David Mantle, 37, of Crumlin, pleaded guilty to attempted burglary at Maureen Burke's home in Clontarf on 3 July 2014. At 11 pm, after Ms Burke had gone to bed, she heard noises, thought they were her grandchildren, then heard a window smash and a man talking to himself. She went to the landing, saw Mantle, who smelled of alcohol, and he claimed he was in the wrong house. He left through the same window, and Ms Burke struck him with a belt of her walking stick. Garda Manus Keane investigated, used fingerprints on a broken window to identify Mantle, who was arrested in January 2015. He had 43 prior convictions, including robbery, attempted robbery and assault. He was extremely remorseful. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a four‑year sentence, with the final year suspended on strict conditions, and Mantle was jailed for three years.
Jerry Sheahan, aged 40, was convicted in 2011 of having sexual intercourse with three under‑age girls aged 15 to 17, whom he contacted online by posing as a teenage boy. He received three consecutive two‑year sentences, totalling six years, on 15 November 2011. On appeal, the Court of Appeal reduced the sentence to three years imprisonment on each count, to run concurrently. The court noted that Sheahan had used a teenage boy's photo on the under‑18 section of tagged.com, met the girls in isolated locations, and had a car to transport them. He had told two girls he was in his thirties before meeting them. The appeal judge cited Sheahan's guilty plea, cooperation, lack of prior convictions and a forensic psychological assessment indicating low risk of re‑offending as reasons for the reduced sentence. The girls did not file complaints, and one was observed dropping off a girl to her mother.
On 3 July 2014, 83‑year‑old Maureen Burke of Malahide Road, Clontarf, was awakened at 11 pm by the sound of a window breaking and a man speaking to himself. She left her bed, went to the upstairs landing and saw David Mantle, 37, of Crumlin, who had entered her home through the same window. Mantle, smelling of alcohol, apologized and left, claiming he had no memory of the incident. Burke struck him with a belt of her walking stick as he exited. Garda Manus Keane investigated the next day, found fingerprints on the broken window, and identified Mantle as the suspect. He was arrested and charged in January 2015 with one count of attempted burglary. At trial, Mantle pleaded guilty; he has 43 prior convictions and was described as extremely remorseful. Judge Patricia Ryan remanded him in custody until 9 November for sentencing.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Ronan Gormley, aged 30, received a suspended sentence after pleading guilty to assault causing harm, producing an instrument and obstructing a peace officer at Wrights Café Bar in Swords on 11 November 2013. The incident involved Gormley taking off his belt and striking Mark Rogers, who was socialising in the smoking area. Rogers sustained a 1.5‑cm wound on his left eyebrow that required stitches. Security restrained Gormley until Gardaí arrived. Gormley was described as abusive and aggressive while intoxicated, but later calm. He has paid €2,000 in compensation to Rogers and has taken steps to address his alcohol use. Judge Mary Ellen Ring, after considering Gormley's guilty plea, compensation, lack of prior convictions and his adult responsibility, imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence with the entire term suspended, directing him to engage with probation services for eighteen months.
Eoin Daly, aged 29, was sentenced to five and a half years in prison for a series of burglaries committed between July and September 2013 across Dublin suburbs and Leixlip. He pleaded guilty to five counts of burglary, one of trespass and attempted theft. The judge noted that Daly had been granted bail repeatedly after each arrest, questioning why he was not remanded earlier. Daly's lawyer described him as a "one‑man crime wave" linked to chronic heroin addiction. The judge suspended the final 18 months of the sentence on the condition that Daly cooperate with the Probation Service upon release. Daly had 30 prior convictions, including burglary, robbery, firearm possession and threats of killing. The sentence reflects the judge's concern that, if he does not change, he will spend his thirties in court and prison.
Anthony Daly, 32, of Santry, Dublin, was jailed for three years after pleading guilty to possession of cannabis resin for sale or supply on 6 December 2011. The offence occurred while he was bound to the peace under a suspended sentence for a 2004 drug offence that had originally carried a ten‑year term with six years suspended. Gardaí stopped Daly on Malahide Road in Swords, searched his home on Shantalla Road and seized just over 500 g of cannabis resin worth €3,000. He had 31 prior convictions, all traffic offences, apart from the 2004 drug offence. The State sought to reactivate the six‑year suspended term, but Judge Martin Nolan imposed only the three‑year jail term and did not order re‑activation of the suspended period. The court noted Daly's good family background and his efforts to control gambling addiction, but ruled that the breach of the bond could not be ignored.
In a 2015 court hearing, former Anglo Irish Bank executive William McAteer, aged 63, was granted legal aid for two upcoming criminal trials. The court noted that an enlarged jury panel would be required for the trial involving McAteer and three co‑accused: John Bowe (50), former head of capital markets at Anglo Irish Bank; Denis Casey (54), former chief executive of Irish Life and Permanent; and Peter Fitzpatrick (61), former director of finance at IL&P. The co‑accused are charged with conspiring to mislead investors by transferring €7.2 billion to inflate the bank's value between March and September 2008. McAteer and Bowe also face separate charges of falsifying accounts under the Theft and Fraud Act. McAteer is also set to stand trial in January 2017 for fraudulently obtaining a loan from Anglo Irish Bank to repay a personal loan with Bank of Ireland in September 2008. William McAteer was convicted.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Eric Wansboro, 27, was sentenced to eight and a half years in jail for dangerous driving that caused the death of 43‑year‑old Sinead Maguire and serious bodily harm to Liam McDonagh. Wansboro pleaded guilty to the offence committed on 29 May 2014 when he was driving a Toyota Avensis at high speed, pursued by a Garda patrol. The collision, which occurred at a junction with a 50 kph limit, left the car heavily damaged and all occupants unconscious. Maguire died from severe neck and spinal injuries; McDonagh suffered a fractured jaw and lost five teeth. Wansboro had a suspended three‑year sentence for a 2011 stolen‑car offence and a ten‑year driving disqualification. The judge imposed a five‑and‑a‑half‑year term for the dangerous driving, back‑dated to the date he entered custody, and added the suspended sentence, bringing the total to eight and a half years.
Linda Nugent, aged 43, was sentenced to seven and a half years' imprisonment for stabbing her 77‑year‑old friend Desmond Garland three times in the neck and chest on 14 September 2013. She pleaded guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm. The judge described the offence as unforgivable and noted it carries a maximum of life imprisonment. Nugent is pregnant and may give birth in prison. Garland suffered a heart attack immediately after the stabbing, underwent emergency surgery, spent 28 days in intensive care and later six months in a ward before being moved to a nursing home where he died of cancer in December 2014. Garland's son read a victim impact statement describing his father as a gentleman who was deeply affected by the assault. Nugent has a mild learning disability, epilepsy, and two prior public order convictions.
In Swords District Court, Mark Sheehan (25) pleaded guilty to driving without insurance and had his case adjourned until April 13th following a request from the Probation Service for further assessment. Sheehan has 15 previous convictions and was previously given a six-month suspended sentence and a six-year driving disqualification. Michael Reilly (21) pleaded guilty to stealing a remote controlled car and was convicted in his absence. As he did not appear to pay the €250 compensation, Judge Dempsey imposed a default order and fined him €250. Helen McDonnell (25) pleaded guilty to using a false driving licence and stealing groceries. Her case was adjourned until March 30th for a repayment meeting with the furniture store and to provide proof of arrangements. Adrian O'Reilly (50) pleaded guilty to being intoxicated and using threatening and abusive behaviour. Judge Dempsey ordered him to make a charitable donation of €250 to Pieta House and applied Section 1.1 of the Probation Act.
Linda Nugent, 43, was remanded in custody after stabbing her 77‑year‑old friend Desmond Garland three times in the neck and chest on 14 September 2013. The attack followed an alleged request from Garland for a romantic relationship. Garland suffered a heart attack immediately after the stabbing, required emergency surgery, and spent 28 days in intensive care before a further six months in a ward. He was later transferred to a nursing home where he died of cancer in December 2015. Nugent pleaded guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm. She has a mild learning disability, takes medication for epilepsy, and has two prior convictions for public order offences. The court adjourned sentencing to 12 March to allow her medical treatment. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with the Director of Public Prosecutions describing it as a high‑level case.
The Court of Appeal has increased the sentence of Cathal Murtagh, a Louth man, from five years to eight years for possession of drugs for sale or supply. Murtagh, who pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, was originally sentenced in March 2012 for possessing €3.5 million worth of ecstasy and cannabis at a Malahide Road warehouse in April 2011. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed the original sentence as unduly lenient, arguing the judge failed to adequately consider the offence's presumptive minimum of ten years and the drugs' value. President of the Court of Appeal Mr Justice Seán Ryan imposed the new eight-year term from the date of the original sentence. However, the balance of the sentence was suspended. Mr Justice Ryan described Murtagh as "very lucky" and urged him to "take the chance" given. Murtagh was required to enter a personal bond of €100 to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for five years. Counsel for the DPP, Mr Ronan Kennedy BL, argued the original sentence attached excessive weight to mitigating factors, including Murtagh's status as a "lowest cog" and his lack of prior convictions. Defence counsel, Ms Mary Rose Gearty SC, noted Murtagh had been at liberty since September 30. The court's decision reflects a review of the sentence rather than a new trial, with the suspended portion contingent on the specified conditions.
Swords District Court heard several matters involving defendants Emmet Fitzsimons, Antons Marchinkevics, and Gillian O'Donnell. Fitzsimons, 21, pleaded guilty to being intoxicated and using threatening and abusive behaviour in Swords. Judge Dermot Dempsey struck out the case after Fitzsimons paid €250 to the Garda Benevolent Fund, noting the defendant had apologised and completed a security course. In a separate matter, Antons Marchinkevics, 33, pleaded guilty to drink driving and driving without insurance following a crash in Rush. He was disqualified for three years for drink driving and two years for lack of insurance, and fined €400 for each offence. Marchinkevics provided a breath sample of 72mg/100ml. Regarding Gillian O'Donnell, 38, the court issued a bench warrant for her arrest after she failed to appear. She is alleged to have stolen footwear from Tesco Express in Balbriggan and to be in unlawful possession of cannabis. The matter remains at the pre-trial stage with no plea entered or finalisation recorded. Additionally, Caroline Joyce was granted a hearing date of March 23rd for alleged criminal damage and breach of a protection order, though she is not a validated subject in this summary.
Sean Donnelly, aged 20, was sentenced to ten years for his role in an armed raid on a Portmarnock credit union. During the raid, a gun was pointed at Garda Michael Bolton and a car was hijacked. Donnelly attempted to calm the other raider, who threatened staff and a customer with a hand pistol. Bolton pursued the raiders on his bicycle, was threatened with a gun, and later chased the hijacked car until it crashed near Belmayne Road. Donnelly had previously pleaded guilty to robbery of €2,900 from the credit union, possession of a firearm, and hijacking in 2012, and to robbery of a cash‑in‑transit worker in 2014. He had 43 prior convictions. Judge Martin Nolan imposed consecutive sentences totaling ten years, suspending the final three years on strict conditions. The case highlighted Donnelly's involvement in multiple criminal acts and his relationship with his father, who is serving a life sentence for murder.
Paul Gibbons, 29, pleaded guilty to robbery at a Spar on Malahide Road, Artane, on 23 December 2013. He and two others entered the shop armed with knives, demanding money. Gardaí were alerted after a staff member tackled the raiders; the robbers fled, but Gibbons was arrested shortly after. The robbery yielded €347. Gibbons, who was on social welfare and had lost access to his ten‑year‑old son due to unpaid maintenance, said the act was the "most stupid thing" he had ever done. He cooperated with the investigation and made admissions. Judge Martin Nolan, considering his cooperation and the circumstances, sentenced him to three years' imprisonment, suspended in full. No other charges were brought against the two co‑raiders, and Gibbons has not been involved in further criminal activity since his arrest.
Swords District Court heard five cases presided over by Judge John Coughlan. Karl Dempsey pleaded guilty to being intoxicated and using threatening and abusive behaviour on a bus. He was convicted and fined €75. Winnie Joyce pleaded guilty to theft from TK MAX. She was convicted and fined €500. Stephen Wynne, who did not appear, was charged with unlawful possession of cannabis. The court proceeded in his absence, resulting in a conviction and a €300 fine. Drew Lynch pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of Ecstasy tablets. As his third drugs offence, he was convicted and fined €1,200, with recognisance fixed for appeal. Jill Devine pleaded guilty to theft from three shops. She was convicted and fined €200. All defendants were sentenced in this round-up.
In a Swords District Court hearing, two men, Sean Brady (34) and Damien Byrne (45), pleaded guilty to burglary at Kinsealy Pet Store on 24 October 2013. Brady also pleaded guilty to careless driving. Garda evidence showed the owner, Aidan O'Connor, discovered an intruder around 10.30 pm, and the store's doors were left open, causing €660 worth of birds to die from cold exposure. Blood at the scene matched Brady's DNA. O'Connor saw a male fleeing the aviary toward a red BMW, struck the vehicle with a hatchet, and had to jump out of the way. Garda Kevin Farrell noted the BMW, driven by Byrne, was stopped at Artane Roundabout. Brady, with ten prior convictions, will have his case sent back to Trim Circuit Court for a Section 99 re‑entry on 3 February next year.
Thomas Lyons, a 56-year-old road engineer from The Warren, Malahide Road, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to permitting an apartment at Burnell Court, Northern Cross, Malahide Road, to be used as a brothel between February 22 and June 22, 2011. Judge Mary Ellen Ring suspended a sentence of two and a half years on the condition that Lyons engage with offence and victim-focused work. She also ordered him to pay €10,000 to Ruhama, an organisation dealing with the damage done by prostitution. Lyons admitted to gardai that he advertised the property on an escort website to help pay mortgages on three properties and support his family after splitting with his Brazilian girlfriend, who was involved in the escort industry. Prosecution counsel Gerardine Small BL noted that Lyons made full admissions during interview and that he had not trafficked the women or acted as a pimp. Defence counsel Colm O'Briain BL highlighted Lyons' respectable background, his full cooperation, and his ongoing financial responsibilities. Judge Ring acknowledged Lyons' good character but stated that this was not a victimless crime, noting that he played an important part in the offence and put his family's future at risk. The matter was finalised with the suspended sentence and financial order.
The Court of Appeal has adjourned the sentencing appeal of Cathal Murtagh until January 19. Murtagh, a Louth man, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of drugs for sale or supply at a warehouse on Malahide Road on April 25, 2011. In March 2012, Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to five years' imprisonment. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) appealed this sentence on grounds of undue leniency. Counsel for the DPP, Mr Ronan Kennedy BL, argued that the sentencing judge failed to adequately consider the offence's maximum penalty of life imprisonment and the presumptive minimum of ten years. He further contended that excessive weight was given to mitigating factors, such as Murtagh's guilty plea and lack of prior convictions, while insufficient regard was paid to the value of the drugs, which included cannabis and ecstasy tablets worth over €3.5 million. Counsel for Murtagh, Ms Mary Rose Gearty SC, highlighted that he has been at liberty since September 30. President of the Court of Appeal, Mr Justice Sean Ryan, reserved the decision, meaning the matter was adjourned and not concluded.
Garda whistleblower Keith Harrison, the applicant, brought a High Court challenge against the Garda Commissioner to halt internal disciplinary proceedings. Harrison denies all allegations, which include verbal and physical abuse, assault, and harassment of his partner, as well as allegedly accessing her car details on the Garda Pulse system 25 times between August 2009 and April 2013. He claims there is no bona fide basis for the inquiry and that the appointment of an investigating officer on December 1 was unlawful and unconstitutional. Harrison seeks orders prohibiting the investigation into alleged breaches of Garda Disciplinary Regulations and criminal conduct between October 1998 and October 2013. He argues his partner was unlawfully pressurised into making a statement, which was subsequently forwarded to GSOC, and that both their privacy rights were breached. Counsel Mark Harty SC stated the decision to investigate was malicious and oppressive, citing prior bullying following Harrison's arrest of a colleague in Athlone. Mr Justice Seamus Noonan granted permission to bring the action on an ex parte basis and imposed a stay on the disciplinary process pending the outcome. The matter was adjourned and made returnable to a date in late January.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, former Anglo Irish Bank executives William McAteer (64) and Pat Whelan (52) were informed that their trial for alleged fraudulent loan of over €8 million would begin on 16 January 2017. McAteer is accused of securing the loan to repay a Bank of Ireland personal loan in September 2008, while Whelan is alleged to have been a party to the same loan. Both men intend to plead not guilty. Judge Mary Ellen Ring set a four‑week trial and ordered witnesses and exhibits, allowing parties to re‑enter the case if needed.
In a Balbriggan District Court hearing on 27 November 2014, Adam Erity, aged 21, received a nine‑month suspended sentence and a three‑year driving disqualification after pleading guilty to unlawfully taking a Mazda 323 from a house at Chapel Farm, Lusk, on 14–15 October 2012. Erity, who admitted substance abuse at the time, had 23 prior convictions and was arrested and fully admitted the offence. The judge, Dermot Dempsey, imposed the suspended sentence and disqualification. The court also adjourned a separate case involving Charles Hunt, 28, charged with unlawful possession of ketamine, to 11 December 2014. Additionally, Przemyslaw Kutszal, 45, was convicted and fined €250 for assaulting his ex‑girlfriend and €100 for criminal damage, and ordered to pay €400 to Charles Reid for property damage. Noel Drummond, 45, was convicted and fined €200 for holding a mobile phone while driving, with the court noting the fine exceeded the standard fixed penalty.
Swords District Court heard several matters presided over by Judge Dermot Dempsey. Ivans Zinkevics, 49, pleaded guilty to trespassing, intoxication, and threatening behaviour. He was sentenced to 240 hours of community service in lieu of a two-month prison term, following a positive probation report. Mairead McRory, 34, admitted to drink driving after a collision. Judge Dempsey convicted her, fined her €750, and disqualified her from driving for three years, a disqualification postponed until March. Tom Costello, 22, pleaded guilty to theft. Despite 47 previous convictions, the judge granted him a final opportunity, convicting him and sentencing him to four months in prison, suspended for two years. Cathy Lawrence, 22, pleaded guilty to using a false driving licence to secure furniture finance. The matter was not concluded with a standard sentence; instead, she was ordered to pay €350 to The Gary Kelly Cancer Support Centre. In a separate procedural stage, Calin Scintei, 22, was charged with handling stolen brandy and possessing a foiled bag. His case was adjourned, with a hearing date set for January 26.
The State has requested an enlarged jury panel for the trial of former Anglo Irish Bank executive William McAteer, aged 63, and three co‑accused. The men are charged with conspiring to mislead investors about the bank's deposit books by transferring €7.2 billion to inflate the bank's value between March and September 2008. McAteer, John Bowe (50), Denis Casey (54) and Peter Fitzpatrick (61) also face separate charges of falsifying accounts under section 10 of the Theft and Fraud Act. The case was listed for mention before Judge Mary Ellen Ring on 24 November 2014 to monitor disclosure progress. Counsel for the prosecution, Diana Stuart BL, noted that the first stage of disclosure was almost complete and requested a new mention date to allow continued monitoring. The prosecution also applied for an enlarged jury panel, and the defence teams agreed with the submission.
Swords District Court handed down sentences to four defendants. Adam Errity, 21, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of cannabis herb for sale or supply. Judge Dermot Dempsey sentenced him to three months in prison, noting his 21 previous convictions. Robert Nolan, 46, pleaded guilty to a hit and run, failing to report the incident, and failing to remain at the scene. He was convicted and fined €100, avoiding disqualification. Ehigie Omoruyi, 44, pleaded not guilty to breaching a safety order and stabbing his ex-partner in the right arm. The court convicted him and suspended a six-month prison sentence. Martin Power, 58, pleaded not guilty to drink driving. Judge Dempsey convicted him, fined him €400, and disqualified him from driving for two years. All matters were finalised at the sentencing stage.
Swords District Court heard several matters. Dwaine O'Connell, 26, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of €3,000 worth of cannabis resin for sale or supply and €350 of cannabis herb. Judge John Coughlan sentenced him to eight months in prison, but O'Connell appealed the sentence after recognisance was fixed. Jandean Hyland, 26, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, but the case was adjourned until December 1st because the victim was not in court and jurisdiction issues needed resolution. David Bennett, 32, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm; his case was adjourned until November 11th for Judge Dermot Dempsey to determine compensation to avoid a prison sentence. Andrew Cooley, 21, pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen and was disqualified from driving for four years and fined €75; a separate charge of making off without payment of a taxi fare was struck out. Kevin Harris, 24, is alleged to have driven under the influence of an intoxicant; his case was adjourned until December 22nd for hearing.
A judge ordered that the Quinn family receive transcripts of the criminal trial of former Anglo Irish Bank executives after the bankers' lawyers withdrew objections. The transcripts were requested by the Quinn family, who had previously been described by Pat Whelan's lawyers as a "fishing expedition." Whelan (52) and William McAteer (63) were convicted in April of breaching the Companies Act by illegally lending money to the Maple Ten investors to support Anglo's share price. They were found guilty on ten charges each and sentenced to 240 hours of community service, while being acquitted on six further charges each involving loans to Quinn's family. The trial recorded €450 million loaned to Maple Ten and €160 million to Quinn's wife and five children. Michael Staines, solicitor for Whelan and McAteer, agreed to release the transcripts on the condition they be used only for civil proceedings by the Quinn family.
Thomas Lyons, a 56‑year‑old Dublin road engineer, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to permitting an apartment at Burnell Court, Malahide Road, to be used as a brothel between 22 February and 22 June 2011. He had initially rented the property to live with his Brazilian girlfriend, who worked in the escort industry, and after their split advertised it on an Irish escort website for €700 per week to help pay mortgages on three properties and support his wife and children. Gardaí obtained a search warrant on 22 June 2011, found two women entering the premises, and Lyons admitted the arrangement. He has been cooperating fully, has not trafficked the women or acted as a pimp, and has been on a three‑day working week after losing his pensionable job.
In a case heard at Swords District Court, 36‑year‑old Jacek Nawara was sentenced to six months' imprisonment for a savage assault on his housemate on Christmas Day 2012. Nawara punched the victim in the face, then sat on her and banged her head off the ground, leaving her with a suspected brain injury. The victim incurred medical bills of €450 and lost earnings of €2,800. Nawara had offered €3,000 to reimburse loss of earnings but the court deemed it a reimbursement, not compensation. He was required to pay an additional €5,000 for pain and trauma, which he could not afford. Judge Dermot Dempsey expressed surprise that the Director of Public Prosecution had consented to summary disposal, noting the seriousness of the assault. The sentence was handed down with recognisance pending appeal. Jacek Nawara pleaded guilty.
In a Swords District Court hearing on 14 October 2014, Mark and Kathleen Mohun of Estuary Road, Malahide were ordered to demolish a 14.9‑square‑metre extension they had built without planning permission. The couple had previously failed to comply with an enforcement notice issued in April 2013 that required removal of the unauthorised structure within one month. They had applied for a retention permit in June 2013, which Fingal County Council refused, and they did not appeal to An Bord Pleanala. Planning Inspector Conor Cooney confirmed the extension was not exempt from permission as it exceeded 12 square metres. Judge Dermot Dempsey fined the Mohuns €500, ordered them to pay €2,000 in costs to the council, and required the removal of the extension. The couple appealed the decision, but the judge warned that continued non‑compliance would lead to further consequences. The court noted Mr Mohun's unemployment and his son's Leaving Certificate studies.
Swords District Court heard several matters presided over by Judge Dermot Dempsey. Sean Brennan, 32, pleaded guilty to being intoxicated and using threatening and abusive behaviour outside Wright's Cafe Bar on June 7th. He was ordered to complete 240 hours of community service work in lieu of a two-month prison sentence. Thomas Nicholson, 23, was charged with the theft of an €18,000 mini digger from Balbriggan on March 6th. The matter was sent forward for trial at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, and Nicholson was remanded on continuing bail. Gary Daly, 25, pleaded guilty to the unlawful possession of PVP, valued at €1,300, found at his home on November 16th last year. The court adjourned the case until December 15th to allow for a Probation and Welfare report to assess his suitability for a 240-hour community service order in lieu of a four-month prison sentence. James Egan, 29, pleaded guilty to failing to provide a blood, urine, or breath sample at Ballymun Garda Station on December 12th last year. He was convicted, fined €600, and disqualified from driving for four years, with the disqualification postponed for five months until March 30th. Aldona Pastuhova, 42, was charged with having a dog off its lead in a public place. The case was adjourned until November 17th due to the unavailability of the prosecuting garda.
David Lee, 32, pleaded guilty to breaching a protection order and threatening to smash a house in Swords on 19 August 2013. He was convicted and fined €100 by Judge Dermot Dempsey. Lee, who has 25 previous convictions, apologized and has not been near the house since. His defence solicitor, Fiona D'Arcy, said he hopes to get a job as a bicycle courier. Paul McGee, 21, pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage and breaching a protection order at his parents' home on 22 July. He was adjourned until 18 December for a probation report; he has five previous convictions and is attending counselling. Geoffrey Melia, 24, pleaded guilty to stealing a bottle of vodka from a Balbriggan supermarket in March. He was fined €200; he has four previous convictions and has stopped drinking. Lisa Jenkins, 41, pleaded guilty to three thefts from a Swords department store, totalling over €800.
Swords District Court heard several matters. Alex Mooney and Rory Kirwan pleaded guilty to intoxication and threatening behaviour at the Malahide Festival. Judge Dermot Dempsey agreed to strike out charges against both defendants after they each made a €300 charitable donation. Patrick Mongen was convicted of driving without a licence and fined €75. Aslam Khan, alleged to have assaulted a woman, breached a barring order, and committed careless driving and criminal damage, was remanded on continuing bail to reappear on September 2nd. Adam Meehan pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of cocaine and methoxyphenamine tablets. The matter was adjourned to October 20th, with the judge indicating a specific course of action if Meehan proves completion of voluntary work and makes a €400 donation. Kadesh Tracey, charged with unlawful possession of benzodiazepine, obstructing and assaulting a Garda, criminal damage, and failing to stop for gardai, failed to appear, resulting in a bench warrant for his arrest.
In a Swords District Court hearing, Jacek Nawara, 36, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to his housemate on Christmas Day 2012. The victim, still suffering dizziness and requiring ongoing GP care, has incurred €450 in medical bills and lost €2,800 in earnings after being unable to work for two months. Nawara was ordered to produce compensation and an up‑to‑date medical report, with the case adjourned to 20 October for further facts to be heard.
Swords District Court heard several cases presided over by Judge Dempsey. Mark Jackson was found guilty of attempting to drive under the influence of alcohol after crashing a car in Rathbeale Road; he was fined €750 and disqualified for three years, with the disqualification postponed until January 8th. Jason Harford pleaded guilty to possessing a window-breaking implement and cannabis; he received a three-month suspended sentence for the implement and a €150 fine for the drugs. Sean Brennan pleaded guilty to intoxication and abusive behaviour; the court remanded him on bail until October 13th for a probation report, with 240 hours of community service proposed in lieu of a two-month prison sentence. Edward Doherty pleaded guilty to intoxication and abusive behaviour; he was convicted and fined €200, with a warning regarding future custodial sentences. Philip Garland pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of cannabis and was convicted and fined €200. Mark Sheridan, alleged to have threatened to kill another man and possessed an imitation firearm, was remanded on continuing bail until September 8th for service of the Book of Evidence. Ivans Zinkevics, alleged to have committed trespass and intoxication offences, was remanded on continuing bail until September 15th for a hearing.
Swords District Court heard several matters before Judge Dermot Dempsey. Jerry Flynn pleaded guilty to theft of petrol and dangerous driving. He received a three-month suspended sentence, a €200 fine, and a two-year driving disqualification. He was remanded on a one-year peace bond, conditional on paying €58.94 to Great Gas and €140 compensation to the attendant. Damien Krywult pleaded guilty to two counts of dangerous driving. He was convicted and fined €300 for each offence, with a total two-year driving disqualification. Jeffrey Carter pleaded guilty to driving without insurance and without a licence. He was sentenced to five months in prison, fined €200, and disqualified from driving for two years. Gary Fitzgerald was convicted in his absence of driving without insurance and without an NCT. He was fined €500 for the insurance offence and €250 for the NCT offence, and disqualified from driving for two years. Gabriel Akinsanya pleaded guilty to theft. The judge indicated he would consider 240 hours of community service in lieu of a four-month prison sentence only if Akinsanya completes 40 outstanding hours from 2003. He was remanded on continuing bail to reappear on September 15. Kim Howard, charged with theft, was remanded on continuing bail until October 6 for a mention.
A 43‑year‑old Dublin man, David Mahon, is charged with the murder of 23‑year‑old Dean Fitzpatrick, who was killed on 26 May 2013 at Northern Cross on Malahide Road. Mahon appeared in the Central Criminal Court where a trial date was set for 20 July 2015.
Frances O'Brien, a 54-year-old mother of five from Balbriggan, was granted the benefit of the Probation Act at Balbriggan District Court after pleading guilty to using a false instrument. The charge alleged that she used a false charity card to collect for the Irish Cancer Society's fundraising campaign for Today FM's Shave or Dye initiative at Gainsborough Avenue in Malahide on November 2nd, 2013. A bench warrant was executed against O'Brien following her failure to appear at Swords District Court. During the hearing, it was stated that O'Brien and her granddaughter were claiming to collect on behalf of her daughter, who had a broken leg. Gardai seized €95.42 from O'Brien upon her arrest. Defence solicitor Donagh McGowan described the act as a "terribly stupid thing to do" and noted that O'Brien has no previous convictions. Judge Patrick Clyne ordered that the seized funds be made payable to the Irish Cancer Society. Ray D'Arcy, also listed as a defendant in connection with the same alleged false instrument charge, had no plea, finding, or sentence recorded in the validated facts provided for this specific court outcome.
In Swords District Court, four brothers, John Lawrence (23), William Lawrence (22), Stephen Lawrence (21), and Christopher Lawrence (20), pleaded guilty to failing to comply with garda direction and being intoxicated in a public place on April 20th at Hogs & Heifers Bar and Grill in Swords. They were ordered to make a €800 charitable donation to avoid a conviction. The court heard that the men were celebrating the birth of Christopher's baby and were intoxicated. Judge Patrick Clyne informed the court that the men are currently unemployed and that if they make the donation, the case will be struck out. Anbridas Stabinis (42) pleaded guilty to the theft of two bottles of vodka from Dunnes Stores in The Pavilions Shopping Centre in Swords on March 20th. He was given a 14-day suspended sentence and bound to the peace for two years. Darrell Ferguson (21) and Shane Murphy (22) were remanded on continuing bail to re-appear before the court on May 27th after being charged with assaulting another man causing him harm. Patrick Kerley (21) had his case struck out after making a €250 charitable donation to Fingal Bereaved by Suicide.
Richard Walsh, 24, was sentenced to six months in prison after being convicted at Swords District Court for a series of public order offences committed in August 2013. The offences included threatening, abusive and violent behaviour towards Garda officers at Waterside estate and Swords Garda Station, as well as urinating outside the station. Walsh had previously claimed he was assaulted by Garda officers who tried to remove a bottle of alcohol from him, and he responded by calling the officers "f**king pigs" and threatening that he would "hope you get raped" and that his family would be raped. He also spat at Garda officers and attempted to head‑butt one. The judge found Walsh's evidence unreliable and noted his history of six prior convictions and failure to attend probation appointments. The sentence was imposed after the court heard that Walsh had stopped drinking following a serious health incident.
Swords District Court heard four sentencing matters presided over by Judge Dermot Dempsey. Dean Fagan, 19, pleaded guilty to using threatening and abusive behaviour, failing to comply with garda direction, and being intoxicated. The judge imposed four months detention for failing to comply with garda direction and two months for threatening behaviour, taking intoxication into consideration. Robert Doyle, 20, pleaded guilty to being intoxicated, using threatening and abusive behaviour, and failing to comply with garda direction; his case was struck out after he paid a charitable donation. Brian Johnson, 27, pleaded guilty to the unauthorised taking of a vehicle and handling stolen property. He was convicted and sentenced to a suspended nine-month term for the vehicle offence, remanded on a peace bond for two years, and given a three-month custodial sentence for handling stolen clothes. Robert Krzemien, 42, pleaded guilty to driving while under the influence of alcohol. He was convicted, fined €400, and disqualified from driving for three years, effective July 1st.
Swords District Court heard five matters. Henry Afeni (49) pleaded guilty to making a gain or causing loss by deception at TK Max in Swords. Judge Patrick Clyne suspended a five-month sentence for two years and proposed 100 hours of community service, adjourning the case until April 28 for a Probation Report. Debra Maguire (44) pleaded not guilty to handling stolen goods but was found guilty; the court ordered a Probation & Welfare report and adjourned sentencing until April 28. Robert Trnovec (38) pleaded guilty to drink driving and received a two-year disqualification and a €250 fine. Anne-Marie McGill (50) pleaded guilty to theft of a cardigan; the judge applied the Probation Act. Declan Fitzsimons (34) pleaded guilty to using threatening and abusive behaviour; the judge proposed a €500 charitable donation to avoid a conviction, with a default fine of €500, and set a deadline of April 28.
A 20‑year‑old man named Robert Doyle was arrested after becoming highly intoxicated and aggressive towards security staff at a McDonald's in Swords on Christmas Eve. He had paid for a burger and chips but was evicted because of his drunken state. Doyle pleaded guilty to being intoxicated, using threatening and abusive behaviour and failing to comply with garda direction. The judge agreed that if Doyle pays €400 to St Patrick's School's Calcutta fund, the matter could be struck out, and the case was adjourned until March 31 for payment.
Swords District Court sentenced Kevin McCabe to four months in prison and disqualified him from driving for six years after he pleaded guilty to driving without insurance and a licence. Judge Dermot Dempsey noted McCabe's 11 previous convictions, including two prior disqualifications, and imposed a €200 fine. In a separate matter, Josephine Farrell pleaded guilty to contravening a safety order by allegedly threatening a man. The court applied the Probation Act, citing evidence that Farrell, who has bipolar disorder, had missed medication for three days. Darragh Quinn pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of cannabis herb. The charge was struck out after the court ordered €400 in his possession to be paid to Swords Foroige Youth Group. Additionally, Paul Kehoe was disqualified for four years and fined €400 for failing a breath sample, with a further €100 fine for lacking an NCT. His disqualification was postponed until June 1st. Finally, Danny Bowers, alleged to have driven without insurance and while drink driving, had his case adjourned until February 17th because the prosecuting garda was unavailable to give evidence.
In a Swords District Court hearing on 21 January 2014, Cillian Mahoney, aged 22, was charged with assaulting two men outside The Wright Venue nightclub on 25 November 2012. The court adjourned the case to 24 March, noting that Garda interviews had been completed and the case was ready for hearing. Judge Dermot Dempsey remanded Mahoney on continuing bail pending the March hearing. In a separate matter, Fortunato Nardoni, 28, was subject to a bench warrant for failing to appear in court over a no‑insurance driving charge dated 10 December 2012. Judge Dempsey issued the warrant after Nardoni did not attend. A third defendant, David Fortune, 32, was charged with possession of a knife on 26 December 2013. A bench warrant was issued after he failed to appear, and the court adjourned his case to 17 February, remanding him on his own bond. All proceedings were conducted under the jurisdiction of Swords District Court.
Three former senior officials from two financial services institutions are to stand trial for conspiring to mislead Anglo Irish Bank investors about €7.2 billion transactions between March and September 2008. The defendants are John Bowe (50), former head of capital markets at Anglo Irish Bank; Denis Casey (54), former chief executive of Irish Life and Permanent; and Peter Fitzpatrick (61), former director of finance at Irish Life and Permanent. They are accused of transferring €7.2 billion to Anglo Irish Bank to create a false impression that the bank had larger deposits, thereby inducing investors to make decisions on that premise. Bowe also faces an additional charge of falsifying accounts on 3 December 2008 under the Theft and Fraud Act. The men were arrested, charged, and remanded on bail with conditions, and are scheduled to appear again on 12 March for trial. The case is unrelated to the trial of former Anglo executives set for January 2014.
Paul Murtagh, 29, of Clonshaugh Heights, appeared before Swords District Court on 13 November 2013 charged with driving without insurance. He was alleged to have been stopped twice this year: on 17 April on Malahide Road and on 2 September on Feltrim Road, both times for lacking insurance. Defence solicitor Patrick Jackson requested a hearing date for both matters. Judge Dermot Dempsey asked why Murtagh had not appeared earlier; Murtagh replied he was at his grandfather's funeral. The judge remanded him on a €200 bond and adjourned the case to 27 January. Murtagh had previously been convicted on Monday at Dublin District Court for possessing a stolen Marmoset monkey, caught in his car on 1 October 2013 after the animal was taken during a burglary in County Kildare. He avoided prison, receiving 80 hours of community service in lieu of four months.
David Lee, a 30‑year‑old from Newtown Court, Northern Cross, was found guilty of assaulting Garda Shane Haughney and using threatening and abusive behaviour at The Estuary Pub in Swords on 25 March. Lee had previously pulled Garda Haughney over several tables in a public house, then struck the officer with an object, causing a laceration to the garda's head. Lee had earlier been involved in an incident at a house in Castlegrange, where he was seen by gardai after speaking to them. He pleaded guilty to the assault. Judge Alan Mitchell sentenced Lee to a four‑month suspended sentence, suspended for one year, and banned him from any premises licensed to sell alcohol in the Dublin area for one year. The judge also ordered that Lee not be under the influence of alcohol in public. Lee has 23 prior convictions and is described by his defence solicitor as a chronic alcoholic heavily addicted to cannabis.
At Swords District Court, Judge Alan Mitchell handled several matters. Wayne Reid (34) of Swords pleaded not guilty to alleged cultivation of two cannabis plants and possession of cannabis herb for sale or supply. The court accepted jurisdiction and remanded Reid on continuing bail to reappear on December 16th. In a separate matter, Martin Connors (21) of Dublin 13 faced an alleged public order offence. The case was struck out after the prosecuting garda failed to appear, despite notice. David O'Toole (36) of Swords pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis herb. He was convicted and fined €300. Michael Conners (29) of New Ross, Wexford, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving at the Strand Road junction in Malahide. He was convicted and fined €300. Additionally, Conners was disqualified from driving for two years. The judge refused to reduce the charge to careless driving, citing the risk posed to a cyclist and motorist, and noted Conners' previous careless driving conviction as a significant factor in the decision.