Shane Flanagan, 39, a former Garda, was found guilty of impersonating a woman on FetLife.com and Facebook, sharing her personal details and encouraging two men to rape her between November and December 2020. He also pleaded guilty to six counts of endangering the woman and her daughters from 2018 to 2020, and to one count of possessing four images of child sexual abuse material. The court imposed a headline sentence of ten years for the incitement of rape, with a concurrent six‑year term for the endangerment charges and a three‑year term for the child pornography charge. Twelve months of the headline sentence were suspended, and the remaining nine years were to be served under strict conditions, including probation and psychiatric care. The judge noted the offences were calculated, cold, and motivated by Flanagan's sexual interests, and that no actual violence occurred.
Mohamed Abdallatif Hussein, a Somali diplomat accredited to Saudi Arabia and attached to the Somali embassy in Riyadh, was arrested at Dublin Airport on 26 November 2024. Gardaí charged him with eight alleged people‑smuggling offences under the Criminal Justice (Smuggling of Persons) Act 2001 and 2021, all purportedly occurring at Terminal 1 or Terminal 2 of the airport. He has not entered a plea. On 8 January 2025, at Cloverhill District Court, he was further charged with four additional counts. On 28 July 2025, his lawyer, Faisal Sadiq Khan, filed an ex‑parte High Court application seeking his release from Cloverhill Prison on the basis of diplomatic immunity. Mr Ward SC argued that Hussein was travelling under a diplomatic passport and was unlawfully detained. The application challenges the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Governor of Cloverhill Prison, and the case is set to return to the High Court the following day.
John Merrick, 78, a former Christian Brother and headmaster, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to one count of indecent assault on a 10‑year‑old boy at St Vincent's Primary School between September 1979 and June 1980. The victim came forward after reading a 2024 newspaper report about Merrick's earlier 12‑month sentence for two other indecent assault convictions between 1977 and 1978. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced Merrick to nine months' imprisonment, with the final five months suspended. Merrick joined the Christian Brothers at 14, left in 1982, taught until 1986, and later worked as a tour guide. He has 21 prior convictions for similar offences. The court noted the breach of trust and age disparity as aggravating factors, while acknowledging his guilty plea and prior counselling as mitigating. The victim's impact statement highlighted lasting flashbacks and emotional distress. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the conduct and the court's consideration of both aggravating and mitigating circumstances.
Kym Dunleavy, 50, was sentenced to 18 months in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to multiple charges of using a false instrument. The charges related to medical prescriptions she knew to be false, used on various dates between November 2018 and April 2019. Judge Orla Crowe noted that Dunleavy has a considerable history of offending, including 71 previous convictions, and a probation report places her at high risk of re-offending. Although the judge acknowledged mitigation factors, including that Dunleavy has no convictions since 2021 and no longer abuses prescribed medication, she highlighted that Dunleavy failed to engage with psychiatric services or the Probation Service. Judge Crowe had previously adjourned the case to allow Dunleavy the opportunity to "put her best foot forward." In determining the sentence, the judge considered the maximum penalty of 10 years and deemed a headline sentence of two and a half years appropriate given the time elapsed. Taking all mitigation into account, Judge Crowe imposed the final sentence of 18 months in prison. Dunleavy described the term as "disgraceful" and "ridiculous" as she was escorted from the court.
Jason Hughes, aged 21, pleaded guilty to one count of arson at Pairc Na Greine, Tallaght, on 9 December 2022, for which the offence carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. The court found the offence to be of the utmost seriousness and to have posed a substantial risk to life to the three occupants of the targeted apartment and other residents of the block. The damage was estimated at €80‑90,000 and the victims, including Hughes's father, were left with nothing. Hughes was sentenced to eight and a half years' imprisonment, with a headline of 12 years reduced by three and a half years by the sentencing judge. He appealed against the severity of the sentence, arguing that the headline was too high and that a portion should have been suspended.
Gary Herbert, 42, a serial offender with 157 prior convictions, was sentenced by Tallaght District Court to an additional nine‑month custodial term for theft and possession of stolen property. He pleaded guilty to one charge of possession of a grey Aovo Pro e‑scooter, which he admitted was not his, and was convicted on all counts after a hearing before Judge Patricia McNamara. Herbert denied the other three charges – theft of cash from two parked cars and possession of stolen AirPods and an iPod – but was found guilty on those as well. The court relied on CCTV footage and witness testimony to confirm his identity in both theft incidents. He is currently serving an eight‑month sentence imposed on 16 June 2025, with a release date in April 2026. Judge McNamara suspended six months of the new nine‑month term for two years, meaning Herbert will serve an additional three months unless he reoffends.
In a Dublin case, a man who entered an arranged marriage with a woman was found guilty of assault and coercive control. He pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm on 27 January 2020 and one count of coercive control. The court noted that the maximum sentence for each count was five years. The judge, Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo, imposed a headline sentence of nine months for the assault and a concurrent 18‑month sentence for coercive control, but suspended the 12‑month term in full on strict conditions for two years. The man was required to engage with the Probation Service during that period. The case involved the man restricting the woman's food and heating, isolating her, and monitoring her through a security system. The woman, aged 27, described the assault and the emotional impact in a victim impact statement.
A 43‑year‑old man, Jineesh John, was found not guilty by reason of insanity for an attempted murder of a former colleague. He was ordered by a judge to continue treatment at the Central Mental Hospital (CMH). Dr Dearbhla Duffy, a consultant psychiatrist at CMH, described John as having a treatment‑resistant delusional disorder, believing he had HIV despite repeated negative tests. She noted he lacks insight into his illness and cannot make informed decisions about his treatment. The judge, in accordance with the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006, directed that John return to CMH where his treatment will be reviewed regularly by the mental health review board. John's address is The Crescent Building, Park West, Dublin 12. The case involved multiple charges of attempted murder, false imprisonment and threat of violence, all of which were dismissed on the basis of insanity.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, 37‑year‑old Pedro Cifali, a Brazilian, was charged with attempting to murder his former partner, Lucia Nezbalova, 43. After their breakup in April 2024, Cifali placed an electronic tag on Nezbalova's car, enabling him to track her movements. On the day of the attack, CCTV captured him arriving at a Blanchardstown garage, disguising himself with a baseball cap, blonde wig, and lighter beard, and then following Nezbalova to a McDonald's. He approached her at her home in Garnish Square, claiming to "just want to talk," before pulling a knife and stabbing her in the neck, back of the head, abdomen, and arms. The abdominal wound exposed organs; doctors at the scene and in hospital saved her life. Nezbalova suffered life‑threatening injuries, ongoing treatment, and permanent scars. Cifali surrendered the next day and admitted the assault. Pedro Cifali pleaded guilty.
Devon Hennessy, aged 29, pleaded guilty before the Special Criminal Court to false imprisonment and assault causing serious harm against Barry Moore at a Dublin 15 house on 12 February 2025. He admitted that the assault was part of a joint enterprise to enhance a criminal organisation's ability to commit serious offences. Hennessy was remanded in custody until 7 October for sentencing. Four co‑accused—Jason Hennessy Jr (28), Brandon Hennessy (22), Kenneth Fitzsimons (45) and Dean Fitzsimons—remain awaiting trial. They face charges of false imprisonment, serious harm, and participation in a criminal organisation, with additional allegations of intimidation, threat of property damage, and use of a steel breaker bar and branding stamp. The court will consider these charges in the upcoming term.
Denis Cupcea, 21, pleaded guilty in the District Court to using threatening and abusive language and failing to comply with a Garda's direction under the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994. He was convicted and sentenced to two months' custody for the section 8 charge, with the other charge considered. Cupcea appealed the severity of the sentence. The appeal court heard that on 18 May 2024, Garda Robert Ruddy was on mobile patrol when Cupcea shouted at him and the people he was dealing with, calling the Garda a "rat" and threatening to file a claim for a false arrest. Ruddy cautioned Cupcea, who was later arrested and cautioned. Cupcea's defence counsel said he entered a guilty plea, was remorseful, and had drug dependence. Judge Dara Hayes ordered a report to assess whether Cupcea could complete community service.
During an arrest on July 30 2022 in Tallaght, 46‑year‑old Jason Osbourne spat in the face of Garda Joe Glennon and obstructed Garda Peter Collins. Osbourne was placed in the back of a patrol car, removed his seatbelt, and spat on Glennon's forehead. He was later restrained, handcuffed, and moved to a second vehicle where he attempted to spit again. Glennon described the act as "degrading, upsetting and deeply disrespectful." Osbourne pleaded guilty to assault under Section 2 of the Non‑Fatal Offences Against the Person Act and obstruction under Section 19 of the Public Order Act. The court, considering Glennon's victim impact statement, Osbourne's early guilty plea, apology, and engagement with probation services, sentenced him to 120 hours of community service in lieu of a five‑month custodial term, subject to a suitability report. He will return on September 26 for final sentencing, where a fine will also be imposed.
A 49‑year‑old man was sentenced to seven and a half years' imprisonment for raping a 12‑year‑old boy, who had been lured to the man's home by a third party who had also sexually abused him. The defendant pleaded guilty to one count of anal rape and two counts of sexual assault committed between 1994 and 1995 at an address in County Dublin. He had five prior convictions, including for child pornography offences. The victim, whose name is withheld, described the emotional and psychological damage, noting he was terrified to speak, lost contact with family and friends, and later sought therapy and addiction treatment. The judge, Justice David Keane, noted the defendant's early guilty plea, cooperation and mitigating circumstances, and imposed a global sentence of seven and a half years, suspending the final 12 months for two years and ordering two years of post‑release supervision.
Marius Lacatus, 32, was sentenced to five and a half years in prison for sexually assaulting a woman on her way to work early on 19 August 2024. He followed her, attacked her from behind, dragged her to a park, threatened her with death, and sexually assaulted her. Gardaí found him hiding under a bridge; he was intoxicated and initially could not be interviewed. He pleaded guilty to sexual assault and making threats to kill or cause serious harm. The court noted the sudden, violent nature of the attack and the victim's right to fear. The judge considered mitigating factors such as his guilty plea, remorse, and background, and imposed a sentence of five and a half years, citing intoxication as no excuse. The incident lasted about two minutes, and the victim received medical treatment. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
A 63-year-old former Defence Forces member has been sentenced to ten years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for five counts of sexual assault committed against a child in Cavan between September 2007 and June 2010. Mr Justice David Keane remarked that the defendant was "extremely fortunate" the Director of Public Prosecutions accepted guilty pleas to sexual assault, as the offences could have been prosecuted as rape, which carries a maximum life sentence. The judge noted significant aggravating factors including the substantial age disparity and severe impact on the victim. Evidence detailed a pattern of calculated abuse involving grooming and isolation. The victim, aged eleven to fourteen at the time, experienced lasting psychological harm, including damaged relationships and suicidal ideation. The defendant denied responsibility during interview and demonstrated no empathy during probation assessment. A two-year post-release supervision order was imposed. The sentence was backdated to October of the previous year.
A woman who was tortured and falsely imprisoned in a Dublin flat over a false accusation about missing drugs has told a court she will never forgive the 'sick human beings' for what they did to her. During a three-hour period in September 2024, the woman was subjected to unimaginable trauma, including being beaten with metal poles, burned with a makeshift blow torch, cut with a knife, and threatened with rape. The assault ended when gardaí entered the flat with a search warrant. Mark Keogh (33), Mark McMahon (55), Braxton Rice (21), Sean Conroy (21), and Kian Walshe (22) all pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and assault causing harm to the woman at Henrietta House on September 26, 2024. Each of the men has a number of previous convictions. The case was adjourned by Judge Codd to next Wednesday, when defence counsel will give their pleas of mitigation. The woman, who suffered multiple injuries including a broken eye socket, broken cheekbone, and burns, described the men as 'animals' and said she was 'completely helpless' and outnumbered by the eight men present. The court heard that the men had taken running jumps at her during the assault and threatened to make her drink ammonia and rape her teenage daughter. The woman's victim impact statement highlighted the lasting psychological effects of the incident, including flashbacks and constant headaches. The maximum sentences for false imprisonment and assault causing harm are life and 10 years respectively.
In a case heard by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Francis Joseph Woods, a 75‑year‑old accountant and property developer, was found guilty of defrauding a farmer by securing a €54,000 mortgage on the farmer's behalf in 2007. Woods, acting as director of a property development company, persuaded the farmer to pay a €14,000 deposit and sign a loan agreement after a meeting with a mortgage broker. The farmer later received his deposit back in 2008, but was informed by Ulster Bank in 2009 that he owed the full mortgage amount plus interest. Gardaí uncovered a forged mortgage drawdown letter during their 2015 investigation. Woods pleaded guilty to one count of defrauding the farmer, admitted financial difficulty, and had no prior convictions except minor traffic offences. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced him to an 18‑month prison term suspended on strict conditions, citing the breach of trust and the farmer's significant financial loss.
During a preliminary hearing on 25 July 2025, lawyers for St Dominic's College in Dublin denied allegations that the school had misled the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) by submitting false versions of a guidance counsellor's employment contracts. The complaint, brought by Mary Lynch, 56, who has worked part‑time on fixed‑term contracts since 2021, claims the school treated her less favourably than a permanently employed comparator and suppressed her hours to avoid offering a permanent contract. The school argues Lynch's qualifications as a third‑level guidance counsellor mean she is not appropriately qualified for secondary school work and that it follows Department of Education policy to favour qualified teachers. Lynch's legal representative, Des Kavanagh, questioned the authenticity of the contracts presented by the school, describing them as "false" and "misleading" and demanding the signed contracts.
A Camile Thai franchisee, Santry Food Services Ltd, was found liable for repeated breaches of working time and wage laws and ordered to pay a migrant worker, Sujeer Thayyil, nearly €39,000 in compensation. Thayyil, hired in 2019 as a chef de partie under a work permit, claimed he was denied breaks, rest periods, statutory sick pay, and worked an average of over 58 hours per week. He also alleged a sudden transfer to Dublin without explanation, a pay cut, and threats of disciplinary action and Gardaí involvement when he refused a position change. The Workplace Relations Commission adjudicator, Breiffni O'Neill, rejected the company's dismissal claim, found multiple sustained breaches of the Organisation of Working Time Act, and awarded €12,742 for excessive hours and the same amount for lack of breaks, totaling €38,811.57 including unpaid wages. The decision highlighted the company's failure to provide Sunday premiums, public holiday pay, annual leave, and adequate rest breaks.
Lee Canavan, 36, has appealed his conviction for the murder of David 'Daithí' Douglas, who was shot at Shoestown in Dublin 1 on July 1, 2016. Canavan, who pleaded not guilty, was convicted by the Special Criminal Court on June 3, 2021, and sentenced to life imprisonment. He was also jailed for five years for criminal damage to a getaway vehicle. His counsel argued the trial court erred by relying on 'general association' with co-accused to infer guilt, noting the prosecution initially alleged he was the shooter. The State countered that the case was always based on joint enterprise. The Court of Appeal reserved its judgment. Canavan is the fourth person jailed for the killing. Frederick 'Fat Freddie' Thompson was jailed for life in 2018. Nathan Foley pleaded guilty to assisting a criminal organisation and received six years in 2019. Gareth Brophy was jailed for ten years in 2020 for acting as a getaway driver.
In a Court of Appeal hearing on 25 July 2025, Mr. Osgur Breatnach, aged 75, sought a declaration that his 1978 conviction for the Sallins train robbery was a miscarriage of justice. The robbery, which occurred on 31 March 1976, involved the theft of an estimated £200,000 from a Cork‑to‑Dublin mail train near Sallins, County Kildare. Breatnach, one of five members of the Irish Republican Socialist Party, was initially found guilty and sentenced to 12 years by the Special Criminal Court. His conviction was later quashed in May 1980 after the Court of Criminal Appeal ruled that his confession had been obtained under "oppression." During the case‑management session, Mr. Breatnach's solicitor, Kevin Winters of KRW Law, presented an application under section 9 of the Criminal Procedure Act 1993, asserting that newly discovered facts indicate a miscarriage of justice.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 24 July 2025, Judge Mary Ellen Ring sentenced tattoo artist Henrique Pereira, 34, to a headline term of three years and six months for sexual assault committed on 19 October 2016. The judge noted that Pereira had no prior convictions and was a small‑business owner with family responsibilities, and therefore imposed a suspended sentence of two and a half years, with full suspension for that period. He was also placed under Probation Services supervision for 18 months and ordered to comply with all probation officer directions. The victim, who suffered vivid flashbacks and described the assault as making her feel unsafe, was told the judge hoped the outcome would bring her closure. Pereira apologized, acknowledged the impact of his actions, and expressed willingness to undertake any required courses. The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court, with the judge emphasising that a woman is entitled to change her mind. Henrique Pereira was found guilty.
Ronaldo Otto, a 63‑year‑old who is transitioning to female and identifies as Samantha Otto, was sentenced by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to an additional six months in custody for breaching the terms of a three‑year suspended sentence. The suspended sentence originally applied to an assault in which Otto threw a cup of boiling water over a casino customer's face in 2019. Otto had previously been convicted of a sexual assault on an 18‑year‑old male student in October 2022, while the suspended portion of the casino assault sentence was still active. A jury found Otto guilty of the sexual assault in May. Judge Pauline Codd reactivated six months of the suspended sentence, suspended the remaining two and a half years, and directed that the new term run consecutively with the three‑year sentence for the sexual assault.
Lorcan Murphy, a 32‑year‑old Garda of Pearse Street Station, was found guilty of two counts of assault causing harm under the Non‑Fatal Offences Act after assaulting a 17‑year‑old on 1 June 2021. The attacks occurred on Essex Street and at Pearse Street Station. The victim, who suffered a fractured skull, testified that he was intoxicated, had no memory of the incident, and was later treated at Mater, Beaumont and James' Hospitals. CCTV footage showed Murphy approaching the victim, placing handcuffs, and performing a leg sweep that caused the victim's head to strike the ground. The jury, after 4 hours 20 minutes of deliberation, returned unanimous guilty verdicts. Judge Pauline Codd adjourned sentencing to 3 November, remanded Murphy on continuing bail, and ordered a probation report and victim impact statement. No sentencing details were provided in the article. Lorcan Murphy pleaded not guilty.
An appeal has been launched by two men, Dion Genockey (26) and Daryl Rooney (27), who were convicted of the gang rape of a vulnerable teenager who had recently left State care. The appeal, heard at the Court of Appeal, argues that issues of consent were relevant during their trial. Counsel for Genockey argued that the trial judge should have advised the jury that the appellant may have had reasons for not mentioning to gardaí that he believed the victim had given her consent. Counsel for Rooney argued that the appellant was not aware that the woman had not given her consent. Genockey, of Clarion Quay Apartments, and Rooney, of Railway Street, Dublin City Centre, were convicted of raping the woman at Bull Island, Dollymount, Dublin, on January 5, 2016, following a second trial at the Central Criminal Court in March 2022. The jury in the first trial, held in 2020, was unable to reach a verdict. Genockey was sentenced to nine years by Mr Justice David Keane while Rooney was sentenced to ten years. A third accused, Troy Ryan of Lower Gardiner Street, Dublin City Centre, was also convicted and sentenced to nine and a half years. The appeal is ongoing, with the court reserving judgment.
The Workplace Relations Commission has ruled that Beta Bajgart, a former photographer for RTÉ's Fair City, was an employee rather than a freelance contractor, allowing her employment claims to proceed to a full hearing. Adjudication officer Catherine Byrne determined that the day-to-day reality of Bajgart's work, including a fixed weekly rate, lack of discretion over attendance, and personal performance of duties, was inconsistent with her contractual status as an independent contractor. The tribunal noted that Bajgart worked part-time for 12 years, with her role contributing to the show's promotion. Although RTÉ argued the tribunal lacked jurisdiction because Bajgart was a supplier of services, Byrne concluded that the sustained nature of the job and RTÉ's sole reliance on Bajgart meant the legal basis evolved into an employment relationship. This decision follows scrutiny by the Public Accounts Committee regarding RTÉ's payment of €60,000 annually for promotional images. Bajgart claims her work was terminated without notice on 15 December 2023. Her case, brought under several employment acts, will now advance to a full hearing. This ruling marks the first application of a 2023 Supreme Court distinction between employees and contractors to an RTÉ worker, amidst broader reviews of media worker classifications by the Department of Social Protection.
A seventeen‑year‑old, who was fifteen when the offences occurred, pleaded guilty to false imprisonment, theft of a €1,300 iPhone, and threatening to kill the victim's family dog. The court heard that the teenager followed a nineteen‑year‑old bus passenger in Clonsilla, forced him to withdraw €50, and later took his phone and driver's licence. He then brought the victim to an apartment, produced knives, threatened to slice him, and demanded the victim remove his clothes. The teenager later entered the victim's home, stole a Nike tracksuit, an Under Armour top, Nike runners, a PlayStation, and a jacket worth €1,751, and forced the victim to transfer €500 from his Revolut account. No money or items were recovered. The defendant was on bail at the time of the offence and had ten prior convictions, including seven for theft. The case was adjourned for sentencing.
Stelian Ciuciu, 32, was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment for organising prostitution across Dublin by leasing eight properties as brothels. He posed as part of a couple with an escort, rented properties from unsuspecting landlords using false documents, and advertised them to escorts via a WhatsApp group of about 450 members. Ciuciu laundered roughly €320,000, which was used to pay rent and was held in cash. He pleaded guilty to 20 counts, including enhancing the ability of a criminal organisation, organising prostitution, brothel‑keeping, using false instruments and money laundering. The court noted he had no prior convictions, had family responsibilities, and had been well‑behaved in custody. The eight‑year sentence was back‑dated to his first custody in November 2023, and he forfeited seized cash to the State. No further charges were made against those who provided fake references.
In a July 2025 decision, the Workplace Relations Commission adjudicator Michael McEntee ordered BGS Security Ltd, trading as BGSS, to pay security officer Kipkorir Francis Kiptoo €32,713.96. The award comprised €4,213.96 in unpaid wages, €26,500 in compensation for non‑compliance with the Employment Regulation Order (ERO) under the Industrial Relations Act 1946, and €2,000 for a breach of the Terms of Employment (Information) Act 1994. The adjudicator described the company's conduct as "blatant flouting" of national pay regulations for the security sector, noting that BGSS had failed to provide a satisfactory contract of employment and had ignored the ERO requirements. The decision added to a total of €140,560.71 awarded to former BGSS staff for employment rights breaches since May 2024, reflecting a broader pattern of unpaid wages and regulatory violations by the firm.
The Special Criminal Court will hear the trials of five men charged with false imprisonment, assault and the production of weapons used in the assault of a man in Dublin on 12 February 2025. The accused are Jason Hennessy Jr (28), Brandon Hennessy (22) and Devon Hennessy (29) from Blanchardstown, and Kenneth Fitzsimons (45) and his 26‑year‑old son Dean Fitzsimons from Mulhuddart. All five are charged with assaulting the victim to aid a criminal organisation, causing serious harm, and false imprisonment. Jason Hennessy Jr is additionally charged with threatening property damage and producing a branding stamp to intimidate. Brandon Hennessy is charged with producing a steel breaker bar. Devon Hennessy is charged with producing a metal branding stamp. Dean Fitzsimons is charged with threatening to kill or cause serious harm, producing a metal branding stamp and a steel breaker bar. Kenneth Fitzsimons is charged with producing a steel breaker bar and an axe.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 23 July 2025, Mr Justice Paul McDermott criticised the delay in preparing a psychiatric assessment for Ahmed Abdirahman, a 31‑year‑old Somalian national accused of murdering his former partner Mary Ward in Belfast on 25 September 2024. The judge urged both the prosecution and defence to set a timeframe for resolving the issue, noting that the Central Mental Hospital's resource constraints could not justify the continued impasse. Counsel for the State, Antonia Boyle BL, explained that the book of evidence had not yet been served on the accused because of mental health concerns. The defence team reported that Mr Abdirahman is awaiting admission to the Central Mental Hospital and has not engaged with a psychiatrist who attempted to see him. They also raised a jurisdictional issue, arguing that the alleged offence occurred in Northern Ireland and therefore the accused should be given the option to be tried there.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 23 July 2025, Mr Justice Paul McDermott urged that additional resources be allocated to the case of Riad Bouchaker, 51, who is charged with assaulting a care worker and attempting to murder three children on Parnell Square. The prosecution noted that the defence had supplied a psychiatric report on Bouchaker, while the prosecution is preparing its own report due by mid‑October. The judge highlighted "serious difficulties" caused by delays, including the need for further neuropsychological work, delays in accessing the defendant in prison, and interpreter availability. He set the next hearing for 22 October and called on all parties—lawyers, psychiatrists, and other professionals—to expedite the case once the psychiatric issues are resolved. The court reiterated its commitment to fast‑track trials involving children, aiming to complete the process within one year where possible.
In a Dublin trial, Lorcan Murphy, a 32‑year‑old Garda, pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault causing harm after allegedly fracturing a 17‑year‑old's skull on June 1 2021. The jury, hearing closing speeches and the judge's charge, was urged to consider the Garda's perspective and the possibility that criminalising force might deter officers. Defence counsel Justin McQuade argued that Murphy acted under an honest belief in the necessity of force, even if mistaken, and that the initial use of force during the arrest was not excessive. He highlighted the split‑second decisions required of uniformed officers and suggested that the force used—a leg sweep—was an unfortunate secondary impact. Prosecutor John Gallagher contended that the sweep and subsequent head impact constituted disproportionate force, causing a fractured skull and brain bleed, and questioned whether the level of force was reasonable. The trial continues.
Stelian Ciuciu, a 32‑year‑old brothel keeper described as stateless and of Roma origin, pleaded guilty to 20 counts including organising prostitution, brothel‑keeping, using false instruments and money laundering. He rented eight properties from unsuspecting landlords by posing as one half of a couple with an escort partner, using a WhatsApp group of about 450 members to advertise the premises. Ciuciu maintained the properties, advised escorts to remain discreet, and laundered roughly €320,000, mostly in cash, to pay rent. Gardaí discovered the scheme when landlords raised concerns, leading to investigations that uncovered brothels in the rented homes and cash deposits in Ciuciu's accounts. He was arrested in November 2023, and €11,000 in cash was seized. The court noted the maximum sentences for the offences range from five to 15 years, and the case was adjourned for finalisation.
A 16‑year‑old boy, born in January 2009 at Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise, received a €1.9 million settlement after a High Court approved a claim of medical negligence. The mother sued the HSE for alleged breaches of statutory duty, citing a delayed Caesarean section and abnormal cardiotocography (CTG) readings that were not properly monitored. The child was delivered 80 minutes after the decision to perform the emergency Caesarean, with a 50‑minute delay beyond the usual timeframe. He suffered severe breathing difficulties, hypoxia, and a delayed resuscitation, during which an anaesthetist allegedly interfered with the attending doctor's attempts to intubate. The newborn spent 11 days in intensive care, had an MRI‑confirmed kidney and brain infarct, and was left with severe personal injuries. The settlement was reached without an admission of liability, and the court approved it on the day of the hearing. The family welcomed the outcome and urged a review of maternity care in Ireland.
In Tallaght District Court, a Dublin man in his 30s was denied bail after the judge heard he allegedly planted a small tracking device in his child's car seat and sent up to 50 abusive emails a day to his ex‑partner, breaching a safety order. Garda Gavin Cribbin cited eight alleged breaches of the order in June and July 2025, including the device discovery on 29 June when a relative received a phone alert. The complainant confirmed the device, described as an AirTag‑type, was hidden in the seat used for custody exchanges. The man allegedly admitted to a relative that he had placed the tracker. He also sent repeated abusive emails, some containing verbal abuse, and was permitted only to contact the injured party about child access. The judge, citing the O'Callaghan principles, found a real risk of interference and refused bail, remanding the man in custody for a video hearing on 25 July 2025.
Martin Hayes, aged 36, was convicted of manslaughter for the death of Amadea McDermott, aged 27, in a home in Coolock on 20 July 2017. He was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter by a majority verdict in the Central Criminal Court in November 2023. Hayes had pleaded not guilty to murder and claimed that McDermott had stabbed herself, a claim the court rejected. He admitted using violence against her. Mr Justice Paul McDermott sentenced him to 12 years and six months, citing domestic violence and a history of aggressive behaviour. Hayes appealed, arguing the judge over‑weighted aggravating factors and under‑weighted mitigating ones. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy dismissed the appeal, affirming the 12‑year‑six‑month sentence and noting limited mitigating factors and significant aggravating domestic violence evidence. The appeal was rejected on the basis that the judge's factual findings were correct and the sentence was appropriate.
Karrin Breslin, a lingerie saleswoman who had worked for Chantelle Lingerie Ltd for nearly twenty years, won €15,800 for constructive dismissal after the Workplace Relations Commission found that the company repudiated her contract by failing to address her health‑related grievances. Breslin claimed that the department store's understaffing and rostering after the Covid‑19 lockdown caused her mental and physical health to deteriorate, leading to anxiety, low mood, high blood pressure and gastrointestinal problems. She had taken seven periods of certified medical leave between January 2022 and summer 2023 and ultimately resigned on 31 October 2023 after her last shift on 25 June 2023. The adjudicator, Patricia Owens, ruled that Chantelle's failure to resolve serious roster and staffing issues amounted to a repudiation of contract, awarding Breslin full losses for five months' unemployment. The case was heard under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977. The disability discrimination complaint was struck out of time.
A 24‑year‑old Moldovan national, Valeriu Melnic, was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter by a Central Criminal Court jury after he stabbed his sister's partner, Ion Daghi, to death with a kitchen knife on 12 May 2024. Melnic told Gardaí he was "so drunk" that he could not remember the stabbing, and he had earlier said "I will kill you" to Daghi. The jury rejected the prosecution's murder case, accepting the defence of intoxication and provocation. The judge, Mr Justice David Keane, noted the graphic evidence and the jury's service, and remanded Melnic in custody until a sentencing hearing on 3 November. The Daghi family will be able to give a statement at that hearing. The case was listed for mention on 20 October. The trial detailed the night's events, including multiple bottles of whiskey, a dispute, and the fatal stab wound to Daghi's chest.
Samantha Otto, a 63-year-old applicant, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after being found guilty by a jury of sexually assaulting an 18-year-old male in a Rathmines laneway on October 26, 2022. The court heard that Otto, who identifies as female but is biologically male and has not received a gender recognition certificate, has one previous conviction for assault causing harm dated April 27, 2019, for which a suspended sentence was imposed on October 20, 2020. Judge Pauline Codd noted the difficulty in sentencing individuals whose gender identity does not align with their biological sex, particularly given the lack of a formal model for housing transgender prisoners. The judge highlighted that the victim, who was 18 at the time, described the incident as a gross violation of his bodily integrity. In mitigation, counsel cited Otto's difficult background and acceptance of the jury's verdict, though the judge noted the absence of a guilty plea and the egregious nature of the accused's attempt to blame the victim. The court imposed a three-year jail term, noting that Otto was on a suspended sentence at the time of the offence. Additionally, the judge ordered that Otto be placed on the Sexual Offenders' Register.
The trial of Lorcan Murphy, a 32‑year‑old Garda from Pearse Street Station, for assaulting a teenager in 2021 has entered its closing phase at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Murphy pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault causing harm under the 1997 Act. The prosecution has finished calling witnesses; the defence will not present evidence. Judge Pauline Codd will hear closing speeches tomorrow.
Clive McCowan, 45, a former PhD student in social studies, was sentenced to just over three‑and‑a‑half years in prison for possessing €285,000 worth of heroin. He pleaded guilty to three counts of possession of drugs for sale or supply at Millrace Park, Saggart, on 6 June 2024. Gardaí searched his residence at Rossfield Court, Tallaght, and found approximately 2 kg of heroin, 147 g of cannabis, and 8 g of cocaine, along with weighing scales and a boiler. McCowan admitted to receiving the drugs two weeks earlier, having been instructed to cut a section of diamorphine, and claimed he had a drug debt of €30,000. He had eight prior convictions, including robbery, and had previously completed a residential treatment programme. Judge Martin Nolan, noting the substantial mitigation and McCowan's cooperation, imposed a four‑year sentence, reduced by four months for his treatment. The court considered this his second incursion into drug‑dealing activity.
Murilo Dos Santos, 36, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material between November 2020 and January 2021. Gardaí seized his phone during a separate investigation, finding 66 videos that contravened the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act. Dos Santos shared these videos with six others via a sharing app and WhatsApp, including a 5‑minute clip of a child aged 6‑12 months strapped down, and other footage of children aged 8‑12 and 10‑14 years in sexual activity. He also sent a MEGA folder link and a photograph of himself, claiming he was acting as a vigilante. Judge Orla Crowe revoked his bail and remanded him in custody until 1 December 2025 pending sentencing. No other participants were prosecuted. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
Anthony Matheus Rosas De Souza, 29, was jailed for importing cocaine after being stopped at Dublin Airport. He claimed he was visiting Ireland as a fan of Conor McGregor and Irish pubs, and that he had heard Irish beer was good. De Souza admitted he was forced to transport the drugs from Brazil because he owed money to a loan shark, who threatened his mother and promised to write off his debt if he brought the suitcase into Ireland. He was on remand since his arrest. At the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court he pleaded guilty to importing cocaine on 1 November 2024. Six packages weighing 2.88 kg, worth an estimated €201,600, were found in the suitcase. Judge Orla Crowe accepted that he acted as a drug mule and imposed a sentence of three years, backdated to his first entry into custody last November. The sentence was set after the court noted the damage caused by the drug trade.
A jury of eight men and four women is set to return to the Central Criminal Court to continue deliberating the verdict in the murder trial of Moldovan national Valeriu Melnic, aged 24, who is accused of fatally stabbing Ion Daghi, aged 39, with a kitchen knife on 12 May 2024. Melnic pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The jury has spent five hours and 52 minutes over two days considering the case and has not yet reached a unanimous verdict. Judge David Keane has advised that they may seek a majority verdict, requiring at least ten jurors to agree, and has asked them to return tomorrow for further guidance on the defence of provocation. The jury is also instructed to consider whether intoxication could negate intent, and whether provocation could reduce the charge to manslaughter. The case remains at the deliberation stage, with no verdict yet announced.
Marese Craig, 28, was sentenced by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to six and a half years' imprisonment for a series of thefts that included stealing a €27,000‑worth bag of cancer medication from an elderly American tourist and a handbag from a mother in a neonatal intensive care unit. The judge noted Craig's 191 prior convictions, including 18 burglaries, nine robberies, 102 thefts and 16 deception offences, and her drug addiction. Craig pleaded guilty to thefts, burglaries and possession of stolen bank cards between 2022 and 2024. She admitted the offences, expressed regret and was found to have been unaware of the contents of the bags she stole. Judge Orla Crowe imposed consecutive sentences totalling seven and a half years, suspended the final 12 months, and required Craig to engage with the Probation Service for 18 months after release. The court described her conduct as "deplorable" but allowed her a chance to re‑enter society constructively.
Stephen Mooney, aged 53, was sentenced to a mandatory life term at the Central Criminal Court for murdering his 43‑year‑old wife, Anna Mooney. He admitted to stabbing her after discovering evidence of an affair on her phone. Mooney recorded the act and later called emergency services at 1.09 am on 15 June 2023, stating he had killed her. Gardaí accessed his phone, finding a 90‑minute video and audio of the murder and the events leading up to it. The pathologist reported a 13.3 cm stab wound that pierced the heart, diaphragm and abdominal cavity, with additional wounds to her back, arm and hand. Mooney apologized to the family and children, and the judge imposed the mandatory life sentence, noting the severe harm caused. The case remains under the jurisdiction of a parole board. Stephen Mooney pleaded guilty.
Jamie Moss, 22, of Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to two offences of possessing a 9mm Makarov semi-automatic pistol and one round of ammunition without lawful purpose. The charges relate to an incident on February 16, 2024, at Old Navan Road, Blanchardstown. Moss's co-accused, Sarah Jane Byrne, 27, previously pleaded guilty in June to five offences. These included possession of the same 9mm Makarov pistol and ammunition, as well as 27 rounds of Luger 9mm ammunition, a 12-gauge sawn-off Beretta shotgun, and a Tokarev submachine gun, all allegedly held without lawful purpose at the same location on February 16, 2024. The State requested that the cases be joined, noting Byrne's sentencing hearing is listed for October 20. Defence counsel Carol Doherty BL requested a probation report for Moss, highlighting his recent completion of education. Ms Justice Karen O'Connor directed the preparation of the probation report and remanded Moss on continuing bail. The matter was adjourned to October 20 for sentencing, with the court indicating the proceedings for both accused would be joined at that stage.
Paul Davis, 38, of Finglas, Dublin 11, appeared at Tallaght District Court where he pleaded guilty to criminal damage at Rathfarnham Garda Station and to threatening, abusive behaviour and intoxication in a public place at Marlay Park on 29 June 2024. The court heard that Davis was highly intoxicated at the Longitude festival, where he aggressively confronted Gardaí and security staff. After being pepper sprayed and arrested, he allegedly urinated on a cell door while in custody. Davis has 54 previous convictions. Although he initially reported being drug-free, he later admitted to the Probation Service that he still smokes cannabis daily, rendering him unsuitable for community service. In court, Davis claimed cannabis "isn't a drug," a statement Judge Patricia McNamara rejected, noting the chemical nature of the substance. Judge McNamara convicted Davis and imposed a three-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months. She also fined him €200, payable within four months. Davis paid €105 in court to cover the cost of cleaning the cell. The judge ordered that Davis must remain of sober habits and abstain from all illicit or non-prescribed drugs during the suspended period.
Three armed forces members – Jordan Kavanagh (24), his brother Jerome (23) and friend Jason Keating (24) – attacked a young man in a late‑night bar after a drink was spilled. The trio pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and violent disorder. The victim, a man in his 20s, suffered a concussion, broken teeth and facial scarring. All three resigned from the army before court. They expressed remorse and submitted apology letters. The judge, Sinéad McMullan, noted their potential and the impact on the victim, ordered a Probation Report and considered restorative justice. The case was adjourned for sentencing on 3 November, with the men remanded on continuing bail. No prior convictions were recorded for any of the defendants.