During the Central Criminal Court trial of three Dublin teenagers, the complainant, aged 18 at the time of the alleged offences, testified that she was gang‑raped by the men at Dollymount Strand on 5 January 2016. She said she was left alone in a remote area after the assaults. The court heard that she had called for an ambulance to see a mental‑health doctor and that she may have asked for tablets and expressed a desire to die. She admitted that she became uncooperative and aggressive when taken to the sexual‑assault treatment unit at the Rotunda Hospital, and that she was later restrained by Gardaí. She also confirmed that she had previously alleged a gang‑rape in Dublin city centre in 2015 but did not pursue the complaint because she was scared. The defendants pleaded not guilty. The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and a jury.
In 2014, 29‑year‑old Darren Byrne, then struggling with a chronic drug addiction, pointed a knife at two 17‑year‑old girls on Trinity Street, demanding their belongings. He pressed the knife to one girl's throat, took a handbag with cash and an iPod, and fled. The girls were later apprehended by Gardaí. Byrne admitted the robbery, claiming he was under the influence of tablets. He was charged with robbery and pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The court noted his prior convictions for robbery and theft, his escape to the UK, and his subsequent return to Dublin where he secured employment. Judge Pauline Codd, acknowledging his rehabilitation and remorse, imposed a suspended sentence of three and a half years, conditional on maintaining peace. The co‑accused received a suspended two‑year sentence. The case highlights Byrne's significant turnaround from drug use to stable employment and community involvement.
Giovanni Protacio, 49, a former respected nurse with two decades of experience, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a nine‑month prison term that was fully suspended. Protacio had worked at Clonmethan Lodge nursing home in north County Dublin since November 2015. In that month a patient struck him on the head with a metal bar, causing soft‑tissue injury. To cope with the pain he began taking painkillers and sleeping tablets, becoming severely addicted. He used his access to locked medical cabinets to steal sleeping tablets and forged prescriptions. The thefts were uncovered in May 2017 when a pharmacist noticed a suspicious prescription linked to the nursing home. CCTV identified Protacio bringing the prescription in, and Gardaí searched his home in Lusk, finding stolen blank prescriptions and various brands of sleeping tablets. He pleaded guilty to one count of forgery of a prescription and three counts of theft of medicines and blank prescription sheets.
In a Dublin hotel room on 21 November 2013, 46‑year‑old Hoi Ping Yung raped a woman after a night of heavy drinking with a male friend. The victim, who slept alone in a single bed while Yung and the friend occupied the double bed, awoke to find Yung rubbing her arm and leg, then later being raped when her body was pulled down. She reported the assault, and Gardaí arrested Yung, who was later deemed too intoxicated for an interview. Yung denied the rape, claiming any sex was consensual, and had no prior convictions. During the trial, the victim's impact statement criticised the court's language, alleging victim‑shaming and emotional distress. Justice Tara Burns allowed the statement, noting the system's difficulty for complainants, and adjourned sentencing to 6 March, remanding Yung in custody. The Central Criminal Court had returned a guilty verdict in December. Hoi Ping Yung pleaded not guilty.
A 34‑year‑old man, David Allen, was on bail for robbery when he knocked an 89‑year‑old woman, Nina MacAuley, to the ground outside a Dublin hairdresser and stole her handbag. MacAuley suffered head and arm injuries and later described the incident in a victim impact statement, noting her difficulty sleeping and feeling vulnerable at her age. Allen, who has 25 prior convictions, had pleaded guilty to two earlier robberies in July and February 2019. He admitted to being "strung out" on heroin during the February robbery and claimed he used a pen to make a taxi driver think it was a knife. The court, hearing his apology and shame, ordered a probation report and remanded him in custody until May 5, with a lengthy custodial sentence expected.
Liam Sheridan, aged 40, was sentenced to three years in prison for endangerment after he struck an elderly woman with a stolen car on Mountjoy Street, Dublin, on 31 August 2016. The incident occurred when Sheridan, who had lost his car key, was approached by four young men who had found the key and urged him to steal the vehicle. While the woman and her male companion, both in their 70s, were searching for the key, Sheridan drove the car in reverse, causing the woman to fall and sustain two leg fractures. She was hospitalized and continues to receive care. Sheridan pleaded guilty, expressed remorse, and claimed he was under the influence of drugs and alcohol at the time. Judge Elma Sheahan suspended the final nine months of a 3‑year, 9‑month sentence, requiring him to keep the peace and engage with the Probation Service upon release. Sheridan's prior convictions include theft and drug‑dealing offences.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 15‑year‑old boy pleaded guilty to possession of a loaded semi‑automatic pistol found in a schoolbag under his bunk beds on 3 December 2018. The gun, loaded with 11 rounds, had been given to him by an older man who had asked him to hold it for a few days. The boy later attempted to dispose of the weapon after the man failed to retrieve it. Gardaí were alerted by a tip, searched the home, and disarmed the firearm. The boy, who has no prior convictions, was placed on a 12‑month probation bond. The court noted his low risk of re‑offending and advised him that compliance with probation conditions would likely prevent imprisonment. The case was adjourned to 22 January 2021.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Kieran Greene, Louise O'Connor, Stephanie O'Connor, and Keith Johnston continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott. All four defendants have pleaded not guilty to charges including the murder of Patricia O'Connor on May 29, 2017, and impeding her apprehension or prosecution. The prosecution alleges Mrs O'Connor suffered a violent death at her Rathfarnham home, with her remains subsequently dismembered and dispersed across the Dublin and Wicklow mountains. Evidence presented by Detective Garda Janette O'Neill detailed the recovery of 15 body parts from nine locations, describing the sites as a "dumping ground." Forensic scientist John Hoade testified that DNA analysis confirmed the remains belonged to Louise O'Connor's mother. He reported finding a low-level male DNA profile in the bathroom where the alleged attack occurred, while no blood was found on seized hacksaws or the deceased's vehicle. The court heard that the defendants allegedly purchased implements to conceal the remains and that Stephanie O'Connor disguised herself as her mother to hide the death. The matter is ongoing, with the trial set to continue on Monday.
Anthony Rossitter, a 32‑year‑old drug addict from Co. Wexford, pleaded guilty to three attempted robbery charges at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. On 15 May 2019, he entered a Gala shop on Abbey Street at about 9 a.m., placed a plastic bag on the counter, and threatened a cashier with a large stainless‑steel pair of scissors, demanding cash. When a staff member said no cash was available, Rossitter left. He then went to a Spar shop in Temple Bar and demanded money, but again departed empty‑handed. Finally, he entered a Gala shop on Dorset Street, showed the scissors, and asked for €20 after staff explained their boss had taken all the cash. He left without any money and was arrested shortly thereafter. Rossitter has prior convictions for assault, drug dealing and two robberies, and 46 traffic offences. He is homeless and has a young child.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Kieran Greene, 34, has heard evidence regarding the discovery of human remains in the Dublin and Wicklow mountains. Prosecutors allege that 61-year-old Patricia O'Connor was murdered at her Rathfarnham home on May 29, 2017, and her body was subsequently dismembered and dispersed across nine locations. Witnesses described finding a torso near the Military Road in Enniskerry on June 10, 2017, while picnicking. Medical evidence confirmed the remains belonged to Mrs O'Connor via dental records. Mr Greene, of Mountainview Park, Rathfarnham, has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. Louise O'Connor, 41, and Stephanie O'Connor, 22, have both pleaded not guilty to charges including disguising themselves as the deceased to conceal her death and assisting in the purchase of implements for concealment. Keith Johnston, 43, has pleaded not guilty to assisting Mr Greene in purchasing items and refurbishing a bathroom to destroy evidence. The prosecution alleges the body was buried in Co Wexford before being dismembered. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury, with an expected duration of five to seven weeks.
In a Dublin court case, a 29‑year‑old Italian man was sentenced to two and a half years in jail for sexually assaulting his flatmate while she slept on a couch. The victim, whose identity is protected, had become friends with the defendant after moving in together and had a brief intimate relationship with him. After the relationship ended, she began dating another man. One night she returned home, fell asleep beside the defendant, and woke to find him sexually penetrating her without consent. He ejaculated on the couch and later apologized. The victim later texted him expressing shock, and he replied with remorse. He claimed the act was consensual in a police statement but later admitted it was not. The court accepted his expressions of shame and remorse, noted his lack of prior convictions, but imposed a custodial sentence due to the severity of the assault and the victim's traumatic impact. The unnamed 29-year-old pleaded guilty.
Rosemarie Gallagher, 61, was jailed for two years after her convertible lost control, struck a tree, a stone wall and railings, then collided with Benjamin Renard, 24, and three other men on Adelaide Road, Dublin. The crash threw all four men into the air; Renard died 15 days later after life support was withdrawn. Gallagher pleaded guilty to one charge of dangerous driving causing death and three charges of dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm. She had no prior convictions and had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 26 years earlier, though she was considered medically fit to drive. The court noted her condition may have contributed to loss of control and imposed a custodial sentence, disqualifying her from driving for three years. The three injured men suffered fractures and other injuries. The judge described the case as tragic and lamentable.
Sean Howard, aged 32, was sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment for arson after a fire he claimed was started to keep warm spiralled out of control. The blaze began when he lit a piece of cardboard in a bin behind the Temple Bar Hotel in Dublin on 28 April 2019 while intoxicated and under the influence of drugs. The fire melted the bins, damaged the hotel's back wall, boiler and double metal doors, and forced the evacuation of 236 guests. Howard pleaded guilty to arson at the hotel and to a prior arson on 3 April 2019, which caused €3,000 of damage and required the evacuation of two rooms. He has 132 previous convictions, including three for arson, and the judge cited his substance use as a major problem. The sentence was three and a half years, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Garda Sean Lucey, aged 42, was convicted by a jury of assault causing harm after striking RTÉ cameraman Colm Hand in the groin with a baton during anti‑racism protests on Cathedral Street on 6 February 2016. The jury found Lucey guilty of assault after deliberating 2 hours 46 minutes, but found him not guilty of criminal damage to Hand's camera. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned the matter for sentencing on 7 February 2020 and remanded Lucey on continuing bail. Hand testified that he was filming with reporter Colman O'Sullivan when Lucey first struck his camera and then hit him in the groin, causing severe pain. Garda Michael Dibley, a fellow public‑order officer, testified that the crowd was hostile and that gardai were under extreme pressure, but that they were entitled to use batons to maintain a six‑foot distance.
In the assault trial of Garda Sean Lucey, the jury was instructed to set aside any personal feelings toward the police. Lucey, 42, faced charges of assault causing harm and damaging a camera after a confrontation with RTE cameraman Colm Hand on Cathedral Street in February 2016. The prosecution argued that footage showed Lucey striking Hand's groin after the cameraman had retreated, while the defense emphasized Lucey's two‑decade clean record and the lawful use of force in a volatile situation. The trial, presided over by Judge Melanie Greally, continued with the jury hearing both sides' arguments before a verdict was reached. The case highlighted the tension between police conduct and media presence during street protests. Sean Lucey pleaded not guilty.
The prosecution case has closed in the trial of Garda Sean Lucey, who has pleaded not guilty to one count of assault causing harm to Colm Hand and damaging his camera at Cathedral Street, Dublin city centre, on February 6, 2016. Lucey, a 42-year-old garda stationed at Crumlin Village and Sundrive Road, was detailed to a public order unit during confrontations between protesters and gardaí. On the fourth day of the trial, before Judge Melanie Greally and a jury, the prosecution called Garda Colm McGagen, who stated he feared for his safety amid an aggressive crowd with covered faces. McGagen testified that he did not use his baton to strike anyone and that he gently moved freelance photographers, including the complainant, on 15 occasions for their safety. He noted he did not know Hand was an RTÉ cameraman. Dr Ciara O'Carroll testified that she examined Hand on February 8, 2016, finding a bruise on his upper right thigh and no other injuries. She prescribed sleeping tablets and declared him unfit for work for one week, though he had returned to work by April. The trial continues.
During a 2016 protest on Cathedral Street, Garda Sean Lucey (42) was accused of striking RTÉ cameraman Colm Hand with a baton and then striking Hand in the groin. The incident occurred while RTÉ reporters Colman O'Sullivan and Hand were moving across a Garda line to avoid confrontation between anti‑racism protesters and a far‑right group. O'Sullivan testified that a Garda advanced from the line and hit Hand's camera before striking him. Hand reported being hurt and the pair left the area. Garda Michael Dibley, David Laird and others from the public order unit described the situation as hostile, with Gardaí outnumbered and under pressure from protestors. The trial heard that the Garda unit was tasked with preventing protesters from reaching supporters of the far‑right group and that batons were used only after other means failed. The case is pending in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Sean Lucey pleaded not guilty.
During a 2016 anti‑racism protest on Cathedral Street, RTÉ cameraman Colm Hand was struck in the groin by Garda Sean Lucey, who used a baton. Hand, who was filming with reporter Colman O'Sullivan, had positioned himself near a garda line after being pushed into a shop. He claimed he chose to stay with the gardaí because he believed it was safer. While filming, Hand was hit by a baton from behind, causing bruising and pain, and his camera was also struck. He later testified that he had complied with orders to move back and that he had shouted at the garda to stop hitting cameras. The trial, presided over by Judge Melanie Greally, is ongoing before a jury. The garda has pleaded not guilty to assault and camera damage charges.
A man has been sentenced to twenty months' imprisonment following a fatal collision on the Naas Road in Dublin on 31 January 2016. Anthony Corcoran, aged 39, of Lyons Street, Newcastle, County Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to failure to remain at the scene with intent to escape civil or criminal liability. A charge of dangerous driving causing death was withdrawn by the State. The court heard that Corcoran struck a pedestrian while returning to County Cavan after an evening out. He subsequently informed gardaí of his involvement the following morning. Judge Martin Nolan noted evidence suggesting the defendant was over the drink-driving limit and concluded he panicked at the scene. The judge acknowledged significant mitigation including an early guilty plea, immediate contact with gardaí, lack of previous convictions, and good work history. Corcoran was disqualified from driving for three years.
The trial of Garda Sergeant Sean Lucey began in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 9 December 2019. Lucey pleaded not guilty to assault causing harm to RTÉ cameraman Colm Hand and to damaging a camera on 6 February 2016. The prosecution, led by Fiona McGowan, explained that Gardaí were aware of a Pegida rally and a counter‑rally by anti‑racism groups on Cathedral Street. They were tasked with preventing confrontation. Sergeant Derek Fleming testified that the situation escalated into violence, with protesters wearing balaclavas and face masks, some attempting to attack Gardaí with fists and to seize batons. Fleming described the deployment of soft‑cap units and later fully kitted units, the use of batons as a last resort, and the eventual dispersal of the crowd after about 30 minutes. The case is expected to last five days before Judge Melanie Greally.
Anthony Corcoran, aged 39, of Newcastle, County Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to failure to remain at the scene with intent to escape civil or criminal liability following a collision on the Naas Road, Dublin on 31 January 2016. The court heard that Corcoran struck Peter Maunde, who was walking on the motorway in dark clothing during poor weather conditions. A charge of dangerous driving causing death was withdrawn by the State. Corcoran informed gardaí of his involvement the following morning after his father contacted local police in County Cavan. During interview, Corcoran admitted consuming alcohol that evening. Garda evidence indicated multiple witnesses observed a man crossing the motorway barrier near Red Cow Roundabout, while other motorists initially mistook the casualty for an animal. Judge Martin Nolan remanded Corcoran on continuing bail for sentencing, indicating he would consider the case overnight. A victim impact statement from the deceased's family was submitted to the court.
In a High Court case, Karl Bennett, operator of the Underdog Boxing gym in Dublin, obtained a temporary injunction against his landlord, KC Capital Property Group Ltd. The injunction requires the landlord to allow Bennett back into the gym and to stop any further attempts to repossess the premises. Bennett claims the premises were forcibly re-entered by seven men who overpowered a single security guard around 7 am on the previous Sunday, and that the landlord had changed the locks. He argues the repossession was unlawful, citing contested forfeiture notices related to unpaid service charges and fire‑safety and planning issues. Bennett, who signed a 20‑year lease in 2014, has been unable to access the gym, which employs seven staff and serves over 500 members. The court granted the injunction ex‑parte, expressing concern over the circumstances and potential impact on Bennett's reputation, and set a return hearing for the following week.
Rose Mulenga, a 47‑year‑old former Turkish Airlines employee, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to stealing €16,702 from the airline's compensation system between 5 June and 5 September 2017. She accessed the company's database to locate unclaimed compensation vouchers, then transferred the money to her mother in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, who was battling cancer. Mulenga resigned shortly after the theft and admitted that she believed the refunds were unlikely to be claimed. She also claimed that she was in arrears with Dublin City Council because her ex‑husband had failed to pay rent, and that her brother had refused to help her. The prosecution noted that she had no prior convictions. Judge Martin Nolan, after hearing the case, imposed a two‑year custodial sentence, which was fully suspended, and noted that Mulenga had repaid some of the stolen funds. The sentence was therefore suspended in its entirety, with no custodial term imposed.
In a Dublin manslaughter trial, witness Shaun O'Donoghue testified that he saw Jonathan Dargan, aged 49, throw several powerful punches at an older man, Patrick Mullally, aged 57, while shouting "bang, bang" on Harold's Cross Road. O'Donoghue described the assault as involving quick, forceful blows directed at the head, and he later observed Mullally lying on the ground with blood from the back of his head. Mullally was found dead the next day, and a post‑mortem revealed a fractured jaw, cheekbone, and a subdural haemorrhage caused by blunt trauma to the back of the head. Dargan pleaded not guilty to unlawful killing and related assault charges. The case is proceeding before Judge Pauline Codd with a jury of five women and seven men.
A man convicted of sexually assaulting a young child has been remanded in custody at the Central Criminal Court following his apprehension. The 24-year-old was found guilty on all fourteen counts of sexual assault at two Dublin locations between June 2008 and October 2011, when the victim was aged between five and eight years old. A jury returned unanimous verdicts after a four-day trial in May 2018. The defendant absconded before the verdict was delivered and remained at large for several months. Mr Justice Michael White imposed a seven-year sentence in December 2018 in the man's absence. Upon his arrest today, the court formally recorded that the sentence will commence from the date of his apprehension. The judge noted the defendant's youth as a mitigating factor, as he was himself a minor during the offences. A victim impact statement detailed the child's ongoing psychological trauma. The defendant was arrested in County Cavan, where he had relocated with his family. The unnamed 24-year-old pleaded not guilty.
A 15‑year‑old boy was stopped on his bike in Dublin city centre with a backpack containing €40,000 worth of cannabis. Gardaí recovered two kilos of the drug and the boy was charged with possessing cannabis for sale or supply. He pleaded guilty and had no prior convictions. The boy explained that he had been given the drugs in exchange for transporting them for his mother, a drug addict, and that he used cannabis to help him sleep. He also said he had been born with neonatal drug addiction. Judge Martin Nolan noted the boy's vulnerable background and decided not to detain him, instead imposing a three‑and‑a‑half‑year detention sentence that was suspended on conditions including two years of probation. The boy's mother was present at the hearing. The court heard that the boy helps his younger sibling with schoolwork and is described by a teacher as well‑behaved but easily led.
A Special Criminal Court hearing on 7 November 2019 considered evidence that Liam Brannigan, aged 37, was driving a white Nissan Primastar van that had been fitted with a listening device by Gardaí. Surveillance officers reported seeing Brannigan in the Blackpitts area on 2 October 2017, heading toward Greenville Avenue, wearing black sunglasses and a cap, and described him as unshaven with stubble. The same van had been seen the day before, on 1 October 2017, with Joseph Kelly driving it in Fairview, and Alan Wilson sitting in the back. Brannigan is charged with conspiracy to murder Gary Hanley between 15 September and 6 November 2017 and has pleaded not guilty. The court heard that the van was used extensively as a spotter car and for surveillance of Mr Hanley. The hearing also noted that other conspirators, including Kelly and Wilson, had pleaded guilty and been jailed. The trial did not address any verdict or sentencing for Brannigan.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 22 October 2019, Defence Counsel argued that An Garda Síochána unlawfully converted Dublin's CCTV network into a "de facto surveillance operation" in the investigation of Liam Brannigan, 37, charged with conspiring to murder Gary Hanley between 15 September and 6 November 2017. The counsel highlighted that Gardaí collected 3,500 hours of footage from businesses across Dublin and installed secret listening devices in six suspect cars. He noted that the officer directing the CCTV collection denied whether the systems were registered with the Data Protection Commissioner, contrary to law. The counsel contended that Gardaí knowingly used unregistered CCTV systems, thereby breaching data protection and criminal law, and requested exclusion of the CCTV and audio evidence. The court would decide on the submissions by the following Tuesday. Liam Brannigan pleaded not guilty.
In a High Court order dated 21 October 2019, a receiver was appointed to liquidate a mobile home formerly owned by Derek 'Dee Dee' O'Driscoll, a known criminal who had extorted thousands of euros from builders working for Dublin City Council in exchange for protection. The court also authorised the seizure of four bank accounts holding more than €250,000, to be taken over by the liquidator. O'Driscoll, from Croftwood Grove, Ballyfermot, and his associate David Reilly of Croftwood Park, had charged firms building council houses between €1,200 and €1,500 per week to guard their sites against vandalism and anti‑social behaviour. Benedict O'Floinn SC, representing the State, informed the judge that O'Driscoll and Reilly could accompany a Garda to the mobile home to collect personal belongings before the sale. John Noonan BL, for the respondents, objected, claiming the men would be pressured or abused if escorted by a Garda.
Olivia O Mahony, 22, of Boyerstown, Navan, received an 18‑month suspended sentence after pleading guilty to possessing property known to be the proceeds of criminal conduct. She had allowed her then‑partner to transfer €15,000 into her Bank of Ireland account, from which she withdrew about €13,000 in cash within two hours before the account was frozen. The money was part of a €1 million fraud that involved a fraudulent email sent to a Danish company, which transferred the VAT refund to an Irish Rabo Direct account. O Mahony claimed she had no knowledge that the transfer was illegal and said she handed the cash to her boyfriend. The court noted she had been manipulated and had not profited from the crime, leading to the suspended sentence.
In a High Court hearing on 8 October 2019, Justice Carmel Stewart ruled that more than €250,000 in four bank accounts linked to Derek O'Driscoll were proceeds of crime and ordered the State to keep the money. The Criminal Assets Bureau seized the accounts in December 2018. Benedict O'Floinn SC, acting for the State, presented evidence that O'Driscoll and his associate David Reilly were involved in drug dealing and extortion, and that they had acted as "enforcers" for protection services at construction sites in Ballyfermot and the wider Dublin area. Building firms, including those contracted by Dublin City Council and Co‑Operative Housing Ireland, had paid €1,500 and €1,200 per week to the pair to stop anti‑social behaviour. O'Driscoll and Reilly denied criminal involvement; their counsel claimed the money was for "fence maintenance".
Alex Bravo, a 60‑year‑old arthritis sufferer, was found by Gardai with over five kilograms of cannabis resin in his Dublin flat, after a confidential tip that the drugs were being stored for a criminal gang. The cannabis, in a suitcase, was valued at €31,460. Bravo claimed he used the drug to manage his arthritis pain, micro‑dosing two‑tenths of a gram of cannabis oil, and that the suppliers had asked him to store the drugs on Sherrard Street. He pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Karen O'Connor accepted his fear of the suppliers, noted no evidence of him profiting from distribution, and suspended a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, citing his good character and long residence in the area. She also ordered him to engage in offence and victim‑focused work.
Paul Fanning, 59, was jailed for six months after a vigilante group called Emerald Hunters Ireland set up fake dating‑site profiles to catch him. The group, operating a sting on Badoo, created decoy accounts for girls under 16. Fanning contacted the accounts, asking for explicit images and proposing a meeting. He arranged to meet a 13‑year‑old named Ali at Merrion Square, where vigilantes confronted him and livestreamed the encounter on Facebook. Gardaí were called and evidence of his texts was presented. Fanning denied intent to have sex but admitted he believed the girls were underage. He pleaded guilty to attempting to communicate with a child for sexual exploitation between 30 January and 11 February 2018. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced him to two and a half years, suspending two years on condition of therapy. The case highlighted the use of vigilante stings and the legal complexities surrounding such investigations.
Two men were jailed at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 29 July 2019 following their convictions for defrauding over 140 foreign investors of approximately €5.5 million through Arden Forestry Management between January 2014 and mid-2016. Garret Hevey, described by the court as the scheme's architect, pleaded guilty to dishonestly inducing investment and making deceptive payment requests. David Peile, who joined the company in 2015, entered similar guilty pleas. The fraud involved misrepresenting forestry investment opportunities, with investors led to believe their funds would purchase land generating returns through government grants and forest harvesting. In reality, the company owned only 30 acres when investigated, insufficient to service the claimed 858 acres of investor holdings. Judge Melanie Greally characterised the offence as calculated fraud, noting significant harm to victims, many of whom had invested for their children. Hevey received five years imprisonment with the final year suspended, while Peile was sentenced to four years with one year suspended. The court heard that €1.98 million remained in company accounts when frozen by gardaí.
In July 2018, a 33‑year‑old Dublin man pleaded guilty to six charges of sexual assault against four of his young female cousins, with offences occurring between 2000 and 2006. The victims, now in their twenties, were aged four to eight at the time of the assaults. They testified that the family, once close, was torn apart by the revelations. The man, who had no prior convictions, admitted the acts after police first met the women. Judge Sinead Ní Chúlacháin imposed a four‑year suspended sentence, with jail terms ranging from one to four years for each charge, but suspended all of them. She noted his moderate risk of re‑offending and his limited understanding of the impact on his victims. The sentence was accompanied by a psychological report highlighting his weaknesses in reasoning and empathy. The judge emphasised that no penalty could restore the victims' lost innocence, trust or sense of security.
In July 2018, Gary Kelly, a 41‑year‑old plumber for Dublin City Council, pleaded guilty to threatening to kill two colleagues, John Maher and Brian Fitzpatrick, by saying he would "get a bullet" on them. The threats were made in January 2018 while Kelly was experiencing severe mental health problems, including depression and psychosis, and he believed he was being followed by drones and ISIS. Gardaí arrested him at his home, where his wife had expressed concern about his mental health. After a probation report was presented, Judge Melanie Greally sentenced Kelly to a fully suspended three‑year term, citing the seriousness of the threats and the lasting impact on the victims. The sentence was suspended on the condition that Kelly remain in good behaviour, attend all mental‑health appointments, and have no contact with the victims or their families for three years.
A father‑of‑three, Alan Lyons, aged 12 to 17 during the offences, was jailed for five years for the sexual abuse of a 12‑year‑old boy by Dirk Jager, a 57‑year‑old former prisoner serving a life sentence for murder. Jager pleaded guilty to six charges – three of sexual assault and three of gross indecency – committed between December 1992 and December 1997. The abuse began when Jager, then 31, convinced the child that a relationship was desired, escalating to full penetrative sex. Jager admitted the abuse in January 2017 and expressed remorse in a letter to the victim. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a headline sentence of five years, reduced to three and a half years, and a total of six years with the final year suspended for five years on condition that Jager engage with the Probation Service. Alan Lyons was convicted.
The Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin (RCSI) has brought a fast‑track commercial court case against Sharon and Conor O'Malley, owners of apartments at Ardilaun Court, over an alleged right of way. The O'Malleys claim they have enjoyed uninterrupted rights of way across RCSI land for over 20 years and that the college's 2019 planning application to demolish an existing building and construct an €88m education and research facility at the Ardilaun Centre threatened those rights. They allege the RCSI's denial of the rights was motivated by spite and aimed to intimidate them from participating in the planning process. The O'Malleys seek orders confirming their right of way, preventing interference, and directing the Property Registration Authority to register the right and award damages. The RCSI, represented by Esmond Keane SC, argues the case is commercial and seeks to avoid delays that would affect its financing of the redevelopment.
Christina Joyce, 31, was found guilty of endangering Garda Thomas Gallagher and assaulting him on 9 April 2018 at Macken Villas, Grand Canal Dock. She also pleaded guilty to two counts of trespass, damaging a wall and a car. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced her to four‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment on 19 July 2018, a sentence upheld by the Court of Appeal. The appeal was dismissed by a three‑judge panel headed by Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly. The court noted that Joyce, while high on crack cocaine, drove her Volvo at speed, failed to stop when signalled, and fled after a confrontation with the garda. She had a history of 67 convictions, including 14 public‑order offences and 13 theft or fraud offences. The appeal was rejected, leaving the original sentence in place.
In 2017, Egyptian national Mohamed Okda, aged 33, was convicted of two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault after a 2014 incident in Dublin. He received an 11‑year sentence with the final year suspended. The Court of Appeal quashed the conviction on 18 July 2019, ordering a retrial because the trial judge failed to instruct the jury on the presumption of innocence. Justice John Edwards noted that the omission was a fatal flaw rendering the trial unsatisfactory. Okda was remanded in custody pending the retrial. The victim, a married mother visiting Dublin with friends, was found drunk and lost, and after Okda offered help she was taken to his flat where the assault occurred. She fled the flat, was rescued by a taxi driver, and reported the incident to Gardaí. The case remains pending retrial. Mohamed Okda pleaded not guilty.
In July 2014, Bogdan Hainal (28), a Romanian national, participated in a violent robbery at the home of Paul and Patrick Kenny, both in their sixties, in Prosperous, Co Kildare. The raiders arrived in a black BMW, entered Patrick's bedsit, tied him with neckties, threatened him, and demanded money. They beat him, stabbed his hand and arm, and tied him to a sink with a rubber inner tube while covering his eyes with a woolly hat. The ordeal lasted one hour and six minutes. Hainal pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary on 8 July 2014. Judge Patricia Ryan set a headline sentence of 11 years, suspending the final two years on the condition that Hainal stay away from the victims for 30 years and engage with Probation Services. The victims described fear for their lives, and Paul Kenny was hospitalised for six weeks, while Patrick Kenny has suffered high blood pressure and will require lifelong medication.
Peter Bradshaw, 55, of Glin Court, Coolock, Dublin, pleaded guilty to arson at his apartment on 24 January 2018. The fire spread to neighbouring flats, causing €782,027 in damage and forcing residents into emergency accommodation. He was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan to 11 years' imprisonment, with the final three years suspended on strict conditions. After the fire, Bradshaw went to Clontarf Garda Station and confessed to a fictitious murder, claiming he had assaulted a man, set a mattress on fire, and attempted to fake his own death. He later admitted he had not murdered anyone. Bradshaw has 40 prior convictions, including arson, burglary and theft, and had a five‑year sentence for arson in 2009. The judge noted his propensity for setting fires and the danger he posed to society.
In a Dublin Circuit Court hearing, Charlotte Skovhaus, who had attempted to help a homeless woman named Cher Quinn, was held up at knifepoint during a drive back to her home. Quinn, who had claimed she had been robbed, pointed a knife at Skovhaus's chest, demanded money, and became verbally abusive while searching her handbag. CCTV identified Quinn, who was arrested and later pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and production of a knife on 29 August 2016. Skovhaus suffers from post‑traumatic stress disorder, experiencing flashbacks, nightmares, insomnia and headaches, and reports that the incident has altered her perception of homeless people. Quinn, who has mental health problems and was drug‑free at the time of the attack, expressed remorse. Judge Melanie Greally suspended the final two years of a five‑and‑a‑half‑year prison term, requiring Quinn to engage with the Probation Service on her mental health and substance abuse issues.
Susan McNeill, 33, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing drugs for sale or supply after a raid uncovered over €1.3 million worth of cannabis and cocaine in her flat. The drugs were estimated at €1,352,798, with almost 60,000 g of cannabis and 2,100 g of cocaine seized. McNeill admitted she had been pressured by a neighbour, who had a key to her flat, to store the drugs and that she had been under peer pressure. She cooperated with Gardaí, revealing cash and an encrypted phone. Judge Pauline Codd found McNeill vulnerable due to past physical and emotional violence in a relationship and her role as sole carer for a son with vulnerabilities. She was given a suspended nine‑year prison sentence, conditional on keeping the peace and following Probation Services for five years.
In a Dublin laneway on 9 October 2017, Bogdan Timorte (37) attacked an intoxicated woman, putting his arm around her and later choking her. The victim, who had been drinking, screamed for help; a nearby resident recorded the assault and alerted Gardaí. Gardaí arrived about 15 minutes after the call, found Timorte on top of the woman, and physically removed him. Timorte was arrested but too intoxicated for immediate interview. He pleaded guilty to oral rape and sexual assault. The court heard the victim's impact statement, detailing injuries, fear, and post‑traumatic stress. Timorte, a Romanian father of three, has been in custody since the offence. The judge adjourned finalisation to the following week, noting the victim's courage and the long‑term effects of the assault.
The jury in the Central Criminal Court trial of a 34‑year‑old Dublin resident accused of attempting to rape a woman on December 18, 2010, will continue deliberating tomorrow. The accused denies the attempted rape, sexual assault and assault causing harm charges. The trial, which lasted eleven days, included evidence that the accused's DNA matched semen found on the complainant's skirt. Defence counsel Orla Crowe SC told the jury that while the prosecution could not prove the woman was attacked, they could not prove the accused was the attacker. She argued the prosecution had failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt and that the jury should not fill gaps with speculation. No fingerprints of the accused were found on seized clothing. Mr Justice Michael White, after 1 hour 40 minutes of deliberations, instructed the jury to suspend and sent them home for the night. The unnamed 34-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In the trial of a 34‑year‑old Dublin resident accused of attempting to rape a woman on December 18, 2010, the jury is set to begin deliberations tomorrow. The accused denies all charges of attempted rape, sexual assault and assault causing harm. Prosecutor Anne Rowland SC presented evidence suggesting the attacker was Polish, citing the complainant's change in demeanor when speaking Polish, a pierced eyebrow, a height of about 6ft, balding, and DNA matching semen found on the woman's skirt. CCTV footage and a co‑worker's testimony about the accused's scooter use were also introduced. Defence counsel Orla Crowe SC argued the prosecution had not proved the case beyond reasonable doubt, noting no fingerprints of the accused on seized clothing and that the client denied the allegations. Mr Justice Michael White announced the charge would commence tomorrow morning.
Two men, including the grandson of former Dublin Lord Mayor Christy Burke, were sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to a combined 14 years in prison after being caught with four kilograms of TNT and a hand grenade in a densely populated area of Dublin. Declan McDermott (30) and Mairtin Manning (24) each received seven years' imprisonment for possession of explosives and membership of an unlawful organisation. A third man, John O'Brien (56), was sentenced to one year and six months for assisting an unlawful organisation by storing a significant amount of explosive material. The court noted that the men had pleaded guilty, had no prior convictions, and that the intervention of Gardaí prevented any harm. The sentences were back‑dated to the dates the defendants entered custody. The judge highlighted the seriousness of the offence and the mitigating factors such as the defendants' employment and family circumstances.
In a Dublin Central Criminal Court hearing, a 34‑year‑old man was accused of attempting to rape a woman on 18 December 2010. He pleaded not guilty to attempted rape, sexual assault and assault causing harm. Forensic scientist Dr Yvonne O'Dowd testified that semen stains were found on the complainant's skirt and that a DNA profile generated from those stains matched the accused's DNA. She noted the probability of a random match was less than one in a thousand million, but she could not determine when the semen was deposited. Garda Eoin Colbert provided photographs of the defendant in custody, and another Garda reported that the accused said "It's all lies" after his arrest. The trial was set to continue next week before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury.
Bernard Ward, 71, a former meditation teacher at the Transcendental Meditation Centre in Dublin, was jailed for three years for sexual assaults on a child during the 1970s. The victim, a ten‑year‑old who attended the centre on weekends, was abused in a shower room while Ward was teaching. Ward pleaded not guilty to three counts of indecent assault between 1 January 1974 and 31 December 1977, but was convicted by a majority verdict. He was acquitted of a separate indecent assault charge at another location in Dublin city centre. Judge Elma Sheahan imposed consecutive sentences totalling three and a half years, suspending the last six months, citing Ward's lack of remorse and the abuse of trust inherent in his teaching role. Ward has no prior convictions, is married with three adult children, and suffers from medical ailments. The victim's impact statement highlighted the lasting harm caused by the abuse. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.