Two men imprisoned by the High Court for interfering with KBC Bank's repossession of a farm at Falsk, Strokestown, County Roscommon will remain in custody after declining to purge their contempt of court. Michael Anthony McGann, the property owner, and Kevin Taylor, a retired garda from Dublin Road, Longford, were arrested in November alongside a third man following efforts by the bank's agents to secure the property after a 2018 eviction. While Colm Granahan from Ballina, Mayo purged his contempt in December and was released, McGann and Taylor have maintained their refusal to do so. At a High Court hearing on Thursday, Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds reviewed their cases remotely. McGann, now represented by solicitor, stated he would not purge contempt, as did Taylor. The judge remanded both men in custody until April, confirming they may apply to purge contempt at any time. The case arises from a €431,000 debt on the property.
In November 2017, Laura Lambe, a 35‑year‑old mother of three from Basin Street, Dublin, was found to have smuggled heroin and Valium‑type tablets into Mountjoy prison. She concealed the drugs in her bra while visiting her then‑partner. According to her defence solicitor, Simon Matthews, a man had warned her the night before that he knew she would be entering the prison the next day, threatened her and her children, and gave her the drugs, instructing her to smuggle them in. Lambe appeared nervous during the security check, and when searched she voluntarily admitted the drugs were hidden in her bra. The court estimated the heroin's street value at €1,933 and the 24 Alprazone tablets at €2 each. Lambe pleaded guilty to the offence. Judge Melanie Greally described her as not a serious criminal, noted she had no prior convictions, and suspended a two‑year prison term on the condition of good behaviour.
The High Court heard that the United States has formally withdrawn its extradition request for Conor Freeman, a 21-year-old from Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin. Freeman, who appeared by video-link from Mountjoy Prison, is no longer facing a maximum potential sentence of 108 years in the US. The Attorney General's counsel informed Mr Justice Paul Burns that the US diplomatic note confirmed the withdrawal because Freeman had already been convicted and sentenced in Ireland for the same offences, with no appeals lodged. Freeman had previously pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing the proceeds of crime, specifically 142.75682712 Bitcoin. He also admitted to stealing cryptocurrency from Darran Marble, Seth Sharpiro, and Micheal Templeman between May 15 and May 18, 2018, and to three counts of dishonestly operating a computer to make a gain. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Freeman to three years' imprisonment, reduced to two years and 11 months to account for time already served. The judge noted the crime involved guile and deception but acknowledged almost perfect mitigation, including Freeman's guilty plea, cooperation, youth, and lack of prior convictions. US authorities had alleged Freeman participated in attacks by a group called 'The Community' using SIM swapping techniques to steal over $2 million in cryptocurrency.
Catherine Gaffney, 53, is in custody at Dochas Centre, Mountjoy Prison, after convictions at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. She is wanted in Northern Ireland for alleged theft of six designer handbags and an obstruction offence. Gaffney applied for bail in the High Court, arguing that the European Arrest Warrant should not preclude bail. The High Court refused, citing section 27 of the European Arrest Warrant Act 2003, which states that a person in her situation "shall not be remanded on bail or otherwise released from custody." Gaffney appealed to the Court of Appeal, but the three‑judge panel, led by Mr Justice John Edwards, dismissed the appeal. The Court confirmed that she must be surrendered to UK authorities upon release. The alleged offences involve Mulberry handbags stolen in July, August, November and December 2016, and an attempt to steal a seventh handbag and a purse on 10 December 2016, as well as obstructing a constable on that day.
A 49‑year‑old man, Alan Graham of Limerick, pleaded guilty to helping facilitate the attempted murder of Lee Boylan, who was shot in 2019. Graham admitted knowledge of a criminal organisation and participation in activities intended to aid the offence. He was arraigned via video link from Mountjoy Prison. The prosecution noted two counts on the indictment; a nolle prosequi will be entered on the attempted murder charge after sentencing. Mr Justice Michael White remanded Graham in custody until February 2 for a sentence hearing and a victim impact report.
In December 2020, a 17‑year‑old pleaded guilty to the murder of 20‑year‑old Glen 'Ossie' Osborne at Ballybough House, Dublin. Osborne's partner, Lauren Cray, had just given birth to their first child two months after his death. The teenager was sentenced to detention for life with a review after ten years. He will remain at Oberstown Detention Centre until his 18th birthday, when he will be transferred to an adult prison. Mr Justice Paul McDermott ordered health reports on the boy's 18th birthday and every two years thereafter, to be reviewed in 2030. The judge cited the use of a knife and the victim's unarmed status as aggravating factors, while the guilty plea and expressions of remorse were mitigating. The sentence reflects the boy's lack of judgment, chaotic background, and drug problems, but not a pre‑planned, malicious act. The review will consider the boy's progress and reports before deciding on continued imprisonment.
The Special Criminal Court sentenced Jonathan Harding to five years and three months' imprisonment for laundering over €342,000 for a serious criminal organisation. Harding, 48, pleaded guilty to five offences under the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act 2010. Mr Justice Tony Hunt imposed a headline sentence of six years and nine months, suspending the final 18 months on all charges, with all sentences running concurrently. Harding signed a bond to be of good behaviour for three years post-release. The judge noted Harding's prior conviction for possessing nine revolvers, four pistols, a sub-machine gun, an assault rifle, and ammunition, for which he received a ten-year sentence in January 2018. Co-accused Carol Davis, 45, pleaded guilty to three offences under the same Act, admitting she was reckless in allowing Harding access to her accounts but denying involvement in underlying criminality. She received a three-year suspended sentence on all offences, signing a bond to be of good behaviour for that duration. The court found that accounts linked to both were used as a travel service for the organisation. Separately, Declan Brady, 54, was previously sentenced to 11-and-a-half years' imprisonment in July 2019 after pleading guilty to possessing the same weapons cache, having been tasked by senior criminal figures to supervise it.
Three men remain imprisoned in Mountjoy following their refusal to comply with High Court orders at a hearing last week. Michael Anthony McGann, Colm Granahan and Kevin Taylor were found in contempt of court for breaching orders to stay away from a property at Falsk, Strokestown, County Roscommon. The men, arrested by An Garda Síochána, appeared before the High Court via video-link on Monday. Justice Leonie Reynolds invited each to purge their contempt by undertaking to comply with the orders sought by KBC Bank, but all three refused, instead disputing the validity of the court orders. The judge determined that imprisonment must continue, noting the men could return to court at any time to comply. KBC Bank's counsel indicated the bank does not seek imprisonment but requires the men's undertakings to vacate the property, which the bank has now secured. The matter originates from a €431,000 debt on the farm, with the men having remained on the property in breach of earlier possession orders.
Colm Granahan was committed to Mountjoy Prison on Friday by Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds after refusing to provide an undertaking to stay away from a farm in Falsk, Strokestown, Co Roscommon. The judge stated she had no choice but to commit him until he purges his contempt of court orders. This follows the earlier jailing of Michael Anthony McGann, the property owner, and retired Garda Kevin Taylor, both of whom were jailed for failing to give undertakings to comply with orders to vacate the farm. KBC Bank, which holds possession orders arising from a €431,000 debt, argued that an undertaking would satisfy its requirements, though it did not seek incarceration. Mr Granahan, from Ballina, Co Mayo, objected to the court's characterization of the orders as technically flawed and refused to answer the judge's request for an undertaking, stating he was "remaining mute." The judge noted that the matter would be reviewed next week. The farm has been the subject of ongoing proceedings involving the McGann siblings and KBC Bank, including a controversial eviction in 2018 and subsequent incidents involving security personnel. The court emphasized that the refusal to comply with the injunction resulted in the contempt proceedings.
Two men remain in custody at Mountjoy Prison after refusing to give undertakings to vacate a farm at Falsk, Strokestown, County Roscommon. Michael Anthony McGann, who owns the property, and retired Garda Kevin Taylor of Longford were remanded in continuing custody by Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds at the High Court on Thursday. Both men declined to provide sworn undertakings to comply with court orders made in favour of KBC Bank requiring them to leave the premises. The bank obtained an order for possession in 2018 following a substantial debt on the property. Mr McGann disputed the proceedings, claiming perjury and fraud, whilst Mr Taylor stated he would remain in prison rather than comply. Ms Justice Reynolds said her function was solely to ensure compliance with court orders and that she would not engage with conspiracy theories. The matter will be reviewed the following week, with both men entitled to apply to purge their contempt at any time.
Two men have been remanded in custody following their failure to comply with High Court orders to vacate a farm at Falsk, Strokestown, County Roscommon. Michael Anthony McGann, who owns the property, and retired Garda Kevin Taylor of Dublin Road, Longford were arrested on Wednesday morning and brought before Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds at the High Court. The judge heard that both men were in contempt of court orders requiring them to leave the premises. KBC Bank, which holds an injunction granting it vacant possession of the farm, told the court that Mr McGann had breached an undertaking given last month to vacate the property and had made statements on social media indicating he would not leave. Mr Taylor was said to have been present at the farm and part of a coordinated attempt to frustrate the court's orders. Both men were remanded to Mountjoy Prison pending a further hearing on Thursday to address the contempt proceedings.
A woman and her partner were involved in a money-laundering scheme linked to an organised crime group, following a raid that uncovered an arsenal of firearms capable of 'arming a small country', the Special Criminal Court has heard. Jonathan Harding (48) of Kerdiff Avenue, Naas, Co Kildare, pleaded guilty to five charges of converting, transferring or handling property, to wit money, between 1 January, 2012, and 31 December 2016, at EBS, Bank of Ireland and AIB accounts, the proceeds of criminal conduct. Co-accused Carol Davis (45) of Clonmacnoise Road, Crumlin, Dublin 12, pleaded guilty to three offences between 1 January, 2014, and 31 December, 2016, relating to accounts held in her own name also at EBS, AIB and Bank of Ireland. The pair had originally been charged with 50 offences but pleaded guilty to a total of eight offences. The charges come under the Criminal Justice Act 2010 (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing). Declan Brady (54), known as 'Mr Nobody', was sentenced to 11-and-a-half years imprisonment after pleading guilty to possession of the weapons. Tom Anderson, the defendant, was sentenced to ten years in prison with one year suspended in January 2018 for the possession of firearms. The matter was adjourned to December 15 for sentencing.
Sean Nolan, aged 36, was sentenced to life imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of his partner Amanda Carroll, aged 33, who was strangled in her own apartment on 21 October 2018. The judge, Mr Justice Michael MacGrath, imposed the mandatory life term, back‑dated to the date of the offence, and directed that Nolan serve the full custodial period. During sentencing, Carroll's sisters Sandra and Antoinette delivered victim impact statements, expressing grief and demanding that Nolan be punished. Nolan, who had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, interjected from the dock, saying "I am sorry". The court noted that the jury had rejected the defence's claim that Nolan was too intoxicated to form intent, concluding that the death was a deliberate act. No further legal outcome was mentioned in the article. Sean Nolan was convicted.
The Special Criminal Court sentenced David Hunter to life imprisonment for the 2016 murder of Michael Barr at the Sunset House pub in Dublin. Presiding Judge Alexander Owens, sitting with Judges Gerard Griffin and David McHugh, backdated the sentence to April 2019, when Hunter was arrested in the UK on a European Arrest Warrant. Hunter, a 42-year-old Liverpool native, had pleaded not guilty but was found guilty based on compelling evidence, including DNA from a ski-mask recovered from the getaway car that matched his profile. The court rejected his defence that he was in Dublin for a concert and that the mask was lost during a prior car-stealing trip. Hunter is the second individual convicted for this Kinahan Cartel-linked killing; Eamon Cumberton was convicted in January 2018. During sentencing, Detective Garda Colm Kelly noted Hunter's 15 previous convictions. Prosecution counsel Mr Barr argued Hunter should serve his full sentence in Ireland to avoid transfer to Liverpool. Detective Superintendent Colm Murphy described the murder as cold and callous, confirming the investigation remains ongoing to bring all involved to justice. Victim impact statements from Barr's sister Noeleen and former partner Jade O'Shea highlighted the lasting trauma on Barr's five children and family.
A High Court judge has warned that any person occupying a farm at Falsk, Strokestown, Co Roscommon after 6pm on Sunday is likely to face imprisonment for contempt of court. Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds made the remarks after being informed that whilst the three McGann siblings have complied with orders to vacate the property, which is subject to a repossession order by KBC bank, other individuals are preventing the bank from taking possession. The court heard that a retired garda and possibly others remain on the farm. Counsel for KBC stated that the retired garda has acted in a threatening manner towards the bank's agents and that social media posts have encouraged defiance of court orders. Ms Justice Reynolds expressed concern at what she described as a deliberate breach of the court's order and indicated she would hear applications for committal if the property was not vacated by the deadline. The case will return to court the following week.
A Central Criminal Court jury found electrician Sean Nolan, 36, guilty of murdering his partner Amanda Carroll, 33, after a binge‑drinking session. The jury rejected the defence's claim that Nolan was too intoxicated to form intent, concluding he had intended to kill or seriously injure her when he strangled her for about 20 seconds in her bedroom. The trial included evidence of a prior road‑traffic collision, the couple's drinking at multiple locations, and Nolan's admission that he knew she was dead the next morning. The jury deliberated for eight hours and eight minutes over five days, returning a majority verdict of 10‑2. Mr Justice MacGrath will impose a mandatory life sentence on 4 November and remand Nolan in custody until then. The case remains at the murder‑trial stage. Sean Nolan pleaded not guilty. Amanda Carroll pleaded not guilty.
In the trial of Sean Nolan, accused of murdering his partner Amanda Carroll, the jury has been deliberating for a fifth day. The case centers on a binge‑drinking session that began early in the day and continued into the night, during which Nolan allegedly strangled Carroll in her bedroom. Defence counsel argued that Nolan was too intoxicated to form intent, seeking a manslaughter verdict. The prosecution maintained that a drunken intent still constitutes intent to kill. The jury, composed of six men and six women, has spent over seven hours across four days considering the verdict. The judge instructed the jurors to remain silent about the case and to return tomorrow morning for a final decision. The trial is still ongoing, with no verdict yet reached. Sean Nolan pleaded not guilty. Amanda Carroll pleaded not guilty.
The Central Criminal Court heard a jury deliberating the murder trial of Sean Nolan, 36, accused of strangling his partner Amanda Carroll, 33, in her Dublin apartment after a binge‑drinking session. The jury, composed of six men and six women, had spent six hours and 22 minutes over three days considering their verdict. Defence counsel Michael O'Higgins argued that Nolan was too intoxicated to form the intent to kill, seeking a manslaughter verdict on the basis of lack of intent. The prosecution, led by Shane Costelloe, maintained that Nolan's 20‑second strangulation constituted intent to kill or cause serious injury. The case involved evidence of alcohol, sedatives, and other drugs in Carroll's system, and testimony that Nolan had put his hand on her neck and over her mouth. The jury was instructed to return a unanimous verdict of either guilty of murder or not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter.
In the trial of Sean Nolan, 36, for the murder of his partner Amanda Carroll, 33, a jury asked the judge whether intoxication could negate intent. Defence counsel argued Nolan was too drunk to form intent, seeking a manslaughter verdict. The judge explained that voluntary intoxication can reduce murder to manslaughter if the prosecution fails to prove intent to kill or cause serious injury. He also clarified that "serious injury" is a matter of judgement. Nolan had been involved in a road collision earlier that day, fled the scene, and was later arrested after the body was found. The jury will return to decide between a murder or manslaughter verdict. The case is heard at Homestead Court, Quarry Road, Cabra. The judge emphasized that the jury must remain unanimous. The prosecution maintains that Nolan intended to kill when he strangled Carroll for 20 seconds. The trial continues. Sean Nolan pleaded not guilty.
Two brothers, Lee Quinn, 24, and Gavin Quinn, 26, are charged with the attempted murder of Garda Alan Murphy, who was responding to a stabbing incident on St Vincent's Street, Inchicore, on the night of 30 March 2020. The brothers are also charged with possession of a knife and obstruction. Garda Murphy was injured by a large laceration to his head after being assaulted by the two men while he was helping a wounded man. The DPP had directed trial on indictment, but Mr Justice Michael White scheduled the trial for 11 January 2022, citing a backlog of cases caused by Covid‑19. The brothers were remanded in custody at Cloverhill Prison and Mountjoy Prison. The court also noted that requests for trials to be held in Cork and Kerry would be adjourned to the CCJ in Dublin for the foreseeable future. The trial will take place in 2022.
Sean Nolan, 36, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter of 33‑year‑old Ms Carroll in Dublin. He told detectives he had put one hand on her neck and the other over her mouth after she called him by her ex‑boyfriend's name and said she never loved him. Nolan said he had no intention to kill and that the death was accidental. He claimed he had been angry, wanted her to sleep, and panicked when he realised she was dead. He described the incident as a brief struggle lasting about 20 seconds. The court heard that Carroll's body was found in her apartment, her death caused by compression of neck and mouth, with drugs in her system. The trial continues with the jury hearing closing arguments.
Gary O'Brien, 32, was sentenced to 15 months in prison after pleading guilty to assaulting prison officer John Cullen at Mountjoy Prison on 27 August 2016. O'Brien had been observed ingesting something in his cell and was unsteady when staff attempted to escort him to the reception area. He resisted and acted aggressively, telling staff he would not be searched. Officer Cullen sustained a broken finger, requiring two surgeries and a steel fixer in his hand, and reported the assault had a devastating effect on his mental health and mobility. O'Brien, who has 55 prior convictions, expressed deep shame and apologized, but Officer Cullen did not accept the apology. The court noted the incident had a "life altering" impact on Cullen and imposed the sentence with a suspended year, subject to probation, substance misuse work, and anger management.
Sean Nolan, a 36‑year‑old electrician, was arrested after Garda detectives found him on Navan Road following the discovery of Amanda Carroll's body in her Dublin apartment. Nolan denied murdering Carroll but admitted to choking her, saying he had "freaked" and spent the day walking around. He claimed he had put a hand over her mouth and another around her neck while they were lying in bed, and that he tried to wake her the next morning. The body, found by her 16‑year‑old son, showed bruising on the neck, blood on the nose and scrapes on the forehead. Nolan pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The trial, held at Homestead Court, focused on the circumstances of the alleged choking and the presence of sedative drugs in Carroll's system. The case is still pending before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath and a jury.
Sean Nolan, 36, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter of his partner Amanda Carroll, 33, who was found dead in her apartment on 21 October 2018. The trial heard that Nolan and Carroll had been involved in a road‑traffic collision earlier that day, fled the scene, and were later intercepted by Gardaí. Nolan was under the influence of an intoxicant; his blood was taken for drink‑driving or drug‑driving concerns. Carroll was arrested under the Public Order Act, struck out at Gardaí, and was handcuffed with her hands behind her back. A taxi driver, Andrew Farrell, testified that Nolan told him he loved Carroll and that she was a "great girl" hours before the killing. The prosecution argued that Nolan's act of putting his hands on Carroll's throat and mouth intended to kill, making him guilty of murder rather than manslaughter. The case is set to continue before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath and a jury.
Gerard Griffin, 63, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for a series of violent attacks on the staff of the Chicken Hut on Clanbrassil Street, Dublin. The first assault occurred in April 2017, when he punched the owner, threatened staff and smashed the shop with a hockey stick. He later stabbed the owner's hand in February 2020. Griffin pleaded guilty to assault, criminal damage, threats to kill and possession of a knife. He also admitted to earlier offences, including assault, firearms possession and theft. The judge noted his mental collapse following the death of a son and the loss of four children, and suspended the final three years of a six‑year sentence on the condition that he stay away from the flat. He was ordered to engage with the Probation Service to address bereavement and racism issues. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the repeated violent conduct and the impact on the victim.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 17‑year‑old pleaded guilty to the murder of 20‑year‑old Glen 'Ossie' Osborne, who was stabbed to death after a drug‑related dispute. The court heard that Osborne's girlfriend, Lauren Cray, had given birth to their son two months after his death, and that Osborne's mother, Rose, described him as a hardworking, premature baby who grew into a charming young man. The defendant had called Osborne a "rat" during the altercation and had previously threatened Osborne's mother. Witnesses and CCTV showed the defendant, carrying a white bag with a knife, stabbing Osborne once in the chest, causing a fatal heart wound. The defendant, who is a minor, was remanded for a further hearing on 7 December, with the judge noting his early guilty plea and cognitive deficits. The case remains pending.
David Hunter, a 41‑year‑old car thief from Liverpool, was convicted by the Special Criminal Court of murdering 35‑year‑old Michael Barr, manager of the Sunset House pub in Dublin, on 25 April 2016. The court found Hunter to be one of two gunmen who entered the pub, shot Barr seven times, and fled in an Audi A6 that was later set on fire. DNA evidence from a ski‑mask recovered from the car matched Hunter's profile, and the court rejected his explanations for his presence in Dublin and the mask's whereabouts as implausible. Hunter denied the murder, claiming he had been in Dublin for a concert and had no involvement. The judge ruled that Hunter could not have been the getaway driver and that he was seated in the rear passenger seat while the other accused, Eamonn Cumberton, was the driver. Hunter will receive a mandatory life sentence and remain in custody until sentencing.
A man named Douglas Glynn, aged 36, was granted bail by the Special Criminal Court for his alleged involvement in the attempted murder of James 'Mago' Gately, a target of the Kinahan cartel. The charge, under Section 72(1) of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, alleges that between 7 December 2016 and 6 April 2017, Glynn, knowing of a criminal organisation, participated in activities that would facilitate the murder of Gately, specifically the fixing of a tracking device on Gately's car. Despite objections from Gardaí, who cited Glynn's risk to public safety, the seriousness of the offence, and his flight risk, the judge granted bail. Conditions include daily reporting to Mountjoy Garda Station, residence at a family home, provision of a mobile number, surrender of travel documents, prohibition from leaving the jurisdiction, and no contact with case‑related individuals.
Micheal Corbett, aged 30, had the six‑year suspended portion of his nine‑year sentence for attempted murder of a 17‑year‑old at the Hellfire Club on Montpelier Hill activated by Mr Justice Michael White on 29 July 2020. The activation follows a psychiatric report indicating Corbett is at risk of future violence and a series of violent incidents while in custody, including assaulting other prisoners and attacking a nurse with a sock. Corbett had previously pleaded guilty to the attempted murder committed on 27 June 2016, which left the victim with a four‑inch stab wound to the chest and a head injury from a piece of timber. The court's decision means Corbett will serve the full nine years from the date of his initial arrest for the attempted murder. The judge noted that the risks identified in the psychiatric report made it impossible to rely on the suspended sentence to manage Corbett's psychosis.
In July 2020, Mr Justice Michael White ordered that Michael Corbett, 30, be brought before the Central Criminal Court to decide whether he should remain in prison to serve the portion of his nine‑year sentence for attempted murder that was initially suspended. Corbett had been released in July 2018 after serving less than three years, on the condition that he live with his mother, with the final six years suspended because he was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia at the time of the 2016 attack. He had previously attacked other prisoners in Mountjoy Prison and had pleaded guilty to assaulting a nurse in 2016, for which he received a five‑year sentence with the final two‑and‑a‑half years suspended. The court has received a psychiatric report that raises serious concerns about his impending release, and Mr Justice White has asked the State to decide whether the remainder of his sentence should be imposed.
Ms Estefany Carolina Alquinta Gonzalez, a 33‑year‑old Chilean student, was detained at Dublin Airport on 2 July after immigration officials refused her entry, citing that she posed a real and immediate threat to the State's fundamental policy interests. She had arrived to begin a six‑month English course at a Dublin‑based language school. The State did not contest an inquiry into the legality of her detention under Article 40 of the Constitution. On 14 July, Mr Justice Charles Meenan, following a hearing with counsel Rosario Boyle SC, ordered her release from custody and awarded her legal costs. Ms Gonzalez had been held in solitary confinement in the female section of Mountjoy Prison, isolated from other prisoners due to Covid‑19 regulations, and had tested negative for the virus. The Minister for Justice intends to review a separate decision that denied her permission to remain in the State.
A High Court judge has ordered an inquiry into the detention of a 33-year-old Chilean student held in the Dochas Centre at Mountjoy Prison. Ms Estefany Carolina Alquinta Gonzalez arrived in Dublin on 2 July to begin an English language course at a Dublin school. She was refused entry at the airport on grounds that she posed a threat to the State's fundamental policy interests, and was subsequently placed in solitary confinement. Ms Gonzalez, represented by Rosario Boyle SC and Aoife McMahon BL, denies posing any security or public policy risk. Evidence presented to Mr Justice Charles Meenan indicated she had pre-arrival contact with the Department of Foreign Affairs regarding entry requirements. Ms Gonzalez claims she held all required documentation, including her passport, proof of funds, and accommodation details in County Roscommon. The judge directed the inquiry under Article 40 of the Constitution on Monday and adjourned the matter to Tuesday.
William Kinlan, 36, with 206 prior convictions, was jailed for 16 months after stealing a phone from a young woman on a bus stop in Dublin. He cycled past the victim, took her phone, and left it on a windowsill. Garda Michael O'Donnell, who heard the woman scream, recognised Kinlan and pursued him, arresting him on the spot. Kinlan claimed he was a drug addict needing money to repay a drug debt. He pleaded guilty to theft at O'Connell Street on 29 February 2020, the same offence for which he had just been released from a previous sentence. The phone was returned to the victim. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Kinlan's extensive criminal history and drug addiction, imposed a 16‑month sentence consecutive to the term he was already serving, expressing doubt about his likelihood of reform. The case was prosecuted by Maurice Coffey BL and defended by Derek Cooney BL.
In July 2020, Gerard Griffin, aged 63, was remanded in custody after a series of violent incidents involving chef Bilal Ahmed at the Chicken Hut on Clanbrassil Street. Griffin had previously damaged the restaurant in 2017 with a hockey stick, smashing glass counters, displays, and CCTV cameras, and had assaulted Ahmed. In February 2020, while Ahmed was waiting outside the restaurant, Griffin stabbed him in the right hand with a kitchen knife. Griffin also inflicted a superficial wound on his own throat with a Stanley blade during a confrontation with Gardaí, who described a "siege" in his apartment where he threatened to pour boiling water and use booby traps. He pleaded guilty to assault, criminal damage, and threats of serious harm. The court remanded him pending sentencing, with a judge noting his history of 30 prior convictions and alleged mental collapse. The chef remains injured, suffering stiffness and pain in his right arm.
Mark Egan, 41, of Cabra Road, Dublin 7, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to two burglaries and one attempted burglary at Bishop Street, Dublin 8, on May 28, 2019. Prosecution evidence presented by Garda Greg Moroney alleged that Egan entered a building housing multiple organisations, stealing laptops valued at €4,700 and cash from two companies, while ransacking the offices of a third without taking items. Egan admitted responsibility during interview after viewing CCTV footage, noting he was on medication that prevented him from recalling the events. Judge Melanie Greally acknowledged Egan's 41 previous convictions and his history of relapse following a probation bond, but commended his recent successful supervision and efforts to address addiction. During the hearing, Egan requested to remain in custody to complete a two-month drugs course at Mountjoy Prison. The judge agreed to finalise sentencing, imposing a three-year prison term. However, she suspended the final two years of the sentence on strict conditions. The sentence was backdated to January 17, the date Egan first went into custody, resulting in an effective custody period of one year.
Michael Corbett, aged 30, was released in July 2018 after serving less than three years of a nine‑year sentence for an attempted murder of a 17‑year‑old at the Hellfire Club on Dublin's Montpelier Hill. The final six years of his sentence were suspended because he was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia at the time of the attack. In October 2016, while an in‑patient at the Central Mental Hospital, Corbett tried to strangle nurse Declan Curtin with a sock; he pleaded guilty to assaulting Curtin and was sentenced to five years, with the final two‑and‑a‑half years suspended for 15 years on strict conditions, including supervision by the Probation Service and residence at an approved address. Corbett remains in custody in relation to the Dublin Circuit Court matter and is due for release in August.
A 25‑year‑old man, Jake Kearney, was arrested on 30 October 2019 for unlawful possession of a loaded Grandpower semi‑automatic pistol. He was a trusted member of an organised crime gang planning an imminent attack on a rival north Dublin faction. Gardaí seized a silver Skoda Octavia taxi, a Volkswagen Passat, Kearney's black handgun, eight 9mm bullets, his latex gloves and mobile phone. Kearney pleaded guilty on 5 May to the offence. He had previous convictions for drug dealing. His mother's home was burnt out after his arrest, an act described by the judge as a "desperate situation" and a punishment for the crime of her son. The Special Criminal Court adjourned sentencing to 30 July. The case remains at the hearing stage, with no further outcome reported.
The Special Criminal Court heard testimony in the trial of David Hunter, a 41-year-old Liverpool native accused of the murder of Michael Barr at the Sunset House pub in Dublin's north inner city on 25 April 2016. An unnamed witness described crawling on the floor to bless Mr Barr's body after two masked men entered the bar and shot him seven times. She recounted that a mirror smashed during the incident and that she saw the shooters wearing Halloween-style masks. Defending barrister Ms Roisín Lacey SC questioned the witness regarding whether it was common knowledge that Mr Barr was scheduled for sentencing that week, to which the witness replied Mr Barr had mentioned going on holiday. Another witness, Stephen Clifford, stated he heard three shots and saw Mr Barr fall with blood from his neck. Nepalese barman Keshav Paudel testified that he hid behind the bar and called 999. Detective Garda David Kildea informed the court that the pub's CCTV hard drive had been seized days earlier for a separate matter. The trial, presided over by Justice Alexander Owens, is expected to last four weeks.
Eamonn Cumberton, 32, was given a life sentence for the 2016 murder of Michael Barr, 35, at the Sunset House pub. Barr was shot seven times by two men in "Freddy Kruger" masks. The Special Criminal Court found Cumberton one of three culprits who dumped items linked to the killing into a getaway car, later found partially burnt on Walsh Road. DNA on a baseball cap and a rubber mask matched Cumberton, and circumstantial evidence included his unusual trip to Thailand and failure to answer Garda questions. Cumberton appealed on 28 grounds, but the Court of Appeal dismissed all, affirming the trial's safety and the court's findings. He remains jailed for life, with no part of the sentence suspended. The appeal was rejected on 19 May 2020.
Imre Arakas, 62, a former Estonian separatist, is jailed in Portlaoise Prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to murder James Gately in Northern Ireland in April 2017. He received a six‑year sentence from the Special Criminal Court in December 2018. Lithuanian authorities suspect Arakas was part of a three‑man gang that planned the murder of a man who had an affair with Lithuanian pop star Vita Jakutiene. They seek his surrender on a European Arrest Warrant, alleging he faces charges of murder, firearms offences and conspiracy related to the shooting of Deimantas Bugavicius. Arakas was arrested in Dublin in February 2018 under the EAW. His extradition hearing date will be set next month, with the case adjourned for four weeks until 15 June. He remains remanded in custody awaiting that hearing. The hearing will be conducted via video‑link from Portlaoise Prison.
David Banks, 45, a homeless man with 22 prior convictions, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for possession of heroin for sale or supply. He pleaded guilty to offences at Mountjoy Square on 21 June 2018 and 4 July 2018, and at Store Street Garda Station on 26 July 2018. Garda Gerard Whelan reported that police entered a friend's address at Mountjoy Square in June, finding €2,330 worth of heroin that Banks had stored there. A subsequent raid on 4 July uncovered an additional €2,150 worth of heroin. On 26 July, Banks was stopped on the street, searched, and a further €1,700 worth of heroin was found in his underwear at Store Street Garda Station. Judge Melanie Greally noted that Banks had been a chronic drug addict from a young age, had worked as a painter and decorator, and had been homeless intermittently.
In a High Court hearing on 22 April 2020, Ms Emma Roche's application for a temporary injunction to keep her on the Garda roster was dismissed. Roche, a probationary Garda, argued that the decision to terminate her service was unfair because she had failed a beep test during 2017‑2019. She sought an injunction to allow her to continue working pending a full hearing. The court, presided over by Mr Justice Michael Twomey, noted that Roche had been informed of the termination on 10 April, before her lawyers filed the injunction request. The judge held that the Commissioner's decision had already taken effect, so no injunction could be granted. Roche had previously passed all other requirements, was sworn in 2017, and had an exemplary record, but the court did not rule on the merits of her appeal at this stage.
Martin Aylmer, aged 33, bought six prepaid mobile phones in the run‑up to the murder of Michael Barr, 35, at the Sunset House pub on 25 April 2016. One phone was found beside a burned‑out getaway car used in the killing. Aylmer was captured on CCTV buying the phone in Dublin's Ilac Shopping Centre two days before the shooting. He claimed the phones were for drug trafficking. He pleaded guilty to assisting a criminal organisation in a serious offence. The Special Criminal Court sentenced him to three years and nine months, with the final year suspended, but the Court of Appeal re‑sentenced him to six years with the final 15 months suspended, citing his assistance to a gang that committed murder as an aggravating factor. Aylmer was required to enter a good‑behaviour bond for the suspended period. The case remains under appeal for the murder conviction of Eamonn Cumberton.
Eamonn Cumberton, a 32-year-old man from Mountjoy Street, Dublin 7, has had his appeal against a life sentence for the 2016 murder of Michael Barr adjourned. Cumberton was convicted by the Special Criminal Court of the deliberate and planned execution of Mr Barr at the Sunset House pub, where he was shot seven times by a masked gunman. The court found Cumberton's DNA on a baseball cap and rubber mask recovered from a getaway car, and relied on circumstantial evidence regarding his unusual travel attempts to Thailand and his failure to answer police questions. Although Cumberton denied the murder, he was jailed for life on January 29, 2018. In his current appeal, his counsel argued that the trial court erred in drawing inferences from his silence and mishandled DNA evidence, suggesting cross-contamination. The prosecution countered that the evidence strongly linked Cumberton to the crime scene and that his travel behavior indicated an intent to flee. The Court of Criminal Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice John Edwards with Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, reserved its judgment. Consequently, the matter was adjourned, and Cumberton must wait to hear the outcome of his appeal against his conviction.
In the High Court, Susan McGovern, a former prisoner at Limerick Women's Prison, brought a damages claim against the Irish Prison Service, the Minister for Justice, Ireland, the Attorney General, and the Governor of Limerick Prison. McGovern alleges that the slopping-out regime imposed on her between 2000 and 2003, and again from April 2012 to May 2013, constituted degrading treatment that breached her constitutional and European Convention on Human Rights. She claims that sleeping on mattresses in overcrowded, unhygienic cells without toilets, and using a shared bucket in plain view of cellmates, deprived her of human dignity and affected her physical and mental health. The State parties deny these allegations and argue the claim is statute-barred. Counsel for the State suggested the case be referred to a State redress board, following a Supreme Court ruling that awarded damages to former prisoner Gary Simpson for similar conditions. Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds directed the State parties to file a defence within 12 weeks and adjourned the action. Separately, a claim by Christopher Coakley regarding his detention at Mountjoy Prison in 2011 and 2012 was mentioned before the Master of the High Court. Coakley alleged he was forced to defecate into a pot or bag in the presence of cellmates. Although an application to remit the claim to the Circuit Court was pending, the Master was informed that the matter had been resolved between the parties.
Liam Sheridan, aged 40, was sentenced to three years in prison for endangerment after he struck an elderly woman with a stolen car on Mountjoy Street, Dublin, on 31 August 2016. The incident occurred when Sheridan, who had lost his car key, was approached by four young men who had found the key and urged him to steal the vehicle. While the woman and her male companion, both in their 70s, were searching for the key, Sheridan drove the car in reverse, causing the woman to fall and sustain two leg fractures. She was hospitalized and continues to receive care. Sheridan pleaded guilty, expressed remorse, and claimed he was under the influence of drugs and alcohol at the time. Judge Elma Sheahan suspended the final nine months of a 3‑year, 9‑month sentence, requiring him to keep the peace and engage with the Probation Service upon release. Sheridan's prior convictions include theft and drug‑dealing offences.
The High Court has struck out a damages claim brought by Gerard Martin Fulham, who was incarcerated in Mountjoy prison between December 21st and 28th, 2007, for failing to pay debts. Mr Justice Bernard Barton dismissed the action as vexatious, frivolous, and bound to fail. Mr Fulham, a former building contractor, alleged that his imprisonment following instalment orders from creditors Chadwicks and Independent Communications Ltd breached his constitutional rights. He sought damages and a civil jury trial, claiming his health suffered. The defendants, including the State and the Attorney General, denied the claims and moved to strike out the proceedings, arguing Mr Fulham could not benefit from the 2009 McCann judgement, which found section 6 of the Enforcement of Court Orders Act 1940 unconstitutional. That ruling had previously allowed Caroline McCann to avoid a prison sentence for unpaid debts. The judge noted that Mr Fulham had not challenged his 2007 incarceration at the time nor sought judicial review within legal time limits. Consequently, he was not entitled to the benefit of the McCann decision. Although the claim was struck out, the matter will return before the courts in the New Year to deal with all outstanding issues.
In a 2018 incident on Phibsborough Road, 28‑year‑old Gary Gibson attempted to steal a bicycle and, when confronted by retired RTÉ broadcaster Cathal Mac Coille, struck him on the head with a bolt cutter. Gibson fled, jumping into a canal to evade capture, and was later apprehended after a ten‑minute standoff. He pleaded guilty to assault and attempted theft, and to possession of a Stanley knife. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to two and a half years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended. Gibson's prior convictions include burglary, firearms offences and public order matters. The assault left Mac Coille with a lump and bruise on his forehead, forcing a three‑week break from a programme about the Pope's visit and a €125 expense for new bicycle wheels and a lock. The case highlighted the impact of the assault on Mac Coille's broadcasting work.
Ian Quinn, 38, of St Aongus Park, Tallaght, pleaded guilty to assaulting a prison officer in Mountjoy Prison on 30 January 2019. Officer Colin Ryan, who knew Quinn from earlier that morning, was walking across a landing when Quinn approached with a bucket. Quinn threw the bucket's contents—excrement—over Ryan's face and uniform. Ryan initially thought it might be boiling water but soon realised it was feces, which entered his mouth, eyes, boots and radio. The incident left Ryan traumatised and unfit for work for four weeks. Quinn, already serving a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for a separate offence, was sentenced to an additional two months' imprisonment, to run consecutively with his existing term. The court noted that Quinn had produced a knife in prison and that the assault was described as a "pretty low assault" that was nasty and ridiculing. The judge emphasised that the incident had led to Quinn's six‑month solitary confinement.
Five men—Ciaran O'Driscoll (24), Patrick Curtis (38), Stephen Curtis (32), Mohammed Smew (27) and Michael Burns (43)—appeared before the Special Criminal Court on 5 December 2019. They are charged with conspiring to murder Patrick "Patsy" Hutch between 1 February 2018 and 10 March 2018, a serious offence under Section 71 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006. All five are also charged with participating in activities intended to facilitate the commission of a serious offence by a criminal organisation, namely the murder of Mr Hutch between 1 February 2018 and 28 February 2018, and with the murder of an unknown person between 1 February 2018 and 10 March 2018. Patrick Curtis and Michael Burns face additional charges of directing the activities of a criminal organisation during the same period. Burns is further accused of possessing a firearm silencer and five rounds of 9 mm ammunition on 10 March 2018, suggesting unlawful possession.