During a three‑week Special Criminal Court trial in February, Samuel Devlin, a 58‑year‑old Northern Ireland man, was found guilty of unlawful possession of PETN, a high‑grade explosive, at Finnstown House Hotel in Lucan, Dublin. The court heard that detectives, acting on information about IRA activity, searched the hotel on 11 May 2014 and discovered three rolls of detonator cord, 26 metres in total, wrapped in a towel inside a laptop bag. Forensic analysis confirmed the presence of PETN. Devlin was present during the search and was arrested; while in detention he denied possession or knowledge of the explosive. He had no prior convictions. Judge Paul Butler, after noting the seriousness of the offence and the potential for a car bomb, sentenced Devlin to six years' imprisonment, back‑dated to his arrest on 11 May 2014. The sentence was imposed without reference to any later evidence of a car bomb.
Michael Barr, 34, originally from Tyrone, pleaded guilty before the Special Criminal Court to handling stolen electrical equipment at Finnstown House Hotel, Lucan, on 18 July 2014. He was charged in November 2014 with the same offence and also with membership of the IRA. After his guilty plea, the State dropped the IRA membership charge. The three‑judge panel, led by Mr Justice Paul Butler with Judges Alison Lindsay and Flann Brennan, remanded Barr on continuing bail until 28 April, when he will be sentenced.
Samuel Devlin, 55, was convicted by a three‑judge Special Criminal Court of unlawful possession of PETN at his Golf Suite, Finnstown House Hotel, Lucan, Co Dublin, on 11 May 2014. During the trial the court heard that he was a bomb maker for the IRA. He applied for compassionate bail to travel to Northern Ireland to visit a terminally‑ill family member from 18 to 23 March. The SDU's Detective Inspector William Hanrahan informed counsel that the Gardaí objected to the bail because of Devlin's conviction, raising flight risk. Judge Paul Butler, with Judges Alison Lindsay and William Hamill, agreed with the detective and refused the bail, stating it would be "too risky" to grant bail to someone pending sentence for a serious offence. Devlin will be sentenced on 6 April.
Jordan Maher, a 19‑year‑old from Arthur Griffith Park, Lucan, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing 1.718 kg of ketamine worth €103,132, which he was seen handing to another man during a surveillance operation on 4 June 2015. He had no prior convictions. The court granted him bail pending sentencing in October, on the condition that he secures full‑time employment, remains drug‑free, avoids further Garda attention and works with Probation and Welfare Services. Judge Sarah Berkeley emphasised that Maher must prove his maturity and good behaviour, and that evidence of his employment must be presented at the next hearing before the sentence is adjourned. The case involved surveillance of a van that travelled to Arthur Griffith Park and a self‑storage unit in Kildare, where Maher was observed handing a brown paper bag to a third party at Maidens Row.
A book of evidence has been served on Eamon McNamee, a 34-year-old man from Larkfield Square, Lucan, County Dublin, who is charged with possession of a firearm with the intent to commit an indictable offence, namely assault causing harm. The alleged incident occurred at Fairgreen, Saggart, Co Dublin, on January 19th, 2013. State Solicitor Liam Mulholland informed the non-jury court that the prosecution was in a position to serve the book of evidence on the accused. Presiding Judge Mr Justice Paul Butler remanded Mr McNamee on continuing bail until April 24th, when the case will be listed for mention. The matter remains at the trial stage, with the charges alleged or contested, and no plea, finding, sentence, or finalisation has been recorded. The court did not conclude the case but adjourned it for a future mention date.
A Northern Irish man, Samuel Devlin, 55, was found guilty by the Special Criminal Court of possessing an explosive substance (PETN). The court heard evidence from the Special Detective Unit that Devlin was an engineer for the IRA and a bomb‑maker. He was alleged to have been at the Finnstown House Hotel in Lucan, Dublin, where a car‑bomb had been found on the hotel grounds. During a search of a chalet adjacent to the hotel, detectives discovered 21 metres of detonator cord wrapped in a towel inside a laptop case, a laptop, a plug, an Irish passport, a Social Welfare Card and receipt, all bearing Devlin's name. Fingerprint evidence matched Devlin to the laptop and plug. The court rejected evidence from Devlin's interviews and a plastic bag incident, and accepted that Devlin possessed the PETN. He was remanded in custody until his sentencing on 6 April.
In a 2016 Court of Appeal decision, a suspended five‑year prison sentence for possession of cannabis with intent to supply was upheld for Alan Wallace, a 47‑year‑old wheelchair‑bound man from Clondalkin. Wallace had pleaded guilty in November 2014 to unlawful possession of cannabis for supply at Ballyowen Road, Lucan, on 17 April 2014. The original sentence, imposed by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in May 2015, was a five‑year term suspended in its entirety on the condition that Wallace pay a €100 bond, keep the peace and exhibit good behaviour for five years. The Court considered the DPP's appeal that the sentence was "too lenient", noting Wallace's active role in transporting the drugs and the high street value of €180,000. The Court found the sentence "lenient but not unduly lenient", citing mitigating factors such as Wallace's guilty plea, cooperation with Gardaí, and his serious medical condition requiring wheelchair use.
In a Special Criminal Court case, 55‑year‑old Samuel Devlin of Dublin pleaded not guilty to unlawful possession of PETN, an explosive substance, allegedly found in a laptop bag at a Finnstown House Hotel room he booked under a false name. The prosecution presented forensic evidence linking Devlin's fingerprints and DNA to the laptop and to a detonating cord marked 'explosives'. They also cited a National Surveillance Unit officer who claimed to have seen Devlin near the hotel and a bin containing detonating cord and gloves. Devlin's counsel argued that the prosecution had not proven his knowledge or control of the substance, noting the absence of DNA on the cord and questioning the reliability of the surveillance testimony. The court remanded Devlin in custody until the judgment, scheduled for March 1, will be delivered.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 17 February 2016, applications to exclude evidence in the case of Samuel Devlin, a 55‑year‑old Northern Irishman accused of unlawfully possessing PETN, were dismissed. Devlin, who had stayed at Finnstown House Hotel under a false name, pleaded not guilty to the charge. His counsel, Bernard Condon SC, sought to exclude DNA samples taken while Devlin was in custody, arguing the garda had not properly informed him of potential use in evidence, and to exclude testimony from Detective Garda Brian Barry, who had compared detonating cord found in the hotel room with plastic tubing from a bin outside the hotel. The court ruled that the DNA samples and Barry's testimony were admissible, noting that the DNA collection complied with requirements and that only part of the cord had been destroyed, with samples retained for defence use.
The Special Criminal Court is hearing a case against Samuel Devlin, 55, who is accused of unlawfully possessing the explosive substance PETN at Finnstown House Hotel, Lucan, Co. Dublin. Devlin pleaded not guilty to the charge. Prosecutors argue that he booked the hotel under the false name Joe Murphy and that an explosive substance was found in the chalet he occupied. Detective Garda Ronan Judge presented a key card signed by J Murphy, showing the stay from 31 March to 30 April 2014. The prosecution is expected to close its case tomorrow, after the trial was adjourned to that day.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, a 55‑year‑old Northern Irish man, Samuel Devlin, pleaded not guilty to unlawful possession of a high‑order explosive (PETN) at Finnstown House Hotel, Lucan, on 11 May 2014. The court heard that Devlin had booked the hotel room under a false name and that a detonating cord containing PETN was found in the room. Three rolls of cord, 26 metres long, were wrapped in towels inside a laptop case. Forensic analysis confirmed PETN and revealed plastic tubing and fibres that matched the cord. A plastic bag containing these remnants was discarded in a public bin outside the hotel, where a National Surveillance Unit member observed Devlin deposit it on 9 May 2014. DNA from latex gloves and a laptop plug in the bin matched Devlin, as did DNA lifted from the laptop itself. The trial resumed on Tuesday.
During a Special Criminal Court hearing, fingerprints lifted from a Lucan hotel room were found to match those of Samuel Devlin, a 55‑year‑old Northern Irish man accused of unlawful possession of an explosive substance (PETN). The court had previously reported that a detonator cord containing PETN was discovered in the same hotel room. Devlin, who had booked the chalet at Finnstown House Hotel under a false name, pleaded not guilty to the charge on 11 May 2014. Detective Garda Niall Lannon examined fingerprints on a Dell laptop seized during the search of the chalet and confirmed a match with Devlin's prints. Detective Garda Ernie Fraser lifted fingerprints from a door in the chalet, also matching Devlin's left little finger. The trial continues.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Gardai alleged that Samuel Devlin, 55, a Northern Ireland man, was a bomb maker for the IRA and possessed PETN at his address in Finnstown House Hotel, Lucan. The prosecution claimed Devlin used a false name to book a Golf Suite chalet at the hotel, where an explosive substance was found. Detective Sergeant Padraig Boyce reported that on the morning of the alleged offence a car bomb had been abandoned outside the hotel. He entered the chalet with the Emergency Response Unit, saw items he believed were for improvised explosive devices, and arrested Devlin, who was then taken to Lucan Garda station. Devlin denied possession or control of explosives during Garda interviews. The trial continues. Samuel Devlin pleaded not guilty.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Samuel Devlin, aged 55, pleaded not guilty to unlawful possession of an explosive substance (PETN) at his address in the Golf Suite of Finnstown House Hotel, Lucan, on 11 May 2014. The prosecution alleged that Devlin booked the chalet under a false name and that an explosive was found there while he was staying. Forensic evidence from Dr Thomas Hannigan showed that three samples of white plastic cord seized from the chalet contained PETN. Earlier testimony from hotel staff confirmed that a man named Joe Murphy had booked a long‑stay in the Golf Suite in late March 2014. Detective Garda Patrick Casey reported that Special Detective Unit members forced entry into the chalet on the morning of the alleged offence, where they saw a man who is now known to be Devlin.
During a Special Criminal Court hearing, Gardaí seized detonator cords and a remote‑controlled quad‑copter from a hotel room in Lucan, where Samuel Devlin, 55, was accused of unlawfully possessing PETN. The search also uncovered an Irish passport, a Social Welfare Card, a Social Welfare payment receipt, a bank card and an HSE medical card, all bearing Devlin's name. The prosecution alleges that Devlin booked the Finnstown House Hotel chalet under a false name and was residing there at the time of the alleged offence. Defence counsel Bernard Condon SC objected to all evidence and requested a voir‑dire to determine its admissibility, noting that the evidence might be reported. The trial continues with the court considering the admissibility of the evidence presented. Samuel Devlin pleaded not guilty.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 3 February 2016, Samuel Devlin, aged 55, was tried for unlawful possession of an explosive substance (PETN) and membership of an unlawful organisation, Oglaigh na hEireann (IRA). The prosecution alleged that Devlin was residing in a chalet at Finnstown House Hotel, Lucan, from 31 March 2014, using a fictitious booking name, Joe Murphy. On 9 May 2014, surveillance officers observed Devlin leave the hotel on a bicycle, deposit a bag in a bin on Adamstown Avenue, and the Gardaí recovered the bag containing plastic tubing, fibres, a J‑cloth, gloves and a newspaper. Forensic analysis linked the tubing to the bag and the detonator cord found in the chalet on 11 May 2014 to Devlin. Devlin pleaded not guilty to the charge of possessing explosives. The trial, expected to last two weeks, continued with mapping evidence and legal arguments.
The Special Criminal Court adjourned the trial of Samuel Devlin, 55, charged with unlawful possession of PETN explosives and membership of the IRA, to tomorrow morning. Devlin, who lives at Golf Suite, Finnstown House Hotel, Lucan, was accused of holding the explosive on 11 May 2014. Prosecuting counsel Tara Burns SC requested the adjournment after Gardaí obtained new evidence over the weekend that had previously been unavailable. The case remains pending at the three‑judge, non‑jury court.
Paul Keenan, 36, of Griffeen Glen Park, Lucan, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment after Gardaí seized bags of cocaine and cannabis at his Dublin home. The drugs, valued at €19,840 and €316 respectively, were found in a kitchen press, a bedroom drawer, and a weighing scale, along with a "tick list" and two mobile phones. Garda Gavin Curtin reported that Keenan also possessed €10,000 in cash, including a €5,300 envelope, a €1,000 roll, and a €4,325 envelope. Keenan admitted to using cocaine recreationally, which escalated as he fell into debt after losing his electrician job in June 2013. He claimed he owed €6,000 to drug dealers and sold an ounce a week for about €1,300. He pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine and cannabis for sale or supply on 24 April 2014. The court noted his prior 2003 conviction for drug dealing, for which he received a suspended five‑year sentence.
Joseph French, 24, of Neilstown Park, Clondalkin, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to seven and a half years for endangerment of a Garda and dangerous driving. He pleaded guilty to endangerment on the Ninth Lock Road, dangerous driving on Cherry Orchard Avenue, and driving without insurance. French also admitted to two robberies and an attempted robbery between 30 July and 9 August 2014 at Centra on La Touche Road, Bluebell, and Mace on Manor Road. His prior convictions include robbery, theft, burglary, possession of knives, and drug offences. Judge Martin Nolan imposed consecutive terms of seven and a half years, suspending the final two years on strict conditions. French was disqualified from driving for five years. The sentence reflects the violent nature of the robberies, which were committed to fund a drug habit, and the serious risk posed to Garda Fiona Ruddy during the high‑speed chase and reversal of his Volkswagen Passat.
Jayne Kearney, aged 26, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm and driving while intoxicated after she hit Blathnaid Molloy on 8 March 2014. Kearney was almost three times the legal alcohol limit and left the scene. Molloy suffered a fractured skull, brain bleeding, speech and hearing impairment, and dizzy spells. She missed her eldest's first day of school and could not care for her 11‑month‑old child for a time. Kearney had eight prior traffic convictions. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced her to three years' imprisonment, disqualified her from driving for the same period, and noted her remorse and cooperation. The case highlighted the severe impact on Molloy's life and family.
Brian Gavin, 28, was driving from Mullingar to Lucan at speeds up to 160 km/h when he clipped a car's wing mirror and later collided with a Skoda, causing Gerard Nolan to suffer a broken hip, broken leg, facial fractures and permanent scarring. Gavin then struck another vehicle before stopping. He told Gardaí he was trying to kill himself, citing suicidal thoughts and a desire to leave his family home. He has bipolar disorder, had stopped his medication, and had a prior suicide attempt. Gavin pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm and failing to stop, and to a second dangerous driving offence. He passed a roadside breath test. Judge Sarah Berkeley adjourned the case to monitor his medication compliance and imposed a mandatory four‑year driving ban.
Eamon McNamee, 34, of Larkfield Square, Lucan, County Dublin, was granted bail at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin. He is charged with possession of a firearm with the intent to commit an indictable offence, namely assault causing harm, allegedly at Fairgreen, Saggart, Co Dublin on January 19th, 2013. The three-judge court approved his application for bail, releasing him on his own bond of €1,000 and an independent surety of €20,000. McNamee must surrender his passport and refrain from travelling outside Ireland or to Northern Ireland. He is required to sign on daily at Lucan garda station between 9am and 9pm and observe a curfew from 12am to 7am. Additionally, he must not associate with anyone convicted or charged with a scheduled offence, maintain good behaviour, and provide a mobile phone number to gardai. The matter remains at the pre-trial stage, with the charges alleged and contested.
Eamon McNamee, 34, of Larkfield Square, Lucan, County Dublin, appeared at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin, where he was charged with possession of a firearm with the intent to commit an indictable offence, namely assault causing harm. The alleged incident is said to have occurred at Fairgreen, Saggart, Co Dublin, on January 19, 2013. Detective Garda Graham Dunne of the Special Detective Unit informed the court that he arrested Mr McNamee under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act at 7:21 am. The court heard that Mr McNamee made no reply when cautioned and also made no reply when shown a copy of the original charge sheet at the Special Criminal Court. Mr Justice Paul Butler, presiding at the three-judge, non-jury court, remanded Mr McNamee in custody until tomorrow morning, when a bail application is expected to be made. The matter was adjourned and has not been concluded or finalised.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Anne Maire Buckley, aged 35, pleaded guilty to possessing 241 g of cocaine and 219 g of cannabis, seized during a warrant‑issued search of her former home. She admitted holding the drugs for about two months to offset a €1,500 "hash" debt, claiming weekly payments of €100 would reduce the debt. With no prior convictions, Buckley's health and intellectual difficulties were cited by her defence. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended sentence, ordering 18 months of supervision.
Samuel Devlin, a man from Northern Ireland who has lived in Dublin, was charged by the Special Detective Unit in May 2014 with unlawful possession of the explosive substance Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate (PETN) at Finnstown House Hotel and with membership of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). In August 2015 the High Court granted him ten days' compassionate bail to visit his terminally ill mother in Northern Ireland. The Special Criminal Court in Dublin considered his application for bail today, noting that the court had previously ordered him to return after the earlier bail period and that he had done so. Detective Inspector Anthony Lenehan expressed concerns that Devlin might not appear for trial. Judge Paul Butler, presiding, took the objection seriously and imposed bail conditions requiring a €1,000 bond, no further offences, good behaviour, a landline contact for Gardaí, residence at an agreed address, a curfew from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., and availability to the PSNI.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced brothers Erol and Ali Basak for their involvement in a counterfeit clothing operation based in Tallaght, south Dublin. Erol Basak, 43, of Lucan, pleaded not guilty to twelve counts of fraudulent possession of goods bearing trade marks and eleven counts of fraudulent application of trade marks. A jury unanimously convicted him of all charges, which were committed in November 2012. Ali Basak, of Edenderry, Co Offaly, pleaded guilty to similar offences contrary to section 92 of the Trade Marks Act, 1996. Judge Mary Ellen Ring suspended a sentence of two and a half years imprisonment for both men, conditional on each paying €5,000 by December 2017. The judge specified that €2,000 of this sum should cover State expenses for trademark witnesses. She noted both men had unblemished records and were unlikely to re-offend. The court heard the operation could have caused an estimated €3 million loss to multinational companies if all seized unused labels had been used. Judge Ring directed that seized counterfeit clothing be donated to charities such as Focus Ireland rather than destroyed, noting the items were useful. The prosecution estimated finished items would have caused a €65,000 loss. The men, both Turkish nationals, had previously operated a legitimate clothing importation business before moving to the container premises.
Daniel Byrne, aged 21 and described as having significant mental disabilities, was sentenced to a two‑year suspended term after pleading guilty to attempting to hijack a woman's car on Old Lucan Road, Palmerstown, on 29 October 2013. Byrne, who left a special needs school at 14 and is in the bottom one per cent of mental ability, was found unsuitable for community service. He was found to have severe mental disabilities, including ADHD and compulsive behaviour, and had 32 prior convictions, including three for assault. Byrne admitted the offence, claimed intoxication, and had spent the previous night in hospital with self‑inflicted injuries. The victim, who had to change jobs and suffered nightmares, reported that Byrne had blood on his face and appeared to have a screwdriver. The judge, Martin Nolan, ordered a Probation Service assessment and a suspended sentence, with no custodial term imposed. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Patrick Murphy, aged 69, a retired publican and farmer, was sentenced to ten months in prison for failing to file a €107,048 VAT return after selling four apartments in Navan for €871,532 in 2007. The unpaid VAT, plus interest, amounted to €194,000. Murphy had used the money to invest in another property in Navan for €375,000. He pleaded guilty to the non‑remittance of the VAT. The court noted his previous convictions for non‑filing of income tax in 2005 and 2009, both of which were later filed. Judge Martin Nolan described Murphy as a hard‑working, blameless family man but stressed the seriousness of tax fraud. An 18‑month sentence was considered, but the judge imposed a 10‑month term, citing Murphy's age, medical conditions and mitigating factors. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
A Northern Ireland man, Samuel Devlin, aged 55, was arrested in Dublin after a massive car bomb was discovered at a hotel in County Dublin. Detectives found detonating cord in his rented apartment at Finnstown House, Lucan, where he had been staying under a false name. Devlin was caught "red‑handed" in possession of explosives, refusing to give his name, address or date of birth to the Gardaí. He had moved to the State in 2002 and had no family ties in the jurisdiction. The Special Criminal Court heard that the Special Detective Unit would allege that Devlin had rented the apartment to carry out an IRA operation at the hotel. He is charged with unlawful possession of PETN and membership of an unlawful organisation, Oglaigh na hEireann (IRA). The judge described him as a definite flight risk and remanded him in custody until his trial in February.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Liam McGran, 49, was given a suspended sentence for attempting to rob and threatening to rape an escort at gunpoint. McGran had booked an appointment with the woman, who works as an escort, and entered her apartment on 7 October 2013. He produced what appeared to be a black handgun, demanded money, and threatened rape. The victim, who held a firearms licence, recognised the pistol as a fake and fought him off, sustaining scratches, bruises and having some hair pulled. McGran fled, was later arrested in Lucan, and pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and possession of an imitation firearm. Judge Mary Ellen Ring noted it was his first offence, deviated from the five‑year mandatory minimum for firearms, and imposed a three‑year sentence suspended in full for three years. The court acknowledged the serious impact on the victim but also McGran's cooperation and early guilty plea.
Daniel Byrne, 21, with significant mental disabilities, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to attempting to hijack a woman's car on Old Lucan Road, Palmerstown, on 29 October 2013. Byrne, who left a special needs school at 14, is described by his grandfather as having severe mental disabilities, including ADHD and compulsive behaviour. He was found to have blood on his face and was seen by the victim, who had locked her car, as he tried to open the passenger door. Byrne fled but was apprehended by Gardaí, who noted he had a screwdriver in his hand. He admitted intent to rob the car to drive to his family and cooperated with police. The victim reported nightmares and job changes due to the incident. Judge Martin Nolan deemed the crime "not too bad" and ordered Byrne to be assessed by the Probation Service for suitability for community service, while he remains on bail until 6 June.
Architect Graham Dwyer, 42, was found guilty of murdering 36‑year‑old Elaine O'Hara in the Dublin Mountains. The Central Criminal Court trial lasted over two months, with the jury hearing testimony from nearly 200 witnesses and more than 300 exhibits, including videos of Dwyer stabbing women and text messages that described a BDSM‑style relationship in which he was the dominant "Master" and O'Hara the submissive "Slave." Evidence showed Dwyer lured O'Hara to the mountain on 22 August 2012, stabbed her for sexual gratification, and disposed of her belongings to make the death appear a suicide. The jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict after 7 hours and 33 minutes of deliberation. Mr Justice Tony Hunt remanded Dwyer in custody until the mandatory life sentence is imposed on 20 April. The unnamed 42-year-old pleaded not guilty.
Brian Reilly, 18, of Boyne View, Navan, was sentenced to nine years in prison for reckless endangerment and theft of a post van after he stole the vehicle and drove over the foot of postman Gerard Devlin. Reilly, who has more than 100 prior convictions including 22 for car theft, was already serving a sentence for burglary. At the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Patrick McCartan imposed consecutive sentences of five years for theft and four years for reckless endangerment, suspending the last three years to discourage further offences. The incident occurred on 22 August 2013 at Rosscourt Grove, Lucan, when Reilly entered the van, started the engine, and reversed sharply, striking Devlin's foot and dragging him along the ground. Devlin, an independent contractor for An Post, was left in fear for his life. The van was later recovered in Dunshaughlin using a tracking device, and Reilly was arrested nearby. Brian Reilly pleaded guilty.
A 33‑year‑old Dublin father of two, Keith Byrne, was sentenced to five years in prison after authorities discovered approximately €860,000 worth of heroin in the back of a rental Toyota Corolla. Byrne pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing the drug for sale or supply at Castlebaggot in Newcastle, Co. Dublin, on 7 May 2014. Gardaí had received confidential information and monitored Byrne's home in Lucan, where they observed him placing a black hold‑all bag in the vehicle and driving toward Newcastle. The car was stopped near Baldonnell, and the drugs were seized. Byrne admitted responsibility, claiming he did not know the substance was heroin or its value. He stated he had to transport the drugs "from A to B." Prosecutor Noel Devitt BL noted that Byrne's cooperation and full admissions helped the investigation.
A former army officer, Gerard Daly, has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison for possessing nearly 20 kilograms of herbal cannabis valued at €399,260. Daly, who had 12 years of service in the Defence Forces before being discharged due to a prior drug offence, pleaded guilty to the charges. He admitted to holding the drugs in return for €1,000 as he was financially desperate. Judge Martin Nolan noted that Daly had made a serious error of judgment and was aware of the risks involved. The court heard that Daly had been tipped off about a delivery of cannabis, leading to a surveillance operation outside his home in Lucan. Gardaí found the drugs in a shed after obtaining a search warrant. Daly had 17 previous convictions, all for road traffic offences, which his defence attributed to a long-standing alcohol problem.
Wayne Donnelly, 28, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, false imprisonment of a taxi driver and unlawful seizure of a car. He was sentenced to a six‑year prison term with four years suspended, conditional on keeping the peace and attending a drug treatment programme. The case involved an attack on a taxi driver who was tied up, robbed of his phone and €250, and had his car taken. Donnelly also assaulted a man in Palmerstown, claiming the man owed money to drug dealers, and threatened to use grenades. He had 26 prior convictions. The judge described Donnelly and a co‑accused as "bullyboys." The sentencing was delivered by Judge Desmond Hogan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The article reports no further legal proceedings beyond the suspended sentence and conditions.
Stephen Kiely, 45, of Thomastown, Enfield, Kildare, pleaded guilty to criminal damage at his shared home in Oldbridge Park, Lucan, on 9 June 2013. The offence followed an argument at a birthday party when he discovered his girlfriend was texting a man she had met a week earlier. After retrieving her phone, he saw what he described as 'very graphic confirmation' of an affair. He smashed the phone, broke two televisions, a microwave, a bathtub, shower doors, a chest of drawers, mirrors, bannisters, the legs of two dining chairs, slashed two couches and cut cables from a barbecue, hair straightener and hoover. Lorcan Staines BL argued that Kiely was enraged, humiliated, in despair and angry, citing a recent Prozac prescription. Judge Martin Nolan ordered a €5,000 payment to the injured party and imposed a two‑year suspended sentence. The judge noted that the relationship's abrupt end had caused Kiely's world to fall apart.
Bilal Idrees, 24, a Pakistani native, was sentenced by the Central Criminal Court to two years' imprisonment for each of two offences committed between 11 and 22 November 2012. He pleaded guilty to theft at an apartment in Dublin on 11 November 2012 and to impersonating a member of the gardaí over the same period. Idrees had been living in Ireland since May 2011, though he had no entry record. On 11 November he visited the apartment of a woman working as an escort, claiming to be a garda and demanding €150 in exchange for "wiping her record". He also made threatening phone calls for several days after the visit. The woman, a foreign national with limited English, later sought help from a social worker and contacted the gardaí. Gardaí arranged a meeting at the apartment, arrested Idrees on 22 November, and he admitted the offences. He had no prior convictions and expressed remorse.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 25 February 2015, Eamon McNamee, one of eight Dublin men accused of IRA membership, was released after the Director of Public Prosecutions entered a nolle prosequi. Prosecutor Tara Burns explained that the DPP would not pursue the charge. The court had earlier ruled that McNamee and three others—Kevin Braney, William Jackson, and Darren Murphy—had not been lawfully arrested during a Garda operation at a car lot in west Dublin. Judge Paul Butler noted that these men had previously been arrested for IRA membership and should not have been rearrested for the same offence without a warrant. The remaining seven accused continue to face trial. The case involved surveillance evidence, seized weapons and equipment, and testimony from Detective Chief Superintendent Peter Kirwan. The eight men, all pleading not guilty, were charged on 29 March 2013 with membership of an illegal organisation styled the Irish Republican Army.
James McMahon, 23, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to possession of a loaded shotgun on September 11, 2013, and multiple driving offences in Lucan, Dublin, on April 5, 2013. The driving charges included endangerment, dangerous driving, failing to stop for gardaí, driving while disqualified, and driving while uninsured. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced McMahon to seven years in prison, with three years suspended, stating that the dangerous driving offences were taken into account. Prosecution evidence indicated McMahon left the Beretta shotgun in his girlfriend's home after babysitting their son; he ignored her requests to remove it and warned her not to touch it because it was loaded. His home had previously been shot at, and his family was later evacuated when his house was set on fire. Defence counsel argued McMahon armed himself in a misguided attempt to protect his family from perceived threats. The court noted McMahon had 63 previous convictions, mostly for road traffic offences. The matter was finalised with the imposition of the custodial sentence.
Michael Whelan, 33, of Lucan, was sentenced to five years in prison for robbing three taxi drivers in July 2013. He admitted carrying out robberies on July 2, 4 and 7 at Croftwood Gardens and Blackditch Road, Ballyfermot. During the incidents he threatened victims with a syringe, used a knife, punched one driver breaking his two front teeth, and stole phones, CDs, a SatNav and cash. Judge Martin Nolan, hearing the case at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, described Whelan as a "menace to society" and noted the vulnerability of taxi drivers. The judge suspended the final 18 months of the sentence, ordered 18 months of probation on release, and allowed credit for time already spent in custody. Whelan has 29 prior convictions, including robberies, and has a history of mental health issues and a childhood in State care. Michael Whelan pleaded guilty.
During the Graham Dwyer trial, evidence was presented that Elaine O'Hara had experienced persistent, obsessional thoughts and fantasies from the age of 12. She had sought psychiatric care from 2007 until her disappearance in August 2012, when she was discharged from a mental health hospital. Dr Matt Murphy testified that O'Hara had been treated for borderline personality disorder, with a history of self‑harm and masochistic behaviour, and that she had been on a reduced dose of medication and receiving cognitive‑behavioural therapy in 2012. He reported that she had no indication of suicidality at discharge and was planning to return to work. The trial also heard that O'Hara's skeletal remains were found at Killakee in September 2013, with the cause of death undetermined. The case remains in court before Mr Justice Tony Hunt. The unnamed man pleaded not guilty.
The trial of Graham Dwyer at Dublin Central Criminal Court heard that on the night before Elaine O'Hara's murder, a nurse suggested she report a man who was repeatedly visiting her apartment. A friend warned O'Hara that she was "playing a dangerous game" by allowing an architect she met online to cut her. Witnesses gave evidence on the 15th day of the trial. Dwyer, 42, is charged with the murder of the 36‑year‑old childcare worker on 22 August 2012, hours after she was discharged from a mental‑health hospital. The court heard that O'Hara had been in a relationship with a man who liked to cut her, that she had not reported him to Gardaí because he had children, and that she had been physically hurt by him. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury. The unnamed man pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court trial of eight men accused of membership of an illegal organisation styling itself as the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA on March 29, 2013, heard evidence regarding a Garda operation at a used car lot in Clondalkin. Kevin Braney, Des Christie, Eamon McNamee, Hubert Duffy, William Jackson, Declan Phelan, John Brock, and Darren Murphy have all pleaded not guilty to the alleged charges. Detective Sergeant John Holland testified that the primary purpose of the entry was the preservation of life, following reports of an immediate threat to the safety of the yard's owner by the IRA. The court heard that William Jackson, Darren Murphy, and John Brock were restrained and flexi-cuffed after being removed from a van. Detective Sergeant Donal Prenty stated that pepper spray, cable ties, balaclavas, gloves, and a Glock handgun were found on the premises. The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Paul Butler, Judge Alison Lindsay, and Judge William Hamill.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 5 February 2015, eight men were tried for alleged membership in the Irish Republican Army. The defendants – Kevin Braney, Des Christie, Eamon McNamee, Hubert Duffy, William Jackson, Declan Phelan, John Brock and Darren Murphy – all pleaded not guilty. The case centred on a Garda operation on 29 March 2013 at a used‑car lot in Clondalkin, where the men were arrested after a raid that followed an alleged extortion claim involving the owner of Crystal Cars, Jonathan McSharry. Detective Inspector Michael Gibbons testified that he had been informed that McSharry was being extorted by the IRA and that the men were "significant members" of the organisation. Gibbons described the arrest, the handling of McSharry, and the subsequent change in the Garda's perception of the situation. The trial was conducted before Mr Justice Paul Butler, Judge Alison Lindsay and Judge William Hamill in a non‑jury court. The proceedings remain ongoing.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 4 February 2015, eight men—Kevin Braney, Des Christie, Eamon McNamee, Hubert Duffy, William Jackson, Declan Phelan, John Brock and Darren Murphy—pleaded not guilty to membership of an illegal organisation styled the Irish Republican Army. The court heard that on 29 March 2013, members of the Emergency Response Unit entered Crystal Cars, a used‑car lot in Clondalkin, and arrested five men in a portacabin. Garda Detective Sergeant John Kane described the officers' entry, the presence of five men, and the recovery of a lump hammer, balaclavas and cable ties. He said the operation was prompted by confidential information that a man at Crystal Cars was targeted for extortion by the IRA and his life was in danger. Garda Detective Sergeant Gerald Doherty confirmed that he secured the five men, who were identified as Braney, Phelan, Duffy, McNamee and Christie, and that the officers remained until the arrest team arrived.
The Special Criminal Court upheld a privilege claim by Detective Garda Y of the Garda National Surveillance Unit regarding his exact location when he observed eight men at a used car lot in west Dublin. The officer argued that revealing his location would compromise future surveillance operations by exposing the unit's tradecraft and methodology. The court ordered the exclusion of the public from evidence concerning six NSU members and prohibited the disclosure of their identities. It also ruled that the identities of the eight men arrested—Kevin Braney, Des Christie, Eamon McNamee, Hubert Duffy, William Jackson, Declan Phelan, John Brock, and Darren Murphy—could not be revealed. The men, aged between 33 and 55, pleaded not guilty to membership of an illegal organisation styled the Irish Republican Army. The prosecution case relies on the NSU's observations, items seized, the men's responses to questioning, and opinion evidence from Detective Chief Superintendent Peter Kirwan. The trial continues.
The Special Criminal Court has ruled against surveillance gardaí who claimed privilege over revealing the number of officers observing suspects. This occurred during the trial of eight men—Kevin Braney, Des Christie, Eamon McNamee, Hubert Duffy, William Jackson, Declan Phelan, John Brock, and Darren Murphy—all of whom pleaded not guilty to alleged membership of an illegal organisation styling itself as the Irish Republican Army on March 29, 2013. The prosecution alleges the men were observed by the National Surveillance Unit in Finglas and Clondalkin before being arrested at a used car lot in Clondalkin, where items including a Glock pistol, balaclavas, and cable ties were allegedly found. During cross-examination, a garda claimed privilege regarding the number of officers in his vehicle, arguing disclosure would compromise state security. The court partially upheld this claim but allowed questioning on whether others were present to take notes. The public was excluded during testimony to protect trade craft. The trial continues before Mr Justice Butler, Judge Alison Lindsay, and Judge William Hamill, with the prosecution relying on surveillance sightings, seized items, and interview responses.
The Special Criminal Court has excluded the public during evidence from the Garda National Surveillance Unit in the ongoing trial of eight Dublin men. Kevin Braney, Des Christie, Eamon McNamee, Hubert Duffy, William Jackson, Declan Phelan, John Brock, and Darren Murphy all pleaded not guilty to the alleged charge of membership of an illegal organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA on March 29th, 2013. The prosecution alleges that surveillance officers observed the accused at locations in Finglas and Clondalkin on that morning. Following their arrest by the Emergency Response Unit at a used car sales lot, the state claims gardai recovered items including a Glock pistol, balaclavas, and cable ties. During cross-examination, a detective invoked privilege regarding his location, citing operational security. The prosecution intends to rely on surveillance sightings, recovered items, and the defendants' responses to garda questioning, where some denied membership while others provided untrue answers. The court will hear opinion evidence from Detective Chief Superintendent Peter Kirwan. The matter is currently at the charge or pretrial stage, and the trial is continuing.
The Special Criminal Court has ordered the exclusion of the public during evidence from six Garda National Surveillance Unit (NSU) members in the ongoing trial of eight Dublin men. Presiding Judge Paul Butler ruled that the officers must not be named and that specific details regarding NSU tradecraft and methodology are subject to publication bans, citing risks to their safety. The defendants—Kevin Braney, Des Christie, Eamon McNamee, Hubert Duffy, William Jackson, Declan Phelan, John Brock, and Darren Murphy—each pleaded not guilty to the alleged charge of membership of an illegal organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA, on March 29, 2013. Prosecution counsel Tara Burns SC stated that the men were arrested at a used car sales lot in Clondalkin on Good Friday, 2013, following surveillance. Items allegedly found during subsequent searches included cable ties, balaclavas, a Glock pistol, a baseball bat, and pepper spray. The prosecution case relies on NSU sightings, the seized items, the defendants' responses to garda questioning, and opinion evidence from Detective Chief Superintendent Peter Kirwan. The trial is continuing.