In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Eoin Berkley, 25, admitted to raping an 18‑year‑old Spanish student at the Irish Glass Bottle Company site between 15 and 16 July 2017. The victim, who had come to Ireland to improve her English, was tied up, threatened with death, and raped three times over a 21‑hour period. Berkley used a dog leash to bind her hands, threatened to cut her hands off, and gave her tablets before abusing her. He told her he would not kill her until Monday and threatened to throw a rock at her head if she tried to escape. The victim escaped when Berkley fell asleep on the beach. Medical tests found morphine, codeine and cannabis in her body; she suffered bruising and required medication for months. Berkley's prior convictions include unlawful possession of knives and firearms, threatening and abusive behaviour.
A 32‑year‑old Dublin man pleaded guilty in July 2018 to six counts of sexual assault against four of his young female cousins, one of whom was four years old at the time. The offences, which occurred between 2000 and 2006 at various Dublin addresses, were brought to light after a sleepover in December 2014 when the cousins reported the abuse to their parents. Gardaí then investigated further allegations from other cousins. The victims, now aged 26, 21 and 20, gave victim impact statements describing how the family was once close but has since been torn apart. The man, who has no prior convictions, was remanded on bail for sentencing on 31 October, with the court noting his psychological vulnerability and willingness to participate in rehabilitation programmes.
During the murder trial of 31‑year‑old Anthony Walsh, Deputy State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster described the severe injuries to 54‑year‑old Dermot Byrne's face. She said the bones were broken into little fragments and that his brain had "swirled around" his skull after he was punched and kicked. Glass fragments were found in his face and neck. The body lay in blood at the top of seven steps leading to Fingal Community College. Dr Bolster noted multiple fractures to the jaw, nasal bones, ribs and lacerations to the scalp. Toxicology revealed 350 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood, indicating heavy intoxication. She concluded the cause of death was traumatic brain injury from blunt force trauma to the head, neck and chest, with fractured ribs and high alcohol levels complicating the condition. The jury heard this evidence before the trial proceeded to the next phase. Deputy State Pathologist Dr pleaded guilty.
Tony Ward, 40, of Castlecurragh Park, Mulhuddart, Dublin, pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to endangerment, dangerous driving, assault causing harm and unlawful seizure of a vehicle. On 29 August 2017, he and another man hijacked a taxi at 2:45 am, demanding a ride to Ballymun. Ward, wearing blue rubber gloves, forced the driver to stop, then re‑entered the taxi, unbuckled the seatbelt, and threatened the driver with a four‑inch knife. He ordered the driver out, threatened to stab him, and after the driver escaped, Ward slashed the driver's finger. The taxi then drove off at high speed, pursued by Garda Keith Spackman. At Mellowes Crescent, the taxi rammed two Garda cars and struck a Garda, who was knocked down, sustaining a large laceration to his left arm that required 30 stitches. Ward, who had been drinking and had taken cocaine that evening, is aware the incident could have ended differently.
Gerard Kelly, of Ballybough Road, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to the production of an article capable of inflicting serious injury on March 27, 2015. The court heard that Kelly allegedly held a large kitchen knife to the throat of a man drinking at Lowry's pub on Summerhill Parade. Although another patron was reportedly stabbed in the leg, no assault charges were before the court. Kelly was arrested nearby while in a state of alcohol delirium. His defence counsel, Luigi Rea BL, stated that Kelly did not know the victims and has since taken steps to address his alcoholism. Detective Garda Michael O'Brien described Kelly's rehabilitation as a "remarkable turnaround," noting he is a different person than when first met in 2015. Judge Martin Nolan acknowledged the seriousness of the offence, rejecting intoxication as an excuse. However, noting Kelly's remorse and efforts to reform, the judge suspended a sentence of two and a half years. Judge Nolan warned that if Kelly re-offends, he will go to prison. The record noted that Kelly has 48 previous convictions, all for District Court offences including theft and possession of knives.
A court heard that Jonathan Goulding (28), also known as Goulding Aka Farrell, pleaded guilty to burglary at Mr Price, Coolock Retail Park, on March 27, 2017, and dangerous driving around the Malahide area, Dublin, on October 2, 2014. The charges were admitted, and the case was at the charge_or_pretrial stage. Goulding has 48 previous convictions, including burglary, theft, and a seven-year sentence for a past drugs offence. The court heard that during the burglary, Goulding held a screwdriver in a menacing way towards the shop staff. In the dangerous driving incident, he was involved in a high-speed chase, drove the wrong way on a dual carriageway, and caused multiple vehicles to take evasive action. Judge Melanie Greally noted that Goulding had been in the throes of drug addiction at the time of the offences. She commended his successful rehabilitation, including completing a drug treatment programme and taking up full-time employment in construction. The judge imposed a fully suspended three and a half year prison term and a two-year driving ban. Conditions included remaining sober and substance free and continuing to attend AA meetings. The matter was adjourned.
In the Special Criminal Court, Jonathan Keogh, aged 32, was defended by Sean Guerin SC, who likened the prosecution's case to a "Jackson Pollock" painting, arguing it was a chaotic collection of evidence lacking analysis. Guerin highlighted that Keogh had been involved in a public row with Gareth Hutch the day before Hutch's murder on 24 May 2016, and that Keogh had received threats from Gardaí. He contested the reliability of Mary McDonnell's testimony, which placed Keogh at Avondale House on the morning of the shooting, and questioned her identification of Keogh from CCTV footage. Guerin also noted that McDonnell had been granted immunity and that her evidence was "unreliable." The prosecution alleged Keogh threatened Hutch, that Thomas Fox and Regina Keogh planned the murder, and that Keogh and another man, Mr AB, were the shooters. All three pleaded not guilty.
During a 2018 incident, Garda Thomas Gallagher (39) attempted to seize a vehicle driven by Christina Joyce (30), who was under the influence of crack cocaine. Gallagher held onto the Volvo's driver's door to avoid being dragged under the car. He fell, skidded into a parked vehicle, and sustained severe injuries, including a dislocated knee and shoulder damage that required an eight‑week brace and a two‑year sports hiatus. Joyce, a mother of three with no fixed abode, admitted assaulting Gallagher and causing him harm on 9 April 2018, along with charges of trespass, damaging a wall, and damaging a car. She also admitted to driving at speed, crashing into a Dublin City Council van, and breaking into two homes while evading Gardaí. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced her to four and a half years, consecutive to a term she was already serving, and disqualified her from driving for six years.
A Dublin man, Donal O'Ceallaigh, 33, was arrested at the crowded entrance of St James' Hospital by armed gardai, some with weapons drawn, during a Special Criminal Court hearing. O'Ceallaigh, along with Jonathan Hawthorn, 45, and James Geraghty, 61, pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation styled the Irish Republican Army. The court heard that the arrest followed a tip from an FBI agent who had monitored Darknet activity and received a message from a user named 'Meat Cleaver' seeking Semtex. A mock‑explosive package was sent to Geraghty's Dolphin House address, delivered by a garda disguised as a DHL driver. Hawthorn signed for the package in Geraghty's name. Detective Sergeant Padraig Boyce testified that he detained O'Ceallaigh at 11.32 am under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act, noting that firearms were drawn and a large crowd was present. The trial continues before Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy and Judges Gerard Griffin and Gerard Haughton.
David Murphy, 39, was sentenced in October for an attempted robbery of a Centra shop on Camden Street, Dublin, on 28 December 2017. He had been released from a seven‑year prison term in August 2017 and had 64 prior convictions. Murphy planned the robbery to help his 21‑year‑old son, who had a drug debt. He entered the shop at about 6 pm, wearing a scarf and armed with a scissor, and threatened the shop assistant, Marco Moniz, saying he would stab him if he did not give money. Moniz tackled Murphy to the ground; his colleague, Hyeon Seok Kim, called the Gardaí. Officers arrived while Murphy was on the floor. Murphy pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Melanie Greally remanded him in custody until 25 October for sentencing and ordered a probation report, noting that no post‑release supervision had been in place after his August 2017 release.
A 67‑year‑old Dublin man, whose name is withheld by court order, was jailed after being caught masturbating at a children's party a day after his release. He has two prior convictions for sexual assault on juveniles and had an 18‑month sentence imposed in March 2017 for breaching an order that prohibited interaction with children. The sentence was suspended on the condition that he complied with all Probation Service directions and remained abstinent from intoxicants. He had previously failed to appear in court, leading to bench warrants. The court found he had been intoxicated and had his hand on his crotch with his zip undone at the party. Judge Patricia Ryan re‑activated the suspended sentence and ordered the man to appear again in September for the indecency allegations. The Probation Service had noted his alcohol abuse as a contributory risk factor. The unnamed 67-year-old pleaded guilty.
In June 2018 a bench warrant was issued for a 67‑year‑old Dublin man who had previously been identified by Gardaí as a risk to the public due to a predilection for juveniles. Judge Martin Nolan in 2015 had ordered that the man could not be identified and imposed a five‑year Sex Offenders Act order restricting contact with children and loitering near them. In 2017 Judge Patricia Ryan found the man had breached this order by attempting to communicate with children while intoxicated, with his hand on his crotch and his zipper undone. She imposed an 18‑month sentence, back‑dated to the offence, and suspended the balance on the condition that he comply with Probation Service directions and remain abstinent from non‑prescription intoxicants. The man failed to attend a subsequent court appearance, prompting the bench warrant. The unnamed 67-year-old was convicted.
During the Special Criminal Court hearing, a ballistics expert confirmed that all discharged bullets found at the Avondale House carpark, where 36‑year‑old Gareth Hutch was shot dead on 24 May 2016, originated from a single Makarov 9 mm handgun. The expert noted that a second Makarov handgun, also found at the scene, was not used. The first handgun had no safety engaged, an empty magazine, and a capacity of eight rounds; the second was loaded with six rounds, had its safety engaged, and a magazine capacity of eight. The expert also collected swabs from the car, clothing, and other items linked to the accused. The prosecution maintains that the murder was pre‑planned, with Thomas Fox, Regina Keogh, and Jonathan Keogh each playing a role, and that the shooting was carried out by Keogh and another man. The trial continues before the three‑judge panel. Thomas Fox pleaded not guilty. Regina Keogh pleaded not guilty. Jonathan Keogh pleaded not guilty.
In June 2018 the High Court fast‑tracked several legal challenges to An Bord Pleanála's decision to grant planning permission for a 500‑unit housing development on former St Paul's College playing pitches in Raheny. Mr Justice David Barniville granted permission for the applicants to bring their cases against the board, the State and other parties, including the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. The applicants – Clonres CLG, environmental campaigner Peter Sweetman, Mr John Conway and the Louth Environmental Group – argue that the decision is fundamentally flawed, that An Bord Pleanála failed to carry out an Appropriate Assessment of the impact on natural habitats, and that the development contravenes the EU Birds Directive and Dublin City Council's development plan. They seek orders to quash the permission, declarations of non‑compliance, and to set aside the decision. The judge adjourned the matter for two weeks and placed a stay on the permission.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 11 June 2018, Mr Justice Paul Butler imposed a two‑year suspended sentence on Gabriel Prunariu, aged 24, for attempting to defile a 16‑year‑old girl. Prunariu pleaded guilty to attempted defilement of a child at his Dublin home on 6 February 2016. The judge noted that the offence carried a maximum five‑year custodial term, that no violence was involved, and that Prunariu had no prior violent convictions. He had one minor conviction for burglary. The court considered that Prunariu was now on the Sex Offenders Register, which would affect his future, and that he had cooperated fully with the investigation. The judge therefore suspended the custodial sentence, leaving the non‑custodial penalty in place. The case was prosecuted by Garnet Orange SC and defended by Michael Bowman SC. The victim's impact statement described flashbacks, missed school and emotional distress.
The Special Criminal Court heard that Gareth Hutch, 36, died of multiple gunshot wounds after being shot in the carpark of Avondale House flats on North Cumberland Street, Dublin, on 24 May 2016. He suffered four gunshot injuries: two to the back of the neck, one to the lower back and one to the right of the upper chest. The post‑mortem, conducted by Professor Marie Cassidy, confirmed the injuries and noted that all bullets were recovered. Three bullets travelled from back to front, the fourth lodged in his left arm. Hutch lost over 2.5 litres of blood and was not intoxicated. Three men—Thomas Fox (31), Regina Keogh (41) and Jonathan Keogh (32)—are on trial for his murder, all pleading not guilty. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, continues with the prosecution alleging pre‑meditated planning and involvement of the accused in the shooting.
During a murder trial, a witness described how he wrapped the body of Gareth Hutch, 36, in a sheet after Hutch was shot dead in the carpark of Avondale House flats on North Cumberland Street, Dublin, on 24 May 2016. The witness, Neville Mills, said he heard a commotion that morning, saw Ross Hutch holding his hands to his head and screaming hysterically, and later saw two men running out of the gate. Mills went down to the carpark, found Hutch lying on the ground, and wrapped him in a sheet. He also reported seeing a handgun in the carpark and another weapon beside a car, with spent cartridges on the ground. The trial also heard other witnesses describing the scene, the movements of the attackers, and CCTV footage of the incident. The accused—Thomas Fox, 31; Regina Keogh, 41; and Jonathan Keogh, 32—have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Gareth Hutch.
Journalist Michael Clifford told the Charleton Tribunal that he was initially shocked when he first learned of allegations of sexual abuse against Sergeant Maurice McCabe in early 2014. Mr Clifford said he heard the allegations on three separate occasions from different sources and investigated them, concluding they were without foundation. He told the tribunal that former garda superintendent David Taylor had indicated that text messages seized during a garda inquiry contained evidence of a smear campaign against the whistleblower. However, Superintendent Taylor subsequently told the tribunal that no such text messages existed and that any negative briefings about Sergeant McCabe were given verbally. Former garda commissioners Martin Callinan and Nóirín O'Sullivan have denied a smear campaign occurred. Three journalists, including former Irish Examiner editor Tim Vaughan and RTÉ correspondent John Burke, testified they did not receive negative briefings about Sergeant McCabe. The tribunal, examining allegations that senior gardaí smeared the whistleblower, continues its proceedings.
Liam Walsh, aged 26, was sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment for a series of thefts committed in Dublin during 2017. Over a two‑month period he stole bags, purses, wallets and a handbag from unsuspecting patrons of restaurants, a bar, Christchurch Cathedral and Whitefriar Street church. CCTV footage identified him and he was arrested on 20 October 2017. While in custody at Pearse Street Garda Station he attempted to escape in a "moment of madness" when the back gate opened to admit a Garda vehicle; he was pursued and recaptured a short distance away. Walsh pleaded guilty to the thefts and the escape, and he has 66 prior convictions. The judge, citing his attempts at rehabilitation and cooperation, imposed the sentence back‑dated to October 2017.
A 34‑year‑old man was sentenced to 18½ years in prison for three pre‑meditated, brutal sex attacks on women in Clondalkin, south Dublin, in 2011, 2015 and 2016. The judge described the attacks as primal and brutal, noting an escalation of violence. The first attack occurred late at night on 11 September 2011, when the victim was sexually assaulted and repeatedly punched. The second, on 3 September 2015, involved a leather belt, duct tape and a sexual assault. The third, on 16 May 2016, took place in daylight; the attacker used a hunting knife and the victim sustained injuries to her fingers. The judge imposed consecutive sentences of eight years, nine and a half years and five years, suspending the final four years on completion of sex‑offender programmes. A nine‑year post‑release supervision period was also imposed. The man has been in custody since his arrest in June 2016.
Pedro Miguel Dos Santos E Silva, a 25‑year‑old Brazilian rickshaw driver, was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment for sexually assaulting a Dutch student at a Dublin city centre hostel on 20 January 2018. The victim, who was returning from a night out, was approached by Dos Santos E Silva as she tried to enter her room. He initially offered to help her but then took her key, removed her hat and scarf, and entered the female toilets. He attempted to kiss her, remove her jeans, and expose himself, eventually placing his penis in her face. The assault ended when the victim became distressed. Gardaí found a small amount of MDMA in his bag and he was believed to have been under its influence. He had no prior Irish convictions and had lived in the hostel for four days before the incident. The 18‑month sentence was back‑dated to his first arrest in January. Pedro Miguel Dos Santos E Silva pleaded guilty.
The Court of Appeal has upheld the murder conviction of Mark Nash for the killings of two women in Grangegorman, Dublin, in 1997. A three-judge panel, led by Mr Justice Alan Mahon, dismissed all grounds of appeal on 8 May 2018. Nash was convicted in 2015 of murdering the two victims, whose bodies were discovered in sheltered accommodation two decades after the crimes. He received a mandatory life sentence. The court found the trial was conducted fairly and the verdict was justified by evidence. Nash's appeal centred on challenges to his admissions to gardaí, forensic evidence including DNA found on his jacket, and the lawfulness of evidence seizure. The judges concluded the scientific evidence did not prove contamination and that a jury could reasonably determine the DNA profiles were present from the time of the murders. Nash is already serving life imprisonment for two further murders committed in Roscommon in 1997.
During the trial of the men accused of a €2.28 million Securicor robbery, a witness, Graham Coleman, testified that he bought a Peugeot from the accused, Niall Byrne, for €6 000 in cash in September 2004. Coleman said he had obtained a loan and paid Byrne, who is 36, in cash. He also mentioned that he could not recall Byrne purchasing a motorcycle for €7 000 or a BMW about six months later, but acknowledged that a BMW had been taken from Byrne in connection with the case. Byrne, along with Mark Farrelly, Christopher Corcoran and David Byrne, all pleaded not guilty to the false imprisonment and robbery of Securicor driver Paul Richardson and his family on 13–14 March 2005. The trial is proceeding before Judge Melanie Greally with an enlarged jury.
In a Dublin city‑centre incident, Marcus Klug, aged 37, shouted at a 62‑year‑old care assistant as she walked past him on George's Street and then pushed her onto the road in front of oncoming traffic. The woman avoided being hit but fractured her arm. Klug pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm on 29 October 2013. He had been suffering psychiatric issues and was not fit to plead for several years. He spent 23 months in Cloverhill Prison and time in a locked ward at St Vincent's Hospital, with some community care. The court imposed a suspended two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, ordered him to remain under Probation Services for two years and to follow his psychiatrist's instructions. The woman received hospital treatment and later physiotherapy, and her arm is now fully recovered. The case was prosecuted by John Byrne BL and defended by Niall Nolan BL.
Albert Redmond, 43, was sentenced to three years in prison for a series of thefts, including trespassing and stealing bank cards and cash. He admitted to entering a Dublin city centre office twice, taking a cheque worth almost €9,500, and depositing it into his own account before traveling to Blackpool. While on holiday, he claimed the money was stolen from him, which he said gave him some empathy for victims. Redmond also pleaded guilty to stealing €28 in cash at a Spar, €28 at a bank, and €9,479 at Permanent TSB, among other offences. He had 294 prior convictions, mainly for trespass, theft, and burglary. The judge, noting Redmond's lack of violence and his personal struggles, imposed a three‑year sentence, back‑dated to his June 2023 custody entry.
A 19‑year‑old from Louth, Lee Smyth, was sentenced to four years in prison for violently hijacking a taxi and assaulting its driver, Eric Byrne, on O'Connell Street in Dublin. Smyth, who admitted he was heavily intoxicated on tablets and could not fully recall the incident, said he only wanted to get home to Drogheda. He and a co‑accused seized the vehicle, attempted to take the keys, and then attacked Byrne, who fled and called the police. The car was later found burnt out in Drogheda. Smyth pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and unlawful seizure of a vehicle. He had 29 prior convictions. Judge Martin Nolan suspended the final 18 months of the sentence on strict conditions, noting Smyth's cooperation and willingness to reform. The case was prosecuted by Elva Duffy BL and defended by Grainne O'Neill BL. The court acknowledged Smyth's efforts in prison to change his behaviour.
Anthony McDonnell (26) was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for two counts of robbery committed on May 1, 2017, in Mary's Lane and Cuckoo Lane. McDonnell pleaded guilty to the charges, which involved the violent attack of two victims who were kicked, punched, and robbed of their phones and wallets. Judge Martin Nolan handed down a four-and-a-half-year sentence, suspending the final 18 months on a number of conditions. The judge noted that McDonnell, who has 22 previous convictions, deserved a longer term than his co-accused due to his age and extensive criminal record. His co-accused, Thomas Jackson (21), a homeless man, was jailed for two years. Prosecution evidence detailed how the attackers blocked the victims' paths, used physical force to seize property, and left one victim with a broken wrist and another with broken teeth. Defence counsel Keith Spencer BL argued that McDonnell was remorseful and heavily intoxicated at the time, urging a sentence similar to Jackson's. The court accepted the guilty plea and imposed the custodial sentence with the specified suspended portion.
Thomas Jackson, aged 21 and a homeless man living in Focus Ireland managed accommodation, was sentenced to two years in prison for taking part in two "vicious" robberies on Mary's Lane and Cuckoo Lane in Dublin city centre on 1 May 2017. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The judge, Martin Nolan, described the attacks as very violent, with victims being kicked, punched and one losing consciousness. Jackson's sentence of four and a half years was reduced, with the last two and a half years suspended on the condition that he keep the peace and engage with Probation Services after release. The court heard that the robberies involved forced theft of phones, wallets and a key, and that victims suffered injuries such as broken teeth, a broken wrist and bruising. Jackson had two prior convictions for public order and theft offences.
In 2010, Glen Holland, aged 34, was arrested in Dublin after authorities discovered €68,000 worth of cocaine, a mixing agent and two loaded 9mm handguns in the boot of his Toyota Avensis. The weapons, manufactured in Brazil, were ready for use. Holland pleaded guilty to possession of the firearms, ammunition and cocaine for sale or supply. After his arrest, he fled Ireland while on bail in 2011 and was not re‑arrested until 2017, when Spanish authorities extradited him under a European Arrest Warrant. In 2018, Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Holland to six and a half years' imprisonment, a departure from the mandatory ten‑year minimum for the drug charge. The judge credited Holland's admissions, cooperation with Gardaí, his difficult childhood and the fact that he was caring for his eight‑year‑old autistic son. Holland was instructed to engage with the Probation Service upon release.
Paul Buckley, a 45‑year‑old Cork man, was sentenced to six months' imprisonment on 29 January 2018 for impersonating a Garda and threatening to arrest a schoolgirl. In November 2017, while drinking in Dublin city centre, Buckley approached a teenage girl in school uniform, claimed to be a Garda, and offered her a coffee. When she declined, he threatened to arrest her for truancy, rubbed her hand, and told her she was "sexy". The girl reported feeling uncomfortable and frightened. Buckley pleaded guilty to the impersonation offence. The judge, citing the seriousness of impersonating a Garda, imposed the six‑month term, noting that the court could not infer beyond reasonable doubt that Buckley intended sexual assault. Buckley's prior convictions include a 2005 rape and assault conviction. The sentence reflects the offence of impersonation, with no mention of any suspended portion or effective custody beyond the six‑month term.
Paul Buckley, 45, pleaded guilty to impersonating a garda at Aston Quay, Dublin, on November 11, 2017. The court heard that Buckley, a registered sex offender, approached a teenage girl in school uniform, displayed a business card with a garda logo, and threatened to arrest her for skipping school. He allegedly rubbed her hand, called her sexy, and told her she could not leave. Buckley was identified via CCTV and arrested. He admitted to gardai that he struggled with alcohol abuse. Prosecutors stated Buckley revealed to the Probation Service that the offence was sexually motivated, while his defense counsel argued his motive was to seek human interaction due to loneliness and depression. Buckley was previously convicted of rape and assault causing harm in October 2005, for which he was jailed for four years at the Central Criminal Court. He was released in autumn 2009. Judge Martin Nolan remanded Buckley in custody and stated he would sentence him on Monday. The matter was adjourned for sentencing.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 23 January 2018, the prosecution of Patrick Hutch for the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel was examined. The court considered whether evidence that two detectives identified Hutch in a photo would be admissible. The defence argued the identification was tainted, citing the detectives' prior interactions with Hutch and the lack of certainty among other Gardaí. Hutch, aged 25, pleaded not guilty and denied possession of assault rifles. The prosecution maintained that Hutch was the man in a woman's dress in the photo and part of a shared intent to commit the offence. Judge Tony Hunt announced a ruling would be made the following week, with the trial adjourned until 2 February 2018.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 23 January 2018, a barrister for Patrick Hutch, aged 25, denied that two detectives had gone to Ballymun Garda Station to identify him as the man dressed as a woman in a photo taken two days after the Regency Hotel shooting. Hutch is pleading not guilty to the murder of David Byrne, 34, and to possession of three AK‑47 rifles. The prosecution maintains that Hutch was the woman in the photo and that he shared intent to commit the offence, though he did not fire the shots. The barrister argued that the detectives had prior interactions with Hutch and that the identification was not a deliberate search for him. He also claimed the procedure was unfair and that 99.6% of officers who viewed the photo did not recognise Hutch. The court heard these submissions and the case continues.
Clodagh Forde, aged 19, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for her role in a violent robbery that left victim Kevin Carthy with a broken eye socket and other injuries. The robbery took place on 17 May 2016 at Palace Place, Dublin, when a group attacked Carthy in a lane‑way, kicking and punching him while he lay on the ground. Forde, who had previously served a suspended sentence, pleaded guilty to the robbery. She was described by Judge Melanie Greally as an intelligent person with potential but prone to extreme violence, and she had eight prior robbery convictions, most committed as a juvenile. The assault caused Carthy severe physical harm, including a fractured eye socket, bruising, swelling, and lasting back pain. He suffered a financial loss of about €14,000, and his victim impact statement expressed fear, humiliation, and a sense that the robbery was motivated by sport rather than desperation.
A detective sergeant of An Garda Siochana, Eve Doherty, aged 50, was found guilty by a jury at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of harassing State solicitor Elizabeth Howlin between September 2011 and March 2013. The harassment consisted of abusive letters and emails sent to Howlin's home, workplace and GP, calling her a "corrupt bitch", an "incompetent useless hobbit" and a "two‑faced bitch". Doherty also distributed leaflets around Howlin's housing estate, falsely claiming Howlin was a political appointee who would "pull" files to protect those connected to her or the government. She was found not guilty of two counts of making false statements in March 2012. Doherty was sentenced to three years' imprisonment. The judge noted that Doherty maintained her innocence, showed no remorse, and was considered at low risk of re‑offending. She had no prior convictions and was suspended from the force but remained a serving member.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 24‑year‑old Sean Flood was given a suspended sentence for punching 18‑year‑old Leah Fay during a "rolling" football fight in the city centre. Flood had previously pleaded guilty to assaulting Ms Fay on D'Olier St on 16 May 2015, an offence that left her with a broken jaw in two places and required steel plates. The judge, Gerard Griffin, noted that Flood had four prior convictions for assault and public order offences, but also that he had undergone significant rehabilitation since the offence, including addressing alcohol abuse. Griffin imposed a headline sentence of three‑and‑a‑half years but reduced it to a two‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended sentence, subject to conditions. Ms Fay testified that the assault caused ongoing pain, depression and social anxiety, and that she had not been able to recover fully.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, David McFadden, aged 29, was sentenced to six‑and‑a‑half years for a one‑punch assault that caused severe brain injuries to 38‑year‑old solicitor Kevin Geraghty. The attack occurred outside the Back Door Pub on 25 June 2016, when McFadden, who claimed to be a boxer, struck Geraghty on the head without provocation. Geraghty suffered catastrophic brain damage, required two emergency surgeries, spent ten days in a coma, and has been unable to return to work or drive. McFadden had been assaulted minutes earlier by another man, a fact he cited in court. The judge noted the unprovoked nature of the attack and the high culpability of McFadden, who had 24 prior convictions. The prosecution's victim impact statement highlighted Geraghty's ongoing physical and psychological difficulties. McFadden's defence argued the assault was not pre‑meditated and that he was highly intoxicated at the time. David McFadden pleaded guilty.
John Theaddus, a 30‑year‑old former refugee from Nigeria, was found guilty by a jury of conspiring to import cocaine and of possessing cocaine. He was sentenced to five years' imprisonment, back‑dated to the day of his conviction, November 15. The case involved a total of €23,644 worth of cocaine seized by Gardaí. Theaddus had been arrested after a package containing cocaine was delivered to a hostel where he was staying, and further drugs were found at his South Circular Road address. He had previously been convicted of public order offences. James Onwuka, who was co‑accused and pleaded guilty to the same counts, received a separate sentence of two and a half years' imprisonment. The trial was held at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Theaddus had been granted a residential permit in 2014, allowing him to work and study, and had no prior criminal record beyond the public order convictions.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, Donal Geoghegan, 37, was charged with sexually assaulting a woman on a dance floor in a late bar on 21 November 2015. The complainant recounted feeling a hand on her thigh that moved to her vagina, but she could not identify the assailant. Judge Cormac Quinn directed the jury to acquit Geoghegan on day four, citing the lack of evidence that the defendant touched the complainant. He noted that CCTV footage did not reveal the assailant's identity and that another man, referred to as "Mr X," was present and had behaved in a tactile manner towards several women, including the complainant. The judge argued that the Garda investigation had not examined Mr X or other potential witnesses, and that this omission made a conviction impossible. The case was dismissed, and an application for costs will be heard on 11 January 2018. Donal Geoghegan pleaded not guilty.
Mark O'Brien, 21, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for violent disorder committed on November 21, 2015. O'Brien pleaded guilty to the charge, which involved kicking a stranger in the rear at Central Bank Plaza in Dublin city centre. The incident occurred while the victim was walking with his girlfriend, their three-week-old baby, and his brother. O'Brien remained at the scene and was arrested after the victim identified him to gardai. Prosecution evidence indicated O'Brien was highly intoxicated and homeless at the time, with CCTV showing him swaying before striking the victim. Defence counsel highlighted an "amazing transformation" in O'Brien, who is now attending a residential treatment programme called Team Challenge in Scotland. Detective Garda Shane Moriarty noted that O'Brien appeared as a "completely different person" compared to his appearance during the arrest. Judge Karen O'Connor acknowledged that such "gratuitous aggressive behaviour" would normally result in a custodial sentence. However, considering O'Brien's turbulent early life, history of substance abuse, and current motivation to rehabilitate, she imposed an 18-month sentence. This sentence was suspended in full. The conditions of the suspension require O'Brien to remain at his course at Team Challenge, abstain from drugs and alcohol, and undergo 18 months of Probation Supervision.
The High Court has ordered that a Dublin City centre homeless shelter must close by May 1, 2018, unless its planning status is regularised. Mr Justice Donald Binchy granted final orders in proceedings brought by applicants Carman's Hall Community Interest Group, Michael Mallin House Resident's Association, and Elizabeth O'Connor against Dublin City Council (DCC). The applicants alleged that DCC's October 28, 2016 decision to authorise the conversion of Carman's Hall into a hostel was unlawful and breached planning laws. DCC opposed the application, arguing the facility addressed a humanitarian crisis. The judge held that DCC's decision was in material contravention of the local development plan, noting that proper consideration was not given to the over-concentration of such facilities in the area. Consequently, the court quashed DCC's decision and declared it a material contravention of the plan. However, a stay on these orders was agreed upon, allowing the facility to remain open until May 1, 2018, provided DCC takes steps to ensure compliance with planning laws. The judge awarded the applicants their costs for the main proceedings but ruled that both parties should pay their own costs for a previous pretrial application where DCC successfully lifted a stay. The judge commended the residents for agreeing to keep the facility open during the winter.
Denise O'Brien, 38, of Cedar House, Marlborough Street, Dublin, was sentenced to 16 months in jail for stealing €1,494 worth of No 7 and L'Oréal products from a Boots store in the Ilac Centre on 23 July 2017. She pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. CCTV footage captured O'Brien and an unknown male entering the store; she placed a large amount of cosmetics in a bag held by the male before they left without paying. O'Brien has 126 previous convictions, 87 of which are for theft. The prosecution, represented by Diane Stuart BL, described her as a "persistent shoplifter" whose life had been destroyed by long‑term drug abuse. Defence counsel, Luigi Rea BL, noted that O'Brien began using cannabis at 12, later used other drugs, completed a FÁS course after leaving school, and was working on film locations before her addiction made her unemployable.
Derek Shevlin, 24, was jailed for two years after a violent attack on his ex‑girlfriend Ciara McGrath's family home. He entered the house on 11 September 2015, brandishing a hurley stick and an imitation handgun, demanding €400 for an iPhone he had bought for her. Shevlin smashed the front door, windows, and a Dublin City Council van, then pointed the gun at David McGrath, her father, and threatened to shoot him. He pleaded guilty to making a threat to kill David McGrath and to damaging property. The court noted the attack was the culmination of his failure to cope with the breakup and that McGrath suffered anxiety and sleep disruption. Judge Karen O'Connor, acknowledging his early guilty plea and substance abuse, sentenced him to three and a half years with eighteen months suspended, resulting in a two‑year custodial term.
Costel Tudor, 43, from Bucharest, was jailed for his role in an ATM scam that involved the theft of bank cards with "military precision." The scam took place at a Bank of Ireland ATM in Ranelagh, Dublin, on 17 October 2015. Tudor, together with two women, distracted a customer by placing a €20 note on the ground and tapping him on the shoulder. While the victim was momentarily distracted, Tudor switched the victim's card with another. Garda Joseph O'Callaghan presented CCTV footage to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, showing the group's actions and Tudor's subsequent attempt to withdraw cash, which failed. Tudor pleaded guilty to dishonestly taking the card and attempting to withdraw cash. He also admitted taking cash from a bank account on three occasions in May 2017, including a case where a woman's card was stolen from her purse on Harcourt Street, resulting in €845 fraudulently withdrawn.
On 23 July 2014, a 36‑year‑old Dublin man was charged with sexual assault of a foreign national at UCD campus. The trial, held at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, is in its fifth day. Witness Criona Cullen, a dog walker, testified that she was walking her dogs around 10 pm when she heard a woman call for help. The woman, speaking limited English, claimed she had met a man on Tinder who had taken her to the campus and attempted to have sex with her. Cullen offered assistance, arranging a taxi and offering to pay the fare. A flatmate of the complainant later testified that the woman was frightened and that the man had taken her to an abandoned area. The case is before Judge Cormac Quinn and a jury of twelve. The accused has pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 35‑year‑old English‑language student testified that she was sexually assaulted by a 36‑year‑old Dublin man she had met on the Tinder dating app. She said she had agreed to meet him after weeks of communication, and he had driven her in his car to a secluded green area. During the encounter, she claimed he became aggressive and assaulted her. After the incident she took a taxi home, told her flatmate about the attack, but they could not contact the Gardaí because of limited English. She called the manager of the agency running her English course that night, who advised her to rest and go to the police the next morning. She expressed fear that people would judge her for getting into a stranger's car or using Tinder. The trial is proceeding before Judge Cormac Quinn and a jury of twelve. The unnamed 36-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 35‑year‑old woman testified that a 36‑year‑old man she met on Tinder attacked her in his car on the UCD campus on 23 July 2014. She had come to Ireland to learn English and had been using Tinder to find people to practise with. After chatting online, the man invited her to meet and offered a drive. She agreed, and he picked her up. While parked near a green area, he turned off the engine, locked the doors and became aggressive, calling her names and attempting to touch her. She tried to resist, struck him, and managed to escape, after which he fled. The case remains before Judge Cormac Quinn and a jury. The man pleaded not guilty to sexual assault.
Frank Dunne, 57, of Lealand House, Clondalkin, and Glen Murray, 28, of Pairc Mhuire, Saggart, were arrested during a drug handover after a Garda tip. Dunne was caught handing a package of cocaine to Murray; Gardaí found over €95,000 worth of cocaine at Dunne's home. Both pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine for sale or supply on 15 October 2016. In Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Karen O'Connor sentenced Dunne to three‑and‑a‑half years, suspending the final 18 months on conditions, and Murray to two years, suspending the term in lieu of 240 hours of community service. The court noted Murray's psychological background, low intellect, ADHD and Tourette's Syndrome, and described him as psychologically vulnerable. The case was heard on 20 November 2017, with no prior convictions for either man. The sentencing reflected the court's view that drug dealing causes "destruction and despair" in society.
Patrick Murphy and Gavrila Puscas were sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to illegally dumping two skip-loads of mixed waste at a vacant site in Santry on the night of May 14/15, 2015. Judge Petria McDonnell described the act as "odious" and a "blight on the landscape." She sentenced Murphy to nine months suspended and Puscas to six months suspended, both for a period of 12 months, with conditions to keep the peace and be of good behaviour. The judge indicated she would have imposed tougher sentences had she not been constrained by the one-year suspended sentence previously imposed on their employer, Wayne O'Hare, in April. O'Hare, the former director of W K Waste Ltd, was sentenced by Judge Patricia Ryan. The court heard that Murphy, on a JobBridge scheme, and Puscas, a new driver, were directed by O'Hare to dump the waste. Gardaí arrested the men after surveillance by a Dublin City Council officer tracked the truck. Both defendants have no previous convictions. Defending counsel highlighted Murphy's intention to impress his boss and Puscas's limited industry knowledge. The illegally dumped waste was removed six weeks later. W K Waste Ltd has since gone into liquidation.
In a 2016 daylight robbery on Essex Quay, Dublin, 39‑year‑old Charlene Curran of Kells, Co. Meath, attacked 25‑year‑old Rebecca Kelly. Curran tried to snatch Kelly's iPhone, flung her across the road, pulled her hair, punched her face and attempted to take the phone. Kelly, holding onto her bag, released the phone to keep her bag, and Curran fled with it. Garda Ian Lawlor arrived, found Kelly upset and injured, and used a phone‑tracking app on his own phone to locate Curran. The app led them to Heuston Station where Kelly identified the attacker. Judge Karen O'Connor described the assault as vicious and unprovoked, sentencing Curran to two and a half years' imprisonment, suspending the last 18 months on the condition of cooperation with Probation Services. The court noted Curran's two prior minor non‑violent convictions and her drug use at the time. Charlene Curran pleaded guilty.