A 25‑year‑old sportsman, Calvin Dunne, was sentenced to six years and nine months in prison for the manslaughter of Dylan McCarthy, 29, who died after being assaulted during a melee outside a Kildare pub in August 2022. The judge found that Dunne had delivered a one‑stride kick to McCarthy's head, which caused a traumatic head injury and spinal injury. Dunne had previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter but withdrew the plea; he was later found guilty of both manslaughter and violent disorder. The sentence was reduced by 25 % from a headline of nine years, with the final six months suspended for 12 months. A co‑accused, Sean Kavanagh, 27, received a two‑year‑six‑month sentence for assault causing harm, with four months suspended for 12 months. Both defendants were found not guilty of murder. The court noted the impact on the McCarthy family and the defendants' low risk of reoffending.
Myles Smith, 22, had his dangerous driving conviction overturned at the District Court Appeals Court after Judge Jonathan Dunphy viewed a Snapchat video allegedly proving Smith was in the passenger seat during a Garda pursuit. Smith, of Clonsilla, Dublin 15, had previously pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving, driving without insurance, driving without a licence, and two counts of failure to produce documents. In the District Court, he was disqualified from driving for two years and fined €450 for dangerous driving, fined €400 for no insurance, and fined €300 for no licence. Defence counsel Aoife McNickle BL presented video evidence showing Smith in the passenger seat while Garda lights were visible. The State, represented by Clare Barry, argued the footage was edited and that Smith was the driver. Judge Dunphy stated that after numerous viewings, he had doubt over who was driving and found no satisfactory evidence Smith was the driver. He allowed the appeal, quashing the conviction. The report does not specify the finalisation status of the other charges or any adjournments for them.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, a 49‑year‑old man was found guilty of assault causing serious harm to his then partner, assault causing harm, and two counts of producing a knife. He also pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to his stepdaughter. The court heard that on 20 October 2022 he left the home, returned, and attacked his partner in their child's bedroom, dragging her by the hair, punching, kicking, and stabbing her twice in the chest and once in the cheek. He also attempted to stab his stepdaughter, who escaped with a scratch to her neck. The victim spent four days in hospital, suffered permanent facial disfigurement and potentially fatal chest wounds. The judge sentenced the defendant to ten years' imprisonment, citing the domestic setting, trust relationship, and psychological harm, and backdated the sentence to 2022.
Shane Mulvey, 26, a former supermarket assistant manager, was arrested after Gardaí discovered over €2.6 million worth of drugs in his apartment and vehicle. Surveillance revealed him handing a kilo of cocaine to a contact at a Swords car park. A concealed unit in his car contained 14 kg of cocaine valued at about €1 million, and further cocaine, amphetamine, cannabis, MDMA, a mixing agent, a counting machine and other paraphernalia were found in his spare bedroom. €66,700 in cash was seized. Mulvey pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale, possession of proceeds of crime and possession of an article in connection with a crime. He received a headline sentence of 11 years, reduced to nine years with the final year suspended, backdated to his November 2024 arrest. The court noted his prior convictions, family background, apology, early guilty plea and rehabilitation efforts.
Trevor Robinson, 34, of Navan Road, Dublin 7, was sentenced to two months in prison after pleading not guilty to two counts of assaulting Gardaí under the Non‑Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. The offence occurred at Dundrum Garda Station shortly after 2 am on 21 February 2023, when Robinson was arrested for a public order offence and found in a custody cell in a highly distressed state, lying partially under a mattress. When Garda Fergus Holly and Garda Anthony Browne entered to ensure his safety, Robinson became combative, shouting, abusive and physically aggressive, and spat at both officers. Garda Browne reported hearing the spitting and feeling it land on his back and neck, while Garda Holly was directly spat at. Robinson's defence claimed he was extremely intoxicated and possibly affected by hallucinogenic substances, suggesting the spitting may have been accidental amid shouting and disorientation. The court rejected this defence.
Bewley's Café and a company owned by property developer Johnny Ronan have taken a dispute over the €747,000 per year rent for the Grafton Street outlet to the High Court. RGRE Grafton Limited, which owns the building, claims the rent should be €1 million, while a valuer hired by Bewley's says it should be €518,000. Bewley's had previously paid €1.46 million for the premises before a Circuit Court ruling cut the rent in half to €747 k. Both parties are appealing the Circuit Court decision. The case focuses on valuation methods, with Bewley's expert Fergus Crosse arguing that improvements to the building justify a lower rent, and RGRE's valuer David Potter contesting the zoning approach used by Crosse, claiming it undervalues the restaurant space. The matter is now before Ms Justice Sara Phelan.
A 14‑year‑old boy was caught on CCTV taking part in a robbery of an off‑duty Garda on Camden Road, Dublin 8, on 22 January 2024. He kicked the victim repeatedly to the head while the 29‑year‑old co‑accused punched him to the ground. The pair then stole the Garda's phone, two passports, a Garda ID card and bank cards, and returned to re‑check the victim's pockets, kicking him again. The boy, who had no prior convictions, pleaded guilty to one count of robbery. He had been in special care as a baby due to maternal neglect and had been removed from care in recent years because of drug use, missing from care, and exploitation by criminals. Social workers had recommended emergency special care shortly before the attack, but no bed was available. The court heard that the boy was later placed in care and has not gone missing for several months.
Hundreds of TikTok staff in Ireland were given competency tests in November 2023 without knowing the results would be used to decide redundancy in spring 2024. The Workplace Relations Commission heard that the tests covered 100 pieces of content and were scored against official moderation outcomes. A former content‑moderation team leader, Mohur Saleh, lost his job after scoring 32.25 points, 0.75 below the 33‑point cut‑off. Saleh argued he was unfairly selected because the test, which he failed, was part of the redundancy scoring system, and because his performance ratings were disputed. TikTok's senior manager said the tests were deliberately kept secret to avoid cheating, and that the pass mark was 51 out of 100. Saleh's case is still under adjudication by the WRC.
The prosecution will finish its evidence in the trial of Joseph Lawlor, a 39‑year‑old Dublin man accused of stabbing his friend Michael Ryan, a 51‑year‑old father of three, to death. The case is being heard in the Central Criminal Court. The jury has already seen CCTV footage from neighbouring homes that shows the fatal stab wound to Ryan's neck. Ms Justice Karen O'Connor told the jury that the prosecution intends to complete its evidence by Tuesday of next week and asked the jurors not to discuss the case, conduct independent research or view social media posts about the trial. Lawlor has pleaded not guilty. The stabbing occurred outside his home on Hampton Wood Way, St Margaret's Road, Finglas, Dublin 11, on 20 June 2024, shortly after midnight. Garda Shane Gallagher arrested Lawlor at the scene, seized his clothing, including a black stab‑proof vest, and later released him.
The State settled a claim by Gerard McCarthy, 55, who alleged that Gardaí in riot gear assaulted him and broke his shoulder while he was cycling to investigate fires near his partner's home on Findlater Street, Dublin, on Halloween night 2008. McCarthy, who was 38 at the time, said he was struck on both shoulders, his back and legs by 10–12 Gardaí in riot gear during a brief attack lasting five to ten seconds. He was taken to Mater Hospital, later had an X‑ray showing a broken shoulder near the collarbone, and reported numbness and shock. The case was brought before Justice Alexander Owens, who struck it out, with no trial costs awarded and no costs imposed on the plaintiff. The settlement was confirmed by counsel for both parties on 27 June 2025.
David Rogers, a 69‑year‑old former car dealer from Dublin, pleaded guilty to deception offences relating to the sale of cars during the 2008‑2009 financial crash. He defrauded three victims: the first sold a car for €9,500, the second sold a deceased father's car for €22,000, and the third bought an SUV that was later traded in. Rogers failed to pay the victims, claiming he was abroad and that the matter was beyond the statute of limitations. He eventually returned €20,000 to the second victim and €24,000 to the third, the latter including a €2,000 token of remorse. The court found Rogers had a prior road‑traffic conviction and that he had lost his home. Judge Sinead Ni Chulachain sentenced him to 18 months in prison, but substituted 240 hours of community service, citing his guilty plea, remorse, good character and the long delays victims endured.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 26 June 2025, Keith Walsh, aged 34, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to his 64‑year‑old mother, Maura Walsh, at their Cabra home on 22 August 2024. The court heard that Walsh had repeatedly punched his mother's head, pinned her against a wall, and held his hands around her neck during a "meltdown" over a cigarette. Garda Aaron McGrath reported that Walsh had been intoxicated when arrested and that the mother had withdrawn her statement after the incident. Walsh's defence counsel described a background of alcohol and drug use, mental health struggles, and a history of work for Red Bull and in construction. Judge Martina Baxter noted the aggravating nature of the assault, urged Walsh to address his addiction, and adjourned sentencing to November to allow probation services to assess his risk. The court did not yet impose a sentence.
In a Tallaght District Court hearing, a man in his 30s was denied bail after being charged with breaching a protection order by allegedly making threatening phone calls to his ex‑partner on 23 June. The court heard that the woman, who shares a young child with the accused, received four calls from a private number within three minutes that evening. She answered the fourth call, identified the caller's voice, and reported that he threatened her, saying he would "dance her head into the ground" and that his cousins would "smash it up." She also claimed the man had used private numbers and had access to two phones, though he denied this. The accused denied all allegations, asserting he had never threatened or shouted at her. Judge Patricia McNamara found the woman's evidence more credible, refused bail, and remanded the accused in custody to appear via video link from Cloverhill Prison on 27 June.
Jibola Moses Akanni, 27, of Drogheda, Co Louth, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court after being found guilty by a jury of two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. The offences occurred in a Dublin city centre apartment in February 2018, where the court heard the 17-year-old victim was intoxicated and barely conscious. Mr Justice David Keane noted aggravating factors including the victim's vulnerability and the age disparity. Although Akanni has 28 previous convictions for other matters, the judge stated no credit was given for a guilty plea as none was offered, nor for remorse. The judge determined there was no realistic hope of rehabilitation and refused to suspend any part of the sentence. Akanni was sentenced to eight and a half years on each rape count and three and a half years for sexual assault, all to run concurrently and backdated to November when he entered custody. To protect the public from the risk of sexual reoffending, the judge ordered that Akanni be placed under the supervision of the Probation Services for two years post-release, instructing him to carry out all directions deemed necessary by the service.
During the trial, a jury heard a recorded conversation in which Joseph Lawlor, aged 39, referred to his friend as a "supergrass" and a "rat" and threatened the deceased, Michael Ryan, 51, saying, "I'll stab you straight into your neck." Lawlor denied the murder charge and claimed he would not stab Ryan, adding, "I love you too fucking much." The recording, taken by a neighbour at 9:38 pm, was part of evidence that also included CCTV footage of two earlier fights and a Ring doorbell clip of the fatal encounter after midnight. The footage captured the moment Ryan suffered a fatal stab wound to the neck. Detective Garda Shane Gallagher spent 14 hours reviewing the audio and produced a transcript identifying both voices. The case is proceeding before Justice Karen O'Connor with a jury of five women and seven men.
In a Belfast murder case, the Central Criminal Court heard that Ahmed Abdirahman, a 31‑year‑old Somalian national, faces a serious mental health issue. He is accused of killing his former partner, Mary Ward, on 25 September 2024 at her Melrose Street home. Abdirahman is still awaiting admission to the Central Mental Hospital, where a diagnostic clarification is required before an external psychiatrist can assess his fitness to plead. The court noted that he has not yet been properly diagnosed and remains on the hospital's waiting list. Defence counsel Oisin Clarke highlighted difficulties in engaging with the accused and raised a jurisdictional issue, as the offence occurred in Northern Ireland, requiring the option of trial there. The matter was adjourned to 23 July 2025.
In a June 2025 appeal, a 69‑year‑old man named Gary Healy, who had previously pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after slashing his neighbour with a Stanley knife over a dispute about trespassing dogs, saw his four‑month custodial sentence replaced by a 12‑month peace bond. The incident occurred on 28 June 2023 when Healy, who had lived a "blameless existence" for 40 years as a porter at Temple Street Hospital, reacted to a neighbour's presence at his doorstep, feeling threatened. He produced the knife and inflicted cuts on the victim's neck, forearms and hand. Defence counsel argued Healy's panic and regret, presenting community support letters. Judge Jonathan Dunphy acknowledged the potential for a more serious outcome, accepted the overreaction, and ordered €3,000 compensation to the victim or a chosen charity. The peace bond and compensation replace the custodial term.
During a murder trial in the Central Criminal Court, the prosecution presented forensic evidence indicating that Joseph Lawlor, aged 39, was wearing a blood‑stained stab vest when he was arrested. DNA from the vest matched that of the deceased, Michael Ryan, aged 51. Pathologist Dr Yvonne McCarthy described a single stab wound to Ryan's neck, 9.1 cm below the right earlobe, 2.9 cm long and 5.8 cm deep, penetrating the subclavian artery and causing cardiovascular collapse. The wound was consistent with a kitchen knife found in Lawlor's home. McCarthy also noted 57 bruises and abrasions on Ryan's body, some consistent with earlier scuffles. Toxicology revealed cocaine metabolites, benzodiazepines, a sleeping tablet, and a blood alcohol level 1.5 times the legal limit. The trial, presided over by Justice Karen O'Connor, will continue tomorrow before a jury of five women and seven men. Joseph Lawlor pleaded not guilty.
Joseph Thorpe, aged 73, a former Dublin football club coach, pleaded guilty to one count of indecent assault for sexually assaulting a boy aged 12‑14 during a club trip to County Kerry between September 1974 and September 1976. The victim, who wishes to remain anonymous, stated that the assault occurred in a shared caravan bed while other children were present. Thorpe has five prior convictions, including a 1990 suspended sentence for indecent assault of another teenage boy. Judge Martina Baxter, noting Thorpe's position of trust and the profound impact on the victim, imposed a 20‑month imprisonment sentence suspended in full for 24 months and ordered 18 months of probation supervision. Thorpe was remanded in custody last week and described the conditions as shocking. The court heard that Thorpe is estranged from his children, has a history of postal work, and has complex medical issues.
Randi Gladstone, a 41‑year‑old Guyanese sex offender, was sentenced by Mr Justice Paul McDermott to six months' imprisonment for failing to register as a sex offender within seven days of arriving in Ireland, a separate offence from the rape and false imprisonment for which he had already been convicted and sentenced to ten years by Mr Justice Patrick McGrath. Gladstone, who had been in Ireland for only a few days before raping an 18‑year‑old in a holiday complex in County Dublin on 25 August 2023, had not notified An Garda Síochána of his status as a convicted sex offender, a breach punishable by up to five years' imprisonment. The judge imposed the six‑month term consecutively to the existing ten‑year sentence, meaning Gladstone will serve the additional six months on top of the original custodial period. He will serve the sentence at Midlands Prison. Randi Gladstone pleaded guilty.
Former solicitor Herbert Kilcline, aged 64, was sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment for his role in a €266,000 property fraud scheme that involved falsifying deeds to change ownership of two Dublin properties on Phibsborough Road and St Mary's Road. Kilcline was convicted of two counts of using a false instrument, two counts of failing to keep records, two counts of fraudulent procurement of an entry into the Property Registration Authority's registry and two counts of failing to apply required measures as a designated person. The court noted that Kilcline had previously acted as a covert human intelligence source for Gardaí and that the scheme had caused losses to the injured parties and threatened the integrity of the land registry system. Kilcline's sentence was imposed with consideration of his medical and mental health issues. The case also involved former businessman Philip Marley, who received a three‑year sentence for related offences. Philip Marley pleaded guilty.
A psychiatric report on Riad Bouchaker, 51, who is charged with assaulting a care worker and attempting to murder three children on Parnell Square, has now been completed, the court heard. Bouchaker, of no fixed abode, faces charges of attempted murder of two girls and one boy, assault causing serious harm to a care worker, and possession or production of a knife. The incident occurred on the afternoon of 23 November 2023. The Central Criminal Court heard that a psychiatrist had requested further work by a neuropsychologist and that the treating doctor had faced delays in accessing the defendant and in securing an interpreter. The report was made available in April, but the psychiatrist asked for an additional four weeks to review it. The court noted that the case must be given priority once the psychiatric issue is resolved and that the trial process should be completed within one year if a child is involved.
Brian Reilly, a 29‑year‑old banned driver with 126 prior convictions, was sentenced by Judge Melanie Greally in 2021 to seven and a half years' imprisonment for crashing into the Armstrongs' car in January 2020, an act that left Ellen Armstrong with a thumb amputation and lifelong pain. The sentence included an 18‑month suspended period and a lifetime driving disqualification. Reilly was released from jail six weeks before the 2024 incident, when he again caused a serious collision in Meath, injuring a grandmother's wrist and endangering a family of five. He pleaded guilty to ten counts of dangerous driving, four of endangerment and several damage offences. Judge Orla Crowe reactivated the suspended sentence, ordering an additional 18 months of imprisonment and two years of Probation Service supervision, after Reilly refused to enter a bond in court. The court noted the severity of his repeated endangerment offences shortly after release.
Patrick O'Connor, a 75‑year‑old Peace Commissioner, pleaded guilty to providing false information under the Companies Act for forging the signatures of two co‑directors when forming JP&P Property Limited, a shepherd hut glamping business. He claimed he had no time to obtain the signatures in person and forged them with their consent. The forged signatures were discovered by Corporate Enforcement Authority officers investigating a separate breach of the Companies Act. One of the forged signatories had been disqualified from acting as a company director. O'Connor's company never commenced trading. He has a small number of prior road traffic convictions. The case was initially before the District Court, but the judge declined jurisdiction and adjourned the matter for finalisation on 9 July. The court noted O'Connor's roles as a Peace Commissioner, architectural engineer, and local GAA and charity worker. The proceedings remain at the pleading stage.
Alanna Quinn Idris testified in court about prior harassment by Jack Cummins, who procured a gang attack on her, resulting in her being blinded in one eye. Jack Cummins (21) of Rossmore Road, Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty to procuring the commission of assault causing serious harm to Ms Quinn Idris on Ballyfermot Road on December 30, 2021, and to violent disorder and assault causing harm. He admitted to making two phone calls to his cousin Josh Cummins (20) to orchestrate the attack. Ms Quinn Idris, who was 17 at the time, suffered serious injuries, including a shattered tooth, a broken cheekbone, and a ruptured eyeball, leading to permanent vision loss in her right eye. Her friend Louis O'Sullivan was also assaulted. Josh Cummins pleaded guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to Ms Quinn Idris, violent disorder, and assault causing harm to Mr O'Sullivan. He received a five-year sentence, with the final two years suspended in November 2023. Darragh Lyons (21) of Weir View, Glenaulin, Chapelizod, pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm to Ms Quinn Idris, assault causing harm to Mr O'Sullivan, and violent disorder. He was sentenced to four and a half years in March 2023. The court adjourned the case to July 29 for finalisation and remanded Jack Cummins on continuing bail.
Beatriz Carvalho, 23, a Brazilian national with no fixed abode, was stopped at Dublin Airport on 17 November 2024 after travelling via Paris. Immigration officers suspected her because she travelled alone. When questioned, she admitted swallowing about 50–60 cocaine pellets and storing more in her body. She had €1,345 in cash and claimed she was paid the Brazilian equivalent of €2,000 to bring the drugs to Ireland. While at the airport, she passed seven pellets in a bathroom and later retrieved 30 from her body. A total of 110 pellets, worth €86,763, were recovered. Carvalho pleaded guilty to one count of importing drugs. She has no prior convictions in Brazil and was in custody since her arrest. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced her to three years' imprisonment, reduced from an initial six‑year sentence, taking mitigating factors such as her early admission and cooperation into account. The sentence was back‑dated to the date of her arrest.
Gerard McCarthy, 55, has sworn in a jury at the High Court to pursue a claim against the Commissioner of An Garda Síochána, the Minister for Justice, Ireland and the Attorney General. He alleges that on Halloween night 2008, while cycling to investigate two fires near his partner's home on Findlater Street, he was assaulted by gardaí in riot gear. McCarthy, who was 38 at the time, says he was struck on both shoulders, his back and legs by a group of 10 to 12 riot police while still on his bicycle. He reports that the attack lasted between five and ten seconds and that up to five officers with shields and helmets used batons. He was taken to Mater Hospital that night, later had an X‑ray that showed a broken shoulder near the collarbone, and claims he was left numb and in shock.
Aidan Clohessy, aged 85, was sentenced yesterday to four years for indecently assaulting two boys in the 1980s. He had previously been convicted of 19 counts of indecent assault involving six boys, with five counts from a second trial for assaulting four boys between 1969 and 1986. Judge Martin Nolan, after considering the totality principle and Clohessy's age, imposed an additional 16‑month sentence to run consecutively with the earlier four‑year term, giving a global sentence of five years and four months. The offences involved inappropriate touching and physical chastisement of boys aged 10 to 13 who were pupils, and some boarders, at St Augustine's School in Blackrock, Dublin, where Clohessy served as principal from the early 1970s until 1993. The court noted that Clohessy was in a position of trust and that the victims were vulnerable. The 16‑month term is to be served after the four‑year sentence already imposed. Aidan Clohessy pleaded not guilty.
Sean Carroll, 31, of Rathfarnham, Dublin 14, had his custodial sentence overturned on appeal in the District Court Appeals Court. Carroll, who pleaded guilty to theft under section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001, was originally sentenced to six months in prison. The court heard that on July 26, 2019, Carroll allegedly arranged a meeting on Henry Street, Dublin, where he received €550 from an injured party for Electric Picnic tickets that were subsequently found to be fake. The stolen money was never recovered. Carroll has 28 previous convictions, including for theft and attempted robbery. Defence counsel Róisín Burnside BL submitted that Carroll has undertaken treatment for drug addiction and is now free of drugs and alcohol. Judge Jonathan Dunphy noted the prevalence of ticket scams on Henry Street and questioned the impact on the victim. The judge increased the original sentence from six months to ten months but fully suspended it for two years. The suspension is conditional on Carroll keeping the peace and continuing his treatment. Judge Dunphy warned that if Carroll returns before the court, every second of the ten-month term will be activated.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, 39‑year‑old Ryan Kearney pleaded not guilty to the murder of 50‑year‑old Jeffrey Jackson. Kearney told Gardaí that he had stabbed Jackson in the neck but did not kill him, claiming the victim was a friend. He was arrested on suspicion of murder on 8 February 2024 after arriving at The Lamps in Kilcock. Garda Detective Sergeant Gerard Moore testified that Kearney had tried to stop a neck wound and was unaware of a severe abdominal stab. Kearney was found intoxicated, with slurred speech and an alcohol odor, and was deemed unfit for questioning for six hours. The prosecution presented evidence of 16 knife wounds, describing the attack as ferocious, which contradicted Kearney's self‑defence claim. The trial proceeded before Mr Justice Paul Burns and a jury.
Stuart Murphy, 46, of Tallaght, was jailed for five years after admitting he had stored €360,000 worth of cannabis resin in a van outside his home. Gardaí said he was under duress, having been shown photographs of his father, fiancé and a younger family member to pressure him into holding the drugs. Murphy had a drug debt of €8,000 and had relapsed into addiction during the Covid pandemic. He had previously been clean for over 20 years but lost his job during Covid, leading to depression and a relapse. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, offered an unreserved apology, and was found to have held the drugs for a short time without intent to sell. The judge accepted his duress claim, set a headline sentence of 12 years, but imposed a final sentence of six years, suspending the last 12 months for 12 months on condition of probation engagement.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a jury reviewed CCTV footage showing the fatal stabbing of Michael Ryan (51) outside Joseph Lawlor's (39) home in Finglas on 20 June 2024. The footage captured three drunken altercations, the last of which ended with Lawlor holding a knife and stabbing Ryan in the neck. After the act, Lawlor called 999, describing Ryan as bleeding. Detectives found blood on the ground, clothing, money, a wallet, and a black sports bag containing €3,155 and tablets. A Royal Swiss bread knife was recovered from Lawlor's couch and DNA testing linked it to the stab wound; a sword was also found in the living room. Lawlor denies the murder. The jury was asked to return the next day to consider his intent. The case remains at the evidence‑review stage.
A 74‑year‑old man was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment for sexually assaulting his nephew, who was six at the time, in December 1991. The abuse occurred in three separate incidents on the same night, in the toilet and TV room, when the man placed his hand on the boy's penis and forced the boy to touch him. The victim disclosed the abuse to his mother that day, and the family contacted authorities. The boy later attended St Louise's Unit in Crumlin Hospital, where records and social‑worker transcripts were read at trial. The accused, who cannot be named to protect the victim's identity, denied the allegations but accepted the jury's verdict. Judge Elva Duffy imposed the custodial sentence after arranging a health plan to meet the defendant's complex medical needs. The victim's impact statement described 34 years of trauma and the relief of the guilty verdict. The unnamed 74-year-old was convicted.
An 85‑year‑old former principal of St Augustine's School, Aidan Clohessy, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment after being convicted of 19 counts of indecent assault against six boys aged 10 to 13. The offences, which took place between 1969 and 1986, involved inappropriate touching and were described by the judge as "atrocities at night time". Clohessy, who served as principal from the early 1970s until 1993, was found guilty in two separate trials at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. In the first trial he received 14 counts of indecent assault, and in the second he received five counts. He was acquitted of three further counts. Victim impact statements highlighted lasting mental health, educational and employment effects. Clohessy denied wrongdoing and acknowledged corporal punishment used at the school. He will not appeal the verdicts. The sentence was imposed with consideration of his age and health.
An asylum seeker, Omar Haddouche, aged 25, was sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment for violent disorder after he joined others in stamping on a stranger's head during a melee on Dublin's O'Connell Street. The incident began when a group of men, including Haddouche, collided with another group outside the Savoy Cinema. A fight erupted, involving punches, kicks and the use of a belt wrapped around a fist. Haddouche and an accomplice stamped on the victim's head while he was on the ground, causing severe injury that left him with 75 % loss of sight in one eye. The incident lasted about 60 seconds and was captured on CCTV. Haddouche pleaded guilty, admitted his behaviour was unacceptable, and the judge described the violence as "inherently serious." The court imposed a custodial sentence, with no mention of a suspended portion.
Jordan Lanigan, 25, of Darndale, Dublin 17, had his conviction for driving under the influence of drugs overturned on appeal. The appellant had pleaded not guilty to the charge in the District Court, where he was subsequently convicted and sentenced to a one-year driving disqualification and a €300 fine. At the District Court Appeals Court, Judge Jonathan Dunphy allowed the appeal, finding that the prosecuting garda's evidence was insufficient to prove the roadside drug test was completed. Garda Fergal McSharry testified that he stopped Lanigan on Clonshaugh Road on March 4, 2019, smelled cannabis, and administered a Drager oral test which returned a positive result. However, the judge noted that the garda only stated he handed the test to Lanigan and that Lanigan handed it back, without providing direct evidence that Lanigan actually placed the device in his mouth or completed the required procedure. The judge ruled that this was an essential element of the procedure and could not be inferred, noting the test may have been refused or returned uncompleted. Consequently, the conviction was quashed, and the matter was not finalised with a new sentence but rather resulted in the overturning of the original District Court finding.
Two drug dealers, Viorel Doroscan (23) and Otniel Richardo Clejan (24), were sentenced to life imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of 22‑year‑old footballer Mahamud Ilyas. The court heard that the pair beat Ilyas in an apartment in Blanchardstown, stamped on him, kicked him, and struck his head with a hammer. They tied his hands and feet, wrapped him in a duvet and drove him to a wooded area at Belgree Lane, Co. Meath, where they left him to die. The judge described the killers' conduct as "massive loss of control" and "callous". Ilyas's mother, Muna Ali, spoke of her son's promise and the pain of his death. The sentencing followed a unanimous jury conviction of murder. The case also involved co‑accused Robert Burns and Lorenzo Cantaragiu, who pleaded guilty to impeding the arrest or prosecution of the killers.
Gardai failed to revoke a man's bail after a judge heard he strongly denies breaching a protection order. The man, whose identity is withheld to protect the injured party, is accused of appearing at the building where his former partner works and where their child's crèche is located on June 6, the same day he had appeared before Tallaght District Court on a breach of a protection order and was granted bail. Garda Catherine Conroy alleged the man was captured on CCTV entering the building at 1 pm and was escorted out by another man, and that the injured party saw him and fled in fear, though no verbal exchange occurred. Conroy applied to revoke bail under the O'Callaghan principles, citing concerns that the man might continue to intimidate or interfere with the injured party. The court heard that Gardaí had tried to contact the accused in the two weeks after the alleged breach but received no response.
Michael Uhrovic, 46, of Landsdale Lawns, Tallaght, was stopped by gardaí on 25 September 2023 at Catherine Tynan Road for driving without a licence or insurance. He pleaded guilty. The Tallaght District Court noted he had 12 prior convictions, including several road‑traffic offences, and had been disqualified from driving for four years in 2018 and again for ten years in 2020. Judge Patricia McNamara convicted him of driving without insurance, disqualified him for a further five years, and imposed a €600 fine payable within five months. He received a five‑month custodial sentence, suspended for two years on a €200 bond, with a warning that a repeat offence would activate the sentence. The case was heard under sections 38(1) and 38(5)(a)(i) of the Road Traffic Act 1961, as amended, and sections 56(1) and (3) of the same Act.
Patrick Berry, 40, of Ballyfermot, Dublin, was sentenced at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for theft. He pleaded guilty to stealing 12 electric scooters, valued at €7,780, from a storage unit at a business park in Ballymount on November 16, 2020. The scooters have not been recovered. Judge Orla Crowe described the offence as "opportunistic," noting it occurred during the pandemic when the area was quiet. The judge highlighted that the theft nearly caused the collapse of the victim's new business, causing significant stress. Aggravating factors included Berry's 30 previous convictions, eight for theft, and the value of the goods. Mitigation included his addiction issues, which he is addressing, and a €3,200 payment offered by his parents as a token of remorse. Judge Crowe imposed a sentence of two years and six months, which was suspended for four years on strict conditions, including remaining drug-free. The court directed that the €3,200 be paid to the injured party's company. The judge stated the court wished to "give this man a chance."
Joseph Kelly, 71, lost an appeal against a six‑and‑a‑half‑year prison sentence for smuggling €1.8 million worth of cannabis across the border in a transit van. He pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale on 16 April 2019 and was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan on 11 March 2024. Gardaí stopped him on the N4 after receiving confidential information about a white Ford transit used to move cannabis. They found 19 white nylon sacks containing vacuum‑packed cannabis herb valued at €1,877,160. Kelly had driven the vehicle to Lisburn before returning via the M1, M50 and N4. He was evicted, living in subsidised accommodation, and had a gambling problem that led to debts. Defence counsel argued the sentence was excessive and that part of the term should have been suspended to encourage rehabilitation.
Deirdre Arnold, a former HSE addiction counsellor, pleaded not guilty to two counts of impeding the prosecution of Brian McHugh and perverting the course of public justice. A jury found her guilty of assisting McHugh, who was sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment on March 10 for murdering Lisa Thompson. The court heard that Arnold drove McHugh to the crime scene, waited outside, and helped him evade arrest by checking him into a hotel and allowing her Hyundai Tucson to be used to dispose of evidence. Defence counsel Patrick Gageby SC argued that Arnold acted under fear of abuse and had become addicted to heroin and crack cocaine after meeting McHugh. He noted she has resigned from her state job and is the sole financial support for her three children. Mr Justice Patrick McGrath remanded Arnold on continuing bail until July 4, when she will be sentenced. Victim impact statements highlighted the lasting trauma on Thompson's family, with her daughter stating that Arnold's actions silenced her mother's voice forever.
In a Dublin shopping centre, 24‑year‑old Stephan Obelngoa, who was on bail, dragged an 11‑year‑old visually impaired girl away from her mother and brother. The mother, who was walking with her family, saw the boy, who was topless, and tried to avoid him. She then noticed her daughter had vanished from her peripheral vision and turned to find the child being dragged by Obelngoa. The girl screamed, cried and struggled; Obelngoa threw her into a concession stand. Two security guards subdued him, and when Gardaí arrived he shouted, spat a mixture of blood and saliva, and tried to bite them as they attempted to cuff him. The girl was examined the next day, suffering minor spinal tenderness and abrasions, and reported extreme anxiety and trouble sleeping in public places thereafter. Stephan Obelngoa pleaded guilty.
Gary Coffey, 37, was found guilty by a jury of one count of anal rape and one count of sexual assault after a Central Criminal Court trial in March 2025. The offence occurred at Coffey's home in Dublin, where the victim had been invited and had consented to vaginal sex but repeatedly refused anal sex. Coffey persisted, eventually inserting a finger and then raping her anally. The victim, who wished to remain anonymous, reported the assault to gardaí and was taken to a sexual assault treatment unit. Coffey was sentenced to a headline term of seven years, reduced to six years, with the final nine months suspended. He must be supervised by the Probation Service for 12 months after release. The court noted that consent can be withdrawn and that Coffey had no legal consent to perform anal sex. The case also revealed Coffey's prior convictions and possession of tasers and cannabis.
The Central Criminal Court heard that a series of fights ended with Joseph Lawlor (39) stabbing Michael Ryan (51) in the neck, cutting his carotid artery and killing him. The prosecution presented a 17‑second CCTV clip showing the fatal blow. Both men had been drinking heavily together before the altercations, which were the third physical encounter that night. The first fight began at about 8.30 pm and was captured on CCTV and by a neighbour's mobile phone; a witness said the younger man knocked the older man to the ground. After Garda intervention, three more men joined the pair, and a second fight broke out at about 9.30 pm, again recorded on CCTV and by neighbours. Lawlor was heard calling Ryan a "rat" and threatening to stab him, but later said he would not. Ryan was arrested for drunken driving at 9.50 pm, returned to the house after midnight, and was again captured on CCTV. Joseph Lawlor pleaded not guilty.
A 40‑year‑old man was sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, after pleading guilty to threatening to kill and rape the mother of his children and assaulting her in front of their two younger children. The court heard that the couple had been together for 11 years and had three children, but the relationship ended eight years before the offences. On 1 April 2022, a dispute over money led the defendant to send a series of threatening WhatsApp voice notes, including threats to "bounce a kettle bell off her head" and to rape her. Three days later, he assaulted the woman outside her home, punching her and kicking her while she was on the ground. The judge noted that the threats were "no joke" and described them as obscene, menacing, humiliating and insulting, and imposed the custodial sentence with supervision by the Probation Service.
Mary Higgins, 63, a former bursar at Mount Sackville Secondary School, was sentenced to one year in prison for stealing €500,000 from the school between 2012 and 2017 to fund a gambling addiction. She had full control over the school's cash flow, was the main signatory on bank accounts, and directed how money was allocated. Higgins sold her home and pension to repay the school and has repaid €470,949.62. She has no prior convictions and has since pursued addiction treatment, counselling studies, and voluntary work. The court noted her remorse, the lack of oversight that enabled the theft, and her long service to the school. Judge Orla Crowe imposed a custodial sentence, suspended two years on a €100 bond, and acknowledged her cooperation with Gardaí and forensic accountants. The case highlights the breach of trust and the impact of gambling on her life. Mary Higgins pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Sinead Ni Chulachain refused to revisit the three‑year prison sentence imposed on Philip Marley, a 53‑year‑old former millionaire businessman from Rathbourne Court, Ashtown. Marley had pleaded guilty in November to procuring fraudulent entry into the Property Registration Authority's registry, deception and registering a false deed that altered ownership of two Dublin properties. The judge had previously deferred the sentence to allow Marley to arrange care for his adult son with severe neurological symptoms. During the hearing, counsel for Marley presented a forensic psychologist's report, but the judge declined to suspend any portion of the sentence, citing the report's findings and directing that it be forwarded to prison authorities. The court also heard mitigation for co‑accused Herbert Kilcline, who faces a separate sentencing on 23 June. Herbert Kilcline was convicted.
Eamon Moran, 51, a retired detective garda, had an eight‑month custodial sentence for harassment of a woman—sending unwanted texts and calls between 2021 and 2023—fully suspended for two years on appeal. The suspension required him to avoid contact with the victim and her family, stay one kilometre from her home, continue medical rehabilitation, and attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. In October 2024, Judge David McHugh reactivated the sentence after Moran emailed and called the victim in September 2024, breaching the conditions. The victim reported the breaches, citing anxiety and stress. Moran did not contest the breach. Counsel Niamh Ní Aonghusa argued that Moran misinterpreted the non‑relationship and expressed remorse, noting his deteriorating health following a 2012 attack. Judge Sinéad McMullan, considering his health, fully suspended the eight‑month sentence again for two years, reaffirming the conditions of no further contact, distance from the victim's home, ongoing medical care, and AA attendance. The unnamed woman pleaded guilty and was convicted.
A cattle farmer, Martin Murray, 59, was convicted of importing €730,000 worth of cannabis and was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended. He appealed his conviction at the Court of Appeal, arguing that his solicitor had not understood the significance of hearsay evidence presented to the jury. Defence counsel Michael Bowman SC contended that confidential information, including details of Garda confirmation that drugs would be found in the truck and Murray's identity as the target, was improperly introduced without warning to the jury. He claimed the trial judge should have clarified that this was hearsay. State counsel Kevin White BL defended the prosecution's use of the evidence, stating that the solicitor had consented to its presentation. The court adjourned the matter to allow the Director of Public Prosecutions to address the factual issues, with a further hearing scheduled for July 14. Martin Murray pleaded not guilty.