Stephen Fowler (62) was sentenced to six years and nine months at the Special Criminal Court for his logistical involvement in a plot to murder James Gately. The judge suspended the final 15 months for three years, conditional on good behaviour. Fowler pleaded guilty to participating in a criminal organisation's activities between December 2016 and April 2017. He is the sixth person jailed in this case. Peter Keating (40) pleaded guilty to directing a criminal organisation and was jailed for 11 years. David Duffy (33) pleaded guilty to contributing to the murder plot and received five years' imprisonment with one year suspended. Caolan Smyth (30), who denied charges, was sentenced to 20 years for attempted murder and firearm possession. Gary McAreavey (53) pleaded not guilty to impeding prosecution by burning a vehicle but received a four-year term with the final year suspended. Imre Arakas (63) was jailed for six years in 2018 after admitting to conspiring to murder Gately. The court described the events as part of ongoing targeting of Gately within a gang feud.
Grace Miano, 53, was charged with the murder of Malawian man Limbani 'Robert' Mzoma, 27, at Tudor Lawns in Foxrock, Co Dublin, on 1 November 2018. She claimed she was possessed by the spirit of Princess Diana and killed Mzoma to "protect Prince William", then cut off his genitals post‑mortem to "protect women". A jury found her not guilty by reason of insanity after less than two and a half hours of deliberation. The judge, Mr Justice Paul McDermott, explained that the verdict was based on psychiatric evidence that Miano did not know her actions were wrong and was unable to refrain from them, satisfying two of the three criteria under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006. The State applied for Miano to be examined at a designated centre for 14 days; the judge granted the application and remanded her to appear again on 11 October for a psychiatric report. The judge expressed condolences to Mzoma's family.
A 53‑year‑old Kenyan woman, Grace Miano, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity in the murder of 27‑year‑old Malawian man Limbani 'Robert' Mzoma at Tudor Lawns, Foxrock, on 1 November 2018. She told the court that she killed Mzoma to "protect Prince William" and cut off his genitals after death "to protect women". The prosecution presented evidence that Mzoma died from blunt‑force and stabbing injuries, with post‑mortem wounds to the head, neck and genital area. Human remains were found in the kitchen sink. Miano's defence argued she suffered a schizoaffective disorder and did not know her actions were wrong. The trial is before Mr Justice Paul McDermott with a jury of five women and seven men, and the prosecution seeks a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity under Section 5 of the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act. The case remains at the opening‑speech stage.
In the trial of Damien Singleton, a 30‑year‑old man with no fixed abode, the prosecution presented a case that the killing of Peter Donnelly, a 39‑year‑old from Kilkenny who had been living rough in Dublin, was murder and nothing else. Singleton had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The prosecution argued that CCTV footage showed Singleton stabbing Donnelly three times with a knife and then striking him with a bottle before fleeing. They also claimed that Singleton had approached a young girl on O'Connell Street, engaged in a heated exchange with Donnelly, and that the incident occurred around 12.25 am on 11 June 2019. The prosecution's evidence included testimony from Garda Nicola Tornsey, who described the confrontation, the subsequent CPR by witnesses, and the recovery of a blood‑stained knife near the arrest site.
A 30‑year‑old man, Damien Singleton, who has no fixed abode, appeared at the Central Criminal Court on 20 September 2021. He is charged with the murder of 39‑year‑old Peter Donnelly, a father‑of‑one from Kilkenny, who was killed on O'Connell Street in Dublin on 11 June 2019. Singleton denies the murder charge but pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Justice Tara Burns informed the jury that the trial is expected to finish by the following Friday, with opening speeches scheduled for the next day before a jury of eight men and four women.
Stephen Fowler (62) pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to participating in a criminal organisation with the intention of enhancing its ability to commit the serious offence of the murder of James Gately. The court heard that Fowler offered his home as a safe-house to Estonian hitman Imre Arakas, who was jailed for six years in December 2018 for conspiring in the attempted murder. Fowler, who previously served six years for cannabis possession, was on a two-year suspended sentence at the time of the 2017 offence. The court will review this suspended sentence as part of the finalisation. Sentencing for Fowler, which carries a maximum of 15 years, is scheduled for October 4. Related convictions include Peter Keating, jailed for 11 years for directing a criminal organisation; David Duffy, sentenced to five years with one year suspended for participating in the organisation; and Caolan Smyth, sentenced to 20 years for attempted murder and firearm possession after denying charges. Gary McAreavey, who pleaded not guilty to impeding prosecution by assisting in burning a vehicle, received a four-year term with the final year suspended. These cases stem from a feud between the Hutch and Kinahan crime groups.
In the trial of Feri Anghel, 40, accused of murdering Romanian construction worker Ioan Artene Bob, 49, the prosecution's closing speech emphasized that the evidence was circumstantial but should be considered in its totality. Anghel was found dead in Tallaght park on 13 April 2018, after being beaten and later dying in hospital. The prosecution presented evidence that Bob's phone and bank card were used at various locations in Dublin and Slane on the day of his death, and that a phone attributed to Anghel pinged a cell site within nine minutes of Bob's phone. Witnesses described a night of drinking and a Luas journey to Tallaght, and CCTV footage allegedly showed Anghel leading Bob toward the Luas. The prosecution urged the jury to consider the evidence dispassionately, noting no forensic link to a weapon or boots, and that the case rested on the cumulative circumstantial evidence. Feri Anghel pleaded not guilty.
Kelly Noble, 36, of Hogan Court, Dublin, pleaded guilty to two violent robberies in the city centre on 24 September 2017, one of which left a victim needing an ambulance. She also pleaded guilty to two attempted robbery counts. The court noted her previous six‑year imprisonment for manslaughter and 20 other convictions. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced her to four years' imprisonment, fully suspended on strict conditions, including 12 months of probation. The judge highlighted that Noble acted under a male accomplice's instructions but was responsible for her actions. The sentencing reflected her traumatic early life and recent attempts at stability and reformed relationships with her children and mother. The court emphasised that the offences caused great anxiety and were not inconsequential. The sentence was imposed at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Alan Behan, aged 29, was sentenced to five years in prison for hijacking a car, threatening the driver, and crashing it. Earlier that year he had stolen personal effects and money from a building site, breaching bond conditions imposed after a four‑year suspended sentence for stealing €2,500 from an elderly man in 2016. Behan pleaded guilty to unlawful seizure of a motor vehicle on Capel Street, trespass and theft from a building site on Middle Abbey Street, dangerous driving, driving without a licence and without insurance. Gardaí used CCTV to trace his movements, showing him entering a building site, taking a hard hat and high‑visibility jacket, and later driving the hijacked Toyota Corolla over Grattan Bridge into the south city area. He was arrested after crashing the vehicle into two stationary cars on Walkinstown Avenue.
In the murder trial of Daniel Murtagh, Chief State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan testified that beauty therapist Nadine Lott died from severe blunt‑force and stab injuries sustained in a sustained assault at her Arklow home on 17 December 2019. She described 64 individual injuries, including facial bone fractures, a 5 cm stab wound above the thyroid cartilage, an incised wound from the left earlobe to the neck, rib fractures, and extensive bruising to the head, face and neck. Lott's brain was diffusely swollen, and neuropathology confirmed hypoxic/ischaemic encephalopathy caused by cardiac arrests following the injuries. Mulligan was sceptical that Lott could have moved after the assault, noting the severity of the head and neck trauma. She stated the blunt‑force injuries were consistent with hands, fists or feet and could not rule out a blunt weapon. The trial will continue before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath and a jury. Daniel Murtagh pleaded not guilty.
In a pretrial motion before Mr Justice Tony O'Connor, RTE has asked the High Court to strike out a damages claim brought by Labour politician Joe Costello. The action arises from RTE's defence in a 2018 defamation case brought by Sinn Fein activist Nicky Kehoe over comments made on a Claire Byrne radio broadcast in October 2015. In that prior trial, a jury found the broadcast implied Mr Kehoe was unfit for the democratic process, awarding him €3,500. The jury apportioned liability, finding Mr Costello 65% at fault and RTE 35% liable, though no judgment was entered against Mr Costello as he was not a party. Mr Costello now seeks damages from RTE and the State, alleging he was denied fair procedures and that RTE breached the 2009 Broadcasting Act. He also seeks declarations that a section of the 1961 Civil Liability Act is unconstitutional. RTE argues the claim is unstateable and bound to fail, noting Mr Costello did not pay the award. Counsel for Mr Costello rejected the suggestion the case lacks merit, arguing his reputation was damaged and he was excluded from the proceedings. Both parties deny the claims. The hearing of the pretrial motion was adjourned and continues next week.
Wojciech Kazmierczak, 43, was sentenced to eleven years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended on strict conditions, for a violent robbery that took place on 24 August 2020 at Corn Exchange Place, Dublin. During the incident, he choked one escort until she was unconscious, then punched her again, and later punched a second escort who had been choked by the other accomplice. Both women were rendered unconscious, one was bound with duct tape and wrapped in a rug, and both sustained significant facial injuries. The robbery involved the theft of cash, handbags, phones and the removal of the women's phones by the accomplice. Kazmierczak was also found in possession of just under €400,000 of cannabis when arrested in September 2020, and he pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, two counts of robbery and possession of cannabis for sale or supply.
Jonathan Dowdall, a former Sinn Fein councillor aged 43, has filed a High Court challenge against the jurisdiction of the Special Criminal Court (SCC) over his murder trial. He is charged with the killing of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel on 5 February 2016. The Director of Public Prosecutions, citing the 1939 Offences Against the State Act, has directed that Dowdall be tried before the non‑jury SCC. Dowdall argues that the SCC's existence is based on temporary emergency legislation from 1972 and that the Oireachtas has not enacted permanent law to justify it. He claims this breaches his constitutional rights and the European Convention on Human Rights, including the presumption of innocence. His lawyers seek an order to prohibit the SCC trial, declare it unlawful, and highlight the State's failure to secure permanent legislation. Judge Anthony Barr granted Dowdall permission to proceed, made the case returnable for November, and stayed the trial pending the High Court's decision.
A 42‑year‑old man, Vasile Plesca, withdrew his appeal against a three‑year jail term after being convicted of assault causing harm to his wife. The incident, which took place on 26 April 2017, involved Plesca striking his wife with a rolling pin in a jealous rage, forcing her to remove blood‑stained clothing and shower, and leaving her with bruises and marks. Video evidence recorded by the victim showed her screaming and pleading for help. Plesca denied strangling her and claimed he avoided hospital visits to protect his children. A psychological report noted an intellectual disability. Judge Karen O'Connor suspended the final year of a four‑year sentence, and Plesca had appealed to the Court of Appeal. Before proceedings began, Court President Justice George Birmingham allowed the withdrawal of the appeal, citing the seriousness of the offence and the importance of the appellant's awareness of sentencing options. Vasile Plesca pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, John Doran, aged 35, was found guilty of assault causing harm and production of an article after he attacked an off‑duty Garda, Craig Shields, on Aungier Street on 15 August 2020. Doran, who had previously offered a "fake drug packet" to people, approached Shields while he was socialising with his girlfriend and asked if he wanted cocaine. When Shields identified himself as a Garda, Doran and a co‑accused assaulted him, knocking him unconscious. Witnesses reported Doran threw punches and used a fork to stab Shields in the head and face, causing lacerations, a fractured nose, a concussion and permanent scarring. Shields' official Garda identification card was taken but later recovered. Doran was arrested after CCTV footage identified him. The court adjourned the case for finalisation on 22 October, with a report from Probation Services ordered.
Jambasambuu Ekhtur, 25, was convicted of sexual assault and assault causing harm after attacking two women in Dublin City centre on separate nights in 2019. In July, he grabbed a woman on Mount Street, dragged her into a laneway, bit her shoulder and attempted to open her jeans. She escaped, was taken to St Vincent's Hospital, and later testified. In October, he attacked another woman on Talbot Street, grabbing her privates and biting her shoulder. CCTV and DNA evidence linked him to both incidents. He pleaded guilty to both charges. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to four years' imprisonment, with the two sentences running concurrently, citing the seriousness of the assaults and his lack of prior convictions. The court noted his language difficulties and potential deportation to Mongolia. The victims gave impact statements describing lasting psychological harm and changes to their daily lives.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 5 July 2021, a 16‑year‑old boy pleaded guilty to attempted robbery after an incident on 3 October 2020. The boy and an unnamed adult approached a victim in his car, demanded keys and a wallet, and brandished a knife. The victim, who had fled his home country for Ireland, was tripped and attacked on the ground; no physical injury was reported. Gardaí intervened but the attackers did not stop. The court noted the boy's prior convictions and his expression of remorse. Judge Pauline Codd imposed a five‑year sentence, suspending the final three years, and ordered three years of probation supervision, requiring the boy to address education, addiction and psychological issues. The adult's identity was not disclosed. The victim expressed fear of future encounters and sadness over the incident. The boy was not identified as the knife‑bearer, and a knife was recovered but not linked to him.
Frank O'Donnell, aged 56, was sentenced to two‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment for fraudulently claiming over €100,000 in disability allowance while working as a construction labourer under the alias Martin O'Donnell. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to multiple thefts of disability allowance between 2004 and 2011, to possession of a false instrument (a safe pass in his name issued by ESB in 2017), and to possession of counterfeit notes. The offences were uncovered in 2017 when his niece, interviewed by a Department of Social Protection officer, provided bank statements showing payments in Martin O'Donnell's name deposited into her account. O'Donnell had been receiving disability allowance from 2002 and had worked intermittently from 2004 to 2017, during which he falsely claimed €100,469.10. He has 11 prior convictions, including five for counterfeit notes.
Father‑of‑three Darren Caffrey, 37, was stopped by Gardaí after driving a horsebox van through a red light on Ushers Quay. While searching the van, officers found Zopiclone tablets and €27,314 of cocaine. A later search of another car at his Ballyfermot address uncovered more Zopiclone tablets and €39,284 of heroin. Caffrey pleaded guilty to possession of heroin, cocaine and Zopiclone tablets for sale or supply at Ushers Quay and Oliver Bond Flats on 14 and 15 May 2020. He has 207 previous convictions, including assault, handling stolen property, possession of a mobile phone in prison and 175 road traffic offences, but no prior drug convictions. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced him to six‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment, suspending the final 18 months on strict conditions. The total value of drugs seized was €76,594. The case highlighted Caffrey's active involvement in drug supply rather than merely acting as a courier.
Charles McDonagh, aged 43, was sentenced to three‑and‑a‑half years in prison for assault causing harm after attacking his former partner outside Bridewell Garda Station. The incident occurred on 29 March 2020 when McDonagh stood over the woman, holding her blood‑stained handbag and shouting, "Where is the drugs?" CCTV footage showed him punching her at least fifteen times, pinning her against the station wall, and assaulting her again after she tried to flee. The victim suffered swelling, bruising, and bleeding from her nose and mouth. McDonagh, who had 44 prior convictions including assault and violent behaviour in a garda station, pleaded guilty. He was given a four‑year sentence with the final six months suspended, subject to strict probation conditions for twelve months after release. The court noted his history of drug and alcohol abuse and his efforts to change during a year of remand.
Josh Henney, 19, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to killing a protected animal at his address on March 23, 2020. The court heard that Henney allegedly kicked a 10-month-old dog, named Sam, in the underbelly twice, causing fatal injuries including liver fractures and blood loss. Henney, of North William Street, has 36 previous convictions and is currently serving a two-year sentence for violent disorder, with the final six months suspended. Judge Melanie Greally described the attack as "despicable" but accepted it was committed out of anger without intent to kill. She indicated she envisages extending Henney's prison stay. The judge ordered a report from the Probation Service and adjourned the matter for finalisation to October 26. The case remains pending this procedural step.
Aaron Maguire, 32, was jailed for three years after being caught twice with thousands of euros that were the proceeds of criminal conduct while on bail for the same offence. He had an initial debt of about €15,000, which rose to €30,000 after he lost the cash during the first arrest. Gardaí found €5,550 in cash in his car and an additional €15,365 at his home. He pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply and possession of the proceeds of criminal conduct at two locations in Clondalkin and Blackhall Street. He had one prior conviction for a minor road traffic offence. The court heard that his mother paid off the debt by drawing down her pension early after his son was assaulted in July 2020. Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced him to two-and-a-half years for money‑laundering offences, suspended the final two years, and imposed a five‑year effective custodial term.
Darren Nolan, 50, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment after pleading guilty to possession of heroin for sale or supply at his Dublin address. He had taken a business loan to start a venture, but the money was largely used to fund a heroin habit, creating a debt. Gardaí, acting on confidential information and a surveillance operation, obtained a search warrant and found €99,246 worth of heroin, weighing scales, bagging material, a tick‑list, and €3,072 in cash. The heroin was stored in a sock inside a shopping bag in a wheelie bin, and additional stock was found at another address. Nolan had prior theft convictions. His defence argued he had been addicted in the early 1990s, had gone clean, but relapsed in 2015 after personal losses. The court accepted his plea but deemed the offence too serious for a non‑custodial sentence, resulting in the three‑year term.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Feri Anghel (40), who has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Romanian national Ioan Artene Bob (49) in Co Dublin on April 13, 2018, heard evidence from Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster. Dr Bolster testified that Mr Bob died from extensive blunt force trauma, including multiple rib fractures, bruising to the lungs and heart, and fractures to the hyoid bone and thyroid cartilage. She stated the injuries suggested multiple blows, kicks, and stamping-type impacts, some inflicted while the deceased was curled up. Toxicology indicated a blood ethanol level of 166 milligrams. Paramedic Tony Donnelly described finding Mr Bob in distress in Sean Walsh Park, Tallaght, before he lost consciousness at Tallaght Hospital. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Eileen Creedon, is ongoing and expected to last five weeks. The matter was adjourned until next Wednesday.
Robert Byrne, aged 30, was sentenced to six months in prison for stealing over €11,000 from his grandfather's bank account. Byrne carried out 35 transactions between 4 June 2015 and 4 January 2016, using his grandfather's credit card details. The thefts included online gambling and a purchase of children's toys. Byrne has 40 prior convictions, including robbery, theft and use of a false instrument. The court noted that the bank reimbursed the victim but incurred a loss of €11,535.32, and Byrne has made no attempt to repay the money. Judge Pauline Codd described the offence as "very mean and low down" and "particularly reprehensible" because it involved his own grandfather. She imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, suspending the final two years on strict conditions, including engagement with drug rehabilitation and the Probation Service. The defence argued that Byrne had re‑engaged with his grandfather, who did not want him imprisoned. Robert Byrne pleaded guilty.
Jonathan Grimes, aged 33, had a six‑year jail term reduced to four years after a Court of Appeal decision. He had 161 prior convictions and was on bail for a burglary at the Irish Whiskey Museum when he stole a €300 tablet. He then committed two burglaries at Bewley's café on Grafton Street, stealing a cash belt and later a bottle of gin and a €1,500 laptop. He pleaded guilty to all three offences. Judge Elma Sheahan had originally sentenced him to four years for the museum burglary and three and four years for the café burglaries, with the last two years suspended, giving a net six‑year term. The appeal argued the museum sentence was too harsh and that mitigating factors such as substance misuse and a 10‑year‑old son had been overlooked.
Trevor Robinson, 30, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assisting an offender and two charges of burglary arising from incidents on April 9, 2018. The court heard that Robinson was in a vehicle with Christina Joyce when she accelerated away while Garda Thomas Gallagher was attempting to seize the car. An eyewitness alleged that Robinson shouted at Joyce to wipe down the vehicle to remove fingerprints as they fled. The pair subsequently broke into the home of a 77-year-old woman and a second apartment to escape Gardaí, with Robinson allegedly kicking down the back door. Robinson, of Ballyfermot, admitted the charges. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned sentencing to October 13, stating that a custodial sentence was unavoidable. She ordered a Probation Service report to assess rehabilitation options. This follows the 2018 sentencing of Joyce, who was jailed for four and a half years by Judge Martin Nolan for endangering and assaulting Garda Gallagher. The garda sustained a dislocated knee and shoulder injuries during the incident. Robinson has previous convictions in Ireland and the UK, mostly for minor offences.
Frederick Hunt, a 75‑year‑old former Irish Times employee, was sentenced to two years in prison after an FBI investigation led Gardaí to uncover his production, distribution and possession of child abuse material. Hunt admitted to receiving and sending hundreds of graphic images and videos of child sexual abuse, including real and animated content, between 2010 and 2011. Gardaí seized mobile phones and computers at his Ballinteer home and linked him to illegal activity on his work computer. He pleaded guilty to seven counts out of 101 charges under the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act, 1998. Judge Karen O'Connor imposed a custodial sentence of three years, suspended the final year, and imposed one year of probation, a sex offenders programme and victim‑focused work. The judge noted Hunt's age, health and role as a carer for his bedridden wife, but emphasised the need for deterrence and rehabilitation.
In March 2020, 18‑year‑old Alan Clarke of Kilcross Lawn, Sandyford, punched a 19‑year‑old victim, James Coady, on the chin in Dublin city centre, causing Coady to fall and hit his head on the pavement. Clarke, who had taken cocaine and Xanax that day, had no prior acquaintance with the victim. CCTV showed Clarke also aimed a kick at Coady's stomach before punching him. The assault resulted in a skull fracture and brain bleed for Coady, who later suffered two epileptic seizures and was diagnosed with epilepsy secondary to a traumatic brain injury. Clarke pleaded guilty to assault causing harm at O'Connell Street and was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan to three years' imprisonment. Clarke had seven previous convictions, including robbery and aggravated burglary. The court noted the attack was "cowardly, unprovoked and sudden.".
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 45‑year‑old Jacqueline McElhatton was sentenced for a series of violent offences committed in April and August 2020. In April, she pleaded guilty to assaulting Garda Rachel Corcoran at the Criminal Courts of Justice, assaulting a pharmacy employee at Rathmines Pharmacy, attempting robbery on O'Connell Street, and obstructing a peace officer at College Green. In August, she pleaded guilty to assaulting a Brazilian man on O'Connell Street and to assaulting Garda Tara Brennan at Trinity College. McElhatton had 125 prior convictions. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a 15‑month sentence for the April offences and a four‑year sentence for the August offences, to run consecutively. The final two years of the latter sentence were suspended on strict conditions, leaving an effective custodial term of five years and three months. The court noted that McElhatton was on bail for the April offences at the time of the August incidents.
A 17‑year‑old boy, who was 16 when the incident occurred, was remanded in juvenile detention for two years after he struck and killed a 28‑year‑old Deliveroo rider, Thiago Cortes, by driving through a red light at an estimated 79 km/h on North Wall Quay, Dublin. The boy fled the scene, abandoned his car and left with other young passengers. He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death and to failing to report the incident. The court found no evidence of alcohol in the vehicle. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a two‑year juvenile detention sentence, crediting time already served, and disqualified the boy from driving for five years. The victim's fiancée, Teresa Dantas Oliveira, expressed profound grief and loss in her impact statement, describing the death as an irreversible loss of her future and dreams. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 31 August 2020.
Michael Talbot, 34, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment after a violent incident on 21 May 2020. He stabbed a woman in her cousin's apartment on Parnell Street, cutting her chest, side, arms and legs with a kitchen knife, then kicked her in the head and stomach. The victim, who had refused to kiss him, was left with eight open wounds and was taken to hospital. Talbot, who was on bail, later damaged vehicles in the underground car‑park, slashing tyres and puncturing a motorbike's airbox. He was arrested, taken to Mountjoy Garda Station, where he threatened to rape and kill officers. He pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, possession of a knife and three counts of criminal damage. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Talbot's 82‑count record and intoxication, imposed the maximum five‑year term for the assault causing harm charge. The sentence was delivered on 19 May 2021.
In a case heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Jaroslav Nowakowski, a 36‑year‑old resident of Kildare, pleaded guilty to assaulting Noel Conway on Moore Street in Dublin on 3 November 2019. Nowakowski claimed he had mistaken Conway for a bike thief, believing he was stealing his bicycle. The court found Conway to be completely blameless and merely going about his business when the attack occurred. Nowakowski's defence, represented by Gerardine Small BL, argued that his reaction was a split‑second decision and that he had remained at the scene, showing genuine concern for the victim. The court accepted that the incident was isolated and that Nowakowski was unlikely to reoffend. Judge Karen O'Connor imposed an 18‑month suspended sentence, noting the defendant's remorse and his willingness to offer €1,000 to the victim, who had agreed to accept the payment. The sentence was suspended on a number of conditions.
Surenkhor Ulambayar, a 49‑year‑old Mongolian national, paid €25,000 for a forged naturalisation certificate and used it to apply for an Irish passport. The passport application was rejected after the Passport Office discovered the certificate was false. Ulambayar recovered about €7,300 of the money when the application was denied. He pleaded guilty to providing false documentation in November 2015. The court found the €25,000 came from the sale of a home in Mongolia. Ulambayar had no prior convictions and had lived in Ireland for 15 years with his family. He cooperated with the investigation and admitted the offence. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced him to 18 months imprisonment, fully suspended on strict conditions, citing his guilty plea, cooperation, and personal circumstances as mitigating factors.
Sean Leahy, a 50‑year‑old YouTuber from Dublin, has filed a High Court challenge against the constitutionality of Covid‑19 regulations under the 1947 Health Act. He claims he was wrongfully arrested during the Easter Rising commemoration on O'Connell Street on 4 April after Gardai asked him for media identification. Leahy says he did not possess such ID, offered to show his work on his phone, and refused to leave the cordoned area, asserting he was complying with Covid rules. He was escorted to North Earl Street, again refused to leave, and was arrested. Leahy has not been told which regulation he allegedly breached and questions whether it carries a penalty. He seeks an order to halt his District Court prosecution, declarations that the relevant Health Act provisions are arbitrary and unconstitutional, and damages for false imprisonment and unlawful detention. The case is set to return to court in July.
A 45-year-old man from Carndonagh has received a suspended sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to unlawful possession of firearms. Stephen O'Connor was convicted of holding two semi-automatic pistols and ammunition concealed in a Henry Hoover vacuum cleaner at his home on 7 September 2019. During sentencing, the court heard that O'Connor, described as vulnerable and struggling with mental health difficulties, had been approached repeatedly by a criminal acquaintance and agreed to store the weapons to "get them off his back". A search of a van behind his residence uncovered the loaded handguns, which were found to be in working order. Judge Elma Sheahan imposed a four-year sentence, suspended in full for four years, subject to strict conditions. The judge acknowledged O'Connor's vulnerabilities and lack of previous convictions while noting the offence occurred during significant gangland activity in Dublin. He was ordered to sever all contact with persons involved in criminal activity.
A South Dublin residents group, the Pembroke Road Association, has brought a judicial review before the High Court to challenge a planning permission granted to Derryroe Ltd for 105 apartments and ten apart‑hotel bedrooms on a site at 36, 38 and 40 Herbert Park Road, Ballsbridge. The site includes the demolished former home of 1916 Rising leader Michael Joseph O'Rahilly, known as 'The O'Rahilly'. The group, represented by James Devlin SC and solicitor Fred Logue, seeks an order quashing the permission, arguing that the Board failed to consider the cultural significance of the site under the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive. They also contend the development does not meet open‑space criteria in the Dublin City Development Plan, exceeds permitted height limits, and that the developer did not comply with mandatory pre‑application consultation under the Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016.
In a Dublin city‑centre incident on 11 July 2020, 41‑year‑old Alan Brennan punched a woman in the face, causing her to fall. The woman's partner then attacked Brennan, stabbing him 11 times with a broken glass bottle, stamping and kicking him while he lay unconscious. Brennan, who was on crutches and had a history of drug addiction and homelessness, pleaded guilty to one count of violent disorder. CCTV footage showed the parties and other witnesses near Wellington Quay. Brennan was taken to hospital for lacerations. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to 22 months' imprisonment, suspending the final 10 months on conditions. The woman remains before the courts for her alleged role in the attack.
Jason Finlay, 49, was sentenced to 10 months' imprisonment after pleading guilty to theft at Lifestyle Sports on 4 May 2020. He had stolen €13,020 worth of sports clothing, but when a Garda public‑order van approached he "ditched" the items on a street, where €770 worth were later recovered in saleable condition. The remaining goods were never found. Finlay, who has 54 prior convictions, was arrested at Peter McVerry Hostel after Gardaí received an anonymous tip and CCTV footage linked him to the robbery. He was intoxicated at the time of the offence and has expressed a desire to leave drug use. The judge noted his opportunistic offence and his ambition to reform, sentencing him to 10 months' custody as the best possible outcome.
Alice Connors, 27, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to two robberies and one attempted robbery committed in Dublin City centre on October 2 and 3, 2020. She also admitted to two counts of criminal damage at Kevin Street Garda Station on October 7, 2020. Prosecution evidence alleged that Connors and a co-accused used a knife and a broken bottle during the offences, which included dragging victims to the ground. Connors, who was residing at Times Hostel, College Street, Dublin 2, had previous convictions for theft and road traffic offences. Defence counsel highlighted her homelessness, drug abuse, and mental health difficulties, including auditory hallucinations. Judge Martin Nolan noted that Connors was equally culpable as her co-accused, who had previously received an effective five-year sentence with two-and-a-half years suspended. Judge Nolan sentenced Connors to five years imprisonment, suspending the final two-and-a-half years on strict conditions. The matter was finalised at the sentencing stage.
A jury at Croke Park convicted a 64‑year‑old man of oral rape and sexual assault of his daughter between 2000 and 2004, when she was aged four to eleven. The man pleaded not guilty to the rape and assault charges and denied two child‑neglect charges involving alcohol and pornography. He was alleged to have forced the child to drink cider, watch pornography while he masturbated, and perform oral sex on him. The victim, now in her 20s, testified that she spent most of her childhood in foster care but had access visits with her father, who was often drunk. The trial lasted just under three hours, and the judge remanded the man into custody for sentencing on 17 May. The case was the first criminal trial held at the GAA headquarters in Dublin. The jury heard the victim's civil claims against the HSE and her former foster parents.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Anthony Paget, aged 46, faced a murder charge for stabbing his ex‑wife's partner, Aidan McMenamy, 45, to death during an argument on 19 July 2019. The prosecution, represented by Bernard Condon SC, presented CCTV footage showing Paget and his ex‑wife together in Dublin, including a McDonald's visit and a subsequent return to Clinch's Court where McMenamy stayed. At about 3.39 am, a dispute erupted; Paget allegedly wielded a knife and struck McMenamy, who was later pronounced dead after being rushed to hospital. Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margot Bolster identified seven stab wounds to McMenamy's neck and back, with no defensive wounds. Paget pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for the killing. The jury was instructed to determine whether the killing constituted murder, requiring proof beyond reasonable doubt that Paget intended to kill or cause serious injury. The case remains at the trial stage.
Philip Murphy, aged 40, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for sexually assaulting two women in Dublin city centre on 25 February 2016. The assaults occurred in the early hours, with Murphy grabbing the women from behind, threatening to kill them and demanding sex. He had been released from a 10‑year sentence for false imprisonment just two days earlier. The judge noted his history of alcohol and substance abuse and his 10 previous convictions. Murphy pleaded guilty to the two counts. He is required to undergo four years of post‑release supervision by the Probation Service, with non‑compliance constituting a separate offence punishable by up to 12 months' imprisonment. The sentencing took place in June 2020 after his extradition from the UK. The victims described severe physical and psychological harm, including loss of hair, depression, anxiety and a lasting fear of walking alone at night. The court recorded their impact statements but did not alter the sentence.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Colin Doyle, aged 26, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after a heated argument with his long‑time friend Tiarnan Ollry. Doyle admitted punching Ollry, claiming he thought he had kicked him, and expressed remorse. The assault left Ollry with multiple facial fractures, a nose that required resetting, short‑term memory loss, mood swings, and a lasting spot in his left eye. Doyle was arrested, cooperated with investigators, and was described by Garda Emma Gleeson as having no prior convictions and good character. Judge Melanie Greally, after hearing evidence, sentenced Doyle to three years imprisonment, fully suspended on strict conditions, including no prolonged contact with Ollry. Doyle was ordered to pay €10,000 to Ollry as a token of remorse. The case highlighted the severe impact on Ollry's health and social life, while Doyle's remorse and cooperation were noted by counsel.
A 46‑year‑old man, Anthony Paget of Carnlough Road, Cabra, Dublin 7, will be tried for the murder of Aidan McMenamy, 45, who was killed at Clinches Court, North Strand, Dublin 3 on 19 July 2019. Paget admits he killed McMenamy but denies murder, pleading guilty to manslaughter. The Central Criminal Court will hear the case tomorrow at 2.30 pm before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon. The trial will last six days and will involve civilian witnesses from Clinches Court, garda and Dublin Fire Brigade witnesses, with a jury of twelve.
Craig Shevlin, 31, pleaded guilty to assaulting Garda Caroline Thornton on 3 May 2019 after a seizure in Dublin city centre. He was found to have 14 prior convictions. Thornton's victim impact statement described being slapped and bitten while trying to help him wait for an ambulance, noting the shock and horror of the bite. Judge Pauline Codd adjourned the case to allow reports, then imposed a two‑year sentence suspended in full on strict conditions, including engagement with the Probation Service. A psychologist reported that Shevlin's epilepsy, causing seizures with agitation, confusion and memory loss, explains his lack of recollection of the assault. The judge described the incident as "unfortunate" and "nasty", noting the aggravating factor that the assault occurred while Thornton was acting in the course of her duty. The court heard apologies from Shevlin's mother and girlfriend. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
In a trial at the Central Criminal Court, a 36‑year‑old woman seeking asylum in Ireland testified that a man raped her in his Dublin flat between 1 and 3 December 2017. She said she had come to Ireland in November 2017 to attend a conference, then sought asylum and was introduced to the accused through a mosque. The man allegedly arranged a "ceremony" at a mosque, asked her how much money she wanted for a marriage, and gave her €20, claiming he would pay the rest. She denied any marriage and later travelled to the man's flat where he allegedly tried to kiss her, pushed her into a bedroom, and attempted to take her clothes off. She said he forced his penis into her vagina, used a pillow on her face, and told her to stay quiet. The man pleaded not guilty to three counts of rape, one count of sexual assault and one of attempted rape.
In a Dublin city‑centre incident on 8 December 2019, 19‑year‑old Dylan O'Neill, then homeless, attacked a stranger outside McDonald's on O'Connell Street. After an exchange of words, O'Neill punched the victim, struck him with his watch, and threw a glass that hit the victim's face. The assault left the victim with a 12 cm laceration from forehead to mouth and paralysis on one side of the face. O'Neill pleaded guilty to causing serious harm at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Martin Nolan, noting O'Neill's guilty plea, remorse, and circumstances of homelessness and drug use, set a starting point of 12 years but imposed a six‑year imprisonment sentence. The court described the attack as a persistent, random assault that was not accidental. The victim was treated at hospital and underwent surgery to close the wound. The Director of Public Prosecutions considered the case to lie in the upper range of offending.
Paul Rooney, 30, who suffered an acquired brain injury in 2003 after a hit‑and‑run, pleaded guilty to assaulting Garda Patrick Barker on 19 January 2019. The incident occurred when Rooney was caught dragging a bike still attached to a rack down a busy Dublin city centre street. Rooney had 37 prior convictions, including criminal damage, theft and handling stolen property. Judge Martin Nolan, who had previously adjourned the case and ordered immediate return to court if Rooney committed further offences, sentenced him to two‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment but suspended the entire term on strict conditions, citing Rooney's medical history. The judge noted Rooney's behaviour had improved since the previous hearing and that he had been extremely apologetic after the assault, when his medication had taken effect. Rooney's mother and brothers were present at the scene and attempted to calm him.
A 33‑year‑old Chinese national, Xianxing Lu, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to providing false documentation when applying for an Irish passport after his visa expired. He claimed he paid €20,000 to an Irish man who said he worked for the government and that the passport was legal. The man supplied Lu with a false naturalisation certificate, which Lu used to submit a passport application in October 2015. The passport was issued in November 2015. Lu had no prior convictions. Judge Pauline Codd found the operation unlawful and, noting the circumstances, sentenced him to three years' imprisonment but suspended the entire sentence on strict conditions. The case highlights the court's stance on protecting the integrity of Irish passports.