Vasile Manole, 46, and Daniella Voroneanu, 42, were sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for a savage knife attack on an innocent man sleeping in a tent on Tara Street, Dublin, in April 2024. Manole, a convicted rapist with prior violent offences, pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm. Judge Martin Nolan described the unprovoked attack as "extremely savage" and "reprehensible," noting the victim lost sight in one eye and required 190 stitches. Manole was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment. Voroneanu, who initially faced a charge of assault causing serious harm, pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of assault causing harm after discussions between her defence and the prosecution. The court accepted she likely did not expect the viciousness of the assault but had encouraged Manole to act. She was sentenced to three years. Both defendants were intoxicated at arrest, suspending their detention periods for six hours. The judge backdated both sentences to the date they went into custody. The matter was finalised with these sentences imposed.
Ian Kidney, a 37‑year‑old Dublin resident, was sentenced to seven years in prison for his role in a €3 million cannabis and cocaine operation. He had no prior criminal record but was under Garda surveillance from 3 April last year. Kidney pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of drugs for sale or supply: one for transporting drugs on Dublin's north side and another for a haul at a south‑side storage facility. Garda Brian Kirwan testified that Kidney drove a van to Finglas, delivering two boxes to Liam Mellows Road, where €320 000 of cannabis was found. He then drove into Dublin City Centre, where a stop on Beresford Street led to the seizure of €198 332 of cannabis. A self‑storage unit in Ballymount yielded €2.28 million of cannabis herb, €5 572 of resin and €694 858 of cocaine; Kidney held one of two keys.
An unnamed 17-year-old defendant was sentenced to 20 months' detention by Judge Martin Nolan in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for assault causing harm. The teen, who was 16 at the time, pleaded guilty to instigating an unprovoked attack on US tourist Stephen Termini in July 2023, which left the victim with serious brain injuries. Judge Nolan noted the defendant's nine previous convictions, including for assault causing harm and violent disorder, stating he had not taken prior chances to change. Although defence counsel Conor Devally SC requested a sentence with a suspended element to support rehabilitation, the judge reluctantly imposed custody, citing a total lack of insight. Two other boys involved in the attack, who pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm and violent disorder, were previously sentenced to 32 and 26 months' detention respectively. The victim, who has since changed his surname to Donnelly, suffered ongoing health issues including PTSD and requires a cane to walk. He stated he forgives the boys but seeks help covering his €103,000 in medical costs.
In a Dublin rape trial, the jury was shown a 40‑minute CCTV clip of the complainant and a second man having a sexual encounter in a B&B hallway hours after the alleged rape. Judge Caroline Biggs warned the footage could be intrusive and distressing but deemed it necessary to play. The accused, a 33‑year‑old Louth man, pleaded not guilty to raping a 19‑year‑old Spanish tourist on a Dublin Castle street on 1 January 2019. The State alleged the victim could not consent due to alcohol or drugs. After the alleged rape, the victim walked with the accused, then sought help from a couple who directed her to a B&B where she met the second man. She described persistent kissing, anal sex, and pain, and later claimed she had been raped by both men. No charge was brought against the second man.
Jane Dowling, 54, of Newlands House, Baldonnell, Dublin, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to deceiving Dublin City Council into paying her €12,000 finder's fee for sourcing rental properties under the Housing Assistance Payments scheme on 7 December 2018. At the time she worked for a rental property company while also running her own company, City Properties, which had no connection to her employer. Dowling used properties that her employer managed and claimed the finder's fee under her own company. She has since repaid the full amount. Judge Martin Nolan, noting that Dowling is the sole provider for her teenage daughter and has no prior convictions, sentenced her to one year in prison, suspended in full, and accepted that she is unlikely to appear again in court. The case was prosecuted by Aoife McNickle BL and defended by Justin McQuade BL. The Gardaí had arrested Dowling in September 2020 after her employer reported the deception.
A 33‑year‑old Spanish tourist, who was accused of rape on New Year's Eve 2019 in Dublin's Castle area, denies being affectionate with the alleged rapist on CCTV footage. She pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court. The State alleges the man raped her on a street, claiming she could not consent due to alcohol or drugs. She testified she was trying to find a bar, was led into a dark area where the alleged rape occurred, and felt powerless. Afterward she walked with the man back through the city centre, then met a couple outside a shop. She says she was frightened, held the man's arm to avoid falling, and later met a second man at a B&B where she was kissed and had anal sex. She claims she was coerced and that no charge has been brought against the second man. The trial continues before Ms Justice Caroline Biggs and a jury.
David McNamara, aged 24, was sentenced to five years in prison at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for a series of violent offences. He pleaded guilty to assaulting his 16‑year‑old girlfriend in September 2019, to assaulting a second girlfriend and coercive control of her between 17 and 19 July 2023, to hijacking a taxi and threatening to stab the driver on 20 July 2023, and to possession of cocaine and heroin for sale at the time of his arrest on 5 September 2023. The court heard that McNamara had repeatedly failed to appear for court dates, was granted bail twice, and that armed support and a helicopter were required to surround his Tallaght home before he was finally arrested. He denied the allegations of violence and coercion, but the judge noted the seriousness of the assaults and the threats made to the taxi driver.
A Spanish tourist, aged 33, gave evidence in the Central Criminal Court that she was raped on January 1, 2019, in Dublin's city centre. She described feeling "like a doll" and having no strength, and that she was unable to consent due to alcohol or another drug. She recalled walking with the accused, a 33‑year‑old Louth man who is anonymous until the trial ends, and that he held her arm and waist tightly. She said he penetrated her vagina, though she has no clear memory of the act. She later claimed a second rape occurred in a B&B, where she was forced into anal sex. The accused denies any wrongdoing and has pleaded not guilty to one count of rape. The trial continues before Ms Justice Caroline Biggs.
Dean Carr, 25, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for defiling a 14‑year‑old girl he met on Instagram and took to a Dublin hotel. He pleaded guilty to meeting a child under 17 for the purpose of a sex act and to sending sexually explicit material to her on Instagram. The court heard that Carr had paid for the girl's train ticket and a hotel room, and that CCTV and Instagram messages confirmed he knew she was underage. He had no prior convictions and had been working in retail. Carr accepted responsibility and pleaded guilty, and the judge noted his remorse and the mitigating factors of his guilty plea and lack of previous offences. The judge also remarked that Carr's actions were pre‑meditated and reprehensible. The sentence was imposed after a hearing that considered Carr's high risk of re‑offending, which could be reduced with therapeutic intervention.
James Ajibola, a migrant security guard in Dublin, claimed that BGS Security Ltd (BGSS) hired him and paid him no wages for work in July, August and September 2024. He said he was forced to borrow and beg to meet basic needs. The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) found the company had hired him and not paid any wages, describing the situation as "egregious". An adjudicator gave the firm six weeks to pay the outstanding €3,337.47. Ajibola had previously resigned on 10 September 2024 and had not received any payment despite payslips indicating wages had been recorded. The WRC upheld his complaint and ordered the firm to pay the amount "without delay". The case follows a similar finding against BGSS in November 2024 for unpaid wages to another former employee.
In a sentencing hearing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Romanian man Cristian Topiter, aged 39, was jailed for six years for setting fire to St Michan's Church crypt, destroying two mummified bodies and damaging others, including an 800‑year‑old "Crusader". The court heard that Topiter had been deported from Northern Ireland six years earlier after a prior arson conviction that caused €300,000 of damage. He also has convictions for drug possession, burglary, theft and assault. Archdeacon David Pierpoint described the fire as an act of desecration and sacrilege, noting the loss of irreplaceable relics and the financial impact on the parish. Topiter pleaded guilty, expressed remorse, and cited intoxication and mental health difficulties as factors. Judge Martin Nolan imposed the six‑year sentence, back‑dating it to the day of his arrest, and highlighted the seriousness of the offence and the aggravating prior conviction.
Patrick Harty, 51, was sentenced to five years in prison, with the final year suspended, for a seven‑month crime spree in which he stole about €20,000 worth of property from weddings and other social settings. He pleaded guilty to five counts, including four thefts and one unlawful use of a car, and was found to have committed the offences between 31 May 2023 and 1 January 2024 in various locations across Leinster, such as a hotel in Co Kildare, Brittas Bay in Co Wicklow and Dublin City Centre. The court heard that no property was recovered and that Harty's offences caused "great inconvenience" to his victims. He has a history of theft, burglary and traffic offences, and the judge noted his personal circumstances, including a brain injury and a background of neglect. Harty was directed to undergo one year of post‑release supervision by the Probation Services.
Kia O'Connor, 34, pleaded guilty to robbery on 8 June 2024 in Dublin City Centre and was sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment. O'Connor, who has 67 prior convictions and was previously jailed for violent disorder, participated in a robbery of two New Zealand tourists on a footpath outside the Belvedere Hotel. The tourists were approached by O'Connor and Joseph Boyle, 42, who demanded €20. When the victims refused, Boyle produced a knife and pointed it at the male tourist. O'Connor removed an iPhone, a Kindle e‑reader and a wallet from the female victim's bag before leaving. Gardaí recovered the stolen items, except the wallet, which contained no cash. O'Connor admitted the robbery but insisted no knife was involved. The court noted her early guilty plea, drug‑free status in custody and mitigating circumstances, and imposed the sentence. Boyle received a separate three‑and‑a‑half‑year term for his role.
In a Dublin Central Criminal Court trial, a 33‑year‑old man, whose identity is protected for the duration of the proceeding, pleaded not guilty to a single count of rape committed on 1 January 2019. The alleged victim, a Spanish tourist, was in Dublin to celebrate New Year's Eve and, after a fireworks display, became separated from a companion. She later recalled being in a shop, feeling ill, and being approached by the defendant. She claimed the man held her tightly, kissed and touched her, and that she did not consent to sexual activity, which she said occurred around 2 a.m. The prosecution presented CCTV footage of the encounter and the subsequent walk to Dublin Castle, where the alleged rape took place. The jury was informed that the Director of Public Prosecutions had only charged the defendant, with no charges yet brought against a second man who was also alleged to have been involved.
The High Court has adjourned an application by Dublin City Council for a court-ordered inspection of a Georgian building at 55 Amiens Street, formerly the home of 1916 Rising leader Tom Clarke. The matter, heard before Mr Justice Brian Cregan, was delayed for one week to allow the twelve occupants to discuss the terms of the proposed inspection and to avoid a potential "stand-off" with council staff. Jem Cleaver, the only named defendant among the occupants, told the court that while some residents had no objection to the inspection, others were uncertain, noting that the group deals with matters by consensus. The council seeks to inspect the 1790s property for damages caused by Storm Éowyn or the occupants. Although the occupants have accepted a requirement to vacate the heritage site by May 12, they opposed the inspection, citing privacy concerns and fears of prejudice on housing lists. Counsel for the council, Gavin Mooney SC, stated that no such prejudice would occur. Mr Justice Cregan indicated he was inclined to make an order allowing an engineer and architect to visually inspect common areas, three bedrooms, the roof, and the garden. He criticized the situation where Ms Cleaver had to face the proceedings alone, stating, "There is no reason you alone should be sent out before the fire." The judge invited the other occupants to attend the next hearing to discuss the terms, emphasizing that the proposed order was reasonable.
Two teenage boys, aged 14 at the time of the attack, were sentenced to 32 and 26 months in detention for assault causing serious harm and violent disorder after viciously kicking and punching US tourist Stephen Termini on 19 July 2023 in Dublin city centre. Termini suffered serious brain injuries, skull, orbital and cheek fractures, and required emergency surgery to save his sight, followed by two weeks of specialist intensive care. He has ongoing cognitive issues, PTSD, constant pain, trouble sleeping, and mobility problems. Termini's victim impact statement highlighted over €103,000 in medical expenses and his desire for restitution. The court noted the attackers' actions were "vicious and unprovoked", with no weapons used, and that the injuries were foreseeable. The sentences reflect the severity of the assault and the lasting impact on Termini's life. The third boy, now 17, pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of assault causing harm and will be sentenced on 26 February.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Sean Howard, 38, pleaded guilty to a robbery on Dame Street on 13 April 2024. Howard, who has 151 prior convictions for theft, burglary, criminal damage, drug and traffic offences, was sentenced by Judge Orla Crowe to a headline term of six years, reduced to four and a half years with the final six months suspended. The sentence was back‑dated to 13 April 2024 to credit time spent in custody. Howard's attack on a foreign doctor was described by the judge as a "vicious, unprovoked" assault, during which he stamped the doctor's head 151 times and kicked him. The doctor suffered a swollen eye, back pain and knee pain, and was unable to use public transport for two weeks. Howard admitted the offence and expressed remorse, while the prosecution noted the victim's impact statement of fear walking around the city centre for months.
Osama Sarhan, 27, of Belvedere Place, Dublin, pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and assault on two women on 11 February 2024, and to two further burglaries on 14 February 2024. He broke into a woman's apartment while she and her roommate slept, entered the bedroom armed with a knife, and struck one woman, who was taken to hospital with severe hand injuries. The knife was later found discarded under a car. Sarhan was arrested three days later after smashing a window with a tree branch at another burglary scene. He also broke into the Cassidy Hotel, smashing a window and stealing a till worth €300. In court, the judge accepted his guilty plea and mitigating circumstances, including drug use and a difficult period, and imposed a five‑year prison sentence with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions for rehabilitation.
Kyle Lawrence, aged 19, was jailed for three and a half years after taking part in the Dublin riots on the day he turned 18. He pleaded guilty to two counts of violent disorder and one count of trespass and theft at Arnotts. CCTV footage showed him throwing items at Garda units, damaging an abandoned Garda car and a Dublin Bus, and looting several shops, including Asics, Footlocker, Arnotts, Penneys, Lifestyle Sports and JD Sports. He admitted to following the crowds and having no reason for the violence, describing it as an adrenaline rush. The judge accepted that he was not an instigator and reduced the headline sentence of seven and a half years to four and a half years, suspending one year on conditions including probation supervision. The sentence reflects his youth, immaturity and cooperation.
A 50-year-old woman, November Phelan, was remanded in custody until March 3, when she will be sentenced, following a sentence hearing at the Central Criminal Court. Phelan pleaded guilty to manslaughter when she was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court, admitting to the charge of manslaughter when she fatally stabbed her partner, David Ennis (36), in a Dublin apartment. The court heard that Phelan used excessive force in self-defence, claiming she was in 'total fear' and did not intend to kill him. The incident occurred in the early hours of November 8, 2022, at Claddagh Court in Ballyfermot. The court was informed that Phelan and Ennis had been in a relationship for two to three years, during which drugs were a significant factor. The deceased had a history of drug use and had suffered a fall from a balcony a few days before the incident. CCTV footage showed Ennis arriving at Claddagh Court at 11.30pm on November 7, and Phelan arriving around 1.20am on the morning of November 8. The court heard that Phelan had a history of 26 previous convictions, mostly for public order offences and non-appearance before court. The matter was adjourned and will be finalised on March 3, when the sentence will be determined.
Tony Ward, a 53‑year‑old Dublin City Council employee, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing drugs for sale or supply on 10 May 2023. He admitted that he had transported a package of cannabis, worth €6,000, in his work lorry after being approached by co‑accused Michael Little, who had already pleaded guilty to the same offence and received an 18‑month suspended sentence earlier that year. Garda Tara Higgins explained that officers had been monitoring the area following Little's suspicious behaviour; Ward was stopped and arrested when the package was discovered. Ward's defence argued that he acted as a drug mule because his son owed a drug debt. Judge Martin Nolan accepted that Ward was pressured by his son's drug habit, noted his long work history and unlikely re‑offending, and sentenced him to 18 months in prison, suspended in full on strict conditions.
Nikita Ronan, aged 29 and without a fixed abode, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for a series of "wilfully violent" assaults in Dublin city centre during 2023. She had 134 prior convictions, including assault, theft, burglary, drugs and traffic offences. Between March and May 2023 she attacked a woman in the Morgan Hotel, assaulted a friend on Aston Quay and attempted to rob her handbag, and on Merchant's Quay she stole a phone and slashed a man's arm and head with a knife. She pleaded guilty to one count of assault, one count of assault causing harm, two counts of assault causing harm and theft of a phone. Judge Elva Duffy described her as a danger to others due to intoxication, imposed a sentence of three years and two months, and suspended the final eight months under conditions. The court noted her remorse, methadone programme and plans to live with her father upon release.
A liquidator, Myles Kirby of Kirby Chartered Accountants, was appointed by Mr Justice Oisín Quinn to wind up Chequer Catering Ltd, the company behind Dublin's Green Hen restaurant, after the High Court confirmed a €1.8 million deficit. Kirby had previously served as provisional liquidator. The court noted the restaurant lacked a fire safety certificate and had been without a liquor licence for over two years. Revenue's Dermot Cahill SC highlighted the company's debt of €751,266.01, covering PAYE, PRSI, USC, LPT, corporation tax and VAT from December 2019 onward. An interim examiner had been appointed by the Circuit Court on 13 December, but the company withdrew its protection application. Executive officer Philip Byrne's affidavit stressed Revenue's concern over the company's inability to pay its debts, deeming a full liquidation just and equitable.
James Ajibola, a migrant security guard, lodged a complaint with the Workplace Relations Commission alleging that BGS Security Ltd withheld wages for about 230 hours of work in Dublin from July to September 2024. He claimed the company paid only those with long tenure and that workers with limited English were not paid. Ajibola said he was told to "beg" for wages and that a manager cited a "mistake" with his Revenue record. He reported receiving payslips for July, August and September but no actual payment. The company did not attend the hearing; the adjudicator proceeded after confirming notice. Ajibola's evidence included a message from a director apologising for payroll delays. The adjudicator promised a decision within a few weeks, noting enforcement mechanisms exist if the company refuses to comply.
Joseph Boyle, 42, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for violent offences committed while on bail. He pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm, robbery, theft, and threatening to kill or cause serious harm. Judge Martin Nolan jailed Boyle for eight and a half years, imposing a five-year sentence for the assault causing serious harm and a consecutive three-and-a-half-year term for the remaining charges. The court heard Boyle had 86 previous convictions and that his single punch to a victim's head on Phibsborough Road resulted in a life-threatening traumatic brain injury, requiring five and a half months of hospitalisation. Other offences included knife robberies of tourists and security staff. In a related matter, Kia O'Connor, 34, pleaded guilty to violent disorder for throwing a bottle at a woman during an altercation in which Boyle brandished a knife. Judge Nolan jailed O'Connor for one year. Both defendants were of no fixed abode. The judge noted Boyle's chronic drug problem and violent temperament, describing him as a menace. O'Connor's defence highlighted her personal setbacks and drug addiction. The matter was finalised with these custodial sentences.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 17 January 2025, two young women recounted the lasting impact of a violent late‑night robbery that took place in the city centre on 18 August 2022. The attackers, a 45‑year‑old woman named Joanne Cuffe and an unidentified man armed with a stick, threatened the victims with "dirty needles" and forced them to an ATM. Cuffe, who pleaded guilty to robbery, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment. The court heard that the robbery left the women feeling unsafe, on "high alert" and emotionally unsettled. One victim described the event as unforgettable and noted the broader harm to her family and friends. The judge acknowledged Cuffe's remorse and background, expressing hope that she would reform after release. The case highlighted the severe physical and psychological injuries suffered by the victims and the serious consequences of the attackers' actions.
Three men aged 34 to 42, living in Dublin and Wicklow, have pleaded not guilty to seven counts of rape, oral rape and sexual assault against a woman they met in a Dublin nightclub. The alleged assaults took place on 31 August 2019 at an unknown location in a car and in a Dublin house. The first defendant, 39, is accused of raping the woman in his home, orally raping her and assaulting her in a car. The second, 42, is accused of raping her in the car and in the house. The third, 34, is accused of orally raping her in the house and assaulting her in the car. The prosecution says the woman's recollection is fragmented and that she was highly intoxicated. CCTV from the nightclub shows the woman entering a car with the three men, and the car is registered to the 42‑year‑old.
Jonathan Cummins, 38, of Henrietta Place, Dublin 1, was sentenced to 16 years' imprisonment by a jury in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after a November 2023 series of unprovoked knife attacks. On 2 November, Cummins slashed the face of a homeless woman from mouth to ear, then later that day attacked a male victim in Wolfe Tone Square, slashing his face from mouth to ear, and assaulted another woman. He was found guilty of intentionally causing serious harm to a man, assault causing harm to a woman, producing a knife in the course of an assault, and possessing a scissors. Cummins had 18 prior convictions, including assault offences. The court noted the attacks were entirely unprovoked and the injuries were appalling. Cummins has been in custody since the offences.
At the Central Criminal Court trial of Diarmuid Phelan, the jury heard extensive background evidence regarding repeated trespassing and criminal damage at his Hazelgrove farm in West Dublin. The defence argued that understanding the defendant's history was essential to contextualizing the events of February 24, 2022. Testimony detailed numerous incidents, including arson, vehicle theft, and assaults, which Phelan reported to gardai. Specific attention was given to a 2017 District Court case involving three young men, including Kallum Coleman and Robin Duggan, who were accused of trespassing. Although the source text notes that three individuals were previously convicted of trespassing and criminal damage in that earlier matter, the current trial focused on the subsequent murder charge against Phelan. The defence highlighted that Phelan had been threatened by these individuals in court, leading to his fear of returning. The trial also examined the context of badger baiting, an illegal activity, which Phelan allegedly encountered when he shot a dog he believed was threatening his livestock. The jury was presented with Phelan's account of the confrontation that followed, where he claimed the men emerged from the bushes and screamed at him. The proceedings emphasized the long-standing conflict between Phelan and local trespassers, with the defence urging jurors to consider the cumulative impact of these alleged crimes on the defendant's state of mind.
In a Workplace Relations Commission hearing in June, Wix Online Platforms Ltd conceded it breached the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 by dismissing Courtney Carey. The adjudicator determined that Ms Carey was fired over social media posts regarding the conflict in Palestine. The WRC subsequently convened a hearing to determine compensation for this unfair dismissal. During the proceedings, Ms Carey was questioned by the company's lawyers about her job search following what her solicitor described as a "very public sacking." She testified that she lost her flat, relied on social welfare, and accepted a lower-paid position as an An Post clerk. Ms Carey stated she felt blacklisted from the tech sector, noting that multiple tweets and LinkedIn posts characterized her as supporting terrorism, which caused potential employers to withdraw offers. The validated procedural stage for this specific matter is a hearing or decision regarding compensation, following the company's admission of the breach.
In a High Court hearing on 20 December 2024, the court appointed Myles Kirby as provisional liquidator for Chequer Catering Limited, the company behind Dublin's Green Hen restaurant. The company was declared insolvent, with a €1.8 million deficit and a debt of €751,266.01 to Revenue covering PAYE, PRSI, USC, LPT, corporation tax and VAT from December 2019. Chequer had no fire safety certificate and had been without a liquor licence since September 2022, yet its creditors include wine suppliers. The court, hearing an ex‑parte application from Revenue, ordered the appointment of the provisional liquidator and adjourned the case to 27 January to allow a petition for winding up to be filed. The company's directors are Frank Gleeson of Churchtown and Ciara Fox of Celbridge. The provisional liquidator will oversee the company's affairs pending a formal winding‑up application.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, Liam Whelan, aged 43 and homeless, was convicted of assault causing serious harm and robbery after he attacked a cardiologist with a champagne bottle at the victim's home. The attack left the doctor with a skull fracture, a large blood clot, permanent hearing loss in one ear, and a six‑month work‑disability due to seizure risk. Whelan, who has 63 prior convictions, pleaded not guilty but was found guilty by a unanimous jury. Judge Patricia Ryan sentenced him to ten years and six months, with the final twelve months suspended for three years on strict conditions. The court noted the severity of the injuries, the unprovoked nature of the assault, and the use of a bottle as a weapon in determining the sentence. The case highlighted the victim's significant physical and financial losses following the incident.
A Dublin City Centre Traders Alliance, led by solicitor Noel Smyth, has been granted leave to seek a judicial review of traffic restrictions imposed by Dublin City Council and the National Transport Authority. The alliance, which includes owners of city‑centre car parks and members of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, argues that the traffic‑calming measures on Liffey quays—such as bans on private vehicles between 7 am and 7 pm—were adopted beyond the council's powers and will cost the city nearly €400 million. The traders' July 2024 report predicts a €141 million drop in retail spending by 2028 and a loss of over 6,000 jobs, amounting to an adverse monetary impact of €390 million. They seek orders quashing the July 2024 adoption of the Dublin City Centre Transport Plan, the council's subsequent orders on implementation and signage, and claim the council acted ultra vires and without a required environmental impact assessment.
Paul Bissett, 38, was sentenced to three years in prison for burglary and criminal damage after stealing seven designer watches from Cullen Jewellers in Dublin 2 on 18 November 2023. The shop owner was alerted by an alarm at 6.45 am, found the window broken and the case of 10 Tag Heuer watches opened, with seven taken and three left on the ground. The stolen watches were valued over €13,000 and the damage to the shop was between €15,000 and €20,000. Later that day Bissett and another man tried to sell the watches to Dawson Jewellers, but the owner, already aware of the theft, called the gardaí and Bissett was arrested. Five of the watches were recovered, worth over €10,000. Bissett had 75 prior convictions, including assault, and had recently received a four‑year sentence for a robbery committed a month after the jewellery heist. Paul Bissett pleaded guilty.
A 43‑year‑old homeless man, Liam Whelan, was convicted in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of assault causing serious harm and robbery after he attacked a cardiologist with a champagne bottle in the victim's home on 25 August 2023. The attack left the doctor with a skull fracture, a large life‑threatening blood clot, permanent hearing loss in one ear, and a six‑month work‑inability due to seizure risk. Whelan pleaded not guilty but was found guilty by a unanimous jury in November. He claimed self‑defence, alleging the victim had assaulted him, but the court rejected this defence. The case was adjourned for sentencing, with the prosecution seeking 10‑15 years, the maximum being life imprisonment. The court considered medical reports, CCTV footage, and Whelan's 63 prior convictions in its deliberations.
Two members of a Romanian organised crime gang were sentenced to a combined ten years in prison for a series of vehicle‑ram raids on commercial premises in July 2023. The men, Ricardo Stancu (19), Daniel Murgea (31) and Ionut Leonard Petriu (38), were arrested during Garda Operation 'Docht' and pleaded guilty to burglary, criminal damage and organised crime offences. Stancu received five years with the final 12 months suspended; Murgea was sentenced to six years after a headline of eight years was considered, taking into account his prior convictions in France and Italy. Petriu, who pleaded guilty to assisting the group, was placed on bail and his case was adjourned to March 20 for a probation report. The court described the offences as highly organised, with extensive damage to three unoccupied commercial premises and no items stolen.
Three Romanian men—Ricardo Stancu (38), Daniel Murgea (31) and Ionut Leonard Petriu (19)—were sentenced for a series of ram‑raid burglaries in eastern Ireland in July 2023. The gang used a stolen "dummy" silver Mercedes to smash into the front windows of a Dublin phone shop and a Vodafone shop in Newbridge, and later rammed a car into the gates of a motor dealer on Naas Road. They stole a 5‑series BMW from a dealership in Clondalkin, which was later used as a getaway vehicle. The men pleaded guilty to burglary, criminal damage and organised‑crime offences. Stancu and Murgea remain in custody; Petriu is on bail. The court heard the incidents caused extensive property damage—over €49,000 at the 3 Store, €16,000 at Whitewater, €4,000 at the dealership and €1,753 at the motor dealer—yet no mobile phones were stolen as they were kept in a safe.
Jamie Griffin, 29, with over 40 prior convictions, was on bail when he joined a group assault at Bow Lane Bar, Aungier Street, while high on cocaine. He pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm. Tommy Doran, 32, with no prior violent convictions, also pleaded guilty. The incident began when an unidentified person attacked three men; Doran escalated the violence, punching a victim, kicking him, and striking him with a chair, causing a fractured nose. Griffin, though not the initiator, quickly joined and inflicted violence on two men. Both defendants paid €4,000 in compensation. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced Doran to two and a half years, fully suspended, with conditions including victim‑focused work and addiction services. Griffin received a four‑year sentence, fully suspended, with similar conditions. Both were released after sentencing.
David Carroll, 48, of Dublin 2, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to five offences committed between December 2023 and April 2024: three thefts at St Francis Xavier Church on Gardiner Street, one theft at Erin College on North Great George Street, and one burglary of an apartment in Dublin City Centre. CCTV footage identified him at each incident. The court heard that Carroll's motivation was to fund a drug habit, and that he had previously received a diploma in addiction studies from Dublin Business School. He had 30 prior convictions and had become homeless after his hostel was raided. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced him to three years' imprisonment, back‑dated to his arrest on 29 April 2024, and suspended the final six months for 12 months, placing him under Probation Services for 12 months. The sentence was imposed after Carroll's guilty pleas, admissions, cooperation with Gardaí, and a letter of apology were considered mitigating factors.
In an equality hearing, Eddie Rockets was ordered to pay €5,000 to former Paralympic athlete Nadine Lattimore after a staff member directed her to a seat near the entrance when she entered with her guide dog, Pilot. Lattimore, who has represented Ireland at the 2012 Paralympic Games, claimed the placement posed safety concerns and that she was spoken over by the employee, who called her rude. The Workplace Relations Commission noted the incident was the third time Lattimore had sought redress that year for difficulties accessing businesses with a guide dog. Eddie Rockets admitted the staff mistake, trained the employee on service animals, and the adjudicator directed compensation and recommended the chain display signs welcoming guide dogs. The case highlights ongoing challenges for guide dog users in public venues.
Dr Rebecca Murphy, a fixed‑term assistant professor at DCU's nursing school, claims the university breached its own jobs policy by not informing her of a permanent assistant professor vacancy while she was on maternity leave from June 2023 to March 2024. She alleges the HR department engaged in "gaslighting" by telling her she had no right to be told directly about the job, despite the policy stating staff on maternity leave should be notified where possible. The university contends that vacancies were advertised publicly and that Dr Murphy had access to her emails, so she was treated no less favourably. The head of the nursing school, Prof Victoria Lambert, admitted knowledge of the upcoming vacancy but said she would not personally inform staff, citing that it was not standard practice. The Workplace Relations Commission will issue a decision in writing.
During a sentencing hearing, Judge Pauline Codd described Temple Bar as a "violent, post‑apocalyptic no‑go area" after a 25‑year‑old defendant, Jordan Maguire, was jailed for three and a half years for a "barbaric" assault on an innocent bystander. Maguire, who had previously pleaded guilty to assault on Bedford Row and to producing a cider can during that assault, was captured on CCTV punching, kicking, stomping and beating the victim with a cider can. Garda Michael Walsh testified that a different man had initially assaulted the victim but that this was not recorded. Maguire was sleeping rough in Dublin City Centre, had more than 50 prior convictions, and was already serving a sentence for two other assaults. Judge Codd noted the violence was mindless and senseless, and that Maguire had left the scene and returned with a cider can to strike the victim's head.
Declan Donaghey, 28, pleaded guilty to arson, violent disorder and criminal damage after setting a Garda patrol car on fire and damaging a migrant centre during a riot in Dublin. The court found the offences to be of a very serious nature, noting the destruction of a patrol car valued at €20,000 and damage to a migrant accommodation centre, as well as the broader context of the riot that saw 60 locations damaged or looted. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced Donaghey to seven-and-a-half years, with the final year suspended on the arson charge, and imposed four-and-a-half years for violent disorder and three years for criminal damage, all to run concurrently. The judge took into account Donaghey's personal circumstances, including anxiety, depression and alcohol addiction, but did not consider his five prior convictions. The sentence was imposed in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 20 November 2024.
Sean Dunne, 26, was jailed for two years after a vicious assault on a married American couple in a Dublin hotel elevator on 7 April 2023. He repeatedly punched the couple, threatened the wife with rape and murder, and struck the husband in the mouth. Garda Stephen Lawlor arrived after a call, found Dunne restrained on the corridor floor, and noted blood on the carpet. The couple, aged in their sixties, received on‑scene treatment and later returned to the United States. Dunne pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm. He has been in custody since April 2023, has a schizophrenia diagnosis, and has ten prior convictions. Judge Sarah Berkeley sentenced him to two‑and‑a‑half years, suspended the final six months, and ordered 18 months of post‑release supervision and probation engagement. The sentence was back‑dated to April 2023 for time already served.
Patrick Byrne, 27, of Cloverhill Road, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two years and nine months in jail for assault causing harm. He pleaded guilty to one count of assaulting a 33-year-old man at Westmoreland Street, Dublin 2, on October 15 last year. Judge Orla Crowe described the unprovoked attack, in which Byrne allegedly struck the victim with a bike saddle, as senseless and brutal. The sentence was backdated to the date Byrne first entered custody. Byrne has a history of 36 previous offences, including a suspended six-and-a-half-year sentence for attempted robbery in 2020. Prosecution counsel sought leave to re-mention the case to address whether the offence was committed while Byrne was on that suspended sentence. The matter was adjourned to deal with this procedural issue. Defence counsel acknowledged the assault was vicious but argued it was a case of mistaken identity and noted Byrne's history of drug abuse. The victim stated he now avoids the city centre due to the trauma and visible scarring.
In the civil damages trial at the High Court, the jury informed Judge Alexander Owens that a member of the public gallery had pointed a mobile phone at them, raising concerns about potential recording or photography. Owens reminded all present that recording and photography are prohibited in the court area and warned that any breach would be treated as contempt of court. The case involves Ms Nikita Hand, who alleges that Conor McGregor and James Lawrence raped her in a Dublin hotel on 9 December 2018. Both defendants deny the allegations. The trial, presided over by Judge Owens, continues with a jury of eight women and four men and is expected to last two weeks.
In a High Court civil trial, Ms Nikita Hand, 45, presented a 45‑minute audio recording in which she describes being "brutally raped" by Conor McGregor at the Beacon hotel's penthouse on 9 December 2018. The recording shows Hand sobbing and telling her boyfriend she would be "killed" if she named her attacker. She also recounts going to a friend's house, having photos taken of her body, and describing injuries such as black‑and‑blue knuckles and leg bruises. Hand denies a defence claim that she followed McGregor into a bedroom and performed oral sex before consensual sex. McGregor and James Lawrence deny the allegations. The case is heard by a jury of eight women and four men, with the trial continuing tomorrow at the Four Courts.
Herbert Kilcline, a 62‑year‑old former solicitor, was found guilty by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of eight counts of property fraud involving two Dublin City properties on Phibsborough Road and St Marys Road. The charges included failing to apply required measures as a designated person, using a false instrument and fraudulent procurement of entry to the land registry between September 2016 and June 2018. Kilcline had previously been jailed in May 2021 for a €120,000 social welfare fraud. The jury deliberated for four hours and 15 minutes. Co‑accused Matthew Murphy, aged 52, was acquitted of four counts, including money laundering, theft and failing to keep records between April 2017 and April 2018, with two counts dismissed by the judge's direction. Philip Marley, 53, pleaded guilty to three counts of fraudulent procurement of a false deed, fraudulent entry into the land registry and deception. All counts relate to the two properties.
Carl Armstrong, who had been serving a suspended portion of a 10‑year sentence for a similar offence, was caught in December 2022 with €400,000 worth of cocaine and heroin at an apartment in Dublin. He was charged with possession of cocaine and diamorphine for sale or supply. Armstrong had been released from the custodial part of his earlier 10‑year sentence 18 months before the offence, and the judge reactivated the suspended portion. The court found that he had carried out the offence for financial gain, citing pressure from his family. He pleaded guilty, showed remorse and had undertaken rehabilitation. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a 13‑year sentence, suspended the final three years, and set conditions for the suspended period. The sentence was back‑dated to the day of the search, with the suspended portion running concurrently with the custodial term.
The court heard that CCTV footage captured a man, Sean O'Neill, 22, lying injured on the ground in Dublin City Centre after an assault. The footage showed several people standing over him and stealing his belongings, including a watch valued at €9,000. O'Neill had previously pleaded guilty to violent disorder on 4 October 2023 and robbery on 19 September 2023. He was arrested the following day after a warrant was issued. During interrogation he claimed he could not remember the incident and said he was "strung out," but he identified himself on the footage. The court noted his 39 prior convictions, including drug offences, and his history of homelessness. The judge, Martin Nolan, accepted his guilty plea and admissions, and imposed a four‑year prison sentence, back‑dated to the time he entered custody, with the final year suspended for one year. The victim and the injured man declined to give victim impact statements.