The High Court adjourned a dispute between Muhammad Amjad and Imtiaz Khan, principal of IMK Law and IMK Property Investment Ltd, to October. Mr Justice O'Connell accepted an undertaking by Mr Cormack SC for non-contact between any party, family member, or associate, either directly or indirectly. The hearing addressed concerns raised by the plaintiff regarding a WhatsApp message sent by consultant Kamal Shah, who stated the contact was personal and unrelated to the case. The court also noted that IMK Law removed photographs from its website due to adverse publicity. Mr Amjad alleged an unlawful eviction, claiming Mr Khan arrived at the property in a threatening manner with eight individuals and a hammer. Mr Khan denied these allegations, stating he attended for a peaceful handover following a lease termination notice and that the property required extensive repairs. The parties had settled the dispute last week, but the matter returned to court due to concerns over potential interference. The judge accepted the non-contact undertaking and adjourned the proceedings.
An Afghan man, Rahimullah Hotak, who laundered €45,000 by making payments to accounts in six different countries while receiving social welfare in Ireland, has been given a fully suspended sentence. Hotak, who pleaded guilty to money laundering, made 45 separate payments totaling €45,208.53 between January 2020 and April 2021. The court heard that the amount was 'totally out of proportion' to the funds he would have had access to at the time as a 19-year-old. Hotak's defence counsel noted that he recognises Ireland's support and hopes to return to Afghanistan with his family. The court also heard that Hotak was arrested but made no admissions. Judge Orla Crowe noted the troubling features of the case, including the source of the money, and adjourned the case to assess Hotak's risk of re-offending. Hotak has no previous convictions and the Probation Service has deemed him to be at low risk of re-offending. Judge Crowe handed down a sentence of 18 months, which she suspended for a period of three years on a number of conditions.
A visually impaired woman described her panic during an incident of false imprisonment by a bogus taxi driver, stating her first thought was: "I guess this is just my turn." The defendant, Nicolae Zgherea (30), who has 11 previous convictions for road traffic offences, claimed he was unaware the victim was visually impaired. The court heard that the woman and her friend were waiting at a taxi rank when Zgherea approached, and the friend believed he was a legitimate driver. The woman entered his car, only to discover there was no taxi licence or meter. She asked Zgherea if he was a taxi driver, and when he confirmed he wasn't, she requested to be let out. Zgherea continued driving, and she called 999. The emergency operator asked him to pull over, which he eventually did. Zgherea pleaded guilty to false imprisonment. The court was told the incident had a significant impact on the woman's trust in others, independence, and confidence. She described the experience as terrifying and questioned whether she was targeted due to her disability or gender.
Tomas Cypas has received the mandatory life sentence for murdering Juris Kokenbergs in Lucan. A jury convicted him by a majority verdict after hearing that an assault followed an argument involving an alleged lewd request, while the defence had argued for manslaughter. Tomas Cypas pleaded not guilty.
Sunday Onwukaike, 49, of Saggart, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for possession of drugs for sale or supply. He pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis with a market value of €13,000 or more at an address in Lucan on July 27, 2024. The court heard that gardaí carried out a controlled delivery of a parcel intercepted by customs, which contained 11kg of cannabis valued at €211,910. Onwukaike signed for the parcel and was arrested, indicating he was paid €1,000 to collect it. Judge Elma Sheahan noted the offence carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years, but departed from this in exceptional circumstances. Considering his guilty plea, lack of prior drug convictions, family circumstances involving a child with complex needs, and remorse, the judge set a headline sentence of five years. She imposed a sentence of three years imprisonment, suspending the final six months on strict conditions. Onwukaike, who has two previous road traffic convictions, was jailed for two and a half years.
The Court of Appeal has adjourned the appeal proceedings of Boy A, one of two boys convicted of the 2018 murder of Ana Kriegel, to July 10 for mention. Boy A, who was 13 at the time of the crime, was sentenced in 2019 to life imprisonment with a review after 12 years for the murder, alongside a concurrent 12-year sentence for aggravated sexual assault. His legal team, represented by Niall Nolan BL, requested additional time to assemble necessary records, describing the upcoming hearing as requiring "document-heavy analysis." Counsel stated that custody progress records were "crucial" to the appeal, noting limited responses to requests for hard data and reports previously directed by the trial judge. The appeal follows a March 2025 Supreme Court ruling by Ms Justice Iseult O'Malley, which established that life sentences for child murder convictions should only be imposed in exceptional cases where the child's actions were akin to those of an adult. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy granted the request for more time and approved the appointment of documentary junior counsel. She adjourned the matter to July 10, indicating an expectation that a hearing date will be fixed at that point. The case involves the conviction of Boy A and Boy B, who lured the teenager to an abandoned house in Lucan, where she was assaulted and killed.
A Central Criminal Court jury returned a majority verdict of murder against Tomas Cypas over the death of Juris Kokenbergs at Old Bridge Park, Lucan. The jury rejected the defence case after deliberating for six hours and 54 minutes over three days; the mandatory life sentence is due to be handed down on March 23. Tomas Cypas pleaded not guilty.
The jury in Tomas Cypas's murder trial stopped deliberating after four hours and 21 minutes and will return to the Central Criminal Court on Monday. Cypas denies murdering Juris Kokenbergs in Lucan; the jury was directed that it could return verdicts of murder, manslaughter or not guilty.
Edward Evbagharu pleaded guilty to money laundering after €31,000 from an online dating scam passed through three of his accounts. Judge Dara Hayes imposed a two-year sentence and suspended the final year, finding that Evbagharu had facilitated the use of the money.
A jury began deliberating in the trial of Tomas Cypas, who has pleaded not guilty to murdering Juris Kokenbergs in Lucan. The jury was told it could return verdicts of murder, manslaughter or not guilty.
The prosecution told the Central Criminal Court that Tomas Cypas was under no threat when he assaulted Juris Kokenbergs, while the defence argued the killing was manslaughter rather than murder. Tomas Cypas pleaded not guilty.
Tomas Cypas told gardaí he punched Juris Kokenbergs in self-defence after an argument at his mother's home, but denied stamping on the deceased's head. Tomas Cypas pleaded not guilty.
State pathologist Dr Heidi Okkers told Tomas Cypas's murder trial that punching alone could have caused the extensive brain damage suffered by Juris Kokenbergs, although she also confirmed contact from a shoe to the scalp. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury. Tomas Cypas pleaded not guilty.
At a murder trial, Tomas Cypas denied murdering Juris Kokenbergs in Lucan. The jury heard evidence about DNA staining found on Cypas's footwear and heard his account of the confrontation; the trial was due to continue before Mr Justice Paul McDermott. Tomas Cypas pleaded not guilty.
The murder trial of Tomas Cypas heard his 999 call for an ambulance after he found his friend Juris Kokenbergs cold and not breathing. Cypas has pleaded not guilty to murdering Kokenbergs at Old Bridge Park, Lucan. The jury heard that Cypas admitted hitting him and will consider his intent; the trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott.
Tomas Cypas pleaded not guilty to murdering Juris Kokenbergs at Old Bridge Park, Lucan, Co Dublin. The prosecution case is that Kokenbergs died from stomping on the head. Cypas admits hitting Kokenbergs over the weekend, while the jury must decide his intent; the trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott.
A scaffolder is set to face trial tomorrow, accused of murdering a man in west Dublin in 2024. Tomas Cypas (35), who resides at Foxborough Road, Lucan, Co Dublin, was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court this afternoon. He has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Juris Kokenbergs (49), who was killed at Old Bridge Park, Lucan, Co Dublin on October 28, 2024. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon informed the jury panel that the accused is a resident of Dublin and works in the scaffolding trade. The judge swore in a jury of eight men and four women to hear the trial, which will begin tomorrow before Mr Justice Paul McDermott. The trial is expected to last two weeks. The court proceedings will focus on the circumstances surrounding the alleged murder and the evidence presented by the prosecution.
A Spanish businessman, Christian Munoz Sanchez (35), who came to Ireland to make 'easy money' from the drug trade, has been jailed for seven years. He pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply, having transported nearly €1.43 million worth of heroin and other drugs. Munoz Sanchez, who has a wine business in Barcelona and is also a part-time DJ, was arrested after gardai found 19 packages of drugs in his suitcase during a surveillance operation. He admitted to being paid €5,000 for the job and stated he had come to Ireland solely for the purpose of mixing and delivering the drugs. Munoz Sanchez had no previous convictions in Ireland or Spain. His defence highlighted his co-operation with the investigation and his lack of a drugs debt, which the court acknowledged. Judge Ní Chúlacháin noted the significant quantity of drugs involved and the deliberate nature of his actions, but reduced the headline sentence of 12 years to seven years, with the final two years suspended.
A Central Criminal Court judge has accepted that he cannot review the sentence imposed on Boy B, who murdered schoolgirl Ana Kriegel when he was 13 years old. The judge, Mr Justice Paul McDermott, noted that the Supreme Court ruled that sentencing courts do not have jurisdiction to review terms of detention for child offenders. Boy B was sentenced to 15 years' detention with a review after eight years, but the Supreme Court found that life sentences for child murderers should only be imposed in exceptional cases. Boy B's lawyers withdrew his appeal against his conviction, and the court heard details of the murder, where Boy B lured Ana to a derelict house, knowing that Boy A intended to kill her. Boy A was sentenced to life imprisonment with a review after 12 years, and he will appeal his sentence in light of the Supreme Court's ruling.
A mother and daughter were found in possession of €1.3 million in gold bullion and hundreds of thousands in cash during garda raids, leading to their convictions for the possession of proceeds of crime. Svethana Bahtijeva (39) and her mother Jelene Idele (59) pleaded guilty to multiple charges, with Bahtijeva receiving a five-year prison sentence and Idele receiving a four-year suspended sentence. During the raids, 18kg of gold bullion, €399,000 in cash, and drugs were discovered in their homes. Bahtijeva's husband, who is believed to have fled the country, was identified as the main figure in the criminal activities. The court heard that Bahtijeva was under her husband's control and facilitated his criminal activities, while Idele was unaware of the drugs in her home. The judge noted that the main culprit was not present in court and that Bahtijeva's actions were influenced by her husband's criminal behavior.
Gerard Nevin, who was convicted of sexually abusing his stepdaughters, had his original four-year prison sentence increased to ten years by the Court of Appeal following new sentencing guidelines. The court found that the seriousness of the abuse, which occurred over a period of eight years, warranted a longer sentence. The victims, who were aged between seven and 16 when the abuse occurred, waived their right to anonymity. The judge noted that the abuse was systematic and calculated, causing significant harm to the victims. The new guidelines placed Nevin's case in the upper range of offending, with a headline sentence of nine to 14 years. The court imposed a 12-year sentence, with two years suspended, and required Nevin to engage in offense and victim-focused work. The case was highlighted as one of the most serious sexual abuse cases due to the prolonged nature of the offending and the vulnerability of the victims. Gerard Nevin pleaded guilty.
Max Corcoran, a 22-year-old high-risk offender, was jailed for three and a half years after slashing a fellow hostel resident while he was sleeping, causing significant facial scarring. Corcoran pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm in May 2022. The victim, who was homeless, was attacked with a trowel and a Stanley knife, sustaining multiple cuts to his head, face, hands, and arms. He required plastic surgery and has significant scarring. Corcoran initially denied involvement but later admitted to stabbing the victim, claiming he was provoked. He has 17 previous convictions, including assault, criminal damage, and drug offences. A probation report indicated he is at high risk of re-offending. Judge Martin Nolan noted the severity of the attack and the fact that Corcoran had already spent 13 months in custody, imposing a four-and-a-half-year sentence with the final year suspended on strict conditions.
John Stokes, an on-bail offender, has received a fully suspended 12-month sentence for causing serious injury in a head-on collision. Stokes was driving at high speed on Lower Lucan Road, leading to a collision that left a woman with a fractured spine. He pleaded guilty to careless driving causing serious harm and was on bail for another offense at the time. Judge Elma Sheahan noted that Stokes had failed to appear for sentencing and was on bail for another offense. Stokes has since been working and is engaging with therapeutic services. Conditions of the suspended sentence include engaging with probation services, providing urine analysis, and being disqualified from driving for 12 months. The court heard that Stokes was a learner driver and was not under the influence of intoxicants. Victim impact statements highlighted the physical and mental health struggles faced by the victims, with the woman who suffered spinal injuries having to change jobs and struggle with rent payments.
The Court of Appeal has issued new sentencing guidance for sexual assault offences after finding that the sentence imposed on Gerard Nevin was too lenient. Nevin, 42, pleaded guilty to 22 counts of sexual assault committed between 2012 and June 2020 against his stepdaughters, Catalina Grancea and Alexa Grancea. The charges included 12 counts relating to Catalina Grancea, involving inappropriate touching of her buttocks, breasts, and thigh. In November 2024, Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin imposed a global sentence of six years, with the final two years suspended. The State appealed, arguing the reduction from a nine-year headline sentence was excessive and that the suspension lacked evidential basis. Mr Justice Peter Charleton agreed, stating that the six-year sentence does not meet the gravity of the offences, which he described as systematic and calculated. The court noted that without the new guidance, the trial judge's approach was not sufficiently informed. The matter was adjourned to December 4 for re-sentencing in light of the new analysis, which places the offending in the upper range with a recommended headline sentence between nine and 14 years.
In a 2025 Supreme Court ruling, Justice Iseult O'Malley held that a life sentence for a child convicted of murder may only be imposed in exceptional cases where the child's intent and actions mirror those of an adult, and that sentencing courts lack jurisdiction to review detention terms for child offenders. Following this decision, the Court of Appeal granted Boy A, a 14‑year‑old convicted of murdering 14‑year‑old Ana Kriegel and of aggravated sexual assault, an extension to appeal his life sentence with a 12‑year review and a separate 12‑year sexual assault sentence. The extension was granted because the Director of Public Prosecutions did not object. Boy A and Boy B were convicted in 2019 for the 2018 murder at a derelict house in Lucan. The Court also heard a similar request from another former juvenile offender now an adult, and scheduled a further hearing for December 5.
Olga Pegasoua, a 46-year-old woman from Lucan, was convicted at Tallaght District Court of refusing to provide a specimen under the Road Traffic Act. The case concerned an incident on 27 March 2021, where Garda Shauna Higgins observed Pegasoua driving a swerving silver Nissan with a dented bumper. After arresting her for suspected intoxication, Pegasoua arrived at Tallaght Garda Station. Although she initially opted to provide a urine sample, she poured it down the toilet and subsequently refused to provide a blood sample. Judge Karen Dowling rejected the defence argument that the prosecution could not rely on interpreter testimony, finding a case to answer based on the garda's observations and Pegasoua's conduct. Pegasoua, who did not appear in court, was found guilty. The judge stated she had no choice but to impose the mandatory four-year driving disqualification. Pegasoua was fined €500, with five months granted to pay, and a €200 recognisance was set. The judge agreed to defer the start of the driving ban by four weeks to allow Pegasoua to make necessary arrangements. The court noted Pegasoua is a single mother with no previous convictions, who works as a cleaner and suffers from anxiety and kidney issues.
In a 2025 appeal, Judge Deidre Browne replaced a four‑month jail term with a fully suspended nine‑month sentence for Richard Joseph Doyle, 34, who had been convicted of two counts of assault and a threat of property damage after grabbing a woman by the neck in a Dublin house. The original sentence included four months imprisonment, a €200 fine, and €200 compensation for a damaged window. Doyle appealed on the grounds of severity. The judge, citing a probation report, expressed "very significant concerns" over Doyle's lack of insight into the seriousness of his actions and limited victim empathy. She increased the custodial term to nine months but suspended it, requiring Doyle to enter probation supervision, attend offence‑focused work, participate in a violence‑prevention program, disclose intimate relationships, and undergo drug screening or intervention as directed.
In October 2025 the State appealed a four‑year jail sentence for Gerard Nevin, who pleaded guilty to 22 counts of sexual assault against his stepdaughters, Catalina and Alexa Grancea, between 2012 and 2020. Nevin, aged 42, was sentenced by Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin to a global term of six years, with the final two years suspended. The victims, aged between seven and sixteen during the offences, waived anonymity. The appeal, presented by Caroline Latham BL for the Director of Public Prosecutions, argued the sentence was inadequate, disproportionate and unduly lenient, citing the systematic and frequent nature of the abuse, the victims' ages, and the lack of evidential basis for the suspended portion. Nevin's counsel, Tim O'Leary SC, countered that the judge had correctly applied mitigating factors, including Nevin's guilty plea, lack of prior convictions, and expressed remorse. The court has reserved judgment on the appeal.
A 36‑year‑old man, Jasmin Nasic, was jailed for one year after a jury found him guilty of sexual assault and offensive conduct of a sexual nature for groping a 16‑year‑old girl in a Dublin supermarket. The victim, who was helping her mother shop, said the assault took place when Nasic put his hand on her buttocks and forcefully groped her as he walked past. She described the incident as "opportunistic and demeaning" and said the trial caused her stress, anxiety and sleepless nights. Judge Martina Baxter, after hearing the victim's impact statement and a Probation Service report that Nasic is at moderate risk of re‑offending, sentenced him to two years in prison, suspending the final year on conditions including one year of probation. Nasic has no prior convictions and has worked in Ireland since 2016. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In a Tallaght District Court hearing on 9 September 2025, a woman named Cathrina Boyle, aged 65, was accused of drink‑driving on the N81 on 22 December 2023. Garda Paul Byrne stopped her vehicle after noticing erratic driving, observed blood‑shot eyes, slurred speech, and a strong smell of alcohol, and arrested her. Boyle voluntarily gave a blood sample, which was sealed, labelled, and sent to the Medical Bureau of Road Safety. The sample reportedly returned a concentration of 227 mg of alcohol per 100 ml, exceeding the legal limit. Defence counsel Oisín Clarke argued that the chain of custody for the specimen was not proven, citing a recent High Court decision in Ratinskis v DPP that quashed a conviction on similar grounds. Judge Patricia McNamara adjourned the case to 23 October, noting the High Court ruling had not yet formally taken effect. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
John Stokes, 22, was placed under Probation Service supervision ahead of sentencing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He pleaded guilty to one count of careless driving causing serious bodily harm to a woman, a charge accepted by the DPP on a full facts basis. The offence carries a maximum penalty of two years' imprisonment and/or a fine of up to €10,000. The incident occurred on May 2, 2021, at Lower Lucan Road, where Stokes lost control of his vehicle, colliding head-on with another car. The collision left a woman with fractured spine and ribs, requiring her to be cut from the vehicle. Stokes, who was on bail for another offence at the time, had previously failed to appear for sentencing, resulting in a warrant for his arrest. He later presented himself to gardai after living in the UK. The court heard he was a learner driver accompanied by a licensed passenger and not under the influence of intoxicants. Victim impact statements detailed ongoing pain, mental health struggles, and financial difficulties. Defence counsel highlighted Stokes' age at the time of the offence, mental health history, and role as a father. Judge Elma Sheahan noted the seriousness of his failure to attend court and his status as an on-bail offender. She ordered a six-month probation period, a good behaviour bond, and the submission of probation, GP, and counselling reports before the matter is finalised on November 24.
A judge dismissed the charges against Jamie Shannon, 30, and Edel Doherty, 51, who were accused of identifying the teenage boys who murdered 14‑year‑old Ana Kriégel. The charges were brought under the Children Act 2001, which prohibits the identification of children who appear before the courts. The defendants applied to have the charges dismissed under the Criminal Procedure Act, specifically Section 4E of the Criminal Justice Act 1999, which bars reporting of the hearing, any evidence, and arguments. The judge, Martin Nolan, delivered the decision after a hearing that began the day before. The court's ruling can only be reported as the fact that a case was taken and the decision made, due to the reporting restrictions. The two teenage boys, aged 13 and 14 at the time, had been convicted of Ana Kriégel's murder in June 2019 and were referred to as 'Boy A' and 'Boy B' in that trial.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 16‑year‑old girl who was groped by Jasmin Nasic during a grocery shop described the emotional toll of having her counselling notes handed over to the defendant's legal team. She said the assault, which involved Nasic placing his hand on her buttocks, had no precedent in her life and that the trial, prompted by his plea of not guilty, caused her stress, anxiety and sleepless nights. The court noted the case took 1,375 days from the offence to conviction. Judge Martina Baxter praised the girl's courage and urged Probation Services to assess Nasic for recidivism. Nasic, a 36‑year‑old from Lucan with no prior convictions, was found guilty of one count of sexual assault and one count of offensive conduct of a sexual nature, offences carrying maximum sentences of 14 and 2 years respectively. He will now be registered as a sex offender.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Conor Deering, aged 24, pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply on 25 September 2021 at several sites in Lucan. The case began when Gardai stopped his car for a seatbelt offence, discovered a backpack containing 100 g of cannabis and €3,900 in cash, and subsequently obtained a search warrant for his home. A search of his residence uncovered drugs valued at over €159,000 and an additional €4,000 in cash, bringing the total value of seized drugs to €161,690. Deering had no prior convictions. Judge Martin Nolan, taking into account Deering's early guilty plea, imposed a three‑year prison sentence, departing from the mandatory minimum of ten years. The court noted that Deering was not on the Garda radar and that his home showed no signs of wealth.
Radu Budai, 40, of Lucan, was found guilty of Revenue offences for selling untaxed Romanian cigarettes and alcohol in his shop on Upper Dorset Street. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 7 March 2023. Revenue officers, led by Marie Treacy, entered the shop and discovered bottles of wine without Irish tax stamps, boxes of brandy and wine, and homemade alcohol in large plastic containers. A female employee showed officers a Romanian identity card and was interviewed. Budai was present during the search but was not questioned. The court heard that the goods were seized. In mitigation, his defence counsel argued that Budai was trying to compete with larger shops, had family responsibilities, and had health issues including sleep apnoea and a gastric balloon surgery. Judge Martin Nolan acknowledged Budai's family situation but noted the profit motive and the €27,000 loss to Revenue.
In a Tallaght District Court hearing, Judge Patricia McNamara refused jurisdiction over a violent disorder case involving five men after viewing CCTV footage of a 15‑year‑old being repeatedly beaten with metal bars on the top deck of a bus at The Square Shopping Centre on 29 February 2024. The footage showed two accused men boarding the bus at 9:30 pm, one initiating the assault and the other also striking the teenager, while a third remained outside. The men—Rasel Chowdhury (42), Gao Jiansheng (44), Shafiulla Shafiulla (40), Kamrul Islam (43) and Md Imrul Mahamud (27)—were charged under the Public Order Act for violent disorder. Judge McNamara described the attack as "relentless" and ruled it too serious for the District Court, granting prosecutors 12 weeks to prepare the Book of Evidence. The accused remain remanded on bail until 19 June, and Mr Gao Jiansheng will require a Mandarin interpreter for future proceedings.
Wayne McDonnell, 39, pleaded guilty to possessing a drone with intent to fly €500 worth of heroin into Cloverhill Prison. Garda Tadhg McCarthy testified that prison staff observed a drone over the prison on 12 February 2024, and that a tracking system was used to locate the drone's flight path. McDonnell was arrested when he refused to open his pockets for a search and was found with two black Samsung phones, one being the drone controller. A copper pipe attached to the drone contained five deals of diamorphine, totaling 4.9 g with a street value of €587. McDonnell, who has prior convictions for drug possession, theft and public order offences, was sentenced to 14 months' imprisonment by Judge Elma Sheahan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The judge noted aggravating factors such as the seriousness of the offence and mitigating factors including McDonnell's early guilty plea, work history and his role in supporting his father.
Judge Martin Nolan sentenced four members of the Lawrence family at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for multigenerational insurance fraud. Eileen Lawrence (52) pleaded guilty to deception and attempted deception between 2010 and 2016. Despite acknowledging her serious involvement, the judge imposed a three-year prison sentence, suspended in full on strict conditions, citing her role as a primary carer for family members with additional needs. Her husband, Patrick Lawrence (54), pleaded guilty to deception and attempted deception between 2013 and 2018. The judge imposed a two-year custodial sentence, noting his medical and mental health issues but stating the wrongdoing merited imprisonment. Their sons, Tom Lawrence (24) and John Lawrence (26), both pleaded guilty to attempted deception and deception respectively, with offences occurring between 2014 and 2016. As they were minors at the time, the judge imposed one-year suspended sentences on both men, deeming it unjust to imprison them. The family allegedly used false identities to submit personal injury claims, resulting in payouts of €9,370, €15,000, and €6,155. Grandmother Winnifred Lawrence was separately sentenced last year to three and a half years, with 18 months suspended, for similar offences.
Lee Nolan, 28, of Beechbrook Lawn, The Donaghies, Dublin 13, was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison, with the final nine months suspended on strict conditions, after pleading guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to drug offences. He admitted to acting as a drug dealer, storing over €80,000 worth of cannabis in his home, and driving a car while intoxicated with drugs and without insurance in the Lucan area on 25 April 2023. Nolan claimed he had been misdiagnosed with Non‑Hodgkin lymphoma and used cannabis as a cheaper treatment, which led to debt and subsequent drug dealing. He was also given a four‑year driving disqualification from the date of his release. The judge noted his medical history and the impact of his offences on society. The case was prosecuted by Pieter Le Vert BL and represented by Gerardine Small SC.
Patrick Lawrence (54) was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to deception and attempted deception between 2013 and 2018. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a two-year prison term, acknowledging Lawrence's medical and mental health issues but deeming the conduct serious wrongdoing. His wife, Eileen Lawrence (52), also pleaded guilty to deception and attempted deception between 2010 and 2016. The judge noted her significant involvement but cited her role as a primary carer for a son with additional needs as a factor against immediate imprisonment. The matter was adjourned, with Judge Nolan indicating he would reflect over the weekend before imposing a sentence on Tuesday. The court heard that the couple used false identities to pursue personal injury claims, resulting in payouts of €9,370 and €15,000 respectively. Their mother-in-law, Winnifred Lawrence (74), was jailed last year for three and a half years, with the final 18 months suspended, for similar claims between 2012 and 2014. She fraudulently received €23,150. The investigation was triggered when a private investigator photographed the family attending medical appointments under false names.
Roy Oti, aged 22, was found guilty of stealing €13,974 from a catering company that operated at Aviva Stadium, using a Sumup card‑reader system. He was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment, with a headline term of four years from which a final year was suspended. Oti's co‑accused included his sister Nikkel Oti (21) and Chidera Anago (22), who each pleaded guilty to thefts of €2,371 and €4,888 respectively. Both were dealt with under Section 100 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 and will be discharged if they donate €750 to The Simon Community before the finalisation date in July. A further co‑accused, Sean Atowo (23), pleaded guilty and his case was adjourned to allow a probation report. The court noted the pre‑planned nature of the fraud and the breach of trust involved. The total amount stolen was €32,489, with €9,334 recovered, leaving the catering company a loss of €23,154.
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.
A second jury failed to reach a verdict in the trial of Ciara Kelleher (53), the former senior portfolio relationship manager of Custom House Capital Ltd (CHC), who was accused of conspiring with others to defraud investors, clients, and customers of CHC by intentionally misleading them as to where or how their assets had been placed between October 2008 and July 2011. Kelleher, of Blackhorse Avenue, Dublin 7, denied the charge. The case was adjourned to February 27 for the prosecution to obtain further directions, with Kelleher remanded on continuing bail to that date. Meanwhile, CHC's former CEO Harry Cassidy (69), along with former head of private clients John Whyte (55), former head of finance Paul Lavery (49), and non-executive director John Mulholland (75) had previously pleaded guilty to related charges. Cassidy was sentenced to six years and ten months, Whyte to four years, Lavery to three years, and Mulholland to 12 months at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court almost two years ago. The court heard that €56 million of client money had been inappropriately transferred to property investments, with €61 million found to have been misappropriated, of which €39 million has been recovered as of March 2023.
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.
Cailean Crawford, 28, was convicted of the murder of Thomas McCarthy, 55, at Croftwood Park, Ballyfermot, on July 27, 2020. The jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict after deliberating for eight hours and 20 minutes, rejecting Crawford's not guilty plea and his defense that he merely loaned a van to associate Charles McClean. Prosecutors alleged Crawford was the gunman who fatally shot McCarthy, who had returned from the UK to visit his mother. Mr Justice Tony Hunt described Crawford as a "cold-blooded" and "dangerous individual," noting the crime was not a victim of circumstance. The judge highlighted Crawford's prior conviction for conspiracy to murder Wayne Whelan in 2019, for which he was sentenced to seven years with two suspended. McClean, who pleaded guilty to lesser offences in that case, was sentenced to eight years. Following the verdict, Crawford shouted at the court and stormed out. Mr Justice Hunt remanded Crawford in custody until December 20, when he will be handed the mandatory sentence of life imprisonment for murder. The matter was adjourned for sentencing.
Gerard Nevin, 41, of Grove Park, Rathmines, was sentenced to four years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for sexually abusing his two step‑daughters, Catalina and Alexa Grancea, over an eight‑year period. Nevin pleaded guilty to 22 counts of sexual assault committed between 2012 and June 2020 at locations in Clondalkin, Lucan and Palmerstown. The abuse began when Catalina was aged eight to sixteen and Alexa was aged seven to fifteen. The court imposed a global sentence of six years, with the final two years suspended on strict conditions. The victims, who waived anonymity, reported the abuse to Gardaí in June 2020. Nevin was arrested in 2021 and had previously indicated he would plead guilty to avoid further trauma to the complainants. The case highlighted the prolonged nature of the abuse and its impact on the victims' mental health.
In a Supreme Court appeal, three defendants—Edel Doherty, Kyle Rooney, and Declan Corcoran—argue that they should not have been transferred from the District Court to the Circuit Court after breaching publication restrictions in the Ana Kriegel murder case. The defendants were charged with posting photos and naming the teenage murderers, Boy A and Boy B, on social media. Judge Brian O'Shea originally accepted the cases as minor matters in the District Court, but Judge John Hughes later deemed the offences too serious and sent them to the Circuit Court, where penalties are harsher. The High Court quashed Hughes' decision, and the State appealed to the Court of Appeal. The Supreme Court is hearing the appeal, with counsel arguing that jurisdiction was already decided and that revisiting it could cause procedural chaos. The court has reserved judgment.
Ogaga Ogheneyoma, aged 17 when €31,842 was transferred into his AIB account as part of an invoice redirect fraud, pleaded guilty to handling the proceeds of crime on 19 November 2018. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, hearing in 2024, noted he was now 22, a fourth‑year accounting student at TU Dublin, living with his parents in Lucan and working part‑time. Judge Orla Crowe applied Section 100 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, imposing a €500 fine and a deferred 12‑month sentence, citing his youth, lack of prior convictions and significant progress since the offence. After paying the fine and avoiding any Garda attention, the court discharged him from the indictment. The case was originally uncovered when AIB reported fraudulent activity, and Gardaí found the money had been diverted from Universal Forest Products, a US company. Ogheneyoma's probation report placed him at low risk of reoffending and no supervision was required.
The High Court appointed Dessie Morrow and Diarmuid Guthrie of Azets as provisional liquidators for Passage Healthcare International (Ireland) Limited, the operator of Lucan Lodge and Sally Park nursing homes. The judge confirmed the company was insolvent and unable to meet its debts. The firm's difficulties were largely attributed to the Covid‑19 pandemic, which lowered occupancy and raised costs. Passage had entered examinership hoping to secure a rescue plan, but the examiner failed to obtain the necessary investment, leading to the collapse of that process. Lucan Lodge is now run by the HSE, which is paying 92 staff members while arranging alternative care for residents. Sally Park ceased operations in February after HIQA raised fire‑safety concerns; the facility's registration was cancelled and over 40 employees were made redundant. The company's board resolved to wind up, and the liquidators will manage assets, creditors, and lease issues, with the HSE and Revenue supporting the appointment.
Winnifred Lawrence, a 74‑year‑old mother of 14, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison, with the final 18 months suspended, after pleading guilty to three counts of deception for making false personal injury claims between September 2012 and May 2014. She used the false name Margaret Mongan to file six claims, receiving a net total of €23,185.50 from insurance companies. The court noted her previous conviction in 2019, where she received a three‑year suspended sentence for a similar offence. Lawrence's claims included incidents at Tesco Ireland, a bookshop, a bus, and a heater, with payouts ranging from €5,000 to €12,460. The judge highlighted her poor health and the significant amount of money she benefited from, and the sentence was imposed after her guilty plea and lack of further offences.