Gardai questioned Stephen Penrose, accused of murdering 24‑year‑old Philip Finnegan, about the location of the attack that led to Finnegan's death in Rahin Woods, Kildare. Penrose gave multiple, conflicting accounts of where he and Finnegan were attacked by a group of men on 10 August 2016, initially saying it occurred on the outskirts of Kilcock, then near Clonuff, then near Edenderry, and finally near a caravan beside a woods. He claimed they were there to collect firearms, but later denied any knowledge of the attack. Penrose admitted to lying about the location out of fear for his life. Evidence presented included a blood‑stained glove matching Penrose's DNA found near Finnegan's remains, a garden fork, shovel, and knife blade, and a fire‑damaged glove. The trial continues before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and a jury, with Penrose remaining in custody and refusing to attend. Stephen Penrose pleaded not guilty. Philip Finnegan pleaded not guilty.
Derek Whelan, 37, of Glin Grove, Coolock, was found guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of making an unwarranted demand with menace and intent to profit when he demanded €500 from a Grindr date, threatening that his brothers would "slit" the man's throat if they discovered he was gay. Whelan had previously threatened the victim with his brothers' violence and sent persistent messages demanding the remaining €400 after the victim had paid €100. The judge noted Whelan's struggle with his sexual orientation and chronic depression as major triggers for the offence, and that his family was hostile. He was sentenced to 240 hours of community service to avoid a three‑year prison term. The sentence reflects the court's view that the offence was out of character and that Whelan is now in a stable relationship and has expressed remorse.
Stephen Penrose, 38, of Coolock, Dublin, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Philip Finnegan, 24, who was found decapitated in a shallow grave in Rahin Woods, Kildare, on 2 September 2016. Penrose testified that he witnessed Finnegan being stabbed in the back by a group of men on 10 August 2016. He claimed he had no involvement in Finnegan's death and that he had been attacked in a black car, sustaining a stab wound to his left arm. Penrose's DNA was found on a left‑handed gardening glove near the grave, and a bloodied glove was recovered from the site. He has repeatedly denied any role in the murder, stating he was not in the woods and that he only witnessed the attack. The trial is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court.
A blood‑stained glove found near the skeletonised remains of Philip Finnegan in Rahin Woods matched DNA from Stephen Penrose, a forensic scientist who is on trial for Finnegan's murder. The glove, heavily charred and bearing blood on five internal sites, was recovered by Gardaí on 8 September 2016 and later analysed by Dr Alan McGee of Forensic Science Ireland. McGee compared the glove's DNA with a buccal swab taken from Penrose on 16 November 2016 and reported a match, estimating the probability of a different source as less than one in a billion. Penrose, 38, pleaded not guilty to the murder of the 24‑year‑old, who was found buried in a shallow grave after being missing for just over three weeks.
In a murder trial, a pathologist testified that the decapitated, skeletonised remains of a 24‑year‑old Dublin man, Philip Finnegan, were found curled in a foetal position in a shallow grave in Rahin Woods, Kildare, after he had been missing for 30 days. The remains were partially burned and evidence of multiple stab wounds, including two fatal ones to the liver and aorta, was presented. Fingerprints recovered from a finger that had slipped away from the soil confirmed Finnegan's identity. The accused, Stephen Penrose, 38, pleaded not guilty. The trial also discussed a blood‑stained glove that matched Penrose's DNA and his phone's proximity to the site. The case is ongoing before Mr Justice Owens and a jury.
During a murder trial, a dog walker recounted discovering what he believed to be a body in Rahin Woods, Kildare, on 2 September 2016. He found two dogs barking near a buried object that appeared to be flesh. He later informed two men, Ivan Pollard and Pat McGrath, who called 112. Garda inspectors Aiden Hannon and Padraig Nolan examined the site, noting almost skeletal remains protruding from a shallow grave, a stab‑proof vest, a garden fork, a shovel, a knife blade, a mobile phone, a fire‑damaged glove, and a black funnel. The remains were taken to Naas mortuary. The trial heard that the accused, Stephen Penrose, 38, pleaded not guilty to murdering 24‑year‑old Philip Finnegan, whose body was found decapitated in the woods. The case is ongoing before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and a jury.
In a burglary case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, 22‑year‑old Eddie Cawley pleaded guilty to breaking into a house in Portmarnock on 9 March 2020. He and a co‑accused rang the doorbell and knocked on the front door at lunchtime. When no one answered, they damaged the door to gain entry. The homeowner's son, who was in the bathroom upstairs, heard the noise, ran out, and confronted one of the burglars on the stairs. The intruder fled after a brief confrontation. Cawley and the other man then fled in a Nissan Almera, which was later stopped by Gardaí. No items were taken from the house, though the front door was damaged. Cawley stated he would not have entered had he known someone was home and claimed he had no weapon. He has 27 prior convictions, including six burglaries. The judge adjourned sentencing to 31 January 2022 to allow reports to be prepared.
Stephen Penrose, 38, accused of murdering 24‑year‑old Philip Finnegan in Kildare woods, has re‑engaged solicitor Michael French while junior counsel Eoghan Weldon may return to represent him. He has not retained senior counsel Anthony Sammon. Penrose has repeatedly declined to attend his trial, which is in its fourth week at the Central Criminal Court. He previously represented himself, cross‑examining witnesses and accusing a Garda inspector of lying. The judge warned him that continued abuse of witnesses could lead to his removal from the courtroom. Penrose's trial continues with jurors hearing his multiple Garda interviews, where he gave conflicting accounts of the victim's movements and the location of the body. The prosecution has presented evidence of a bloodied glove DNA‑matched to Penrose and phone data linking him to the area where Finnegan's body was found. Stephen Penrose pleaded not guilty.
Stephen Penrose, 38, of Coolock, Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Philip Finnegan, 24, who was found decapitated in a shallow grave in Kildare woods. During the trial, Penrose told Gardaí that he had heard rumours that Finnegan was "sitting in Jamaica eating a Big Mac" and that he had been "chopped up" in the Dublin mountains. He also claimed he had no knowledge of Finnegan's disappearance and that he had been stabbed in the arm during an alleged altercation on August 10. Penrose represented himself but has since hired new lawyers and declined to attend further court sessions. Gardaí have noted that a blood‑stained glove found at the scene matched Penrose's DNA and that his phone was linked to a cell site near the burial site. The trial continues before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and a jury of 12.
During the Central Criminal Court trial of Stephen Penrose, a 38‑year‑old from Coolock, evidence was presented that his phone made a data connection at a cell site near Rahin, where the body of 24‑year‑old Philip Finnegan was found. The phone also connected to several other sites in Edenderry and surrounding areas on the afternoon of 10 August 2016, including Liffey Valley fitness centre, Edenderry water tower, Monasteroris, Russellswood, Moyvalley and Enfield. The last outgoing call from Penrose's phone was at 6:09 pm, connecting to a cell site in Enfield. The prosecution also noted that Finnegan's phone was last used in Edenderry at 3:44 pm, and that his mother's call at 4:40 pm was unanswered. Additional testimony included a text sent from Penrose's phone at 4:07 pm and a call at 4:53 pm to a site covering Rahin Woods. Stephen Penrose pleaded not guilty.
Paul Penrose gave evidence at the Central Criminal Court in a murder trial concerning his son, Stephen Penrose, aged 38, of Coolock, Dublin. Stephen Penrose has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Phillip Finnegan, aged 24, at Rahin Woods, County Kildare on August 10, 2016. The father described meeting Mr Finnegan on August 8, two days before the alleged killing, and stated that the two men appeared friendly towards each other. Paul Penrose testified about subsequent events, including his son's hospitalisation with stab wounds, the discovery of bloodstains on a vehicle, and an attempt to purchase cleaning products. The trial heard that Mr Finnegan's decapitated remains were discovered in a shallow grave in Kildare woodland. The prosecution has indicated that a bloodied glove found at the scene matched DNA belonging to the accused. The trial continues before Justice Alexander Owens and jury.
The jury in the trial of Stephen Penrose, 38, accused of murdering 24‑year‑old Philip Finnegan, watched a montage of CCTV footage showing a blue saloon car's movements on the day of the killing. The footage, presented by Garda Shauna Nolan, shows Finnegan leaving a filling station in Edenderry at 3.46 pm, entering the car with Penrose, and the vehicle driving toward Rahin Woods. The car is seen passing Kinnefad at 4.05 pm, arriving at Grange West at 4.10 pm, and later at a house in Balrinnet at 5.13 pm. At 6.21 pm the car stops at Browne's filling station in Kilcock, where a man in dark clothing is seen with a bleeding left wrist. The final clip shows an ambulance outside Connolly Hospital at 7.39 pm, with a paramedic treating a patient's left forearm injury. Stephen Penrose pleaded not guilty.
The jury in the trial of Stephen Penrose, 38, who is accused of murdering 24‑year‑old Philip Finnegan, watched a montage of CCTV footage from August 8 to 10, 2016. The footage shows Finnegan leaving a blue saloon at Sweeney's filling station in Edenderry at 3.46 pm, entering a shop wearing a grey hoodie and a blue top, and Penrose entering the shop wearing a dark‑coloured top and trousers. The prosecution argues Finnegan was killed shortly after the footage. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Alexander Owens, continues with 12 jurors. Penrose, who has pleaded not guilty and represented himself, has hired new lawyers but declined to attend the trial. The prosecution also presented a bloodied glove found in the woods that DNA matched Penrose.
In the Central Criminal Court, Stephen Penrose, aged 38, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Philip Finnegan, 24, who was found decapitated in a Kildare woods on 10 August 2016. A Garda officer reported finding a blue Alfa Romeo car in Kilcock on 13 August, with extensive blood splatter on the gearstick and driver's door. The vehicle, registered in Portarlington, was seized as it was believed to contain evidence of the assault. Paramedic Terry Devine treated Penrose for a stab wound to his left arm, noting blood-soaked socks. Penrose claimed five men were involved in an incident where Finnegan was stabbed and he fled in the car. Inspector Aidan Hannon recounted that Penrose was stabbed through a window while driving the Alfa Romeo, after which he stopped, removed his sock, and left the vehicle. The trial continues before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and 12 jurors.
Stephen Penrose, aged 38, accused of murdering 24‑year‑old Philip Finnegan in Kildare woods, has declined to attend his murder trial in person. The Central Criminal Court jury was informed that proceedings would continue without him. Penrose had previously represented himself after dismissing his legal team, but has now hired new counsel: solicitor Michael French and barristers Anthony Sammon SC and Eoghan Weldon BL. Judge Alexander Owens warned Penrose that continued disruptive behaviour could lead to his removal from the courtroom. Penrose had previously shouted at a Garda Inspector in the witness box, accusing him of lying. The trial, which began on 13 October, will proceed with the jury hearing CCTV footage and evidence, including a bloodied glove DNA‑matched to Penrose, while the body of Finnegan was found decapitated in a shallow grave in Kildare woods. Stephen Penrose pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Dylan Cronin, aged 20, was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, after pleading guilty to three counts of demanding money with menace. Cronin and a second man had entered a family home at night, falsely claiming a child was involved in a €50,000 drug debt and demanding €25,000. The claim was proven false. The men returned twice more, damaging property and leaving threatening notes. Cronin admitted he was coerced and would receive €2,000–€3,000 for his involvement. The judge noted the offences were planned, occurred at night, and caused significant stress and fear for the family. The sentence included strict probation conditions for 18 months post‑release. The case remains under investigation.
In the Central Criminal Court, 38‑year‑old Stephen Penrose, accused of murdering Philip Finnegan, is representing himself in his trial. During cross‑examination of Inspector Aidan Hannon, Penrose repeatedly accused the witness of lying under oath, shouting "you're a liar" and demanding Hannon be dismissed. Judge Alexander Owens warned Penrose that if he continued to "abuse" and "ballyrag" witnesses he would be taken to the cells and barred from participating in his own trial. Owens also cautioned that barristers may not call witnesses liars under oath. Penrose's outbursts included shouting at the jury and threatening to have the witness's statement taken. The judge called the behaviour contempt of court and ordered Penrose to sit down or face removal. The trial, expected to last five to six weeks, continues with the judge and 12 jurors present. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
At the Central Criminal Court on 14 October 2021, Angela Finnegan, mother of the missing 24‑year‑old Philip Finnegan, was cross‑examined by Stephen Penrose, the man accused of murdering her son. Ms Finnegan confirmed that Philip had been in contact with Penrose on the morning of 10 August 2016, the day he disappeared, and that he had been "in good form" when she last saw him. She stated that Philip had been looking for directions to Cloverhill Courthouse and that she had tried to reach him again at 4.40 pm, but his phone was off. Ms Finnegan also agreed with the prosecution that a named man in Portlaoise Prison had threatened Philip and that this man was present in the prison at the time of Philip's disappearance. Stephen Penrose pleaded not guilty. Angela Finnegan pleaded not guilty.
The trial of Stephen Penrose, 38, for the murder of 24‑year‑old Philip Finnegan, began on 13 October 2021. The prosecution, led by Brendan Grehan SC, presented evidence that Finnegan's decapitated body was found buried in a shallow grave in Rahin Woods, Kildare, after attempts to cut and burn it. A bloodied glove recovered from the woods matched Penrose's DNA. Penrose had been seen in a blue Alfa Romeo on CCTV near a fast‑food restaurant in Kilcock on the day of the murder and had claimed to have been attacked by men, a story the court said was inconsistent with the evidence. The prosecution argued that Penrose had killed Finnegan in the woods, disposed of the body, and then lied to Gardaí to conceal the location. The trial is scheduled to continue for five to six weeks. Stephen Penrose pleaded not guilty.
A 38‑year‑old man named Stephen Penrose, who lives on Newtown Court, Malahide Road, Coolock, Dublin 17, is set to go on trial for the murder of Philip Finnegan, a 24‑year‑old man, in Rahin Woods, Rahin, Co Kildare, on 10 August 2016. Penrose was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court and pleaded not guilty. The judge, Mr Justice Paul McDermott, noted that Penrose is from west Kildare and Finnegan was from the south inner city of Dublin, and that most of the Gardaí involved are from the Leixlip area of Co Kildare. He mentioned that there is substantial CCTV footage, telecommunication experts and technical witnesses. A jury of eight men and four women was sworn in, and the trial, to be heard by Mr Justice Alexander Owens, is expected to last between five and six weeks.
Phillip McCabe, aged 22, was sentenced to five and a half years' imprisonment for two robberies committed on 3 March 2019. The first involved a Spanish woman who had just arrived from Barcelona; McCabe and an accomplice approached her at a bus stop, wrestled her iPhone, punched her, and fled with her phone and purse. The second robbery targeted a man with cerebral palsy on Malahide Road. McCabe and the same accomplice ambushed the man in a laneway, pepper‑sprayed his eyes, beat him, and stole his iPhone, threatening to stab him if he did not erase data. McCabe pleaded guilty, admitted probable involvement, and cited drug addiction as a motive. He had 112 prior convictions and had been in custody for several years. The court ordered the two sentences to run concurrently, giving an effective term of five and a half years.
In a High Court judicial review, company director Nicola Byrne challenges Fingal County Council's decision to pedestrianise New Street in Malahide Village. The council's plan, which took effect over the June Bank Holiday weekend, was intended to support open‑air dining but Byrne argues it lacks legal authority, as it is not included in the Fingal County Council Development Plan or the Malahide Public Realm Strategy. She contends the pedestrianisation will divert traffic onto narrow streets unsuitable for cycling and walking, and that the council failed to conduct an appropriate environmental screening. Byrne also cites complaints of anti‑social behaviour, loss of business, and the council's claim that the 2020 pedestrianisation was a failure. She seeks orders to quash the decision and declarations of its invalidity. Permission to bring the challenge was granted ex‑parte by Mr Justice Charles Meenan, with the case set for a hearing in October and discussions underway regarding a stay of the decision.
Calin Scintei, aged 28, was sentenced to four and a half years' imprisonment by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for his role in a €1.5 million money‑laundering scheme run by a Romanian organised‑crime gang. He pleaded guilty to 25 charges covering the period August 2018 to January 2020, including participation in organised crime, fraud, criminal damage, theft and possession of the proceeds of crime. Scintei helped defraud Tesco of €12,400 through a gift‑card scam and caused €18,000 of damage to AIB ATMs while stealing €7,690 in cash. He also set up 27 bank accounts with false documents and five fake companies, laundering about €780,000. The court noted he was paid a modest reward and was not a master criminal, but a busy participant in the gang's operations. The judge, Martin Nolan, considered mitigating factors before imposing the sentence. The case involved 12 prior convictions for theft and fraud.
Sean Marsh, aged 20, and a juvenile accomplice carried out a series of car thefts and attempted hijackings in Dublin during June and July 2019 and again in July 2020. They tried to take a woman's car as she left her driveway in Malahide, forced a second woman to swerve and threw a bottle that smashed the rear window of her vehicle, and entered a third woman's house before being told to leave. Marsh pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to take a car without permission, one count of damaging a car window, one count of trespass likely to cause fear, three counts of using a car without consent, and one count of stealing diesel from an Applegreen service station. He has 23 prior convictions. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced him to four years, suspended the final year and backdated it to his custody start, and adjourned the case to April 13 for victim impact statements.
John Gossan, 40, of Castlegrange Hill, Swords, pleaded guilty to sexual assault at Wright's Cafe Bar, Malahide Road, Swords, on 22 February 2019. The court found he was in a drunken state when he grabbed a young woman's breasts and nether area over her clothes. Judge Martin Nolan described the act as shameful and frightening, noting it was a short encounter with no aggravating factors. Gossan received a fully suspended sentence of one year imprisonment, with strict conditions to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for one year. He was ordered to hand over €2,000 to the prosecuting Garda, which may be given to charity if the victim declines. Gossan has a prior 2010 drug‑dealing conviction for which he served four years. The sentencing took place at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced Jordan Ennis, Lucy Ennis, and Aaron Flanagan for violent disorder and assault causing harm at Edenmore Park, Raheny, on September 19, 2015. All three defendants pleaded guilty. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Jordan Ennis to two and a half years' imprisonment, having stated his actions initially merited four years. He suspended the final year of the sentence on conditions that Ennis keep the peace and hand over €14,249 to the victim as a token of remorse. Lucy Ennis received a suspended prison term of 18 months. The judge noted she had likely misinformed her brother but accepted her mental health background and lack of prior convictions. Co-accused Aaron Flanagan was sentenced to a suspended prison term of two years, with a condition of good behaviour for that period. The judge cited Flanagan's age at the time as the primary mitigating factor. The court heard that the attack followed a dispute involving teenage girls, during which Jordan Ennis stabbed the victim multiple times while others assaulted him with crutches. The victim was hospitalised for ten days. The judge described the attack as savage and noted that Ennis acted on his sister's accusations, despite the victim denying any prior aggression.
An appeal has been heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court regarding the case of Aaron Flanagan, Jordan Ennis, and Lucy Ennis, who admitted to charges of violent disorder and assault causing harm at Edenmore Park, Raheny on September 19, 2015. The three appellants pleaded guilty to the charges. During the hearing, Judge Martin Nolan remanded the three in continuing custody for sentence tomorrow. The incident involved a 15-year-old victim who was repeatedly stabbed, punched, and kicked by a group of teenagers after he intervened to protect a friend. The victim, now an adult, cannot be identified due to a recent Court of Appeal decision on the identification of juvenile victims of crime. The court heard that the victim was in the park when he saw a group of four teenage girls shouting at another girl, accusing her of making comments on Facebook. The victim attempted to assist the girl, leading to an altercation. The court also heard that Lucy Ennis was the instigator, and her brother Jordan Ennis was involved in the attack. The victim was later assaulted again by Jordan Ennis and others. The court heard that Jordan Ennis had a previous record of being a law-abiding young man and that the attack was out of character for him. The matter was adjourned for sentence.
Mark Adams, a 41‑year‑old former airport policeman and male model, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for laundering over €1 million. He pleaded guilty to handling €582,045 of criminal proceeds at Dublin Airport on 11 September 2015 and to laundering €227,130 at Bank of Ireland, €298,280 at PTSB, Malahide and €78,990 at Bank of Ireland Credit Card Centre between January 2012 and March 2017. Customs officials intercepted him at the airport with a concealed sum of cash, and a subsequent investigation uncovered €604,400 deposited into three accounts linked to Adams. He had no prior convictions, was a father, and was on a waiting list for treatment for drug and gambling dependencies. Judge Martin Nolan imposed the five‑year term without suspension, citing the seriousness of money laundering and Adams' capacity for reform. The court noted he had not used his former policing role to facilitate the offences.
A 40‑year‑old male model, Mark Adams, was stopped at Belfast International Airport on 9 May 2018 with €180,000 in two brown envelopes in his hand luggage. Northern Irish authorities allege he concealed the money, attempted to remove it from Northern Ireland on that date, and knew or suspected it was proceeds of crime. They seek his extradition on charges of concealing the money and attempting to remove criminal property, with each offence carrying a maximum penalty of 14 years' imprisonment. The High Court, hearing the case on 16 July 2020, found that Adams had failed to provide evidence that surrender would breach his fundamental rights. Mr Justice Paul Burns ordered his surrender to the UK, but postponed it until a later date and remanded him in custody until 19 July 2021, pending domestic proceedings in Dublin. Mark Adams was convicted.
Michael Reilly, aged 50, was sentenced to two years in prison for a road‑rage incident at the Pavilion Shopping Centre Roundabout on Malahide Road, Swords, on 11 November 2017. Reilly stopped his van in front of another driver after the victim shouted at him for pulling across traffic. He exited his van, struck the windscreen with a lump hammer (causing no damage), then grabbed the victim as he tried to exit the car and repeatedly punched him in the head, shouting that he would kill him. Witnesses reported Reilly holding the victim in a headlock and punching him up to four times. After driving the victim off, Reilly was identified by Gardaí and arrested 18 months later. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Mark Adams, 40, of Castleheath, Malahide, was stopped at Belfast International Airport on 9 May 2018 with €180,000 in two brown envelopes. Northern Irish authorities seek his extradition on money‑laundering charges, alleging he concealed the money in his hand luggage and attempted to remove it from Northern Ireland, knowing or suspecting it to be proceeds of crime. He also faces charges for arranging the removal of criminal property between 13 May 2013 and 10 May 2018. The High Court heard an application for an extradition order and postponement. Counsel Paul Comiskey O'Keeffe argued that extradition could infringe Adams' right to a fair trial under the UK‑EU withdrawal agreement, as a future trial in Northern Ireland might occur outside the EU. The State's counsel, Aoife Carroll, applied for surrender and postponement, stating the warrant was valid and Brexit did not affect the case. Mark Adams was convicted.
On 16 March 2020, Judge Melanie Greally of Dublin Circuit Criminal Court informed lawyers that those scheduled to attend court that morning had been advised not to attend due to the Covid‑19 outbreak. She announced that all cases would be adjourned to an unspecified date after 10 June, with investigating Gardaí and the courts service coordinating to inform defendants and practitioners of the new dates. Defendants in custody could either be adjourned or observe proceedings via video link. One man, Mark McCabe, 26, a homeless remand prisoner, was sentenced to four years with the final two years suspended after pleading guilty to robbery at Spar on Malahide Road on 25 October 2019; no cash was taken and no weapon was used. Judge Greally adjourned several cases, including a plea of guilty with a July sentencing date subject to review.
Mark Adams, a 40‑year‑old male model from Castleheath, Malahide, was arrested on a European Arrest Warrant and taken to the High Court. He is accused of acting as a cash courier in a money‑laundering scheme, having booked 500 international flights between 2014 and 2018 and allegedly transporting €180,000 in hand luggage from Northern Ireland to the Republic of Ireland. Northern Irish authorities claim he concealed the money and attempted to remove it from Northern Ireland on 9 May 2018, knowing or suspecting it to be proceeds of crime. He is also charged with arranging the removal of criminal property from Northern Ireland between 13 May 2013 and 10 May 2018, facilitating its retention or use by unknown persons. He was remanded in custody until 12 March, with a bail application expected and an extradition hearing scheduled for 25 March. The case is currently before the High Court.
Bronwyn O'Dea (54) and Paul De Brit (56), directors of a Dublin timber import business, were convicted of fraud and deception after they promised customers that payments would be taken only after timber delivery but failed to deliver. They used customer money to fund the company, which was in financial distress, and stole €19,124 from Mr Peter Andrews of The Wood Floor Store, Lancashire, England. The total loss to complainants between December 2006 and May 2008 was about €200,000. Both pleaded guilty. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced O'Dea to a three‑year prison term, suspended, and De Brit to four years, three of which were suspended. The court noted that all customers lost money and received no timber, and that the directors did not benefit from the fraud. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Daniel Delaney, 27, of Mariner's Port, Sheriff Street, was convicted of three burglaries in 2017 – at the Clonsilla Inn, Siam Thai and Monkstown Rugby Club – and received an eight‑year sentence with the final year suspended. Two of the offences were committed while he was on bail, prompting the judge to impose consecutive sentences. Delaney appealed against the severity of the sentence, but the Court of Appeal upheld the decision, stating the Circuit Court judge was fully justified in imposing consecutive sentences. The Court noted the aggravating factors, including confrontations with occupants, night‑time burglaries, significant property damage and theft, and the planning involved. The suspended year was a discount, and the Court confirmed the overall sentence was not excessively severe. The appeal was dismissed. Daniel Delaney pleaded guilty.
In a High Court case, an injunction that had limited protests outside Shelbourne Park greyhound track was lifted after settlement talks. The agreement, reached between the protesters and Shelbourne Park Greyhound Stadium Ltd, allows the protesters to continue peaceful demonstrations on Saturday evenings but under agreed conditions. The track operators will pay the protesters' legal costs and acknowledge the right of patrons and employees to attend events. The settlement also removes any insinuations that the protesters were involved with leaflets threatening residents, which are under Garda investigation. The injunction had barred the six named protesters and others from approaching within 50 metres of the track entrance and from obstructing access. The parties agreed to protocols, including keeping protests on a public path at least 3.5 metres from the entrance, limiting slogans to greyhound welfare, and deploying stewards in high‑visibility jackets.
The High Court was asked to lift an injunction that limits protests against the greyhound racing industry outside Shelbourne Park. The injunction, obtained by GreyhoundStadium Ltd, bars six named protesters and anyone aware of the order from impeding access to the stadium within 50 metres of the entrance. The protests began after an RTE exposé of industry practices. Operators claim the protests have gone beyond peaceful protest, alleging intimidation and verbal abuse of patrons, while the defendants deny these claims and argue the protests have always been peaceful. The defendants, including Laura Broxson, Tawnie Ocampo, Catherine Wood, Bernie Wright, Conor Brady and Noiren Carrigg, seek to have the injunction lifted. The Irish Council of Civil Liberties has joined as amicus curiae, citing freedom of speech and assembly concerns.
The Irish Council of Civil Liberties (ICCL) seeks to join a High Court case as an amicus curiae, arguing that the dispute over greyhound protests raises key freedom of speech and assembly issues. The case involves Shelbourne Park Greyhound Stadium Ltd, which obtained a temporary injunction preventing protesters from operating within 50 metres of the track entrance and barring six named individuals and anyone aware of the order from obstructing access. The ICCL, represented by Marc Murphy BL, contends that the injunction infringes on civil liberties. Defendants, including Laura Broxson, Tawnie Ocampo, Catherine Wood, Bernie Wright, Conor Brady, and Noiren Carrigg, claim their protests are peaceful and seek the injunction lifted. Lawyers for the defendants argue that the track operators now accept the defendants had no role in leaflets that urged residents to shut down the stadium, and therefore the injunction should not continue.
A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has acquitted Patrick Carroll on all charges relating to a €90,000 post office robbery in September 2014. The 54-year-old from Swords had pleaded not guilty to charges of trespass, false imprisonment, robbery and threats to kill in connection with an incident at a property in Malahide and Bayside Post Office in Sutton. During the eight-week trial, the prosecution alleged that DNA evidence linked Carroll to the crime, but his legal team submitted there was an innocent explanation for its presence. Following deliberations lasting over eleven hours, a jury of four men and eight women returned not guilty verdicts on all counts. Paschal Kelly, a 54-year-old with addresses in Cootehill and Ballyjamesduff, County Cavan, was previously convicted of the robbery and kidnapping and received an eighteen-year sentence in late 2018.
Clive Mason, 43, was convicted at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for assault causing harm after a violent, racially abusive attack on taxi driver Samuel Banjoko Johnson on Malahide Road, Donnycarney, on 21 April. Mason, who claimed to be a Garda and shouted racial slurs, punched Johnson and attempted to force him out of the vehicle. Video of the assault circulated online, prompting Mason to surrender to Gardaí the following weekend. He pleaded guilty, apologized, and cited intoxication as a factor. The court noted Mason's three prior convictions and his willingness to cooperate. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a 20‑month prison sentence, fully suspended on the condition that Mason remain law‑abiding for 20 months and comply with Probation Service directions for six months. The court also ordered a €5,000 payment to be transferred to the Garda, to be given to Johnson or a charity if he declined it.
A 46-year-old man from Carrickmacross, County Monaghan, has been imprisoned for 14 months following a conviction at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for stealing over €3,300 from a vulnerable woman. Michael McGauley pleaded guilty to two counts of theft committed in October 2018, when he defrauded the woman by falsely promising to carry out insulation work on her home and to invest money on her behalf. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a three-year sentence with the final 22 months suspended on condition that McGauley repay the full stolen amount, which he has already begun doing. The court heard McGauley was struggling with gambling addiction and outstanding debts at the time of the offences. He has 25 previous convictions, including five for theft, and was on probation when the crimes occurred. His defence counsel indicated McGauley has since sought treatment through Gamblers Anonymous and has secured employment while making regular repayments to his victim.
In a High Court case, Daniel Lannon (49) sought damages and declarations from the Minister for Social Protection after a former department official passed his personal data to a private detective hired by solicitors for AIB bank. Lannon claimed the data breach occurred on 22 August 2014 when Ms Caitriona Bracken accessed his address at Colpe View, Drogheda, and supplied it to investigator Michael Ryan, who was also her brother‑in‑law. Ryan was employed by a solicitor's firm representing AIB, which used the address to serve legal proceedings on Lannon. Lannon had not provided the Drogheda address to the bank, using instead a property he owned in Malahide. After AIB sent correspondence to the Drogheda address in 2015, Lannon complained to the Data Protection Commissioner. The DPC prosecuted Ryan and his company, Glen Collection Investments Limited, who admitted breaches and were fined €7,500.
In a 2019 civil action, Daniel Lannon, aged 49, sued the Department of Social Protection for a 2014 breach of his privacy, alleging that his personal data was unlawfully passed to a private investigator. The department, represented by Conor Power SC and Nick Reilly BL, denied that such data sharing was common practice, stating that it takes data‑protection breaches seriously and has implemented staff training and monitoring since 2014. It admitted that a former official, Ms Caitriona Bracken, had provided Lannon's data to a private investigator, Mr Michael Ryan, who was hired by a solicitor's firm for AIB. The department also acknowledged that four employees, including Bracken, had been dismissed for passing data to third parties, and that between 20 and 30 staff had been disciplined for non‑business data access. The court heard that the department had taken steps such as random checks and a database of private investigators' phone numbers to prevent further breaches.
The High Court heard a damages claim by Daniel Lannon against the Minister for Social Protection, alleging a breach of privacy and data protection rights in 2014. Lannon claims a department official provided his Drogheda address to a private investigator hired by solicitors acting for AIB, enabling the bank to serve legal proceedings at that location. He seeks damages, aggravated damages, and declarations that the department breached its duty of care. The department opposes the claim, arguing it is not liable for the negligent actions of its former staff member, Ms Caitriona Bracken, who was dismissed in 2017. The department also contends the proceedings constitute an abuse of process, noting Lannon previously discontinued a similar action. Ms Bracken, added as a third party, claimed releasing data was common practice, but the department stated it was no longer seeking relief against her, allowing her to be let out of the case. Lannon admitted he failed to inform AIB of his address change as required by his mortgage terms. The court noted that in October 2016, the private investigator Michael Ryan and his company Glen Collection Investments Limited pleaded guilty to certain data breaches and were fined €7,500 by the district court. The hearing continues.
Anthony Goodman, aged 74, was convicted of indecent exposure at a Malahide restaurant on 13 August 2018 and on a bus on 20 August 2018, and of sexual assault on 20 August 2018. He pleaded guilty to all three offences. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to nine months imprisonment for each indecent exposure, to run consecutively, and to two and a half years imprisonment for the sexual assault, also to run consecutively, giving a total of four years. The final 18 months of the sentence were suspended for five years on conditions of good behaviour, engagement with Probation Services, and restriction to public transport only with Garda permission. The sentence was back‑dated to 23 August 2018, the day he first entered custody. Goodman has 201 previous convictions, including sexual assault, indecency, arson, threats to kill and firearms possession, and had breached a sex‑offender order that prohibited him from riding a bus without Garda notification.
Oliver Callely, a 27‑year‑old man charged with assault causing harm for allegedly igniting a firework in the smoking area of Copper Face Jacks nightclub on 6 September 2015, appeared before Dublin District Court on 2 July. He has not yet indicated how he will plead. At a vacation sitting of Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Martina Baxter temporarily relaxed his bail conditions to allow him to work in the UK. The conditions were eased between 26 August and 5 September and the requirement to sign daily at Malahide Garda Station was reduced to once a week. The court adjourned the application to return his passport, which would enable him to work as a driver for his brother‑in‑law, a car dealer, until 18 September. Callely is due to be arraigned on 30 October. The case remains at the bail‑relaxation stage.
Robert Lynch, aged 32, was sentenced by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a total of three and a half years' imprisonment for two robberies. He pleaded guilty to the robbery of taxi driver Alan Thompson on Malahide Road on 4 September 2016 and to the robbery of a Spar shop on 15 October 2017. Lynch, who has a history of drug addiction, was described by Garda Alan Roach as having changed significantly since the offences. Judge Pauline Codd imposed consecutive terms of three years and three and a half years, suspending the final three years on the condition that Lynch participate in drug rehabilitation programmes and keep the peace. The court noted Lynch's 54 prior convictions, including robbery, knife possession and threats to kill, and that he had been identified on CCTV before the taxi robbery. No weapons were used in either robbery. The sentence reflects the judge's assessment of Lynch's efforts at rehabilitation and the seriousness of the offences.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Michael Reilly Senior (49) and his son Michael Reilly Junior (22) were sentenced for an assault on Martin Maughan. The incident, part of a feud, involved the Reillys attacking Maughan with a hammer and pick handle while his wife and five‑year‑old granddaughter witnessed. Reilly Senior also bit Maughan's ear and repeatedly rammed his jeep with his van. Both pleaded guilty to assault causing harm; Reilly Senior also pleaded guilty to endangerment. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a headline sentence of five and a half years for Reilly Senior on the endangerment charge and a three‑year sentence for Reilly Junior on assault. Mitigating factors cited included guilty pleas, remorse, and the defendants' tragic backgrounds. Maughan suffered bruising and soft‑tissue injuries; the child was uninjured but distressed. The court noted prior convictions and mental‑health issues for both defendants.
Two Dublin men, Paul O'Beirne (36) and Jeffrey Morrow (37), are on trial for the murder of 25‑year‑old Vincent Ryan on 29 February 2016. The prosecution relies on circumstantial evidence, including CCTV footage from O'Beirne's home and mobile phone traffic, to argue that the men planned and executed the shooting. Ryan was shot in broad daylight while seated in his car on McKee Road, Finglas, after dropping his partner and baby at her home. A silver Volkswagen Golf fired the fatal shots; the vehicle was later found burning near Naas. The court heard that the men attempted to conceal their involvement, including disposing of a car seat cover from the vehicle. The trial, heard by the Central Criminal Court, is expected to last five to six weeks. Paul O'Beirne pleaded not guilty. Jeffrey Morrow pleaded not guilty.
The Director of Public Prosecutions has dropped all charges against Jonathan Gill, who was accused of participating in the 2011 kidnapping of a Drogheda family. At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Vincent Heneghan SC informed Judge Karen O'Connor that the State was entering a nolle prosequi regarding three charges of false imprisonment and one of robbery. Gill, of Malahide Road, Swords, had pleaded not guilty to falsely imprisoning Warren Nawn, Jean Marie Nawn, and their ten-week-old baby between August 1 and August 2, 2011. The State alleged Gill was part of a group that held the family hostage before robbing €660,000 from the man's workplace. No reason was given for the decision to drop the case. This follows a previous trial collapse in 2017 due to juror misconduct concerns and a subsequent adjournment in May 2023 when a vital witness was unavailable in Australia. Gill remained on bail throughout the proceedings. Separately, Mark McCarthy, of Ballyfermot, was jailed for nine years after pleading guilty to the kidnapping; his sentence was later increased to 15 years following a successful appeal by prosecutors.