In a case that began with an unprovoked street attack on April 17, 2022, Stefan Bornac, aged 21, assaulted Thomas Oliver and James Lightly on D'Olier Street, Dublin 2. Bornac struck Oliver with a forceful right‑hand blow to the temple, then repeatedly punched Lightly, knocking him to the ground before kicking him in the head. Oliver, a 25‑year‑old college student, was rendered unconscious, transported to St James' Hospital, intubated, and later transferred to Beaumont Hospital where he remained in a coma for three weeks. Lightly sustained injuries but survived. Bornac pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm to Oliver and assault causing harm to Lightly, and was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four and a half years' imprisonment, with nine months suspended. He appealed the sentence, but after the Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice George Birmingham, highlighted the "very serious violence" involved, Bornac withdrew his appeal, accepting the original sentence.
Alan Ward, 56, was convicted of murdering his wife Catherine Doyle, 41, on 1 March 2019 in their Clondalkin home. He had a long history of domestic violence and alcohol abuse, and in 2017 suffered a stroke that caused communication difficulties. Ward claimed diminished responsibility due to a mental disorder from the stroke, but the Court of Appeal rejected his appeal. The court noted that two experts disagreed on whether the stroke or intoxication better explained his actions. Ward's defence argued that the prosecution expert should not have weighed alcohol as a greater factor, a point the judge dismissed. The appeal was dismissed on all grounds, and Ward remains convicted of murder, with no change to his sentence. The court also upheld convictions for threatening to kill his son and for a prior assault on his wife.
Eddie Rockets (Ireland) Limited and Rockets Franchising DAC have secured a temporary injunction from the High Court restraining the alleged unauthorised transfer of two restaurant franchises. The proceedings concern franchises at Charlestown Shopping Centre in Finglas and at Clarehall in North Dublin, which the plaintiffs claim were transferred in breach of sale and franchise agreements. The defendants include Ziggy Investments Limited, which held the franchises since 2020, shareholders Lisa Marie Deegan and Jacinta Deegan, and businessman Brian Dunne, a former Eddie Rockets franchise holder alleged to have acquired Ziggy Investments. The court heard that Eddie Rockets had agreements in place to purchase the franchises, but learned this month that Ziggy Investments had been sold. Mr Justice David Nolan granted the temporary injunction on an ex-parte basis, restraining the defendants from breaching the franchise agreements and preventing Mr Dunne from interfering with the plaintiff's intellectual property. The matter returns to court later in the week.
In a High Court ruling, liquidators of the Irish‑registered aircraft leasing firms GTLK Europe DAC and GTLK Europe Capital DAC were granted declarations that the parent Russian state‑owned company, Joint Stock Company State Transport Leasing Company, had no legal right to claim ownership of the aircraft through alleged pledge agreements. The liquidators argued the agreements were void, unenforced, and unregistered, and were made during a period of chaos following sanctions on Russian entities. The High Court found the liquidators entitled to the declarations and that the parent's claim was flawed. The parent company appealed to the Court of Appeal, but the appeal was dismissed as an abuse of process because the parent had not appeared in the High Court proceedings. The Court of Appeal ordered costs in favour of the liquidators. The case concerns aircraft worth an estimated US$2 billion and the liquidation of the firms, described as the largest in Irish history.
The High Court in Dublin has adjourned the case of Christopher Shane Frane, who faces an extradition request from Northern Ireland. Frane, 36, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Constable Philippa Reynolds in 2013. He was sentenced to a minimum of six years and an Indefinite Custodial Sentence, requiring him to remain in prison until he proves he is no longer a danger to the public. Frane absconded from Northern Ireland in January and was arrested in the Republic in February. His counsel, Karen Quinlivan KC, argued before Mr Justice Patrick McGrath that surrendering Frane would breach his constitutional rights and Article 5 of the European Convention on Human Rights. She contended that the Indefinite Custodial Sentence imposes an "extreme and draconian" regime, describing the parole board's requirement to prove he poses no risk as an "almost impossible standard." Conversely, John Fitzgerald SC, representing the Minister for Justice, stated that the High Court is not an appeal court for the Northern Ireland parole commission and cannot review its decisions. He argued that the Northern Irish authorities are presumed to comply with legal requirements. Mr Justice McGrath reserved his judgment, meaning the matter was adjourned and not concluded.
Ann Wilson, 44, of Kilcock, Co Kildare, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for fraudulently claiming over €35,000 following a staged car crash. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a three-year prison sentence but suspended it in full, citing Wilson's parental responsibilities for her son, who was paralysed in an unrelated accident. Wilson pleaded guilty to one count of dishonestly inducing AXA Insurance to pay personal injuries between February 1, 2013, and July 15, 2014. The incident involved a low-velocity collision at Ballycullen Roundabout on February 4, 2013, where Wilson was driving and her partner, Thomas O'Neill, was an occupant. O'Neill, 47, previously pleaded guilty to one count of deception and was jailed for two years as an "active participant" in the scheme. Deirdre Mellor, 54, O'Neill's sister and a passenger in the other vehicle, pleaded guilty to attempted deception and previously received a suspended two-year prison sentence; she did not proceed with an insurance claim as it was statute-barred. AXA Insurance identified the parties as connected via social media during its investigation. Wilson received €21,595 for herself, €550 for material damages, and €14,000 for her son in a civil case. The court noted that none of the money was recovered. Wilson has four previous road traffic convictions, while O'Neill has 70 previous convictions, and Mellor has one previous conviction for driving without insurance.
The Court of Appeal rejected a 43‑year‑old man's appeal against his nine‑year sentence for raping a 15‑year‑old girl, arguing that a three‑month delay in the victim's reporting did not make the trial unfair. The victim, who was 15 at the time, met the man on the street on 21 August 2017, was taken to his rented accommodation, and was raped there. She later reported the crime to her teacher and Gardaí. The man pleaded not guilty to rape, sexual assault and false imprisonment, was convicted on the first two counts, and sentenced in December 2021. In his appeal he claimed the trial was unfair because of the delay and because blood on the mattress was not examined. The Court of Appeal found no merit in these arguments and upheld the conviction and sentence. The decision was delivered by Ms Justice Úna Ní Raifeartaigh.
Ronnie Wilde, aged 23, was sentenced to three and a half years' imprisonment for a series of unprovoked assaults and a robbery. On 1 September 2023 he robbed a Dublin 8 shop of €40 worth of groceries while armed with a possible knife. The following day he assaulted a delivery driver at his home, punching him several times. On 26 September 2023 he punched a woman twice in the face in the A&E department of St James's Hospital, causing her to fall and sustaining extensive facial injuries. Wilde pleaded guilty to all three counts. He has 52 prior convictions, most from his juvenile years, and was highly intoxicated and under the influence of drugs at the time of the attacks. The judge, citing his long history of offending, set a headline sentence of five years, reduced to three and a half years after mitigating factors, and backdated it to his October 2023 arrest.
A 32‑year‑old former restaurant owner was jailed for assaulting his wife on 19 October 2022, an incident that took place at their family home. During the attack he spat on her, threatened to kill her, and knelt on her neck, causing her to struggle to breathe. The wife, who was texting her sister at the time, said she feared she would die and that the assault had left her with lasting mental health effects, including PTSD, anxiety, depression and panic attacks. The court, hearing the case under the Domestic Violence Act, imposed a custodial sentence of two years and three months, with the final 12 months suspended on conditions such as completing a programme to help men overcome violence. The husband had no prior convictions and had recently sold his restaurant businesses to focus on family and therapy. The unnamed 32-year-old pleaded guilty.
Daniel O'Connell, 42, pleaded guilty to possession of heroin for sale or supply after a Garda search of his home in Cherry Orchard Park, Ballyfermot, uncovered 113 g of diamorphine worth €15,904. He claimed he was holding the drugs for a third party to reduce a €5,000 debt and said it was the first and last time he would hold drugs. O'Connell, who has 19 prior convictions including three drug offences, voluntarily contacted Gardaí after the search and attended the station the next day. Judge Orla Crowe, noting his efforts to turn his life around and his engagement with addiction treatment, imposed a two‑year suspended sentence, suspended in its entirety for three years, and ordered 12 months of supervision and after‑care support. The court also heard that he has a job offer and has completed an up‑skilling programme.
Eoin Hannan, aged 50, appealed a four‑year jail sentence imposed for harassing Ciara Hassett, claiming the punishment was too harsh for a case he described as "mistakenly sending romantic letters to the wrong girl." He was convicted in April 2022 after a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for repeatedly contacting Hassett between February and August 2020, despite Garda warnings that she did not welcome his behaviour. Hannan also pleaded guilty to a separate charge of harassing Hassett's father between January and February 2021. He argued that his bipolar affective disorder and a psychotic episode in September 2023, which required treatment at the Central Mental Hospital, should have been considered. Hannan presented himself at the Court of Appeal, requesting a commutation or suspension of his sentence, while the State's counsel maintained that the sentence reflected the seriousness of the persistent, non‑violent offence and the impact on the victim. The court reserved judgment on the appeal.
In a June 2024 decision, Judge Dara Hayes sentenced 45‑year‑old Graham Rosarius to 240 hours of community service for assaulting Samson Samuel with a tyre iron, resulting in three facial fractures. Rosarius, who has 11 prior convictions, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm on 15 September 2021. The incident occurred when Rosarius, driving a white van, confronted Samuel, a delivery driver, after a perceived traffic dispute. Rosarius grabbed a tyre iron and struck Samuel on the head, leading to emergency treatment at The Mater Hospital. The judge noted Rosarius's addiction history, recent rehabilitation, and low risk of re‑offending, deciding that custodial imprisonment was unnecessary. The sentence also considered a second count of producing the tyre iron during the dispute. The community service must be completed within two years.
Wade O'Brien, 32, of Wicklow, was sentenced to three years in prison for his central role in a savage attack on a homeless man at Rathsallagh Park, Shankill, on 5 April 2021. O'Brien pleaded guilty to affray, and the court accepted the plea based on full facts. CCTV footage showed O'Brien entering the victim's house, beating him with a baseball bat, and then bundling him into the boot of a car that had been pre‑arranged with the boot open. The victim was later found bleeding heavily and required medical treatment for a fractured wrist and severe bruising. O'Brien's 172 prior convictions, including 42 for road traffic offences, were noted. The judge set a headline sentence of five years, reduced to four, with the final year suspended on strict conditions, including remaining drug and alcohol‑free for the term. The case highlighted the victim's lack of cooperation and the strong evidence presented by the prosecution.
Chantal Johnston, 37, of Crumlin, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and dangerous driving after she attacked a Domino's Pizza delivery driver on 9 July 2022. The victim, a health and safety officer who also worked part‑time for Domino's, described the assault as "like a vicious animal" and said Johnston called him a "bloody foreigner" and a "little Paki". Johnston bit the man's leg, drove her car toward him, and threatened to kill him. The court heard she had taken large amounts of anti‑depressants and was under the influence. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced her to 18 months, suspended for three years, and imposed a mandatory driving disqualification. Johnston also agreed to pay €1,000 to the victim as a token of remorse. No prior convictions were recorded. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 46‑year‑old Greek pizza delivery driver Georgious Nikolas pleaded guilty to importing 13.8 kg of cannabis, valued at about €276,000, after customs officials discovered the drugs in his luggage on 19 October. Nikolas had believed he was transporting tax documents for a business, not drugs, and was shocked, angry and upset when told the contents. He admitted to the customs officers and later to Gardaí, claiming he wanted extra money for his son's education and had been offered €500 by an acquaintance. He had no prior convictions in Ireland or elsewhere. The judge, citing his cooperation, early guilty plea, lack of previous convictions and personal circumstances, imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, back‑dated to his arrest, and suspended the final 18 months, leaving him in custody for the remaining 18 months.
Templeogue College was ordered to pay €39,912 to teacher Jenny Clancy after the Workplace Relations Commission found that she was penalised for signing a collective staff grievance. The commission ruled that Clancy was intimidated by principal Niamh Quinn during an August 2022 meeting, had her working hours altered, and faced disciplinary proceedings. The award, equivalent to 15 months' salary, was based on Clancy's complaint under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014. The school closed its case without presenting witness evidence, and its lawyers had said Quinn would deny the allegations. The adjudicator noted that Clancy was the only job‑sharing teacher who signed the grievance and that the other signatories were not penalised. The decision was made after Clancy's appeal panel, which included representatives from the ASTI, the Joint Managerial Body and independent chair Eamon Stack, was heard by the WRC. The award was granted on the basis of multiple and sustained acts of penalisation.
Stephen Lane, aged 52, was convicted of repeatedly sexually abusing a girl aged five to seven between February 1986 and June 1988. He pleaded guilty to five counts of indecent assault, with eighteen additional counts considered at sentencing. The abuse occurred at several locations, including the victim's home, and stopped after her father discovered it. The victim, who remains anonymous, filed a complaint in June 2019 and later gave a victim impact statement describing the long‑term trauma and the way Lane had manipulated her into believing the abuse was normal. Judge Eileen Creedon, noting Lane's juvenile status, imposed a headline sentence of six years but reduced it to a final term of two and a half years, with the last six months suspended on strict conditions. Lane was also placed on the sex offenders' register for three years. The court considered his guilty plea, psychological reports, and work history in determining the sentence.
Shem Maher, 26, was sentenced to three years in prison for a violent robbery at Usher Street, Dublin 8, on 27 October 2021. He attacked a young woman, knocking her to the ground, punching and kicking her, ripping her bra and grabbing her breasts while shouting "Where's my drugs?" Forensic DNA evidence linked him to the bra. Maher denied the offences but pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery. He had seven prior convictions and had been in custody since March. The court noted the victim's fear of rape and her attempt to flee, as well as the presence of a second injured party who was also frightened. Judge Jonathan Dunphy imposed a headline sentence of six years, reduced to four years concurrent sentences, suspended the final year, and credited Maher for time served. The case involved a robbery with invasive search and physical assault, with no evidence that either victim had drugs.
A 66-year-old man from Arva, County Cavan, appeared before the High Court today following his arrest at Dublin Airport on an extradition warrant issued by Northern Ireland authorities. James Donegan is wanted in connection with the murder of a part-time Ulster Defence Regiment member in County Armagh in June 1979. He faces three charges: murder, unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life, and membership of a proscribed organisation. Upon arrest, Mr Donegan stated he was an innocent man. Mr Justice Patrick McGrath granted bail in the sum of €15,000 with independent surety, imposing conditions including residence at Garvagh, County Cavan, and three weekly sign-ins at Cavan Garda Station. Mr Donegan was remanded on continuing bail until 4 July. The case concerns events alleged to have occurred between 22 and 25 June 1979.
A Defence Forces Tribunal, opened by Ms Justice Ann Power on 24 June 2024, is investigating how the Defence Forces handle abuse claims, including sexual assault, torture, bullying and harassment. The tribunal invites members, civilians and civil servants to submit written statements by 16 August. It will gather statements, assess evidence, notify affected parties, and hold oral hearings where witnesses may be cross‑examined. The tribunal is inquisitorial, not adversarial, and will not make findings of fact or criminality. It aims to establish the truth about the complaints process and the culture surrounding complaints, and will report to the Taoiseach within three years. The tribunal also examines the forces' response to hazardous chemical use at Casement Aerodrome. Submissions can be emailed, called or mailed to the tribunal's address.
At the Special Criminal Court on 24 June 2024, 46‑year‑old Jason 'Jay' O'Connor of Whitestown Grove, Blanchardstown, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to murder Charlie Cooper, who was shot at his home in Mulhuddart on 5 December 2016. O'Connor had previously been accused of the attempted murder of Cooper and of possessing a 9 mm firearm and 12 rounds of ammunition with intent to endanger life at the same location and date. He also faced a charge of facilitating a criminal organisation in the commission of serious offences, namely murder and the sale or supply of drugs. During the hearing, O'Connor answered "guilty" to the charges of conspiracy to murder and of participating in or contributing to activities that could facilitate a serious offence by a criminal organisation. The case was adjourned to 30 July for further proceedings. The court did not yet impose a sentence.
Brothers Glen Ward (31) and Eric O'Driscoll (22) are accused of discharging an assault rifle in a Dublin residential area and are to apply for bail at the Special Criminal Court. Both are charged with possession of firearms and reckless discharge on dates in January 2022 in the Finglas area of north Dublin. One charge alleges that Mr O'Driscoll was in possession of a military submachine gun. Mr Ward is charged that on 1 January 2022 at Ratoath Drive in Finglas he had in his possession or control a .223 Remington AR‑15 semi‑automatic rifle and that he discharged it recklessly. Mr O'Driscoll faces two charges identical to those against Mr Ward plus three further charges, including possession of a .223 Remington AR‑15 on 9 January 2022 and possession of a .380 ACP calibre Ingram M11 submachine gun on the same date. The offences contravene the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990 and the Firearms Act 1964.
Declan 'Mr Nobody' Brady, a former senior Kinahan cartel member, was sentenced at the Special Criminal Court to a nine-year prison term for facilitating the murder of Christopher Kirwan. The court found that Brady attached a tracker device to Kirwan's vehicle, aiding the gang in the December 2016 killing of the innocent man, who was shot after being photographed attending a funeral. Mr Justice Tony Hunt described the act as a pre-planned, execution-style murder and noted Brady's status as a trusted operative. Brady pleaded guilty to the single charge of participating in a criminal organisation to facilitate a serious offence. The judge fixed a 13-year headline sentence, reduced by three years for the guilty plea, resulting in a ten-year term with the final year suspended conditional on dissociation from the Kinahan group. This sentence runs concurrent to previous convictions: an 11.5-year term for supervising a firearms arsenal and an eight-year, three-month term for laundering over €400,000, both with suspended portions. The court also referenced Michael Crotty, who admitted buying phone credit for Sean McGovern, an act deemed reckless as to whether it facilitated the Kinahan organisation in the murder. Crotty's case is distinct from Brady's sentencing, which was backdated to April 30 last year.
A 44-year-old man from Derry has been ordered surrendered to UK authorities by the High Court in Dublin following an extradition hearing. Stephen Andrew McLaughlin faces extradition for breaching the terms of his release after serving a sentence for human trafficking conspiracy. He was convicted in 2015 of conspiracy to facilitate illegal entry into Britain in a scheme involving Afghan migrants, one of whom died during transport in 2014. UK authorities are also pursuing charges against McLaughlin in Northern Ireland, including attempted murder, making a threat to kill, criminal damage and assault, allegations arising from an incident in September 2022. Mr Justice Patrick McGrath determined that the UK and Northern Irish matters were substantially more serious than domestic charges pending before Buncrana District Court and proceeded with the extradition order. McLaughlin has been remanded in custody pending his surrender within 25 days.
Charles Santos, a 30‑year‑old Deliveroo rider from Adelaide Road, Dublin, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of cannabis, cannabis resin, cocaine and MDMA after a Garda search of his bedroom on 15 February 2023. The search, conducted under a warrant, uncovered €9,328.60 worth of drugs in shoe boxes and a chest of drawers. Santos admitted to using cannabis and buying large amounts with friends, but denied knowledge of the remainder of the drugs. He claimed the shoe boxes were left in his room after a trip to Brazil. The court noted that the house, a six‑bedroom dwelling, appeared "riddled with drugs from top to bottom." Santos had no prior convictions and was cooperative. Judge Pauline Codd, considering his early guilty plea and lack of previous offences, imposed a ten‑month prison sentence, suspended in full for two years, and required him to remain drug‑free during that period.
Paul Olunaike, a 34‑year‑old professional dancer and father of four, pleaded guilty to possessing €13,738 as proceeds of crime in his bank account on 25 August 2020. He had used €13,000 of laundered money to buy a €609 juicer, a €404.99 food processor and an oil extractor machine. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, after noting his significant shame and remorse, ordered him to complete 240 hours of community service within two years in lieu of an 18‑month sentence. Olunaike transferred €4,000 of the laundered money to his mother and gave €2,000 to the prosecuting Garda as a contribution toward losses. He has no further contact with Gardaí since the incident, and the court described him as a hardworking man and a father with many responsibilities. The juicer and food processor were to be donated to a local charity or refuge.
Joseph Doyle, 42, of Queen Street, Dublin 7, was sentenced to five years in prison for robbery and assault causing harm after attacking a 39‑year‑old man in Haymarket, Smithfield. The victim was left unconscious with a skull fracture and facial fractures. CCTV showed Doyle punching the victim, stealing his phone and wallet, and leaving him on the ground. Doyle pleaded guilty in the District Court and later admitted the attack to Gardaí, though he had no memory of it. The victim suffered significant physical and psychological injuries, including loss of hearing, blurred vision, headaches, depression, and anxiety. Judge Pauline Codd imposed a six‑year sentence, suspended one year on strict conditions, and noted Doyle's cooperation and remorse. Doyle has been in custody since the incident.
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced four men for their roles in a violent incident in East Wall, Dublin, where a drug buyer sustained a traumatic brain injury after reversing his car at a group. Daryl Donnery (23) pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and affray, receiving a two-year, nine-month sentence with the final 12 months suspended. Dylan Martin (21) pleaded guilty to affray and was sentenced to two years, suspended in full on strict conditions. Josh Doran (23) and Brandon Leech (25) both pleaded guilty to affray and production of an article, respectively. The judge set headline sentences of three years for both, reduced to two years after considering mitigating factors. The matter for Leech and Doran was adjourned for 12 months to allow engagement with probation services. The court noted that none of the four were involved in the drug transaction that precipitated the violence. Donnery has five previous convictions, while Leech, Doran, and Martin each have 15. The injured man, who is now the subject of a European Arrest Warrant, discharged himself from hospital against medical advice after nine days.
Six men and a teenager, all aged 18 to 26, were charged in connection with the murder of gunman Tristan Sherry, who was killed on 24 December 2023 at Browne's Steakhouse in Blanchardstown. The State solicitor applied for the cases to be transferred to the Special Criminal Court under Section 49(1) of the Offences Against the State Act. The court, composed of three judges, granted the order, and all seven cases were adjourned to 1 July. The men charged with Sherry's murder are Noah Musueni (18), Wayne Deegan (26), David Amah (18) and Michael Andrecut (22). Jonas Kabangu (18) and an unnamed juvenile are charged with violent disorder at the same location. Jaures Kumbu (18) is charged with possession of a submachine gun. The Special Criminal Court handles cases where ordinary courts are deemed inadequate for effective justice and public peace. The murder occurred after Sherry shot and fatally injured Jason Hennessy Senior, who died 11 days later.
Tech firm Wix admitted it had unfairly dismissed Irish worker Courtney Carey after she posted on social media criticising Israel. Carey, a former manager, says she lost her apartment and has only found lower‑paid temporary work since her dismissal in October. She claims Wix treated her as a supporter of terrorism, citing tweets and LinkedIn posts that she says were false. Her claim under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 was brought before the Workplace Relations Commission. Wix's lawyer conceded procedural unfairness and said the case would now focus on compensation. Carey's barrister noted her gross pay fell from €40,000 to €25,567 after months of unemployment. The tribunal heard that she applied for about 60 jobs, was denied many, and now works as an An Post clerk on a temporary contract. The hearing concluded with the adjudicator saying she would issue a decision in due course.
Eamon Stack, a former chief inspector of schools now an independent education consultant, denied that the rejection of a grievance appeal by former Templeogue College teacher Jennifer Clancy was a "done deal" with the Joint Managerial Body (JMB). Stack was questioned at the Workplace Relations Commission after Clancy's lawyers produced emails he sent to the JMB around the time he chaired the November 2022 appeal panel. Clancy, a part‑time Spanish teacher, alleged she was penalised for raising a collective staff grievance about management, health and safety, loss of facilities, student discipline, an assault on a teacher and the secret filming of a female teacher's backside. She claimed the school's principal, Niamh Quinn, acted unsavourily, changed her timetable against a childcare arrangement, and then served her with disciplinary notice without specifying the charge. The appeal panel comprised a trade‑union nominee, a JMB nominee and Stack as independent chair. Stack's emails, opened at the hearing, were used as evidence.
During a Workplace Relations Commission hearing, Brendan Ogle's legal representative, Mary‑Paula Guinness BL, argued that Ogle would still hold a full role at Unite the Union if not for his cancer diagnosis. Ogle, who returned to work as Unite's senior officer for the Republic of Ireland after treatment for aggressive throat cancer, claims he was discriminated against because of his disability. Guinness cited evidence that a union employee stopped sending work to Ogle, though she said no one instructed her to do so. Unite's counsel, Mark Harty SC, contended that Ogle had refused available roles upon his return and that the evidence was being mischaracterised as a disability claim. Ogle's allegations include failure to provide reasonable accommodation, victimisation and harassment, and he has accused the union of excluding him from a new strategic plan for Ireland. The tribunal has heard conflicting accounts from Ogle and Tom Fitzgerald, who was promoted during Ogle's sick leave.
Emmanuel Foley and Jeanette Afi Aboni, applicants residing at Cruise Park, Tyrrelstown Dublin, have brought a High Court action against Dublin City Council (DCC) regarding Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) contributions. The family, who have lived at the property for nearly four years, alleges that DCC reduced its monthly payment to the landlord, Orkstake Limited, from approximately €2,000 to just over €1,640. This reduction was implemented because DCC refused to cover €300 for a car parking space and €85 for service charges, which are included in the lease. The applicants claim DCC acted unlawfully and unreasonably, asserting that the council was aware of the lease terms in 2020 and that the charges are non-severable. Following a notice of termination issued by the landlord in April due to alleged arrears of over €1,300, the family fears homelessness. The applicants seek orders quashing DCC's decision to limit payments and compelling the council to pay the full HAP amount. They also seek declarations that DCC's actions were unlawful and that the family has a legitimate expectation of full payment. The matter was heard on an ex-parte basis by Ms Justice Niamh Hyland, who granted the applicants permission to bring the action. The case is at the pre-trial stage and was adjourned, with the matter set to return before the court next month.
A man from Wicklow has been sentenced to six and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to drug trafficking offences at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Ryon Fitzpatrick, aged 34 and with an address in Enniskelly, was arrested in October 2020 as he accompanied a van containing approximately 304 kilograms of cannabis concealed in shoeboxes near Swords, County Dublin. The drugs, imported from Spain, had an estimated street value of €6.08 million. Fitzpatrick, who was driving a lookout vehicle, fled to Spain following his initial arrest and questioning but was apprehended there last year and extradited to Ireland in December. Judge Pauline Codd imposed a headline sentence of eleven and a half years, reduced to nine years following mitigation, with the final two and a half years suspended on conditions. Two co-accused, Anthony Kinghorn and Mark Nesbitt, both from England, were separately convicted and received eight-year sentences in 2021 and 2022 respectively.
David Weir, 49, of Eastham Park, Bettystown, was found guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of possession of cannabis for sale or supply in his home and in Raheny on 22 February 2021. He admitted possession of an air rifle and had seven prior convictions, including drug and traffic offences. Weir was arrested after handing a large black bag of cannabis to taxi driver Mark Byrne, the target of a Garda surveillance operation. Gardaí seized 5 kg of cannabis at Byrne's home and 2.7 kg at Weir's Bettystown home, along with an air rifle, weighing scales and a vacuum packaging machine. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced Weir to seven years, suspended the final two and a half years on the condition of good behaviour, and imposed a five‑year custodial term. The judge noted Weir's advanced lung disease and mental health history, and considered these factors in the sentencing. The case highlights the role of a "gillie" in drug distribution.
Jordan Cunningham, 31, was sentenced to six years in prison after a judge reinstated part of a four‑year suspended sentence for a burglary he had breached. He had previously pleaded guilty to threatening to kill a female worker at Paddy Power on James' Street on 5 July and to attempting to rob Harcourt Launderette and Dry Cleaners on 4 November. In the betting shop incident, he entered at about 5 pm, shouted at the lone employee, kicked the counter, spat at the perspex screen, smashed the credit‑card machine, and threatened to slash the employee's face. A customer intervened and the employee called 999; CCTV identified Cunningham. In the launderette, he entered at 11:30 am, demanded payment, became aggressive, attempted to access the till, and was pushed out by staff.
A 27‑year‑old father of four was jailed for more than five years after attempting to attack his former partner and her mother with a knife in their Foxrock home while two of his children slept. He pleaded guilty to assault causing harm on 31 August 2021 and 5 September 2021, to threatening to damage the former partner's home, and to threatening to breach a safety order while on bail on 24 September 2022. The court noted 15 prior convictions, including assault, and that the offences were committed while he was on bail. Judge Martina Baxter sentenced him to 3½ years for the August assault, 3 years for the September assault, 2½ years for the bail‑related threats, and 8 months for the safety‑order threat, back‑dated to May. The final 18 months were suspended on conditions including participation in the Men Overcoming Violent Emotions group.
A 23‑year‑old American woman, Tamia Forbes, was found guilty of possession of cannabis for sale or supply after she transported a locked suitcase containing 27 vacuum packs of cannabis worth €260,000 into Dublin Airport. Forbes claimed she believed the drugs were legal in Ireland and said she had financial difficulties. She pleaded guilty and had no prior convictions. The court, mindful of the impact of drug trafficking, imposed a headline sentence of eight years but, considering her youth, guilty plea, character references and mitigating circumstances, reduced the sentence to five years with the final two and a half years suspended. The suspended portion is conditional on Forbes leaving the jurisdiction within three weeks of her release. The case was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 17 June 2024.
Victoria Dalton, 28, pleaded guilty to theft at a Circle K petrol station in Dundrum on 24 March 2020. She entered the shop at about 9:15 pm, asked for children's medicine, and was then approached by a man who held a knife to her throat and demanded €120 from the till. The staff, fearing for their safety, complied. Dalton later claimed she had been acting as a victim and denied participation in the robbery. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced her to 18 months' imprisonment, suspending the final nine months, and directed her to probation supervision for two years. The sentence was back‑dated to 30 March 2020, when she entered custody. Dalton has a history of drug addiction and a prior conviction for possession of drugs for personal use in March 2022. She is currently receiving treatment and intends to attend a residential drug programme after release.
Ogaga Ogheneyoma, aged 17 when €31,842 was transferred into his AIB account as part of an invoice redirect fraud, pleaded guilty to handling the proceeds of crime on 19 November 2018. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, hearing in 2024, noted he was now 22, a fourth‑year accounting student at TU Dublin, living with his parents in Lucan and working part‑time. Judge Orla Crowe applied Section 100 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, imposing a €500 fine and a deferred 12‑month sentence, citing his youth, lack of prior convictions and significant progress since the offence. After paying the fine and avoiding any Garda attention, the court discharged him from the indictment. The case was originally uncovered when AIB reported fraudulent activity, and Gardaí found the money had been diverted from Universal Forest Products, a US company. Ogheneyoma's probation report placed him at low risk of reoffending and no supervision was required.
Matthew Butterly, a former training manager with over twenty years in the Airport Police and Fire Service, filed a statutory complaint under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 alleging he was penalised after reporting that Airport Police were misusing emergency protocols to bypass security screenings. A Workplace Relations Commission adjudicator ruled that aspects of his complaint were out of time, leading Butterly to withdraw the claim. The DAA denied all allegations of penalisation, stating that the three acts alleged were statute‑barred and that the remaining two involved later complaints and an investigation meeting over internal messaging posts. Butterly had sought an un‑redacted investigation report and a pay review, both of which the DAA said were not granted. The unfair dismissal complaint remains pending, while the protected disclosures complaint has been withdrawn.
Owen Maughan, 22, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to the murder of Christopher Hall, 65, at his home in Dun Saithne Green, Balbriggan, Co Dublin. The single charge on the indictment alleged that Maughan murdered Mr Hall between November 23 and 24, 2021. Although the pre-trial hearing before Mr Justice Paul McDermott was scheduled to last two and a half weeks, Maughan indicated his wish to be arraigned and entered a guilty plea during the proceedings. The prosecution was led by senior counsel Garret Baker, while Philipp Rahn SC headed the defence team. Following the plea, the judge directed the preparation of a victim impact report. Maughan was remanded in custody until July 8, when it is expected that he will be sentenced to the mandatory term of life imprisonment. The court did not impose a final sentence at this stage, but rather adjourned the matter for sentencing after the report is completed.
The Court of Appeal dismissed a solicitor's appeal against a €30,000 aggravated damages award to an elderly widow, Marie Gibson, who was defrauded of her home by her daughter Pauline Gibson. The High Court had found that Pauline forged signatures and transferred the property to herself in 2003, then secured a €190,000 mortgage from First Active Building Society. Marie and her husband were not properly advised and were unaware of the transfer. The solicitor, Kevin O'Gorman, who represented both parties, was ordered to pay Marie €5,000 compensatory damages and €30,000 aggravated damages for negligence and active misdirection. The Court of Appeal confirmed no legal error in the High Court's decision and rejected the solicitor's appeal, noting the evidence supported the aggravated damages award. The case remains in the estate of the deceased plaintiff.
A 65‑year‑old man was jailed for seven years after sexually assaulting and raping a 25‑year‑old housemate who had recently arrived in Ireland and spoke no English. The assault began on 19 October 2022 when the man touched the woman, forced her to touch him, and pulled her trousers down. She fled to her room and stayed there for two days, fearing the man. On 21 October he forced his way into her room, took her to his bedroom, and raped her. She escaped, used Google Translate to type "I was raped," and was rescued by Gardaí. DNA from a swab matched the accused. The court heard the victim was physically unwell for three months, homeless, and deeply affected. The judge set a headline sentence of eight years and six months for the rape, imposed concurrent sentences totalling seven years back‑dated to October 2022, and ordered three years of post‑release supervision. The unnamed 65-year-old pleaded guilty.
An English‑language student, aged 24, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to one count of sexually assaulting his 79‑year‑old landlady in her Dublin home on the night of 17 March 2023. The court heard that the student, who had recently arrived from Asia and had lived in Ireland for only three weeks, had been out socialising and had drunk alcohol for the first time, consuming six pints of beer. He entered the landlady's bedroom, climbed into her bed, pressed his body against her and rubbed her thighs. She woke, discovered him, shouted for him to leave, alerted other lodgers, called her daughter and Gardaí, and he was arrested. He spent six weeks in custody before being granted High Court bail. The judge, citing the breach of trust and the student's cooperation, remorse and lack of prior convictions, imposed an 18‑month sentence, suspended on conditions.
Two brothers, Glen Ward, 31, and Eric O'Driscoll, 22, are charged with possession of firearms and reckless discharge of an assault rifle in the Finglas area of north Dublin in January 2022. Ward is accused of possessing a .223 Remington AR‑15 semi‑automatic rifle on 1 January 2022 at Ratoath Drive and of discharging it recklessly. O'Driscoll faces the same charges as Ward plus additional allegations of possessing a .223 Remington AR‑15 on 9 January 2022 and a .380 ACP calibre military submachine gun, the Ingram M11, on the same date. The offences contravene the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990 and the Firearms Act 1964. The Director of Public Prosecutions applied to transfer the trials to the non‑jury Special Criminal Court, and Mr Justice Tony Hunt granted the application. The brothers will appear before the court at a later date.
The principal of Templeogue College, Niamh Quinn, has decided not to appear as a witness at the Workplace Relations Commission hearing. She will not call any witnesses, including herself, to counter claims of student indiscipline and allegations that she penalised former part‑time Spanish teacher Jennifer Clancy for naming her in a collective grievance. Clancy has accused the school of whistleblower retaliation, citing changes to her timetable that disrupted childcare arrangements. The school's barrister, Rosemary Mallon BL, had previously indicated that Quinn would deny the allegations and claim she did not target Clancy. The tribunal will now hear evidence from the independent chairman of a grievance panel that rejected Clancy's complaint in November 2022, followed by closing arguments. The hearing continues with the principal's decision to abstain from testifying.
A violent thug, Dean Byrne, aged 30, was convicted by the Special Criminal Court of conspiring to pervert the course of justice during Aaron Brady's murder trial of Garda Adrian Donohoe. Byrne, already serving an 18‑year sentence with four suspended for a 2013 burglary, conspired with Brady to dissuade key witness Daniel Cahill from giving evidence. Byrne attempted to contact Cahill's family and persuaded a former housemate of Cahill's father to pressure Cahill, repeatedly urging him not to testify. He also circulated excerpts of Cahill's statement to a third party. Brady, aged 33, had previously pleaded guilty to sending a video of a witness interview to Gardaí. The court found the conspiracy intended to interfere with the trial and adjourned Byrne's sentencing to 15 July. The hearing for Brady is scheduled for the same date.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, Raymond Shorten, 50, of Clondalkin, was found guilty by a unanimous jury of two counts of rape and one of anal rape against two young female passengers. The jury deliberated for 76 minutes after hearing evidence that the women, aged 19 and 20, had been in Shorten's taxi following nights out in Dublin city centre in June and August 2022. Both women testified that they were raped in the back of the taxi, describing loss of memory, shock and physical injury. Shorten denied the allegations, claiming the encounters were consensual, and provided written statements supporting this view. The prosecution presented CCTV footage, forensic DNA evidence, and testimony from other women who said they had consensual sex with Shorten in his taxi. The judge thanked the jury, excused them from service for five years, remanded Shorten in custody for sentencing on 1 July, and ordered victim impact statements. Raymond Shorten pleaded not guilty.
In a June 2024 hearing, a convicted murderer, Graham McEvoy, 26, pleaded guilty to assaulting a prison officer outside Swiftcare clinic in Smithfield on 8 May 2023. McEvoy, who had just had an X‑ray and was released from handcuffs to sit in a waiting van, lunged at officers, shouting threats and slashing the officer's face with a sharpened toilet brush. He also faced charges of threats to kill and attempting to escape lawful custody. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced him to four years' imprisonment, noting she could not impose a consecutive sentence to his life term for murder. The officer sustained a cut under his eye, received hospital treatment, and was left with a scar. McEvoy had spent a period in 24‑hour lock‑up after the assault and has 32 prior convictions. The court heard that McEvoy had expressed remorse and was receiving psychiatric care in prison.