The Court of Appeal is hearing an appeal by Kevin Braney, who was convicted by the Special Criminal Court of the 2013 murder of Peter Butterly. Counsel for Braney argued that the conviction should be overturned because the trial relied on the evidence of David Cullen, a State's witness described as a perjurer and accomplice. Cullen had previously pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a semi-automatic pistol, receiving a seven-year sentence with half suspended, in exchange for dropping a murder charge. The defence contended that Cullen's credibility was undermined by his admitted dishonesty and personal animus toward Braney. The Director of Public Prosecutions countered that the circumstantial evidence, including observed movements of gang members, was compelling and supported Cullen's testimony that Braney instructed the killing. Braney, who was previously sentenced in 2018 to four years and six months for IRA membership, was found guilty of premeditated murder in February 2019. Co-defendants Edward McGrath, Sharif Kelly, and Dean Evans also received life sentences for the murder, with Evans identified as the shooter. The three-judge Court of Appeal will hear further submissions from both parties before making a decision.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced Ionut Leonard Petriu, who pleaded guilty to assisting a Romanian organised crime group, to a three-year prison term suspended in full on strict conditions for four years. Judge Orla Crowe noted Petriu's low risk of re-offending and his role in facilitating the gang, which included allowing his car to be used for transport and housing members. The court heard Petriu was not involved in the actual burglaries. His co-accused, Ricardo Stancu and Daniel Murgea, also pleaded guilty to burglary, criminal damage, and organised crime offences. Stancu was previously sentenced to five years in prison, with the final 12 months suspended. Murgea received a six-year sentence, reduced from a headline eight years, due to his significant history of dishonesty in France and Italy. The offences involved ram-raiding commercial premises, including a phone shop in Dublin city centre and a Vodafone shop in Newbridge, using a 'dummy car' to cause extensive damage. The judge described the crimes as highly organised, targeting unoccupied premises over two days. Petriu's case was adjourned for the preparation of a probation report before finalisation.
Former Ireland hockey international Catriona Carey, 46, of Co Carlow, was granted an arraignment date before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on money laundering charges. She is charged with three offences contrary to Section 7 of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010, alleged to have occurred in 2019, 2020, and 2021. It is alleged that she converted, transferred, or handled proceeds of criminal conduct involving funds in a Wise Europe SA account under Careysfort Asset Estates Ltd. Judge Sarah Berkeley listed the case for 30 June, when Ms Carey will be formally asked to plead. Her co-accused, John Steadmond, 48, of Co Wexford, and Paddy Maher, 57, of Co Wicklow, also appeared before the court. Each man faces 17 related charges, including allegations that they unlawfully acted as solicitors without qualification. The majority of these charges allege they induced individuals to pay deposits by falsely representing that Careysfort Asset Estates Ltd could secure finance for distressed mortgage holders, with the intent to gain for themselves or cause loss to others. Mr Steadmond and Mr Maher were also assigned the same arraignment date of 30 June. The matter remains at the pre-trial stage, with no pleas entered or findings made.
In a Dublin City Centre robbery attempt on 9 November 2020, Samantha Osbourne (33) and Adam Casey (22) were jailed for their roles. Osbourne pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and was sentenced to 16 months in prison, backdated to her custody date. Casey pleaded guilty to one count of attempted robbery and one count of assault causing harm, receiving a four‑year prison term with the final year suspended and probation supervision for one year after release. The victim, who was walking to the city centre, was attacked by all three men, suffered a concussion, facial injuries and a minor brain bleed, and was taken to St James' Hospital. Andrew Cash (32) had already been sentenced to five years for the same attack. The court noted the victim's injuries and the defendants' histories, including Osbourne's 90 prior convictions and Casey's 15 prior convictions. The judge emphasised the seriousness of attacking a defenseless man.
A 36‑year‑old man was jailed for assault causing harm and non‑fatal strangulation of his pregnant partner on 24 December 2023. The incident began after an argument at a pub on 23 December, when the woman left the pub and the man followed her home. While she was on a sofa, he held her neck, punched her eye, and then strangled her, dragging her by the hair into the kitchen where she sustained a cut to her lip and a bloodied nose. She later contacted the Gardaí, who found visible injuries and a bruise on the man's wrist. He had previously pleaded guilty, admitted the assault, and expressed remorse. The court, after hearing his background and mitigating factors, imposed a custodial sentence of two and a half years, with the final 20 months suspended on strict conditions, as a warning to his future behaviour.
The prosecution alleges that on 9 December 2022, 23‑year‑old Viorel Doroscan and 24‑year‑old Otniel Richardo Clejan murdered 22‑year‑old Mahamud Ilyas after a stolen bag of cannabis led to a confrontation at Robert Burns's home in Blanchardstown. Burns, 59, and Lorenzo Cantaragiu, 21, are accused of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Doroscan and Clejan by committing various acts on the same day. According to the State, Ilyas was beaten to death, wrapped in a cloth, placed in a car, and taken to County Meath where his body was dumped in a wooded area on Belgree Lane. The accused deny all charges. The trial is set to continue before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury. Robert Burns pleaded not guilty.
A 31‑year‑old man, Alan Melia, was sentenced to two years in prison for head‑butting a veteran flower seller at Palmerstown Cemetery on 15 December 2020. Melia, who was on bail at the time, had pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. He had 113 prior convictions and was already serving a seven‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for a 2020 robbery. The victim, a man who had sold flowers outside the cemetery for 40 years, suffered broken glasses, a cut on his nose and required stitches. Judge Orla Crowe imposed a headline sentence of three years, suspended the final year, and directed the two‑year term to run consecutively with the sentence Melia is currently serving. The judge noted the assault's profound psychological impact on the single victim and ordered Melia to remain under Probation Services supervision for two years after release. The robbery sentence will expire in May 2026.
Gemma Greene, 28, of Coolock, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment and a four‑year driving disqualification after a high‑speed pursuit on the M50 on 1 March 2021. She pleaded guilty to recklessly driving in the direction of a Garda, two counts of dangerous driving and had four prior convictions, including two for road traffic offences. During the chase, Greene drove a white Mercedes at speeds up to 200 km/h, ignored stingers and pursued by Garda helicopters, and live‑streamed the incident from her mobile phone. She was arrested at 6.50 pm, detained and charged. The court noted her prior warning of a threat to her life, her cocaine use on the day, and her statement that she had "nothing to live for." Judge Nolan imposed the custodial term, citing the high speeds, the hour‑long pursuit and the danger posed to the Garda who had to take evasive action.
A murder trial at the Central Criminal Court heard that a 65-year-old man, described as 'a kind person who would help people,' died from traumatic head injuries after being attacked by a then 19-year-old man who had been living with him. Brian Ibe (24), of no fixed abode and formerly of Moore Park, Newbridge, Co Kildare, is on trial for the murder of Peter Kennedy in Co Kildare five years ago. There is no contest that Ibe carried out an attack on Mr Kennedy, who died as a result. Ibe has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of Mr Kennedy between April 28 and May 12, 2020, and also pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to assault causing harm to Garda Brendan O'Donnell at Newbridge Garda Station on or about April 29, 2020. Counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions, Paul J Carroll SC, outlined the proposed evidence and factual matters of the case, stating that the burden of proof rests on the defence to convince the jury that the special verdicts of not guilty by reason of insanity are open to them. The trial continues tomorrow before Ms Justice Melanie Greally and the jury of six men and six women.
A 27‑year‑old Dublin man was jailed for three years after he pleaded guilty to masturbating in the presence of his three‑year‑old son and showing the child a video of a woman engaging in sexual activity. The incident, which took place in June 2022, was captured on a social media platform and later identified by British police, who alerted Irish Gardaí. The video, about 17 minutes long, shows the man first masturbating in his bedroom, then bringing his son into the room, showing him the video, and later masturbating again in front of the child while guiding the child's hand to touch his penis. The judge, citing the parent‑child duty of care, imposed a headline sentence of six years, reduced to three years due to mitigating circumstances. The man had previously been arrested in October 2023, admitted guilt, and expressed remorse, claiming intoxication and mental health issues at the time.
Sodiq Jimoh (30) of Rossfield Close, Rossfield, Tallaght, Dublin 24, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to contributing to the activities of a criminal organisation and nine charges of money laundering on dates between May 2019 and August 2020. Jimoh admitted to laundering €1,000,065 from various individuals and small Irish companies. The court heard that some of the victims' money was reimbursed and some of the cash was recovered. Detective Garda Ester Devally stated that Jimoh was involved in a global investigation into invoice redirect fraud and compromised email scams, known as Operation Skean. Gardaí found suspicious activity in accounts with Bank of Ireland and Allied Irish Bank, with various lodgements totalling €26,000 into accounts linked to Jimoh over a 16-month period. Analysis of his phone revealed WhatsApp conversations with others involved in the fraud, including a comment from Jimoh stating, "Fam, at the end of the day it's free money." Jimoh was arrested and questioned multiple times, but no evidential value was gained from the interviews. Victim impact statements were submitted but not read out. Defence counsel highlighted Jimoh's background, including his early arrival in Ireland and a promising football career, and his role as a family breadwinner during the pandemic. Judge Martin Nolan acknowledged Jimoh's mitigation but stated that the wrongdoing was serious and sentenced him to five years and four months, with credit for six weeks spent on remand in custody.
Wayne Gilligan, 29, of Rosebank Court, Clondalkin, pleaded guilty to violent disorder for an unprovoked attack on Euston Street on 8 May 2023. Garda Chloe Rochford testified that Gilligan instigated the assault, punching the victim several times, kicking and stamping on him, while other men also struck and stabbed the victim with a bladed weapon believed to be a machete. CCTV footage was shown. The victim suffered deep cuts to the head and a finger, was taken to hospital, and refused to cooperate with Gardaí. Gilligan has 137 prior convictions, including affray, assault, endangerment and drug offences. He was sentenced to four years and three months' imprisonment, with an earliest release date of August 2027. The court noted his engagement with services and completion of an anger‑management course, but did not suspend any portion of the sentence.
Danny Cirstea, 27, of Dublin 2, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for his role in a money‑laundering scheme and for obtaining €15,000 in social welfare fraud. He pleaded guilty to possession of the proceeds of criminal conduct, possession of drugs and deception. Garda investigations revealed that Cirstea's address was used to open bank accounts for himself and a co‑accused, and that he had control over a third‑party account. Payments totalling over €5,500 were made to his account in November 2019, and approximately €43,000 was lodged in an AIB account between August and June 2019. Around €58,000 moved through a further account between July 2019 and April 2020. A search of his home in December 2020 uncovered a small amount of cannabis, valued at €140, and later, in August 2022, four bags of tetrahydrocannabinol in edible chocolate, valued at €80, were seized.
A jury of twelve was sworn in on 18 March 2025 to hear the trial of Brian Ibe, a 24‑year‑old from Newbridge, who has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of 65‑year‑old Peter Kennedy, which took place between 28 April and 12 May 2020. Ibe was also charged with assault causing harm to Garda Brendan O'Donnell on 29 April 2020, to which he likewise pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. The trial will last about two weeks, with a possibility of a slight extension. The prosecution will present witnesses including consultant psychiatrist Dr Mary Davoren and clinical psychologist Dr Kevin Lambe, while the defence will call consultant psychiatrists Dr Conor O'Neill, Dr Stephen Monks, Dr Patrick McLoughlin, Dr Gauruv Malhan and psychologist Dr Marie English. A large number of Garda witnesses from Newbridge, Kildare, Athy, Rathangan, Portlaoise, Tallaght and Naas will also testify.
Clive Dixon, 53, of North Frederick Street, Dublin, pleaded guilty to burglary on 14 January 2019 at a house in the Harold's Cross area. He had 113 previous convictions, 78 of which were for burglary, and was already serving a nine‑year sentence with the final four years suspended, with an earliest release date of 2027. Gardaí observed a damaged glass pane on the front door and noted that several rooms had been entered, the back sliding doors were ajar, and a rock had been left on a bed upstairs. Diamond earrings, an antique engagement ring, two watches including a Patek Philippe, and a gold chain, totalling €22,500, were taken and have not been recovered. The homeowner reported €500 worth of damage to the door. A plastic shopping bag containing a chisel, an empty water bottle and a toy car was found in the house; Dixon's DNA was identified from the bag in September 2019.
Judge Martin Nolan sentenced four members of the Lawrence family at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for multigenerational insurance fraud. Eileen Lawrence (52) pleaded guilty to deception and attempted deception between 2010 and 2016. Despite acknowledging her serious involvement, the judge imposed a three-year prison sentence, suspended in full on strict conditions, citing her role as a primary carer for family members with additional needs. Her husband, Patrick Lawrence (54), pleaded guilty to deception and attempted deception between 2013 and 2018. The judge imposed a two-year custodial sentence, noting his medical and mental health issues but stating the wrongdoing merited imprisonment. Their sons, Tom Lawrence (24) and John Lawrence (26), both pleaded guilty to attempted deception and deception respectively, with offences occurring between 2014 and 2016. As they were minors at the time, the judge imposed one-year suspended sentences on both men, deeming it unjust to imprison them. The family allegedly used false identities to submit personal injury claims, resulting in payouts of €9,370, €15,000, and €6,155. Grandmother Winnifred Lawrence was separately sentenced last year to three and a half years, with 18 months suspended, for similar offences.
Kaitlyn Winston, a 19‑year‑old maternity care assistant, claimed she was forced to quit after a porter sexually assaulted her on 3 May 2022 by putting his hands on her waist. An independent investigation upheld the assault on the balance of probabilities. The porter, a man in his 30s, was kept employed after a disciplinary process that issued a final written warning, removed his allowance and transferred him to a different department. Winston returned to work in February 2023, encountered the porter twice that day, and felt unsupported and intimidated. She took sick leave on 24 February and resigned on 4 May 2023, citing lack of management support and that her complaint was not taken seriously. The Workplace Relations Commission rejected her unfair dismissal and employment equality claims, ruling that the hospital had taken reasonable steps to protect her and that her resignation was not a constructive dismissal. The case is now subject to appeal.
Kenneth Philpott, 64, of River Forest, Leixlip, was stopped by Gardaí for driving in a bus lane and was found to be carrying over €200,000 worth of cannabis. He pleaded guilty to possession of the drugs on 10 April 2024 at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Garda Ronan Doolin reported that the vehicle was searched after the driver, who was nervous and cooperative, claimed there were packages in the car. Gardaí seized 7 kg of cannabis in taped packages, valued at €140,000, and later found an additional €80,000 worth of cannabis at Philpott's home. Philpott admitted that he had been pressured by parties who had taken advantage of his €2,400 gambling debt to traffic the drugs. He had no prior convictions. Judge Martin Nolan, taking into account Philpott's cooperation, good history, work record and the fear and coercion involved, set a headline sentence of six years but reduced it to three years imprisonment.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Rachel Redmond, 34, continues before Mr Justice Paul Burns. Ms Redmond, from Coolock, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of assisting Wayne Cooney to evade prosecution for the murder of Jordan Davis on May 22, 2019. The prosecution alleges she drove Cooney from the scene and checked him into the Clayton Hotel near Dublin Airport. Evidence presented includes testimony from Ashling McNally, former partner of Robert Redmond, who stated she collected Robert from Belcamp Lane at 4:13 pm, minutes after the shooting. Robert Redmond, Ms Redmond's brother, previously pleaded guilty in May 2013 to possessing heroin worth almost €37,000 and was sentenced to five years in prison. Detective Garda Shane Kelly identified Cooney in CCTV footage, while hotel staff confirmed a booking under Ms Redmond's name. The jury is tasked with determining if Ms Redmond knew or believed Cooney committed the murder. The trial was adjourned and is scheduled to continue on Tuesday.
Lee Nolan, 28, of Beechbrook Lawn, The Donaghies, Dublin 13, was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison, with the final nine months suspended on strict conditions, after pleading guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to drug offences. He admitted to acting as a drug dealer, storing over €80,000 worth of cannabis in his home, and driving a car while intoxicated with drugs and without insurance in the Lucan area on 25 April 2023. Nolan claimed he had been misdiagnosed with Non‑Hodgkin lymphoma and used cannabis as a cheaper treatment, which led to debt and subsequent drug dealing. He was also given a four‑year driving disqualification from the date of his release. The judge noted his medical history and the impact of his offences on society. The case was prosecuted by Pieter Le Vert BL and represented by Gerardine Small SC.
Patrick Lawrence (54) was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to deception and attempted deception between 2013 and 2018. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a two-year prison term, acknowledging Lawrence's medical and mental health issues but deeming the conduct serious wrongdoing. His wife, Eileen Lawrence (52), also pleaded guilty to deception and attempted deception between 2010 and 2016. The judge noted her significant involvement but cited her role as a primary carer for a son with additional needs as a factor against immediate imprisonment. The matter was adjourned, with Judge Nolan indicating he would reflect over the weekend before imposing a sentence on Tuesday. The court heard that the couple used false identities to pursue personal injury claims, resulting in payouts of €9,370 and €15,000 respectively. Their mother-in-law, Winnifred Lawrence (74), was jailed last year for three and a half years, with the final 18 months suspended, for similar claims between 2012 and 2014. She fraudulently received €23,150. The investigation was triggered when a private investigator photographed the family attending medical appointments under false names.
A 24‑year‑old pregnant woman was sentenced to 20 months in jail for money laundering after depositing €33,715 into her bank account between January 2021 and April 2022 and spending over €20,000 on designer goods while receiving the Pandemic Unemployment Payment. The court heard that she had no knowledge of the money's source and had not asked her former partner, who was also charged, about it. She is protected by a court order and has fled to a women's refuge due to domestic violence. Gardaí discovered the illicit activity after finding €700 in cash and designer items in a Mercedes Benz in Coolock in June 2021, and later recovered luxury goods from the couple's home. The defendant had a prior theft conviction in Spain and was between 20 and 22 at the time of the offences. The judge acknowledged mitigating circumstances but imposed the custodial sentence for her recklessness and participation in the laundering scheme. The unnamed 24-year-old pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a judge ordered Probation Services to assess Visak Rajesh Leela, a 26‑year‑old Indian national, after he pleaded guilty to attempting to abduct a five‑year‑old boy outside an apartment building in September. The boy's older sister pushed Leela away and the children fled. Gardaí footage showed Leela signalling to the boy, running after him, and pulling him toward the door before the sister pushed him back into bushes. Leela claimed he was intoxicated, had no memory of the incident, and suggested he might have known the children. He had attended a party at the complex, returned after a call, and was not visibly intoxicated at the time of the incident. The judge adjourned the case to 28 April, remanded Leela on bail, and directed a Probation Services report to evaluate his risk of re‑offending.
A Brazilian man has pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to operating a network of brothels across rural Ireland using falsified documents and landlord deception. Ilamar Rodrigues Ribeiro, aged 54, rented ten properties under a false Italian identity, with two located in Roscommon Town and others in Longford, Cavan, Leitrim, Carlow, Wexford and Kildare between 2018 and 2023. When arrested at Dublin Airport in November 2023, gardaí from the Human Trafficking and Co-ordination Unit recovered approximately €788,000 in proceeds of crime across multiple bank accounts. He also pleaded guilty to possessing child sexual abuse material on his phone comprising nine images and sixteen videos. Ribeiro entered guilty pleas to nineteen sample counts including fraud, inducing landlords to rent properties under false pretences, and possession of criminal proceeds. The investigation began following trafficking allegations from two women who identified properties being misused as brothels. Ribeiro has remained in custody since his arrest. Sentencing proceedings are scheduled for 21 March.
Randi Gladstone, a 41‑year‑old from Guyana with 19 prior convictions in the UK, was convicted in the Central Criminal Court of one count of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of false imprisonment against an 18‑year‑old woman in a Dublin holiday complex on 25 August 2023. The victim had been staying at the accommodation for several days and was approached by Gladstone who asked her about her age and boyfriend, offered money and attempted to kiss her. She refused, but he forced her to remove her clothing, kissed her body, and digitally penetrated her. She fled, called her mother, and later reported the assault. Gladstone denied all misconduct and claimed the act was consensual. The court heard a victim impact statement describing severe emotional distress. The Director of Public Prosecutions placed the offence in the ten‑to‑fifteen‑year bracket.
A 19‑year‑old pleaded guilty to murdering Aaron Keating on 13 June 2023 in Dublin. The defendant, who was a child when the offence was committed, is no longer subject to a mandatory life sentence because a Supreme Court ruling last year removed the mandatory life rule for those who were under 18 at the time of the crime, regardless of their current age. A further Supreme Court decision yesterday overturned a Court of Appeal ruling that a child could be identified if they turned 18 during proceedings, so the defendant's name cannot be released. The defendant had previously sought to halt the proceedings after turning 18, fearing a mandatory life sentence. After the guilty plea, senior counsel James Dwyer said the mandatory regime does not apply and a full sentencing hearing is required. Seamus Clarke SC represented the defendant, who had no prior convictions.
Three female students – Margaret Eyong Taku, Wendy Briggs and Christina Igweze – have taken a joint High Court challenge against their expulsions from Dundalk Institute of Technology. They allege that the college imposed disproportionate sanctions without providing reasons or considering alternative measures. The expulsions followed four alleged violent altercations between the students, three on campus and one off campus, that took place on 30 and 31 January 2024. The incidents involved physical aggression, including a head stomp, a wet‑floor warning sign, and the pulling out of hair. A disciplinary committee recommended expulsion in February 2024, and an Appeals Committee rejected the students' appeals in April. The students were granted judicial review in July 2024. At the High Court hearing, counsel argued that the appeals committee failed to explain its decision and that the sanctions were disproportionate. The judge said he would reserve judgment.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Rachel Redmond (34) continues before Mr Justice Paul Burns. The State alleges that Redmond, who has pleaded not guilty to two counts of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Wayne Cooney for the murder of Jordan Davis, drove Cooney away from the scene and later checked him into a hotel. Prosecution evidence presented includes "tick lists" found at addresses linked to Robert Redmond, Rachel's older brother. Detective Garda Alan Roche testified that a list found in Kinsealy listed the nickname "Jordo" owing €153,000, while another list found at Woodview Close in Donaghmede showed "Jordo" with €70,000 and the words "not yet." The court heard that in May 2013, Robert Redmond pleaded guilty to the possession of heroin worth almost €37,000 and was jailed for five years. Sergeant Shane Behan also testified that he observed Robert Redmond and Jordan Davis on Grafton Street in August 2018, where Davis handed over cannabis. The jury, comprising three men and nine women, is tasked with determining whether Rachel Redmond knew or believed Cooney committed the murder. The matter was adjourned and the trial continues tomorrow.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 38‑year‑old husband and his 41‑year‑old sister‑in‑law were convicted of assault after a domestic dispute over laundry. The husband was found guilty of two counts of assault causing harm and one count of common assault, while the sister‑in‑law was convicted of two counts of assault causing harm. The incident occurred at the couple's shared home, where the husband and his wife argued upstairs, then the husband slapped the wife, who was later struck by the sister‑in‑law. The wife suffered bruises, cuts and breathing difficulties and was taken to hospital. She has since moved to emergency accommodation and has expressed that the abuse has caused her health problems and emotional distress. The defendants denied the allegations and had no prior convictions.
Stephen McKeever, 49, of Drimnagh, was jailed for three years after pleading guilty to assault causing harm to a neighbour in a SuperValu Walkinstown carpark on 22 November 2023. The attack, described as "90 seconds of madness", followed McKeever's consumption of 17–18 pints of beer the night before. CCTV showed him kicking and punching the victim for up to two minutes, resulting in a broken nose, fractured eye socket and chipped teeth. The victim required surgery and spent three days in St James' Hospital. McKeever, who has no prior convictions and is a father of ten children and ten grandchildren, expressed remorse and claimed the incident was a moment of madness. The judge set a headline sentence of seven years, reduced to four with the final year suspended, and imposed a one‑year probation period and a three‑year restriction on contact with the victim.
In a Dublin City Centre incident, a 25‑year‑old man, Sinore Iosca, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for false imprisonment after he controlled a 23‑year‑old woman with Down syndrome for about two hours. Iosca forced her to withdraw €420 from ATMs and to purchase an iPhone X costing €1,349, which he later took. The victim's family testified that the woman had been independent before the attack but has since withdrawn socially and suffered psychological injury. Iosca pleaded guilty to false imprisonment in 2018 and to three theft charges in 2019; the theft charges were later struck out. He was extradited from Germany after a bench warrant and was found guilty of the false imprisonment charge, leading to the four‑year custodial sentence. The court noted the victim's trust issues and the family's distress but did not award compensation.
Daniel Byrne, 26, of Camolin, was sentenced to five and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to making threats, demanding cash and handling proceeds of crime between February and June 2024. He extorted €22,750 from a former classmate who had contacted him to buy a small amount of cannabis. Byrne threatened the victim and his family, demanding €700, then €5,000, and later collected €15,000 in multiple meetings. He also threatened the victim's father and contacted the victim at his workplace. Byrne's prior convictions include money laundering, possession of drugs, obstruction and threatening behaviour. He was on a suspended sentence for money laundering when the extortion began. The court reduced the initial headline sentence of seven and a half years to five and a half years, citing mitigating factors and Byrne's guilty plea. The victim's impact statement was not read in court.
In the Central Criminal Court, witness Stacey Hayes testified that she was driving a silver Volkswagen Golf on May 22 2019 when she and Rachel Redmond, a 34‑year‑old woman, were directed to a bus stop to pick up Wayne Cooney, Redmond's boyfriend. Hayes said Redmond had been on the phone and instructed her to go to the bus stop opposite Tesco on Clarehall Road. Minutes after learning that 22‑year‑old Jordan Davis had been shot dead in Darndale, Hayes and Redmond drove to the scene, but Redmond asked to be dropped home. Hayes described the journey, noting that Redmond had told Cooney that a shooting had occurred. The prosecution alleges Redmond knowingly aided Cooney's escape from prosecution, while Redmond pleaded not guilty to the two counts of aiding a murder. The case is set to continue before Mr Justice Paul Burns and a jury.
Jack Manning, an 88‑year‑old former Christian Brother and teacher, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for repeatedly sexually abusing eight boys at a primary school in the 1970s. The court heard that Manning would call each boy to the top of the class, have them read a book from his desk, then approach them closely and touch their genitals, both inside and outside their clothing. He pleaded guilty to 14 charges of indecent assault, which were part of 74 charges in total. The judge noted that Manning had abused the boys on at least 100 occasions, that the victims were not protected, and that his behaviour had a profound impact on their lives. Despite his age and infirmities, the judge imposed two consecutive two‑year terms, citing the seriousness of the offences and the need for punishment. The victims, who wished to remain anonymous, were allowed to read their own impact statements in court.
In a Dublin City Centre incident on 23 July 2020, Peter Burns, a 50‑year‑old truck driver from Tallaght, caused a cyclist to be crushed between his vehicle and another after failing to check his mirrors. CCTV showed the cyclist's backpack caught in the wheels, spinning her body so her lower limbs were trapped rather than her head. The cyclist was taken to hospital in critical condition, suffered multiple fractures and crush injuries, and has undergone at least six surgeries with ongoing rehabilitation. Burns pleaded guilty to careless driving causing serious injury. Judge Martin Nolan, hearing the case at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, imposed an eight‑month suspended sentence and did not impose a driving ban, citing Burns' lack of prior convictions and the absence of aggravating factors. The judge noted Burns' responsibility to observe all road users and his failure to give the cyclist a wider berth.
In a hearing at Lansdowne House, Dublin 4, the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) set to consider statutory complaints against Huawei Technologies (Ireland) Co Ltd by former employee Wei Luo. Luo alleges discrimination, constructive dismissal, and breaches of the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977, the Payment of Wages Act 1991 and the Employment Equality Act 1998. Huawei's representative, Daire Ferguson, requested an adjournment because several witnesses could not attend. The WRC granted the adjournment, with a new hearing likely in late April. Huawei intends to call three witnesses – Luo's former line manager, an HR employee and a current employee who can speak to equality and inclusion policies – though the relevance of the latter was questioned. Luo's side has no witnesses but will rely on documents. The adjudicator emphasised that the case would proceed once the new date is set, even if witnesses are missing. The specific allegations remain undisclosed.
During the trial, the jury examined CCTV footage that the prosecution claims shows Rachel Redmond checking Wayne Cooney into the Clayton Hotel near Dublin Airport on the night of May 22, 2019, the same night Jordan Davis was shot dead in Darndale. The footage shows a Ford Focus arriving at the hotel at 00:03, Redmond booking a room with her name and credit card, and Cooney leaving the car to stay the night. Later footage shows Cooney exiting the hotel at 11:39, taking a taxi to the AUL Sports Centre, and returning to the same Ford Focus at 11:49. The prosecution also presented evidence of Cooney's tattoos, including a series of €50 bank notes and the Ha'penny Bridge on his right hand, a crown with "RR" on his left hand, and other markings on his legs. The unnamed man pleaded not guilty.
Craig Maples, 29, of Green Briar, Dublin, is serving a seven‑year sentence for violent disorder and assault causing serious harm to Austin Doherty in 2022. In December 2023 he pleaded guilty to a 2020 assault on a housemate in Huntstown, Dublin 15, where he and two men attacked the victim, who was sleeping in his rented room. The victim suffered head wounds and a fractured elbow, required surgery, and later emigrated to Croatia after becoming homeless and unable to work. Maples was sentenced to two years and three months for the 2020 assault, back‑dated to his guilty plea, meaning he will not serve additional time beyond his existing sentence. The court noted the victim's life was severely disrupted by the attack. The other two men were never identified. The sentence was imposed by Judge Orla Crowe.
A remote worker from Monaghan brought a complaint to the Workplace Relations Commission against her employer, PFH Technology Group Ltd, regarding her redundancy payment. The complainant, who had worked as a scheduler and administrative assistant since October 2018 and was based remotely, received notice in April 2024 requiring her to relocate to the company's Cork office within four weeks. She stated this was impossible given her Monaghan residence and that no alternative arrangements were discussed. She subsequently took stress leave, and in July was presented with a termination agreement described as a gesture of goodwill. The employer's representative confirmed that a statutory redundancy payment of €7,788 had been correctly calculated and paid in September 2024, and submitted that other grievances fell outside the scope of redundancy legislation. Adjudicating officer Una Glazier-Farmer said she would issue her decision by email in due course.
The Court of Appeal heard submissions on whether to uphold convictions against three men jailed for the kidnap and torture of Quinn Industrial Holdings director Kevin Lunney. Sean Guerin SC, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, argued that the case rested on sound circumstantial evidence assessed in its totality, and urged the court to maintain the verdicts. Defence counsel disputed this approach, contending that errors in the trial judgment would not self-correct through broader analysis. Alan Harte, Alan O'Brien, and Darren Redmond were convicted in December 2022 of false imprisonment and intentionally causing serious harm to Mr Lunney at Drumbrade, Ballinagh, County Cavan on 17 September 2019. Harte received a 30-year sentence, O'Brien 25 years, and Redmond 18 years with the final three suspended. The appellants have challenged the admissibility of DNA evidence from a van destroyed in garda custody and phone records used at trial, among other matters. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, sitting with two fellow judges, reserved judgment to be delivered at a later date.
In March 2025, 18‑year‑old Josh Kenny of Tallaght was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for assault causing serious harm after he threatened and then slashed a security guard's face with a 13‑cm wound. The incident began when Kenny, riding an e‑scooter, confronted a guard in a car park. A verbal altercation escalated, and after a brief departure, Kenny returned and, while the guard was on camera, struck him in the face before fleeing. The guard was hospitalized and required stitches. Kenny pleaded guilty to the charge on 25 April 2024. He had no prior convictions at the time, but later accrued seven offences. The judge noted Kenny's age and personal circumstances as mitigating, yet described the crime as "nasty" and "vicious vengeance." The sentence was back‑dated to the day he entered custody.
Badruzzaman Masum, a 47-year-old taxi driver from Swords, Co Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for the sexual assault of an 18-year-old passenger. Masum pleaded guilty to the charge, which relates to an incident on November 27, 2024. Prosecution evidence presented by Garda Ciara Ryan alleged that Masum touched the victim's thigh, made crude sexual comments, and roughly groped her breast as she exited the vehicle. The victim had ordered the taxi via an app, and Masum was identified through CCTV and app analysis. Although Masum made no admissions during his interview, he has expressed remorse and has not worked as a taxi driver since entering his plea. Judge Patricia Ryan noted the significant breach of trust and the victim's young age as aggravating factors, while acknowledging Masum's lack of previous convictions. The court imposed a two-year custodial sentence. Additionally, Masum was ordered to be placed on the sex offender's register. The matter was finalised with this sentence.
In a north Dublin incident on 24 January 2023, 63‑year‑old John McDonagh struck a 95‑year‑old woman who mistakenly believed she had a green pedestrian light while crossing the road at Drumcondra Road Lower and Botanic Road. McDonagh was turning right when the filter lane's light turned green, but he did not see the woman and collided with her. The court heard that the traffic lights' sequencing did not indicate a green pedestrian signal, and that the investigating Garda agreed the victim may have assumed a green man. The elderly victim suffered fractures and other injuries, requiring a mobility walker after a 13‑week hospital stay. McDonagh pleaded guilty to careless driving, had no prior convictions, and was fined €1,000 with a six‑month payment period. The judge described the incident as unfortunate and noted McDonagh's low culpability due to his slow speed and lack of expectation of the victim's presence.
Paul Byrne, 52, faces a trial set for 10 June 2026 in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after a defence application. He has not yet entered a plea. Byrne was charged in the District Court with three counts of assault causing harm to a woman, alleged to have occurred between September 2017 and May 2022. The court expects the trial to last four days.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Harry Smyth, 26, pleaded guilty to careless driving causing serious bodily harm after failing to see a stop sign on a rural road near Nevitt, Balbriggan. While driving a Ford Fiesta, he collided with a black Toyota Yaris whose driver suffered severe back and neck injuries, requiring surgery, while the passenger daughter was unharmed. Smyth admitted he had mistakenly gone through the stop sign, which he only noticed after the crash. He remained at the scene, cooperated with Gardaí, and later apologized to the victim, who described the accident as life‑changing and devastating to his family. The court noted no aggravating factors such as speed or intoxication and imposed a nine‑month prison sentence suspended on strict conditions, with no driving disqualification requested by the defence. The case also involves a civil claim.
Georgina Tuohey, mother of three children who were raped and sexually abused by Brendan Cornally, spoke from the court during his sentencing at the Central Criminal Court. Cornally was sentenced to a total of 17½ years for the rape and sexual assault of her two sons and the sexual assault of her daughter. He had previously served 10 years for the rape of a boy aged 10‑14 and 21 months for the assault of a sister aged 13‑15. The judge imposed a headline sentence of 20 years, with the final two and a half years suspended on strict conditions for five years. Tuohey expressed that the sentence was lenient and that the justice system would let people like her down, while the judge noted the impact of Cornally's actions on her son, who suffered a severe decline in health and became catatonic. The sentencing was consecutive to his existing 11‑year‑nine‑month term. Brendan Cornally pleaded guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a woman who was gang‑raped by three men in a Dublin nightclub on 31 August 2019 gave a victim impact statement. She described how the men – Anthony Hickey (39), Fabio Vicente (42) and Matin Zolfaghari (34) – watched her movements, used her body as an object and raped her in a car and in a house. The statement detailed her fear, anxiety, flashbacks and nightmares, and her anger at the men's videos of the assault that were shared for a laugh. She said the criminal process was long and daunting, and that the men had taken away her freedom, her body and her love for life. The court noted the men were remanded in custody and the case was adjourned for sentencing on 27 March. The statement was given in plain Irish‑English prose, with no additional claims or inferences beyond the facts presented in the article. Anthony Hickey pleaded not guilty and was convicted. Fabio Vicente pleaded not guilty and was found guilty. Matin Zolfaghari pleaded not guilty and was convicted.
Nathan Ndaba, 26, of Coolmine, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to money laundering €8,500 on August 15, 2019. The court heard that an injured party fell victim to a phishing scam, resulting in an unauthorised transfer to Ndaba's account. Garda Darragh Cash testified that Ndaba was approached by a man known as "Black John" to use his account, though another individual later attempted to withdraw the funds. Under cross-examination, the garda acknowledged Ndaba's peripheral role, his early plea, and that the full amount was recovered. Judge Nolan noted Ndaba's 29 previous convictions for road traffic offences and failing to appear, but accepted his defence counsel's mitigation that these were not of a similar nature. The judge stated that the appropriate sentence was 20 months, which he suspended in full on strict conditions. Additionally, Ndaba was ordered to pay €1,000 to gardai for application to a charity within three months. The judge remarked that providing one's bank account to others indicates wrongdoing, and the fine was intended to remind Ndaba not to re-offend.
Mark Davis, 35, with 207 prior convictions, was sentenced in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for stealing a DPD delivery van on 4 December 2023. Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin imposed a headline sentence of three years, reduced to two, but suspended the entire term. Conditions include engagement with the Probation Service, drug treatment, employment or education, and victim‑focused work. Davis was also disqualified from driving for five years. He pleaded guilty to the van theft, stealing 66 packages worth €901, and driving without a licence. The judge noted his lack of insight into the seriousness of the offence but acknowledged pro‑social support from family. Davis had previously been under a 20‑year driving ban and had a history of hit‑and‑runs, burglary, theft and other offences. The court remanded him on bail pending the sentencing hearing.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, Lucas Da Silva Cruz, a 30‑year‑old Brazilian, was found guilty of sexually assaulting a 23‑year‑old flatmate on 4 July 2019. The assault occurred while the victim was sleeping on a sofa in a three‑bedroom house shared with 12 others. Da Silva Cruz claimed the act was consensual, but the victim's impact statement described ongoing anxiety, sleepless nights, nightmares, anger, sadness and vulnerability, and her need for regular therapy. She also noted her pregnancy and gratitude for justice. Da Silva Cruz had no prior convictions, had resigned from his IT job after conviction, and was supporting his elderly mother in São Paulo. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced him to three years' imprisonment, back‑dated to 17 January, and placed him on the sex offenders register. The sentence was reduced from a headline four‑year term. The case highlighted the breach of trust and the victim's lasting psychological harm.