A 54‑year‑old maintenance man was sentenced to four years in prison after he installed hidden cameras in a friend's apartment and secretly recorded her for seven months in 2021. He recorded her during intimate moments, edited the footage by drawing love hearts around her private parts, and repeatedly entered her apartment to change camera positions. When she discovered a camera and tried to cover it, he sent a threatening message telling her not to touch it. He pleaded guilty to one count of harassment, two counts of burglary and five counts of recording without consent. The court imposed a 20‑year no‑contact order and a four‑year custodial sentence, citing the gross invasion of privacy and the aggravating factor of their long friendship. No prior convictions were noted. The victim, a childminder who had moved to Ireland in 2008, reported the incident to Gardaí in December 2021. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Edward Cruise, 66, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for repeatedly sexually abusing a girl aged between six and 14 who visited his home from 2009 to 2017. He pleaded guilty to nine counts of sexual assault. The abuse occurred whenever the girl was at his property, often multiple times in a single day, and included inappropriate touching, masturbation and oral sex. Cruise told the victim to keep the abuse secret and once offered her €5 to come to his house. The victim complained to Gardaí in 2020, after which Cruise was arrested and suggested the allegations were fabricated. Judge Martin Nolan noted the abuse took place over a prolonged period, estimating at least 100 incidents, and imposed a global sentence of six years. The court considered Cruise's guilty plea, expressions of remorse, age and lack of violence beyond the acts themselves as mitigating factors, while his prior convictions for similar offences were viewed as aggravating.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 36‑year‑old man was convicted of a single count of sexual assault against his teenage niece, who was aged between 13 and 14 at the time of the offence. The victim, who now uses he/him pronouns, was asleep when the uncle, who had moved in with her family, touched her hand. She later provided a statement after initial reluctance. The defendant voluntarily approached Gardaí and admitted to the incident, claiming he had been masturbating and that the victim had seen him. A victim impact statement was submitted but not read aloud. The victim's mother, who had asked the judge not to jail her brother, was present. Judge Pauline Codd, after considering aggravating and mitigating factors, sentenced the defendant to two years' imprisonment and refused to suspend any portion of the sentence. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
Two British men, Dylan Shears, aged 20, and Ainsley Stevenson, aged 26, were jailed after being stopped at Dublin Airport with €690,000 worth of cannabis destined for the UK market. They pleaded guilty to smuggling over 30 kg of the drug into Terminal 2 on 17 October. Stevenson, from Halifax, was sentenced to five and a half years in prison, while Shears, from Bradford, received a three‑year sentence. Judge Martin Nolan noted that if Stevenson had been an Irish national he would have received a six‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, and that Shears' younger age warranted a lesser term. The men were caught by customs officers after arriving from Las Vegas, where they had collected the cannabis and planned to transport it via Dublin to Manchester on behalf of an unnamed individual. Neither had prior convictions. Both men cooperated with Gardaí and made admissions.
Le Wang, a 42‑year‑old taxi driver from Dundrum, was found guilty of harassing a Chinese student who had rented a room in his house between December 2022 and March 2023. He secretly filmed her twice in the shower and attempted a third time, hiding his phone in a laundry basket. When she discovered the phone, he threatened to ruin her reputation and harassed her for three months, sending threatening texts and attempting contact via social media. Gardaí seized his phone and found the videos, which were deleted and then restored. Wang pleaded guilty and was given a 16‑month suspended sentence, with a ten‑year prohibition on any communication with the victim. He was remanded in custody for two weeks before the verdict and was released thereafter. No prior convictions were recorded.
Winnifred Lawrence, a 74‑year‑old mother of 14, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison, with the final 18 months suspended, after pleading guilty to three counts of deception for making false personal injury claims between September 2012 and May 2014. She used the false name Margaret Mongan to file six claims, receiving a net total of €23,185.50 from insurance companies. The court noted her previous conviction in 2019, where she received a three‑year suspended sentence for a similar offence. Lawrence's claims included incidents at Tesco Ireland, a bookshop, a bus, and a heater, with payouts ranging from €5,000 to €12,460. The judge highlighted her poor health and the significant amount of money she benefited from, and the sentence was imposed after her guilty plea and lack of further offences.
Robert Redmond (35) was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for conspiring to murder Jordan Davis in 2019. Redmond, who is already serving a life sentence for the murder of Barry Wolverson, pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge. Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed a seven-year term, which runs consecutively to Redmond's existing 12-year sentence for firearms possession. This results in a total of 19 years' imprisonment to be served concurrently with his mandatory life sentence. The judge rejected defense arguments that the consecutive structure constituted a disproportionate 'quasi-life sentence,' citing Redmond's 'deep involvement' in the 'cold-blooded' killing and his 99 previous convictions. Evidence presented included threatening text messages from Redmond to Davis regarding a €70,000 drug debt and 'tick lists' found at addresses linked to Redmond. Wayne Cooney (33), who was convicted of the actual murder of Davis in July 2022, is currently serving a life sentence. The court noted that Davis was shot while pushing his infant son in a pram near a school in Darndale.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Jason O'Connor, 46, of Whitestown Grove, Blanchardstown, was charged with facilitating a criminal gang in murder and drug dealing. O'Connor had previously faced charges for an attempted murder of Charlie Cooper on 5 December 2016, and for possession of a 9 mm firearm and 12 rounds of ammunition with intent to endanger life at the same location and date. The new charges allege that between 2 August 2016 and 7 December 2016, O'Connor, knowing of a criminal organisation, participated in or contributed to activities that could facilitate the commission of a serious offence by that organisation or its members, specifically murder and the sale or supply of controlled drugs. The charges are under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006. The case is adjourned to 11 June for mention, and O'Connor has been granted free legal aid for the new charges.
Joanna McGuinness, 41, pleaded guilty to evading excise duty on over 80,000 untaxed cigarettes and 35 kg of tobacco seized from her Paul Street home in Dublin 7. The loss to the exchequer was €66,881. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, after hearing the case, imposed a three‑year sentence but suspended it entirely, citing the impact imprisonment would have on her children, one of whom has serious health problems. Judge Martin Nolan noted McGuinness's sole care of the children and her previous convictions, including revenue offences, as factors in the decision. The cigarettes and tobacco were confiscated, and a quantity of cash was also seized. McGuinness is now employed and described as being in a stable period of her life. The case was adjourned overnight for sentencing before the final decision was announced.
Lewis O'Keeffe, 22, of Ballyfermot, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to multiple counts of possessing controlled drugs and nearly €30,000 in cash. Gardaí seized cocaine worth €2,500 inside a house on O'Moore Road and an additional 7.5 kg in a van outside the house, giving a street value of over €527,000. O'Keeffe admitted he did not own the drugs but was aware of them, claiming a drug debt of €31,000. He had removed his tax and insurance discs from his car and placed them in the van. His defence counsel described him as a "patsy" or "fall guy" in the operation, noting his young age and family background. Judge Martin Nolan accepted that O'Keeffe had a low level of culpability and had been under severe pressure, concluding that young people can make bad decisions under pressure.
Oisín Cannon, 33, an IT worker, was jailed for possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Gardaí first searched his home in 2017, finding a laptop with 1,011 images and 102 videos, many Category 1, and a mobile phone with 22 images. Subsequent searches in 2019 and 2020 uncovered further CSAM on an iPad, phone, and other devices, totaling hundreds of images and dozens of videos. Cannon repeatedly denied responsibility, claiming the material entered his devices through pop‑ups, viruses, or third‑party apps, and that he had no interest in child pornography. He pleaded guilty to possession on all three charges. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to three years and nine months in prison, noting his repeated offences and the seriousness of accessing CSAM. The court recorded his background, psychological report, and family support, but did not alter the sentence. The case remains a criminal conviction for possession of child pornography.
Paul Lynch, 56, was jailed after a sting operation revealed he had tried to meet an 11‑year‑old girl but was confronted by an adult decoy livestreaming to Facebook. Lynch had sent a picture of his genitals to the decoy and had asked for a naked photo, which the decoy refused, claiming her camera was broken. He had also offered to give her a phone. The court heard Lynch had previously pleaded guilty to attempted meeting of a child for sexual exploitation in 2018, had a 2019 conviction in Northern Ireland for sexual communication with a child, and a 2023 breach of a sex offences prevention order. He also had seven older convictions for theft and fraud. Judge Orla Crowe described the offence as the "most serious kind" and, after taking mitigation into account, imposed a sentence of two years and three months, back‑dated to his first custody in February.
Michael Crotty (42) was sentenced to two years' imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for facilitating a serious offence by a criminal organisation. Crotty, a gym owner from Cashel, Co Tipperary, initially pleaded not guilty to facilitating the murder of Noel Kirwan but entered a guilty plea in February to participating in activity reckless as to whether it would facilitate a serious offence. The court found that Crotty bought €20 in phone credit for Sean McGovern, a leading Kinahan cartel member, which was used to coordinate the 2016 murder of Mr Kirwan. Presiding Judge Caroline Biggs set a headline sentence of six years, reduced to two years due to Crotty's guilty plea, lack of prior convictions, and 21 exceptional character references. The judge noted that while Crotty did not intend the credit to be used for murder, its use in the killing was an aggravating factor. This is the fourth conviction related to the case. Previously, Jason Keating (32) was jailed for 10 years for his significant role in the murder. Declan 'Mr Nobody' Brady (57) and Martin Aylmer (37) also pleaded guilty to facilitating or contributing to the murder of Mr Kirwan, though their specific sentences are not detailed in this report. The matter was finalised with Crotty's sentencing.
In a Dublin suburb, 18‑year‑old Jasmine Olaru, then a secondary school student, worked at a Dominos Pizza shop in February 2022. She alleged repeated sexual harassment by colleagues, including propositions for sex, being told to "do OnlyFans", and receiving a badge with her name and a picture of breasts. She also claimed a deputy manager threatened to "spank" her with a pizza‑scooping shovel, asked if he could watch her change, and that she was denied breaks under the Organisation of Working Time Act. Olaru reported the incidents to the Workplace Relations Commission. The tribunal found Remo Foods Ltd had breached the Employment Equality Act and the Working Time Act, awarding her €13,000 for sexual harassment, €3,000 for victimisation, and €3,000 for lack of breaks, totalling €19,000. The company was also ordered to review its anti‑harassment policies. The case was decided in September 2024.
In a decision by the Workplace Relations Commission, Hannah Murphy, aged 22, was awarded €10,000 for age‑based discrimination after being told she was "very young" and not ready to manage a salad bar at Freshly Chopped Ltd. Murphy had worked for the chain for just under two weeks in December 2020, training to become a branch manager in Swords. The area manager, who had previously praised her performance, told her on 21 December that she would not take the Swords post and that she was "still very young" and "not ready for the job". Murphy claimed the manager had also suggested she might be better equipped in two years. The company denied the claim, citing a "poor attitude" and alleged misconduct, but the WRC found the manager's statements about her age credible and ruled that age was one of the reasons for her dismissal. The tribunal awarded Murphy €10,000 in compensation for the discrimination.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 14 May 2024, a 45‑year‑old man was sentenced to 20 months' imprisonment for threatening to publish intimate images of his former partner, who was in her 20s, on Facebook and to send them to her mother and social worker. The offence, committed in December 2021 after a brief relationship ended in November, involved the man sending the woman a series of Snapchat voice recordings in which he threatened to distribute the material. He pleaded guilty to the charge of threatening to publish or distribute an intimate image with intent to cause harm, a crime punishable by up to seven years. Judge Martin Nolan, after hearing the case, described it as a serious matter and, noting the defendant's remorse and personal circumstances, imposed a custodial sentence of 20 months with the final 10 months suspended.
A 40‑year‑old Dublin man was jailed for nine months after he attacked his ex‑partner on 14 May 2020. He claimed he had gone to her home to give her money for baby food, but found the 10‑month‑old child severely malnourished and in a very bad state. The woman said they had both been drinking and that the assault stemmed from a dispute over her mobile phone. Neighbours heard her screaming and called the Gardaí, who found the couple still present. The woman suffered a fractured nose, a deviated septum, a black eye and a swollen nose; she and the baby were taken to hospital. The baby was later placed in care. The court heard the couple had been in a relationship from 2012 to 2019 and shared an older child, who has lived with the man's father since 2019.
Adam Rzepka, 39, was released on bail for a €400k money‑laundering offence and was found the next day surrounded by over €1.1 million in drugs hidden in dog food. He pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis worth €1.1 million, to having a car used in drug trafficking, to possessing a mixing agent for drug trafficking and to possessing €33,090 in cash that was the proceeds of criminal conduct. The drugs were seized at Hickey's Yard, The Ward, Co. Dublin, where Rzepka was the only person present and was found in a loft beside vacuum‑packed cannabis. The court imposed a 15‑year global sentence, consecutive to the seven years he is already serving for money laundering, with the final two years suspended on condition of good behaviour. The judge cited the high value of the drugs and the lack of remorse as aggravating factors.
Jason Fogarty, a 48‑year‑old with 27 years in prison, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a further six years' imprisonment. He pleaded guilty to robbery at a post office on Merrion Row in November 2019 and to an attempted robbery of a B&B on Gardiner Place in May 2023. The judge imposed four years for the 2019 post office robbery, during which Fogarty threatened a cashier with a grenade, and a consecutive three‑year term for the 2023 B&B attempt, of which one year was suspended. The final effective custodial term is five years. Fogarty had been on bail for the first offence when he committed the second. The court noted his extensive criminal record, addiction history and the injuries sustained by the B&B staff member during the attempted robbery. The sentence reflects the seriousness of both offences and the lack of deterrence from prior imprisonment.
Craig Maloney, 28, of Cashel Road, Crumlin, was convicted after a jury trial of wilful obstruction, assaulting a Garda and producing a knife during a dispute at his family home on 11 February 2022. He had 24 prior convictions. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Maloney did not take reasonable steps to confirm the people at his front door were Gardaí. The officers were conducting a covert search unrelated to Maloney. When the Gardaí approached with breaching equipment, Maloney moved toward them with a large knife, causing one officer to step back. He slammed the door shut, was later apprehended upstairs, and the knife was found broken on the floor. Judge Orla Crowe imposed concurrent sentences of 18 months, three months and three months, all fully suspended, with conditions including good behaviour for three years.
Eamon Larkin, a 69‑year‑old man from Kilcock, was found guilty of possession of cocaine for sale or supply on 12 June 2023. Gardaí stopped a Skoda in Ashbourne, discovering six kilos of cocaine in the boot, valued at €420,000. Larkin admitted he was approached in a pub and offered €200 to transport the drugs, though he claimed he did not know the type of drug. CCTV showed him swapping vehicles with another man at a petrol station an hour before the Skoda was seized. He has six prior road‑traffic convictions and has been living in Portugal. The court noted his poor physical and mental health, financial pressure, and long work history. Judge Martin Nolan accepted the guilty plea and mitigation, sentencing Larkin to two years' imprisonment. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the offence while considering his health and cooperation.
Leanne Kelly, 32, was jailed for two and a half years after assaulting a 63‑year‑old hospital worker on her way home from the Mater Hospital on 28 April 2022. Kelly pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to a woman outside the hospital. The victim, who had finished her shift and was collecting her bicycle, was struck on the side of her head by Kelly, who shouted abusive remarks before punching her. The blow caused the victim to fall onto the road, lose her sunglasses, and suffer bruising to her jaw and back of her head. She was taken to Mountjoy Garda Station and then to the Mater Hospital for treatment and overnight observation. Kelly had 64 prior convictions, including assault, robbery, theft and public order offences. She had previously been sentenced to two years' imprisonment with the final six months suspended in 2017. The court noted Kelly's extensive addiction history and trauma background.
The Court of Appeal refused to quash the acquittal of a 75‑year‑old Catholic priest who faced 13 counts of gross indecency for alleged abuse of a teenage boy between 1977 and 1979. The priest was acquitted on 28 April 2023 after the trial judge, Pauline Codd, directed a not‑guilty verdict following the complainant's direct evidence. Justice Birmingham, with Justices Kennedy and Burns, found that the defence's application for a directed acquittal was unjustified and misconceived, and that the trial judge had erred in granting it. The Court held that the interests of justice did not warrant quashing the acquittal or ordering a retrial, and therefore upheld the acquittal. The case involved the complainant's testimony about early encounters with the priest, the lack of specific dates, and the prosecution's failure to clarify the timeline of alleged offences. The Court noted that the prosecution counsel had acted properly and that the defence counsel's submissions were inaccurate.
Setanta Landers of Setanta Solicitors appeared before the Workplace Relations Commission on behalf of applicant Nico Holloway, who has brought complaints against Citi Bus Ltd, trading as Dublin Coach, under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977, and the Employment Equality Act 1998. The applicant alleged that the respondent operated defective and dangerous public vehicles and that he was penalised for raising these concerns. Mr. Landers described the allegations as a matter of grave public importance, noting that the applicant had recovered photos and video footage from a broken mobile phone. The respondent's counsel, Ray Ryan BL, applied for an adjournment, arguing that the applicant had submitted a booklet of evidence, including defect notifications, on the afternoon prior to the hearing. Mr. Ryan stated that the respondent would be seriously prejudiced if the hearing proceeded without time to take instructions. Mr. Landers opposed the application, asserting that the documents were the respondent's own internal records and that no new allegations were being made. Adjudicator David James Murphy granted the adjournment, deeming it extraordinary to force the respondent to proceed given the late submission of documents. The matter was adjourned pending the fixing of a new date, with the applicant given one week to make further submissions and the respondent three weeks to reply.
Thomas O'Neill, 47, was jailed for two years after pleading guilty to one count of deception in a fraudulent insurance claim that involved a staged car crash in Rathfarnham in 2013. The incident, which was a low‑velocity collision between a white Toyota and a Mazda at Ballycullen Roundabout, was orchestrated to obtain more than €35,000 from AXA Insurance. O'Neill, who has 70 prior convictions for road traffic offences and handling stolen property, was an active participant in the fraud. His partner, Ann Wilson, 44, and his sister, Deirdre Mellor, 54, were also involved. Wilson was scheduled for sentencing the following day, while Mellor received a fully suspended two‑year sentence for attempted deception. The court noted that Wilson had received €21,595 in personal injury awards and that no claim was made by O'Neill. The case highlighted the parties' connections revealed through social media and the lack of any personal gain for Mellor.
Daniel James Johnson, a 34‑year‑old UK national with no fixed abode in Lancashire, was found at Dublin Airport on 28 September 2023 carrying more than 16 kilos of cocaine in his luggage. The drugs, valued at €1.1 million, were intended for the UK market. Johnson had flown from Washington DC to Ireland to collect the drugs and then planned to travel onward to London Gatwick. He pleaded guilty to one count of importing cocaine. Johnson claimed he did not pack the bag or book the flights and said he was to be paid for the operation, though the amount was not specified. He also expressed fear for his family's safety. He has nine prior convictions in the UK for minor offences. On 13 May 2024, Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to six and a half years' imprisonment, back‑dating the term to the time he entered custody in September 2023.
The High Court approved a debt settlement arrangement (DSA) for 63‑year‑old Mark Quinn, allowing him to write off €8.9 million owed to Everyday Finance DAC in exchange for a lump‑sum payment of just over €50 000. The DSA will run for 12 months, during which Quinn will continue to live with his partner at Laurence Grove, Clontarf, Dublin 3, and work for an advertising company. The arrangement was drafted by Personal Insolvency Practitioner Eugene McDarby and presented to the court by Keith Farry BL, who argued that the DSA would be more favourable to the creditor than a bankruptcy proceeding. The court found no objections and approved the DSA, which is intended to restore Quinn to solvency.
Petru Budai, 43, of Finnslawn, Lucan, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after biting part of a restaurateur's ear on 28 October 2021 at Whitehall Terrace, Swords. The victim was preparing to open his restaurant when Budai, intoxicated and accompanied by two others, demanded food and drink. When told the premises were not yet open, Budai wrapped his hands around the restaurateur, bit his ear and uttered a phrase that sounded like "I eat you." The victim was taken to hospital; the bitten ear fragment was recovered but could not be re‑attached. Judge Martina Baxter described the attack as devastating and noted the victim was sober and attempting to explain the restaurant's status. Budai, with no prior convictions, expressed remorse, wrote an apology letter, and paid €5,000. The judge ordered 240 hours of community service in lieu of a three‑year prison term. Budai thanked the court after sentencing.
Former 2FM presenter Nikki Hayes, aged 44 and real name Eimear Black O'Keeffe, has asked a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to defer sentencing so she may avoid a conviction under Section 100 of the Criminal Justice Act. Hayes admitted possession of €15,000 as proceeds of crime in a Permanent TSB account on 5 and 6 November 2020, comprising €10,000, €2,600 and €2,400. The money was withdrawn from the victim's account and deposited into Hayes' account, then moved to Revolut and withdrawn via ATMs in Liffey Valley. The court heard that the remaining €2,000 was blocked and returned to the victim, leaving the bank with a loss of about €2,000. Hayes has six prior convictions for minor traffic offences, has been diagnosed with bipolar and borderline personality disorder, and has been in alcohol‑free treatment.
In a case heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Abdul Rahman Mohammed, a 35‑year‑old security guard at Penneys in Dundrum, was found guilty of sexual assault, false imprisonment and demanding money with menace. The victim, a 15‑year‑old girl, was lured back into the store after shoplifting a makeup brush and a peel‑off mask. Mohammed forced her to strip, sexually assaulted her, and then demanded €250 from her, claiming it was the price for the items. He also interfered with the CCTV camera a week before the incident to blur any footage. The jury convicted him on all counts on 12 February 2024, and Judge Orla Crowe sentenced him to five years' imprisonment, back‑dated to February, after he was already in custody. The victim's impact statement described lasting fear and depression following the assault. The case highlights the severity of the offences and the court's decision to impose a substantial custodial term.
Gerard Lawless, a 61‑year‑old retired Irish Defence Forces member, pleaded guilty to four counts of oral rape and seven counts of sexual assault against his adopted daughter, Danielle Lawless, between 1991 and 1998. The abuse began when Danielle was about five, with the most intense period occurring between October 1995 and April 1997 when she was around ten. The final two assaults took place between November 1997 and August 1998, when she was about twelve. Danielle, who waived anonymity, described how her father exploited her trust, manipulated her sense of love, and inflicted lasting shame and guilt. Lawless had no prior convictions and was in custody since his plea. Mr Justice Paul McDermott sentenced him to a global prison term of ten years, imposed three years of post‑release supervision, and ordered no contact with the victim. The court noted the abuse's escalation, the breach of paternal trust, and Lawless's ill health and lack of remorse.
A 60‑year‑old Italian woman, Antonia Giuliana Pintus, was arrested for smuggling 19,920 cigarettes into Dublin Airport without Irish tax stamps. She was caught on a flight from Dubai, spent 12 days in custody, and was granted bail. Pintus, a dual Canadian‑Italian citizen with no prior convictions, pleaded guilty to evasion of duty on 19,920 cigarettes valued at €16,280, resulting in a duty loss of €8,954. She claimed she had been offered a €1,000 payment to bring the cigarettes to Ireland, citing financial hardship after a home‑help employer's death. Her defence highlighted her economic difficulties and her family's support. Judge Orla Crowe described the case as unusual, noting Pintus's clean record and the hardships she endured. The judge imposed a six‑month sentence, suspended in full, and ordered 18 months of good behaviour.
A 16‑year‑old boy, who cannot be named because he is a juvenile, was sentenced to two years' detention in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for a series of high‑speed pursuits in suburban Dublin. He stole a Toyota from Tesco in Maynooth on 31 July 2023 and drove erratically, entering oncoming traffic and a shopping‑centre car park, forcing gardaí to leap over a barrier to avoid being hit. He was later arrested after abandoning the vehicle. Three months later, he stole an Audi, drove at over 160 km/h in an 80 km/h zone, broke a red light and was pursued again; he fled on foot. He pleaded guilty to multiple counts of endangerment, dangerous driving, taking a car without consent, driving without a licence or insurance, and possession of items used to steal a car. He has 13 prior convictions and has been detained in Oberstown juvenile centre since October.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 10 May 2024, Akuac Mawien, 26, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for importing 12.5 kg of cannabis worth €250,000 into Ireland. Mawien, who had no fixed abode in Toronto at the time of the offence, had flown to Dublin on 15 September 2023 with the cannabis in her suitcase, which was x‑rayed by customs. She pleaded guilty to charges of importing cannabis and possessing cannabis for sale or supply at Dublin Airport. Mawien told the court she was homeless and needed money for her six‑year‑old son, and that she had agreed to bring the suitcase in exchange for about €3,000. She admitted she knew the suitcase contained something "dodgy" but did not know its extent.
Logistics firm DHL faced a tribunal case after long‑serving warehouseman Oscar Solano Fernandez claimed the company tried to avoid paying him a redundancy lump sum by relocating him to a site four hours from his home. Solano, a stock picker from Madrid who had worked at DHL since 2008, said the new site near Donabate would require a two‑hour commute each way, compared with a 15‑minute trip to his former Oak Road site in Clondalkin. He alleged that DHL's transfer process was opaque and that the company discriminated against him as a father by not considering the impact on his family. His lawyer argued he was entitled to a statutory redundancy package of €18,300, lost earnings due to a pay cut, and compensation for discrimination.
Christopher Shane Frane, an on‑the‑run convict, will challenge his extradition to Northern Ireland on the basis that he was subjected to an "unlawful" sentencing regime. He was sentenced in 2013 to a minimum of six years for the manslaughter of Constable Philippa Reynolds, a 27‑year‑old police officer killed when a stolen Toyota Landcruiser driven by Frane struck a patrol car in Derry. In addition to the minimum term, he received an indefinite custodial sentence, a Northern Irish equivalent of an "imprisonment for public protection" (IPP) sentence. IPPs were declared unlawful by the European Court of Human Rights in 2012 and abolished in most of the UK, but judges in Northern Ireland can still impose them. Frane has served his six‑year term but remains subject to the indeterminate portion until he can prove he is no longer a danger to the public.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 9 May 2024, the court considered a sophisticated fraud that defrauded €461,275 from the Trinity College hardship fund through over 200 transactions. Jonathan McMahon (27) of Dublin 13 was arrested and admitted that the accounts used belonged to him, but he claimed the money was not his and that he had spent it. Garda investigators said the money was quickly moved to third‑party accounts and that McMahon had no connection to the university or the hardship fund. McMahon had no prior convictions and was not under duress. The defence counsel argued for a non‑conviction outcome, citing his mild intellectual disability and personal circumstances. Judge Pauline Codd rejected this, noting the scale of the scheme and the four‑month period of the offences.
Elliot Toale, 18, was jailed for two years after hijacking a mobility scooter and pushing an older man off it for 'fun', fracturing the man's hand and snapping his dentures. The incident occurred outside a Centra shop in Dublin city centre on Capel Street. Toale, who had 23 prior convictions, also stole a kitchen knife from the shop and brandished it at a Scottish tourist. He pleaded guilty to assault and theft. Judge Martin Nolan suspended the final 16 months of the sentence because of Toale's age. The victim, in his sixties, suffered serious injuries, including a broken left hand and damaged fingers. Toale admitted he had taken cocaine and alcohol that night and expressed remorse, noting he would be upset if a family member had been harmed. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Criminal Alan Hutch, 41, was sentenced to 21 months in prison for attempting to rob €100 from a woman in Dublin city centre while on bail. The offence occurred outside Tesco on Talbot Street on 3 March last year when Hutch approached a woman who had just withdrawn €100 from an ATM and tried, unsuccessfully, to take the money from her. CCTV footage captured the incident and identified Hutch, who has 80 previous convictions, including 34 Circuit Court offences. Hutch pleaded guilty to attempted robbery. He has a history of mental health difficulties, including schizophrenia, psychosis and auditory hallucinations, and has been on methadone and antipsychotic medication. The court noted his family's traumatic circumstances, including the murder of his father Eddie Hutch in 2016, and his own multiple hospitalisations. Judge Martin Nolan accepted that Hutch had not intended to harm the woman and sentenced him to 21 months in prison. The sentence was imposed on 9 May 2024.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 9 May 2024, Diane Travers, 31, pleaded guilty to producing a syringe at Dealz on Lower Liffey Street on 22 October 2018. Travers, who has 114 prior convictions, had been barred from the shop but returned and became abusive toward a male shop worker. She threatened the employee, spat on him, and then produced a syringe, claiming she had "full‑blown AIDS" and threatening to use it. The shop worker reported the incident as "very traumatic" and had to wait weeks for test results. Garda John Tansey identified Travers via CCTV, and she was arrested and interviewed. Travers admitted to drug addiction and homelessness. Judge Elva Duffy, noting her guilty plea and progress since 2019, sentenced her to two years and three months in prison, suspending the final 15 months, and ordered her to remain under probation supervision upon release. The sentence was back‑dated to the date she entered custody.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 9 May 2024, Judge Pauline Codd sentenced Lee McDonnell, 32, to two‑and‑a‑half years for affray after he left a bus and joined a mob that attacked two gardaí on Kylemore Road on 20 February 2023. The officers were surrounded, threatened and had objects thrown at them by a large group that had left a funeral. McDonnell, who had 133 prior convictions, was not present when the trouble began but became part of the assault, lunging at the officers and attempting to punch them. He pleaded guilty, apologised and offered no explanation for his involvement. The judge noted the officers' frightening situation, urged McDonnell to take responsibility, and gave credit for time already served in custody.
Seán Mulhall, 26, a homeless drug addict, was sentenced to five years in prison for a series of armed robberies over ten days last year. He targeted an off‑licence, a pharmacy and a bike shed at St James' Hospital, using a firearm that appeared to be a fake Colt or Beretta. Mulhall stole nearly €9,000 from charity collection boxes and a safe, and threatened a security guard with the phrase "I'll f**king pistol you." He had 34 prior convictions, including theft and drug offences. Judge Martin Nolan imposed an eight‑year headline sentence, reduced to five years on mitigation, citing Mulhall's terrorising of staff and desperation for drugs. Mulhall is now engaged in rehabilitation, having cut his methadone dose and awaiting treatment at Coolmine, and will receive full credit for time served.
Gavin Ryan, convicted of shooting Clifford Power twice in the chest in Gracedieu, Waterford, in December 2019, has appealed his conviction at the Court of Appeal. Ryan, who pleaded not guilty to possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life, assault causing serious harm, possession of ammunition, and possession of amphetamines with intent to sell or supply, was found guilty on all four counts by a jury. On November 25, 2021, Judge Eugene O'Kelly sentenced him to 13.5 years in prison, with the final two years suspended. Ryan's legal team argues that a garda entered his residence without a warrant, breaching his constitutional rights, and that evidence obtained from this entry was inadmissible. They contend the garda had no bona fide belief that anyone was at risk. The State's counsel countered that the entry was lawful and proportionate, as gardaí were conducting door-to-door inquiries for a fleeing armed shooter and found the apartment open. The search later conducted under a warrant revealed a bullet matching the scene, documents, and amphetamines. Justice Patrick McCarthy reserved his judgment, meaning the matter was adjourned and not concluded.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 20‑year‑old defendant pleaded guilty to three counts of rape, one of anal rape and one of oral rape committed between April 2017 and March 2018 against his 14‑year‑old cousin, who was aged eight to nine at the time. The victim, now 14, said the abuse has devastated her parents, grandparents and wider family, who no longer gather for special occasions. She described the defendant as a "big brother" who now appears as a monster. The defendant admitted watching pornography, including Pornhub, at the time of the offences and expressed remorse, shame and disgust. He has no prior convictions and was allowed to remain on bail while the Probation Service conducts a risk assessment and he completes a college work placement. The case was adjourned to 1 July for these matters.
Jonathan Mafolo, a 26‑year‑old British citizen from Manchester, was arrested at Dublin Airport on 9 October after customs officials intercepted a passenger travelling from JFK to Birmingham. He was found carrying two padlocked suitcases containing over 32 kilos of cannabis worth more than €650,000. Mafolo pleaded guilty to the importation charge, claiming he did not know what was in the luggage and had no code to open it. He said he had discovered the bags outside his hotel in New York and could not have known their contents. He denied personally taking the drugs and stated he was acting to help his brother, who was in debt. The court heard that Mafolo had a clean record, a good work history, and strong community support. Judge Martin Nolan accepted his cooperation and mitigating circumstances, and imposed a headline sentence of seven years, reduced to a five‑year custodial term backdated to the arrest date.
Sean Boland (41) of Dundalk, Co Louth, and co-accused Jeffrey Reynolds (34) of Bray, Co Wicklow, were sentenced at the procedural stage of sentence following their convictions for possessing cannabis. Boland admitted possessing approximately 12kg of cannabis valued at €240,000 across three locations on October 17, 2022, and was sentenced to five years in prison. Reynolds pleaded guilty to possessing about €88,000 worth of cannabis herb on the same day and was sentenced to three years in prison. Prosecution evidence indicated gardaí acted on confidential information regarding a suspected transaction, leading to the search of a van driven by Reynolds, which contained 4.4kg of cannabis. Further searches of Boland's apartment in Dundalk and another unit in the same complex revealed over 7kg of cannabis, along with a vacuum sealer, scales, and a tick list. Boland made full admissions upon arrest, stating he had handed a box of cannabis to Reynolds to settle a debt. Reynolds' defense counsel noted his client operated at street level and worked on a farm to become drug-free. Judge Nolan accepted both men had good work histories and mitigation, finding them unlikely to reoffend, before imposing the respective custodial sentences.
Paul Burgess, aged 43, was sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment for assisting a 16‑year‑old boy in an assault that left Kean Doherty, 19, with a catastrophic brain injury. The assault took place on 28 December 2018 at Ballyvaughan Lane, Lucan, when the boy struck Doherty after Burgess had driven him to the area, pushed him against railings and forced him to the ground. Doherty had recently been released from the National Rehabilitation Hospital after a road‑traffic accident and was highly vulnerable. The court heard medical reports showing the assault exacerbated Doherty's injuries. Burgess claimed he had no knowledge of Doherty's vulnerability and had not intended the violence, but the judge found his assistance created a dangerous situation and imposed the custodial term. The teenager received a formal caution and was dealt with under the youth diversion scheme. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Paul Burgess pleaded guilty.
During his 2020 trial for the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, Aaron Brady, aged 33, is alleged to have orchestrated a witness‑intimidation campaign. Prosecuting counsel Lorcan Staines SC presented evidence that Brady, while imprisoned in Mountjoy, conspired with Dean Byrne, aged 30, to persuade prosecution witness Daniel Cahill not to give evidence. Byrne is accused of sharing Cahill's statement with relatives and other associates, an act the court deemed unlawful. Byrne's defence, represented by Padraig Dwyer SC, argued that no evidence shows Byrne met Brady or was aware of the campaign, and that the alleged sharing of the statement was not intended to coerce Cahill. The case remains pending, with the court adjourned to 29 May for a verdict on Brady's alleged perverting of the course of justice.
Victor Titov, 48, of Bray, pleaded guilty to 14 fraud charges linked to false insurance policies sold by the jailed 'ghost broker' Egidijus Aleliunas. Titov acted as an intermediary, referring seven Moldovan community members to Aleliunas and earning €50 per referral. The court found Titov responsible for losses of almost €7,000 to those policy holders. He received a two‑year suspended sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The judge noted Titov's community standing, work history and family responsibilities, but held that he should have known Aleliunas was engaged in fraud. Titov had been in Ireland for nearly 20 years and had a long career as a car mechanic. The scheme, valued at €4 million, had previously seen three relatives of Aleliunas receive suspended sentences. The court emphasised that Titov did not act as a broker himself but facilitated the fraud by referring customers. The sentencing reflected the seriousness of the fraud while recognising Titov's personal circumstances.
Karl Ronan, aged 55, was sentenced to five and a half years' imprisonment for raping and indecently assaulting his younger sister Lynn Ronan, aged 51, over a four‑year period from 1982 to 1986. The abuse, which began in their Dublin home and continued in Laois and Galway, involved forced sexual acts and physical bullying. Lynn reported the abuse as an adult in 2018, after it had been discovered by their mother in 1986 and the siblings had seen a child psychologist. Mr Justice Paul McDermott noted the prolonged silence and the pressure on the victim to keep the secret. He sentenced Ronan to six years for rape and a concurrent three‑year term for indecent assault, suspending the final six months on strict conditions, including probation and no contact with Lynn. The judge praised Lynn's courage and highlighted the devastating impact of the abuse on her life. Karl Ronan pleaded guilty.