A witness has told the Central Criminal Court that Ruth Lawrence, the accused in a double murder trial, admitted to shooting drug dealer Eoin O'Connor but said the killing "went wrong" and her boyfriend "took over". Stacey Symes testified that Lawrence said Anthony Keegan died for O'Connor "because they were friends". Ms Symes, who grew up in Ballyjamesduff, Co Cavan, said she and her father were asked to help move the bodies of both men. Lawrence, aged 45, with an address at Patricks Cottage, Ross, Mountnugent, Co Meath, has pleaded not guilty to murdering O'Connor and Keegan between 22 April and 26 May 2014. The court heard the bodies were later discovered on Inchicup Island on Lough Sheelin. The trial before Mr Justice Tony Hunt continues, with the defence due to cross-examine the witness.
John Hoey, a 24‑year‑old carpet fitter, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended for two years, after pleading guilty to assaulting his pregnant partner and threatening her with a Stanley knife. The court heard that Hoey repeatedly beat his partner, pushed her head under running water, struck her with a toilet brush, and threatened to kill her if she sent any more Snapchat messages. He also smashed their patio door and a mirror, and grabbed her by the throat, causing her to pass out. Hoey admitted the assault, expressed remorse, and has no prior convictions. The judge noted the sustained violent attack and ordered Hoey to engage with the Probation Service and attend intimate partner violence programmes for 12 months upon release. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the domestic violence but acknowledges his lack of previous convictions and his willingness to seek help.
A 44‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to 18 years' imprisonment for a series of sexual offences against his daughter, aged five to eight during 2020‑2022, and for a prolonged assault on his former partner on 28 September 2023. The court found him guilty of five counts of sexual assault, four counts of rape, one count of exposing the child to pornography, one count of false imprisonment of the partner and one count of threatening to kill her. He pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to the partner. The judge imposed six years for the partner's offences and 13 years for the child's offences, to run consecutively, suspending the final year on conditions including probation supervision for three years. The sentence reflected the domestic violence provisions and the severe impact on the victimised daughter, who remains a child. The man continues to deny the charges.
A man from Enniscrone has brought a complaint before the Workplace Relations Commission alleging religious discrimination after being issued a lifetime ban from a yoga studio in Ballina. Peter McKeon enrolled at Roots Wellness in September 2024 and attended classes twice weekly until December 2024, when he engaged in a conversation with the studio's owner, Niamh Glackin, regarding his objections to Christmas on religious grounds. Following this exchange, Mr McKeon received written notice that the studio was not an appropriate environment for him, and was subsequently informed of a permanent ban in January 2025. Mr McKeon contends the ban constitutes unlawful discrimination under the Equal Status Act 2000. Ms Glackin disputed aspects of Mr McKeon's account and testified that her decision to ban him was based solely on his allegedly aggressive behaviour during the incident, not on religious considerations. She stated the conduct created an unsafe environment for herself and other clients. Adjudication officer Brian Dolan has concluded the hearing and will deliver his written decision at a later date.
Ruth Lawrence, 45, is on trial for the alleged murder of Anthony Keegan, 33, and Eoin O'Connor, 32, at an unknown location in the State between April 22 and May 26, 2014. Ms Lawrence has pleaded not guilty to both charges. The trial is currently ongoing before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury. In evidence, former Chief State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy testified regarding the post-mortem examination of Mr O'Connor, whose remains were found wrapped in nylon on May 27, 2014. She identified three gunshot wounds: one to the head, one to the abdomen, and one to the left hand. Cassidy stated the head wound was the cause of death, while the abdominal injury was potentially fatal. She opined it was likely the abdominal shot occurred before the fatal headshot. Separately, retired Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis testified that Mr Keegan died from two gunshot wounds to the head and neck. The prosecution alleges Ms Lawrence shot Mr O'Connor and acted with her boyfriend, Neville van der Westhuizen, to kill both men. The trial continues.
Mihail Trofim, 27, was sentenced to six months' imprisonment after failing to attend his original sentencing hearing for careless driving causing serious bodily harm. The offence occurred on 8 June 2022 when his Mercedes struck a pedestrian on Old Navan Road, Blanchardstown, at 83–88 km/h in a 60 km/h zone. The victim, a 32‑year‑old musician, sustained catastrophic injuries, including brain damage, broken limbs and ribs, and now requires a wheelchair and constant care. Trofim pleaded guilty to the charge and to having no insurance, which he had purchased from a fraudulent broker. Judge Martin Nolan noted Trofim's lack of courage to appear, his failure to arrange a timely court appearance, and the aggravating impact on the victim's family. He was also disqualified from driving for five years. The court adjourned the case to allow for sentencing, which was carried out today.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Noel McCabe, aged 30, pleaded guilty to possession of a realistic‑looking airgun, common assault, criminal damage and producing an article capable of inflicting serious harm. The offences occurred on 24 September 2024. McCabe first forced entry into a house at Briarwood Lawn, Mulhuddart, then struck a man in a pub at the Westend Shopping Centre, producing a gas pistol from his tracksuit. He dropped gas canisters shaped like bullets, which were not ammunition. Later that evening, Gardaí found a black revolver near him at the same address; forensic analysis confirmed it was a realistic‑looking firearm. McCabe, intoxicated and argumentative, was arrested and later restrained during transport. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a five‑year sentence, back‑dated to September 2024, without part‑suspension, citing McCabe's extensive record of 41 convictions and his expressed remorse. The sentence aims to encourage behavioural change.
In a Dublin Circuit Court hearing on 20 October 2025, a 34‑year‑old man was sentenced to 20 months in prison for assaulting his former partner in May 2023. The victim, a new mother, described the attack as a "nightmare" that left her with a permanent facial scar, a lost front tooth, and lasting mental trauma. She said the man had no remorse and had threatened her and her sister, and that he had previously pleaded guilty to a threat to kill and assault. The judge noted the man's 26 prior convictions, including domestic‑violence breaches, and the intimate‑relationship context, and imposed a custodial sentence that was reduced from two years to 20 months for time already served. The victim's impact statement highlighted her loss of confidence, ongoing flashbacks, and the need to move into emergency accommodation for safety.
Pedro Cifali, 37, a Brazilian, will be sentenced on 9 February 2025 for attempting to murder his former partner, Lucia Nezbalova, 43, in Dublin. He electronically tracked her car, disguised himself, and stabbed her at her home in Garnish Square, causing severe injuries that required surgery. Nezbalova suffered life‑threatening wounds and now endures PTSD, anxiety and depression. Cifali pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and has no prior record. He has been in custody since the incident and has shown progress. The court adjourned sentencing to 9 February, with the prosecution seeking a headline sentence of 15 to 20 years, citing the extreme violence, premeditation and domestic abuse context. The case remains at the sentencing stage, with no further outcomes reported.
Josh O'Brien, aged 22, was sentenced to 15 years and six months in prison, with 18 months suspended, for attempting to murder his ex‑girlfriend, 21‑year‑old Niamh Kelly, by stabbing her 50 times on 19 September 2024. The judge described the violence as "breathtaking" and noted Kelly's life‑altering injuries, including permanent blindness in one eye, paralysis of her left leg, and extensive bone and organ damage. O'Brien pleaded guilty, had no prior convictions, and was found to have mental health issues but had not sought treatment. He was ordered to keep all probation appointments and to refrain from contacting Kelly for five years, including via electronic messaging. Kelly, who survived after seven months in hospital, continues physiotherapy and expresses gratitude for the sentence while acknowledging her ongoing recovery. The case was heard by Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring in Dublin.
A retired Deputy State Pathologist has testified at the Central Criminal Court that a Dublin man whose remains were discovered on an island in Lough Sheelin, County Cavan, died from two gunshot wounds to the head and neck. Dr Michael Curtis conducted a post-mortem examination on Anthony Keegan's decomposed remains in May 2014, found concealed beneath coal sacks and tarpaulin on Inchicup Island. He told the court that one gunshot wound to the right temporal region of the head proved instantaneously fatal, with the bullet traversing the skull and exiting the left jaw, while a second wound to the back of the neck caused catastrophic fractures to vertebrae. Ruth Lawrence, aged 45, with an address in County Meath, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Keegan and Eoin O'Connor between April and May 2014. The prosecution alleges Ms Lawrence and her boyfriend shot the two men and concealed their bodies. The trial before Mr Justice Tony Hunt continues.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Lucas Andre Alves, a 26‑year‑old Brazilian from Rio de Janeiro, pleaded guilty to possession of 100 pellets of cocaine worth €57,342 for sale or supply at Dublin Airport on 8 September 2024. Alves, who had lost his job in Brazil, admitted ingesting the pellets before travelling to Ireland, describing the act as a "crime of desperation." He has no prior convictions and has been in custody since his arrest. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Alves' guilty plea, good work history and the circumstances of the offence, imposed a two‑year and nine‑month sentence, back‑dated to September 2024, and departed from the ten‑year mandatory minimum. Garda Peter Elliot reported that Alves was stopped at customs, admitted to ingesting the pellets, and that he had been pressured by others to pay for his travel and documents.
Winifred Joyce, aged 30, was sentenced to three years and six months in prison, with the last six months suspended on strict conditions, after pleading guilty to common assault and sexual assault in November 2022. The judge described Joyce's conduct as a "humiliating internal search" that was "inexcusable" and a "brutal, humiliating attack." The offence stemmed from a dispute over drugs at a Dublin city centre hostel. Joyce grabbed the victim by the hair, forced her to crawl, struck her, and sexually assaulted her while searching for drugs. Joyce has 62 prior convictions, including 29 thefts and one assault causing harm, and is undergoing treatment for addiction and schizophrenia. The suspended portion requires her to engage with the Probation Service, mental health supports and addiction treatment for 18 months after release.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 17 October 2025, Kevin Cronin, 45, was ordered to pay €3,000 to an escort after he forced her to transfer money to his Revolut account. Cronin, who had no prior convictions, pleaded guilty to robbery on 7 February 2023. He claimed he was "high on drugs" and threatened the woman, who was described as vulnerable, to transfer €180. The judge noted Cronin's cooperation, guilty plea, and long work history, and imposed a two‑year suspended sentence, citing mitigation. He also directed Cronin to pay the victim the €3,000, or, if she declined, to donate it to a local charity. The case highlighted Cronin's drug use and the alleged threat that he was a gang member, which the prosecution denied. The court did not impose custodial time, citing the conviction's stigma and the victim's financial loss.
In an appeal hearing, a man's conviction for breaching a protection order by allegedly grabbing his ex‑partner's arm during an argument over a child's car seat was overturned. The man, who pleaded not guilty in the District Court, had been convicted under section 33(1) of the Domestic Violence Act 2018 and sentenced to a six‑month term that was fully suspended. He appealed the conviction, arguing that his hand had only touched the woman while demonstrating the tension of the seat belt and that the contact was inadvertent. The prosecution maintained that the woman's fear was justified. Judge Deirdre Browne found the woman's testimony credible, noted that the contact was likely accidental, and ruled that the action did not meet the threshold for a breach of the protection order, allowing the appeal to stand.
During the murder trial of three men accused of killing Jozip Strok, a jury was presented with a blue and black hard‑plastic handle found by Garda Alan Lagrue near the site where Strok was beaten to death in Grange View, Clondalkin. The handle, described as possibly belonging to a lump hammer or similar tool, was handed to the jury after Lagrue climbed a high wall to retrieve it. Dr Alan McGhee of Forensic Science Ireland confirmed that DNA from the handle matched Strok's profile. The accused—Mark Lee, Anthony Delappe, and Connor Rafferty—have pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter and assault causing harm to Strok and another victim, Mr Druzinec. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring, continues with a jury of six men and six women. The prosecution maintains that the assault occurred on March 30, 2024, and that Strok died four days later from blunt‑force injuries.
In a Tallaght District Court hearing, a man accused of breaching a safety order by sending messages to his teenage son on a PlayStation was found not to have a valid case. Judge Patricia McNamara struck the case out after determining the safety order dated 10 February 2022 lacked a judge's signature and contained a handwritten condition with illegible initials, rendering it legally ineffective. The prosecution's evidence relied on screenshots of PlayStation messages that could not be verified because the console had never been examined by gardaí. The messages, which included Star Wars references such as "I'm your father, don't forget" and "You don't know the power of the dark side," were deemed unreliable. The judge concluded there was no case to answer and dismissed the proceedings. The unnamed accused had the case struck out.
At the Central Criminal Court, a dog handler has testified in the double murder trial of Ruth Lawrence that his specially trained German Shepherd gave an indication at a tarpaulin-covered area on Inchicup Island in Lough Sheelin, where two decomposing bodies were subsequently discovered. Garda Paul Conroy said the dog immediately went into dense undergrowth upon landing on the island on 26 May 2014 and stared at a particular spot. When a scenes of crime officer cut open the tarpaulin, an arm with clothing fell out. A fisherman also told the trial he had noticed a strong smell he associated with decomposing flesh coming from the island approximately one month after the men went missing. Lawrence, with an address in Mountnugent, County Meath, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Anthony Keegan and Eoin O'Connor between 22 April and 26 May 2014. The trial continues before Justice Tony Hunt and a jury.
In October 2025, a 43‑year‑old man from a European country was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment for sexual assault and attempted rape of a Ukrainian refugee outside a Dublin nightclub in March 2024. He pleaded guilty to assault causing harm before the trial. The court heard that the victim, who remains anonymous, was severely affected, losing work, experiencing health problems, and fearing for her daughter. The judge described the offence as "profoundly disturbing, degrading, primitive" and set a headline sentence of ten years, reduced to nine years, with the final year suspended on conditions that the defendant have no contact with the victim and leave Ireland for 14 years after release. The defendant entered a bond agreeing to these terms. The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court, with CCTV evidence showing the assault and the victim's struggle. No prior convictions were recorded for the defendant.
Paul Cullen, 45, of Crumlin, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to six years and nine months in prison, with the final 12 months suspended for two years, after pleading guilty to seven offences including assault, robbery, attempted robbery and theft. The judge highlighted a pattern of violent crime, drug use and the use of weapons such as a meat cleaver, screwdriver, claw hammer and an imitation firearm. Cullen's crimes included a violent robbery at a Luas stop where a victim suffered a broken ankle, an attempted robbery at a hotel where he brandished a cleaver, a robbery of Boyle Sports Bookmakers where he stole €7,400, and an attempted robbery at Paddy Power Bookmakers while wearing a white hazmat suit. He also robbed a beauty salon and an estate agency, and was found with a scorched hazmat suit at a mortuary.
An Indian national, Ayyappan Govindaraj, 41, was sentenced to 20 months' imprisonment for unlawfully assisting two other men to enter Ireland. The court heard that on 7 June 2024, an immigration officer at Dublin Airport was approached by the two men who claimed to have lost their passports. Govindaraj presented an Indian passport and a genuine seaman's book, claiming he was to join a vessel, but the officer found no evidence of such a ship and noted the men had no return flight. The men were initially denied entry but were later allowed to apply for international protection; however, they have not been seen since leaving the airport and did not apply for protection. The judge, Patricia Ryan, noted no financial gain or coercion and backdated the sentence to the arrest date. The case is one of the first prosecuted under the Immigration Act's section 4. Ayyappan Govindaraj pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 16 October 2025, 21‑year‑old Morgan Devlin of Tallaght pleaded guilty to one count of robbery and one count of assault causing harm for an incident on 8 May 2022 on Sean Whelan Road. Devlin, who has six prior convictions, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment. The court noted that the victim sustained a serious injury close to the femoral artery, suffered multiple blows, a knife stab from a co‑accused, and a bite wound. CCTV identified Devlin, who was the least culpable of the three assailants. The judge considered sentences of other co‑accused, including a minor who received five years with two and a half years suspended for a separate robbery. The case highlighted the victim's severe injuries and the defendants' varying culpability.
Patrick Lawlor, 59, a convicted bagman for an organised crime gang, has applied to the High Court for additional free legal aid to secure a quantity surveyor's valuation of his home as he contests a Criminal Assets Bureau bid to seize the property. Lawlor was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment in October 2022 for his role in a money‑laundering operation that generated almost €12 million in 2019. He and another convicted man were paid monthly by the gang to handle large sums of cash before their arrest. Gardaí seized just under €900 000 at Lawlor's home. In July, the High Court granted the Lawlors free legal aid to challenge the CAB's valuation of their Collins Avenue West house, approving €4 000 for a surveyor's report. At this week's hearing, Andrew McKeown BL requested an increase to €10 000, citing that nine surveyors had been contacted without success. The application was adjourned to November. Patrick Lawlor pleaded guilty.
Maria Moldovan, 51, pleaded guilty to stealing €610 worth of groceries from Dunnes Stores on 7 February and €300 worth of clothing from Penneys on 3 May 2024. Security staff stopped her after she placed items in bags and left without paying; Gardaí arrested her at the scene and she was taken to Tallaght Garda station. The items were recovered in resaleable condition. Moldovan, originally from Romania and living in Ireland for ten years, has no prior convictions. She claimed she "didn't know what came over her." The court ordered a probation report and adjourned sentencing to 9 January 2026.
At the Central Criminal Court, families of two men missing since 2014 provided testimony in the murder trial of Ruth Lawrence. The 45-year-old, from Mountnugent in County Meath, has pleaded not guilty to the murders of Anthony Keegan and Eoin O'Connor, whose remains were discovered on an island in May 2014. Karen Roche, Mr O'Connor's former partner, told the court that he received an unsettling phone call on 22 April 2014 and departed their home shortly after, never to return. Rory O'Connor, the victim's brother, spoke to Eoin by telephone that evening but received no further contact after 8.45pm. The prosecution alleges Mr O'Connor was a drug dealer and that financial disputes over approximately €70,000 provided motive. The trial, before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and jury, continues. The State argues the accused woman and her boyfriend acted together in the killings.
The trial of Mark Lee, Anthony Delappe, and Connor Rafferty continues before Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring and a jury. The three men are accused of the murder of Josip Strok, who died on April 3, 2024, from blunt force injuries sustained in an alleged assault on March 30, 2024, at Grangeview Way in Clondalkin. Lee and Delappe have pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, while Rafferty has pleaded not guilty to murder. All three have pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to witness David Druzinec. During cross-examination, Druzinec denied fabricating a story about racial abuse on a bus, stating he was in shock and told gardai what he remembered. Defense counsel suggested he invented the account to ensure someone was held responsible for his friend's death. The prosecution alleges the accused assaulted the two Croatian men after being told they had attacked a 17-year-old boy at a nearby bus stop. The trial is ongoing, with no final verdict or sentencing recorded at this procedural stage.
Craig Fitzsimmons, aged 51, had a two‑month jail term for sending "grossly offensive" messages replaced by a fully suspended sentence on appeal. He was convicted in the District Court for two counts of sending threatening or grossly offensive communication under the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020. The original sentence was two concurrent four‑month terms with two months suspended. Fitzsimmons appealed, arguing that he was "hated by people connected with Antifa" and that prison would be a hazardous environment due to alleged threats against his life. Defence counsel Edmund Shanahan said Fitzsimmons had received a barrage of threats and that the judge should have made special provisions. Judge Fiona O'Sullivan suspended the entire four‑month sentence for six months, conditional on Fitzsimmons keeping the peace and not contacting the injured party by any means, including social media. Craig Fitzsimmons pleaded not guilty.
The Criminal Assets Bureau seized a range of items from Jamie Geoghegan, a 29‑year‑old former footballer who was jailed for six‑and‑a‑half years for a 2023 assault involving dragging a victim into a Jeep, driving him to a caravan, tying him up, beating and stabbing him. At sentencing Geoghegan pleaded guilty to assault and false imprisonment and had 75 prior convictions, including theft, burglary, firearms and drug offences. He had represented Ireland at under‑age level and at the Homeless World Cup. In a High Court hearing on 15 October 2025, Geoghegan did not contest the CAB's application to seize assets deemed proceeds of crime. The court was told the CAB had identified 23 items – €4,000 cash, £2,000 cash, a VW Golf, a Skoda Superb, a modular home and a watch – seized from his Dublin home and another location.
James 'Mago' Gately, a Hutch gang member, will have his Coolock house auctioned by the Criminal Assets Bureau after he spent €440,000 on refurbishments while not working since 2015. The High Court, with counsel David Dodd BL for the CAB, confirmed the sale on November 12, with a guide price of €295,000, and the case will return to court on November 19. Gately's former partner, Charlene Lam, a self‑employed beautician, is also a respondent; both denied wrongdoing. The property was seized in April, repaired after a court order, and the High Court found the home's equity largely derived from crime proceeds. Gately purchased the house in 2013 for €125,000, and the CAB alleges links to armed robberies, gangland murders and drug dealing, though he has never been convicted of serious offences. The sale will determine the distribution of the property's proceeds.
In a murder trial, 29‑year‑old David Druzinec, a Croatian immigrant, testified that he suffered memory loss after an assault that left his childhood friend Josip Strok, 31, dead. Druzinec said he felt a "strange feeling" of being followed after he and Strok disembarked from a bus near his Clondalkin home. He recalled telling Strok to "hurry up" when he saw more than three men behind them, but could not identify the attackers or their ages. Druzinec was attacked, received stitches above both eyes and on the top of his head, and could say nothing about the incident. The trial involves Mark Lee (44), Anthony Delappe (19) and Connor Rafferty (21), who have pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter and assault causing harm to Druzinec. The case is before Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring and a jury of twelve.
Dan Moorehouse, 26, of Richmond Park, Monkstown, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to two counts of assault causing harm and one count of burglary at an address on Monkstown Road, south Dublin. The court heard that Moorehouse, who has 60 previous convictions, allegedly broke into the home and attacked two sisters who confronted him. Prosecution evidence stated he punched one woman in the face, bursting her lip and cutting her cheekbone, and struck the other in the nose. Judge Martin Nolan described the incident as a traumatic ordeal, noting that Moorehouse allegedly burgled the house to fund a drug habit. While acknowledging the defendant's difficult background and mental health issues, the Judge stated that Moorehouse knew right from wrong. Moorehouse was sentenced to a six-year custodial term. The Judge suspended the final 18 months of this sentence, resulting in an effective custody period of four and a half years. The matter was finalised at the sentencing stage.
Jonathan Vieira, a 31‑year‑old Brazilian, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for importing cocaine into Ireland by swallowing 90 pellets of the drug. He pleaded guilty to possession for sale, possession of cocaine and importation of cocaine at Dublin Airport on 16 March 2025. Garda Avril Owens reported that Vieira was stopped by customs after flying from Brazil because he was deemed suspicious. He admitted swallowing 90 pellets, passing 71 while in custody, and that the pellets were worth an estimated €48,825 on the street. Vieira claimed he was an Uber driver who had borrowed €2,000 from a debt collector to buy a vehicle, and that he was forced to transport the cocaine to repay the debt within three days. He acknowledged that his actions were illegal but said he felt pressured.
Thomas Thompson, aged 59, was given a suspended two‑year sentence for burglary after entering a Dollymount house through an unlocked back door. He had rung the bell and asked to speak to the homeowner, but the teenage son, who was in a back room, told him the woman was asleep. A scuffle ensued when the son tried to remove Thompson from the house. Thompson claimed he had a knife, but no weapon was found, and the victim believed none existed. The homeowner's mother later confronted Thompson, who called her a "rat." Thompson had previously been reported for disturbances near the home. He pleaded guilty to burglary on 19 May 2024, has 28 prior convictions, and the court noted his PTSD diagnosis from the 1970s Dublin bombings. Judge Martin Nolan suspended the sentence on the condition that Thompson stay at least one kilometre from the victim's home.
Chloe Dunne, 29, of Finglas, was stopped by Gardaí for using her phone while driving in Clondalkin on 26 July 2023. Officers found a large carrier bag containing 973 grammes of cannabis in the front passenger seat, with an estimated street value of €19,750. Dunne admitted that someone had placed the drugs in her car and that her role was to deliver the bag to a specific address. She claimed she was unaware of the drugs' value and was seeking €300–€400 for her part. She had no prior convictions. At the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court she pleaded guilty to possessing drugs for sale or supply. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a two‑year sentence, suspended in full on strict conditions, citing her lack of experience and immediate admission of guilt.
In the Mary Ward murder case, the Central Criminal Court has yet to make progress on a psychiatric assessment of Ahmed Abdirahman, a 31‑year‑old Somali national accused of killing his former partner, Mary Ward, on 25 September 2024 in Belfast. Three months after Judge Paul McDermott warned that the delay could not continue, the court still has no diagnosis of Abdirahman's fitness to plead. The judge required a "diagnostic clarification" from the Central Mental Hospital, which must admit the accused and allow an external psychiatrist to evaluate him. Defence counsel Oisin Clarke noted issues with the case and the need for the court to determine the accused's mental fitness. In July, the defence reported that Abdirahman was still in Cloverhill Prison and had not engaged with a psychiatrist.
In a Dún Laoghaire District Court hearing, a homeowner testified that two men tried to break into his south Dublin home on 1 October 2024, shouting for his phone. He described initially mistaking the noise for foxes, then hearing metal scraping, and seeing the men looking him straight in the eye. The homeowner, who was working late, had his phone ready to call emergency services. Gardaí arrived shortly after midnight, arrested the men, and one was identified as Madalin Lingurar, 26, of North Circular Road, Dublin 7, originally from Romania. Lingurar pleaded not guilty to trespassing under the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994. Judge Derek Cooney convicted him and sentenced him to four months' imprisonment with immediate effect, setting recognisance at €300. The charge of criminal damage to the front door was dismissed. The case was brought to court a year after the incident.
A man was arrested by Gardaí after drunkenly attempting to climb into his ex‑partner's Dublin home, following repeated breaches of a safety order issued in January 2024. He was convicted in the District Court of two counts of breaching the order under section 33(1) of the Domestic Violence Act 2018 and sentenced to three months' custody. On appeal, the District Court Appeals Court increased the custodial term to six months but suspended the entire sentence for one year, subject to the defendant's compliance with probation supervision, psychological counselling and alcohol‑abuse treatment. The appeal was based on the defendant's cooperation with Gardaí, his stated mental‑health struggles, sobriety, and family responsibilities, as presented by his counsel and the judge's remarks on the seriousness of the breaches and the impact on the victim's children.
During the murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Seoirse Ó Dúnlaing SC argued that the fact the victim, 31‑year‑old Josip Strok, was a foreign national was relevant to the case. He cited statements from accused Mark Lee (44), who told Gardaí two days after the assault that he had been walking "up and down with two dogs" outside an International Protection Accommodation Service centre, and that he had sent a voice note to a friend saying he had "just smashed Polish lads up and left them for dead." The prosecution contended these remarks showed the accused were aware of Strok's status as a foreigner. The trial also heard that Strok and his friend David Druzinec (29) were assaulted on 30 March 2024, with Strok dying four days later from blunt‑force injuries. Mark Lee, Anthony Delappe (19) and Connor Rafferty (21) have pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter and assault causing harm.
Dean Teeling, 36, of Ballymun, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for violent disorder and assault causing harm arising from a Mountjoy prison incident on December 18, 2018, and a separate assault causing harm during a knife attack on Fownes Street in Temple Bar on January 8, 2022. Teeling pleaded guilty to all charges. Judge Martin Nolan described the prison assault as "pretty savage" and imposed three-year custodial sentences for each offence, ordered to run consecutively, resulting in a total of six years. The court noted Teeling's history of offending, including prior knife assaults. Brad Dempsey, 24, of Crumlin, Dublin, also pleaded guilty to affray at Mountjoy prison for his involvement in the 2018 melee, where he allegedly kicked the victim. Judge Nolan sentenced Dempsey to 18 months imprisonment for this offence. Dempsey is currently serving an eight-year term for firearms offences imposed in 2022. The sentences for both defendants were finalized at this procedural stage.
Kieran O'Dea, aged 40, was sentenced to four years and nine months in custody after pleading guilty to possession for sale or supply of cannabis at Dublin Airport on 18 August 2024. He travelled to Thailand to collect drugs to repay a debt of €8,000 and was told by creditors that failure to comply would have consequences. O'Dea claimed he believed the bag contained clothing and a small amount of cannabis, but customs officers found 24 kg of cannabis, worth an estimated €480,000. He had a history of drug addiction since 2017, had previously been convicted of drug dealing and possession, and had attempted rehabilitation. The judge noted his efforts to overcome addiction but highlighted the substantial quantity of drugs involved in this offence.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 24‑year‑old Jake Higgins pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of drugs for sale or supply. Garda Michael Brislane testified that Higgins was carrying a backpack with ketamine and MDMA, worth €3,642 and €1,260 respectively, and a weighing scale. Higgins claimed the drugs were for personal use but later admitted the charges. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Higgins' lack of prior convictions and employment, suspended a two‑year prison sentence on the condition of good behaviour and keeping the peace.
A suspended sentence was imposed on Gedas Bertulis (34) during an appeal stage at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Bertulis pleaded guilty to possessing 35 videos of child sexual abuse material at his home in Mulhuddart in March 2022. The videos involved children aged between five and 13 years old in various sexual activities, including five videos of children in sexually explicit poses. Bertulis admitted to the charges and expressed remorse, stating he was glad he was caught and that his behaviour made him feel sick. His defence, Karl Monahan BL, explained that during the lockdown, Bertulis began drinking heavily and downloaded the material from websites designed to obscure user identity. Bertulis, a Lithuanian national with no relevant previous convictions, has not come to adverse garda attention since the offence. Judge Martin Nolan referenced the 2006 'DPP v Loving' judgment, which advised that in the absence of aggravating factors such as distribution or prior offending, a non-custodial sentence should be considered. As such, the judge imposed a two and a half year suspended sentence, conditional on Bertulis keeping the peace and being of good behaviour for that period.
The High Court has granted leave for an ex parte application by a 16-year-old, acting through his father, to challenge a July 2025 Dublin District Court sentence. The teenager was sentenced to a fully suspended three-month prison term after the District Court judge stated he was precluded from imposing a Probation Residential Supervision Order (PRSO) due to the absence of available hostel residences for minors. The applicant seeks to quash the sentence as allegedly unlawful, arguing that the judge's discretion was fettered by the State's failure to provide certified hostels under Section 126 of the Children Act 2001. The action is brought against the District Court judge, the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Minister for Justice, Ireland, and the Attorney General. It demands a declaration that the State failed to protect the boy's constitutional rights and comply with statutory obligations, and requests details on available hostel capacity. The boy, who has faced multiple charges including drug offences and theft since 2023, is alleged to have been eligible for a PRSO but was denied one because no suitable premises existed. Ms Justice Mary Rose Gearty granted leave for the application and adjourned the matter to November.
The Court of Appeal heard an appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions against the sentence imposed on Ian Doyle, who pleaded guilty to assaulting a woman causing her harm and threatening to kill or cause serious harm to her in February 2023. Doyle, who was on bail for assaulting a different partner at the time, was sentenced by Judge Orla Crowe to a headline term of five years, reduced to three years and six months with the final six months suspended. This sentence runs consecutive to a term expiring in April 2026. The State argued the sentence was too lenient, contending it represented a gross departure from the norm and that the sentencing judge erred by failing to adequately reflect aggravating factors, including Doyle's 74 previous convictions and the fact he committed the offences while on bail. Counsel for the DPP argued the threat to kill should have been the gauge offence rather than the assault, and that excessive weight was given to the late guilty plea. Doyle's counsel argued the sentence was within the available range and that the judge correctly treated the assault as the primary offence. The court reserved its judgment on the appeal.
In Dún Laoghaire District Court, a husband was granted bail after his wife, the safety order applicant, expressed that she was happy for him to return home. The husband was arrested at 9.30pm the previous evening in Dublin for allegedly breaching a safety order issued the prior Wednesday. Garda Andrew Hughes reported that the accused became verbally aggressive and physically assaulted his wife during the incident, and when cautioned he made no reply. The wife chose not to give formal evidence but spoke from the public gallery, describing the altercation as an "alcohol‑fuelled row" that might have escalated after the husband shoved her. Judge Derek Cooney noted that breaches of safety orders can carry up to 12 months in prison, but he granted bail on a €300 bond with no lodgement, on the condition that the accused complies with the safety order. The case was adjourned until 15 December for disclosure.
In a double‑murder trial, the jury was sent home until Thursday morning after the judge learned that a key witness was in a medical situation. The case involves Ruth Lawrence, 45, who is accused of killing Anthony Keegan, 33, and Eoin O'Connor, 32, between 22 April and 26 May 2014. Mr Justice Tony Hunt told the 12 jurors that the witness's condition was significant to both sides and that the parties would need to decide whether the trial could proceed without the witness. He said he would return with further information on Thursday. The prosecution, led by Michael O'Higgins SC, argued that Lawrence shot O'Connor and that she and her boyfriend, South African national Neville van der Westhuizen, worked together to kill the men and dispose of their bodies, which were later found bound and covered on Inchicup Island. The judge urged the jury not to speculate until more details were available. Ruth Lawrence pleaded not guilty.
Jordan Grimes, 27, had a three‑month jail term for dangerous driving and driving without insurance overturned on appeal, replaced by a suspended six‑month sentence. He remains under a four‑year driving disqualification and a six‑year, three‑month prison term for driving without insurance, which now runs concurrently with the suspended sentence. Grimes was caught joy‑riding an e‑scrambler bike on the Royal Canal Greenway on 5 January 2024, driving at speed toward Garda Gerard Hanahoe and a colleague. The Garda reported that Grimes narrowly avoided hitting them and that he claimed to be travelling only 70 km/h. He was already serving a 20‑year driving ban at the time of the incident. The court required Grimes to enter probation supervision and comply with drug counselling, while his driving disqualification remains in force. Jordan Grimes was convicted.
In October 2025, a 27‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to 21 months' imprisonment for wilfully ill‑treating or neglecting a child. He failed to seek medical care for his girlfriend's nine‑month‑old baby after noticing injuries in March 2024. The baby suffered fractures, bruising and other non‑accidental injuries. The man pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He had prior convictions for knife possession, public order and criminal damage. Social workers had been involved with the mother and child, and a safety plan had been put in place. The man had been warned not to be alone with the child unsupervised. Gardaí found the home in disarray and the baby's mother had called emergency services on 19 March 2024. The judge noted the child's serious injuries and the man's failure to act, resulting in the 21‑month sentence.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Elva Duffy sentenced an 83‑year‑old former Christian Brothers teacher to four and a half years in prison for sexually assaulting nine primary school boys during a 30‑year teaching career. The offences, occurring between 1980 and 1995 in a Dublin city school, involved boys aged 8 to 13, with most between 11 and 13. The court heard that the teacher would call boys to the top of the class, place them on his knee, slap them—often with an implement—and then indecently assault them by rubbing their buttocks or groin. Victims recounted being slapped hard, being forced to lie on the teacher's knee, and being threatened with punishment if they reported the abuse. The teacher, previously convicted in the 1960s and 1970s, denied wrongdoing and did not accept jury verdicts. He is already serving a four‑year term for other offences.
Killian McNay, 40, of Ardilaun Green, Mullingar, Westmeath, was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison by Judge Martin Nolan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. McNay admitted to possessing 40 kilograms of cocaine for sale or supply at Dublin Port on 22 September 2024 and to having imported the drugs, valued at €2.8 million, concealed under a Lego shipment destined for Lidl stores. The cocaine was hidden in specialised containers in the base of a flat‑bed trailer that had been carrying legitimate Lego goods. McNay had hired a driver and travelled to Holland to ensure proper loading; the driver remains before the courts. McNay was under significant financial pressure and had a history of minor road‑traffic convictions. He was interviewed six times and admitted his presence during loading. The court noted his debt‑driven circumstances and his role in the haulage industry. Judge Nolan described his actions as a grievous misjudgement and sentenced him accordingly.