In a High Court hearing on 7 October 2024, Mr Justice Paul McDermott sentenced a 17‑year‑old juvenile who had sexually assaulted and defiled a 13‑year‑old girl in a Dublin park. The boy pleaded guilty to one count of defilement of a child under 15 and one of sexual assault. The judge noted the boy's lack of consent, the use of violence, and the coercive element of the assault. He highlighted the boy's mental health diagnosis and lack of prior convictions, and remarked that the boy's prepared statements to Gardaí contained self‑serving lies. The judge advised lawyers to consider Gardaí guidelines for interviewing juveniles. The boy received a 12‑month detention sentence, while the victim, aged 15, delivered a victim impact statement describing the lasting psychological harm and her determination to prevent future victims. The judge praised her courage and noted the impact on her mental health and family.
A one‑week pre‑trial hearing has started before Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin. The hearing concerns senior barrister Diarmuid Phelan, 55, of Kiltalown Lane, Tallaght, who is accused of murdering 36‑year‑old Keith Conlon in a fatal shooting at Hazelgrove Farm on 22 February 2022. Conlon was seriously injured and died two days later at Tallaght University Hospital. The prosecution is led by John Byrne and Roisin Lacey, while Michael Bowman and Sean Guerin head the defence. The case will proceed to trial before a jury once the pre‑trial hearing concludes.
Dean Caffrey, a 38-year-old man from Drumcondra, Dublin 9, has been arraigned at the Central Criminal Court and is set to stand trial on Thursday. He has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Sean McCarthy, aged 28, which is said to have occurred on a date unknown between August 2 and 7, 2022, in the State. The victim's body was reportedly found in Drumcondra two years ago. Justice Caroline Biggs swore in a jury of seven men and five women to hear the case. The trial is scheduled to begin before Justice Paul McDermott and is expected to last six weeks. As the matter is at the trial stage, no findings, sentences, or final disposals have been recorded. The defendant's plea remains not guilty, and the allegations are contested. No adjournments, suspended portions, or effective custody periods have been reported in this procedural update.
Conti Birali, aged 28, withdrew an appeal against a nine‑year prison sentence after the Court of Appeal warned that it could increase sentences. The appeal was withdrawn following advice from his counsel, Mark Lynam SC, after Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy highlighted the seriousness of the case and the court's jurisdictional powers. Birali was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for assault causing serious harm to Austin Doherty, who was left a wheelchair user after being kicked, stamped on and beaten. Birali also pleaded guilty to violent disorder with others on the same occasion. The victim, aged 38, suffered a nearly concave head and other injuries, and his prognosis is unlikely to improve. Birali's appeal was dismissed, and he remains sentenced to nine years in prison. The case also involved co‑accused Craig Maples, who received seven years for violent disorder and assault.
Former 2FM presenter Nikki Hayes (real name Eimear Black O'Keeffe), aged 44, avoided a criminal conviction after pleading guilty to possessing €15,000 as proceeds of crime in a Permanent TSB bank account. The money, comprising €10,000, €2,600 and €2,400, was withdrawn from an injured party's account and deposited into O'Keeffe's account. She had six prior convictions for minor road‑traffic offences and had her sentencing hearing adjourned twice, once after a fall and once to seek treatment for alcohol addiction. O'Keeffe has since completed residential treatment, is drug‑ and alcohol‑free, and has repaid the full amount to the victim. Judge Martina Baxter discharged her under Section 100 of the Criminal Justice Act, meaning she will not incur a criminal conviction. The court noted her vulnerability, mental‑health diagnoses, and rehabilitation efforts as mitigating factors. O'Keeffe is no longer employed in radio and is pursuing further training and an accountancy course.
In the Special Criminal Court, Jaures Kumbu, 18, pleaded guilty to a firearms offence arising from the Christmas Eve 2023 shooting at Browne's Steakhouse in Blanchardstown. Kumbu was charged with possessing a sub-machine gun in circumstances giving rise to the reasonable inference that he did not have it for a lawful purpose. The State's case, presented during a previous bail hearing at the Court of Appeal, alleges Kumbu removed the weapon from the scene where Tristan Sherry was killed after fatally shooting Jason Hennessy Senior. Gardaí stated they currently have no idea where the firearm is. Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo, presiding in the three-judge court, adjourned sentencing until November 4. Kumbu was originally scheduled to stand trial with six others accused of various offences related to the incident. Those trials are expected to begin later this year. Among the co-accused, five individuals are charged with Sherry's murder. Additionally, Jonas Kabangu and an unnamed young man who turned 18 after being charged are accused of violent disorder at the same location on that date. The matter regarding Kumbu's sentence remains pending due to the adjournment.
Tom O'Riordan, a former Aer Lingus captain, has filed a claim with the Workplace Relations Commission alleging whistleblower penalisation and breaches of employment rights. He claims that on a flight from London Heathrow to Dublin three years ago he was exposed to "toxic fumes" that caused chronic fatigue syndrome and brain damage. O'Riordan says he made protected disclosures about fumes and falsification of reports to Aer Lingus management, the Health and Safety Authority, the Minister for Transport, the Air Accident Investigation Unit, the Oireachtas and on social media. He argues that the reduction of his sick pay to 75 % of his salary in January 2024, the withdrawal of sick pay in April, and the disciplinary proceedings that led to his dismissal last month constitute whistleblower penalisation. Aer Lingus, represented by Tom Mallon BL, denies any safety risk and claims O'Riordan defamed the airline, leading to his dismissal.
Poliane Fernandes Lima, a fashion buyer, was dismissed by Elland Distributors Ltd (trading as Born Clothing) on 25 January 2024 after her work visa had expired two days earlier. She had a renewal appointment scheduled for 28 January and had informed the payroll administrator a month earlier that her visa renewal would be delayed. The company's manager, Marty Murphy, issued a termination letter without any investigation or discussion about her visa status. The Workplace Relations Commission found that the dismissal was unfair, citing the absence of any procedural safeguards and reliance on incorrect information. The adjudicator noted that Lima had applied for a visa renewal well before it expired, meeting the Department of Justice's grace period criteria. Consequently, the tribunal ordered Elland Distributors Ltd to pay Lima €25,000 in compensation for the unfair dismissal.
Alan Ecock, a banker who had worked part‑time as a barman at Kavanagh's Pub in Stoneybatter, was dismissed by Allied Irish Banks (AIB) in December 2023 after a senior manager read a news report about his earlier unfair dismissal from the pub. The WRC found that the pub dismissal was "heartless" and "completely unlawful." Ecock has now lodged further complaints under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 and the Redundancy Payments Act 1967. AIB lawyers argued that Ecock had denied working at the pub when questioned, but later recanted when confronted with evidence. Ecock's solicitor said he had been honest about his pub work, which had not breached his banking contract. The tribunal heard that Ecock's dismissal followed an internal investigation that found he had provided false information about his pub involvement and bank‑system access. The case was adjourned for further testimony.
In a decision issued on 20 September 2024, the Workplace Relations Commission tribunal ordered Lidl Ireland GmbH to pay former Paralympic athlete Nadine Lattimore €2,000 for disability discrimination. The complaint arose on 14 February when a Lidl employee told Lattimore to move her guide dog, Pilot, away from a bakery shelf, citing concerns that the dog might interfere with or lick food. Lattimore explained that she was blind and required the dog for assistance. She described the interaction as humiliating and hostile, and noted that a later employee apologized and clarified that she was not the owner of a dog that had previously eaten bakery stock. Lidl acknowledged the request to move the dog but denied that the conduct amounted to discrimination. The adjudicator found a failure by staff to ensure reasonable access, causing unnecessary upset, and awarded the compensation. The case follows a similar June ruling against Dealz Ltd for a separate breach of the Equal Status Act.
Colin 'Ollie' Murphy, aged 50 and a former 15‑year member of the band Ham Sandwich, was convicted at the Central Criminal Court for raping a woman in her Dublin home in September 2020. The victim, who wished to remain anonymous, described the assault as occurring in her bedroom after a party, with Murphy claiming the encounter was consensual. Murphy denied the allegations, later accepting the jury's verdict and apologising to the victim. Mr Justice David Keane sentenced him to seven years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended on strict conditions, including engagement with relevant services. The sentence was reduced from an initial eight‑year headline, taking into account Murphy's lack of prior convictions, low risk of re‑offending and his expressed remorse. The conviction was back‑dated to 7 March, when Murphy entered custody.
A refugee asylum‑seeker, Irfanullah Refah, who fled Afghanistan in 2017, won €10,000 from a Workplace Relations Commission tribunal after his landlord, Aidan Corless, sent a text message in July 2023 that the tribunal described as "blatant racism." The message, sent during a tenancy dispute, accused Refah of living in the apartment "illegally" and threatened that authorities would check his papers and possibly deport him back to Afghanistan, where he feared for his life. Corless apologized, saying the text was sent in frustration and that he was "not proud of it." The tribunal found the message referenced Refah's immigrant status and was discriminatory under the Equal Status Act 2000, awarding the compensation accordingly. The case highlights the impact of racially‑charged communication on a vulnerable tenant during a tenancy dispute.
An accountant, Mohammed Nurulain Boda, won over €40,000 in a tribunal decision against Oasis Global Management Company (Ireland) Ltd after he refused to relocate to the UK when the firm closed its Dublin office. The Workplace Relations Commission found that senior executives harassed him, calling him a "lazy bastard" and instructing staff to "f*** him up." Boda's salary was stopped the day he informed the company of his decision, and his network access was cut off two days later. He claimed discrimination on the basis of his Indian nationality. The tribunal awarded €18,000 for a breach of the Employment Equality Act, €7,470 for unpaid bonus and commission, €14,837 for unpaid salary, and a statutory redundancy payment of nearly €12,000 for nine years' service. The decision also directed the company to pay the sums under the Payment of Wages Act 1991.
A tribunal ordered Komfort Kare to pay a manager €7,000 after finding it unreasonable to expect him to return to work the morning after his wife's miscarriage. The manager, who left work on 21 May to bring his wife to Rotunda Hospital, requested force majeure leave for two days. The CEO, Brenda Kavanagh, replied that force majeure is only for one day and suggested unpaid carer's leave instead. The manager argued he was entitled to up to three days of paid force majeure leave in a year. The adjudicator, David James Murphy, found the company's refusal and invasive request for a care plan to be inconsistent with the Parental Leave Act. He upheld the complaint and awarded €7,000 in compensation. The decision was published on 2 August 2024.
A man charged in connection with the disposal of body parts of murdered teenager Keane Mulready-Woods has been granted legal aid by the Special Criminal Court. Stephen Carberry, 46, of Sandymount Avenue, Dublin 4, appeared before the court on Friday to receive formal notice that he will be tried before the three-judge, non-jury tribunal. He faces three charges relating to the death of the 17-year-old, who was killed in a house in Drogheda, County Louth, in January 2020. The charges allege that Mr Carberry transported and disposed of body parts between January 13 and 15, 2020, potentially to benefit a criminal organisation. He is further accused of obstructing the apprehension or prosecution of the teenager's murderer and of setting fire to a vehicle. Remains were subsequently discovered at various locations, including Rathmullan Park in Drogheda. Mr Carberry will return to court in October.
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Martin Nolan sentenced two defendants for their roles in the unlawful administration of the euthanasia drug Dolethal to two dogs at Ashton Dog Pound in July 2020. Vet Sydney Nagle, 65, pleaded guilty to two counts of causing or permitting a non-vet to possess the medicine, as well as four counts regarding record-keeping failures. He was fined €12,500, payable over six months. Judge Nolan noted Nagle was a fine vet who had done considerable service but failed to know the law, adding that Nagle may face consequences from an ongoing Veterinary Council of Ireland fitness-to-practice inquiry. Raymond Connolly, 56, the pound supervisor, pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing the vet-only medicine and causing or permitting a lay person to administer it. He was fined €400, payable over six months. The judge described Connolly's culpability as low, stating he followed established instructions and could not be expected to know the legal intricacies. The court heard the dogs, an Akita and a Bichon Frise, suffered vomiting and diarrhoea after being dosed orally; one died, and the other was humanely euthanised days later. This follows previous fines for former pound manager Donal Moroney and owner David Stone for similar offences.
David Callaghan, aged 33, was sentenced to 13 and a half years in prison for assisting an organised crime group involved in international money laundering and drug trafficking between 29 April 2021 and 4 February 2022. The sentence was reduced to 8.5 years with the final five years suspended. The court heard that Gardaí discovered an electronic ledger showing over €924,000 moved between June 2021 and January 2022, and that Callaghan communicated with a driver via the Signal app about money laundering, drug trafficking and operational details. Evidence included photos, videos, and instructions for handling drugs and cash. Callaghan pleaded guilty, exercised his right to silence during the interview, and later expressed regret, promising to avoid future criminal activity and to protect his children. The judge cited mitigating factors, including the tragic deaths of three of Callaghan's siblings, when suspending part of the sentence.
Tony Guilloteau, aged 32, was extradited from France to Ireland after a campaign of sexual assaults on young women on the Dublin commuter rail and near train stations in 2020. He pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual assault and two counts of offensive sexual behaviour between 13 February and 11 March 2020. The offences included exposing himself to a 17‑year‑old on the Dart, masturbating in front of a 26‑year‑old on a train, and assaulting women aged 21 to 22 at various stations. Guilloteau had previously served an 18‑month community sentence in France for similar offences. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced him to three and a half years' imprisonment, back‑dated to 30 January, after noting the aggravating nature of the five victims and his expressions of remorse. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the impact on the victims and the court's consideration of his guilty plea and personal circumstances.
Anthony Byrne, 55, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court following his conviction on two counts of raping his stepdaughter, Kim Jordan, in 2002. Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring imposed an 11-year prison term, with the final 18 months suspended. The sentence was backdated to May 15 last year to account for time already spent in custody. Byrne, of Ballyfermot, Dublin 10, was found guilty after a trial in May. The court heard the offences occurred when Ms Jordan was 15, including an incident in Spain on her birthday and a subsequent attack in their family home. Ms Jordan waived her anonymity to allow Byrne to be named. The judge noted aggravating factors, including the rape of a child and the breach of safety in the victim's bedroom. Byrne had claimed the encounters were consensual, describing them as an "affair," a view the judge rejected, citing a lack of remorse and understanding of consent. In a victim impact statement, Ms Jordan stated she felt humiliated by Byrne's trial conduct, which she said portrayed her as a "teenage sexual temptress." The judge acknowledged Byrne had no previous convictions and had worked his whole life. The matter was finalised with the imposition of the custodial sentence.
Leonard Merdanj, 42, of Westbrook Park, Balbriggan, was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan to an additional two‑year prison term for possessing €380,000 worth of cannabis. The sentence runs consecutively to his existing nine‑year term for rape, which is set to expire in June 2028. Merdanj had pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply on 21 April 2017 at the same address. Gardaí searched his home following a confidential tip‑off, finding about 19 kg of cannabis in several locations, some wrapped in blankets. Merdanj admitted the possession during an interview and had previously been convicted twice. Defence counsel argued he was used by a third party to store the drugs because of debt and a drinking problem, and that his only role was to allow the use of his home. He is a father of two and a certificate from Albania confirmed no convictions there.
An 18-year-old man from Rathmullan, County Donegal, has been sentenced to four years imprisonment, with the final year suspended, at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following a dangerous high-speed pursuit through the capital in November 2021. Aaron Donnelly pleaded guilty to two counts of endangerment and one count of unlawful use of a vehicle without consent. During the incident, Donnelly drove a stolen car at speeds exceeding 160km/h whilst evading gardaí, travelling the wrong way down Dame Street at 100km/h and through multiple red lights. The pursuit, which began after gardaí spotted three youths acting suspiciously, saw other road users forced to take evasive action to avoid collision. Judge Martin Nolan placed the offence in the "middle to high" range of endangerment, disqualifying Donnelly from driving for six years. The sentence was backdated to January, with the court noting Donnelly's age at the time of the offence, his cooperation with authorities, and positive progress in custody.
Jonathan Diggins, a 47‑year‑old former pupil of US First Lady Jill Biden, was jailed for three and a half years after he was caught with €330,000 worth of ketamine in a suitcase at Dublin Airport. The suitcase, which had a false bottom, was found when Diggins returned to Ireland to search for it after it missed a connecting flight from Brussels to San Francisco. He pleaded guilty to one count of importing drugs on 6 November 2023. The court noted the high value of the drugs and that Diggins had returned to Ireland to retrieve the suitcase, describing the activity as nefarious. Judge Orla Crowe took into account mitigating factors, including his status as a non‑national and his role as a father, before sentencing. The sentence was back‑dated to 28 November, when he entered custody.
A Dublin man is to stand trial before the Special Criminal Court in connection with the death of teenager Keane Mulready Woods. Stephen Carberry, aged 46 and residing on Sandymount Avenue, Dublin 4, faces three charges arising from the case. He is accused of transporting and disposing of body parts between January 13 and 15, 2020 at Trinity Terrace, Ballybough, Dublin 3, with the intention or recklessness of potentially enhancing a criminal organisation's ability to commit serious offences. He is also charged with obstructing the apprehension or prosecution of the teenager's murderer and with setting fire to a vehicle for the benefit of a criminal organisation. Keane Mulready Woods, aged 17, was last seen alive in Drogheda on January 12, 2020. His remains were subsequently discovered at multiple locations across Dublin and Drogheda throughout January and March 2020. Carberry will appear before the Special Criminal Court later this week.
A French national, Yanis Soudani, aged 21, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for a smishing offence that involved the theft of luxury items worth over €52,000 from high‑end shops in Dublin city centre. The crime was carried out over five dates in January, using three victims' credit card details obtained through fraudulent text messages. The stolen goods included Cartier watches, a Dior shirt and trousers, a Louis Vuitton keepall, and a Gucci top, among other items. Garda David Dunne explained that the victims had received smishing messages asking for financial details, leading to withdrawals of more than €70,000 from one account and smaller amounts from the others. Soudani was arrested on January 22 after Brown Thomas staff recognised him on CCTV. He pleaded guilty, cooperated with investigators, and has no prior convictions.
Daryl Bolger, 32, of Kilcarrig Green, Tallaght, was jailed for endangerment after a high‑speed chase during the 2020 lockdown that ended in a head‑on collision with a Garda patrol car on Neillstown Road. He broke at least seven red lights, drove the wrong way around roundabouts, overtook dozens of vehicles on the wrong side of the road and reached speeds over 100 km/h in 50 km/h zones. No one was injured, but the patrol car was written off. Bolger pleaded guilty to endangerment and to driving without insurance at several locations in April 2020. He received a sentence of three and a half years, with the final six months suspended, and was disqualified from driving for five years. The court noted his 131 previous convictions, mostly for driving offences, and his participation in an enhanced prison regime. He has shown remorse in a handwritten apology, but the prosecuting Garda did not accept it.
A Danish‑Somalian man, Mohamed Mahamed, aged 48, was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment for unlawfully assisting a woman's entry into Dublin Airport on 28 January. The woman, who had been refused asylum in Greece, arrived on a Ryanair flight from Luxembourg without any travel or identity documents, having been given a passport for someone else by Mahamed and instructed to leave it in the plane toilet. Mahamed, a Danish citizen of Somalian origin living in Aarhus, claimed he needed the money to travel back to Somalia to visit family while on disability benefit in Denmark. He pleaded guilty, had no prior convictions, and was given a reduced sentence after the court considered a psychological report detailing his PTSD from childhood war trauma. The court set a headline sentence of three years but reduced it to 18 months due to his personal circumstances.
During a billiards tournament at the Royal St George Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire on 29 September 2023, 70‑year‑old software company owner Steven Gillman felt his refereeing abilities were belittled by a fellow club member. In a fit of anger, Gillman punched the victim repeatedly in the face, then again after the victim fell. The assault caused the victim a fractured eye socket, a dislocated eye lens, and ongoing medical issues including double vision and tinnitus. Gillman pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm. He has no prior convictions and was described by his defence counsel as a "model citizen." He has since resigned from the yacht club, paid €5,000 as a token of remorse, and is awaiting a probation report. The court adjourned the matter to 24 November, noting that a higher sum of €15,000 would be more appropriate.
Dr Idriss Jebari, a lecturer in Near and Middle Eastern Studies at Trinity College Dublin, claimed that after raising concerns about an uneven distribution of teaching duties, he was penalised by being assigned a double teaching workload for the spring term. He said the increased load, which he calculated at nearly 650 hours, caused severe burnout, leading to medical leave. Jebari also alleged that his tenure application, which he secured in February 2024, was threatened by the head of department's refusal to support his request for a research sabbatical and a lack of supervisory meetings. He further contended that the conflict in Gaza and a campus occupation heightened his stress, requiring him to exercise extra caution in his teaching. The case is pending a decision by the Workplace Relations Commission.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 30 July 2024, a 32‑year‑old defendant pleaded guilty to nine counts of sexual assault against his younger brother between 2000 and 2002, when the victim was aged 14‑16 and the defendant 9‑11. The abuse, described as occurring weekly in the family home in Dublin, included mutual masturbation and an incident where the defendant forced the victim to give oral sex. The court heard the brothers grew up in a household of widespread neglect, with their mother later jailed for serious crimes. The victim's impact statement highlighted ongoing depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation stemming from the abuse. The judge, Justice Karen O'Connor, sentenced the defendant to two years' imprisonment, suspending the final four months on conditions, after noting the significant age disparity and the lasting impact on the victim. The defendant had previously admitted the abuse in a family meeting in 2017 and had undergone counselling.
Barry O'Donnell, 37, of Cromlech Fields, Ballybrack, was sentenced to three years and three months in prison for two separate assaults on his sister. The first incident on 22 March involved O'Donnell stabbing her in the back, arm and knee after an argument over loud music, and then beating her with her own crutch while she was recovering from hip surgery. The second assault on 30 August saw him again armed with a knife, kicking her in the ribs and stabbing her multiple times. He fled the house after each attack. Judge Orla Crowe suspended the final nine months of the sentence on strict conditions, including engagement with the Probation Service, victim‑focused work and treatment for alcohol addiction. O'Donnell has been in custody since the arrests and has a prior 2011 drug possession conviction. The victim, who declined to seek emergency treatment, described lasting physical scarring and emotional trauma. Barry O'Donnell pleaded guilty.
Eoin Hannan, aged 50, was convicted in April 2022 of harassing a woman at various locations between February 14 and August 25 2020, and in July 2022 of harassing her father between January 20 and February 13 2021. The court heard that Hannan repeatedly contacted the victim despite Garda warnings in 2017 and 2019, sending Valentine cards, wine, chocolates, a watch, a bracelet, a teddy bear, a lollipop and a letter with a threatening phrase. He claimed the offences were "romantic rather than sinister" and a case of mistaken identity. Hannan, who has 44 prior convictions, argued that his bipolar affective disorder should have mitigated the sentence. Mr Justice Seamus Woulfe found no error in the sentencing judge's approach, noted that the judge had considered Hannan's mental health, and dismissed all grounds of appeal. The appeal was rejected, leaving the four‑year prison sentence in place. Eoin Hannan pleaded guilty.
Jason 'Jay' O'Connor, aged 46, was found guilty of conspiracy to murder Charlie Cooper, a victim of a December 2016 shooting that left him seriously injured but alive. O'Connor, linked to the Kinahan cartel, admitted helping plan the attack, which involved ten shots fired in Cooper's kitchen. He also faced charges for possessing a 9mm firearm and ammunition, and for facilitating drug supply. O'Connor's defence highlighted that the death of his friend Keith Walker in 2015, whom he believed he was targeted for, had caused him severe mental distress, leading to suicidal thoughts and psychiatric treatment. He pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge, and the court noted his 70 prior convictions, including assault and burglary. The Special Criminal Court adjourned sentencing to 14 October, with a maximum penalty of 15 years' imprisonment. The case underscored O'Connor's involvement in the Kinahan organisation and his alleged role in the 2016 murder plot.
Aaron Barwell, aged 29, was sentenced to 20 years in prison, with a two‑year suspended portion, for a series of violent sexual offences committed against three escort victims between January and August 2021. He pleaded guilty to one count of oral rape, one of rape and one of attempted rape. The court described the offences as "abysmal" and noted that Barwell had arranged for each victim to come to his residence, where he used violence, threats and a screwdriver to coerce sexual acts. He also faced a separate charge of possession of cocaine for sale or supply, for which he received a suspended sentence. The judge imposed four years of post‑release supervision, prohibited contact with the victims and required him to commit no further sexual offences. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the crimes and the need for rehabilitation.
James O'Neill, aged 57, was convicted of causing serious harm to Patrick Hansard, aged 78, after a pre‑meditated assault in a stairwell near Hansard's home on 17 August 2019. O'Neill, wearing a "V for Vendetta" mask, waited in the stairwell and struck Hansard with a shovel, inflicting a fractured cervical spine, skull fractures, lacerations, a haematoma and a traumatic brain injury. Hansard was hospitalised from August 2019 until May 2020 and remains impaired. O'Neill's prior convictions include a suspended sentence for actual bodily harm in 1992. Gardaí recovered a phone containing a "selfie" of O'Neill in the mask and holding the shovel, taken about 15 minutes before the assault. The court, after a jury trial, imposed a headline sentence of 13 years, reduced to 11½ years on mitigating factors such as intoxication and cooperation with the investigation. The sentence reflects the unprovoked nature of the attack and the significant impact on Hansard's life.
Diego Dos Santos Carvalho, 33, of Goldsmith Street, Phibsborough, Dublin, was sentenced to six years in prison for drug offences and a concurrent four‑year term for money laundering. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing €80,165 worth of cannabis and €341,000 in cash, which he admitted were proceeds of crime. The cash was found in a shoebox behind a kickboard under a wardrobe in a small bedroom that served as an office in his apartment, while a smaller amount of cannabis, €3,933, was found in his vehicle. Judge Elva Duffy noted that the drug dealing was carried out in the family home in the presence of his very young children and that Carvalho had cooperated with Gardaí, showing officers where the drugs and money were hidden. He had no prior convictions and had been working in Ireland for ten years since arriving from Brazil.
A 72‑year‑old former Christian Brother teacher, already serving a sentence that will end in September 2030 for indecent assaults on boys at a Kilkenny primary school, was sentenced today to five years' imprisonment for the indecent assault of four boys between September 1976 and June 1977. The jury found him guilty on 23 counts after a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial in June. The judge, Elma Sheahan, described the offences as a "significant breach of trust" and noted the defendant's long history of similar conduct. The five‑year term was back‑dated to the June conviction, meaning he will not spend additional time in jail for these particular offences. Victim impact statements highlighted the lasting psychological harm, with one boy describing the teacher as a "monster" and the abuse affecting him into adulthood. The defendant, who has no other complaints from his subsequent teaching career, has pleaded not guilty and has further matters pending in court.
An unnamed 35-year-old defendant appeared at the Central Criminal Court for sentencing after pleading guilty to charges related to the death of his four-year-old son in March 2021. The man admitted to wilfully causing or procuring the child's assault, wilfully neglecting him by failing to provide medical aid, and recklessly endangering the child. He also pleaded guilty to reporting the cause of the boy's injuries as an accidental fall to a garda station with intent to impede the apprehension of another person he believed guilty of murder. The court heard that the child died from traumatic head injury and blunt force trauma to the abdomen. While the defendant's co-accused pleaded guilty to manslaughter, the Director of Public Prosecutions did not accept that plea, and her trial date remains unfixed. The defendant, who previously received a suspended sentence for violent disorder, was not sentenced today. Mr Justice Paul McDermott adjourned the case until October 11 and remanded the defendant in custody until that date.
Three students – Margaret Eyong Taku, Wendy Briggs and Christina Igweze – have filed High Court proceedings to overturn their expulsions from Dundalk Institute of Technology. The expulsions followed internal disciplinary proceedings over alleged incidents on campus on 30‑31 January, including an aggressive physical altercation among the students. The college suspended the students, then a disciplinary committee recommended expulsion and campus bans in February. Appeals to the college's Appeals Committee in April were rejected. The students argue the college acted beyond its powers, with disproportionate findings, lacking adequate reasons and failing to consider relevant factors. They seek orders quashing the expulsions, re‑admission to their programmes, damages, and declarations that the college's actions were unlawful and irrational. Ms Justice Niamh Hyland granted ex‑parte permission for the cases, which will return in October for further hearings.
In July 2019, two take‑away workers, Dawei Zhang (37) and Han Chung Tang (45), fought violently over a dispute about who was the better chef in the kitchen of Jumbo Wok takeaway in Kimmage, Dublin. Tang struck Zhang with a meat cleaver, after which Zhang repeatedly stabbed Tang with a knife. Tang was found in the back yard of the restaurant with severe blood loss and multiple stab wounds, while Zhang suffered lacerations to his scalp, chest and shoulder. Both men pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and to producing a knife in the course of a dispute. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, hearing the case in 2024, sentenced each man to 240 hours of community service in lieu of prison terms—Zhang in lieu of a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence and Tang in lieu of a two‑year sentence. The judge noted the violence was gratuitous and that neither man had prior convictions.
Mary O'Donnell, 33, told the court she is "one of the lucky ones" for surviving a prolonged abusive relationship with Mark Leonard, 30. Leonard was jailed for 10 years after a Central Criminal Court jury convicted him of seven assault charges, a false imprisonment charge and several sexual offences. He pleaded guilty to the assault charges but denied the assault causing harm, false imprisonment and sexual offences. Leonard accepted the verdict, wrote an apology letter and was sentenced to 11 years concurrent, with the final year suspended on strict conditions, including probation and no contact with O'Donnell. O'Donnell read a victim impact statement describing the abuse as "sinister" and the lasting fear it caused. The judge expressed sympathy and noted her support from a loving husband. The case highlighted the prolonged campaign of physical and sexual abuse she endured.
Aaron Brady, already serving a life sentence for the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to an additional three years for conspiring to pervert the course of justice. Brady admitted responsibility for recording a video of an interview between Garda officers and witness Ronan Flynn, in which Flynn claimed Brady had admitted to shooting Donohoe three times. The video was later posted on social media, accusing Flynn of "touting" and calling him a "rat." Brady's co‑conspirator, Dean Byrne, aged 31, received a two‑year sentence for persuading a witness not to give evidence. Byrne had been due for release later that year after a 14‑year sentence for aggravated burglary. The judge noted that the offences struck at the heart of the administration of justice but did not involve violence, threats or inducements, and therefore the sentences were reduced from the headline years to the final terms.
Michael Nolan, aged 54, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to indecent assault of a child between November 1984 and September 1985, when he was 14‑15 and the victim 4‑5. He had no prior convictions. The court heard that Nolan's parents and the victim's parents met after the offences were discovered, and that both children were referred to therapy. The victim's impact statement described lasting physical, emotional and psychological harm, including PTSD, anxiety and nightmares, and her motivation to report the abuse to prevent further victims. Judge Pauline Codd noted the offence's seriousness and the victim's enduring suffering. She considered the passage of time, Nolan's rehabilitation, his guilty plea, remorse, and €6,500 contribution to counselling costs. The judge imposed a headline sentence of four years, suspended for three years, and placed Nolan on the sex offenders register for two years, avoiding custodial imprisonment. The case was concluded with no further convictions or charges.
Jonathan Diggins, 47, a former student of Jill Biden, was caught with €330,000 worth of ketamine in a suitcase at Dublin Airport in 2023. The suitcase, which had missed a connecting flight from Brussels to San Francisco, was found to contain seven packs of ketamine with a street value of €330,000. Diggins was arrested a few weeks later when he returned to Ireland to search for the lost suitcase. He pleaded guilty to one count of importing drugs on 6 November 2023. He has no prior convictions. His defence counsel argued that the drugs were simply in transit from Belgium to the United States and that Diggins had no intention of importing them into Ireland. The court adjourned the matter for finalisation on 31 July 2024. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The prosecution was represented by Jane Horgan-Jones BL, and the defence by James Dwyer SC.
The Director of Public Prosecutions has dropped charges against a 42-year-old man and a 32-year-old woman, who were accused of female genital mutilation and child cruelty of their infant daughter. At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, senior counsel John Byrne informed the court that nolle prosequis were entered on all charges, meaning they are no longer being pursued. This decision follows a new expert report prepared for the DPP, which agreed with the defence expert that no FGM took place. The couple, who pleaded not guilty to one count of FGM and one count of child cruelty each, had previously been convicted in 2020. Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced the man to five-and-a-half years imprisonment and the woman to four years and nine months. However, the Court of Appeal quashed these convictions in November 2021, citing a breach of fair trial rights due to mistranslation. A subsequent re-trial last year ended with a jury unable to agree on a verdict. Defence counsel described the situation as an "appalling miscarriage of justice," with one lawyer requesting a formal acquittal. The matter was adjourned until October 25 for mention before Judge Patricia Ryan.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Brian Ibe, aged 23, collapsed after the judge ruled that the defence could not call additional witnesses who were not classified as experts. Ibe, who had no fixed abode and was formerly of Moore Park, Newbridge, was accused of murdering retired Peter Kennedy, 65, who had offered him and his mother a place to stay. Ibe denied murder but admitted causing Kennedy's death, and pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. He also faced a separate assault charge against Garda Brendan O'Donnell. The judge explained that the court could not accommodate the defence's request for non‑expert witnesses and that it would be unfair to keep the jury empanelled for an extended period. Consequently, the jury was excused for five years and the case was postponed. The trial, which had been scheduled to last up to two weeks, was therefore abandoned.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Garda William Ryan (41) was found guilty of three counts of sexual assault and one count of false imprisonment after a jury deliberated for about three and a half hours. The case centred on an incident at Aughrim Garda Station on 29 September 2020, when a woman sought help to retrieve her son's car. Ryan allegedly prevented her from leaving the station, slapped her bottom, groped her breasts, and sexually assaulted her again by digitally penetrating her vagina. He claimed the encounters were consensual, citing a prior phone conversation and the woman's Snapchat photos. The prosecution described his testimony as implausible and "badly‑written erotica." Ryan was remanded in custody until a sentencing date of 7 October, with the judge noting his status as a serving Garda and his family responsibilities. The trial concluded with the jury issuing a unanimous guilty verdict. William Ryan pleaded not guilty.
The trial of Garda William Ryan, 41, has entered its final stages. Ryan has pleaded not guilty to three sexual assault charges and to one false imprisonment charge relating to a woman held at Aughrim Garda Station on 29 September 2020. Judge Elma Sheahan delivered her charge to the jury, who deliberated for two and a half hours before returning home, with deliberations to resume tomorrow morning.
John O'Toole, a 33‑year‑old chef from Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after biting a co‑worker's shoulder twice on 17 July 2023 at the Clayton Hotel. He admitted the act was "the most stupid thing I had done" and apologized via text. The victim, who was working in the dining area, described shock, fear and a throbbing shoulder, later receiving antibiotics and a tetanus shot. She filed a victim impact statement expressing ongoing distress. Judge Pauline Codd, noting the workplace setting and the victim's safety, imposed an 18‑month headline sentence, suspended in full for one year, and ordered O'Toole to pay €3,000 to the victim within six months. He had no prior convictions and had been working at the hotel for ten years before resigning. The court highlighted his early guilty plea and steps toward therapy as mitigating factors.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Brian McKee, 29, pleaded guilty to criminal damage by arson after setting fire to his partner's parents' home at Heather View Lawn, Tallaght, on 27 July 2018. The blaze, reportedly ignited on a couch, spread through the attic and into two neighbouring houses, destroying three privately owned homes. McKee, who had been drinking a can of Coors Light and gin and possibly cocaine, was found by neighbours early in the morning with a long‑bladed knife and blood on his clothes. Garda Josh Doran recounted that McKee was unconscious in the stairwell when the fire erupted, and that the police had to detain him after he attempted to re‑enter the burning house. The owners, who were abroad, suffered significant loss of property and financial hardship, with one victim impact statement noting €2,600 in lost wages and €11,000 in repair costs.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, witnesses described Peter Kennedy, aged 65, as a kind, "absolute gentleman" who had taken in Brian Ibe's mother and offered his home to the homeless. Ibe, 23, denied murdering Kennedy but admitted causing his death. He claimed Kennedy demanded money from him and threatened to kill him. Ibe's mother, Martha, testified that her son had threatened Kennedy, used a knife, and stabbed him in the back of the neck. Garda Shane Lehane found Kennedy flat on his back, saturated in blood, and the victim was taken to Naas and Beaumont hospitals before dying on 12 May 2020. A pathology report cited multiple contusions, fractures, and brain injury as the cause of death. The trial will determine whether Ibe's defence of not guilty by reason of insanity applies.