In a Central Criminal Court hearing, prosecution counsel Cathleen Noctor SC described Dean Caffrey, 38, as "cool as a cucumber" after CCTV footage showed him buying a suitcase with cash taken from the dead man, Sean McCarthy, 28. Noctor alleged that Caffrey lied about the circumstances of the fatal shooting in his apartment, claiming the deceased had brought a firearm and threatened him. She said Caffrey denied murdering McCarthy, who was known to gardaí as a drug dealer. Noctor highlighted inconsistencies in Caffrey's statements to gardaí, noting he initially claimed both men had the gun during the struggle, then later said he fired after McCarthy lunged. She also presented evidence that Caffrey purchased a clean‑up kit, disposed of the firearm and the deceased's phone, and deleted messages. Noctor urged the jury to consider that Caffrey shot McCarthy in the head with intent to kill, and that he should be convicted of murder.
Cailean Crawford, 28, was convicted of the murder of Thomas McCarthy, 55, at Croftwood Park, Ballyfermot, on July 27, 2020. The jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict after deliberating for eight hours and 20 minutes, rejecting Crawford's not guilty plea and his defense that he merely loaned a van to associate Charles McClean. Prosecutors alleged Crawford was the gunman who fatally shot McCarthy, who had returned from the UK to visit his mother. Mr Justice Tony Hunt described Crawford as a "cold-blooded" and "dangerous individual," noting the crime was not a victim of circumstance. The judge highlighted Crawford's prior conviction for conspiracy to murder Wayne Whelan in 2019, for which he was sentenced to seven years with two suspended. McClean, who pleaded guilty to lesser offences in that case, was sentenced to eight years. Following the verdict, Crawford shouted at the court and stormed out. Mr Justice Hunt remanded Crawford in custody until December 20, when he will be handed the mandatory sentence of life imprisonment for murder. The matter was adjourned for sentencing.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, defence counsel Sean Guerin SC argued that the murder trial of law professor Diarmuid Phelan centred on emotion, specifically fear and anger, rather than intent to kill. Phelan, 56, pleaded not guilty to the fatal shooting of 36‑year‑old Keith Conlon on his Tallaght farm on 24 February 2022. The prosecution contended that Phelan fired three shots, two in the air and a third that struck Conlon in the back of the head while he was turning away, indicating intent to kill. Guerin maintained that the shots were warning shots, that Phelan did not intend to hit Conlon, and that the incident was a reaction to trespassers and a hunting dog on the property. He urged the jury to consider the emotional context and the lack of pre‑planned intent in assessing Phelan's actions. The case remains at the trial stage.
A 65‑year‑old man, Ciaran Watters, received a suspended two‑year sentence after he struck his elderly neighbour, Patrick Dunne, with a shovel while Dunne was trimming a hedge on their shared boundary. The assault occurred on 14 June 2021 when Dunne was on a ladder leaning against a wooden fence; Watters hit the fence twice, causing Dunne to fall flat on his back. Dunne, who has had two hip replacements, suffered pain, anxiety and flashbacks, and now requires medication for his spine. Watters, who had a prior assault conviction, admitted alcohol influence, completed an inpatient addiction course, and offered €5,000 to Dunne. The judge imposed a three‑year suspended sentence with conditions to refrain from interfering with neighbours and to pay the compensation. The unnamed 65-year-old pleaded guilty.
A 56‑year‑old man, Adrianus Johannes Kees, was sentenced to three and a half years' imprisonment after defrauding the Irish biotechnology company Ovagen of €840,000. Ovagen, seeking €28 million to patent a germ‑free egg for vaccines, was persuaded by Kees to deposit the money into an alleged escrow account in Lichtenstein. No such account existed; the funds were transferred to Kees' personal accounts and spent on a pool house, a Mercedes‑Benz lease and other expenses. Ovagen had to repay the loan taken from AIB and lost the money. Kees pleaded guilty on the fifth day of his trial, apologized to the victims, and was granted a reduced sentence after a European Arrest Warrant had led to his extradition from Spain. The court noted his lack of prior convictions and cooperation with authorities. The sentence was back‑dated to account for time already spent in custody. The unnamed 56-year-old pleaded not guilty.
The murder trial of Diarmuid Phelan, 56, is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court. Phelan, a barrister and farmer, has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Keith 'Bono' Conlon, 36, at Hazelgrove Farm in Tallaght, Dublin 24, on February 24, 2022. In closing submissions, State Counsel Roisin Lacey SC argued that Phelan's actions constituted a disproportionate response to a verbal conflict. The prosecution contends that Phelan intended to kill or cause serious injury when he fired a Smith & Wesson revolver at Conlon, who was allegedly turning away to leave. Lacey highlighted testimony from farmhand Pierre Godreu, who described the third, fatal shot as being fired in a different direction than the initial warning shots, suggesting intent. The State emphasized that Conlon was a trespasser engaged in alleged badger baiting, but cautioned the jury that the deceased was not on trial for his criminal behavior. The jury heard evidence that Phelan shouted at Conlon and another man, Kallum Coleman, before firing. Coleman, a key witness, failed to attend trial after leaving the country. The matter remains at the trial stage, with the jury yet to deliver a verdict.
In a Central Criminal Court case, Cailean Crawford, aged 28, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Thomas McCarthy, who was shot seven times at his mother's home on 27 July 2020. The State alleges a conspiracy to kill McCarthy, with Crawford as the gunman, citing CCTV footage of a blue Ford Fiesta and the use of a van and phone. Crawford's defence argues he was merely involved in drug dealing and that he loaned his van and phone to Charles McClean, who allegedly used them for drug transport. Crawford testified that he was "blamed" as the centre point of a murder he did not commit. Judge Tony Hunt emphasized that the prosecution's case hinges on who had the van and phone after 9 a.m. The jury, consisting of six men and six women, has deliberated for over six hours and will continue tomorrow.
Mary O'Sullivan, aged 52, pleaded guilty to one count of deception, four counts of using a false instrument and four counts of false accounting for taking €16,024 from her non‑profit employer, Leargas, between 2016 and 2019. She oversaw the petty cash process and falsified receipts and accounting records. A 2019 review uncovered irregularities, including altered receipts and incomplete records. O'Sullivan was interviewed by Gardaí, attempted to blame colleagues, claimed she was bullied and that the petty cash book was accurate, and suggested the money was used for budget purposes. She offered €16,000 as restitution. The court imposed a two‑year sentence, fully suspended it, and required her to enter a bond to keep the peace and be of good behaviour, while ordering payment of the restitution to Leargas. The sentence was imposed by Judge Orla Crowe.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Diarmuid Phelan, a barrister and law lecturer, is ongoing. Phelan, 56, has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Keith 'Bono' Conlon, 36, at Hazelgrove Farm in Tallaght, Dublin 24, on February 24, 2022. The prosecution, led by Roisin Lacey SC, argued in her closing speech that Phelan's actions were a disproportionate response to a purely verbal conflict. The State alleges that after Conlon and two others trespassed on the property, Phelan fired three shots from a Smith & Wesson revolver; the prosecution contends the third shot was intentionally aimed at Conlon, who was shot in the back of the head while turning to leave. Conversely, the defence maintains that Phelan accidentally hit Conlon while firing warning shots. Evidence from farmhand Pierre Godreu described the initial altercation as oral and noted that the third shot was fired in a different direction than the first two. Another witness, Hannah Felgner, stated the conflict was verbal and that the trespassers intended to call gardai rather than use physical violence. The jury of nine men and three women is currently hearing the final submissions, with the matter remaining at the trial stage.
A 22‑year‑old man, Brandon Gavin, was sentenced to a mandatory life term in prison for the murder of his former friend, Marius Mamaliga, who was stabbed in the neck on 23 February 2023. The victim's parents, Inga and Victor Mamaliga, delivered an emotional impact statement, describing the loss as a void that will never be filled. Gavin had pleaded not guilty, claiming self‑defence after a drug debt dispute, but the jury found his defence "self‑serving nonsense." Witnesses testified that Gavin had been messaging women on Tinder minutes before the attack and had searched for "prison sentence for murder in Ireland" the day before. Marius was in the driver's seat with two friends when Gavin entered the rear passenger side, reached across, stabbed him once in the neck, and fled. He was taken to hospital in critical condition and died three days later.
Eric O'Driscoll, 22, admitted to possessing a .223 calibre Remington AR‑15 rifle in a Dublin residential area and pleaded guilty earlier this year. He now requests a prison transfer after claiming he witnessed a murder in a cell. The Special Criminal Court heard his request, and the judge adjourned the hearing for logistical reasons. O'Driscoll is expected to be moved to another prison after sentencing. He is also scheduled for trial later this year, along with his brother Glen Ward, who faces related charges.
Adam Roe-Dwyer (25), of Johnfield Road, Dublin 8, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to one count of assault causing harm to a security officer at Centra, Dame Street, Dublin 2, on March 18, 2022. His co-accused, Ian Lynch (25), of Weaver Street, Dublin 18, had previously pleaded guilty to the same charge and received a two-and-a-half-year suspended sentence earlier this year. Both men admitted to the offence, which involved striking the security guard after he refused entry to a plastic pint glass. The victim sustained two fractures to his nose, requiring surgery and five days of hospitalisation. Judge Patricia Ryan sentenced Roe-Dwyer to a two-and-a-half-year term, suspended in full on conditions. This follows Lynch's earlier sentencing, where he also received a two-and-a-half-year suspended sentence after paying €4,000 towards the victim's losses. Roe-Dwyer also paid €4,000 today. The judge noted the seriousness of the assault but considered mitigating factors, including both men's lack of previous convictions, their cooperation with gardaí, and their apologies. The matter was finalised with the imposition of these suspended sentences.
John O'Brien, 44, with 119 prior convictions, pleaded guilty to stealing an electric scooter from a shop on Dame Street on 31 January 2022. The theft occurred after an argument between shop security, O'Brien and two other men. O'Brien seized the scooter and fled toward Trinity College, threatening the victim with death. The victim pursued him, pleaded for the scooter, and was assaulted by another man who also threatened him. Gardaí later apprehended O'Brien while he was riding the scooter. O'Brien was on bail for other offences at the time and is already serving a sentence. Judge Orla Crowe described the offence as a "mean‑spirited theft", noted his chronic addiction and previous convictions, and imposed a two‑year sentence back‑dated to his guilty plea. The sentence will run concurrently with his current term, with release projected for December 2027 and support structures in place for his eventual release.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 35‑year‑old Gareth McGrath pleaded guilty to assault causing harm on two occasions (29 July and 8 August 2023) and to threatening to kill a former girlfriend and intimidating her to withdraw a Garda complaint between 14 and 23 August 2023. McGrath, who has 15 prior convictions, was present for sentencing via video link from prison. The victim, who met McGrath during residential addiction treatment, described a brief relationship that turned violent. She reported being punched, thrown to the ground, and cut on the breast with a butter knife, sustaining head injuries, a bruised ear, a hearing deficit, a forehead bump and a chest puncture. She said McGrath pressured her to retract her complaint, but she ultimately maintained her statement. The judge adjourned sentencing to early next year to allow a probation report to be prepared.
A 33-year-old man from Claremorris, County Mayo, has been sentenced to four and a half years imprisonment, suspended in full, after pleading guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. James Glynn was apprehended in November 2023 following a garda surveillance operation in Tallaght, Dublin, during which officers observed him receiving a suitcase containing 10.7 kilograms of cannabis valued at approximately €215,000. During interview, Glynn disclosed that he had accumulated a €1,000 drug debt whilst relocating from Dublin to Mayo. When he later sought to settle this obligation, he was informed the amount had escalated to €26,000, with additional "tax" imposed. He agreed to transport the drugs to repay the inflated debt under duress. Judge Pauline Codd noted the circumstances as exceptional, describing it as extraordinary that a modest debt could multiply so dramatically at the discretion of higher-level drug traffickers. The sentence includes 12 months' probation supervision and mandatory continuation of counselling.
Patrick Joyce, 30, of Balbriggan, pleaded guilty to two burglary counts and one assault causing harm. The incidents occurred within 500 metres of his home on 7 and 8 March 2024. A neighbour heard a noise, chased Joyce, and recorded him; a bar manager reported Joyce taking a bottle of vodka; and a man was punched by Joyce after a confrontation at his front door. CCTV footage confirmed the assault. Joyce denied the offences but was arrested at 1 a.m. and later admitted guilt. He has 12 prior convictions. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced him to two years' imprisonment for the burglary and two years for the assault, to run concurrently, with the final six months suspended for one year. The sentence was back‑dated to include time already served.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, the State's counsel, Bernard Condon SC, accused Cailean Crawford, 28, of fabricating a story about loaning a van and a phone to Charles McClean in connection with the murder of Thomas McCarthy on 27 July 2020. Condon argued that Crawford's testimony was full of lies and that the evidence showed a coordinated plan involving multiple vehicles and "dry runs" before the execution. He described the alleged gunman's movements and the use of burner phones, and claimed that Crawford's alibi of his grandmother's house was preposterous. Defence counsel Mark Lynam SC countered that the presumption of innocence was paramount, noting that Crawford's criminality did not prove murder and that the evidence did not conclusively link him to the shooting. The jury was instructed to consider the prosecution's case of a group plan and the alleged seven shots that killed McCarthy in his mother's hallway. Cailean Crawford pleaded not guilty.
The High Court dismissed Maureen Kelly's appeal against the Residential Tenancies Board's order that she vacate her Dublin 4 home and pay €60,000 in rent arrears. The RTB had ruled that the landlord, Miracove Holdings Ltd, had validly terminated Kelly's tenancy in June 2021, with an end date of January 2022, and that the landlord intended to sell the property within nine months of termination. Kelly had argued that the RTB erred in finding sufficient evidence of a bona fide intention to sell, citing a lis pendens and the lack of direct knowledge from Miracove directors at the time of the notice. Mr Justice Conleth Bradley upheld the RTB's decision, stating that the evidence satisfied the statutory criteria for termination and that Miracove had decided not to market the property until it was secured and vacant possession had been established. The order requires Kelly to vacate within 42 days of the determination.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court found 40‑year‑old David Dunne guilty of murder after he lured fellow inmate Robert O'Connor into his cell, knocked him to the ground and stamped on his head in a "vicious and unprovoked" assault. The verdict, reached in just under three hours, was unanimous. Dunne had pleaded not guilty, claiming he had no intention to kill and that he acted in self‑defence after O'Connor punched him twice. The prosecution presented CCTV footage showing Dunne and three other prisoners entering the cell, with officers later reporting that Dunne stamped on O'Connor's head more than once and kicked him. A pathologist's report confirmed that the blows caused brain rotation and tearing of nerve cells, consistent with stamping, punching or kicking. Dunne will face a mandatory life sentence when he is sentenced on 16 December.
Shirley Creighton, 49, of Derham Park, Balbriggan, pleaded guilty to careless driving causing serious bodily harm on 12 July 2022 when she struck a woman in her late 80s crossing Bridge Street. The victim suffered a serious leg fracture, required surgery and skin grafts, and her home now needs adaptation. Creighton was not driving fast and did not see the pedestrian. She had recently lost a family member and wished the case to proceed. Judge Dara Hayes adjourned the case to 18 December and directed the Probation Service to assess her suitability for community service. Creighton has no prior convictions, sold her car after the crash, and has expressed remorse, offering a letter of apology and testimonials. She seeks leniency and wishes to retain her licence, arguing she has not driven since the incident and has regained confidence after six months. The court heard her husband and family are respected locally and that she has no further proceedings pending.
Joseph Collins, 27, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a single robbery at Boyles Sports in Finglas on 27 November 2023. He entered the shop around 7 pm, approached the counter, muttered "Money", and produced a Stanley blade that he placed under the glass, a foot from the cashier's face. Collins handed over €280 before leaving. Garda Dwayne O'Brien obtained CCTV footage that identified Collins, leading to his arrest. Collins has ten prior convictions and a history of alcohol and drug abuse, though he has completed residential rehabilitation at Coolmine Treatment Centre. He expressed deep shame, denied violence, and requested an apology to the cashier and co‑worker. Judge Orla Crowe noted his rehabilitation work and lack of violent history, ordered a probation report, and remanded him in custody until 3 March 2025 when the case will be finalised.
Two brothers, Denis Burns (42) and Gavin Burns (33), were sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for attacking a homeless man who had been lured back to their home at The Beeches, Donaghmede, on 15 June 2023. The brothers, along with a third unnamed man, trapped the victim inside the house, where Denis used a kitchen knife to repeatedly slash the victim's head. The incident lasted about 10 to 15 minutes and left the victim with heavy head bleeding requiring stitches. Both brothers pleaded guilty—Denis to assault causing harm and affray, Gavin to assault causing harm. Judge Nolan imposed a two‑year sentence on each, suspended in its entirety, and ordered them to pay €1,000 each to the victim. The case stemmed from a prior dispute over missing lawnmower and electronic equipment and alleged threats to the brothers' sister.
In a Dublin pub incident, 23‑year‑old Raul Poama, intoxicated, was denied entry to Fibber Magees around 11.40 pm. He punched a manager, causing swelling, then fled. A security guard attempted to apprehend him; Poama screamed, bit the guard on the chest and stomach, leaving bite marks. Neither victim required medical treatment and both declined victim impact statements. Poama pleaded guilty to two counts of common assault on 3 December 2023. Judge Orla Crowe, noting the incident was "unedifying" and "very sorry", imposed a three‑month sentence suspended on strict conditions for two years. Poama had no prior convictions, had brought €2,000 to court as a gesture of remorse, and the judge directed €1,000 to the manager and the remainder to charity. No medical or further legal actions were reported beyond the suspended sentence.
Michael Donoghue, aged 21, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm and making threats to kill after pointing a double‑barrel shotgun at unarmed, uniformed Gardaí at Stocking Hill, Rathfarnham, on 20 December 2023. The officers, who were in a marked patrol car and unarmed, described genuine fear for their lives and lasting professional and personal effects. Donoghue's shotgun was later found to be unloaded, but the Gardaí were unaware of this at the time. Judge Orla Crowe imposed a headline sentence of eight years, reduced to a five‑year term with the final 12 months suspended, requiring Donoghue to keep the peace, maintain good behaviour for two years and engage with the Probation Service for 12 months. The case highlighted the officers' shock, fear and ongoing trauma following the incident.
In an appeal hearing, Keith McCormick (23) of La Touche Drive, Bluebell, Dublin 12 and Riverview, Church Road, Mulhuddart, Dublin 15, who pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply on May 12, 2020, and other charges including burglary, unlawful use of a vehicle, possession of stolen property, and driving without a licence or insurance between September 2020 and May 2021, had his sentence reviewed. McCormick, who has 44 previous convictions, was previously sentenced in February to a three-year and two-month prison term with the final 12 months suspended for his role in a series of offences on January 23, 2022, during which a man died. Judge Orla Crowe imposed a global sentence of six years and six months, suspending the final 15 months on strict conditions, including keeping the peace and being of good behaviour for two years and engaging with the Probation Service for 12 months upon release. Adam Murphy (23) of Cherry Orchard Crescent, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was handed a 12-year sentence with the final two-and-a-half years suspended on strict conditions. The matter was adjourned for further consideration.
In a Mountjoy Prison murder trial, the jury must decide if David Dunne, 40, honestly believed he was acting in self‑defence when he fatally assaulted fellow inmate Robert O'Connor. Justice Mary Ellen Ring explained that to convict of murder, the jury must be satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that Dunne intended to kill or cause serious injury. If he believed he was defending himself but used more force than a reasonable person would, he would be guilty of manslaughter. The prosecution, represented by Michael Delaney SC, presented CCTV showing O'Connor entering Dunne's cell, an officer witnessing Dunne stamp on O'Connor's head multiple times, and evidence suggesting coordination with other inmates. Dunne's defence, led by Brendan Grehan SC, argued the attack was a spontaneous reaction, not pre‑planned, and urged the jury to disregard alleged conspiratorial signals. The jury will deliberate tomorrow, with possible verdicts of guilty, not guilty, or not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter.
The defence has closed its case after seven weeks of evidence in the trial of law professor Diarmuid Phelan, who denies murdering trespasser Keith 'Bono' Conlon on his farm in Tallaght. Evidence was given that Phelan had reported constant, aggressive trespassers who would not disperse when asked and had said "we will do whatever the f**k we like". A gate on Phelan's land had been spray‑painted with "RIP Bono" in relation to Conlon's death. Phelan, 56, a barrister and farmer, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Conlon, 36, who was shot on February 22, 2022, and died two days later. The jury heard that on the day in question three men – Conlon, Kallum Coleman and Robin Duggan – had trespassed on a wooded area of Phelan's land while hunting. Phelan is alleged to have shouted at two unarmed trespassers to "get back" before firing three shots from his Smith & Wesson revolver.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, 28‑year‑old Cailean Crawford pleaded not guilty to the murder of Thomas McCarthy, claiming he was wrongly blamed for the killing because he had loaned a van to associate Charles McClean on the day of the murder. Crawford said he had lent the van to McClean, who allegedly needed it to collect drugs, and that he had also given McClean a Lyca SIM card used for drug‑related calls. He denied being a "rat" or misleading the jury, stating he would rather be branded as such than be convicted of a murder he did not commit. Prosecutor Bernard Condon questioned Crawford about his fear of McClean, the van's whereabouts, and phone calls made from the SIM. The trial focuses on the hours between 9 am and 12 pm on 27 July 2020, when the van and phone were involved in the incident. The case continues before Mr Justice Hunt and a jury.
Peter Gleeson, a bus driver for Go‑Ahead Ireland Bus Ltd, was dismissed in December 2022 after CCTV footage showed him using a mobile phone while driving. The incident, which occurred on 24 November 2022 near Prosperous, Co. Kildare, involved a van colliding with the bus's side mirror. Gleeson claimed he was uncertain whether he used his phone or radio to report the crash and later drove for another half hour before a tyre blew out. Go‑Ahead's disciplinary officer, Keith McDonnell, deemed the use of a mobile device while driving gross misconduct and dismissed Gleeson immediately. Gleeson's union, SIPTU, argued the sanction was too harsh and that the investigation was flawed, citing a lack of a collective agreement on CCTV use. The Workplace Relations Commission rejected Gleeson's unfair dismissal claim, finding the dismissal proportionate given the risk of distraction and injury. The tribunal noted Gleeson's willingness to return to driving after more than a year.
Harry Archer, a 23‑year‑old former junior cricketer from Kellys Bay Rocks, Skerries, was found with €4,886 worth of cannabis at his home on 18 January 2022. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where Judge Orla Crowe accepted that he is now drug‑free, has not attracted police attention since, and has a job offer. The judge imposed a 12‑month sentence, suspended in full, after noting Archer's "turned a corner" and ordered him to engage with the Probation Service for two years. Archer had 13 prior drug and traffic convictions. He had previously been caught with drugs, had a separate custody case, and had not appeared at the Garda station as promised. The case highlighted repeated attacks on his family home and his past cricket achievements, but the court focused solely on the current possession offence and the suspended sentence imposed.
A 21‑year‑old man, Shane Murray, was jailed for three years and six months for driving a stolen car and striking a cyclist, leaving the victim with a broken leg and ankle. The collision was recorded on Snapchat and shown in court, where the video showed Murray driving on after the impact and shouting "Go, Go, Go" from the front seat. The judge criticised the callousness of uploading the footage and of Murray's failure to stop or check on the cyclist. Murray also pleaded guilty to a robbery the previous month, for which he received an 18‑month sentence; both sentences run concurrently. He was disqualified from driving for four years and had a six‑month suspended portion of the driving sentence. The cyclist, a Croatian courier, required surgery for his fractures. Murray expressed remorse in a letter to the court. The case highlighted the seriousness of reckless driving and the use of stolen vehicles.
Brandon Carey, 24, was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to multiple burglaries and attempted burglaries in Dublin 9 on 31 January 2024. He broke into occupied homes at night, including the house of an 86‑year‑old woman who woke to find him in her bedroom. Carey entered through an open window, left blood on the windowsill, stole a bag of coins, an ID card and a bank card, and demanded money from another 86‑year‑old homeowner before fleeing. He also smashed a kitchen window to gain entry to a third home, leaving blood droplets on the ground. Garda Ben Grimes noted that Carey was initially too intoxicated for questioning but later admitted the crimes. He denied deliberately targeting elderly people, and the court accepted his remorse while noting the violation of homeowners' safety.
Jason Cullen, a 36‑year‑old GAA player from Ballyfermot, was sentenced to an 18‑month suspended term after pleading guilty to assaulting doorman David Barrett at Ryan's Bar on 11 February 2024. Cullen, who had been asked to leave the bar for intoxication, attempted to re‑enter to retrieve his jacket and, while intoxicated and unsteady, threw a single punch that knocked Barrett unconscious. Barrett suffered a cut on the bridge of his nose, swelling and bleeding, and later reported headaches, memory loss and sinus issues. Cullen offered a written apology and €10,000 as a gesture of remorse, which the court accepted. Judge Orla Crowe described the act as a "sucker punch", noted Cullen's otherwise pro‑social life and work history, and imposed a fully suspended sentence on the condition that Cullen hand over the €10,000, keep the peace and behave well for two years.
During a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, the prosecution alleged that 40‑year‑old David Dunne lured fellow inmate Robert O'Connor into his cell at Mountjoy Prison and stamped on O'Connor's head, causing death by blunt force trauma. The prosecution presented CCTV evidence suggesting coordination with other prisoners and claimed the assault was "vicious and unprovoked." They also argued that O'Connor's brain suffered rotational force injuries. Dunne's defence contended the killing was unintentional, a reaction in the moment, and not premeditated. The defence urged the jury to disregard alleged conspiratorial signals and focus on the evidence. The judge was to charge the jury the following day. The case remains at the murder‑trial stage. David Dunne pleaded not guilty.
During the trial of Diarmuid Phelan, a law professor and farmer, the court heard that a dog warden for South Dublin County Council testified that farmers are fully within their rights to shoot loose dogs that are worrying sheep. The witness explained that a dog that is free and poses a threat to livestock can be shot, and that the farmer must report the discharge to the gardai. Phelan, who is accused of murdering Keith 'Bono' Conlon, denied that he killed the trespasser and said he had shot a loose dog he believed posed a risk to his sheep. He claimed he had only fired warning shots and that the incident occurred after trespassing men threatened him. The jury heard that Phelan had fired three shots from a Smith & Wesson revolver at the trespassers, one of whom was Conlon, who later died from a head wound. The trial continues with further witnesses for the defence. Diarmuid Phelan pleaded not guilty.
Dr Rebecca Murphy, a fixed‑term assistant professor at DCU's nursing school, claims the university breached its own jobs policy by not informing her of a permanent assistant professor vacancy while she was on maternity leave from June 2023 to March 2024. She alleges the HR department engaged in "gaslighting" by telling her she had no right to be told directly about the job, despite the policy stating staff on maternity leave should be notified where possible. The university contends that vacancies were advertised publicly and that Dr Murphy had access to her emails, so she was treated no less favourably. The head of the nursing school, Prof Victoria Lambert, admitted knowledge of the upcoming vacancy but said she would not personally inform staff, citing that it was not standard practice. The Workplace Relations Commission will issue a decision in writing.
Ian Doyle, 33, was on bail for assaulting another partner when he severely beat his current partner in February 2023. He kept her in the house for almost a week, preventing her from leaving with her four‑year‑old daughter, and threatened to cut her throat and eat her liver. Doyle supplied her with paper stitches and painkillers but refused to let her go to the hospital. CCTV footage showed him forcing her back inside when she tried to escape. He also controlled her mobile phone, monitoring calls and sending messages from her account. Doyle pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and false imprisonment. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced him to three years and six months, suspended for six months on conditions of probation and violence‑prevention courses, to run consecutively with his current term due to expire in April 2026. The sentence reflects the prolonged, controlling nature of the abuse and the victim's fear and trauma.
Brian McKee, 29, pleaded guilty to arson that set fire to his partner's family home on 27 July 2018, causing that house and two adjoining terraced houses to be demolished. The fire began on a couch in the living room and spread through the attic, where furniture had been stored, igniting the neighbouring houses. McKee, who had recently stopped drinking, admitted drinking a can of Coors Light and gin and possibly taking cocaine before the incident. He was found outside the house at 5 am, covered in blood, holding a knife, and later detained by Gardaí. The court heard victim impact statements from the owners of the damaged houses, detailing loss of belongings, financial hardship and emotional distress. McKee's defence highlighted his bipolar disorder, past rehabilitation and lack of prior convictions. Judge Pauline Codd imposed a seven‑year prison sentence, suspending six years on conditions including engagement with addiction services and full cooperation with his mental‑health care plan.
David Dunne, 40, pleaded not guilty to the murder of fellow inmate Robert O'Connor on 29 July 2022 at Mountjoy Prison. In Garda interviews after his arrest on 16 November 2022, Dunne claimed he threw a single punch at O'Connor after the latter had approached him, stating he did not intend to kill and that the incident would haunt him. He described O'Connor as a good friend and said he had previously been assaulted in his cell on 27 July. A prison officer's statement that Dunne had "stamped" on O'Connor's head was denied by Dunne. The prosecution presented three Garda interview memoranda and evidence from Dr Francesca Brett, a neuropathologist who examined O'Connor's brain and found hypoxic damage, haemorrhage and axonal injury. The trial is before Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring and a jury.
In the murder trial of law professor Diarmuid Phelan, a defence psychologist explained that Phelan's decision to fire warning shots at trespassers on his Tallaght farm was a reasonable response to an imminent threat and the limited time for decision making. The psychologist described the dynamics of firearm use, noting that the intentional firing of a Smith & Wesson revolver over the heads of intruders perceived as a threat could result in an unintentional strike. He highlighted the difficulty of accurate shooting with a double‑action revolver under stress, the short barrel's tendency to misalign, and the rapid trigger pull. The expert concluded that Phelan's actions were consistent with the standards of reasonable force, intended to warn before using deadly force, and that the third shot unintentionally struck Keith Conlon, who later died from a head wound. The trial continues before a jury and a judge. Diarmuid Phelan pleaded not guilty.
A 64‑year‑old man was jailed for one year after pleading guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to sexually assaulting his partner's 13‑year‑old granddaughter on 21 May 2023. The victim was present with two other children when the assault occurred. Gardaí reports say the girl sat on the man's lap, he rubbed her bum, then placed a hand up her shorts and pinched her vagina. The man admitted rubbing the victim but denied touching her vagina until the end of the interview, claiming he only did so after a hug. He has four prior convictions, but the investigating garda and his lawyer argued the offences were not of the same nature. The judge noted the assault was a serious, isolated incident and, after considering the man's guilty plea, remorse and low risk of reoffending, sentenced him to one year in custody.
Steven Gillman, a 70‑year‑old software company owner, was found guilty of assault after he repeatedly punched a fellow member of the Royal St George Yacht Club during a billiards tournament in September 2023. The victim suffered a fractured eye socket, a dislocated eye lens, double vision, tinnitus and ongoing medical care. Gillman pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm and paid €15,000 as a token of remorse. He had no prior convictions and was described by his defence counsel as a "model citizen." Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced him to a headline term of three years, reduced to two years, and suspended the entire sentence on a number of conditions. Gillman has since resigned from the yacht club, which had been a significant part of his social life. The victim's impact statement highlighted lasting physical and psychological damage, and the assault's effect on his social and sporting activities.
Cahir O'Higgins, a Dublin criminal‑defence solicitor aged 49, was convicted in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of one count of theft and four counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice. He denied stealing €400 from a client on 30 July 2016 and denied providing incorrect notes to Gardaí in December 2017. The judge described the conduct as "deranged", "thuggish", "base" and "despicable". O'Higgins had earlier pleaded guilty to assault and harassment of a former employee, for which he received a 16‑month sentence in July. The new sentence, imposed by Judge Martin Nolan, was 27 months, back‑dated to 21 October, with the court noting the seriousness of the perverting‑justice charges and the impact on his reputation. O'Higgins expressed remorse and requested an apology to those affected. The court considered mitigating factors but extended his custodial term accordingly. The case remains at the sentencing stage, with no further verdicts announced.
Former rugby international Brendan Mullin, aged 61, was convicted in a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial of stealing just over €567,000 from Bank of Ireland Private Bank between 2011 and 2013. The jury found him guilty on 12 of 14 charges, including the theft of €500,000 that was transferred to Spice Holdings, a company registered in the British Virgin Islands. Mullin had arranged payments to McCann Fitzgerald solicitors, Beechwood accountants and Grant Thornton for work he performed personally or for his firm Quantum Investment Strategies, and had redirected invoices from his personal address to the private bank. He was acquitted of two charges relating to Beechwood Partners and a deception count. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to three years' imprisonment, noting his position of trust and the fact that the bank was fully repaid before the investigation began. Mullin accepted the verdict and expressed remorse. The sentence was handed down on the day of the hearing.
In a civil case heard over three weeks, a jury awarded Nikita Hand €250,000 in damages after she alleged that Conor McGregor had "brutally raped and battered" her in a Dublin hotel penthouse in December 2018. The court awarded her €60,000 in general damages and €188,000 in special damages, with the special damages agreed by both parties. The jury found that McGregor had assaulted Hand, while a second defendant, James Lawrence, was found not to have assaulted her. McGregor testified that his sexual encounter with Hand was consensual, describing it as "enthusiastic, athletic, prolonged and vigorous" in many positions. Both McGregor and Lawrence denied the allegations. The verdict was delivered after the jury deliberated for just under an hour the previous day and 6½ hours the following day. The case was heard in a Dublin court with Hand, McGregor, and their supporters present.
In a High Court civil trial, the jury resumed deliberations on the second day over allegations of rape involving Conor McGregor and James Lawrence. McGregor, accompanied by his fiancée Dee Devlin and family, denied the claims, asserting consensual sex with the complainant, Nikita Hand. Hand, a former hair colourist, alleges McGregor and Lawrence brutally raped her in a Dublin hotel penthouse on 9 December 2018. Lawrence also denies the allegations, claiming consensual sex with Hand after McGregor's departure. The jury is tasked with answering two yes/no questions: whether McGregor assaulted Hand and whether Lawrence assaulted Hand. Depending on the answers, the judge will direct the jury to assess damages under various headings, including general, special, aggravated, and exemplary damages, while noting that rape is a form of assault and that the standard of proof is the balance of probabilities.
During a sentencing hearing, Judge Pauline Codd described Temple Bar as a "violent, post‑apocalyptic no‑go area" after a 25‑year‑old defendant, Jordan Maguire, was jailed for three and a half years for a "barbaric" assault on an innocent bystander. Maguire, who had previously pleaded guilty to assault on Bedford Row and to producing a cider can during that assault, was captured on CCTV punching, kicking, stomping and beating the victim with a cider can. Garda Michael Walsh testified that a different man had initially assaulted the victim but that this was not recorded. Maguire was sleeping rough in Dublin City Centre, had more than 50 prior convictions, and was already serving a sentence for two other assaults. Judge Codd noted the violence was mindless and senseless, and that Maguire had left the scene and returned with a cider can to strike the victim's head.
James Hawkins, 24, of Ellis Quay Hostel, pleaded guilty to a single robbery on 21 February 2023 at College Green, Dublin. He violently took a woman's purse after she withdrew €200 from an ATM at about 6.30 pm. The victim, an American student in her early 30s studying at Trinity College, was left with cuts to her knees and torn tights. CCTV from Grafton Street showed Hawkins running away; he was identified, arrested, and admitted the offence. Hawkins has 76 prior convictions, all District Court matters, and was homeless with heroin and crack addiction at the time. He cooperated, pleaded early, and apologized. Judge Orla Crowe imposed a three‑year custodial sentence, suspended the final six months for two years, and ordered 12 months of probation. Hawkins will be released on bond before being led away.
Alan McCrea, 48, of Porterstown, Dublin 15, was sentenced to two years and nine months in prison after pleading guilty to seven counts of possession of child pornography. The court heard that Gardaí seized 47 devices and a child mannequin in a school uniform from his home, revealing over 1.29 million images and videos of child sexual abuse. The material was evenly split between images and videos, depicting female children of all ages with adult males, including oral rape, masturbation, and visible anal and genital areas. McCrea admitted downloading the material during a Garda search and a phone call in May 2018, stating he knew he had "fucked up big time." The judge noted his early guilty plea, remorse, lack of distribution, and health issues, and imposed a sentence of three and a half years with the final nine months suspended for two years, subject to strict conditions, probation supervision, and alcohol treatment.
In the trial of Diarmuid Phelan, a 56‑year‑old law lecturer and farmer, the prosecution has finished presenting its evidence. Phelan denies murdering Keith Conlon, a 36‑year‑old father of four, who was shot on Phelan's farm in Tallaght on 24 February 2022. The prosecution's case, presented by Roisin Lacey SC, alleges that on the day in question three men – Conlon, Kallum Coleman and Robin Duggan – trespassed on a wooded area of Phelan's land while hunting. Phelan is said to have shouted at the trespassers to "get back" before firing three shots from a Smith & Wesson revolver. The defence has called firearms expert Curtis Marshall to testify about the revolver's characteristics and the effect of stress on shooting accuracy. The trial will continue tomorrow before Justice Siobhan Lankford and a jury of nine men and three women. Diarmuid Phelan pleaded not guilty.