A 17‑year‑old was sentenced to five years' detention, three of which were suspended, after a drunken rampage on 10 July 2016 in Dublin. He had consumed half a litre of vodka at home and spent €90 on vodka and mixers at a local pub. CCTV showed him assaulting three women who had returned from a Beyoncé concert, pushing one to the ground, kicking her, and throwing another to the pavement. He also smashed a chipper's glass window and door and damaged a nearby car's windscreen. The boy pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to four people and criminal damage. The judge described the incident as "terror and violence" and ordered him to engage fully with Probation Services to address his anger and alcohol issues. The women reported acute psychological distress. The boy's family were described as well regarded in the area. The judge noted that the boy's problems were partly due to alcohol and an overburdened mother.
The article reports that Nathan Killeen, the getaway driver in the 2009 murder of businessman Roy Collins, has filed an appeal against his conviction. Killeen, aged 27, was found guilty by a Special Criminal Court after a 29‑day trial, alongside co‑accused Wayne Dundon, who was 39. The court had given both men mandatory life sentences. Killeen's barrister, Giollaiosa O Lideadhda SC, argues that the trial judge failed to provide reasons, to analyse forensic evidence, and to address collusion issues, particularly concerning witness Lisa Collins. He also contends that the court did not adequately assess the reliability of prosecution witnesses or the disclosure of evidence. The appeal will be heard by a panel of judges, including Justice George Birmingham, Justice Alan Mahon and Justice John Edwards, on the following day. The article focuses solely on the appeal filing and the arguments presented by Killeen's counsel. Nathan Killeen pleaded not guilty. Wayne Dundon pleaded not guilty.
In a High Court appeal, Mr Justice Paul Gilligan removed a lis pendens registered by Theresa Andreucetti, which was impeding the sale of Lynam's Hotel on Upper O'Connell Street. Nama appointed receiver Aiden Murphy sought the removal, arguing the notice, registered last September, was an attempt to frustrate an agreed contract for sale. Andreucetti, of Castleknock Road Dublin, had previously operated the hotel under a 15-year lease and sought injunctions to prevent possession, which were settled with a deadline to vacate by August 1st last year. Her counsel, Robert Beatty SC, argued the notice should remain pending the full dispute, where she claims her lease termination is invalid and seeks restoration to the premises. The judge was satisfied to vacate the lis pendens, noting Andreucetti had not progressed her claim with expedition and was aware of the receiver's intent to sell. The court established a timetable for document exchange to facilitate a prompt full hearing. The judge adjourned the matter to a date early next month. Following the ruling, Beatty requested a stay pending an appeal. The judge granted a stay only until lunchtime on Wednesday, allowing Andreucetti's lawyers time to apply to the Court of Appeal for a stay pending the outcome of her appeal against the lifting of the lis pendens.
Sean O'Dea, aged 29, was convicted of assault causing harm to two men in a Dublin hotel room on 21 September 2013 after his "on/off girlfriend" alleged she had been raped. He pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and was sentenced to three‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment on 21 April 2016. On appeal, the Court of Appeal reduced the sentence by suspending the final 18 months, provided O'Dea pays €10,000 to the Peter McVerry Trust within three months. The appeal argued that the original judge had over‑emphasised aggravating factors and under‑weighted mitigating ones such as O'Dea's guilty plea, lack of prior convictions, solid work record and provocation. The Court of Appeal accepted that O'Dea believed a rape had occurred, but found his physical attack unjustified. The suspended portion is conditional on the charitable payment and a bond to keep the peace and be of good behaviour.
Anthony Connors, 41, was sentenced to a cumulative 144 years in prison for a career of burglaries that mainly targeted pensioners. In a 2016 incident, he broke into the flat of 81‑year‑old artist Noel Lewis and his partner Dympna O'Halloran, 56, holding them hostage and demanding cash. Connors threatened to stab Lewis with a broom handle and to set the apartment on fire. Lewis managed to "belt" Connors with a heavy battery pack, stunning him. Connors stole €170 from the couple, a tablet containing O'Halloran's artwork, and a distinctive shirt. The victim impact reports described fear, nightmares, and loss of confidence for Lewis and disorientation and memory loss for O'Halloran. Connors was remanded in custody pending sentencing of his final burglary. The judge noted the need to protect the public and consider rehabilitation. Anthony Connors pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 18‑year‑old Leah Fay was assaulted by 24‑year‑old Sean Flood during a chaotic night of rolling fights in the city centre. Fay intervened to protect a friend, but Flood pushed her to the ground and punched her, breaking her jaw in two places and requiring steel plates. The incident occurred on D'Olier Street on 16 May 2015, amid a melee that followed a local football match. Flood, who has prior assault and public‑order convictions, pleaded guilty. Judge Gerard Griffin remanded him into custody until the following Tuesday, when he will decide on sentencing. Fay, now dealing with pain, depression and social anxiety, presented a victim impact statement. Flood apologized in open court, offering €4,000 to Fay as a token of remorse, and his lawyer highlighted his efforts to address alcohol abuse since 2015. The case remains pending sentencing.
Thomas Murray, aged 34, was sentenced to six years in prison for a series of robberies in Dublin between December 2015 and February 2016. He used a knife to threaten victims and cut the straps of handbags, and he also used stolen bank cards for small "tap" purchases. The court noted that he had 37 prior convictions and that his most recent offences were committed while on bail. Murray was apprehended after being "rugby tackled" by two Dublin Bus drivers who pursued him following a robbery at a bus stop. He pleaded guilty to eight robberies, one attempted robbery and one threat to kill, and he admitted that his crimes were driven by a heroin addiction and the need to fund his drug habit and provide for his children. The judge imposed a consecutive sentence of eight years, with the final two years suspended, and ordered 18 months of post‑release supervision.
A Circuit Court judge ordered that two prisoners sharing the same name be brought to court to confirm their identities after allegations that they had been swapping charge sheets to confuse the Prison Service. One of the men was scheduled to appear before the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, but the wrong prisoner was produced, marking the fourth such incident. The judge, Melanie Greally, expressed disbelief and requested a representative from Cloverhill Prison to explain the situation. A Prison Service officer confirmed that two inmates with the same name are housed at Cloverhill, one born in December 1976 and the other in March 1971. The charge sheet presented was for one count of attempted robbery at a Dublin city centre hotel in 2014. Judge Greally directed that both men be brought to court the following day, and that the legal team for the scheduled defendant meet with both prisoners in the cells to identify the correct individual.
In a Dublin city centre brawl on 23 May 2016, 19‑year‑old Jordan McGuinness and 20‑year‑old Craig Smith, along with two other men, attacked two students who were walking by. McGuinness punched Lee Whelan, knocking him to the ground, while Smith and another man struck Dylan Campbell with an iron bar and a hammer. CCTV footage showed the assaults and the use of the weapons. Both McGuinness and Smith pleaded guilty to violent disorder at D'Olier Street and were scheduled for sentencing in April 2017. They were also charged with assault causing harm to the victims and, for Smith, production of an offensive weapon. The court noted their remorse and the offers of compensation, but the final sentencing was pending at the time of the report.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Gary Kearney, aged 25, admitted to robbing a man on Millennium Bridge in the early hours of 11 September 2016. Kearney, who has 160 prior convictions including assault, robbery, theft, burglary, criminal damage and public order offences, claimed to be an undercover Garda before handcuffing and robbing the victim. He and an accomplice used handcuffs and quoted sections of law to intimidate the man, who feared being pushed into the Liffey. They removed his phone, travel and bank cards, returned the cards after the victim demanded them back, but re‑handcuffed him when he asked for his phone. Kearney pleaded guilty to robbery, false imprisonment and theft. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned sentencing to May to allow Kearney to attend a 12‑week residential treatment programme at Cuan Mhuire. The accomplice fled and has not been charged.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 2 March 2017, Mario White, aged 20, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after he threw a glass bottle into the smoking area outside La Fayette bar on 28 March 2015. The bottle struck Warren McKeown, who sustained tendon damage to his left thumb and forearm, impairing his plumbing work and requiring surgery. Judge Gerard Griffin described White's conduct as reckless and gratuitously violent, but, citing his early guilty plea and remorse, suspended an 18‑month prison sentence for two years. White was ordered to pay €2,500 to McKeown. The court noted that White had been on bail for a robbery offence committed on 25 November 2013, when he was still a juvenile. Security staff had restrained White until Gardaí arrived, and McKeown received eight stitches in hospital. The judge warned that any future offence would result in imprisonment.
A High Court hearing_or_decision has concluded in the case of Jimmy Bishop (55) from Nangor Road, Clondalkin, Dublin, who brought a damages claim against An Post following the Tiger Kidnapping of the family of Mr Liam O'Sullivan, an An Post executive, on April 7th 2011. Mr Justice Raymond Fullam dismissed the claim, finding that Mr Bishop did not suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Mr Bishop, a patrolman at the GPO in Dublin City Cente, alleged that An Post failed to provide adequate training, a safe working environment, or sufficient aftercare following the incident. He also claimed that the company did not have a comprehensive response plan for Tiger Kidnappings. An Post denied all the claims. The judge noted that while training on Tiger kidnappings should have been provided, there was no evidence that Mr Bishop suffered from PTSD. The judge also rejected claims that aftercare was insufficient and stated that Mr Bishop's actions may have saved Mr O'Sullivan's wife's life. A full written judgement will be delivered later this week. The matter was adjourned for any outstanding issues.
Damien Murphy, 40, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for a series of pharmacy robberies that took place between December 2015 and February 2016. He admitted to four robberies, one attempted robbery and the production of a knife, and was armed with a knife or scissors during each incident. The robberies were carried out in Dublin city centre, including at Byrnes Pharmacy, Mangans Pharmacy, Blackhall Pharmacy and Janet Dillon Pharmacy. In one robbery a four‑year‑old child was present. Murphy had previously kept his drug addiction under control but relapsed after a financial crisis. He pleaded guilty and made full admissions. The judge imposed concurrent sentences totalling six years, suspended the final 18 months, and imposed 12 months of probation supervision.
David Clancy, a 25‑year‑old father from Clondalkin, was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to possession of nearly €500,000 worth of heroin, cocaine and PVP for sale or supply. The court noted it was his first offence and that he had no prior convictions. Judge Elma Sheahan imposed a five‑year term with the final two years suspended, citing his low‑level role as a delivery person and his involvement in moving heroin into deprived areas. She highlighted that Clancy carried out the crime to pay a €1,000 drug debt and was now substance free. The judge expressed sympathy for his family, noting the impact on his young son, and acknowledged that Clancy had a solid family background and had attended a drug awareness course. The sentencing reflected the court's view that he was at the bottom rung of the drug‑trade ladder.
Martin Keane, 59, was sentenced in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to a theft committed on November 24, 2015. The court heard that Keane stole €20,000 worth of photography equipment from a hotel room in Dublin city centre. The victim, Brian Samuelson, later identified Keane from CCTV footage while he was drinking in a bar at the Gresham Hotel. Keane was arrested and subsequently pleaded guilty to carrying out the theft. Defence counsel Dominic McGinn SC argued that Keane was not a hardened criminal and highlighted recent serious health problems. However, Judge Karen O'Connor noted that Keane was a prolific thief with 16 previous convictions for theft and shoplifting in the UK. The judge described the offence as opportunistic but stated that Keane was caught red-handed. All but €2,000 of the stolen equipment was recovered. Judge O'Connor suspended a sentence of six months imprisonment on the condition that Keane pays €2,000 to the Capuchin Day Centre for homeless people.
In February 2017 the High Court formally ended proceedings over the occupation of Apollo House in Dublin City Centre. Mr Justice Paul Gilligan was told by Stephen Dowling Bl, the receivers, that all remaining items of property, including furniture and beds that had been brought into the building, had been removed. During the occupation a large number of items had been donated by the public to the Home Sweet Home coalition, the group that organised the occupation. All occupants had left Apollo House by 12 January. The legal action, in which the receivers sought orders to end what they described as an illegal trespass, had been adjourned several times to allow the removal of the items. The judge welcomed the news and struck out the proceedings with no order.
Irish international footballer Anthony Stokes, aged 28, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm after head‑butting Anthony Bradley, aged 53, in the VIP lounge of Buck Whaleys nightclub on 8 June 2013. The court heard Bradley was bleeding from a fractured nose and two broken teeth, and that he had suffered chronic neck pain and required extensive dental work costing €13,500. Stokes was fined €30,000 for Bradley's medical costs and was given a two‑year suspended sentence, with strict conditions. The judge noted the seriousness of the assault and accepted Stokes' apology and the fine as a practical expression of remorse. Civil proceedings are continuing in the High Court. The case was set down for trial twice before Stokes pleaded guilty in November 2016.
Warren Brennan, 25, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for robbing a 71‑year‑old pensioner at Alderwood Park, Tallaght, on 27 October 2015. Brennan, wearing a motorcycle helmet and armed with a claw hammer, demanded €5,000 from the victim after the man had withdrawn the cash from a bank. When the pensioner refused and called him a "scumbag", Brennan struck him repeatedly with the hammer, punched him, bit his thumb, and then fled with the money. The victim was knocked to the ground, suffered a broken thumb and later reported flashbacks whenever he saw a hammer or helmet. Brennan pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He has 54 prior convictions, including firearms possession, theft, burglary and assault, and was previously jailed for three years in 2011 for an attempted robbery involving a gun. The court noted that Brennan had been given many chances to reform but had not changed his criminal behaviour.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Mohammed Shafi, a former employee of Washington Mobile on Parnell Street, pleaded guilty to handling stolen property. He admitted knowing that the phones were stolen and that he had been accepting or buying stolen items for a year, including a stolen iPhone 6 he paid about €200 for. The court considered 21 seized items, comprising 18 Apple iPhones, two iPads and one iPod, with a rough total value estimated between €7,500 and €10,000. Shafi said he intended to use the stolen devices for spare parts. Judge Pauline Codd, taking into account his early guilty plea, cooperation with Gardaí, and his role as a primary family supporter, suspended a two‑year sentence and ordered him to pay €200 to one victim. The judge noted that Shafi had not profited significantly from the offences and highlighted his previous minor convictions for holding fake documents.
A High Court hearing before Mr Justice Donald Binchy has opened regarding a challenge to Dublin City Council's decision to convert the former Parish Centre at Carman's Hall, Francis Street, into a homeless hostel. The applicants, comprising Carman's Hall Community Interest Group, Michael Mallin House Residents Association, and Elizabeth O'Connor, allege that the Council's October 28 decision authorising the change of use is unlawful and breaches planning laws. They seek an order quashing this decision, arguing the process was conducted without adequate public consultation and that the area is over-saturated with such facilities. The Council opposes the action, stating the facility addresses a humanitarian crisis and rejecting claims of contravention of the City Development Plan. Fr Dolan, representing the Catholic Community, submitted that the building was never a community centre and that the parish unanimously supported leasing it to house rough sleepers. The hearing is currently ongoing, with the matter not yet finalised.
In a High Court hearing on 17 January 2017, Mr Justice Paul Gilligan confirmed that the occupation of Apollo House had ended when the last resident left the building a few hours after the court's last appearance. The judge noted that the Home Sweet Home coalition had donated furniture and beds to the occupants, and that efforts were underway to remove these items. Solicitor Gary Daly, representing Glen Hansard, Brendan Ogle, Aisling Hedderman and Carrie Hennessy, said the receivers were seeking indemnity for any claims arising from the occupation, citing a query about a donated boiler. Mr Justice Gilligan adjourned the case for two weeks to allow the building to be vacated and ordered the defendants to ensure all donated property was removed, with the building returned to its pre‑occupation state. The injunction, originally granted in December, had been extended to 11 January, after which all residents departed.
In a High Court hearing on 12 January 2017, Mr Justice Paul Gilligan was informed that the occupation of Apollo House in Dublin City Centre had ended and that all homeless occupants had left. The Home Sweet Home Coalition, which had organised the occupation, confirmed that all donated furniture and property were to be removed, but one male resident had refused to leave. Counsel for the coalition acknowledged the court had earlier been told the occupation had ended and expressed confidence that the man would vacate. The Gardaí were handling the matter and had requested a pause on removal until the building was fully vacated. The receivers, appointed by Nama, welcomed the development and offered assistance in winding down the occupation. The judge adjourned the case to the following Tuesday, allowing the vacating process to continue and permitting parties to re‑apply if necessary.
The High Court heard that the occupation of Apollo House in Dublin City Centre has ended and all occupants have left. Michael Lynn SC, representing the Home Sweet Home Coalition, informed Justice Paul Gilligan that the building is now vacated, though removal of donated furniture and property will take additional time. Rossa Fanning SC, speaking for the Nama‑appointed receivers who own the property, welcomed the development but noted that possession had not yet been re‑established and that the receivers would assist in an orderly wind‑down. The court adjourned the matter to 2 pm on Thursday for an update on the progress. The announcement follows the court's earlier dismissal of an application by organisers seeking an extra week to remain, and a prior injunction that required residents to leave by noon Wednesday.
In a January 2017 High Court hearing, Mr Justice Paul Gilligan dismissed an application by the occupants of Apollo House in Dublin for an additional week to vacate the building. The occupants, up to 25 of whom were homeless, had previously been ordered to leave by 12 noon Wednesday. Their solicitor, Ross Maguire SC, sought a seven‑day extension on the grounds that suitable alternative accommodation had not yet been secured, citing assurances from Minister Simon Coveney that had not materialised. The court ruled that it could not adjudicate on the quality of alternative housing, deeming it a governmental matter, and reaffirmed that the occupants had no right to remain. The receivers, appointed by Nama, opposed the extension, arguing the case concerned property rights, not housing policy. The judge emphasised that the court would not take a benevolent stance in cases of illegal occupation, and the order to vacate remained in force.
In a High Court ruling on 22 December 2016, Mr Justice Paul Gilligan ordered that occupants of Apollo House in Dublin City Centre must vacate the building by 12 noon on 11 January 2017. The injunction, sought by Tom O'Brien and Simon Coyle of Mazars, who were joint receivers appointed by Nalm Ltd, was granted to prevent further trespass. The judge imposed a stay on the eviction until the full hearing, allowing no more than 40 homeless people to remain overnight and requiring the receivers to have access to the building and to cooperate on matters such as electricity supply. The court noted that the occupants were trespassers and that the receivers had legal charge of the property, while the activists argued that the occupation was a necessary response to the homelessness crisis. The injunctions remain in force until the action is fully heard.
Zhen Dong Zhao, an internet café manager, was sentenced to six years in prison for the manslaughter of Noel Fegan. The matter reached this stage following an appeal where Zhao's original murder conviction and life sentence, imposed in December 2012, were overturned by the Court of Appeal earlier this year, resulting in a retrial order. At the Central Criminal Court last month, the State accepted Zhao's plea of not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The court heard that Zhao kicked Fegan to death outside a shop on Lower Wellington Quay in Dublin in May 2011 during a dispute over a 70-cent phone call. An autopsy attributed Fegan's death to a subarachnoid haemorrhage caused by blunt-force trauma to the head and neck. Justice Patrick McCarthy stated the appropriate sentence was nine years but reduced it by three years due to mitigating factors, including Zhao's remorse, early plea, and low risk of reoffending. Zhao received credit for two years and eight months already spent in custody. The victim's family criticised the sentence, with his niece expressing disappointment that the term was shorter than expected, noting the profound impact on Fegan's two children.
Receivers Tom O'Brien and Simon Coyle of Mazars, appointed by NALM in 2014, have brought a High Court action to regain possession of Apollo House, a 10‑story former office building on Tara and Townsend Streets in Dublin. The building, occupied by activists from the Home Sweet Home Coalition who offered it as shelter for the homeless, is deemed illegal and a form of political protest. The receivers argue that the building is unsuitable for residential use, citing serious health and safety risks such as a cut electricity supply, potential falls in stairwells, inadequate water supply, and lack of waste removal. They also note that the building's fire and public liability insurance will lapse in mid‑January if possession is not restored. The receivers seek injunctions to compel the occupiers to vacate and to prevent further trespassing.
A judge has allowed an emergency hostel for the homeless to open in the converted Carman's Hall in the Liberties while a legal dispute over the building's use is pending. The temporary hostel, which had been shut as a community centre in 2013, was halted by a challenge from the Carman's Hall Interest Group, Michael Mallin House Residents and youth worker Elizabeth O'Connor, who want the site returned to community use and have sought judicial review of the Council's decision. The court's permission for judicial review also acted as a stay on the hostel opening. DCC, opposing the challenge, asked the stay be lifted, citing the urgent need to house rough sleepers. Lawyers for the residents argued the stay should remain. Mr Justice Seamus Noonan ruled that the balance of justice favoured lifting the stay, noting the residents' inconvenience and the needs of a vulnerable section of society, especially in winter.
The High Court will decide on Friday morning whether to lift a stay that has halted the opening of a temporary homeless hostel in the former Carman's Hall community centre on Francis Street. The stay was imposed after a legal challenge by the Carman's Hall Interest Group, the Michael Mallin House Residents and youth worker Elizabeth O'Connor, who want the building to remain a community centre. The challenge was brought to the High Court after the court had previously allowed the Dublin City Council (DCC) to use the building as a hostel to address the emergency of rough sleepers. DCC argues that lifting the stay is necessary because many vulnerable people are sleeping rough, and the council has invested about €930,000 converting the building into a 65‑bed hostel.
The sentencing of Irish international footballer Anthony Stokes, aged 27, for an assault charge has been postponed until next year. Stokes pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm to Anthony Bradley on June 8, 2013, at Buck Whaleys on Leeson Street. Judge Melanie Greally had originally set a sentencing date of December 20, but after an application by his defence lawyer, the date was moved to February 1, 2017. Stokes, who lives in Glasgow, was not present at the hearing and remains on continuing bail until the new sentencing date.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, 40‑year‑old Zhen Dong Zhao pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for the death of 39‑year‑old Noel Fegan outside the e‑Times internet café in Dublin on 20 May 2011. Zhao, who had lived in Ireland since 2003, was originally convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment in 2012, but that conviction was overturned by the Court of Appeal and a retrial was ordered. The court heard that a brief altercation over a 70‑cent phone call escalated into a physical fight lasting seven to ten seconds, during which Zhao repeatedly kicked Fegan, causing a subarachnoid haemorrhage that led to his death. CCTV footage showed the incident lasted three minutes and 36 seconds. Zhao had been in custody for two years and eight months before the hearing and had met all bail conditions.
In a High Court hearing on 5 December 2016, residents of Dublin 8 challenged the Dublin City Council's decision to convert the former Carman's Hall community centre into a hostel for 65 homeless men. The challenge was brought by the Carman's Hall Interest Group, the Michael Mallin House Residents Association and Elizabeth O'Connor, who argued that the council's October decision was unlawful, irrational and in breach of the Dublin City Development Plan. They claimed the proposed hostel would concentrate services for the homeless and those with addiction problems in a small area, aggravating anti‑social behaviour, and that residents had not been consulted. The court, hearing the case ex‑parte, granted permission to challenge, stayed the council's decision and adjourned the matter to 17 January 2017. The residents sought an order quashing the council's decision and declarations that it was null and void. The case remains pending.
At the Central Criminal Court, Zhen Dong Zhao, 40, of Jervis Street, Dublin, pleaded not guilty to the murder but guilty to the manslaughter of 39-year-old Noel Fegan. The plea was accepted by the State. The incident occurred on May 20, 2011, outside the e-Times internet café in Dublin city centre, following a dispute over a 70-cent phone call. Prosecution counsel Pauline Walley SC alleged that Zhao "savagely" kicked Fegan, who was on the ground, multiple times to the head and body before delivering a final blow. Witnesses described Zhao's demeanor as "casual" and noted he gave a "two-finger salute" as Fegan lay dying. A post-mortem attributed Fegan's death to a subarachnoid haemorrhage caused by blunt-force trauma. Zhao had previously been convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment in December 2012, but that conviction was overturned by the Court of Appeal earlier this year, resulting in a retrial. During the proceedings, victim impact statements were read, including from Fegan's daughter, son, and sister, who expressed their grief. The court heard that Zhao initially claimed self-defense but later admitted to being angry and wanting to "teach them not to do this again." Sentencing was adjourned until December 9, and Zhao was remanded on continuing bail until that date.
In a Dublin city‑centre incident on 11 February 2015, 41‑year‑old Colm Donnelly broke into a woman's home, threatened to kill her, and dragged her about 60 metres down a street while brandishing a metal bar. He told Kelly Cullen he was HIV‑positive and forced her to withdraw money from an ATM. Cullen escaped when a passer‑by intervened, and the two fled, but Donnelly pursued them for a time before they outran him. Donnelly had earlier that day broken into an apartment at The Waterside, Ringsend, threatened a man with the bar, robbed his mobile phone, robbed a shop, and stole €300. He pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and false imprisonment, and was sentenced to three‑and‑a‑half years in prison, with the final six months suspended under conditions. The sentence was back‑dated to his initial custody in February.
A woman with 40 years of hill walking experience, Teresa Wall, told the High Court she was seriously injured after falling on a rotting boardwalk on the Wicklow Way. She described being 'black and blue on her right side' and suffering a gash to her knee requiring seven stitches. Her husband had to carry her down the mountain due to lack of mobile signal. The appeal against a Circuit Court finding that the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) was negligent and must pay €40,000 in damages is ongoing. The Circuit Court had ruled that the boardwalk, made of rotted railway sleepers, was unsafe and that the NPWS failed in its duty of care. The NPWS is appealing, arguing that Ms Wall contributed to her injuries by not looking where she was going.
A Chinese national, Zhen Dong Zhao, 39, pleaded guilty to manslaughter for the killing of Noel Fegan outside his internet cafe on Wellington Quay on 20 May 2011. The plea was accepted by the State and a sentencing hearing is set for 5 December. Zhao had previously pleaded not guilty to murder but was convicted in 2012 and sentenced to life imprisonment; that conviction was later quashed after a retrial was ordered by the Court of Criminal Appeal for errors in the trial judge's explanation of provocation. Justice Patrick McCarthy granted continuing bail until the sentencing date.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 27‑year‑old Irish international footballer Anthony Stokes pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Anthony Bradley at Buck Whaleys nightclub on Leeson Street on 8 June 2013. The case, originally scheduled for trial on 22 November, was postponed at the prosecutor's request. Judge Melanie Greally set a sentencing date for 20 December and remanded Stokes on continuing bail.
Warren Brennan, 25, of Pearse Street, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbery at Alderwood Park, Tallaght, on October 27, 2015. He also pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary at a bookmakers on Lombard Street and resisting a police officer on the same occasion. Judge Catherine Murphy described the Tallaght robbery, in which Brennan attacked a 71-year-old victim with a hammer, as "particularly nasty" and involving "gratuitous violence." The judge noted Brennan's 54 previous convictions, including a 2011 three-year jail term for an attempted armed robbery. Although Brennan was on bail for the Lombard Street burglary when he committed the Tallaght robbery, he is currently in custody for other offences. The judge remanded Brennan on continuing bail until January 16 for sentence, stating she needed time to consider various reports. Defense counsel Sean Gillane SC highlighted Brennan's difficult childhood, addiction issues, and a psychiatric report indicating a risk of developing schizophrenia, urging the court not to discard him entirely. Prosecution counsel detailed how Brennan was identified after giving a false name and how he attempted to stab gardai during the Lombard Street incident. The matter was adjourned for sentencing.
In November 2016 the High Court in Dublin appointed KPMG insolvency practitioner Kieran Wallace as provisional liquidator for American Apparel Ireland Ltd, the Grafton Street clothing retailer. The court was informed that the company was insolvent and could not meet its debts. American Apparel Ireland had been trading in Ireland since December 2007 and had been owned by the US‑based parent company, which had filed for bankruptcy in the United States. The Irish subsidiary had been transferred to new ownership a year earlier but again faced trading difficulties and decided to file for bankruptcy after a shareholder resolution. The company's only realisable assets are the stock in its premises; it has no warehouse in Ireland. Wallace was granted powers to trade and sell the stock, secure assets and retain employees, with the case scheduled to return to court in December. The landlord of the Grafton Street premises claims to be a significant creditor.
A 35-year-old Dublin man has been found not guilty by reason of insanity of assaulting two women in Dublin city centre on 14 April 2015. At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, the defendant pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to two counts of assault causing harm. The court heard he was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia and had discontinued his anti-psychotic medication prior to the offences. Both prosecution and defence counsel submitted that he met the criteria under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006, as he did not know his actions were wrong and was unable to control himself. Forensic psychiatrists for both sides concurred on these grounds. The jury returned the special verdict within minutes. Judge Martin Nolan ordered that the defendant be brought to the Central Mental Hospital for assessment of his treatment needs. The case was adjourned to 17 November.
An unemployed man from Glenties was remanded for sentencing after pleading guilty to serious drugs and firearms offences at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Ken McDermott, aged 47, admitted possession for sale or supply of controlled drugs and unlawful possession of firearms following his arrest in Finglas on May 27, 2015. Gardaí intercepted a vehicle at Dublin Port acting on confidential information about a planned firearms importation. McDermott was observed transferring rucksacks from a car to a van, which officers then stopped. A search recovered two revolvers and ammunition, along with cocaine and ecstasy tablets with an estimated street value exceeding €483,000. McDermott told gardaí he had agreed to participate in the importation to support his family following the collapse of his courier business. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned the case to November 16 for consideration of sentence.
An appeal has been heard in the High Court regarding the conviction of Glen Paisley for assault causing harm to Mr Nicolas Omnes on Camden Street in Dublin 2 on the evening of May 4, 2014. Paisley, who was found guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, has appealed the sentence of two and a half years in custody. The case was adjourned for further consideration. Paisley admitted to the charge and pleaded guilty. He has a history of fifty previous convictions, including 43 road traffic offences. The victim, Mr Omnes, was punched and fell, hitting his head on the ground, resulting in a head injury requiring hospital treatment. Paisley was with two friends during the incident and was more aggressive than others involved. CCTV footage later confirmed his involvement. The victim's statement highlighted the lasting impact of the assault on his life, including social and emotional effects. Defence counsel expressed remorse on behalf of Paisley and offered an apology. The matter was adjourned and is not yet finalised.
Gerard Field, 28, of Coolock, pleaded guilty to three counts of arson at his own home and adjacent houses on 11 April 2015. He set fire to a bag of clothes in the back room of his downstairs with the intention of taking his own life, using no petrol or other flammable materials. Field, who uses a wheelchair and has spina bifida, hydrocephalus and mild cerebral palsy, had been depressed and had sought psychiatric help the day before the incident. He was severely injured, lost consciousness and was rescued by the Dublin Fire Brigade; his parents were taken to Beaumont Hospital and his sister suffered minor injuries. Field had no prior convictions. The court, after hearing his background and the lack of intent to harm others, imposed a five‑year suspended sentence and required him to engage with probation services for two years. The judge described the sentence as lenient given his circumstances and the seriousness of the offence.
Thomas Murray, 34, a father of two, will be sentenced in December for a series of robberies in Dublin between December 2015 and February 2016. He pleaded guilty to eight robberies, one attempted robbery and one threat to kill. CCTV showed him using women's bank cards for small "tap purchases" where PIN codes are not required, and cutting the straps of handbags with a knife he described as a tool. Murray had 37 prior convictions and committed several offences while on bail. He was apprehended after a bus driver "rugby tackled" him and after a car stopped him at a bus stop. He cooperated with Gardaí, admitted the offences, apologized for frightening victims and said he committed the crimes to feed his addiction and buy things for his children. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned sentencing to allow for updated reports and noted the need for a regime to provide help upon release.
Patricia Fortune, 35, was found not guilty by reason of insanity after she attacked Sean Hogan with scissors, leaving him blind in one eye. The incident occurred on 28 May 2013 at the Granby Centre, a Dublin homeless shelter for people with mental health issues. Fortune pleaded not guilty to one count of intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm. The jury, after hearing psychiatric evidence, returned a verdict in 21 minutes. Judge Patricia Ryan adjourned the case to 1 November to allow for an assessment of Fortune's future care. Prosecutor Ronan Kennedy argued that while there was no dispute that Fortune carried out the assault, the key issue was her mental state at the time. The court heard that Fortune had a long history of violence and severe epilepsy, with an IQ of 68, and that she had an organic personality disorder linked to her epileptic condition.
In October 2016, Jimmy Bishop, a 55‑year‑old An Post patrolman from Clondalkin, sued the company for failing to provide a safe system of work after the 2011 Tiger Kidnapping of Liam O'Sullivan's family. Bishop claimed he had no risk assessment or training for such an event and that An Post did not give him a safe place of work or adequate counselling. He said he used a code word to alert colleagues and the Gardai, but the company failed to respond appropriately. Bishop alleged that the company's lack of a comprehensive response plan left staff unsure of their roles. An Post denied the claims. The case was set to be heard by Mr Justice Raymond Fullam and was expected to last several days.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 16‑year‑old was found guilty of assault causing serious harm after slashing the face of actor Andrew Cusack with a broken glass bottle. The incident occurred on May 2 2016 at Dame Lane, following a dispute over alleged fake ecstasy tablets purchased by Cusack. CCTV showed the youth becoming enraged, leaving the scene, and later returning to attack Cusack with a broken pint glass. Cusack suffered four wounds, including a large C‑shaped scar across his lower lip and cheek, and may endure permanent numbness and weakness of his lower lip. He has been receiving psychological support and may need further surgery. The judge sentenced the youth to four years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, and imposed two years of probation to address substance‑abuse issues. The court noted the attack's life‑changing and catastrophic consequences for Cusack.
Nianje He, a 35‑year‑old Chinese national, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to unlawfully cultivating cannabis in his apartment on 8 May 2014. The court found 126 cannabis plants at various stages of growth, valued at €108,000, and noted a strong smell of cannabis when Garda Seamus Donoghue entered the premises. He had jumped from a second‑floor window after being caught. He was sentenced to three and a half years' imprisonment by Judge Martin Nolan on 20 November 2015. On 7 October 2016, Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan dismissed He's appeal against that sentence. Sheehan said He had been involved in the offence to discharge gambling debts, had expected €10,000 from the harvest, and had committed a further cultivation offence in Galway while on bail for the Dublin offence. The Court of Appeal found the sentence not excessive and gave He credit for six weeks spent in custody for this offence.
Jonathan Hawthorn, 44, of Ballintyre Downs, Ballinteer, was granted compassionate bail by the Special Criminal Court to attend his father's funeral. He was charged with membership of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) along with James Geraghty and Donal O Ceallaigh. The court, sitting in an out‑of‑term session, accepted the State counsel's argument that, despite the usual objection to bail, compassionate bail was appropriate. Hawthorn must post a €6,000 bond, reside in Dublin, and report to Portlaoise Prison by 6:30 pm on Thursday. He is required to observe a curfew from 12 am to 7 am, surrender his passport, and may not leave the jurisdiction or contact prosecution witnesses. He must not associate with co‑accused or convicted persons, attend republican gatherings, or apply for new travel documents. The court remanded all three men in custody with liberty to apply for bail until 24 October.
Leonard Dumbrell, 28, of Clonattin Village, Gorey, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment and a five‑year driving disqualification for car theft and two counts of dangerous driving in Dublin City Centre. The sentence was imposed by Judge Mary Ellen Ring on 30 July 2015. Dumbrell's appeal was dismissed by Mr Justice Alan Mahon on 28 July 2016. Mahon noted that Dumbrell had entered a car with the engine running, left the owner, and then drove away. A Garda chased him, and Dumbrell broke a red light, made illegal turns, weaved through traffic, mounted a pedestrian median on O'Connell Bridge, and crashed in Temple Bar. He had 108 previous convictions and was arrested a short distance away. Mahon found the three‑year term not "lenient" given his record and that the sentencing judge had considered rehabilitation. The appeal was therefore dismissed. Leonard Dumbrell pleaded guilty.