During a trial for Liam Brannigan, a 37‑year‑old from Dublin, a detective explained how two tracking devices were found on a white Range Rover belonging to the partner of the intended murder victim, Gary Hanley. The devices were discovered under the vehicle's centre beam after the car was stopped on Beaumont Road. Brannigan is charged with conspiring to murder Hanley between 15 September and 6 November 2017 and has pleaded not guilty. The court also heard about the arrests of Luke Wilson, Alan Wilson and Joseph Kelly on 6 November, who were convicted of conspiring to murder Hanley and received sentences ranging from six to twelve years. The trial will continue the following day.
A court has heard that secretly recorded conversations involving Liam Brannigan (37) from Bride Street, Dublin 8, will be presented as evidence in his trial for conspiring to murder Gary Hanley between September 15th and November 6th, 2017. Brannigan entered a 'not guilty' plea during his arraignment in the Special Criminal Court. Three men who previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to murder Mr Hanley have already been jailed: Luke Wilson (24), Alan Wilson (39), and Joseph Kelly (35). Luke Wilson was jailed for 11 years for unlawful possession of a Beretta handgun with intent to endanger life, Alan Wilson received six years, and Joseph Kelly was jailed for 12 years. The prosecution will rely on seized phones, vehicles, and audio recordings from a Garda surveillance operation to prove Brannigan's involvement in the plot. The trial will include evidence of detailed discussions about how Mr Hanley was to be shot, how they would react to resistance, and how they would escape. The court will also hear about the arrest of Joseph Kelly and Luke Wilson, during which a semi-automatic pistol, a sound suppressor, and petrol were found. The trial continues tomorrow.
Alan Wilson, aged 40, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to six years' imprisonment, back‑dated to 6 November 2017, for conspiring to murder Gary Hanley. Wilson's role involved planning the attack, instructing co‑accused Joseph Kelly and Luke Wilson on routes, vehicle destruction and the method of killing. Wilson also received a six‑year concurrent sentence for conspiracy to murder and a 12‑year sentence for possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, the latter suspended for three years. Joseph Kelly, aged 39, received a six‑year concurrent sentence for conspiracy to murder and a 12‑year sentence for firearm possession, with 18 months suspended for a period of three years. The sentences were imposed concurrently and back‑dated to the date of Kelly's initial custody. The court noted Wilson's early guilty plea and lack of prior convictions as mitigating factors. The judge highlighted the Gardaí's intervention as preventing the planned murder.
The Special Criminal Court heard sentencing submissions for Alan Wilson and Joseph Kelly, who are accused of conspiring to murder Gary Hanley and possessing a 9mm Beretta pistol with intent to endanger life. Both men pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge, while Kelly also admitted to the firearm possession. The court heard evidence of secret recordings where Wilson instructed Kelly to kill Hanley, and surveillance of reconnaissance trips to plan the attack. Wilson, who has no prior convictions, expressed remorse in a letter to the court, while Kelly, who has 64 previous convictions, cited drug addiction and a difficult background as mitigating factors. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding with Judges Martin Nolan and Ann Ryan, remanded both defendants in custody until July 29, when they will be sentenced. The matter was adjourned and is not yet concluded. Luke Wilson, Alan Wilson's nephew, was previously sentenced to 11 years for the same firearm charge and a concurrent six years for the conspiracy.
Shane McDonnell, 29, was sentenced by Judge Karen O'Connor at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two years and eight months in custody for unlawful use of a car, three counts of dangerous driving, driving without a licence or insurance, and possession of a stolen laptop and PlayStation. He was under a 10‑year driving ban and had 25 prior convictions. The judge warned he must choose between a life of crime or becoming a better father. McDonnell pleaded guilty to the offences, which occurred in Clanbrassil Street and Kennelworth Park on 17 April 2017 and in Templeogue on 16 September 2018. A second sentence of two years was suspended on condition of keeping the peace and complying with Probation Services. The court noted his transformation in custody and his sister's lack of recognition of him. The sentence was back‑dated to 17 September 2018.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Christopher Gannon, aged 35, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after attacking his former partner at Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin, on 6 October 2018. The victim was with their son, who required treatment, when Gannon arrived with his brother in an "irate state". He burst into the room, repeatedly punched the woman's head while the son lay on a hospital bed, was restrained by staff, escaped, and continued punching the victim. The assault left her with a fractured nose and temporary double vision. Gannon, who has three prior convictions for assault and public intoxication, claimed he lost control after learning his son had been hurt. He offered a "genuine" apology. The judge ordered a probation report and adjourned sentencing to 18 October.
In a 2019 Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Jack Hall Ellis, 21, pleaded guilty to unlawfully killing his friend Luke O'Reilly, 20, in a drunken "one punch" assault on Halloween night 2017. Ellis admitted he was acting in drunkenness and anger, having consumed seven to ten double shots of Captain Morgan rum, and punched O'Reilly from behind as they left a pub. O'Reilly fell, hit his head, suffered traumatic brain injuries and died in hospital two weeks later. Ellis was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended. The judge noted the unprovoked nature of the assault, Ellis's early guilty plea, lack of prior violent convictions, remorse, and supportive family as mitigating factors, while emphasizing the seriousness of one‑punch attacks and the need for deterrence. The sentence reflected the low‑middle range of offending for the offence.
In December 2018, Bernard Kelly, aged 38, led Gardaí on a high‑speed chase that ended with his vehicle colliding with cars waiting to collect children from a school. Kelly, who was driving with his partner and their three‑month‑old child, claimed he continued driving to protect the infant and feared Gardaí would ram his car. He broke red lights, drove on the wrong side of the road, and entered a one‑way road. The chase was halted once he approached the school, but he was later arrested. Kelly pleaded guilty to endangerment and criminal damage to seven vehicles, including a car that was written off and a driver who suffered minor whiplash. He received a five‑and‑a‑half‑year jail sentence, with a four‑and‑a‑half‑year term for endangerment and a one‑year term for possession of stolen property, to be served consecutively. The court noted his 141 prior convictions and struggles with heroin addiction.
A 22-year-old man from Dublin's North Strand has received a suspended sentence after pleading guilty to drug offences at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Daryl Conroy was stopped by gardaí in Drumcondra on 9 December 2015, when officers discovered a quantity of cannabis and cocaine with an estimated street value of €10,628, along with drug paraphernalia and multiple mobile phones. A subsequent search of his home yielded €10,580 in cash. The court heard that Conroy was 19 at the time of the offence and had no previous convictions. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a four-year prison sentence but suspended it in full, conditional on Conroy keeping the peace for that period. The judge noted Conroy's employment history and role as a father, and considered a positive reference from Crumlin Youth Project submitted to the court.
John Maher, 48, of Drimnagh, was found asleep by Garda Caroline Kelly in possession of stolen jewellery and later pleaded guilty to two burglaries. The first was at Keeper Road, Drimnagh, on 19 October 2017, where a back window was smashed and electronic items worth €1,200 were stolen; blood on the wall matched Maher's DNA. The second was at Crumlin Road, Crumlin, on 18 October 2018. In both cases Maher claimed he had no memory of the offences. He has 42 prior convictions, including aggravated burglary, burglary and criminal damage, and a serious heroin addiction, though he has been on methadone since 2002. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to three and a half years' imprisonment, suspending the final 12 months on strict conditions. The suspended portion is separate from the effective custodial term. All stolen items were returned. The court noted his guilty plea, good prison behaviour and the link between his addiction and offending as mitigating factors.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Shane McDonnell, 29, pleaded guilty to unlawful use of a car, three counts of dangerous driving, driving without insurance or a licence, and possession of a stolen laptop and PlayStation. McDonnell, who has 25 prior convictions and a 10‑year driving disqualification, drove a stolen VW Passat at high speed around Dublin's city centre on 17 April 2017, running red lights, overtaking on the wrong side of the road and causing other drivers to swerve. He was arrested after a foot chase. McDonnell later told Gardaí he had been paid €300 to move the stolen car for someone. He also admitted he had been asked to pick up stolen items from a Terenure burglary for €50. The court noted he had used his time in custody well, describing a transformation, and sentencing was adjourned to 12 July 2019.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Thomas McMahon, 35, pleaded guilty to exposure on a Dublin bus in Crumlin on 28 June 2017. He claimed he had been urinating when the bus jerked forward, pushing him toward a female passenger. Judge Melanie Greally noted the offence appeared not to be for sexual gratification but occurred while McMahon was inebriated and in need of "relieving himself." She considered his long‑standing drug and alcohol addictions, mental health history, and his remorse. The judge imposed a one‑year sentence, suspended for 12 months on strict conditions. McMahon was identified by CCTV, arrested, and cooperated with the investigation. He has ten previous convictions for District Court offences such as public order and assault. The victim described the incident as "the scariest thing that had happened me on a bus" and took two days off work, with no lasting impact reported.
A 32-year-old man has been sentenced to three years imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following guilty pleas to nine burglaries and one count of criminal damage committed across Dublin locations between April and September 2018. Dean Moore, with an address in Crumlin, was captured on CCTV during the offences, in some instances cycling to and from premises while wearing a high-visibility jacket. The burglaries targeted various locations including retail premises, residential buildings, a school, and company offices, with stolen items including cash, laptops, and other goods totalling significant losses. Moore's previous convictions number 114, including 19 burglaries. Evidence indicated the offences were committed to fund drug and gambling habits. Judge Melanie Greally imposed an additional two-year sentence for a burglary at Transport Club, suspended in full on strict conditions. The court acknowledged Moore's early guilty plea and admissions to gardaí as mitigating factors, alongside his difficult childhood and addiction history, balanced against the aggravating nature of his extensive prior convictions for burglary.
A 57‑year‑old Dublin grandfather, Joseph Tyrell, will be sentenced for two burglaries and an attempted bookies robbery. He cut himself while smashing windows at the burglarised properties and left blood at the scenes. DNA from the blood linked him to the crimes, and CCTV footage identified him during the attempted robbery, where he threatened to shoot two cashiers. Tyrell pleaded guilty to burglary at Sundrive Road, Crumlin, on 23 March 2016, and at Blarney Park, Kimmage, between 17 and 19 August 2016, and to attempted robbery at BoyleSports, Greenhills Road, on 7 April 2016. He has 85 previous convictions over 40 years, including robbery, aggravated burglary and drug offences, and is currently serving a five‑year sentence for another burglary. The court heard that the burglaries were opportunistic, lacked sophistication, and were carried out by a drug‑addicted offender who had struggled with addiction since his teens. The victims suffered financial loss, property damage, and emotional distress.
In 2017, Jack Hall Ellis, a 21‑year‑old apprentice carpenter, punched 20‑year‑old Luke O'Reilly once after a night of heavy drinking. The assault occurred on Old Blessington Road, Tallaght, when O'Reilly was walking away from a pub. The single blow to the right side of O'Reilly's head caused a fall that left him with brain injuries. He was taken to hospital in a coma and died 13 days later. Ellis, who had consumed seven to ten double Captain Morgan rums that night, pleaded guilty to unlawful killing at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The court adjourned sentencing to allow reports to be prepared and will hear a plea in mitigation next month. O'Reilly's mother, Janet O'Brien, delivered a victim impact statement describing her son as a gentle giant and expressing the family's profound loss. The case highlights the fatal consequences of a single punch delivered in a drunken state.
A 19-year-old man from Strokestown, County Longford, has been sentenced to four years imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for violent offences committed during an escape from Oberstown Children's Detention Campus in Lusk, County Dublin, on 29 May 2017. Michael Ward pleaded guilty to criminal damage, assault causing harm, and assault while attempting to commit theft. During the incident, Ward struck the campus director with a metal bar, causing bleeding, and caused extensive damage to the facility estimated at €17,135. He and other detainees barricaded themselves in an office, armed themselves with metal fixtures, and used an angle grinder to breach the campus perimeter fence. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed concurrent sentences of four years for assault and five years for criminal damage, suspending the final 12 months of both terms. She considered Ward's early guilty plea, efforts at rehabilitation, youth, and apology. Ward is currently serving an earlier four-year sentence, with 12 months suspended, for separate criminal damage offences at Oberstown.
Damien O'Reilly, 38, pleaded guilty to burglary at Locks Restaurant and I Monelli in October 2017. While seeking work, he entered Locks, looked through staff lockers, and stole a phone and €20. A staff member caught him and he later surrendered the phone. At I Monelli he tried to book a family dinner but went behind the counter, was photographed by staff and arrested the next day. O'Reilly, a long‑time drug addict who had relapsed after a relationship ended, expressed remorse and regret. Judge Melanie Greally noted the similarity of the offences, his addiction history and lack of lasting victim harm, but also the confrontation with staff. She sentenced him to two‑and‑a‑half years, suspending the final 15 months for 18 months on strict conditions, including drug‑addiction treatment before release.
In a High Court damages action, sound technician Andrew Walsh (35) claimed he suffered severe foot injuries after being struck by a white Nissan driven by Maria Byrne, sister of Regency Hotel murder victim David Byrne. Walsh alleged the vehicle was driven dangerously, with a lack of proper lookout and failure to brake, causing him to be knocked off his bike on Meath Street, Dublin 8, on 19 May 2011. He reported fractures to two metatarsals, ongoing pain, involuntary twitching, use of a walking stick, and the need for future surgery. Byrne denied the allegations, represented by Vincent Foley SC. On the second day of the hearing, Diarmuid Murphy BL announced that the parties had reached a settlement, which was confidential, and the case could be struck out. Judge Bronagh O'Hanlon welcomed the settlement and noted the case raised issues concerning cyclists' rights.
In a High Court action, sound technician Andrew Walsh, aged 35, alleges that on 19 May 2011 he was struck from behind by a Nissan Qashqai driven by Maria Byrne, sister of David Byrne who was murdered in 2016. Walsh claims the collision caused two fractures to the metatarsals of his right foot, ongoing pain, involuntary twitching and the need for future surgery. He also reports being intimidated by two men on the road after the crash, one of whom attempted to force cannabis into his mouth. Walsh states that Byrne's mother, Sadie Byrne, threw ash at him while he lay on the ground. Byrne denies all allegations. The case is before Ms Justice Bronagh O'Hanlon and remains pending.
Michael Ward, 19, of Co Longford, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to criminal damage, assault causing harm, and assault while attempting to commit theft at Oberstown Children's Detention Campus in Lusk, Co Dublin, on May 29, 2017. The court heard that Ward is currently serving a four-year sentence, with the final 12 months suspended, for prior criminal damage offences at the same facility. Prosecution evidence alleged that Ward assaulted a staff member, barricaded himself in an office with other youths, and struck Campus Director Pat Bergin in the head with a metal bar. Ward and two others allegedly used an angle grinder to cut through the campus fence to escape, causing €17,135 in damage. Ward has 56 previous convictions. Judge Patricia Ryan noted that Ward minimised his actions and ordered a governor's report and a probation report to be prepared. The matter was adjourned for sentencing to March 22 of this year.
Ian Kidd, 52, pleaded guilty to one count of criminal damage after pouring diesel inside St Agnes' Church in Crumlin on 26 July 2017. The diesel was spilled on the altar, a Carrara marble surface, and damaged a monstrance, a crucifix and a Paschal candle that belonged to Father Paul Tyrell. The damage is estimated at €100,000. Kidd appeared before the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where Judge Melanie Greally adjourned sentencing to 12 April and ordered a victim impact statement for that date.
A 23-year-old man has been sentenced to three and a half years imprisonment, with the final twelve months suspended, following a high-speed car chase across Kildare and Dublin last May. Christopher Prentice, of Tallaght, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to unlawfully using a stolen vehicle and three counts of dangerous driving. The court heard that gardaí observed Prentice driving a jeep reported stolen on the Naas Road and pursued him as he drove at speeds exceeding 180 kilometres per hour, broke red lights, crossed lanes, and forced oncoming traffic to swerve. The chase ended when Prentice lost control, mounted a kerb, and came to a stop on Raphoe Road. Judge Melanie Greally described it as miraculous that no injuries or damage occurred. Prentice was also disqualified from driving for five years. He has thirty-three previous convictions. The sentence was backdated to May.
Brian Rattigan, 38, was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment for the manslaughter of 21‑year‑old Declan Gavin, who was stabbed to death outside an Abrakebabra fast‑food restaurant on Crumlin Road in Dublin on 25 August 2001. Rattigan had previously pleaded guilty to murder in 2009, but that conviction was quashed by the Supreme Court in 2017. He entered a plea to manslaughter on 22 October 2018, and the court accepted the plea, citing the case's frailties and the passage of time. The judge noted aggravating factors, including Rattigan's drug‑ and alcohol‑related state and the fatal nature of the wound, and mitigating factors such as his guilty plea, completion of drug‑awareness courses, and a letter of apology to the Gavin family, which was deemed "too late" to mitigate. The sentence was back‑dated to 1 October 2018.
Graham McEvoy, a 20-year-old from Crumlin, has lost his appeal against his conviction for the murder of Paul Curran. McEvoy had admitted stabbing Curran at Seagull House on Crumlin Road in Dublin on July 16, 2016, but originally denied the charge of murder, claiming self-defence. He was found guilty by a Central Criminal Court jury in a majority 11-1 verdict and sentenced to a mandatory life term by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy on December 18, 2017. McEvoy appealed on the ground that the trial judge erred in allowing a Garda to explain a witness's use of the phrase "got a stripe," arguing this invited speculation about motive. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy with Mr Justice George Birmingham and Mr Justice John Edwards, dismissed the appeal. The court held the evidence was admissible and that the clarification merely explained the term's context without suggesting a revenge motive. The judges found no indication that the trial was unsatisfactory or the conviction unsafe, thereby upholding the original finding of guilt and the mandatory life sentence.
In a south Dublin case, Kuwaiti‑born doctor Maha Al Adheem, aged 43, was found not guilty by reason of insanity for the murder of her three‑year‑old autistic son, Omar Omran. On 10 July 2017, Al Adheem stabbed Omar 20 times, mainly to the trunk, and also stabbed herself. The boy's body lay in the middle of a bed, surrounded by blood. Al Adheem admitted to the act, saying a "power" compelled her to take a knife from a drawer. Two consultant psychiatrists testified that she suffered from paranoid schizophrenia in July 2017 and could not appreciate the moral wrongness of her actions. The Central Criminal Court delivered a unanimous verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity after a 1 hour 46‑minute deliberation. The judge ordered her to be committed to the Central Mental Hospital and to appear again the next day for a psychiatric assessment.
Brian Rattigan, a 38‑year‑old Dubliner who has spent most of his adult life in prison, pleaded guilty to manslaughter for the 2001 stabbing death of his former friend Declan Gavin, a 21‑year‑old. Gavin was killed outside an Abrakebabra on Crumlin Road when Rattigan stabbed him twice, one wound to the heart. Rattigan had been tried twice in 2009, the first jury being hung and the second convicting him; that conviction was later quashed by the Supreme Court in 2017. In October 2019, at arraignment, the Director of Public Prosecutions accepted a plea to manslaughter, citing the case's exceptional features and the complex litigation history. Rattigan had previously served sentences for assault, firearms, violent disorder and drug offences, the longest being 17 years for drug dealing while in jail. He had written a letter of apology to Gavin's widowed mother, which she declined to read.
Owen McKeever, 63, of Crumlin, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to fraudulently claiming over €40,000 of Jobseeker's Allowance in his brother Brendan's name between 2009 and 2013. He was also making a legitimate claim in his own name at the time. The court, after receiving signed guilty pleas for 50 counts of social welfare fraud, imposed 200 hours of community service to be completed over 12 months, instead of a prison sentence of two years and three months. The fraud was uncovered through facial imaging technology introduced in 2013, which matched McKeever's photograph with one purporting to be his brother's. McKeever admitted the fraud, stating "I put my hands up," and accepted the €41,871 loss to the Exchequer. He had already paid €4,700 to revenue and an additional €3,500 to his solicitor for repayment.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, 43‑year‑old Maha Al Adheem, a doctor, was accused of murdering her three‑year‑old autistic son, Omar Omran, by stabbing him 20 times on 10 July 2017 at their Riverside, Poddle Park home. She admitted the act, claiming a "power" compelled her to take a knife from a drawer. The prosecution argued that the defence of insanity was being raised, with psychiatrists agreeing she met the criteria for not guilty by reason of insanity. Neighbours testified that Al Adheem was a caring mother who never raised her voice, but also described her as paranoid, believing a black cat was an evil spirit and that a man forced her to have sex with him when the cat was present. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Eileen Creedon, was set to resume the following day with a jury of nine men and three women.
In a murder trial in the Central Criminal Court, a doctor, Maha Al Adheem, admitted stabbing her three‑year‑old autistic son, Omar Omran, in their south Dublin home on 10 July 2017. She claimed a "power" compelled her to take a knife from a drawer and stab him. The boy was stabbed 20 times, mainly to the trunk, with four wounds penetrating his lungs and heart, severing a vital artery. The court heard that the child's death was caused by massive blood loss. Al Adheem also admitted stabbing herself and reported the incident to Gardaí at 6:40 pm. She was arrested after being discharged from St James's Hospital, where she had been treated for a psychiatric "adjustment reaction." The prosecution and defence psychiatrists agree she meets the criteria for not guilty by reason of insanity. The trial will continue before a jury.
A 43‑year‑old Kuwaiti woman, Maha Al Adheem, will be tried for the murder of her three‑year‑old son, Omar Omran, who died on 10 July 2017 at their south Dublin home. She was arraigned at the Central Criminal Court, where she pleaded not guilty. A jury of nine men and three women was sworn in, and the trial is scheduled to last three days before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon. Evidence will be presented by Gardaí from Crumlin, two civilian witnesses from the Kimmage apartment complex, and two forensic psychiatrists from the Central Mental Hospital.
Otis Reynolds, 21, of Crumlin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting Andrew Cummins causing him harm at Raphoe Road, Crumlin, on March 9, 2017. The court heard that Cummins had punched Reynolds during a fight 15 months prior. On the day of the incident, Cummins approached Reynolds' Ford Focus to apologise. Garda John Griffin testified that Cummins was struck by the vehicle, thrown into the air, and landed heavily on his right side, resulting in numbness in his left leg and soreness in his back. Reynolds, who has 16 previous convictions for theft, drugs, and traffic offences, was on bail for another charge at the time. He claimed he panicked and did not intend to hit Cummins, though he later retracted a claim that Cummins was about to strike him. Judge Martina Baxter suspended a two-year prison term on the condition that Reynolds keep the peace for two years. She also ordered him to complete 200 hours of community service over that period. Reynolds had raised €1,000 from his wages for Cummins as an expression of remorse. Defence counsel highlighted Reynolds' young age, his admissions, and his current plumbing apprenticeship.
David McDermott, 43, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm after a dispute over a garden. He entered his stepson Daniel Conlon's house, punched him in the eye, repeatedly struck him in the head, kicked him in the torso and threatened to slit his throat. Conlon, 23, recorded the assault and later presented the audio to Gardaí. McDermott initially denied the assault and the threat, claiming he had only urged Conlon to get a job and that he loved him. He admitted to drinking heavily before the incident. The court noted McDermott's lack of prior convictions, his relationship with Conlon's mother, his four children, his health issues and his father's critical condition. Judge Martina Baxter sentenced him to two and a half years imprisonment, fully suspended on the condition of good behaviour and peacekeeping. The sentence was imposed after McDermott's early guilty plea and other mitigating factors. Conlon was commended for not retaliating.
In a Dublin bus incident, Thomas McMahon, 35, admitted to touching a fellow passenger's shoulder with his penis while attempting to urinate after the vehicle jerked forward. McMahon claimed alcohol and drug addiction impaired his judgment and that he had no sexual intent. He expressed remorse and stated he had taken steps toward rehabilitation. Garda Conor O'Neill and counsel David Staunton noted McMahon's mental health issues and lack of recollection. The victim, who was traveling to town, reported the contact, screamed, and alerted the driver, who called the Gardaí. The incident was captured on CCTV, leading to McMahon's arrest and cooperation with the investigation. He faces a maximum two‑year sentence at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with the case adjourned to March 13 for sentencing and a psychiatric report. McMahon has ten prior convictions for public order and assault offences. Thomas McMahon pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Paul O'Brien (36) and Niall Sheil (40) were found guilty of robbing Dympna's Clairvoyant in Crumlin on 6 January 2015. O'Brien entered first, claiming he wanted an appointment, while Sheil arrived armed with a steel bar. Both men stole cash, purses and phones from the clairvoyant and customers. O'Brien had previously pleaded guilty to two robbery counts and had been granted a suspended sentence in 2015, but the judge noted he had relapsed and failed to commit to rehabilitation. Judge Melanie Greally, after considering O'Brien's drug‑addiction history, sentenced him to four years' imprisonment with the final 12 months suspended, stating the court had exhausted all other options. Sheil received a four‑year suspended sentence in 2015. The robbery involved two staff members and two customers; €400 was taken from the reception, and all other items were recovered.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Donna Kirwan, daughter of Noel 'Duck Egg' Kirwan, said her father was only guilty of "showing respect" at a childhood friend's funeral. She described him as a hard‑working "grafter" who chose legitimate work over drug sales. The court heard that both her son and daughter contemplated suicide after their father's murder. The victim impact statement was read by a woman from victim support on behalf of Donna. The court also heard that Jason Keating, 27, was present at the scene and facilitated the shooting. Keating had a tracking device on Kirwan's car and was linked to the assailant. Keating pleaded guilty to facilitating a criminal organisation in the murder, and the State withdrew the murder charge, leaving only the facilitation charge pending. The hearing took place before the sentencing of Keating, who was remanded in custody until December 12.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Alan Curtis, aged 34, was convicted of intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to a 16‑year‑old boy on 28 March 2014. Curtis, who had previously served a partially suspended six‑year sentence for a 2004 assault, used a hurley to fracture the teen's skull after an antisocial incident involving about 20 youths outside his mother's house. The teen suffered a depressed skull fracture, required emergency surgery, and was later treated at the National Rehabilitation Hospital for speech and cognitive difficulties. Curtis was sentenced to four years, with the final two years suspended, following a unanimous jury verdict. The judge noted that Curtis's prior conviction and the circumstances of the offence influenced the decision to suspend part of the sentence.
A bus driver from Dublin has been convicted of careless driving causing death following a collision with a cyclist on Burlington Road in November 2014. Osborn Irabor, aged fifty-eight, had pleaded not guilty to the charge but was found guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The incident occurred when his double-decker bus struck Mary White as she cycled towards a T-junction. Ms White sustained traumatic head injuries and died two days later in hospital. Judge Francis Comerford emphasised that drivers must exercise particular regard for cyclists' vulnerability on roads. The court found that the bus cut the corner at the junction, placing the cyclist in a blind spot created by the wing mirror. The judge noted Irabor's previously unblemished safety record since joining Dublin Bus in two thousand and seven, and determined that imprisonment was not warranted. However, Irabor received a mandatory four-year driving disqualification, effective from January first, which will likely result in job loss.
Sean Foster, 21, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm at St Joseph's Adolescent Unit on 5 January 2015 and at Oak Ward, Phoenix House Care Centre on 7 April 2017. He struck music teacher Dean McEvoy with a pool cue, breaking the cue and fracturing McEvoy's skull and severing a brain artery, causing PTSD. Foster also punched staff member Michael Kelly, knocking out a tooth and requiring €7,500 in dental work. Foster suffers from treatment‑resistant schizophrenia and was an in‑patient at St Joseph's during the first assault. Judge Cormac Quinn sentenced him to 18 months' imprisonment for the first assault, suspending the final six months on conditions of good behaviour, drug‑free status and medical compliance, and to 12 months' imprisonment for the second assault; the sentences run concurrently.
Jason Keating (27), of Rush, Co Dublin, pleaded guilty in the Special Criminal Court to facilitating a criminal organisation in the murder of Noel 'Duck Egg' Kirwan. Keating had previously pleaded not guilty to the murder charge, which has been the subject of a trial since October 2. The State Solicitor informed the court that the DPP directed a new charge under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, which Keating admitted. Prosecutors requested a nolle prosequi be entered on the original murder count at the sentencing stage. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding with Judges Sinead Ni Chualachain and Cormac Dunne, remanded Keating in custody until November 22 for sentencing. The judge noted the court would require details on Keating's assistance and state of mind. He referenced the recent sentencing of Martin Aylmer (31) to three years and nine months for a similar offence involving the murder of Michael Barr. Mr Justice Hunt described the new charge as useful for providing sentencing flexibility in cases where defendants do not directly commit the act. The matter was adjourned until November 22.
During a search of Jason Keating's family home on Lissadell Road, Drimnagh, Dublin 12, Gardaí discovered an envelope containing €3,200 in cash, three empty mobile phone boxes, a car key, a Ford Focus, and a blue‑grey McKenzie hoodie. The search, executed on 2 May 2017 after a warrant issued on 1 May, was carried out by a team led by Detective Sergeant Maeve O'Sullivan. Keating, aged 27, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Noel 'Duck Egg' Kirwan, who was shot six times on 22 December 2016 in a Ford Mondeo at St Ronan's Drive, Clondalkin. The murder is linked to a feud between two criminal factions, though Kirwan had no ties to either side. The Special Criminal Court heard the evidence and the case will continue before the three‑judge panel.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 15 October 2018, Atilia Kerekes, aged 44, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after a domestic incident on 3 July 2017. The court heard that Kerekes had dragged his wife, who had a protection order, upstairs, struck her twice on the head, and forcibly removed her jeans. The wife, who was crying and fighting back, later used a plastic bottle to strike Kerekes. He stopped, apologized, and the wife's victim impact statement described ongoing depression and daily crying. Judge Patricia Ryan, giving credit for the guilty plea, cooperation, employment record and remorse, imposed a fully suspended two‑year sentence. The sentence was suspended for a period of two years, with no requirement to engage with Probation Services to avoid jeopardising his employment. The judge noted the couple's 18‑year‑old daughter remained in school and that the defendant was a good father.
In the murder case of Noel 'Duck Egg' Kirwan, forensic expert Shelina Jilani testified that she could not definitively exclude Jason Keating (27) from being the unknown subject in CCTV footage from Neilstown Shopping Centre taken shortly after the December 22 shooting. Jilani, working for Acume Forensic Ltd, compared three images of Keating taken while he was in Garda custody with the limited facial portion visible in the CCTV. She identified three matching features—a narrow nasal bridge, a full oval face, and abdominal fullness—but concluded that the evidence provided only limited support for identifying Keating. She acknowledged that clothing and lack of unique features made the identification highly subjective and that the CCTV quality was poor. Judge Tony Hunt noted that the footage does not eliminate Keating but also does not implicate him. Jason Keating pleaded not guilty.
The trial of Jason Keating, who has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Noel 'Duck Egg' Kirwan, continued before the Special Criminal Court. Expert witness Professor David Last testified regarding a 'Gotek 7' electronic tracking device found under Mr Kirwan's Ford Mondeo. The prosecution alleges the tracker was placed under the vehicle to monitor movements leading up to the December 22, 2016, shooting in Clondalkin, Dublin 22. Professor Last explained that the device recorded its position 'much more frequently' from 3.13pm on the day of the shooting, indicating the owner was actively commanding location requests. He detailed the device's journey from France to Dublin Port in October 2016, noting it appeared near St Ronan's Drive on December 21 and 22. Under cross-examination, the expert acknowledged that such devices are commonly used to track spouses and that location data can contain errors. The court heard that Mr Kirwan, a 62-year-old with no connection to the criminal factions involved in the alleged feud, was shot six times while sitting in his car with his partner, Bernadette Roe. The trial is presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, sitting with Judges Sinead Ni Chualachain and Cormac Dunne. The matter was adjourned and continues tomorrow.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence that the 62‑year‑old Noel 'Duck Egg' Kirwan was murdered on 22 December 2016 after trading his BMW X5 for a Ford Mondeo, which was later sold at Merlin Car Auctions. Garda Stephen Hughes identified Jason Keating (27) in CCTV from the auction on 20 December, showing Keating and a woman in a green Renault Megane. Keating, who lives on Lower Main Street, Rush, pleaded not guilty to Kirwan's murder. The court also considered evidence that a 'Gotek 7' tracking device was placed under Kirwan's Ford Mondeo on 23 December, having previously tracked his BMW from 8 November. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, continues tomorrow.
In the non‑jury trial of Jason Keating for the murder of Noel 'Duck Egg' Kirwan, the court heard that Kirwan, a 62‑year‑old former car dealer, was shot six times in his Ford Mondeo on 22 December 2016. The vehicle had been purchased from TBCS Ltd on 10 December, with a deposit paid and the car serviced before Kirwan collected it on 13 December. The prosecution argued that a Gotek 7 tracking device, originally fitted to Kirwan's BMW X5 on 8 November, was moved to the Mondeo and pinged from a Clondalkin address until 20 December, then again from St Ronan's Drive. Evidence was also presented that a Renault Megane owned by mechanic Niall Ducken was sold to Keating, and that a parcel from Gotek in Calais was forwarded to the Spy Shop in Leeds. The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, Judge Sinead Ni Chualachain and Judge Cormac Dunne. Jason Keating pleaded not guilty.
In a Special Criminal Court murder trial, Noel 'Duck Egg' Kirwan, aged 62, was shot six times by a gunman in the driveway of his Dublin home on 22 December 2016. The attacker, Jason Keating, 27, has pleaded not guilty. Kirwan suffered eight gunshot wounds to his head, right arm, chest and abdomen, including a fatal wound to the chest that damaged a major blood vessel. He was seated in his Ford Mondeo with partner Bernadette Roe when the attack occurred. Deputy State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan testified that Kirwan's body was examined on 23 December, confirming the wounds and the absence of alcohol or drugs. The prosecution alleges a 'Gotek 7' tracking device linked Keating to the scene. The case is set to continue before Mr Justice Tony Hunt.
The trial of Jason Keating, 27, of Rush, Co Dublin, continued before a three-judge court presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt. Keating has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Noel 'Duck Egg' Kirwan, who was shot six times outside his Clondalkin home in December 2016. Prosecution evidence focused on a 'Gotek 7' electronic tracking device found under Mr Kirwan's car the day after the shooting. Sergeant Damien Gannon testified that the device was attached to the undercarriage with strong magnets. James Kennedy, a Garda telecommunications analyst, explained that the device uses GPS to upload location data to a web server and can send movement alerts to saved mobile numbers. Although the device contained a SIM card from Holland, Kennedy stated he could not decode the internal information and did not retrieve location data from the device's memory. He noted that such trackers are also used for legitimate purposes, such as taxi fleets. In his opening address, prosecution counsel Paul Greene SC alleged the murder arose from a feud between criminal factions, though Mr Kirwan had no connection to either side. The matter is ongoing, with the trial continuing before the court.
In the murder trial of Jason Keating, a witness described how she held Noel 'Duck Egg' Kirwan's hand and spoke to him minutes after he was shot outside his Dublin home. Mr Kirwan, 62, was in his car on St Ronan's Drive, Clondalkin, when a gunman fired six shots from a Makarov handgun that was later recovered. The witness, who was in the passenger seat of Mr Kirwan's Ford Mondeo, said she saw him "slumped" over the gear stick and she stayed with him until an ambulance arrived. She also reported that a white van had driven away from the scene. The prosecution's case links a tracking device found under Mr Kirwan's car to the accused, Jason Keating, 27, who has pleaded not guilty. The trial is set to continue before Mr Justice Tony Hunt.
The Special Criminal Court heard that Noel 'Duck Egg' Kirwan, aged 62, was murdered on 22 December 2016 outside his Clondalkin home after being shot six times by Jason Keating, 27, who pleaded not guilty. Kirwan was driving a Ford Mondeo when the assailant, armed with a Makarov pistol, fired at him. Kirwan's partner, Bernadette Roe, was present but unharmed. The prosecution presented evidence that a tracking device had been attached to Kirwan's car weeks before the killing, showing movements from London to Dublin and eventually to St Ronan's Drive. CCTV footage linked a Renault Megane, owned by Keating, to a car auction and a white Peugeot van used by the gunman. The case was presented as circumstantial, with the court to hear further evidence over a four‑week trial.
Brian Rattigan, a 37‑year‑old from Cooley Road, Drimnagh, faces arraignment on 1 January 2001 murder charge. He is accused of killing 21‑year‑old Declan Gavin outside the Abrakebabra fast‑food at Crumlin Shopping Centre on 25 August 2001. The Central Criminal Court had scheduled a trial for 14 January next year, but his barrister requested an earlier arraignment. The court granted the request, setting 22 October as the arraignment date, while a governor's report from Portlaoise Prison is to be prepared. The prosecution will not present evidence on that day.