A judge has described it as 'outrageous' that solicitors who had left the criminal legal aid panel instructed another solicitor not to represent their client at a contested bail hearing. Patrick Daly (57) of Burton Park, Leopardstown Road, Dublin 18, appeared in custody before Dún Laoghaire District Court, where gardaí objected to bail on the grounds that he was a flight risk. Mr Daly faces five charges, including failing to appear in court, two counts of being intoxicated in a public place, refusing to provide his name and address to a garda, and causing €80 worth of criminal damage by urinating in the custody area at Dundrum Garda Station. Judge Watkin asked solicitor Andrew Vallely, who was present in court, to speak to the accused and consider representing him for the bail application. Mr Vallely initially told the court that he was reluctant to step in because the accused was already represented by another solicitors' firm.
A burglar who claimed to be a plumber when confronted by a security guard after breaking into an office building and damaging two cars has been jailed for 17 months. Patrick Lynch (51) of Rosemount Glade, Dundrum, Dublin 14, pleaded guilty to burglary and damage to an interior door at L Building, Harcourt Street, Dublin 2 on February 8, 2025. He also pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal damage to cars in the basement of the building. Lynch, who has previous convictions, including seven for burglary, was caught by security guards after breaking into the building. One guard saw Lynch on CCTV with a brick and an implement, while the other encountered him in the basement. Lynch told the guard he was a plumber and had left his access card elsewhere. A Tesla and a BMW were damaged in the basement. The car owners did not prepare victim impact statements. Lynch's defense said he had gone downhill after his wife's death and was trying to fund his addiction to pills. He is receiving medical attention in custody.
A judge has warned a pregnant woman that she will face jail if she steals again, after rejecting her claim that she was distracted by funeral arrangements following the death of her father-in-law. Emma Baker (33), of Heather Lawn, Ballinteer, Dublin 16, pleaded guilty to stealing €423.76 worth of clothing from Marks & Spencer and a pair of Puma Club 2 Era runners worth €70 from Elverys Sports at Dundrum Town Centre. Defending counsel, Michael O'Brien BL, told Dún Laoghaire District Court that the offences occurred on August 12, 2025, the same day Baker learned that her father-in-law had died. Judge Anne Watkin responded: "And because of that she decided to take a pair of shoes?" Mr O'Brien said Baker had funeral arrangements on her mind at the time. The judge replied: "She didn't have only funeral arrangements on her mind. She had a pair of shoes on her mind." Mr O'Brien said Baker had no issues with drugs or alcohol, was unemployed and was heavily pregnant.
A personal trainer at a female-only gym, John Peters (33), has been jailed for two years and two months for assaulting his then-girlfriend. Peters pleaded guilty to assault, assault causing harm, and criminal damage to her phone. He has no previous convictions. Judge Martina Baxter noted the aggravating factors of the intimate relationship and the significant effect of the aggression on the victim. Peters' probation report indicated that he minimized his actions and claimed the victim provoked him. The judge highlighted the lack of evidence that Peters is addressing his aggression and the absence of contrition. She sentenced Peters to three years for assault causing harm, two and a half years for criminal damage, and six months for assault, all to run concurrently. The final 10 months of the sentence were suspended for 15 months, and Peters was placed under the supervision of the Probation Services for 10 months post-release.
A 19-year-old woman accused of biting her friend and damaging property after allegedly inhaling 'fast gas' has been sent forward for trial after a judge refused jurisdiction in the District Court. Abbie Glynn appeared before Dún Laoghaire District Court charged with assault causing harm and two counts of criminal damage, including damaging a television and a curtain pole. Gardaí alleged that Glynn bit the woman on the arm, causing bruising and breaking the skin, and also kicked her and struck her on the arms and hit her head off a television. She is also charged with pulling down and damaging a curtain pole. Judge Anne Watkin noted that the curtain pole's removal during the incident would have been intimidating for the injured party and said she would refuse jurisdiction. She granted Glynn bail on several conditions, including daily sign-on at a garda station, a curfew, and no contact with the injured party. Glynn was remanded on bail to appear again before the court on September 1.
A judge has rejected a claim that ADHD caused a man to become so flustered when he lost his parking ticket that he attempted to tailgate another car to get through a barrier. Dean Carey (36) pleaded guilty to criminal damage to a barrier at Dundrum Town Centre, Dublin 14, on March 21 last. Sergeant Caoimhe Conroy told the court that Carey attempted to exit the car park by tailgating another vehicle, which resulted in damage to the barrier. Defence solicitor Patricia Camilon argued that Carey's ADHD caused him to become flustered and that he was under pressure as he was trying to get to his daughter's birthday. However, Judge Anne Watkin did not accept that ADHD explained the behaviour and said that becoming so flustered that a person behaves in this way raises concerns about judgment when driving. She rejected the explanation as a justification for attempting to leave the car park without paying. The judge fined Carey €400 with six months to pay and adjourned the case to April 28 next.
David Doyle admitted theft, criminal damage, public intoxication, threatening behaviour, resisting arrest and two counts of failing to appear in court. Despite a negative probation report, Judge Derek Cooney deferred custody, imposed a probation bond and ordered full engagement with probation, warning that further offending would mean prison. David Doyle pleaded guilty.
Nathan Roche had an eight-month sentence replaced on appeal after he assaulted a McDonald's worker during a dispute over a drink at Dundrum Town Centre. Judge Jonathan Dunphy imposed a 12-month probation bond on the assault charge, took the other matters into consideration and ordered €2,000 compensation for the injured worker. Nathan Roche was convicted.
John Peters pleaded guilty to assault, assault causing harm and criminal damage to his former girlfriend's phone during incidents in 2022 and 2023. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court adjourned sentencing for a probation report and remanded him in custody.
Iwana Waldynsk was fined after the court found she had refused to provide a blood or urine sample following her arrest. Judge Anne Watkin imposed a €1,500 fine and disqualified Waldynsk from driving for four years. Iwana Waldynsk pleaded not guilty.
Raymond Ariwi was sentenced to six months in prison after a jury convicted him of engaging in offensive conduct of a sexual nature. The case concerned an incident in which he followed a woman after she got off a Luas and offered her money for sex. Raymond Ariwi pleaded not guilty.
A serial offender, Andrew Murphy, was convicted and fined €750 after claiming that CCTV footage of a bicycle thief was '100% not me'. Murphy had pleaded not guilty to unlawfully taking a bicycle from a bike rack outside a store in Dublin. The victim reported that his bicycle was stolen, with the broken lock left behind. The CCTV footage showed a man removing a bicycle from the rack, and Garda Dylan Higgins identified Murphy as the individual in the footage. Murphy denied being the person in the footage, claiming he did not have the clothes depicted and was dealing with addiction issues at the time. The defence argued that the prosecution failed to establish a proper chain of custody for the CCTV footage and relied on Garda recognition evidence, which could be subject to honest mistake. However, the judge accepted Garda Higgins' identification and found Murphy guilty beyond reasonable doubt. Murphy has a significant criminal history, including 23 theft convictions, and the judge noted his difficult past before imposing the fine.
A serial roads offender, Owen Comerford (35), of Balally Drive, Dundrum, Dublin 16, has been sentenced to four months in prison and disqualified from driving for 10 years after being caught driving for a third time while banned. Comerford pleaded guilty at Dún Laoghaire District Court to driving without insurance and without a valid licence in Sandyford Village, Dublin 18, on 16 January last. The court heard that Comerford was driving a black 2010 Vauxhall Insignia in a public place while uninsured and without a valid licence. Judge Anne Watkin noted that Comerford has 99 previous convictions, including multiple charges for driving without insurance, driving without a licence, and various other offences. He has been disqualified from driving on three previous occasions, with this being his third conviction for driving while disqualified. The court was informed that Comerford had most recently been disqualified in November and was already subject to a 10-year driving ban at the time of the offence.
A woman who stole over €1,200 worth of clothing from Marks and Spencer has been fined €1,500 by a judge at Dún Laoghaire District Court. Susan McCullough, 41, pleaded guilty to the theft, which occurred on April 23, 2025. The court heard that the stolen items were of significant value and consisted of various pieces of clothing. Defence counsel, Michael O'Brien BL, explained that McCullough had recently started a new job and was dealing with personal difficulties, including caring for her grandfather, mental health struggles, and grief following the death of her grandmother. The court was informed that McCullough had issues with alcohol at the time and accepted that she had no good excuse for the theft. A letter from her GP outlined her struggles with anxiety, depression, and emotional dysregulation. Judge Anne Watkin acknowledged the seriousness of the offence but noted the steps McCullough had taken since, including engaging with counselling services.
A once-aspiring model, Ana Coretchi, has been awarded €80K in damages by the High Court after suffering first-degree burns and scarring on her legs following a laser hair-removal treatment in 2020. Ms Coretchi, who was preparing her portfolio for a full-time modelling career, claimed that the procedure left her with lasting burns and scarring. The court heard that she suffered extensive brown discolouration and skin ulceration, which were confirmed by a GP. A dermatologist consultant noted that she had extensive white hypopigmentation on her posterior thighs, which may be permanent. Ms Coretchi experienced a burning sensation for three weeks and had to put her modelling career on hold due to the injuries. The court awarded her €80K in general damages, noting the impact on her self-view and career path. The judge was satisfied of negligence on the part of the clinic and awarded the damages to the plaintiff.
Lee O'Brien, a man with 228 previous convictions, was jailed for a robbery at a Dublin petrol station. O'Brien, armed with a knife, demanded money from a staff member, resulting in €350 being stolen. The victim left her job due to the traumatic experience. O'Brien had recently been released from custody and was not on bail at the time of the offence. Judge Orla Crowe noted the deliberate and organized nature of the crime, and imposed a three-year and three-month sentence, with the final six months suspended. O'Brien attempted to detox while in custody and expressed remorse. The court heard that the case was delayed due to the pandemic, and O'Brien had previously been sentenced for similar offences. The judge acknowledged his long-standing drug issues and difficult background, but emphasized the severity of the crime. Lee O'Brien pleaded guilty.
Roisin O'Grady, a 45-year-old woman from Monkstown, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dún Laoghaire District Court to charges of assaulting a garda and public order offences. The court heard that on November 13, 2024, Ms O'Grady was found heavily intoxicated at Balally Luas stop. While being transported to Blackrock Garda Station, she allegedly slapped a garda. Prosecutors stated that while in custody, she used abusive language and, after being restrained, kicked a garda in the back of the head. Judge Anne Watkin noted the seriousness of the assault on police officers. Defence counsel Michael O'Blain BL highlighted that Ms O'Grady has a history of alcohol-related offending, with three previous convictions for public intoxication, though she has had no convictions in over ten years. He stated she entered treatment last year, cooperates with probation services, and has no issues with drugs, attributing her difficulties to alcohol misuse. The judge placed Ms O'Grady on a one-year probation bond. The matter was finalised with this disposal.
A criminal who took part in an unprovoked, "vicious and sustained" late night city centre attack in Dublin, kicking and punching the victim as he lay on the ground, has been jailed for 18 months. Tony Grimes (26) was with two other young men when they set upon the victim in the Wexford Street area of Dublin after socialising until the early hours of the morning on February 29, 2024. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that the victim fell to the ground in the first 30 seconds of the assault, but the three men continued to punch and kick him as he lay defenceless on the path. After passers-by pleaded with the attackers to stop, they left the scene but not before Grimes returned to kick the man to the head one more time. Grimes, of Goatstown Close, Dundrum, Dublin 14, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to the man. It is an offence which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years. He has 29 previous convictions including criminal damage, public order and road traffic offences.
A man has been charged with criminal damage after allegedly kicking a car during a protest outside the Iranian Embassy in south Dublin. The incident occurred on Mount Merrion Avenue, Blackrock, on Tuesday at around 1.40pm. The damage, estimated at €2,000, was caused to a grey 2020 Mercedes that was being driven at the time, with no injuries reported. Saeid Khosroabadi (41), of Seville Place, Dublin 1, was charged with criminal damage. Garda Niall McGraynor stated that Mr Khosroabadi allegedly kicked the car three times during the protest. Gardaí arrived at the scene after the incident and later arrested Mr Khosroabadi at his home. He spent the night in custody and was fully co-operative with gardaí. Judge Conor Fottrell accepted jurisdiction in the case. Mr Khosroabadi was released on bail with conditions to stay away from the embassy and the Blackrock area. The defence requested CCTV footage, and an application for legal aid was granted. The case was adjourned to April 13 at Dún Laoghaire District Court.
A chronic drug addict with 245 previous convictions was jailed for four years after attempting to rob a shop with a knife. Carl Byrne, 37, pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and possession of drugs for sale or supply. He entered a shop with another man, took items, and threatened staff with a knife. Gardai found drugs in his possession during a separate incident. Byrne's defense highlighted his long-term addiction and early guilty plea. The judge noted his extensive criminal history and chronic drug problem but considered his remorse and early plea. She sentenced him to three years and nine months for the attempted robbery and two concurrent sentences for drug possession, with the final nine months suspended for one year.
Alex Onuh, 20, was jailed for seven years for a series of knifepoint robberies targeting teenage boys in south Dublin, including a vulnerable teenager with a brain injury. Onuh, who wore a distinctive Moncler jacket during the attacks, pleaded guilty to 15 counts of robbery and four of attempted robbery. Victims were often threatened with knives and forced to reset their phones. One incident involved a 17-year-old being chased and assaulted by Onuh and a gang. The court heard that stolen phones were sold online, and Onuh's defense highlighted his difficult childhood and lack of prior convictions. Judge Elma Sheahan noted the premeditated nature of the crimes and the impact on victims, imposing consecutive sentences with one year suspended on strict conditions.
Chengwen Guo, the Irish representative of a transnational crime organisation, was jailed for seven years for his involvement in a €10 million 'zombie' iPhone fraud. Guo owned several mobile phone shops called Murray Mobile and was involved in a scheme where fake iPhones were sent to Apple for repair, and genuine replacements were sent to Hong Kong to be sold outside the EU. The court heard that Guo also sold counterfeit Apple products in his shops. A significant quantity of counterfeit goods, including power adaptors and phone cases, were found during a search of his stores. Guo's co-accused, Lukasz Lupa, was also jailed for his role in the scheme. The court noted that Apple lost considerable value due to the fraud, and Guo was found to have used his stores to sell counterfeit Apple products. The court ordered the forfeiture of the cash sums involved and the Audi, which was in the possession of Guo's wife. Chengwen Guo pleaded guilty.
Carley Hopkins, 35, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to endangerment, theft and production of an article for stealing €246 worth of clothing from Dundrum Town Centre on 12 February 2023. She fled with a security officer clinging to her car's bonnet, driving off while the officer held onto the bonnet until she reached the barrier. Hopkins admitted the offence at the scene and in a Garda interview, expressed remorse, and handed over her car keys. She is a part‑time cleaner, suffers mental health difficulties, and cares for her mother, cousin and teenage child. Judge Patricia Codd sentenced her to two and a half years for endangerment and 18 months for theft, both concurrent, and suspended the entire sentence for three years. The production of an article charge was also considered.
In a Dún Laoghaire District Court hearing, a homeowner testified that two men tried to break into his south Dublin home on 1 October 2024, shouting for his phone. He described initially mistaking the noise for foxes, then hearing metal scraping, and seeing the men looking him straight in the eye. The homeowner, who was working late, had his phone ready to call emergency services. Gardaí arrived shortly after midnight, arrested the men, and one was identified as Madalin Lingurar, 26, of North Circular Road, Dublin 7, originally from Romania. Lingurar pleaded not guilty to trespassing under the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994. Judge Derek Cooney convicted him and sentenced him to four months' imprisonment with immediate effect, setting recognisance at €300. The charge of criminal damage to the front door was dismissed. The case was brought to court a year after the incident.
Emmanuel Ilunga, 23, of Navan, was convicted at Dún Laoghaire District Court for carrying a flick knife in his car on 14 April 2024. Ilunga admitted possession but claimed the knife was for his warehouse job, where he cut boxes and plastic. Garda David Buckley stopped him at 12:30 am in a grey Mercedes at M50 Junction 13. Ilunga appeared nervous, avoided eye contact and struggled to answer questions. A search under the Misuse of Drugs Act found the knife in the driver's side door and a wheel brace; no drugs were discovered. The judge, Anne Watkin, rejected Ilunga's work‑use defence, warned that carrying knives is "extremely serious", and imposed a €300 fine with a three‑month payment period, plus a €200 own‑bond recognisance. The case was prosecuted by Dr Sean Smyth for the DPP. Emmanuel Ilunga pleaded not guilty.
A 23‑year‑old e‑scooter rider, Jason Thornton, was convicted of a public order offence after shouting abuse at Garda Jack Hamilton during a criminal damage investigation on 15 June 2024 in south Dublin. Thornton, who was on an e‑scooter on a nearby walkway, raised his middle finger and shouted "F*** you, you red prick" while Hamilton was speaking to the injured party. Hamilton tried to issue a warning but Thornton accelerated away, and a crowd gathered. The court found that the incident, occurring while Gardaí were already dealing with a criminal damage case, met the threshold for a public order offence. Thornton pleaded not guilty, but Judge Anne Watkin convicted him. He has 38 prior convictions, including assault, criminal damage, misuse of drugs, burglary, robbery, theft and threats to kill, and his most recent conviction was under the Misuse of Drugs Act on 16 May 2025.
Clodagh Byrne, 32, of Castlederg, pleaded guilty to theft at Marks & Spencer in Dublin on 24 July. She admitted taking items worth €223.70, claiming she acted in a "moment of madness" after seeing images of suffering in Gaza. Byrne said she believed the store was funding genocide and supporting Zionists, and that her theft was a reaction to those scenes. Judge Anne Watkin rejected this as an abuse of people suffering, stating it was not a valid excuse for shoplifting. The judge suggested Byrne avoid the store if she felt that way and questioned her self‑employment as a therapist. Byrne was fined €500, with a six‑month payment period. The case was heard under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act. The court did not impose any custodial sentence.
Mark Kavanagh, aged 48, was sentenced by Judge Orla Crowe to a global term of six years and nine months, with the final 18 months suspended on strict conditions. The sentence follows a high‑speed chase on 28 April 2024 in which Kavanagh attempted to ram a Garda patrol car, drove at speeds up to 120 km/h, and was later apprehended after the vehicle crashed. He pleaded guilty to endangerment, criminal damage, dangerous driving, driving without insurance, and failing to provide a blood or urine sample. Kavanagh also pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary and handling stolen property in 2024, including an intrusion into the home of an 85‑year‑old man on 10 June 2024, where a key was taken. He has 168 prior convictions, including burglary, trespass, firearms and drug offences, and is disqualified from driving until 2030.
Sergiu Lupo, 39, pleaded guilty to 43 counts of theft, attempted theft and criminal damage for a three‑day spree of targeted ATM thefts in Dublin from 3 to 6 June 2019. He stole €7,260 and caused €7,147 in damage across 24 incidents at AIB ATMs in locations such as Artane, Stillorgan, Dundrum, Crumlin, Tallaght, Clondalkin, Rathfarnham, Finglas, Swords and Portmarnock. Lupo also assisted in a separate incident at Sutton Cross, where he watched two men withdraw cash and then drove them away. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced him to two years and six months' imprisonment, back‑dated to 15 November 2024, for the deliberate, organised nature of the offences and the significant financial loss and inconvenience caused to AIB and the public. The sentence reflects the aggravating factors of the scale of theft and damage, and the fact that Lupo fled and was extradited back to Ireland. He has no prior convictions in Ireland or elsewhere.
Conor Stewart, 31, of Kilcross Court, Sandyford, Dublin 18, was found in possession of €280 worth of cocaine during a car stop on the Dundrum Bypass on 9 April 2022. He pleaded guilty at Dún Laoghaire District Court to a Section 3 offence under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977, and was charged under Section 27(1) of the same Act, as amended by the Misuse of Drugs Act 1984. Garda Brian Gallagher reported that Stewart was a nervous passenger when the vehicle was stopped in the early hours, leading to a search that uncovered the drug. Stewart has 84 prior convictions, including 12 for drug offences, seven public order offences, theft and criminal damage. He is already serving a three‑year sentence, one year suspended, for other offences. Judge Anne Watkin added a one‑month term to run consecutively, raising his total sentence to three years and one month, with a €500 recognisance for appeal.
Patrick Lynch, 50, of Rosemount Glade, Dundrum, was sentenced to six months' imprisonment by Judge Anne Watkin at Dun Laoghaire District Court for a series of burglaries. He pleaded guilty to multiple counts of burglary, theft and trespassing. On 9 January 2024 he unlawfully entered the Rosemount Resource Centre at Waldermere Terrace, stole five Samsung tablets worth €5,500 and was prosecuted under Section 4 of the Theft and Fraud Offences Act 2001. The next night, 10 January, he returned, stole additional Samsung devices and €450 in cash. Gardaí later recovered five of the stolen tablets. While on bail, he committed further offences on 29 and 30 April, including entering a property through an open window and stealing a phone and a laptop worth about €1,000. Lynch has 134 prior convictions, including 11 for theft under the 2001 Act, and a history of drug addiction and mental health difficulties.
Gary Murphy, 40, of Rosemount Park, Dundrum, was sentenced to three months in prison after pleading guilty at Dún Laoghaire District Court to driving while banned, uninsured and unlicensed on 17 April 2025. He was caught driving his partner's car, which had been parked at his home, on the Green Route in Dundrum. Murphy, who is serving a 10‑year driving ban, chose to drive instead of taking a taxi while his partner was experiencing a medical emergency elsewhere. The court noted his 101 previous convictions, including public order offences, criminal damage, assault, breaches of the Weapons Act, dangerous driving, drink‑driving and driving without insurance, making this his 102nd conviction and third for driving without insurance. He was under probation supervision at the time of the offence, works full‑time as a digger operator, pays rent to his father and supports two children aged one and 20.
Three Romanian nationals – Marius Crisan (29), Codrin Manoli (26) and Calin Scintei (32) – pleaded guilty to a range of offences involving cash‑trapping devices used to steal money from AIB ATMs. Crisan was convicted of two counts of criminal damage, two counts of stealing cash, four counts of possessing cash‑trapping devices with intent to use them, and one count of participation in a criminal organisation. Manoli faced similar charges, with four counts of damage, four of stealing cash, two of possessing devices and one of organisational participation. Scintei was convicted of one count of damage, one of stealing cash and three of possessing devices. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced Scintei to three years' imprisonment back‑dated to July 2024, Manoli to three years with the final six months suspended for two years, and Crisan to a fully suspended three‑year sentence.
Three men—Anthony Hickey (39), Fabio Vicente (42) and Matin Zolfaghari (34)—were sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for a gang rape and sexual assault that occurred on 31 August 2019 in a Dublin nightclub. Hickey received 16 years, with the final year suspended; Vicente also received 16 years, suspended; Zolfaghari received 14 years, suspended. All three pleaded not guilty. The judge described the conduct as "cruel, cynical and depraved" and noted the victim was in a vulnerable state. The court directed the men to be supervised by Probation Services for three years after release and back‑dated their sentences to the date of custody. The sentencing hearing included the victim's impact statement, in which she accused the men of recording and sharing videos of the assault and of laughing at her refusal. The judge emphasised that blame rested solely with the men and praised the Garda investigation. No further legal outcomes are mentioned in the article. Anthony Hickey was convicted. Fabio Vicente was found guilty. Matin Zolfaghari was convicted.
Ian Maloney (37) of Cashel Road, Crumlin in Dublin, pleaded guilty to possession of a 9mm semiautomatic firearm with intent to endanger life on February 10, 2022 at an address in Crumlin. Maloney has 109 previous convictions, including two relevant ones for a robbery in 2008 and an assault causing harm in 2009. He was arrested and interviewed seven times over a number of days but made no admissions. However, while in custody in Cloverhill Prison in December of that year, his solicitor contacted gardaí to say Maloney wished to make a statement about the shooting. Maloney admitted to firing several rounds of 9mm-calibre ammunition at the house, where the occupants included a couple, their adult children, and a young child. The householder contacted gardaí to report the incident. Garda Ian Ward stated that the front door, window, and a car in the driveway were damaged with bullets. Maloney became a person of interest due to social media posts showing an ongoing feud with one of the occupants. The judge directed a probation report and remanded Maloney in custody until sentencing on May 22. Maloney was sentenced to 12 years with the last two suspended for that crime.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a woman who was gang‑raped by three men in a Dublin nightclub on 31 August 2019 gave a victim impact statement. She described how the men – Anthony Hickey (39), Fabio Vicente (42) and Matin Zolfaghari (34) – watched her movements, used her body as an object and raped her in a car and in a house. The statement detailed her fear, anxiety, flashbacks and nightmares, and her anger at the men's videos of the assault that were shared for a laugh. She said the criminal process was long and daunting, and that the men had taken away her freedom, her body and her love for life. The court noted the men were remanded in custody and the case was adjourned for sentencing on 27 March. The statement was given in plain Irish‑English prose, with no additional claims or inferences beyond the facts presented in the article. Anthony Hickey pleaded not guilty and was convicted. Fabio Vicente pleaded not guilty and was found guilty. Matin Zolfaghari pleaded not guilty and was convicted.
Jason Smith, 31, of Beechdale Lawn, Ballycullen, Dublin 24, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of cannabis, cocaine and cannabis jellies in the Dundrum area on 1 June 2023. Garda Kevin Keogh reported that Smith had been seen pulling up beside a parked van, removing an item and placing it in his car. Gardaí later seized a hidden compartment in the van containing vacuum‑packed bags of cocaine. The total value of the drugs seized was €143,697, including €21,612 of cocaine and €119,219 of cannabis. Smith claimed he was unaware the items were drugs, stating he was addicted to Xanax and had accrued a drug debt. He admitted responsibility, expressed remorse, and had cooperated with the investigation. Judge Martin Nolan accepted the mitigating circumstances and sentenced Smith to three years' imprisonment, reducing the headline sentence of six years.
In a civil trial at the Beacon hotel case, Conor McGregor denied that his co‑defendant James Lawrence was a "Patsy" set to take the fall. McGregor told the court he paid for Lawrence's legal fees because Lawrence could not afford them. He claimed the allegations of rape and assault by hairdresser Nikita Hand were false, describing the encounter as consensual, enthusiastic and in multiple positions. McGregor said he was shocked and frightened by social media chatter and that he had given a statement to Gardaí after legal advice. Hand alleges McGregor raped and battered her in 2018, while Lawrence says he had consensual sex with her after McGregor left. Both defendants deny the allegations and are represented by the same law firm. The trial continues with the parties presenting their evidence.
In a decision published on 23 October 2024, the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) ruled that it was reasonable for Centric Mental Health to require its Kerry‑based employee, Rafael Jorge, to travel to the Dundrum office in Dublin once a month. Jorge had accepted a fully remote contract in August 2022 after turning down a job offer. In January 2024, Centric's HR officer notified him that, due to changing business needs, he was required to attend the Dundrum office a minimum of two days per week. Jorge objected, citing his remote status and residence in Tralee, and raised a grievance. The HR director subsequently reduced the requirement to one day per month. Jorge sought a pay rise, lunch allowance and travel expenses; the company offered the latter two.
On 6 June 2023, 23‑year‑old Constantin Leonard Magadau of Glenbourne Avenue, Leopardstown Valley, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to burglary, dangerous driving and failing to stop a vehicle on Main Street, Dundrum. The court heard that Magadau and a second man removed €33,000 worth of stock from Murray Mobile, a phone shop in Dundrum, while a third man acted as a lookout. The shop owner testified that the premises were systematically destroyed, with €15,000 worth of criminal damage, and that the business was nearly closed as a result. Judge Elva Duffy sentenced Magadau to three and a half years' imprisonment. He appealed the sentence, but the Court of Appeal, hearing the case on 17 October 2024, warned that it could increase the sentence and granted Magadau permission to withdraw the appeal.
Gerard Jordan, 54, was sentenced to 12 months in jail for setting a fire outside the front door of an acquaintance's third‑floor apartment in Rosemount Court, Dundrum, on 2 July 2022. The blaze caused €14,000 of damage to the common area. Jordan pleaded guilty to arson and was a resident of a second apartment block at the same address. The court noted that no physical harm was caused and that Jordan had previously been assaulted by the victim. He had 12 prior convictions, mainly for public order, criminal damage and theft. The judge, Elma Sheahan, considered Jordan's guilty plea, cooperation with Gardaí, personal circumstances and mental health difficulties, and imposed a three‑year sentence with the final two years suspended on strict conditions. No injuries were reported, and the fire was extinguished by the Dublin Fire Brigade. The victim declined to give a victim impact statement. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In a south Dublin incident, 51‑year‑old Guillermo Salazar drove a Peugeot through a red light and struck a 12‑year‑old girl crossing the road. The child sustained a swollen temple, a cut eyebrow and required hospital treatment, but has since fully recovered. Salazar, who initially faced a dangerous driving charge, pleaded guilty to careless driving causing serious bodily harm. At the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, he received a nine‑month suspended sentence, with no driving disqualification imposed. The court noted Salazar's "momentary lapse in concentration," his cooperation with Gardaí, and the absence of alcohol or prior convictions. The judge highlighted the child's injuries as not severe and accepted mitigating factors, concluding that the suspended sentence was appropriate under strict conditions. The case remains at the sentencing stage, with no further legal actions reported.
Victoria Dalton, 28, pleaded guilty to theft at a Circle K petrol station in Dundrum on 24 March 2020. She entered the shop at about 9:15 pm, asked for children's medicine, and was then approached by a man who held a knife to her throat and demanded €120 from the till. The staff, fearing for their safety, complied. Dalton later claimed she had been acting as a victim and denied participation in the robbery. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced her to 18 months' imprisonment, suspending the final nine months, and directed her to probation supervision for two years. The sentence was back‑dated to 30 March 2020, when she entered custody. Dalton has a history of drug addiction and a prior conviction for possession of drugs for personal use in March 2022. She is currently receiving treatment and intends to attend a residential drug programme after release.
Le Wang, a 42‑year‑old taxi driver from Dundrum, was found guilty of harassing a Chinese student who had rented a room in his house between December 2022 and March 2023. He secretly filmed her twice in the shower and attempted a third time, hiding his phone in a laundry basket. When she discovered the phone, he threatened to ruin her reputation and harassed her for three months, sending threatening texts and attempting contact via social media. Gardaí seized his phone and found the videos, which were deleted and then restored. Wang pleaded guilty and was given a 16‑month suspended sentence, with a ten‑year prohibition on any communication with the victim. He was remanded in custody for two weeks before the verdict and was released thereafter. No prior convictions were recorded.
In a case heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Abdul Rahman Mohammed, a 35‑year‑old security guard at Penneys in Dundrum, was found guilty of sexual assault, false imprisonment and demanding money with menace. The victim, a 15‑year‑old girl, was lured back into the store after shoplifting a makeup brush and a peel‑off mask. Mohammed forced her to strip, sexually assaulted her, and then demanded €250 from her, claiming it was the price for the items. He also interfered with the CCTV camera a week before the incident to blur any footage. The jury convicted him on all counts on 12 February 2024, and Judge Orla Crowe sentenced him to five years' imprisonment, back‑dated to February, after he was already in custody. The victim's impact statement described lasting fear and depression following the assault. The case highlights the severity of the offences and the court's decision to impose a substantial custodial term.
Le Wang, 42, a taxi driver from Dundrum, was found guilty of harassing a Chinese student who had rented a room in his house. Between December 2022 and March 2023, Wang secretly filmed the student twice while she showered and attempted a third time when she discovered his phone hidden in a laundry basket. He threatened her with retaliation if she exposed the videos, sent harassing texts demanding she leave, and repeatedly tried to contact her via social media, culminating in 18 attempts before the harassment ceased on 11 March 2023. Gardaí seized his phone, uncovering the two videos and related screenshots. Wang had no prior convictions, cooperated with investigators, and was described as introverted with a low risk of reoffending. He was remanded in custody for two weeks pending sentencing on 16 May, where the judge will consider the case further.
Lisa Lee, 41, who had previously discarded a knife used in the killing of Isaac Horgan, was in custody for breaching the terms of her suspended sentence. She had been sentenced to four years, with the final two suspended on the condition of good behaviour and engagement with probation services. After spending ten days in custody, Lee's barrister, Ronan Munro SC, informed Judge Tony Hunt that she had changed her mind about the judge's offer to enter a drug treatment programme. Lee now agreed to attend rapid detox and residential care for her addiction issues, accepting the court's conditions. The judge acknowledged her limited engagement with probation services and noted that the suspended portion of her sentence had been activated by new charges. He emphasised that compliance with the treatment terms was essential and that failure to do so would result in a return to prison. Lisa Lee was convicted.
A 23‑year‑old Romanian‑born burglar, Constantin Leonard Magadau, was sentenced to three and a half years' imprisonment for a June 2023 break‑in at Murray Mobile in Dundrum, where he used a crowbar to enter through a broken window, smashed display cases and stole €33,000 of stock. He also caused €15,000 of criminal damage. The getaway car was abandoned a short distance away, and a mobile phone and loyalty tag linked to Magadau were found there. The shop owner's impact statement described sleepless nights, staff worry and the need to refurbish the store, noting the business nearly closed. Judge Elva Duffy cited the systematic destruction, planning, significant loss and the driver's dangerous conduct as aggravating factors, while noting his early guilty plea and admission of wrongdoing as mitigating. She also disqualified him from driving for five years. The sentence was back‑dated to his custody date.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 16‑year‑old named Calistus Omoikhudu received a fully suspended three‑year prison sentence for assault causing harm and possession of a knife after stabbing a rival group member in the thigh with a kitchen knife on Nutgrove Avenue, Churchtown, on 10 May 2019. The victim suffered a 15‑cm laceration and required surgery. Omoikhudu, who had no prior convictions, admitted the offence, expressed regret and presented an apology letter. The court noted his age, lack of parental oversight at the time, and his subsequent maturation and good behaviour after returning to Ireland from Nigeria in 2022. Judge Martin Nolan imposed the suspended sentence on strict conditions and directed Omoikhudu to be supervised by Probation Services for 15 months. The sentence was based on the Children's Act and the court's assessment that he was unlikely to re‑offend. Calistus Omoikhudu pleaded guilty.
David Douglas, 65, from Belfast, was jailed for a year after pleading guilty to two charges of masturbating in a public place at Dundrum Town Centre in March 2022. He admitted playing an "eye contact game" for about 20 years, focusing on young girls. An off‑duty Garda and her 11‑year‑old daughter reported that Douglas sat close to them in the food court, looking at them, and later ran when security alerted the Gardaí. CCTV showed Douglas masturbating outside his clothing near where girls were seated, and he claimed he used alcohol to reduce inhibitions. He has 33 prior convictions, including road traffic offences and sexual offences, but none involving physical contact. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced him to 15 months' imprisonment, suspended the final three months, and imposed 12 months of probation on release.