In a case heard by the Workplace Relations Commission, bar manager Devendrasingh 'Ryan' Boodhun of the Schoolhouse Hotel was dismissed on 4 July 2023 after the hotel alleged he was adding a 10% service charge to tables that were not entitled to it. Boodhun denied the accusations, describing them as "unfounded and untrue." The hotel's policy was to apply the charge to tables of eight or more, with the option for the party to object. Evidence from former general manager Jeff Cronin suggested that Boodhun had been instructed to add the charge and distribute it to staff. The WRC found the dismissal was "procedurally unfair" but that the hotel had acted reasonably in ending his employment. An adjudicator awarded Boodhun €8,000 in redress under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977. The decision noted that additional matters were raised for the first time during the disciplinary meeting and that there was significant cross‑contamination between those responsible for the investigation.
A jury was sworn in to hear the Central Criminal Court trial of 39‑year‑old Joseph Lawlor, who denies murdering 51‑year‑old Michael Ryan, a father of two, in Dublin on 20 June 2024. Lawlor pleaded not guilty at arraignment. The judge, Justice Karen O'Connor, informed the jury of the victim's background, including his residence in Santry and the Ballymun or Finglas areas, and of Lawlor's employment in groundworks. The trial is set to last about three weeks, with the judge warning the jury against independent research or social‑media discussion.
Ainsley Stevenson, a British national from Halifax, has withdrawn his appeal against a five-and-a-half-year prison sentence imposed at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in May 2024. Stevenson pleaded guilty to smuggling over 30kg of cannabis into Terminal 2 of Dublin Airport on October 17, 2023. He was apprehended alongside co-accused Dylan Shears, of Bradford, after customs officers questioned them regarding suspect suitcases arriving from Las Vegas. Gardaí discovered 64 vacuum-packed packages of cannabis valued at €690,000. The sentencing judge, Judge Martin Nolan, noted that Stevenson would have received a six-and-a-half-year term had he been an Irish citizen, while Shears received a three-year sentence due to his younger age. Neither accused had previous convictions. When the matter was called before the Court of Appeal, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy warned counsel that the court possessed the power to increase the sentence. Following this warning, counsel for Stevenson, Giollaíosa Ó Lideadha SC, sought time to confer with his client. Upon recall, Mr Ó Lideadha stated he had been instructed to withdraw the appeal. Mr Justice McCarthy granted permission to withdraw, noting that Stevenson had adopted a prudent course and should recognize the seriousness of the charges. The matter was adjourned with the appeal withdrawn.
At the Workplace Relations Commission, a senior NCAD administrator revealed that about 32% of the college's 1,400 students self‑declared additional needs. The testimony focused on Ellie Dunne, a 25‑year‑old artist with Down Syndrome who enrolled in September 2023 as the first student with that condition at NCAD. Dunne failed a first‑year module and the college could not "wipe the slate clean"; instead it offered her a re‑sit without penalty and increased support‑worker hours from two to five days a week. Dunne's parents, who felt the college had discriminated against her, threatened to damage the college's reputation. The college's director and head of academic affairs explained the college's accommodation policies and the procedural steps taken, and the case was adjourned to further hearings in October.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Joseph Thorpe, aged 73, pleaded guilty to one count of indecent assault committed between September 1974 and September 1976 during a club trip to County Kerry. The victim, aged 12 to 14 at the time, remains anonymous but described Thorpe as "vile", "evil" and a "danger to children". Thorpe, who had previously been convicted of indecent assault on a teenage boy in the 1980s and received a two‑year suspended sentence in 1990, was found to have lived on a mobile home site in County Meath. The court noted Thorpe's history of five prior convictions, his complex medical issues, and his willingness to engage with the Probation Service. The judge adjourned the case for one week, remanded Thorpe in custody until 25 June, and directed that he receive all required medical treatment while in custody.
Trevor Bolger (48), a former garda detective, pleaded guilty to assaulting his former wife, Margaret Loftus, on October 25, 2012. The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court, with the validated procedural stage being sentence. Ms Loftus, who is also a garda, described the assault as a 'protracted assault' that had a significant impact on her personal and professional life. She stated that she lost everything and faced a stigma within An Garda Siochana for standing up for herself. Bolger admitted to the charges and was found to have assaulted Ms Loftus 13 years ago. The court heard that the maximum penalty for the assault, under Section 2 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, is six months imprisonment or a fine. Judge Martina Baxter described the assault as 'egregious' and said she would seek the assistance of the Probation Service before adjourning the case for sentencing in October. Bolger was remanded on continuing bail, and the matter was adjourned.
In Tallaght District Court, 45‑year‑old Norman Purfield pleaded guilty to simple possession of heroin under Section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act after a police stop on Old Bawn Road. He was found with 6.8 g of heroin, worth about €952, and claimed it was for personal use, bought in bulk to avoid theft. Judge Patricia McNamara dismissed the original charge of possession for sale or supply, citing insufficient proof beyond reasonable doubt, and convicted him of simple possession. She imposed a three‑month sentence, suspended for 12 months, conditional on Purfield attending a drug treatment programme in Deonach, Tallaght. Purfield, who has 42 previous convictions including three drug‑related offences, was warned that failure to attend treatment could lead to the sentence being imposed. The judge noted the lack of weighing scales, paraphernalia, or evidence of supply, and accepted Purfield's explanation and willingness to engage with treatment.
An 18-year-old defendant, previously convicted of violent disorder during the fatal assault on Tristan Sherry at Browne's Steakhouse, pleaded guilty to multiple offences at the Special Criminal Court. The charges relate to incidents at Tolka Valley Park, Blanchardstown, on May 7/8, 2024, including the possession of a side-by-side shotgun, 15 rounds of 9mm Makarov ammunition, and ten 12 Gauge shotgun cartridges. He also faced charges for possessing controlled drugs, including cannabis, diamorphine, cocaine, ketamine, and Phenacetin, allegedly for supply. Garda evidence indicated the defendant was burying these items for the Hennessy criminal gang. The court heard that the defendant is currently serving a sentence of two years and four months for the earlier violent disorder conviction, with the final year suspended. Defence counsel argued the defendant acted under the direction of others and cited his difficult background. Judge Karen O'Connor, presiding, adjourned the matter to July 7 for sentencing. The defendant was 17 at the time of the park offences but has since turned 18. The court noted the separate conviction for violent disorder arising from the Christmas Eve 2023 incident where Sherry was beaten to death.
Sean McGovern, 39, previously of Kildare Road, Crumlin, Dublin 12, appeared via video link at the Special Criminal Court to change his legal representation. His solicitors, Michael Staines, applied to withdraw from the case, with the accused to be represented by Wayne Kenny solicitors. McGovern confirmed his consent to the application. The matter was adjourned for mention to July 28, when the accused is to be produced in court. McGovern, who was extradited from the United Arab Emirates, faces multiple charges. He is alleged to have murdered Noel Kirwan on December 22, 2016, at St Ronan's Drive, Clondalkin. He is also charged with directing the activities of a criminal organisation in connection with that murder between October 20 and December 22, 2016. Additional charges allege he directed a criminal organisation in surveilling James Gately between October 17, 2015, and April 6, 2017, in preparation for an indictable offence. He further faces charges of facilitating a criminal organisation in the murder of Kirwan and in a conspiracy to murder Gately. In June, his lawyers raised concerns regarding the legality and propriety of his extradition process to Ireland. No plea was entered, and no findings or sentences were recorded at this pretrial stage.
Ines Perez, 43, of Willowpark Avenue, Glasnevin, pleaded guilty at Tallaght District Court to drink‑driving on 7 October 2023. She was driving a Volkswagen Polo on Scholarstown Road, Knocklyon, shortly after 2 am when she crashed into a light pole, causing traffic lights to topple and block the road. Garda Mark Faul, who was in the area, spoke to Perez, noted signs of intoxication, and she failed a roadside breath test. A blood sample taken at a Garda station showed 144 mg of alcohol per 100 ml, nearly three times the legal limit of 50 mg. Perez had no previous convictions and was fully cooperative. Her defence counsel noted she was a mother of two, had been going through an emotionally difficult breakup, and rarely drank. The court heard she was deeply embarrassed and anxious to be before the court.
At the Central Criminal Court, a jury convicted Jozef Puska's brothers, Lubomir Puska Jnr and Marek Puska, of withholding information from An Garda Síochána regarding the murder of Ashling Murphy. The brothers were found guilty of failing to disclose that Jozef Puska returned home on the night of January 12, 2022, with visible injuries and admitted to cutting a female with a knife. Their wives, Viera Gaziova and Jozefina Grundzova, were convicted of burning Jozef's bloodstained clothes to impede his prosecution. Gaziova was convicted by an 11-1 majority, while Grundzova was found guilty by a 10-2 majority. All four defendants had pleaded not guilty. Jozef Puska's wife, Lucia Istokova, had previously pleaded guilty to withholding information. Ms Justice Biggs ordered probation reports for all five defendants. The matter was adjourned to July 7 for sentencing, with the defendants remanded on continuing bail until that date. Jozef Puska is currently serving a life sentence for the murder, having been convicted in November 2023.
Alexandru Enacke, 32, of Hazelgrove Estate, Tallaght, appeared before Tallaght District Court after a Garda stop at Killinarden on 5 December 2023. He was found driving a Mercedes with a fake AXA insurance disc and a false NCT disc, while the vehicle was uninsured, had no valid NCT, and Enacke held no valid Irish driving licence. He pleaded guilty to driving without insurance, driving without a valid licence, and using false insurance and NCT discs with intent to mislead. Enacke had eight prior convictions, including two for driving without insurance, and had been disqualified for two years in February 2024. The court, hearing his defence that a policy had lapsed due to a typo, rejected his explanation. Judge Patricia McNamara sentenced him to eight months in prison, suspended for two years, a five‑year driving disqualification, a €650 fine, and required him to sign a bond and comply with existing disqualifications.
A man in his 20s was denied bail after a court heard that armed Gardaí had to break into his mother's Dublin home to remove him, who is accused of breaching a barring order issued in August 2024 to protect his mother, a woman in her 60s. The order, under Section 33(1) of the Domestic Violence Act 2018, prohibits the man from being at the residence. Gardaí responded to a midnight call from the mother, who reported her son was present despite the order. The man refused to engage, barricaded himself, and Gardaí forced the back door to gain entry. The mother, who was at a relative's home, later testified that she feared her son, describing him as aggressive when drinking or using drugs, and that he had threatened to kill her and her family. The man's solicitor denied the threat allegations and argued the man believed he had the mother's consent.
An airline was ordered to pay €7,500 to a passenger who was denied an exit‑row seat he had booked for extra legroom after disclosing his autism. The Workplace Relations Commission found the airline had discriminated against him under the Equal Status Act and had harassed him by repeatedly asking him to explain his disability in front of other passengers. The passenger had requested special assistance in advance, citing difficulties with queuing and the need for space for his sleep‑apnea machine. When he arrived to check in for his return flight, the airline moved him out of the exit‑row seat, citing his disability. He was placed in the second row and could not move his legs freely. The airline's lawyers argued that safety regulations barred passengers with disabilities from exit‑row seats, but the tribunal concluded the regulations only restrict seating when a passenger's mobility poses a safety risk.
In a Central Criminal Court case, a jury will continue deliberating on the trial of four Puska family members charged with obstructing the arrest of Jozef Puska, who murdered school teacher Ashling Murphy. Jozef, convicted of murder and serving a life sentence, was stabbed and slashed by Jozef on January 12, 2022. His brothers, Lubomir Puska Jnr (38) and Marek Puska (36), face charges of withholding information, while their wives, Viera Gaziova (40) and Jozefina Grundzova (32), are charged with impeding the apprehension or prosecution by burning Jozef's clothes. All accused pleaded not guilty. The indictment was amended to specify that the brothers knew Jozef had committed the murder or another arrestable offence. Prosecutor Anne Marie Lawlor SC argued that the brothers failed to disclose vital information, while defence counsel Karl Finnegan SC highlighted the right to remain silent to avoid self‑incrimination. The jury, composed of seven men and five women, will resume deliberations tomorrow.
A man in his 50s, unnamed for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to a Section 3 offence under the Non‑Fatal Offences Against the Person Act after assaulting his wife at a hotel. He struck her arm repeatedly, held her down on the bed and briefly placed a pillow over her face, but caused no serious injuries. The court noted aggravating factors such as the intimate relationship, the victim's vulnerability, the use of a pillow as a weapon, and alleged threats of serious harm. Mitigating factors included the defendant's impulsive reaction to a suspected affair, lack of prior convictions, early guilty plea, completion of the MOVE programme, and no subsequent Garda attention. Judge William Aylmer sentenced him to seven months' custody, fully suspended for 12 months, with probation supervision and a bond, while recognising the couple's ongoing efforts to resolve their difficulties. The wife does not currently hold a protection order.
Brian Carroll, 24, pleaded guilty to possession of MDMA and cannabis after his girlfriend died following drug use at the Forbidden Fruit festival and later at a house in south Dublin. Gardaí seized €44 of cannabis, €16.14 of MDMA and a small amount of cocaine, all for personal use. Carroll, who had been in a relationship with the deceased for two and a half years, voluntarily presented himself to Gardaí and has not been involved with the police since. He has engaged in trauma counselling, tested negative for drugs in recent months, remained in full‑time employment and volunteered during the pandemic. Judge Conor Fottrell, after considering the tragic circumstances and Carroll's remorse and recovery steps, decided not to impose a conviction, noting the low value of the drugs and the absence of prior convictions. The case concluded with a €1,000 charitable donation.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Judge Caroline Biggs instructed a jury to assess whether the brothers of Jozef Puska, charged with withholding information about the murder of schoolteacher Ashling Murphy, had a reasonable excuse rooted in fear of self‑incrimination. The judge clarified that protecting a family member is not a valid excuse, but the jury must consider if the brothers, Lubomir Jnr (38) and Marek (36), genuinely feared that providing information would implicate them. Puska, who stabbed Murphy to death on 12 January 2022, is serving a life sentence. The brothers and their wives, Viera Gaziova (40) and Jozefina Grundzova (32), are charged with withholding information and burning Puska's clothes to impede his apprehension. All accused pleaded not guilty. The judge emphasized that the prosecution must prove the brothers had no reasonable excuse for failing to disclose the information, and the jury must decide if the fear of self‑incrimination was present.
William Morrison, 60, of Tallaght, was sentenced by Judge John O'Leary to three months in prison for failing to appear in court on four separate occasions, a breach of Section 13(1) of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. Morrison, who pleaded guilty on one count, has 305 prior convictions, including theft, criminal damage, public order offences and previous failures to attend court. The judge described the case as "depressing" and said Morrison was "on a path to self‑destruction." Defence solicitor Kevin Tunney noted Morrison's long‑standing alcohol addiction and his place on a waiting list for treatment. Morrison was remanded in custody to appear at Cloverhill District Court on 13 June for further matters, with no bail application made and legal aid assigned.
A tribunal awarded a reduced sum to Janine Halpin, a part‑time Penneys retail assistant, after finding she was largely responsible for her own dismissal. Halpin was sacked for gross misconduct at the Tallaght store on 5 June 2024. She had replied with two "crying laughing" emojis to a colleague's threat to "skull drag" a manager in the private WhatsApp group "052 Madness". The tribunal noted that Halpin had previously received a final written warning in October 2023 for using foul language and refusing a management instruction. The investigation was criticised for giving her only 30 minutes' notice of a meeting, which the adjudicator described as an ambush. The tribunal reduced the compensation by 70 % and directed Primark to pay €1,277.64, less than four weeks' gross wages, rather than the four months' pay sought by her union. The case was heard under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977.
Aaron Finn, 28, of Tallaght, was charged in Tallaght District Court with 12 offences after breaking into a commercial van in an underground carpark of a Dublin apartment complex on the night of 8 June. CCTV footage showed him smashing a window of a Scania van and stealing three mobile phones, a black sledgehammer, an air pump, a valve and several bags of tools. He was arrested shortly after the incident. Finn faces ten counts of possession of stolen property under Section 18 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act, one count of criminal damage and one count of handling stolen property. The court refused bail, citing the seriousness of the alleged offences, the strength of the evidence and the use of a wrench to gain entry. Finn was remanded in custody to appear via video link at Cloverhill District Court on 13 June for DPP directions, and legal aid was granted.
A 24‑year‑old man named Brandon Deegan of Redwood Court, Tallaght, was sentenced by Tallaght District Court to 15 months in jail for a series of offences committed between April and September 2023. The offences included possession of cocaine on two occasions, possession of a silver extendable baton, and obstructing Garda Neil Lynch during a drug search. Deegan pleaded guilty to all charges. The court noted that he had prior convictions, including a six‑month sentence for drug possession in 2020 and a three‑month term in May 2023 for a similar offence. Defence counsel described Deegan's background as a "deeply traumatic upbringing", with 18 years in State care, the loss of his mother's body at age 18, the death of his father in 2014, and the loss of a close friend in a road traffic incident.
Wayne Wilson, 45, was fined €100 for drunken threatening and abusive behaviour in public after making a xenophobic remark to Gardaí on November 13, 2024, on Belgard Road, Tallaght. He was found intoxicated, approached a patrol car, and said, "What the f** are you going to do about all the foreigners?" before sarcastically offering to help. Wilson claimed his views came from "Sky News." He pleaded guilty under Sections 4 and 6 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act. The court noted his 18 prior convictions, including a suspended six‑month knife‑possession sentence that is now activated because of this offence. Wilson returned voluntarily the next day with an apology letter. He was remanded on bail with a recognisance of €300 and must appear again on June 23. The judge also acknowledged Wilson's recent steps toward sobriety and mental‑health treatment.
Bernard Brennan, aged 67 and formerly of Rathfarnham, was sentenced by the Central Criminal Court to four and a half years' imprisonment for 11 counts of indecent assault against his younger sisters, Yvonne Crist and Paula Fay, committed between 1972 and 1975. The sisters, aged 13 and seven at the time, waived anonymity and gave moving statements describing horrific abuse, including forced removal of clothing, inappropriate touching, oral rape, and forced viewing of pornography. Brennan pleaded guilty to four counts against Crist and seven against Fay. The judge, Mr Justice Paul McDermott, imposed a headline sentence of 21 months per count, reduced to 15 months, resulting in four consecutive 15‑month terms (five years) before being reduced to four and a half years and backdated to his earlier custody. Brennan had no prior convictions and pleaded guilty before trial. The court noted his age at the time of the offences and the mitigating factors in the final sentence.
Two 13‑ and 15‑year‑old boys were sentenced to six years' detention for raping a 16‑year‑old girl in a car at Limerick Racecourse. A third defendant, now 18, who aided the rapes by moving the car, received three and a half years' jail. The judge noted the boys' lack of remorse and their juvenile status under the Children Act, and suspended the final 18 months of each sentence on conditions including participation in sexual offending programmes and no contact with the victim. The victim, who was intoxicated and had never had sexual intercourse before, was described as having been repeatedly told "no" and suffering extensive bleeding and bruising. The boys denied the rapes, claiming consensual encounters, but the jury found them guilty. The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court in Cork. The sentences reflect the seriousness of the offences and the boys' ages at the time of the crime. The unnamed 16-year-old was acquitted.
Philip Marley (53) of Rathbourne Court, Ashtown, Dublin, was convicted of two counts of using a false instrument, two counts of failing to keep records, two counts of the fraudulent procurement of an entry into the Property Registration Authority's registry and two counts of failing to apply the required measures as a designated person. All charges relate to events between 2016 and 2018 involving two properties in Dublin. Marley pleaded guilty during a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial last November. Judge Sinead Ni Chulachain described Marley as the 'author' of a €266k scam, which involved the insertion of false deeds onto property titles. Padraig Dwyer SC, defending Marley, requested a four-week adjournment to allow his client to make arrangements for the care of an adult son with severe neurological symptoms. Judge Ni Chulachain agreed to adjourn the finalisation of Marley's three-year sentence to June 19. Herbert Kilcline (64), a serial fraudster and former solicitor, was also convicted of similar charges. John McGowan SC, defending Kilcline, applied for an adjournment to take further instructions in light of a handwriting report and to make a plea of mitigation. Judge Ni Chulachain also agreed to adjourn the finalisation of Kilcline's sentence to June 19. A probation report noted that Kilcline does not accept the jury's verdicts and intends to appeal.
In a tribunal hearing on 5 June 2025, Keelings fruit and vegetable group dismissed warehouse worker Rudolf Csikos after he posted on LinkedIn that excessive night‑shift hours had contributed to the 2013 deaths of two colleagues. Csikos, who had worked for the north Co Dublin firm for 16 years, claimed the posts were protected disclosures, but the company argued they were false and defamatory, citing no medical evidence. The tribunal noted Csikos's ongoing complaints under the Organisation of Working Time Act, Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Act, Unfair Dismissals Act and Protected Disclosures Act. Csikos alleged the company breached night‑shift hour limits, failed to classify him as a special‑category worker, and neglected required medical checks. Keelings maintained it complied with statutory and collective‑agreement provisions, and that the posts damaged its reputation. The case was adjourned for a further hearing in July, with no new submissions made to the adjudicator.
A man with previous convictions for rape and kidnapping has been sentenced to eleven years imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for harassing three female journalists. Mark McAnaw, formerly of Letterkenny, County Donegal, pleaded guilty to charges relating to harassment that occurred in August 2023. He sent explicit and threatening emails to the women, including threats to kill, and attended their workplace. Judge Pauline Codd imposed the full sentence after McAnaw declined to accept conditions that would have suspended the final twelve months. She imposed a lifelong contact ban and ordered McAnaw remain ten miles from the women's homes and workplaces. The judge noted McAnaw's history of violent offending and his failure to engage with mental health treatment while detained at the Central Mental Hospital. McAnaw is assessed as presenting high risk of violent and sexual reoffending.
Sarah Jane Byrne, a 27‑year‑old mother from Drimnagh, appeared before the Special Criminal Court and pleaded guilty to five offences involving firearms. She admitted possession of a 9mm Makarov pistol and ammunition, 27 rounds of Luger 9mm ammo, a sawn‑off Beretta shotgun, and a Tokarev submachine gun, with the items located at Old Navan Road and her home. Byrne, who has been attending a rehabilitation programme for addiction, was released on continuing bail. The court set a sentencing hearing for 20 October and ordered a probation report.
Sean McGovern (39), who is charged with murder and directing a criminal organisation, has raised concerns about the legality of his extradition to Ireland from the United Arab Emirates. His legal representatives, including Olan Callanan BL, have informed the court that a letter will be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) regarding an application. The court was asked to set a date for a hearing, with Mr Callanan expressing concerns about the legality and process of McGovern's arrival in Dublin. Sean Gillane SC, for the DPP, stated that a first book of evidence will be ready by the end of July, with updates on a second book of evidence to follow. McGovern appeared via video-link from prison and confirmed he could hear the proceedings. Ms Justice Karen O'Connor agreed to set a hearing date for Wednesday, June 18th, with McGovern again appearing by video-link. The court also set a date in late July for the service of the book of evidence. McGovern, with a previous address at Kildare Road, Crumlin, Dublin 12, is charged with the murder of Noel Kirwan on December 22, 2016, and directing the activities of a criminal organisation in connection with the murder and the surveillance of James Gately between October 17, 2015, and April 6, 2017. He is also charged with contributing to or participating in activity intending to facilitate a criminal organisation in the murder of Mr Kirwan and facilitating a criminal organisation in a conspiracy to murder James Gately. The matter is currently at trial.
Thomas Greene, 33, of Sarsfield Street, Sallynoggin, Co Dublin, was sentenced to three months' imprisonment by Judge Conor Fottrell at Dún Laoghaire District Court after pleading guilty to 14 charges covering theft, public intoxication, abusive behaviour in a public place and repeated failures to appear in court. The offences, committed between March 2021 and March 2023, included stealing €10 worth of petrol from Applegreen, shoplifting four Kindle products and a €25 scarf, stealing €140 worth of Bulmers cider, and pushing a buggy while heavily intoxicated. Greene, who has 107 prior convictions including robbery, assault, drug and firearms offences, was already in custody since June 2 on multiple bench warrants. The court noted his history of drug use, a drug‑induced coma, seizures and fractures, and his current treatment at St Michael's Unit, Beaumont Hospital. Judge Fottrell back‑dated the custodial sentence to June 2 and rejected a cash recognisance in favour of an independent surety.
Brian Early, a 54‑year‑old from Newbridge, pleaded guilty to theft, possession of stolen property and possession of certain articles in two incidents in February 2024. He stole 17 bottles of spirits worth about €700 from Dunnes Stores, removing security tags with wire cutters and making a small purchase to appear legitimate. Two bottles of Bombay Sapphire gin were recovered. Early admitted the theft was to repay a drug debt, citing a serious crack cocaine addiction that worsened after a five‑year cancer battle and his father's death. He has been clean for 10 months, has not attended a formal drug programme but has sought support from Pieta House following a mental‑health crisis, and receives a disability allowance. Judge Conor Fottrell, considering the guilty plea, personal circumstances and support engagement, imposed a 12‑month probation bond requiring Early to keep the peace and continue engaging with Pieta House and any further counselling.
Ms X, a scientist with stage‑2 endometriosis, was hired by Abbott Ireland Ltd in spring 2024 and worked on site for just under six months. She claimed the company's policy of denying probationary staff the option to work from home was implicitly discriminatory, as it withheld accommodation for her disability for six months. Ms X said she had been promised a hybrid role and had turned down other jobs that required a five‑day on‑site commitment. After a sudden department‑wide meeting, a senior manager announced that no more work‑from‑home would be allowed beyond one day a week. Ms X was later found to have failed her probation for "conduct and performance" after eight late arrivals and three uncertified absences, and was terminated with a letter stating her performance did not meet company expectations. The case is adjourned for further witness evidence.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Pauline Codd imposed a 17‑month suspended prison sentence and a two‑year driving disqualification on 29‑year‑old Frienna Rockett of Ballybrack, Kilmacthomas, Co. Waterford. Rockett pleaded guilty to one count of careless driving causing serious bodily harm after she broke a red light at a pedestrian crossing on St Peter's Road, Crumlin, and knocked down an 81‑year‑old woman. CCTV and dash‑cam footage showed the red‑light violation; Rockett claimed she was looking for her sister's house and had misread the traffic light. The victim suffered a brain bleed, multiple fractures and a dislocated shoulder, requiring intensive care and rehabilitation. She now lives with chronic pain, relies on a walking aid and a mobility scooter, and has a son as her full‑time carer.
Richard Satchwell, a 59‑year‑old British national, was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Central Criminal Court in Dublin for the murder of his 45‑year‑old wife, Tina Satchwell, who was found buried under the stairs of their Youghal home. The jury, after nine hours and 28 minutes of deliberation over four days, unanimously rejected Satchwell's defence that he acted in self‑defence during a struggle with a chisel. Witnesses, including Tina's sister Lorraine Howard and niece Sarah Howard, testified that Satchwell had hidden Tina's body in a chest freezer before burying her, and that he had offered the freezer to Sarah. Satchwell's 14 prior convictions include larceny and theft. He intends to appeal the conviction. The sentence was back‑dated to 12 October 2023, the day he entered custody. Tina Satchwell pleaded not guilty.
In Tallaght District Court, Judge Catherine Ghent sentenced a 26‑year‑old man to 11 months' imprisonment for breaching a protection order, criminal damage and obstructing Gardaí. The judge highlighted that the offender, who has been in custody since age 12 and has a "very serious history of violence," has not received the services he needed. She noted that the victims, particularly the man's former partner, are now bearing the consequences of his actions. The partner's victim impact statement described how the man "ruined her mental wellbeing" and left her living in fear. Judge Ghent praised the partner's courage in seeking protection and warned that domestic violence directly affects children, who must be protected. The sentence included five months for breaching a protection order, four months for criminal damage, and two months for obstructing Gardaí, all to run consecutively. A separate five‑month sentence for breaching a safety order was also imposed. The unnamed 26-year-old pleaded guilty.
In a sentencing hearing, the mother of Dylan McCarthy, who died after a fatal assault outside a Kildare pub in August 2022, delivered an emotional victim impact statement. She described her son's life as abruptly ended, noting that money saved for his wedding was redirected to his funeral. Dylan's girlfriend, Aoife Talty, also spoke, recalling his kindness and their future plans. The court heard that Calvin Dunne (25) was convicted of manslaughter and violent disorder, while Sean Kavanagh (27) pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Eamonn McCarthy and was found not guilty of murder. The trial detailed the chaotic melee, with witnesses describing a kick to Dylan's head and a "loud thud." The judge adjourned the case to June 30 for finalisation.
In a 2025 ruling, the Workplace Relations Commission rejected a discrimination claim by chef Serhat Aksakal against the Odeon Bar and Restaurant in Dublin. Aksakal alleged that a senior employee, Mr Z, thrust his genital area into him and made a "yee‑haw" noise, describing the act as having "undeniable sexual overtones." The WRC found the incident did not occur in a workplace where sexual harassment was tolerated. Aksakal had used ChatGPT to draft his complaint, and the tribunal noted the language used must accurately reflect the events. Mr Z was dismissed the month after the incident, and the company had already rectified a separate claim of unpaid tips. The commission upheld the dismissal and dismissed the discrimination claim, while acknowledging the claim under the Payment of Wages Act was well‑founded but had been remedied.
James Fuery, 32, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply after customs officers at Dublin Airport seized €404,520 of cannabis in a suitcase he had brought from Ibiza. The drugs, weighing just under 22.5 kg, were found in 45 vacuum‑sealed packets. Fuery claimed he was under pressure from a €15,000 drug debt and that this was his first time bringing drugs into the country. He described difficulties with cocaine and cannabis, a relapse into addiction, and previous homelessness due to addiction. He has eight prior convictions for road traffic, theft and public order offences but none for drug offences. The court accepted his early guilty plea, noted his cooperation and lack of wealth, and remanded him in custody while ordering a urine analysis. The case was adjourned for finalisation on 7 July.
Linda Byrne, 45, of Tymon North Gardens, Tallaght, was sentenced to three months in prison at Tallaght District Court for a two‑year shop‑lifting spree that took place between December 2022 and April 2024. The final month of the sentence was suspended for 24 months, and the whole term was back‑dated to 3 April 2024, the day she was first taken into custody. Byrne pleaded guilty and the judge noted a "significant shift" in her behaviour while remanded at the Dóchas Centre, where she is now receiving addiction treatment and education. The thefts involved goods worth €60 to €270 from stores such as Dunnes, Penneys and Spar; all items were recovered in saleable condition. A serious incident on 10 October 2024 at Spar in Tallaght led to Byrne's arrest under Sections 4 and 3 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001.
Jason O'Driscoll, aged 42, appealed a life‑sentence for the 2012 murders of Anthony Burnett (31) and Joseph Redmond (25). His appeal was heard in the Court of Appeal for two hours on 3 June 2025. During the hearing, defence counsel revealed that Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, who had presided over O'Driscoll's original 2017 trial, was also on the appeal panel. McCarthy admitted he had forgotten his role in the earlier case. The court decided to adjourn the appeal so the panel could be reconstituted without McCarthy. The appeal will be reheard on 13 November 2025. The original trial in 2017 ended with a hung jury; a retrial in 2018 resulted in a ten‑to‑two majority verdict and a life sentence imposed by Mr Justice Michael White. The appeal remains pending. Jason O'Driscoll pleaded not guilty and was convicted.
Cassandra Lingurar, 19, a Romanian national living in Tallaght, pleaded guilty to theft at New Look and Carraig Donn in The Square Shopping Centre. She removed €310 of clothing and €188 of jewellery without paying. With six prior convictions, including three thefts, she was sentenced by Judge Michael Connellan to a three‑month suspended sentence under Section 99 of the Criminal Justice Act. The judge noted her age and personal circumstances but described her conduct as totally unacceptable.
Belinda Daly, 60, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after a long‑standing dispute with a neighbour. CCTV showed her standing in her garden, then reaching over the wall, grabbing the victim's hair and holding her against the wall until the victim escaped. The victim suffered alopecia, headaches, migraines, PTSD, anxiety and nose bleeds, and provided a medical letter to court. Daly had no prior convictions and expressed remorse. Judge Orla Crowe noted the history of conflict and the severity of the assault, setting a headline sentence of two years and six months, then imposing a two‑year sentence suspended in full for three years, with conditions prohibiting any contact with the victim. The conviction is expected to affect Daly's employment in the voluntary and domestic‑violence sectors.
Robert Ward, 30, of Walker Grove, Parkside, Clongriffin, Dublin 13, appeared before Tallaght District Court after a drunken outburst on 6 October 2024. The incident occurred near the N81 in Tallaght, shortly after a League of Ireland match at Tallaght Stadium. Ward, who had been filming a bus that had stalled with passengers inside, shouted a profanity at Gardaí and ran into oncoming traffic. He was heavily intoxicated, threw three cans of Bulmers on the ground, and was arrested. Ward pleaded guilty to two public order offences – threatening behaviour and intoxication in a public place. He has 122 prior convictions, including traffic, theft and drug offences, and two bench warrants. At the time of the incident he was serving a five‑month suspended sentence for trespassing. Ward has two bench warrants outstanding and a history of convictions for traffic, theft, and drug offences. He has a suspended sentence for a trespassing conviction.
In a 2007 murder case, Darragh Quinlivan, aged 41 and originally from Limerick City but residing in Manchester, UK, is charged with killing Noel Campion, aged 35, on 26 April 2007. Campion was shot while riding as a back passenger on a motorbike in Thomondgate, Limerick City. Quinlivan allegedly stepped out of a phone box and fired multiple shots from a handgun as the motorbike passed. The prosecution successfully moved the case from Limerick to Dublin, and the trial is scheduled for 12 January 2026 at the Central Criminal Court.
Dan Dowling, a 41‑year‑old civil servant, and retired soldier Edward Horgan, 80, were tried in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for trespassing on a taxiway at Shannon Airport on 25 April 2017. They were found not guilty of criminal damage after writing "Danger, danger, don't fly" on American naval planes, but were convicted of trespass. Judge Martina Baxter ordered each to pay €5,000 to a women's refuge in County Clare. Dowling has appealed his conviction, arguing that his actions were necessary to prevent the transport of ammunition through Ireland and to protect others from an alleged "irreparable evil." Defence counsel Mark Lynam claimed the defence of necessity applied, while the Director of Public Prosecutions said there was insufficient evidence for such a defence. The Court of Appeal will reserve judgment.
The trial of Viera Gaziova and Jozefina Grundzova continues before Ms Justice Caroline Biggs and a jury. Both women, who pleaded not guilty to all charges, are accused of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Jozef Puska by burning clothes he allegedly wore on the day he murdered Ashling Murphy. Gaziova testified that she destroyed the garments after her husband, Lubomir Puska Jnr, conveyed a request from Puska to ensure the clothes were burnt. She described building a fire in the living room, burning the items until only ash remained, and disposing of the residue down the kitchen sink. Gaziova stated she initially omitted this detail from her statement to gardai because she feared the family would turn against her and she would end up on the street. She recounted that the household became concerned when Puska did not return home, and he later arrived soaked and shaking. Gaziova claimed Lubomir and Marek Puska spoke with Puska in his bedroom, after which Lubomir told her Puska had confessed to killing a girl. She noted that only she, Lubomir, Marek, and Grundzova knew of this alleged confession at the time. The court heard that all accused were living together in Co Offaly when the offences are alleged to have occurred in January 2022. The trial is ongoing.
The trial of Richard Satchwell, accused of murdering his wife Tina, was moved from Cork to Dublin because of intense local publicity that could prejudice a jury. Satchwell's counsel argued that the media attention was largely self‑generated and that a local jury would be biased, while the Director of Public Prosecutions contended the publicity was national and largely due to Satchwell's own media appearances. Judge McDermott agreed to the venue change. During the trial, the defence sought to exclude Satchwell's brief reply to the charge, claiming it was prejudicial, but the judge found it voluntary and allowed it. The defence also applied to withdraw the murder charge, arguing lack of evidence of intent, but the judge rejected the application, noting the prosecution's case relied on circumstantial evidence and the defendant's own statements.
Sean McGovern, 39, appeared before the Special Criminal Court at a late sitting following his extradition from the United Arab Emirates. The accused, with a previous address at Kildare Road, Crumlin, Dublin 12, was charged with the murder of Noel Kirwan on December 22, 2016, at St Ronan's Drive, Clondalkin. He also faces charges of directing the activities of a criminal organisation in connection with that murder and the surveillance of James Gately between October 17, 2015, and April 6, 2017. Additional allegations include facilitating a criminal organisation in the murder of Mr Kirwan and in a conspiracy to murder Mr Gately. All charges are alleged or contested, with no plea entered. Defence counsel Olan Callanan BL reserved the defence's position on the lawfulness of the arrest and the court's jurisdiction. The Director of Public Prosecutions applied for McGovern to be tried before a three-judge, non-jury court. Ms Justice Karen O'Connor, sitting with Judges Elma Sheahan and Grainne Malone, agreed to the application. The matter was adjourned to a later date, and McGovern was remanded in custody.
In a Court of Appeal hearing on 29 May 2025, the appeal of Martin Hayes, aged 36, was dismissed. Hayes had been found guilty of manslaughter in the death of Amadea McDermott, aged 27, in July 2017, after a Central Criminal Court jury returned a majority verdict. He had claimed that McDermott had stabbed herself, a claim that was rejected by the jury. Hayes had admitted using violence against McDermott and had been convicted of 12 years and six months' imprisonment. His appeal argued that evidence of his former partner, Niamh Higgins, being in fear of him and of his custody was prejudicial. The Court of Appeal, led by Justice Tara Burns, held that the evidence was irrelevant and did not undermine a fair trial. The appeal was rejected and the case was scheduled for further case‑management on 20 June. Martin Hayes pleaded not guilty and was acquitted.