspended on the condition that Vlad leave the jurisdiction within seven days of his release and not return for ten years. Defence counsel James Dwyer SC highlighted Vlad's custody since September and his lack of income at the time of the offence. The court noted Vlad's history of eleven previous convictions, primarily for road traffic offences. This report reflects the sentencing outcome following the guilty plea, with the specific conditions of the suspended portion clearly defined by the judge.
Peter Ward, aged 33, was given a two‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended sentence after pleading guilty to possession of cannabis and threatening to assault a Garda while being transported to prison. Gardaí discovered €60 of cannabis in his Dublin home and found a warrant for his arrest because he had failed to pay a €500 fine. Detective Garda Michael Parry Jones offered Ward the choice of paying the fine or serving 15 days in Midlands Prison; Ward chose prison. While en route, he verbally abused the detective, threatened to leave the country, and lunged at him with his head in an attempt to head‑butt. The officer restrained Ward, who then fled to Blanchardstown Garda Station where he paid the fine. Judge Martin Nolan, describing Ward as a "menace to society," suspended the sentence on strict conditions, noting Ward's remorse, his willingness to donate €500 to a charity, and his progress in overcoming a crack cocaine addiction.
In 2017, Keith Hearne, aged 30, was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment for raping Dominique Meehan at a gaming convention in Blanchardstown. He pleaded guilty to two counts of rape, one of oral rape and one of false imprisonment. Hearne's appeal argued that his psychiatric illnesses should have reduced the sentence, but the Court of Appeal found he had no active symptoms at the time of the offence and therefore his mental state did not affect culpability. The court upheld the 12‑year term, noting the severity of the violent, premeditated attack and the presence of weapons and sadomasochistic items in his rucksack. The appeal was dismissed, and Meehan expressed relief that the sentence was maintained, though she remains affected by the assault.
Stephen Weafer, 32, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three years and three months in prison for assaulting two women on December 27, 2016. Judge Karen O'Connor suspended the final 15 months of the sentence on strict conditions, requiring Weafer to engage with the Probation Service for that duration. Weafer pleaded guilty to assaulting both victims, causing them harm. The incident occurred outside the Greyhound Pub in Blanchardstown, where Weafer allegedly head-butted Rebecca Burke and kicked her sister, Rachel Burke, during a melee. Rachel Burke suffered a broken nose with permanent cosmetic damage, while Rebecca Burke broke a finger. Although Weafer admitted to the head-butt, he initially denied kicking Rachel Burke, claiming he was defending himself. The court accepted that the women were unprovoked victims. Weafer, who has 49 previous convictions for road traffic offences, provided €3,500 as a token of remorse. Judge O'Connor noted that Weafer's behaviour was out of character and acknowledged he was also a victim of an unprovoked attack during the fracas. The judge accepted that alcohol was a factor, noting Weafer was on epilepsy medication and should not have been drinking. The matter was finalised with this sentence.
Dylan Mooney, 23, from Blanchardstown, was sentenced to a 12‑month probation bond after pleading guilty to possession of a semi‑automatic pistol, cannabis resin and herb, and two charges of handling stolen property. Mooney admitted that he had become addicted to gambling while hospitalized for cystic fibrosis, accruing a €15,000 debt. To settle the debt he offered the gun, ammunition, €20,600 worth of cannabis and two motorbikes. Judge Melanie Greally, after considering his medical condition and the risk of infection in prison, imposed the probation bond and required him to engage with the Probation Service and gambling‑addiction services. The case was adjourned to May 7, 2020, with Mooney remanded on continuing bail. The police recovered the gun, ammunition, a shotgun cartridge, 619 g of cannabis herb and 1.3 kg of cannabis resin from a safe in his grandfather's attic, and the two motorbikes, each valued at about €1,750.
Rasvan Stefanescu, 33, of Richmond Avenue, Fairview, Dublin, was jailed for two years after assaulting a man with a hammer, breaking the victim's arm. The incident occurred after a party at his then partner's house. The next day Stefanescu met the victim by chance, threatened him, and followed him to a car park where he struck the victim's back and attempted a head blow. The victim defended himself, but the hammer hit his arm, fracturing a forearm bone. The victim was out of work for two months and suffered a substantial loss of income, though he fully recovered from his injuries. Stefanescu pleaded guilty to assault causing harm on 14 July 2014. Judge Melanie Greally suspended the final 18 months of a three‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, ordered a €3,100 compensation payment, and noted that Stefanescu had no prior violent convictions, was in stable employment, and had adopted a responsible fatherhood attitude.
In 2017, Keith Hearne, aged 30, was sentenced to 12 years for raping Dominique Meehan at the ArcadeCon gaming convention. Hearne pleaded guilty to two counts of rape, one count of oral rape and one count of false imprisonment. The sentencing judge, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, noted the seriousness of the offence and the evidence of sadomasochistic items found at the scene. Hearne's defence argued that his psychiatric history – Asperger's syndrome, ADHD, dyslexia and bipolar disorder – and lack of prior convictions should have been considered as mitigating factors. The Court of Appeal heard that only one mitigating circumstance had been considered. The DPP maintained the sentence was proper and proportionate to the heinous nature of the crime. Meehan, 27, expressed relief at the sentence but said it was too light and that her life had changed dramatically since the assault.
In 2016, Stefan Saunders (41), Francis Murphy (39) and Damien Noonan (32) conspired to rob a cash‑in‑transit van in Co. Meath, planning the heist over more than two months. They pleaded guilty to conspiracy, possession of a semi‑automatic pistol and possession of a stolen BMW used as a getaway vehicle. Each received a 10‑year sentence, with 2½ years suspended, imposed by Judge Michael O'Shea in 2018. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed, arguing the sentences were unduly lenient, citing the robbery's scale, the firearm's readiness and the gang's professional conduct. The Court of Appeal, led by Justice George Birmingham, rejected the appeal, holding the sentences were at the outer limits of the judge's discretion and therefore appropriate. No further action was taken.
Keegan Davidson, 25, appeared before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court where he pleaded guilty to four offences under the 2010 Money Laundering Act. The charges relate to engaging in the transfer or conversion of monies knowing they were proceeds of crime, or being reckless as to whether they were, on September 30, 2017. Prosecution evidence indicated that Davidson provided his bank account details to a criminal gang involved in an "invoice redirect" fraud scam. A bogus email directed an engineering company to pay €104,107 into Davidson's account. He subsequently withdrew approximately €43,759 across various bureaux de change and post offices in Dublin, using his Irish passport for identification. Detective Garda Thomas Burke stated there was no evidence Davidson was involved in the initial fraud, only the laundering of proceeds. Around €46,000 was later retrieved by the bank. Davidson's previous convictions include possession of knives, public order, theft, and trespass; in 2011, he received a suspended sentence for possession of a sawn-off shotgun. Defence counsel Luigi Rea BL noted Davidson's history of psychosis exacerbated by drug abuse. Judge Pauline Codd adjourned the case to July 1 for sentencing and remanded Davidson on continuing bail. The matter was adjourned and not concluded at this stage.
In 2019 a Dublin man, Graham Stafford, 36, was sentenced to four‑and‑a‑half years in prison for breaking into the home of a terminally ill woman and repeatedly beating her 32‑year‑old son over four hours. Stafford entered the house early in the morning, claiming a family member owed him €3,000. He kicked and struck the son in front of his mother, who was suffering from cancer and has since died. The son reported that Stafford appeared "off his head on drugs" and that Stafford used a large kitchen knife and a Yankee Candle as weapons. Stafford, who had 11 prior convictions for minor drug and public‑order offences, pleaded guilty to false imprisonment in 2015. Judge Pauline Codd described the offence as "heinous", imposed a six‑year sentence with 18 months suspended, ordered addiction counselling and training, and back‑dated the sentence to July 2015.
Jordan Joyce, aged 19, was arrested for stealing a €399 Dyson vacuum cleaner from Harvey Norman in Blanchardstown on 7 January 2018. He signed Garda custody records and a court bail bond under the false name "Wayne Byrne", giving a false date of birth and address. Garda Gary Farrell discovered the forgery when Joyce was later arrested on a bench warrant, leading to the real Mr Byrne's arrest. Joyce admitted the theft and the forgery, describing himself as "acting the maggot". He pleaded guilty to the vacuum‑cleaner theft and to forging his signature on a Garda custody record on 21 March 2018 and on bail records on 22 March 2018. He had 21 prior minor convictions. The court heard that Joyce's family and partner raised €400 to compensate Harvey Norman. Judge Melanie Greally, taking into account his early guilty pleas, full restitution, youth and immaturity, imposed an 18‑month sentence, with the final nine months suspended for two years.
Two men from Dublin have been sentenced following their involvement in a significant drugs seizure and money laundering operation. Patrick Kavanagh, aged 59, of Ballygall Crescent, Finglas, and Patrick Hannon, of Rathvilly Park, Finglas, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of amphetamine and cannabis for sale or supply on 21 August 2017. Gardaí intercepted the pair moving drugs from a storage unit in north Dublin, recovering approximately nine kilogrammes of MDMA and eleven kilogrammes of cannabis herb and resin, with an estimated street value of €645,720. Hannon additionally pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing proceeds of crime, having allowed cheques from companies using false identities to be lodged into his bank account. Judge Melanie Greally imposed concurrent sentences of three years for the money laundering offences. She sentenced Kavanagh to four and a half years with the final eighteen months suspended, and Hannon to six and a half years with the final eighteen months suspended. The judge noted both men occupied lower positions within the criminal hierarchy and had expressed remorse.
In 2016, a trio of men—Stefan Saunders (40), Francis Murphy (39) and Damien Noonan (32)—conspired to rob a cash‑in‑transit van carrying over €2 million in County Meath. They were caught after Gardaí arrived, but the men had already prepared the scene: they broke into a disused bank, disabled the alarm, sprayed bleach, and waited with a stolen BMW X5. Saunders carried a semi‑automatic pistol with eight blank rounds, Murphy had a crowbar, and Noonan possessed the stolen vehicle. All three pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery, possession of a firearm, and possession of a stolen vehicle. On 12 June 2018 they were each sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment, with a two‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended portion. The Director of Public Prosecutions has applied for a review, arguing the sentences were unduly lenient, while the Court of Appeal has reserved its judgment. The case remains at the appeal stage.
Stephen Weafer, 32, was sentenced in April for assaulting two women in 2016. He head‑butted Rebecca Burke while queuing outside Greyhound Pub, Blanchardstown, and later kicked Rachel Burke in the face during a melee. CCTV captured the head‑butt; no footage showed the kick. Rebecca broke a finger after falling; Rachel's nose was broken and remains permanently damaged. Weafer pleaded guilty to assaulting both women. He had 49 prior convictions for traffic offences and was taking epilepsy medication, which his defence cited as a factor. He offered €3,000 as a token of remorse and wrote a letter apologising. Judge Karen O'Connor remanded him on bail until April 30 for sentencing. The case was prosecuted by John Berry BL.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, 22‑year‑old Eoin McKinley pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after a confrontation at Weatherspoon's, Westend Retail Park, Blanchardstown, on 30 May 2016. McKinley, who was 19 at the time, had been drinking with a friend when he overheard a group of men criticizing the loudness of his friends. He threw a glass at the group's table, which shattered on a fence, and then struck the victim's face with another glass. The victim suffered a broken nose and a scar on his left eyebrow. He claimed a €1,000 financial loss from medical bills and lost wages. McKinley had no prior convictions and was intoxicated during the incident. The judge described the assault as a "very serious glassing" and ordered a community service report, with the matter adjourned to 25 June.
In March 2019, Kayleigh Byrne, a 26‑year‑old mother of two from Clondalkin, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for transporting nearly €200,000 worth of cannabis herb. She was arrested after a tip that a vehicle would be used to move drugs; 22 wrapped packages were found in the boot of the car on the M50. Byrne pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing the drugs for sale or supply on 3 September 2018. She had two prior convictions for minor road traffic offences. The judge, Melanie Greally, noted Byrne's fear of threats linked to a drug debt owed by her former partner, her role as a good mother, and her early guilty plea. The court suspended the final two and a half years of the sentence, backdating it to the time of her initial custody following the September arrest.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Conor Metcalfe, 28, of Monastery Park, Clondalkin, was found guilty of membership in the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and sentenced to four years and six months imprisonment, backdated to 10 December 2018. The court relied on belief evidence from Detective Chief Superintendent Anthony Howard, who asserted Metcalfe was a member on 24 November 2015 based on material reviewed, and on inferences drawn from Metcalfe's failure to answer questions under Section 2 of the Offences Against the State Act. The judge noted Metcalfe's persistent and active membership, though not a high‑level member, and applied a 10% discount for modest mitigating factors. Metcalfe had 13 prior convictions, mainly for criminal damage, public order offences and drunk driving, dating back to 2009. The sentence was imposed by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, with Judges Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin and Cormac Dunne presiding.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 36‑year‑old Graham Stafford was found guilty of false imprisonment after breaking into a terminally ill woman's home in the early hours of the morning. Stafford, who had previously been convicted of minor drug and public order offences, entered the house believing a family member owed him €3,000. He repeatedly struck the 32‑year‑old male occupant, who was the son of the ill woman, for over four hours. Stafford kicked, hit, and used a kitchen knife to threaten the man, and struck him with a Yankee Candle. The victim sustained a cut to his left eye, head lumps, and mouth wounds, and reported dizziness and headaches afterwards. Stafford was remanded in custody pending sentencing, with a Probation Service report to be submitted before the April hearing. The court did not read the victim impact statement.
A Dublin man found guilty of IRA membership will be sentenced next week at the non-jury Special Criminal Court. Conor Metcalfe (28), of Monastery Park, Clondalkin, Dublin 22, was found guilty by the three-judge court in December of membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army (IRA) on November 24, 2015. The court had entered a not guilty plea on Metcalfe's behalf, as he had made no reply when the membership charge was put to him at the start of his trial. The prosecution's case was based on the belief evidence of Detective Chief Superintendent Anthony Howard, who stated he believed Metcalfe was a member of the IRA on November 24, 2015, based on material he had reviewed. This belief evidence was supported by inferences drawn from Metcalfe's failure to answer material questions at interview after gardai had invoked Section 2 of the Offences Against the State Act. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding, said that the 'combined weight of evidence' was sufficient to establish Metcalfe's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. He noted the 'heavy weight' attached to Metcalfe's failure to answer numerous material questions regarding his activities and those of other convicted IRA members. At today's sentence hearing, Detective Inspector William Hanrahan summarised the facts of the case. Det Insp Hanrahan noted that Metcalfe had 13 previous convictions dating back to 2009, including criminal damage, public order offences, and drunk driving. In mitigation, defence counsel Paul Greene SC asked the court to consider that his client was in a long-standing relationship and had four children. He also highlighted that Metcalfe qualified as a weaver in 2015 and had used his time productively in prison taking various courses. Another mitigating factor was that Metcalfe lost his father in 2006 and was of assistance to his widowed mother. Mr Greene stated this was his client's first serious conviction. During the trial, Det Sgt Padraig Boyce gave evidence that he observed Patrick Brennan walking out of Metcalfe's house following his arrest on November 24. Brennan was jailed for four years for IRA membership in 2005. Prosecuting counsel Anne-Marie Lawlor SC noted that Metcalfe was asked material questions about his meeting with David Nooney in Blanchardstown on August 7, 2015, and about his fingerprint being on a document found at David Murray's home in March 2015. Murray was convicted of IRA membership in 2017 and jailed for four and a half years. Ms Lawlor said that Metcalfe adopted a mantra of 'I am not a member of the IRA' when questions were put to him in these interviews. Mr Justice Hunt, who sat with Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin and Judge Cormac Dunne, remanded Metcalfe in custody to next Friday, when he will be sentenced.
Michael Jones, a 25‑year‑old roofer from Dublin, was found guilty of dangerous driving causing the death of Hong Qing Qu in a collision on Blanchardstown Road on 17 November 2015. Jones had broken a red light and was travelling between 115 km/h and 137 km/h, well above the 60 km/h limit. He pleaded not guilty, but a jury convicted him in December 2016. Judge Patricia Ryan sentenced him to five years' imprisonment, back‑dating the term to 19 December 2015, the day he entered custody, and disqualified him from driving for life. The sentence reflected Jones' admission of driving the Audi, his lack of prior convictions, his young age, his remorse, and the fact that he was injured in the crash. The court also considered the victim impact statement from Mr Qu's widow, who described the loss of her husband and the effect on their children.
Nan Wu, 37, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to controlling and directing prostitution for gain in 2015. Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced her to two years imprisonment, fully suspended for three years on condition of good behaviour. Wu owned massage parlours in Dublin, including one in Olivemount, where a Garda obtained a search warrant and found a naked woman and man in a treatment room. Wu admitted knowledge of sex acts for money and that a second parlour operated similarly. Defence argued no coercion and that Wu believed the acts were legal, with employees learning from others. Wu had no prior convictions, lives with two children, and is originally from Dalian, China. The Criminal Assets Bureau is also pursuing proceedings against her.
Michael Jones (25), a roofer from Whitestown Drive, Dublin, pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Hong Qing Qu at Blanchardstown Road South on November 17, 2015. The jury returned a guilty verdict on day nine of his trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court last December 19, after deliberating for just over two and a half hours. In her victim impact statement, Mr Qu's widow expressed the profound impact of her husband's death on her family, including her children who are too young to understand death. She stated that her husband's parents had not seen their son in ten years by the time they saw him lying dead in the hospital. She asked the court to picture an old man shouting and screaming at his son to wake up. She said she wanted justice and for the law in Ireland to be seen as truthful, with the person who made the mistake taking responsibility. After reading her statement, she held up a photo of her husband to Jones and shouted that she wanted him to see how young Mr Qu had been at the time of his death. Sergeant Stephen Byrne told Dominic McGinn SC, prosecuting, that Mr Qu was driving home from work when his car was struck by an Audi A3 driven by Jones. Mr Qu sustained serious injuries and was brought to James Connolly Hospital in Dublin where he was pronounced dead. Sgt Byrne said that gardaí were able to determine that Jones had driven through a red light and had been travelling between 115km/h and 137km/h at the point of collision. The speed limit of roads in the area was 60km/h, the court heard. Jones was taken from the scene by men who put him into a Volkswagen Passat and drove him to a hospital, where they left him lying on the ground. Jones gave a false name and said he had injured his leg in a fall. Padraig Dwyer SC, defending, said his client wished to express his remorse for his actions. Mr Dwyer submitted that this case fell in the medium range of offending and that a term of imprisonment of four or five years would be appropriate. Jones has no previous convictions. Judge Patricia Ryan adjourned the matter for finalisation this Thursday, January 17.
In a High Court hearing on 21 December 2018, Justice Teresa Pilkington dealt with a dispute between Nokia Ireland and its landlord, Clyde Real Estate Blanchardstown Ltd, over the failure to provide heating, ventilation and air‑conditioning (HVAC) services in a commercial office in Dublin. Nokia, employing 100 people, alleged that the office conditions were "Arctic" and that the landlord had breached the 2015 lease by shutting down the old HVAC system without notice. The judge had initially ordered Clyde to reactivate the old HVAC system and reconnect hot water to Nokia's offices. However, after counsel for Clyde explained that the old system could not be restarted because a new HVAC unit was being installed, the judge stayed the order. The case will return to the High Court at the end of January for an update on the new HVAC installation, and both parties were granted permission to return to court on 24‑hour notice if needed.
Darren Mullarney, 41, of Fortlawn Park, Blanchardstown, was sentenced by Judge Melanie Greally at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to five years' imprisonment for unlawful possession of a sawn‑off shotgun. The gun, loaded with two cartridges, was found in his bedroom wardrobe during a Garda search on 25 May 2018. Mullarney pleaded guilty and claimed he kept the weapon because of a "real threat to his life" from a serious member of the criminal fraternity, citing a prior shooting on 8 May in which he was wounded. The judge accepted the prosecution's statement of threat, set a headline sentence of seven years, but suspended the final 18 months, citing mitigating factors such as Mullarney's cooperation, early plea and insight into the seriousness of his offence. The sentence was back‑dated to 25 May 2018, when he entered custody.
Michael Jones, a 24‑year‑old roofer from Whitestown Drive, was found guilty of dangerous driving causing the death of Hong Qing Qu, a father of two, at Blanchardstown Road South on 17 November 2015. Jones drove an Audi A3 that broke a red light at a speed estimated between 115 km/h and 137 km/h, well above the 60 km/h limit, and collided with Qu's Mitsubishi Colt. The collision occurred around 1 am near the top of a slip road close to Blanchardstown shopping centre. Witnesses described the Audi's occupants being dragged from the vehicle and placed in a Volkswagen Passat after the crash. Qu was found in the passenger seat of his own car, choking on his blood, and later died. The jury returned a guilty verdict after just over two and a half hours of deliberation. Judge Patricia Ryan remanded Jones to custody and set a sentencing date for 14 January of the following year. Michael Jones pleaded not guilty.