Brian McHugh, 40, was sentenced to the mandatory term of life imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of 52-year-old Lisa Thompson. The sentence was backdated to July 11, 2022, when he entered custody. McHugh had pleaded not guilty to murdering Ms Thompson at Sandyhill Gardens, Ballymun, Dublin 11, on May 9, 2022. A jury unanimously found him guilty after rejecting his defence that she was a "woman of secrets." The court heard three emotional victim impact statements from Ms Thompson's teenage daughter, son, and sister, Ashley Duckett. The daughter described the injuries as resembling "horror movies" and stated McHugh's face would haunt her. The judge, Ms Justice Karen O'Connor, noted the "horrific and brutal circumstances" of the death. Prior to sentencing, the Court of Appeal overturned a pre-trial ruling that had excluded CCTV identification evidence, restoring it for the trial. Evidence included McHugh's DNA on a blind cord used to strangle the victim and text messages from a named woman referencing the killing. McHugh has 50 previous convictions, including theft, robbery, and drug offences. The matter was concluded with the imposition of the life sentence.
Two Brazilian drug mules, Felipe Oliviera Gaspar, 30, and Valter Soares, 26, were apprehended at Dublin Airport in separate incidents within weeks of each other, each carrying a kilogram of cocaine in their bodies. Gaspar swallowed 67 pellets and inserted three larger ones rectally; Soares swallowed 120 pellets. The cocaine recovered from Gaspar was valued at just under €70,000, while Soares' was worth €71,000. Gaspar pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply and to drug importation, had no prior convictions, and was arrested by customs, taken to hospital for eight days of treatment, and later sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan to two years and nine months in prison, backdated to his custody date. Soares pleaded guilty to drug importation, had no prior convictions, and was sentenced to two years and three months, also backdated to his custody date. Both men cited debt to loan sharks and fear of criminal gangs as motives for smuggling the drugs.
In a Darndale lane on 22 May 2019, a young father, Jordan Davis, was shot to death while pushing his four‑month‑old son in a pram. CCTV footage, examined by Garda Cormac Flynn, shows Davis walking with a pram on Primrose Grove at 3.56 pm, then meeting a man who later is identified as Wayne Cooney. At 4.00 pm a cyclist in dark clothing, holding a weapon, points it at Davis and he collapses. The cyclist then rides back toward Primrose Grove. Fire‑brigade officer Gerry Woods later found Davis lying on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds, deemed incompatible with life. The case is before Mr Justice Paul Burns with a jury of three men and nine women, expected to last three weeks. Rachel Redmond, 34, is charged with two counts of aiding and abetting murder by facilitating Cooney's escape, and she has pleaded not guilty. The trial continues on Tuesday.
Mark McAnaw, 52, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to the harassment of Nicola Tallant, Amanda Brunker, and Deirdre Reynolds on various dates in August 2023. The court heard that McAnaw, who has previous convictions including rape and kidnapping, sent explicit and threatening emails to the three women, who are journalists. He also turned up at the Sunday World's office and contacted Ms. Brunker via social media. McAnaw is currently detained in the Central Mental Hospital. The court noted that at the time of the offending, he was not taking his medication. Judge Pauline Codd adjourned the case until June 5 to prepare a probation report and obtain an up-to-date psychiatric report. The matter was adjourned and not concluded. McAnaw previously received an eight-year, four-month sentence for an attack in 2018, with the final 16 months suspended for 16 years, and was placed under Probation Services supervision. The victims described living in fear due to the threats.
Colm Bergin, aged 26 and a qualified dog trainer, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for two robberies in Artane on 17 November 2023. In the first incident, he approached a commuter around 8:30 am, demanded his mobile phone and threatened to have his Pit‑bull bite him, then stole €25 and left on a bicycle with the dog on a lead. In the second, he confronted another commuter at a bus stop, demanded all his belongings, and when the man refused, set his dog on him. The dog bit the victim's leg twice or three times, causing bleeding. Bergin also stole the victim's backpack, which contained a laptop and wallet, and used the victim's card to make purchases. The victim suffered lasting physical and psychological harm, reporting difficulty walking for six months, back pain, anxiety and nightmares.
Brian Jackson (63) of Cherrywood Road, Cabinteely, Co Dublin, was convicted at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of careless driving causing serious bodily harm. The case was at the sentence stage. Jackson initially faced a charge of dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm, but the jury returned a guilty verdict on the lesser charge, which carries a penalty of two years imprisonment or a fine of up to €10,000. The court heard that Jackson collided with a motorcyclist on Cromwellsfort Road, Walkinstown, on December 9, 2019, leaving the motorcyclist with serious internal injuries and a five-week coma. The victim described the injuries as a 'life sentence' due to their permanent impact on his ability to live. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a fine of €3,000 and a two-year driving disqualification from April 2025. The judge noted the victim's ongoing injuries as an aggravating factor but took into account Jackson's personal circumstances, including his work record, absence of previous convictions, and that he has not come to other negative garda attention. The matter was not adjourned and was finalised at the sentence stage.
Former Dundalk FC chief operations officer Martin Connolly now works shifts in a factory after his dismissal from the club last year. Connolly alleged that former owner Brian Ainscough did not conduct due diligence before taking over the club in November 2023, a deal that lasted only two weeks. He claims the dismissal was unfair, citing a brief conversation on 26 February 2024 where he was told to leave and that he was not given a notice period. Connolly was paid until May 2024 under a clause for three months' pay in lieu of notice, but he says he was not informed in writing. He applied for several jobs before taking a temporary factory role at Amgen in September 2024, earning just under €43,000 a year. The Workplace Relations Commission heard evidence of his loss of earnings and the dispute over the club's liability for those losses. The tribunal will decide in due course.
David O'Callaghan, 41, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to ramming a rear gate of Leinster House on 2 August. Judge Martin Nolan set a sentence date of 10 April and remanded O'Callaghan on continuing bail until that date. The court noted that he may be required to enter pleas to further counts on the sentencing date.
Rachel Redmond, 34, from Coolock, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court for two counts of knowingly or believing that Wayne Cooney committed murder and then acting to impede his apprehension or prosecution. The prosecution alleges that on 22 May 2019, after Jordan Davis was shot dead in a cold‑blooded execution while pushing his infant son in a pram, Redmond drove a vehicle with witness Stacey Hayes, picked up Cooney, and later checked him into the Clayton Hotel near Dublin Airport using her name and credit card. The prosecution claims these actions were intended to help Cooney evade prosecution. Redmond pleaded not guilty. The trial is scheduled to continue before Mr Justice Paul Burns and a jury, with an expected duration of three weeks.
Oisin Peavoy, 39, of Granby Row, Dublin, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of production of a weapon at Parnell Square and Gardiner Street Upper on 28 May 2024. He was found to have wielded a knife in front of two separate busloads of school children, one near a creche and the other en route to Dublin Zoo. Peavoy, who has no prior convictions and is diagnosed with schizophrenia, was arrested at 10:00 am and remanded before being transferred to the Central Mental Hospital. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to three years' imprisonment, suspending the final two years for two years, and imposed 18 months of post‑release supervision by Probation Services. The sentence was back‑dated to 28 May 2024. The court noted Peavoy's mental health difficulties and his non‑compliance with medication at the time of the incidents. The victim impact statement from the creche worker was not read out.
A Moldovan national has been sentenced to six and a half years in prison following his conviction for drug trafficking at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Stefan Copiimulti, aged 42 and residing in Dublin 15, pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine worth €1.12 million with intent to supply on 19 June 2023. Gardaí stopped a Hyundai vehicle at The Ward, Finglas, after conducting surveillance based on confidential information. Officers discovered the cocaine concealed within a hidden compartment located near the vehicle's radio console, operated by electronic fobs. Copiimulti provided false accounts regarding how he came to be driving the car, which CCTV footage and subsequent investigation contradicted. Judge Martin Nolan acknowledged mitigating factors including the defendant's early guilty plea, full cooperation with gardaí, absence of prior convictions, and work history. The judge departed from the mandatory ten-year minimum sentence on these grounds. The sentence was backdated to June 2023.
Colin Brady, a 35-year-old man from Kilcloon, Co Meath, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to two counts of possession of child pornography, one count of exposure in a public area, and recording videos of another without their knowledge or consent. The offences occurred between May 2021 and September 2022 at various locations in Dublin, including pubs, shopping centres, petrol stations, and his workplace. Detective Garda Kevin Bold stated that Brady was detained after being observed suspiciously in a Tallaght pub toilet, leading to the seizure of two mobile phones and other digital media. Analysis revealed 1,355 videos on SD cards, including footage of men using urinals and 25 videos depicting children. The court heard that seven men were identified in the recordings, one of whom was an off-duty garda. Defence counsel Geraldine Small SC highlighted Brady's early guilty plea, lack of previous convictions, and engagement with counselling. Judge Martin Nolan described the case as unusual and noted the prolonged and repeated nature of the behaviour. While the judge inferred the intent was to video men and children were recorded by accident, he noted Brady did not delete the footage. Having considered the mitigation and Brady's personal circumstances, the judge imposed a two-year prison sentence.
A jury in the Central Criminal Court found Christopher O'Grady, 33, guilty of raping a 19‑year‑old Spanish tourist on New Year's Eve 2019 in Dublin's Castle area. The victim, who was intoxicated and unable to consent, was led by O'Grady to a car‑park area where the assault occurred. She described the assault as forceful and non‑consensual, noting a lack of memory and physical pain. O'Grady was homeless at the time and remains in custody. The trial also considered a separate sexual encounter the victim had with another man that night, but the jury's verdict focused solely on the charge against O'Grady. The case is scheduled for sentencing on 19 June. The court heard CCTV footage of the assault and the victim's subsequent medical examination. The prosecution highlighted the victim's honest account and urged a guilty verdict. The defense questioned the similarity of the two encounters and the victim's capacity to consent.
A civil servant, Declan Cosgrave, has lost his challenge to his dismissal from the Department of Foreign Affairs following a data breach and the discovery of an unauthorised computer in the basement of the Passport Office in Dublin in 2022. The Workplace Relations Commission upheld the Department's decision to sack him, citing sustained unauthorized access to the restricted passport database. Cosgrave, who had worked for the State for 37 years, denied deliberately breaching the secure access system. The State argued that his explanations for the logins were not credible and that he had accessed the database over a prolonged period, violating IT policies. The tribunal found that the Department had followed fair procedures and that dismissal was a reasonable response. The data breach was uncovered after an unauthorized computer was found in the basement, leading to an investigation that revealed the use of compromised credentials to access the database.
Keith Farrell, a 50‑year‑old former DJ from Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty to possession of child sexual abuse material. He was found with 2,868 images in deleted files on a MacBook, including 1,300 sexual images and 458 depicting child exposure. The court noted no aggravating factors such as prior convictions or distribution. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a fully suspended two‑year sentence on strict conditions, following higher court advice that non‑custodial options are appropriate when no aggravating factors exist. Farrell cooperated during the search, provided passwords, and admitted the offences. He has no previous convictions, is not currently employed due to health issues, and is receiving social welfare. The case was investigated after a referral to Gardaí and involved Google's infrastructure in May 2021. The court considered his personal circumstances, including a difficult upbringing, substance use, and caregiving responsibilities. The sentence is suspended, with no custodial term imposed.
An electrical engineering company, John Fletcher Ltd, was fined €400,000 after a father of four, Alan Mulhall, died when a 760‑kg low‑voltage switchgear fell on his head during a manual move at St Patrick's Hospital. The company pleaded guilty to failing to discharge employer duties under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, and to failing to take organisational measures to avoid manual handling. The incident occurred on 23 November 2017 when the switchgear was transported from a trailer to the hospital plant room over uneven ground and manually lifted into a 2‑m high door. The switchgear tipped and struck Mulhall, causing fatal head injuries. The court found the plan to move the equipment "totally misconceived" and imposed the fine on the company and a €5,000 fine on director David Fletcher. The company had no prior convictions.
Philip Crowley, 33, of Lein Park, Raheny, was sentenced to three years in prison with the final 16 months suspended on strict conditions after pleading guilty to assault causing harm for stabbing a man twice in the back of his head. The incident occurred on 22 October 2021 when the victim was walking his seven‑month‑old baby and encountered Crowley, who had just exited a taxi. A tussle ensued, and after the victim left the house, Crowley pursued him, striking him with a knife. The victim required stitches for two wounds and was taken to hospital by ambulance. Crowley had previously been convicted 12 times for drug possession and traffic offences. He offered apologies to the victim and the Gardaí, wrote a letter of apology, and paid €5,000 to the victim. The court accepted his remorse and noted his supportive family and former sporting background.
A 38‑year‑old man named Lucky Enogheghase, who lives at Frenchville Lane, Galway, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for conspiracy to commit human trafficking. He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy, and the court considered two additional counts when determining the sentence. Enogheghase helped three Nigerian women travel from Nigeria to Ireland, where they were forced into prostitution by third parties already dealt with by the courts. He assisted with travel, accommodation and onward movement, but the investigation could not establish his exact role within the trafficking organisation or any reward he might have received. Enogheghase was arrested in November 2022, had no prior convictions, and was found to be cooperative during the investigation. The judge, citing recklessness for not knowing the women's fate, imposed the sentence and backdated it to his arrest.
In a Dublin rape trial, the State presented a 33‑year‑old Louth defendant who is accused of raping a 19‑year‑old Spanish student on New Year's Eve. The prosecution argued that the defendant led the woman into a quiet area in a menacing and predatory manner, that she was heavily intoxicated and unable to consent, and that CCTV footage showed the pair meeting at a shop after she had vomited and then walking to a car park where the alleged rape occurred. The defence counsel highlighted "bizarre" elements, noting similarities between the woman's encounters with two men that night, and argued she was in full control of her faculties and capable of consenting. The jury was instructed to consider whether the woman could consent between 1.40 am and 2.17 am. The trial is ongoing before Ms Justice Caroline Biggs and a jury. The unnamed 33-year-old pleaded not guilty.
Vasile Manole, 46, and Daniella Voroneanu, 42, were sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for a savage knife attack on an innocent man sleeping in a tent on Tara Street, Dublin, in April 2024. Manole, a convicted rapist with prior violent offences, pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm. Judge Martin Nolan described the unprovoked attack as "extremely savage" and "reprehensible," noting the victim lost sight in one eye and required 190 stitches. Manole was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment. Voroneanu, who initially faced a charge of assault causing serious harm, pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of assault causing harm after discussions between her defence and the prosecution. The court accepted she likely did not expect the viciousness of the assault but had encouraged Manole to act. She was sentenced to three years. Both defendants were intoxicated at arrest, suspending their detention periods for six hours. The judge backdated both sentences to the date they went into custody. The matter was finalised with these sentences imposed.
Dylan Deegan (26) and Evan Campbell (26) were jailed for 33 months after pleading guilty to importing €80,000 worth of cannabis into Ireland at Dublin Port on 26 November 2022. Deegan, from Oldtown Avenue, Santry, had 65 prior convictions, mainly minor offences and a previous drug offence, and said he transported the drugs to reduce a €7,000–€12,000 debt caused by his addiction. Campbell, from Beauvale Park, Artane, had 35 prior convictions, including drug‑dealing, and claimed a €5,000 debt would be cleared by the transport. Judge Martin Nolan noted that both men were "authors of their own misfortune" and had been exploited by third parties who took advantage of their vulnerable situations. The men were caught "red‑handed" at Dublin Port after disembarking from a ferry from Holyhead, where eight vacuum‑packed bags of cannabis were found hidden in the car doors.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a woman and her husband were forced to sell their house and relocate after a drugs offender, Graham Potts, harassed them for a supposed cocaine debt owed by their son. Potts, who had a drug debt himself, repeatedly called the couple's home, demanded €3,000, then €6,000, and later €7,000, threatening property damage and claiming the debt was for cocaine. He visited the house, demanded payment, and threatened to call the son's workplace if the son did not comply. The woman reported the harassment to Gardaí, who confirmed no money was extracted and that Potts had no concealed identity or gang links. Potts, with 41 prior convictions, was sentenced to four and a half years' imprisonment, with no backdating of the sentence. The victim impact report noted the family's sale of their home and move away from South Dublin.
A 41‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for coercive control and assault against his partner. He had forced her to keep a doorbell camera on her at all times, monitored her movements, isolated her from family, and restricted her access to a phone and welfare payments. He also installed a house alarm but withheld the code, locked doors, and used a Ring doorbell to demand she answer instantly and show her hands. The victim's impact statement described daily beatings, injuries sustained in Dublin, Co Clare, Scotland, and Spain, and a fractured finger when she tried to protect herself. She had two children with him, a miscarriage, and a fourth pregnancy during which he assaulted her. The court noted the man's drug use and that he was now drug‑free. Judge Martin Nolan set a headline sentence of eight years, reduced to five years, citing repeated physical and verbal violence, control, and humiliation. The unnamed 41-year-old pleaded guilty.
A Jordanian man, Saif Waleed Al Hindawi, was jailed for three and a half years after a violent sexual assault on a woman in South Dublin. The victim was bitten on the mouth and forced to the ground, suffering injuries that required hospital treatment and ongoing medical care. Al Hindawi, who had no fixed abode, falsely claimed to be a Syrian asylum seeker and denied any sexual conduct. He also refused a disease test, delaying the victim's knowledge of potential infection. The court heard the victim's impact statement, detailing PTSD, loss of confidence, and ongoing medication. Al Hindawi pleaded guilty to sexual assault on 23 May 2024. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to three and a half years, noting possible deportation after release. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
Christopher Doyle, a 34‑year‑old aircraft technician at Dublin Aerospace Ltd, was suspended from his airport identity card after a failed security intelligence check in November 2024. He claims the check was linked to a video he recorded in December 2023, in which another employee praised Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch during the 2024 General Election. Doyle says he shared the clip privately via WhatsApp but did not post it publicly; the video later appeared on Instagram, X and TikTok. He has no criminal convictions and asserts no family or associates have links to criminality. Doyle appealed the suspension on December 5, 2024, but received no reasons for the failure and was placed on unpaid leave. He is seeking a judicial review and a mandamus order to compel the Dublin Airport Authority, the Minister for Justice and Garda Síochána to complete his appeal. The High Court has adjourned the case to April 1, 2025, after refusing an ex‑parte hearing.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Peter Doyle, aged 68, was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment for indecent assault and rape of two girls aged six to nine between 1977 and 1991. The victims, who wish to remain anonymous, recounted how they were ignored when they tried to alert adults, with one told the abuser was "just experimenting." Doyle pleaded guilty to all charges. The judge, Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo, set a headline sentence of 15 years but, citing mitigating factors such as Doyle's guilty plea, lack of prior convictions, good work history and remorse, imposed consecutive sentences totalling eight years. The court noted the deep and lasting harm suffered by the victims and the breach of trust involved. The case was classified as "more serious" by the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Joseph Collins, 27, of Avila Park, Finglas, pleaded guilty to robbery at Boyles Sports on 27 November 2023. He held a Stanley blade near the cashier's face, demanded €280, and left before closing. CCTV identified him; he was arrested and charged. Collins has ten prior convictions and a history of alcohol and drug abuse, having completed residential rehabilitation at Coolmine Treatment Centre. He expressed deep shame and a willingness to work, supported by family and Probation Services. Judge Orla Crowe acknowledged the seriousness of the offence and the victim's frightening experience, but noted Collins' rehabilitation efforts. She imposed a custodial sentence of three years, suspended the final 18 months, and ordered structured release with strict conditions, including two years of Probation Service engagement. The court considered Collins' lack of violence history and his commitment to rehabilitation.
Diarmuid Phelan, a law lecturer and barrister, was acquitted of murder after a 10‑week trial that concluded on 3 January 2025. The case involved a shooting at Hazelgrove Farm, Tallaght, where Phelan fired three shots at trespassers on his land. The third shot struck Keith Conlon in the head, killing him. Phelan claimed the fatal shot was accidental and that he acted in self‑defence. A jury found him not guilty. Following the trial, Michael Bowman SC, one of Phelan's senior counsel, requested that the court decide whether the State should pay Phelan's legal costs. The matter will be heard by Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford on 10 March. Phelan, who has assets in the millions, was represented by two senior and two junior counsel and did not receive legal aid. The case also involved expert witnesses who testified after the prosecution's case closed.
A 50-year-old woman, November Phelan, was sentenced to six years imprisonment with the final year suspended for a period of three years, on the condition that she remain under the supervision of the probation services and engage with counselling and addiction services. The sentence was passed by Mr Justice Paul Burns at the Central Criminal Court following a validated procedural stage of sentence. Phelan had pleaded guilty to manslaughter when she was arraigned before the court. The court heard that Phelan had been in a relationship with the deceased, David Ennis, and that both had significant problems involving long-term substance abuse. Mr Justice Burns noted that Phelan had acted in self-defence in response to an anticipated attack from Ennis. The judge acknowledged Phelan's guilty plea, her expression of remorse, and her long-term struggle with drug addiction and depression. The matter was not adjourned and was finalised with the sentence being backdated to October 27, 2023, when Phelan went into custody.
Gardai hacked into the phone of Stephen Mooney (52), who had been accused of stabbing his wife, Anna Mooney (46), to death on 15 June 2023 at their home on Kilbarrack Road, Kilbarrack, Dublin 5. The Central Criminal Court heard that the phone, seized at the crime scene, was initially inaccessible due to a missing pin code or password. However, an update to the Cellebrite software used by Gardai allowed the phone to be unlocked without a password. Once unlocked, the phone contained video and audio footage of the minutes leading up to the fatal incident and the incident itself. The new evidence prompted the prosecution to inform the court of a "significant development." Mooney pleaded guilty to the single charge of murder, faces a mandatory life sentence, and remains in custody while a sentencing date is set for 18 June. The court adjourned sentencing to allow the victim's family to make statements.
A 47‑year‑old man was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for sexual assault and exploitation of a teenage girl in foster care. He pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault, five counts of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child and three counts of using technology to facilitate the sexual exploitation of a child. The offences took place between November 2021 and April 2023, when the victim was aged 14 to 16. The court heard that the man was in a relationship with the daughter of the girl's foster mother and that the abuse was discovered after the foster mother found sexual messages. The girl described repeated incidents of the man masturbating in front of her, giving her vapes and cannabis, and touching her breasts. She also reported that the man sent explicit voice messages in exchange for vapes.
Oluwasegun Azeez, 31, was sentenced to six and a half years in prison after the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court found him guilty of participating in a Ghanaian criminal organisation that carried out PUP fraud, money laundering, social welfare theft, business email compromise and loan fraud between 2020 and 2022. Azeez recruited money mules, opened bank accounts, sent false documents to secure loans, and directed others to move money. Garda investigations revealed he used staff details to claim €49,500 in Pandemic Unemployment Payments, fraudulently purchased a suit from Louis Copeland, and entered a hire‑purchase agreement for an Audi Q3 jeep. He also attempted to recruit others for phishing and smishing scams. The court noted his early guilty plea and personal circumstances, but imposed the six‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence.
Four men – Adam Baker (25), Clayton Lieghio (23), Glen Lieghio (28) and Jamie Boyd (25) – were sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for an affray that took place on 24 October 2021 at Priorswood Inn, Priorswood. The incident was discovered when Garda Alan Roche reviewed CCTV footage as part of a separate investigation. The court heard that a verbal disagreement escalated into a 60‑second brawl involving a large group, with each man throwing objects or striking others. All four pleaded guilty. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a 12‑month sentence on Clayton Lieghio, back‑dated to February 2024, an 18‑month suspended sentence on Jamie Boyd, a 10‑month sentence on Adam Baker, and an 18‑month suspended sentence on Glen Lieghio. The court noted each defendant's prior convictions, personal circumstances and mitigating factors presented by their counsel, but no victim impact statements were provided.
David McGrath, 31, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to five years' imprisonment for possession of child pornography. The court heard that a laptop seized from his home contained 1,730 images, including 708 in Category 1 depicting children aged one to eight in sexual activities, and 1,022 in Category 2 showing exposed genital or anal areas. Additional searches in December 2020 uncovered 445 illegal images on a laptop and over 2,200 on a smartphone, with 695 Category 1 images of children under five. McGrath had prior convictions in 2017 and 2018, for which he received suspended sentences and was on the sex offenders register. The judge imposed consecutive sentences totalling eight and a half years, suspended the final three years for six years, and set strict conditions involving the Probation Service, device disclosure, and Garda supervision. The court noted McGrath's acceptance of responsibility and his ongoing therapy and family support. David McGrath pleaded guilty.
In a case heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Jake Walsh, aged 28, was sentenced to 27 months' imprisonment for dangerous driving that caused serious harm. The incident occurred on 30 October 2021 at the junction of Naas Road and Long Mile Road, where Walsh was estimated to be travelling at 129 km/h in a 60 km/h zone. He struck a motorist from the UK who had inadvertently passed three red lights at a confusing gyratory junction. The collision left the victim with a traumatic brain injury, liver laceration, fractures and the need to relearn how to walk. Walsh, who had previous convictions for road offences, pleaded guilty and was also disqualified from driving for five years. The court noted his remorse and good work history, but highlighted the excessive speed as an aggravating factor in the sentencing.
Derek Fee, a 37‑year‑old Dubliner, was jailed for six and a half years after a series of drug‑related offences while on bail. In June 2022, Gardaí stopped him in Tallaght and seized three deals of cocaine, 300 diazepam tablets, a weighing scale and a burner phone. A warrant led to a search of his home, where no drugs were found, but a false compartment in a car he had owned for four weeks yielded €14,000 worth of cannabis. The following month, while driving a rental van, Gardaí discovered a kilo of cannabis under the passenger seat, valued at €20,000. Fee pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply on both occasions. The court, noting his prior convictions and the mitigating evidence presented, imposed two and a half years for the first offence and four years for the second, to run consecutively.
Ian Kidney, a 37‑year‑old Dublin resident, was sentenced to seven years in prison for his role in a €3 million cannabis and cocaine operation. He had no prior criminal record but was under Garda surveillance from 3 April last year. Kidney pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of drugs for sale or supply: one for transporting drugs on Dublin's north side and another for a haul at a south‑side storage facility. Garda Brian Kirwan testified that Kidney drove a van to Finglas, delivering two boxes to Liam Mellows Road, where €320 000 of cannabis was found. He then drove into Dublin City Centre, where a stop on Beresford Street led to the seizure of €198 332 of cannabis. A self‑storage unit in Ballymount yielded €2.28 million of cannabis herb, €5 572 of resin and €694 858 of cocaine; Kidney held one of two keys.
A 50‑year‑old man was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for sexually assaulting his 12‑year‑old daughter between January 2016 and August 2017 at a Dublin address. He pleaded guilty and had five prior convictions, including rape and sexual assault. The court heard that the victim and her siblings were in his sole care after their mother's death in 2012, and that the children often watched films in his room while he drank downstairs. The victim recalled being touched on the outside of her underwear and then being digitally penetrated; she fled to her bedroom and later told a family member before filing a complaint in 2023. The judge noted the aggravating factor that the victim was his daughter and that he had failed to fulfil parental responsibilities. The sentence was back‑dated to the date of the guilty plea.
Brian McHugh, 40, of Ballymun, Dublin 11, was found guilty by a jury at the Central Criminal Court of murdering Lisa Thompson, 52, at Sandyhill Gardens on May 9, 2022. McHugh had pleaded not guilty to the charge. The jury, which deliberated for three hours and 24 minutes, unanimously rejected the defence argument that the killing involved "overkill" and that Thompson was a "woman of secrets." The prosecution presented circumstantial evidence, including CCTV footage placing McHugh near the victim's home, DNA on a blind cord used to strangle her, and jewellery found at his address matching items linked to Thompson. The court also heard evidence regarding text messages sent by a named woman to McHugh referencing the method of killing. Ms Justice Karen O'Connor thanked the jury and excused them from service for five years. She offered condolences to the Thompson family. The matter was adjourned; Ms Justice O'Connor will hand down the mandatory sentence of life imprisonment to McHugh on March 10. McHugh has been remanded in custody until that date, when the family will have the opportunity to make a statement. A prior pre-trial ruling excluding recognition evidence was overturned by the Court of Appeal, allowing that evidence to be considered at trial.
An unnamed 17-year-old defendant was sentenced to 20 months' detention by Judge Martin Nolan in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for assault causing harm. The teen, who was 16 at the time, pleaded guilty to instigating an unprovoked attack on US tourist Stephen Termini in July 2023, which left the victim with serious brain injuries. Judge Nolan noted the defendant's nine previous convictions, including for assault causing harm and violent disorder, stating he had not taken prior chances to change. Although defence counsel Conor Devally SC requested a sentence with a suspended element to support rehabilitation, the judge reluctantly imposed custody, citing a total lack of insight. Two other boys involved in the attack, who pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm and violent disorder, were previously sentenced to 32 and 26 months' detention respectively. The victim, who has since changed his surname to Donnelly, suffered ongoing health issues including PTSD and requires a cane to walk. He stated he forgives the boys but seeks help covering his €103,000 in medical costs.
David Williams, 68, was sentenced to six years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to multiple counts of deception, providing legal services while unqualified, and acting as an unauthorised personal insolvency practitioner between January 2019 and June 2020. The court found that Williams, who was not a practising barrister, defrauded hundreds of foreign nationals through bogus firms including THL Legal and Moore, Barrington and Walters. In a separate bill, he admitted to defrauding a Galway woman in her 80s by dishonestly inducing her to purchase a Kuboto U27 mini-digger for €7,841. Co-accused Crystal Talia, 46, pleaded guilty to impeding an investigation by allowing Williams to use her bank accounts. Talia, who has no previous convictions, was previously given a one-year suspended sentence. Judge Orla Crowe described Williams as an "endemic recidivist fraudster" who breached the trust of victims seeking to regularise their status in Ireland. Williams had previously failed to attend a sentencing hearing, resulting in two bench warrants. Defence counsel cited Williams' cardiac condition and employment history in mitigation, while noting his multiple prior convictions dating back to the 1970s. The matter was finalised with the imposition of the custodial sentence.
Debbie Fowler, 44, of Blanchardstown, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing cannabis for sale or supply at her home on 16 July 2021. The cannabis, weighing just under six kilograms and valued at €118,770, had been delivered to her address after being intercepted by customs and a controlled delivery was arranged. Fowler admitted she knew the parcel contained cannabis and that she had been paid €200 to accept it. Garda Anthony Quinn described her as an easy target, noting her alcohol difficulties and that she was under the influence when she accepted the package. The court considered her single‑mother status and co‑parenting responsibilities. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a four‑year suspended sentence on strict conditions, citing her low culpability and caring duties. The sentence was not immediate custodial, reflecting the exceptional category of the case.
In a Dublin rape trial, the jury was shown a 40‑minute CCTV clip of the complainant and a second man having a sexual encounter in a B&B hallway hours after the alleged rape. Judge Caroline Biggs warned the footage could be intrusive and distressing but deemed it necessary to play. The accused, a 33‑year‑old Louth man, pleaded not guilty to raping a 19‑year‑old Spanish tourist on a Dublin Castle street on 1 January 2019. The State alleged the victim could not consent due to alcohol or drugs. After the alleged rape, the victim walked with the accused, then sought help from a couple who directed her to a B&B where she met the second man. She described persistent kissing, anal sex, and pain, and later claimed she had been raped by both men. No charge was brought against the second man.
Roy Oti, aged 22, was found guilty of stealing €13,974 from a catering company that operated at Aviva Stadium, using a Sumup card‑reader system. He was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment, with a headline term of four years from which a final year was suspended. Oti's co‑accused included his sister Nikkel Oti (21) and Chidera Anago (22), who each pleaded guilty to thefts of €2,371 and €4,888 respectively. Both were dealt with under Section 100 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 and will be discharged if they donate €750 to The Simon Community before the finalisation date in July. A further co‑accused, Sean Atowo (23), pleaded guilty and his case was adjourned to allow a probation report. The court noted the pre‑planned nature of the fraud and the breach of trust involved. The total amount stolen was €32,489, with €9,334 recovered, leaving the catering company a loss of €23,154.
Jane Dowling, 54, of Newlands House, Baldonnell, Dublin, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to deceiving Dublin City Council into paying her €12,000 finder's fee for sourcing rental properties under the Housing Assistance Payments scheme on 7 December 2018. At the time she worked for a rental property company while also running her own company, City Properties, which had no connection to her employer. Dowling used properties that her employer managed and claimed the finder's fee under her own company. She has since repaid the full amount. Judge Martin Nolan, noting that Dowling is the sole provider for her teenage daughter and has no prior convictions, sentenced her to one year in prison, suspended in full, and accepted that she is unlikely to appear again in court. The case was prosecuted by Aoife McNickle BL and defended by Justin McQuade BL. The Gardaí had arrested Dowling in September 2020 after her employer reported the deception.
Robert Cummins, 45, of Cushlawn Park, Tallaght, was jailed for ten years after pleading guilty to two drug offences. In August 2023 he was found with €196,540 worth of cannabis and €68,327 of cocaine for sale or supply at his home, and in July 2024 he was found with €55,695 of cocaine and €12,912 of cannabis for sale or supply while on bail for the first offence. Cummins admitted responsibility for the drugs, claiming they were hidden in a shed and that he had them for a few hours after work to reduce a gambling debt. He said he feared those to whom he owed money. His defence highlighted his family life and remorse. Judge Martin Nolan accepted pre‑meditation and imposed a seven‑year term for the first offence and a consecutive three‑year term for the second, totalling ten years in custody.
In a trial for the murder of Lisa Thompson, 52, the defence argued that the case was more complex than the prosecution's narrative suggested. They highlighted that Thompson had been involved in selling prescription tablets, with 24,500 tablets found in her attic, and that she had a brief relationship with the accused, Brian McHugh, 40, the year before her death. The defence questioned the reliability of identification evidence, the timing of CCTV footage, and the credibility of witness statements, including those of neighbour Sandra McMahon and Joan Lundy. They also pointed to text messages from a woman who claimed insider knowledge of Thompson's death, and to DNA found on a blind cord wrapped around Thompson's neck, which McHugh could not satisfactorily explain. The defence maintained that the prosecution had not proven guilt beyond a reasonable doubt and urged an acquittal. The trial was set to continue before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury. Brian McHugh pleaded not guilty.
Shane Byrne, 38, of Clondalkin, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to distributing child pornography in May and June 2016. Garda Deirdre Cotter reported that Byrne had been messaging a woman he was in an "on and off relationship" with, sending her unsolicited child abuse images and asking her to pretend she was a 12‑year‑old boy, to call him Daddy, and to obtain a child younger than five years old. He also sent images depicting a six‑year‑old being raped. Byrne denied sending the images and claimed he had never viewed child pornography. He was arrested after the woman contacted gardaí. Byrne had previously moved to England, where he was jailed for assault, and was extradited back to Ireland in July. He was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, with the last 12 months suspended on strict conditions, including 12 months of supervision by the Probation Service, backdated to his July custody entry.
The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) has set a deadline for the State and a senior Garda civilian manager, Bridget Casy‑Mulligan, to resolve a penalisation complaint by tomorrow or the case will proceed to public hearings. The complaint, lodged under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and the Payment of Wages Act 1991, involves claims against the Garda Commissioner, the Minister for Public Expenditure and the government. The WRC had scheduled hearings for three days this week at Lansdowne House, Dublin 4. During a short hearing, adjudicator Máire Mulcahy noted that the parties had previously sought a mediator but none was available, and that the case had been adjourned in September. Mulcahy said the parties were working to source an external mediator and that if a mediator could not be found, the hearing would proceed tomorrow.
A 33‑year‑old Spanish tourist, who was accused of rape on New Year's Eve 2019 in Dublin's Castle area, denies being affectionate with the alleged rapist on CCTV footage. She pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court. The State alleges the man raped her on a street, claiming she could not consent due to alcohol or drugs. She testified she was trying to find a bar, was led into a dark area where the alleged rape occurred, and felt powerless. Afterward she walked with the man back through the city centre, then met a couple outside a shop. She says she was frightened, held the man's arm to avoid falling, and later met a second man at a B&B where she was kissed and had anal sex. She claims she was coerced and that no charge has been brought against the second man. The trial continues before Ms Justice Caroline Biggs and a jury.