A Dublin man has been found guilty of IRA membership by the non-jury Special Criminal Court. Conor Metcalfe (28), of Monastery Park, Clondalkin, Dublin 22, was found guilty of membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army on November 24, 2015. The three-judge Special Criminal Court entered a not guilty 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. Presiding judge Mr Justice Tony Hunt said 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. Mr Justice Hunt, who sat with Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin and Judge Cormac Dunne, remanded Metcalfe in custody to January 25 when he will be sentenced. During the trial, Det Sgt Padraig Boyce gave evidence that he observed Patrick Brennan walking out of Metcalfe's house following his arrest. Brennan was jailed for four years for IRA membership in 2005. The court also heard 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. The matter was adjourned for sentencing on January 25.
Alice Byrne, 44, of Ashtown, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four years in prison for assault causing harm. She pleaded guilty to attacking Sandra Comer outside James Connolly Hospital on August 13, 2017. Judge Pauline Codd suspended the final 12 months of the sentence. Byrne also pleaded guilty to trespass and criminal damage at Clonshaugh Road, Coolock, on October 1, 2015, for which she received a nine-month prison sentence backdated to December. The court heard that Byrne directed her son, Josh Byrne, and two other men to smash windows and contents at the Halligan household in Coolock on the same date. Josh Byrne, 23, pleaded guilty to burglary and criminal damage. He received a two-year fully suspended sentence on the condition that he engage with the Probation Service. The victim, Ms. Comer, suffered nerve damage, facial disfigurement, and psychological trauma, describing the attacker as having "Incredible Hulk" strength. The court noted that Byrne had previously been involved in an argument with the Halligan family prior to the property damage incident.
The trial of 24‑year‑old Michael Jones, a professional roofer, is hearing allegations that he was driving an Audi A3 at more than double the speed limit when it collided with a Mitsubishi Colt driven by Hong Qing Qu. The fatal collision occurred at about 1 a.m. on 17 November 2015 near Blanchardstown shopping centre, on a slip road where the speed limit is 60 km/h. Garda Patrick McIlroy presented evidence that the Audi was travelling between 115 km/h and 137 km/h before impact, based on the angle of collision and damage patterns. He noted that the front of the Audi struck the side of the Colt, with the Audi's front heavily damaged while the rest of the car remained relatively intact. Garda Alex McDermott‑Roe reported that Jones confirmed ownership of the Audi but denied driving it at the time. The case is proceeding before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury. Michael Jones pleaded not guilty.
Michael Jones, 25, was accused of causing a fatal collision on 17 November 2015 near Blanchardstown. He was driving an Audi A3 that allegedly ran a red light and struck a Mitsubishi Colt driven by Hong Qing Qu. Jones pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing death. After the crash, he was admitted to James Connolly Hospital where he gave a false name, Michael McDonagh, and claimed he had injured his leg in a fall. A nurse attempted to lift him but his ankle was limp. Jones told investigators he had not left the scene, had collapsed, and was carried to the hospital by friends. He also said he had worn an orange jacket that was removed by his friends. The trial is ongoing before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury.
In a fatal two‑car collision on 17 November 2015 near Blanchardstown, Michael Jones, a professional roofer, was driving an Audi A3 that allegedly ran a red light at speed and struck the side of a Mitsubishi Colt driven by Hong Qing Qu. Mr Qu, who was on his way home with his partner and two children, called his partner that night to say he was finished work and heading home. The partner reported that this was a routine call. Gardaí later arrived, informed her of the accident, and took her to the hospital where she identified Mr Qu's body. Dr Linda Mulligan, the deputy state pathologist, concluded that Mr Qu died from a severe head injury and multiple traumatic injuries to the right side, consistent with a side‑on collision. The unnamed man pleaded not guilty.
An eye‑witness, Jean Fitzgerald, testified at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that she believes the deceased, Michael Jones, was at fault for the fatal collision that killed Hong Qing Qu. Fitzgerald said she does not think Jones was guilty of dangerous driving and that Qu caused the accident. She had given two statements to Gardaí: the first, made three days after the crash, blamed Jones, but the second, given on Monday, blamed Qu. She claimed the Garda had altered her words, possibly to favour the defendant. Fitzgerald also recounted that she had climbed into Qu's car, held his head, and that he was unconscious. She explained that she signed the original statement under distress, citing PTSD and the traumatic experience of seeing Qu die in her arms. The trial continues with Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury.
During a trial for dangerous driving, witnesses described a fatal collision that occurred at 1 a.m. on 17 November 2015 near Blanchardstown. Michael Jones, driving an Audi A3, allegedly ran a red light and struck the side of a Mitsubishi Colt driven by Hong Qing Qu. The crash left Qu's body squashed between seats and choking on his own blood. Witnesses reported that after the impact, three men dragged Qu from the Audi and placed him in the back of a Volkswagen Passat, which was then driven away toward Corduff. Several observers, including Louise Murphy, Jean Fitzgerald, Claire Bruton and John Gannon, recounted seeing Qu in a severely injured state, with blood from his ears, nose and mouth, and described the chaotic removal of his body from the scene. The case remains before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury.
Dubliner Michael Jones is standing trial at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, accused of dangerous driving causing the death of Hong Qing Qu. The incident allegedly occurred on November 17, 2015, at Blanchardstown Road, south. Prosecutors allege that Mr Jones, a 25-year-old professional roofer, was driving an Audi A3 at excessive speed and ran a red light before colliding with the side of a Mitsubishi Colt driven by Mr Qu. The impact caused the Colt to change direction and travel a significant distance, resulting in extensive damage. Mr Qu sustained multiple injuries and died shortly after being taken to a nearby hospital. The prosecution contends that after the crash, occupants of the Audi, including an allegedly injured driver, exited the vehicle and entered a third car, a Volkswagen, which was later seen at the hospital. Mr Jones was subsequently admitted to the same facility with leg injuries. Mr Jones has pleaded not guilty to the charge. In his opening address, counsel Dominic McGinn SC stated that the State must prove beyond reasonable doubt that Mr Jones was the driver, that his driving was dangerous, and that it caused Mr Qu's death. The trial is presided over by Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury of eight men and four women. The matter is currently ongoing and is expected to run for eight days, with proceedings continuing on Monday next.
In a High Court hearing, Nokia Ireland has sought orders against its landlord, Clyde Real Estate Blanchardstown Ltd, to prevent the landlord from closing, demolishing or decommissioning a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) plant until a full hearing resolves the dispute. Nokia claims that the office, where 100 employees work, has been described as "Arctic" and that temperatures have been too low, citing complaints since 2016. The company argues that the lease requires the landlord to provide heating, ventilating and air conditioning services. Mr. Sean Gallagher, CEO of Clyde Real Estate, disputes the claim, stating that recorded temperatures were within acceptable office ranges and that a replacement HVAC system is scheduled for January. Clyde maintains that it is replacing the obsolete HVAC system and that any electricity and gas costs are the tenant's responsibility. The hearing continues.
John Fitzgerald SC defended Emmet Fogarty, 47, a former pub owner who had been drawn into an almost €1.4 million drugs operation to offset gambling debts. Fogarty had been unaware of cheques written against his pub, leading to tax trouble and an alcohol and gambling addiction. After spending time abroad, he returned to Ireland and joined the drug enterprise. He pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of cocaine, cannabis herb and resin worth €1,398,714, as well as various ammunition. Garda Ivor Scully found 15 blocks of cocaine, cannabis herb, resin, ten firearm magazines, ammunition and tracking devices at a lock‑up unit leased by Fogarty. Fogarty's home address was linked to the premises via receipt, DNA and fingerprints. Judge Melanie Greally, considering Fogarty's circumstances, imposed a seven‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, suspending the final two‑and‑a‑half years. The sentence reflected the seriousness of the drug offence and the firearms offence.
A 23-year-old man pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting a commuter on a Luas tram on 11 November 2016. Lee Murray, formerly of Blanchardstown, admitted attacking the victim and producing a screwdriver during the incident. The court heard the victim was travelling to work in the early hours when Murray and others boarded the tram near Rialto. During the assault, Murray used the screwdriver to cause injury to the victim's hand, causing significant bleeding. The victim reported feeling very fearful following the attack. Following his arrest, Murray expressed remorse and indicated his wish to apologise to the victim. The court was informed of his 34 previous convictions, including a 20-month sentence imposed in February for a firearms offence. Judge Cormac Quinn adjourned sentencing to 15 February pending a Probation Service report.
Tony Rochford, 50, of Trim, was sentenced to six months in prison for damaging an M50 toll gantry with an angle‑grinder on 30 May and threatening Gardaí. He pleaded guilty to criminal damage and possession of an angle‑grinder. The judge set a headline sentence of four years, suspended the final two years, and imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year term for a prior offence, making the sentences consecutive. Rochford had previously damaged the gantry in June 2017, causing over €500,000 in damage and a 26‑hour outage. He posted videos on social media explaining his motives and was described by a security guard as "hyper." The court noted his history of PTSD, prior convictions, and a claim of political motivation for the earlier offence. The damage to the gantry was estimated at €500‑€1,000.
The belief evidence of Detective Chief Superintendent Anthony Howard that Conor Metcalfe (28) was a member of the IRA on November 24, 2015, forms the central point of the case against him, the Special Criminal Court has heard. Metcalfe, who is charged with membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, has not entered a plea and a not guilty plea has been entered on his behalf. Anne-Marie Lawlor SC, closing the prosecution case, stated that Howard's belief evidence is supported by inferences drawn from Metcalfe's failure to answer material questions during interviews, following the invocation of Section 2 of the Offences Against the State Act. Lawlor highlighted the nexus between Metcalfe and Patrick Brennan, who was jailed for four years for IRA membership in 2005, and David Nooney, who was jailed for three years and nine months for IRA membership earlier this year. She also referenced Metcalfe's fingerprint being found on a document at David Murray's home, where Murray was jailed for four and a half years for IRA membership in 2017. Paul Greene SC, defending Metcalfe, argued that the case has unusual aspects and that the appropriate verdict is not guilty. He contended that the questions put to Metcalfe failed to meet standards and that Howard's belief evidence should be weighed carefully. The matter was adjourned, with Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding, sitting with Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin and Judge Cormac Dunne, remanding Metcalfe on continuing bail until December 19, when the court will deliver judgement on the case.
Paul Keating, 23, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of firearms at his Dublin home on 27 October 2017. A garda detective, conducting a drugs search for cocaine, discovered broken firearm parts. She noted that young people often store gun parts to settle drug debts and believed Keating was under pressure. Judge Elma Sheehan warned him of the seriousness of the offence and that he should feel ashamed. Defence counsel Keith Spencer BL argued the parts were in poor condition, incapable of firing, and not intended as film props. He emphasised that the components were tools of a dangerous industry. The judge adjourned sentencing to allow the defence to submit further reports. No further details of the case were provided.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 58‑year‑old Garda Joseph O'Connor pleaded not guilty to five counts of possessing child pornography. The prosecution presented videos seized from his home on 2 August 2011, showing boys under ten and between ten and seventeen in explicit sexual acts, including two files depicting a male adult with a child. O'Connor claimed he had contacted a man via the gay website Manhunt, exchanged texts about sexual activity, and the man stayed overnight at his home. The next morning O'Connor reported the front door slamming, his laptop closed, €20 and his Garda ID missing. He later found the man, who was wearing his badge and handcuffs, and recovered the money. A complaint of a sexual nature was made against O'Connor, but the complainant withdrew it after the Garda Ombudsman's involvement. The case is proceeding before Judge Sheahan with a jury of ten men and two women.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Stephen Tynan (41) and Raymond Fitzgerald (37) continues before Mr Justice Michael White. Both defendants, from Tallaght, Dublin 24, have pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Andrew Guerrine (37) at an unknown location between May 22 and May 23, 2015. The matter is currently at the trial stage, with no findings, sentences, or finalisations recorded. Witness Shane Traynor testified that he discovered Mr Guerrine's body in a gateway on Steelstown Lane, Rathcoole, in the early hours of May 23, initially mistaking the scene for a hit-and-run. Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster reported that Mr Guerrine died from hemorrhage and shock caused by multiple stab wounds. She identified 20 stab wounds, including injuries to the skull, cervical spine, and a major blood vessel in the chest, indicating substantial force was used. Toxicology revealed cocaine, sedatives, diazepam, and methadone in the deceased's blood. The court heard that all wounds could have been inflicted by a single knife, though a second weapon could not be ruled out. The trial continues tomorrow.
Nan Wu, 36, of Blanchardstown, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to controlling and directing prostitution for gain in 2015. A Garda officer, after a public complaint about a high number of male visitors at a massage parlour in Olivemount, visited the establishment on 17 April 2017. The officer was shown a treatment room containing a naked woman and man. Wu admitted knowledge that her employees performed sex acts for money and disclosed a second massage parlour where similar acts occurred. Defence counsel argued there was no coercion, no sexual intercourse, and that the acts were considered "manual relief". Wu claimed she believed the activities were legal and had not directly profited, as employees kept the money. She has no prior convictions, lives with two children, and is originally from Dalian, China. Judge Elma Sheahan ordered a probation report and adjourned the case to 15 January next year.
In a High Court case concerning the sale of allegedly "clocked" second‑hand cars imported from Japan, the action against Mr Ali Babar, Mr Ali Asad and Cars Point Ltd was resolved and struck out. The plaintiffs, Stuart Kessie, John McCormack and Caroline Bermingham, claimed that more than 20 vehicles they purchased from the defendants had their odometers tampered with, reducing mileage from around 170,000 km to about 63,000 km, and that they were deceived into paying a higher price. They sought refunds and had approached Gardaí. Temporary freezing orders were obtained against Mr Babar and Mr Asad, but the defendants did not appear in court. Judge Caroline Costello agreed to strike out the proceedings and vacated the freezing orders, with no details of any settlement disclosed. The case was therefore concluded without a judgment on the alleged fraud.
In a murder trial, Anthony Walsh, 31, admitted killing Dermot Byrne, 54, on 16 July 2017 in Swords, Co Dublin. Walsh pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to theft of Byrne's bank card, keys and lighter. Byrne had spent the evening at St Colmcille's GAA club, Estuary Bar, a bookmaker, and Harp Bar, where he was refused entry. At 2.10 am, outside the Harp Bar, Byrne attempted to pull a cigarette from Walsh's mouth; a brief altercation followed. Byrne was later found at 2.50 am, stripped of clothes and surrounded by blood. A pathologist recorded over 100 injuries, including facial fractures, rib fractures and bruising, and declared death from traumatic brain injury, intoxication and blood inhalation. Walsh's defence acknowledged unlawful killing and removal of Byrne's property. The trial continues before Justice Eileen Creedon.
A 32‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to 11 months' imprisonment for sexual assault after he put a hand under a woman's skirt and groped her while she slept at a house party in Blanchardstown on 21 June 2015. The man, whose name is withheld to protect the victim, pleaded not guilty but was unanimously convicted by a jury in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He had no prior convictions. The victim, aged 29, had fallen asleep after failing to secure a taxi and later recalled waking to a hand rubbing her vagina on the outside of her skirt. She reported stress and work absence in her victim impact statement. The judge noted the offender's family status but found the offence to be of a mid‑range severity, and the defendant could not accept responsibility for the act. The sentence was imposed with no mention of a suspended portion or effective custody beyond the 11‑month term.
In a week‑long spree in November 2016, 21‑year‑old Jordon Boyle, of Sheephill Green, Blanchardstown, used large knives to rob an Esso garage on Navan Road, a petrol station in Castleknock, and attempted to hijack a Bentley in the same garage forecourt. During the first robbery he held a butcher's knife to a cashier's face, demanded money, stole a bottle of vodka and fled. The second robbery involved a woman in her 60s whom he grabbed from behind, held a machete to her face, and forced a cashier to hand over money. The third incident saw him jump onto a Bentley's hood, threaten the driver and try to open the door before the car was driven away. Boyle pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery, one of false imprisonment and one of attempted unlawful seizure of a vehicle.
Judge Melanie Greally adjourned the sentencing of Niall Byrne, Mark Farrelly, Christopher Corcoran, and David Byrne until July 16, remanding them in continuing custody. The men were convicted by a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury for their roles in the €2.08 million robbery of Paul Richardson and Securicor on March 14, 2005, and the false imprisonment of the Richardson family at their Raheny home on March 13 and 14, 2005. All four defendants had pleaded not guilty. The jury convicted Farrelly, Corcoran, and David Byrne of robbery and false imprisonment. Niall Byrne was convicted of conspiracy to robbery, while the jury failed to reach a majority verdict on a kidnapping charge against him. This was the fifth trial for the case; previous convictions for Farrelly and Corcoran were overturned in 2012 due to unconstitutional search warrants, and subsequent acquittals were reversed by the Court of Appeal. During the hearing, victim Paul Richardson described the crime as "heinous and inhumane" and driven by greed. His wife and sons also submitted impact statements detailing the long-term trauma. The court noted Farrelly had 25 previous convictions, while Corcoran, David Byrne, and Niall Byrne had prior records for minor offences. The matter was adjourned for sentence.
In a High Court ruling, Ms Justice Carmel Stewart declared €211,000 held in Irish bank accounts as proceeds of crime. The funds were deposited by an individual using the alias 'Darren H Barnett', who had obtained a UK passport number through identity theft and used it to secure a PPS number in Ireland. In 2012, Barnett opened several Dublin bank accounts and received international deposits, including US$269,000 from a Dubai entity described as "frozen Atlantic Salmon." The Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) traced the money to a scheme involving the alias, a fraudulent company named Harglena Global, and false residential addresses. CAB presented evidence that the company was not legitimate and that the alleged home address was unrelated to Barnett. Despite CAB's attempts to serve documents, the alias could not be located. The court, following CAB's evidence, ordered the freezing of the monies under Section 3 of the 1996 Proceeds of Crime Act.
Tony Rochford, aged 50, was sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment after he climbed the M50 gantry, cut wires, smashed sensors and damaged fuses on the eFlow toll collection system. His actions left the system out of operation for 26 hours and closed the northbound carriageway for three hours in June 2017, causing an estimated €619,000 in losses. Rochford admitted the offence and said he hoped the disruption would draw media attention to his concerns about a 2002 fire at the Verdemont Apartments, where two people died, and a recent fire at a Blanchardstown apartment complex. He pleaded guilty to criminal damage to property belonging to Transport Infrastructure Ireland. The court, noting his prior convictions and his motivation, imposed the custodial sentence after a hearing in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Jason Hennessy, 21, pleaded guilty to violent disorder after attacking Dylan Campbell and Lee Whelan on D'Olier Street in 2015. He was found to have used a hammer and an iron bar, causing a 4‑cm head wound and tendon injury to Campbell. Hennessy later gave Campbell €500 and has attended anger‑management sessions. Judge Cormac Quinn sentenced him to a headline term of three and a half years, reduced to a two‑year suspended sentence due to mitigating factors such as his apology, remorse and age (18 at the time). He must keep the peace for three years, be supervised by the Probation Service for 18 months, and comply with substance‑misuse and victim‑awareness programmes. The court also noted that no victim impact statements were filed and that a bus driver's footage captured the assault. Three other co‑accused received community service or suspended sentences.
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Melanie Greally recorded a jury disagreement on kidnapping charges against Niall Byrne, Mark Farrelly, Christopher Corcoran, and David Byrne. The jury convicted all four men of conspiracy to robbery and five counts of robbery and false imprisonment related to the March 2005 seizure of €2.08 million from Securicor and the Richardson family. All defendants had pleaded not guilty. The State alleged Niall Byrne, a former Securicor employee, acted as the "inside man." This was the fifth trial for the case; previous proceedings resulted in hung juries, acquittals, or overturned convictions due to constitutional issues with search warrants. Farrelly, Corcoran, and Jason Kavanagh were previously jailed in 2009 but released in 2012 after their convictions were quashed. The jury deliberated for nearly 18 hours before reaching its verdict. Judge Greally remanded all four men into custody to appear before the court on June 5th for sentencing. The matter was adjourned and is not yet concluded.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Jadesola Agbalade, 51, pleaded guilty to knowingly distributing a child pornography clip that showed an infant being raped. The clip, depicting a child aged between two and five, was forwarded by Agbalade to a friend and later discovered during a Garda investigation into credit card fraud. Agbalade admitted to sending the clip and claimed she did not understand the seriousness of the offence. Judge Karen O'Connor wholly suspended a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, citing the case as a one‑off instance of poor judgement and noting a psychological report found no sinister motive. The judge ordered Agbalade to remain on the sex offenders register for five years, but she avoided custodial jail time. The court highlighted her cooperation, remorse, and lack of prior convictions. The case was presented as an unusual, non‑profit‑based distribution of a single clip.
Eoin Jarvis, 26, of Corduff Grove, Blanchardstown, was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to dangerous driving, driving without insurance, reckless endangerment and unlawful use of a vehicle. On 11 April 2017, he drove a stolen car at 180 kph along the N1/M1 motorway, causing it to become airborne over a roundabout before crashing on the far side. Jarvis had taken 28 sleeping tablets before driving and was heavily intoxicated at the time of arrest. Garda John Delaney reported that the crash was witnessed by two plain‑clothes officers. Jarvis exited the vehicle, ran across four lanes of traffic and was taken to a petrol station where he was arrested. The court noted his 57 previous convictions and that he was not involved in the burglary that stole the car. Judge Martin Nolan acknowledged Jarvis' guilty plea and cooperation, and imposed the three‑year sentence.
Patrick Dunne, 30, of Santry Lodge, Ballymun, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbing Briarswood Stores in Blanchardstown on 29 September 2017. He entered the shop with a scarf over his face and two five‑inch screwdrivers, demanding the cashier open the till. He took €195 in coins from the till. Garda Brendan O'Hora identified him from CCTV and fingerprints. Dunne has 95 previous convictions, including theft, burglary and criminal damage, and was already serving a four‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for brandishing an imitation firearm in Ballymun. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a two‑year prison sentence, noting Dunne's drug addiction and the possibility of a positive change. The judge said he would not extend Dunne's custody beyond the sentence, hoping he will "turn the corner.".
Jonathan Conway, 36, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for stealing a BMW that had been left with its keys inside by the owner. He drove the vehicle in a highly dangerous manner, losing control at a roundabout, briefly becoming airborne and crashing into a lamppost and the wall of a pub. Two female passengers suffered minor injuries. Conway had 120 prior convictions, mainly for traffic and public order offences, theft and court‑appearance failures. He pleaded guilty to taking possession of a car without consent, dangerous driving, driving without insurance and refusing a sample. The judge imposed a five‑year driving ban and noted Conway's limited cooperation with Gardaí, his guilty plea and rehabilitation efforts. He was also in custody on other district court matters. The court heard he had lost a local‑authority accommodation in Blanchardstown. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court by Judge Melanie Greally.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence in the ongoing trial of David Nooney, 53, of Ballymun, Dublin, who is pleading not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation, namely the IRA, on August 8, 2015. Prosecution counsel Tara Burns SC presented testimony from Detective Garda Ronan Judge, who stated that Nooney failed to answer questions during an interview at Irishtown Garda Station on August 9, 2015. The detectives invoked Section 2 of the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act, 1998, allowing the court to draw inferences from his refusal to respond to allegations regarding a trusted role with senior IRA members and securing a safe-house in Blanchardstown. In a subsequent interview, Nooney stated he was not an IRA member. The prosecution alleges gardai used surveillance devices to record interviews at Riverwood Park, Castleknock, conducted to further an unlawful objective. Four co-accused are also arraigned: Kevin Hannaway, 69, and Eva Shannon, 60, both of Belfast, plead not guilty to knowingly rendering assistance to the IRA on August 7 and 8, 2015. Edward O'Brien, 42, of Finglas, and Seán Hannaway, 48, of Belfast, plead not guilty to IRA membership on August 8, 2015. The trial continues before Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, sitting with Judges Gerard Griffin and Gerard Haughton.
During the seventh day of a trial at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Garda Sergeant Katherina Joyce informed the jury that a VW Crafter van, registered to Slawomir Gierlowski (33) of Galtymore Road, Drimnagh, Dublin, was believed to be linked to a May 2016 knife attack on a woman near a Luas stop. A warrant was obtained to search Gierlowski's home, where Garda Ronan O'Malley found a blue‑green jacket in the master bedroom but did not search a downstairs room that was reportedly rented out. Detective Garda Brian O'Shaughnessy later stated he had searched that room but seized nothing. Garda David Harte testified that he seized a roll of grey duct tape and a packet of black cable ties from the van, which also contained a shelving unit, a hi‑vis jacket, a ladder, a spirit level, drills and extension leads.
Eamon Colley, a 51‑year‑old Dublin businessman, was found guilty of making false statements after he abandoned his Porsche Boxster in Phoenix Park following a hit‑and‑run incident on 14 February 2017. Colley had crashed into a motorist who was stopping to let a deer cross the road, causing €9,413 in damage to the victim's Volkswagen Golf. CCTV footage showed Colley driving away with smoke from his Porsche's front and later yelling at a car‑park ticket machine. He reported the vehicle stolen at Blanchardstown Garda Station on 15 February and again at his business address the same day. The court accepted his admissions of being intoxicated and of leaving the scene to avoid drink‑driving prosecution. He was sentenced to a 21‑month suspended term and an 18‑month driving ban, with no prior convictions recorded.
Anthony Heffernan, 32, of Blanchardstown, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for robbery. He pleaded guilty to robbing a Centra shop in Huntstown on April 8, 2017. Prosecution evidence stated that Heffernan entered the store armed with a knife, shouted at a staff member, and took approximately €250. He subsequently surrendered himself to gardaí at Blanchardstown Garda Station, identifying himself on CCTV footage. The court heard that Heffernan was a gambling addict who had run out of cash to bet, and he was transferred to a psychiatric unit after his arrest. He has 13 previous convictions, mainly for road traffic offences. Defence counsel Sarah Connolly BL highlighted his cooperation, remorse, and efforts to overcome addiction through Gamblers Anonymous and programs at Coolmine. Judge Martin Nolan noted letters demonstrating Heffernan's positive character and past difficulties. The judge stated that a custodial sentence was not justified and imposed a two-year suspended term.
Herton Diansambu, 21, was jailed for two and a half years after a series of violent robberies. He first stole a €700 phone from a mother with her baby and teenage son on 7 July 2016, then on 21 August 2016 robbed a Gourmet Pizza delivery man at The Boulevard, Mount Garrett, taking €130 worth of food, €50 cash and a phone. Diansambu admitted the crimes and claimed the robberies were motivated by hunger. He was found guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and had no prior convictions. The court noted his cooperation, full admissions and a drug problem, and imposed a four‑year sentence with the final 18 months suspended due to his young age and good record. The sentence was to be served consecutively, with the suspended portion not to be enforced. The case was prosecuted by Lisa Dempsey BL and defended by Kenneth Kerins BL.
In June 2016, 22‑year‑old Lee Murray robbed a business tourist on Hanover Street East, Dublin, threatening him with a bread knife and stealing his iPhone 7. The victim reported that the robber had a bandage on his hand. Gardaí located Murray a few hours later at Misery Hill, where he admitted the crime, led them to the hidden phone and apologized. Murray pleaded guilty to one count of robbery. On 13 February 2018, the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced him to 20 months' imprisonment. Judge Martin Nolan cited mitigating circumstances, including Murray's history of heroin addiction, his recent stab‑wound injury, and his status on the waiting list for residential treatment. The judge noted that Murray's behaviour on the day left him with "no choice" and that a custodial sentence was necessary. Murray has 24 prior convictions, including theft and knife offences, and is a father of a two‑year‑old child.
Two Dublin men, Martin Cully (35) and Eugene Traynor (40), were sentenced to seven‑year prison terms, partially suspended, for unlawfully seizing a vehicle and forcibly removing a woman from her car. The incident occurred on Old Connacht Avenue, Bray, on 15 June 2017. Cully, who had previously been disqualified from driving for 30 years, also pleaded guilty to two dangerous driving charges. Judge Patrick Quinn imposed a lifetime driving ban on Cully, suspended the final two years of his sentence and the final two and a half years of Traynor's sentence, and required both men to remain drug‑free and engage in treatment programmes. The court noted a high‑speed chase that ended with the car crashing into a pole. Cully had 67 prior convictions, including seven burglaries; Traynor had 20 prior convictions, including robbery and theft. The victim, who suffered nightmares and flashbacks, gave a victim impact statement describing her fear and helplessness during the attack.
A 20‑year‑old Romanian teenager, Carmen Nicolae, was sentenced to a suspended two‑year imprisonment for stealing €10,000 worth of jewellery from an elderly couple in Artane on 2 October 2015. Nicolae pretended to be collecting for charity, claiming she was Spanish and collecting for the starving in Africa. She entered the couple's house, was allowed to use the bathroom, and then stole a collection of sentimental items including a diamond engagement ring, charm bracelet, gold chains, an eternity ring, earrings and cuff links. The stolen items were never recovered. A palm print from the jewellery box matched Nicolae's. She pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and had five prior convictions for theft and fraud. Judge Patricia Ryan described the offence as "mean and nasty" and imposed a suspended sentence, noting that if she returned to court she would be dealt with seriously.
The Special Criminal Court heard surveillance evidence in the ongoing trial of Edward O'Brien, David Nooney, Seán Hannaway, Kevin Hannaway, and Eva Shannon. All five defendants pleaded not guilty to charges relating to membership of or assisting an unlawful organisation, namely the Irish Republican Army (IRA), on August 7th and 8th, 2015. Detective Garda BK testified that he observed Mr. Nooney and Mr. O'Brien entering and leaving a house in Riverwood Park, Castleknock, Dublin 15, where the prosecution alleges IRA interviews were conducted. Photographs taken by the detective were shown to the judges. Another detective, Detective Garda Y, stated he observed Mr. Nooney meeting two men at a McDonald's in Blanchardstown before they departed in his car. Prosecution counsel Tara Burns SC indicated that covert listening device evidence would be presented regarding the interviews. The trial is currently before Justice Isobel Kennedy, Justice Robert Haughton, and Judge Gerard Griffin. The matter was adjourned and continues tomorrow.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence in the ongoing trial of five accused individuals, with proceedings continuing before Justice Isobel Kennedy. Kevin Hannaway and Eva Shannon have pleaded not guilty to charges of knowingly rendering assistance to an unlawful organisation, alleged to be the IRA, by assisting in interviews at Riverwood Park, Castleknock, on August 7 and 8, 2015. Edward O'Brien, David Nooney, and Seán Hannaway have pleaded not guilty to membership of the same organisation on August 8, 2015. Prosecution counsel Tara Burns SC read a statement from landlord Paul Keegan, who alleged he lent the property to a friend's relatives as a favour. Keegan described observing men in the house, noting closed curtains and a smell of smoke, before police broke down the door. A National Surveillance Unit detective sergeant testified that he observed David Nooney at the property on August 7 and 8, 2015, including instances of Nooney moving items into the house. The witness stated his brief was solely to observe Nooney and he could not recall being informed the house was under surveillance. The trial is at the charge or pre-trial stage, with no findings, sentences, or finalisations recorded. The matter was adjourned and will continue on Monday.
Trevor Brunton, 35, of Broombridge Road, Cabra, pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing cocaine over €13,000 for sale or supply at Blanchardstown shopping centre and at his home on 28 July 2016. He was found with over €380,000 worth of cocaine, including eight blocks weighing just over three kilos and an estimated street value of €245,000, and a further quantity seized from his home, bringing the total to just over €382,000. Brunton had a drug debt of €15,000 and was transporting drugs to pay it off. He has seven previous convictions, including four firearm convictions, and was previously jailed for eight years in 2008. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and ordered a review of the case in six years. His co‑accused, Jason Kearney, 37, also pleaded guilty to one count of possession over €13,000 and was jailed for 10 years.
Cornelius Kaiser, a 40‑year‑old father of three from Collegefort, Castleknock, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Court to one count of deception for using falsified bank statements to obtain a €38,720 truck loan in March 2008. He was arrested in December 2008, fled the country, and was returned to Ireland in May 2024 on a European Arrest Warrant issued by the PSNI. Judge Martin Nolan described the offence as a "devious crime" and noted Kaiser's use of intellect and deviousness to secure the loan. The false statements were discovered during a Garda search of his sister's house in Blanchardstown, where a Hungarian passport in the name Emmanuel Martin was also found. Kaiser has seven prior convictions, including four concealment offences in Romania, for which he received a three‑year sentence. He was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment, back‑dated to 28 May 2024, when he entered custody.
Father‑of‑two Timothy Magee (42) of Finglas was given a three‑year fully‑suspended sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for assaulting Gavin Mitchell with a baseball bat outside McGrath's Pub on 10 January 2015. Magee pleaded guilty to causing a serious fracture to Mitchell's forehead and additional blows to his body. The court ordered Magee to pay €8,000 in compensation, with €2,000 payable immediately and €6,000 thereafter. Judge Martin Nolan noted that Magee did not initiate the altercation but that his response was "grossly disproportionate." Magee admitted he was very intoxicated and had little memory of the night. Mitchell suffered a fractured bone, required surgery to remove an aneurism, and now lives with an arteriovenous fistula. Magee had three prior minor traffic convictions and was described by employers and a GAA club chairman as a reliable, hardworking, loyal family man. The case was presented as an instance of excessive force in a self‑defence claim.
Mihail Coptu, a 46‑year‑old Moldovan, was jailed for one year after he attempted to choke a 70‑year‑old taxi driver with a seat belt while the taxi was moving onto a motorway slip road. Coptu, who had 23 prior convictions, was found drunk at the time of the offence. He pleaded guilty to endangerment and obstruction of a garda at the M1 motorway on 17 March 2016. The judge, citing the seriousness of the offence and Coptu's intoxication, imposed a custodial sentence, rejecting a non‑custodial alternative. Garda Gerard Mullarkey reported that the driver had freed himself by pulling the seat belt over his head, after which Coptu fled the moving vehicle. The court heard a victim impact statement noting the driver's three‑week loss of work and the cost of installing a screen in the taxi. Coptu later expressed remorse and claimed the incident was an aberration caused by alcohol.
Craig Smith, aged 20, was given an 18‑month suspended sentence for his role in a violent brawl on D'Olier Street in Dublin on 23 May 2016. Smith, who was armed with an iron bar, struck two male victims, Mr Dylan Campbell and Mr Lee Whelan, during an attempt to break up a fight between two women. CCTV footage showed Smith swinging the bar at the victims and making contact with Mr Campbell, while another man struck Mr Campbell with a hammer. Smith pleaded guilty to violent disorder and assault with an offensive weapon. The judge noted his lack of prior convictions and personal circumstances, imposing a suspended sentence with strict conditions, including two years of probation supervision. The case also involved Jordan McGuinness, who received a one‑year suspended sentence for his part in the incident. Both men withdrew their complaints after initial statements to Gardaí.
A trial date of 2 October 2018 has been set at the Special Criminal Court for five men charged in connection with the murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly. The 35-year-old was fatally shot outside The Huntsman Inn in Gormanston, County Meath on 6 March 2013. Books of evidence were served on the defendants during proceedings before the non-jury court. Michael McDermott of Ballinagh, County Cavan faces charges including murder, membership of an unlawful organisation, and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. Kevin Braney of Tallaght, Dublin and Frank Murphy of Bettystown, County Meath face similar charges. Laurence Murphy of Bettystown and Ray Kennedy of Blanchardstown, Dublin are charged with membership of an unlawful organisation. The trial is estimated to last up to ten weeks. Additional legal representation has been approved for each defendant.
A Mulhuddart man, Andrew Gibney, who admitted stabbing Gerard Burnett three times, was sentenced to eight years in prison with one year suspended at the Central Criminal Court for manslaughter during an appeal. Gibney was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter by a jury last month after deliberating for seven hours and six minutes over three days. He had pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Burnett at Castlecurragh Vale, Mulhuddart, Dublin 15 on August 21, 2012. Mr Justice Paul Butler accepted the jury's verdict, noting that Gibney did not intend to kill or cause serious injury. Gibney admitted stabbing Mr Burnett three times in the side with a knife and voluntarily went to gardaí a week after the incident. The prosecution argued that Gibney was part of a joint enterprise to murder Mr Burnett, while the defence maintained that the appropriate verdict was manslaughter. The court heard that Mr Burnett suffered 30 knife injuries, including six fatal stab wounds to his chest. Mr Justice Butler noted that Gibney's remorse was credible and that he had made progress while in custody. The sentence was backdated to August 28, 2012, when Gibney entered custody. The matter was adjourned for the sentence hearing, and Gibney was asked to enter a bond of €100 for good behaviour.
Five men charged with violent disorder following an alleged altercation at a public house in Finglas, Dublin, on 19 October have been refused bail by the High Court. David Mulvey, aged 35, Robert Gaynor, aged 27, and Shane Thomas, aged 25, all of addresses in Finglas, Christopher Duggan, aged 28, of no fixed address, and Scott Capper, aged 24, of Cappagh Green in Finglas, face charges relating to an incident at The Cardiff Inn on Cardiffsbridge Road. The State objected to bail applications on grounds including the O'Callaghan principles and Section 2 of the Bail Act 1997. Evidence was heard from gardaí and a Detective Chief Superintendent from the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation regarding concerns about the risk of further serious offences. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy refused bail for all five accused and remanded them in custody.
Darren Gleeson, 35, of Corduff Green, Blanchardstown, pleaded guilty to membership of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) at the Special Criminal Court. He had ordered two grenades via the Dark Net, paying with Bitcoin under the alias "guilleoteen." The package was intercepted and delivered to his girlfriend's address on 18 May 2017. Gleeson signed the DHL receipt as "Darren Kinsella" and accepted the inert grenades, carrying a Stanley knife. Gardaí arrested him that day and he was later taken to Finglas Garda Station. He had a history of four burglaries and two robberies but no prior unlawful‑organisation convictions. The court, presided over by Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, Judge Sinead Ni Chúlacháin and Judge Cormac Dunne, sentenced him to three years and six months' imprisonment, back‑dated to 18 May 2017. The sentence reflected the potential harm of the explosives and his guilty plea, with mitigating factors including cooperation and family circumstances. The maximum penalty was eight years.
David McDonagh, 42, of St Margaret's Halting Site, Ballymun, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to handling stolen property on 6 April 2015 and possession of stolen property on 16 April 2015. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to two and a half years imprisonment, suspended for the same period on the condition of keeping the peace and good behaviour. He was ordered to pay €4,200 compensation to the victim and to engage with the probation service for 12 months. The judge also suspended his driving licence for two years because he had used a vehicle without insurance and failed to produce insurance. McDonagh was identified as the "front man" in a stolen car operation that involved Volkswagen Passat and Golf vehicles advertised on the Done Deal website, with false number plates, NCT and tax discs. He has 81 previous convictions, 59 of which are road traffic offences, and one theft conviction.