A 41‑year‑old Dublin woman pleaded guilty to assault causing harm on her 16‑year‑old daughter on 10 November 2021. The court heard that the dispute escalated from verbal to physical, with the mother punching the daughter and striking her with an object. The daughter suffered swelling, bruising and a head laceration. Police found a smell of alcohol and the mother admitted drinking wine with a neighbour that night. She was arrested, admitted to causing injuries, and expressed remorse, calling herself a "bad mother" and vowing never to drink again. The court, Judge Martin Nolan, described the case as "sad" and imposed a 16‑month suspended sentence, deciding she did not deserve prison at that point. Tusla took the three children into care; the victim has used Tusla's after‑care services and a safety plan has been put in place. The mother has complied with all instructions and engaged fully with the agency.
During the Stardust inquest, Chief Fire Officer Dennis Keeley testified that the increase in Dublin Fire Brigade stations and personnel since 1981 was largely a response to the 1981 Stardust nightclub fire that killed 48 people. He explained that the brigade now collects detailed building information—maps, hydrant locations, high‑risk facilities—from owners before incidents, and that this data is available to crews en route, shortening the "get to work" phase. Keeley noted that the brigade conducts unannounced inspections on about 70% of licence applications each year, visiting premises at least once every two years, and that 80‑90% of inspections are unannounced. He said the Dublin major emergency plan is rarely declared, recalling the 1987 Raglan House explosion as the last instance. Keeley also discussed the impact of the Building Control Act Regulations, the benefits of third‑party sign‑off, and the need for more frequent regulatory reviews.
Gerard O'Keeffe, 44, of Tallaght, pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography on his phone. He was found with four videos, ranging from 2½ to 30 minutes, three classified as Category 1 (explicit sexual acts involving female children) and one as Category 2 (children exposing genitalia). Gardaí, alerted by the Garda Online Child Exploitation Unit, seized his phone under a warrant; he cooperated, handed it over, and admitted to downloading the material from a chat website used by 50–60 users over three to five months. O'Keeffe, who has a prior assault conviction from his teens, expressed remorse and shame, and a letter of apology was presented. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a fully suspended two‑year sentence, noting no aggravating factors and ordering one year of probation supervision. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 7 February 2024.
A 53‑year‑old man from Coolock was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, with the final 20 months suspended, for attempting to meet and have sex with a 13‑year‑old girl who was a decoy bot set up by a vigilante group. The man, Shane Corrigan, used an online account to contact the bot, asking for explicit sexual acts and proposing a meeting at a hotel. He also asked the bot to bring her friends and a six‑year‑old cousin, and when the bot indicated she wanted to have sex with the six‑year‑old, he agreed. Defence counsel argued that Corrigan suffers from a mild intellectual disability and is a vulnerable adult. The court noted his early guilty plea, cooperation, good work history and lack of prior convictions as mitigating factors, but also stated that he knew his actions were wrong.
A jury in Dublin must decide whether Patrick McDonagh, 52, who killed 73‑year‑old Peter McDonald in a brutal machete attack, should be convicted of murder or manslaughter on the basis of a mental disorder. Mr Justice Michael MacGrath instructed the jury that if they find the prosecution has proved all elements of murder, they must then consider the defence of diminished responsibility under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006. The defence must prove it is probable that McDonagh had a mental disorder that substantially reduced his responsibility. Two psychiatrists gave conflicting diagnoses: Professor Patricia Casey, representing the defence, said McDonagh suffered acute schizophrenia; Dr Mary Davoren, for the prosecution, argued any abnormality was likely due to cannabis use. The judge emphasised the jury's role in determining responsibility, not the experts, and urged them to weigh all evidence, including witnesses describing McDonagh's behaviour before and after the killing. Patrick McDonagh pleaded not guilty. Peter McDonald pleaded not guilty.
In a sentence hearing at the Central Criminal Court, 35‑year‑old Charles McClean admitted that he had called his "associate" Mark 'Guinea Pig' Desmond to a drugs meeting in Griffeen Valley Park, Lucan, where Desmond was shot dead. McClean said he later removed Desmond's mobile phone at the request of gangster Wayne Whelan. He had previously pleaded guilty to impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Desmond on 2 December 2016, knowing or believing Desmond to be guilty of an arrestable offence. McClean is already serving a 16.5‑year sentence for facilitating a criminal organisation and for conspiring to murder Whelan. The hearing also noted that McClean had a motor business linked to Whelan and that he had travelled to Northern Ireland and Tenerife shortly after the shooting. The court remanded him in custody until his sentencing.
Patrick McDonagh, aged 52, is on trial for the murder of his neighbour Peter McDonald, aged 73, who died on 25 July 2020 after a brutal machete attack. The prosecution, represented by Philipp Rahn SC, argues that the multiple slash, chop and stab wounds inflicted with a machete and knife prove beyond reasonable doubt that McDonagh intended to kill or cause serious injury, and therefore the appropriate verdict is murder. McDonagh has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea the State has rejected. The defence, led by John Fitzgerald SC, contends that McDonagh was suffering from schizophrenia at the time of the attack, and that his mental disorder substantially reduced his responsibility, arguing for a manslaughter verdict. The case is being heard at the Central Criminal Court, with the judge to charge the jury tomorrow.
Christopher Dunne, 39, of The Charter, Santry Cross, Dublin, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment for a series of armed robberies committed between July and October 2022. He pleaded guilty to four counts of robbery from three different stores – Applegreen, Eurospar in Ballymun and Spar on Dorset Street Lower – and was also charged with attempted robbery. In July 2022 he robbed two tills, taking €720 from Applegreen and €400 from Eurospar, and €540 from Spar, all while armed with a knife. After being released on bail, he robbed a Tesco Express in Bolton Street with a realistic imitation revolver, demanding a cashier hand over €2,000 and ordering a security guard to kneel. He then attempted to rob a Gala shop, was sprayed with insect repellent and fled. Gardaí located him at his Santry address after a tip‑off; he was found hiding in a bathroom and was taken into custody.
An American man, Caleb Williams, 35, was sentenced to five years in jail in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after being found with 60 packs of cannabis worth €542,000 in his luggage on his first trip outside the United States. Williams, who had no prior convictions in the US, claimed he thought the drugs were a small amount and was unaware of their quantity, stating he had not opened the suitcases. He said he was transporting the cannabis for a fee of about $5,000–$6,000 and did not know that cannabis is illegal in Ireland, though it is legal in his native Florida. Williams was stopped by customs after acting uneasily at Dublin Airport, where his three suitcases were searched. He was detained upon arrival and has been in custody since. Caleb Williams pleaded guilty.
Fergal McGrath, a carpet salesman, was dismissed by Lynfrae Trading Company Ltd (trading as Kashan Carpets) after his former boss accused him of misusing a company credit card for cigarettes, lotto tickets and pub expenses. The Workplace Relations Commission found the disciplinary process fundamentally flawed: no written notice of allegations, no notes taken, no appeal provision, and the same person who made the charges acted as the disciplinary officer. McGrath claimed the pub expenses were for missed lunches during delivery runs and that the cigarette and lotto purchase was a one‑off mistake he would have reimbursed. He also argued that the company's van was damaged while he was driving and that he had no knowledge of the damage until later. The tribunal awarded him €18,000 for unfair dismissal, covering almost six months of losses. The decision highlighted the employer's procedural failures and the lack of a proper disciplinary procedure.
In the High Court, Ryanair unreservedly apologised to Eoin Michael Cahill, a quantity surveyor, after incorrectly banning him from flying and writing to his employer identifying him as a disruptive passenger. Mr Justice Rory Mulcahy was informed that the airline accepted Mr Cahill was mistakenly identified as a passenger involved in an altercation with staff on January 2nd. Ryanair, represented by Martin Hayden SC, stated the ban has been withdrawn and offered to correct the record with Mr Cahill's employer, the Jones Engineering Group. The airline proposed paying €10,000 in compensation plus legal costs. Mr Cahill, represented by Paul O'Higgins SC and solicitor CW Ashe, had sought an injunction to lift the ban and correct the defamation, along with damages. He claimed the false allegations threatened his professional reputation, particularly as he travels between Ireland and Denmark for work. Ryanair had previously argued Mr Cahill did not allow sufficient time for an investigation, but the court found the airline had known of the complaint for some time. Mr Justice Mulcahy ordered Ryanair to pay Mr Cahill's legal costs for the injunction proceedings. The matter was effectively resolved through the airline's apology and offer of amends, with the court addressing the costs of the pretrial application.
Four men entered a Dublin secondary school at about 2 pm on 13 October 2022 and violently confronted a teenage boy. CCTV showed the men entering the school, the boy taking a hammer from his bag in self‑defence and fleeing, and the fourth man—who is not yet before the courts—throwing a steel pole at the boy, narrowly missing him. The third man, Josh Neary (22), grabbed the boy's bag and threw it. Staff removed the men from the school; no physical injuries were reported. Garda Aisling Halligan told the court that students were frightened and a staff member retired because of the incident. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced the three men who pleaded guilty to violent disorder to 16 months' imprisonment, suspending the sentence in full for Jack Craig (21) who had no prior convictions and played a minor role. Neary and Scott Purdue (25) received the full 16‑month terms.
A man named Michael Crotty, aged 41, admitted to facilitating the Kinahan Cartel by buying a mobile top‑up for Sean McGovern, a leading figure in the cartel, during a Special Criminal Court hearing. Crotty had previously pleaded not guilty to a charge related to the 2016 murder of Noel 'Duck Egg' Kirwan, an innocent man mistakenly targeted by the cartel. In the hearing, Crotty pleaded guilty to a new charge of recklessness under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act, stating he had no intention for the top‑up to be used in endangering anyone. The court noted that Kirwan was shot dead after the Regency Hotel attack, which had involved the cartel. The judge extended Crotty's bail and adjourned sentencing to April 22. The trial had been scheduled for up to five weeks and included testimony on the cartel's structure and activities.
Patrick McDonagh, aged 52, is on trial for the murder of neighbour Peter McDonald, 73, on 25 July 2020. He pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea the State rejected. Consultant psychiatrist Dr Mary Davoren testified that McDonagh was not suffering a mental disorder at the time of the alleged offence; she attributed any abnormality to cannabis use. She described McDonagh as unreliable, noting inconsistencies in his accounts of drug use and memory. Davoren highlighted a history of substance misuse, including cannabis and benzodiazepines, and a refusal of a urinary drug screen four days after the incident. She also reported bizarre symptoms McDonagh claimed, such as seeing a bull and hearing voices, which she deemed atypical for schizophrenia. Professor Patricia Casey, called by the defence, argued that McDonagh's symptoms were reduced by acute schizophrenia. The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath and a jury.
James Doyle, 37, of Walkinstown, was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in jail for dangerous driving that caused serious bodily harm to Emily Doyle when he struck her on Cromwellsfort Road on 23 April 2020. Doyle had been driving at speeds up to 130 km/h in a 50 km/h residential zone and was travelling about 80–90 km/h at the moment of impact, breaking Doyle's back and both legs. He had 47 prior convictions, including two for dangerous driving and four for unauthorised vehicle taking. At the Court of Appeal, Mr Justice George Birmingham reduced the sentence by one year, citing mitigating factors such as Doyle's ADHD, addiction history, early plea, remorse and pro‑social life. The new sentence is two-and-a-half years with a six‑year driving ban, and the appeal was granted on the basis that the original sentence was excessive and disproportionate. James Doyle pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Elva Duffy heard that Lee Byrne (23) and Sam Garvey (25) pleaded guilty to robbery on Phibsborough Road on 1 October 2022. The robbery involved a mobile phone taken from a cyclist who was then punched, threatened and struck with a bottle. The victim suffered bruising and swelling to the back of his head and reported lasting emotional distress. Byrne and Garvey were arrested after a search that recovered the stolen phone. Both men have prior convictions and have been in residential treatment for addiction. The judge noted their rehabilitation efforts but emphasised the robbery's profound effect on the victim. She adjourned the case to 20 January 2025, remanded them on bail, and said further positive steps would influence future sentencing. The hearing included the victim's impact statement and letters of remorse from the accused.
Aaron Ryan, aged 23 when the incident occurred, was punched in the head by his former best friend Jamie Tyler, who was serving a suspended sentence for a drug offence. The blow caused Ryan to fall, hit the floor and suffer a catastrophic brain bleed, leaving him unconscious and severely injured. Ryan spent eight months in hospital and rehabilitation, with permanent short‑term memory loss, paralysis, pain, headaches, vertigo, hypersensitivity and PTSD. He has been unable to perform simple tasks and lives with constant double vision and fear of noise. Tyler, aged 27, was sentenced to two years in prison for assault causing serious harm. He has denied full responsibility, offered no apology, and has not called emergency services. The court noted his remorse and the mitigating circumstances, reducing the sentence to two years. The case will return on 15 February to decide how to apply Tyler's suspended sentence.
A 41‑year‑old man was sentenced to 18 months in prison, with the last six months suspended, for sexually assaulting his partner's 15‑year‑old niece at a birthday party in her family home. He pleaded guilty on 19 September 2020 after initially denying the charge. The assault involved the accused placing his hands on the girl's hips, making sexual suggestions, entering her bedroom after she went to bed, touching her bottom and digitally penetrating her. The victim's mother witnessed the man in the bedroom and the girl later reported the incident to Gardaí. She has since experienced suicidal thoughts and self‑harm. The judge cited the age difference, power imbalance, the setting in the victim's home and the serious impact on the victim as aggravating factors, while noting the defendant's guilty plea, remorse and lack of prior convictions as mitigating factors. The sentence includes 12 months of probation supervision after release.
Phung Sein Tran, 43, an American from Seattle, pleaded guilty to smuggling 27 kg of cannabis into Dublin Airport on 29 May. The drug, valued at €540,820, was found in two large suitcases after an X‑ray anomaly. Tran admitted the purpose was to smuggle the cannabis for €8,000, meeting an unknown person at the Burlington Hotel. He was arrested, entered custody on the same day, and was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to five and a half years in jail, a sentence backdated to the arrest date. Tran had cooperated with Gardaí, pleaded early, and had a good work history, though he has minor juvenile misdemeanour and traffic offences. He has shown remorse and is training with the Irish Red Cross in prison. The judge noted his previous good behaviour and unlikely re‑offending.
Lucas Procopio Jefferson, 24, was sentenced to two years in prison for smuggling 1.9 kilos of cocaine, worth about €138,000, into Dublin Port on 1 June last year. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Martin Nolan described the offence as a "crime of desperation" carried out to relieve threats against him and his family, and possibly for profit. Jefferson came from a very poor background in rural Brazil, had lived in Portugal for several years, and had no prior convictions in Ireland, Brazil or Portugal. Garda officers stopped him at the immigration desk, examined his suitcase and found the concealed compartment with the drugs. Jefferson cooperated and made admissions. He is seeking asylum in Ireland and has used his time in custody constructively, working in the kitchen and studying. The sentence was back‑dated to the date of his arrest in June.
Miley McDonald, 19, was sentenced by Judge Orla Crowe to a fully suspended two‑year imprisonment for robbing €4,000 in cash from a woman who had withdrawn the money to buy a car for her autistic son. The robbery took place on 18 November 2021 in Wicklow Town when McDonald, then 17, followed the victim from an AIB branch, seized the envelope of €50 notes, and fled in a silver Peugeot. The money was recovered under the passenger seat after the vehicle was stopped at a Garda checkpoint. McDonald pleaded guilty and expressed remorse, noting the incident was isolated. The judge highlighted the victim's ongoing distress and the lack of prior convictions, and warned that any future Garda attention could lead to the sentence being re‑entered. The case remains at the District Court stage.
An expert witness has stated that the architects of the Stardust nightclub had 'little or no knowledge of fire safety', which, combined with the lack of a functioning fire alarm and obstructed exits, contributed to the loss of life during the 1981 fire. Martin Davidson, a fire engineer with 29 years of experience, testified that the layout of the Stardust was 'fundamentally okay' but was undermined by poor fire safety strategy. He explained that the fire alarm only sent a signal to the management office and did not sound for patrons, a decision made at the insistence of Dublin Corporation to avoid panic, but which delayed evacuation. Davidson noted that most patrons did not realize the severity of the situation until screens were raised in the area where the fire was first observed. He also highlighted that the presence of carpet tiles on the walls rendered the means of escape redundant and that staff had no fire safety training.
During the Central Criminal Court trial, Dr Mary Davoren, a consultant forensic psychiatrist, testified that Patrick McDonagh's mental health difficulties are more consistent with long‑term substance misuse than schizophrenia. McDonagh, 52, is charged with murdering his neighbour Peter McDonald, 73, on Whitechapel Road on 25 July 2020, and has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea the State has rejected. Dr Davoren reviewed McDonagh's psychiatric history, noting initial diagnoses of schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder but later conclusions that substance misuse—particularly benzodiazepine dependence—was the primary issue. She recounted McDonagh's admissions of cocaine use beginning at 24 or 25 in London, heroin use from 19, and extensive cannabis consumption prior to the death, while denying other drug use in that period. Her evidence will continue before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath and a jury tomorrow.
The High Court struck out a High Court action brought by Aaron Rodericks, co-lead of Threat Disruption at X, against Twitter International Unlimited Company. Mr. Rodericks, who resides in Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin, alleged he was subjected to a "sham" disciplinary process and suspended for allegedly liking tweets critical of X, its owner Elon Musk, and CEO Linda Yaccarino. He claimed the process breached fair procedures and his contract, while the company denied wrongdoing. Counsel for both parties informed Mr. Justice Mark Sanfey that the matter had been resolved, and the judge ordered the proceedings struck out. Settlement terms were not disclosed. Separately, the court granted an ex-parte application allowing Mr. Rodericks to serve defamation proceedings on Mr. Musk in San Francisco. Mr. Rodericks alleges a tweet by Mr. Musk, which stated the "Election Integrity team" was "gone," defamed him by implying he undermined election integrity and was incompetent. He seeks damages, including exemplary and aggravated damages, from Mr. Musk and X Corp's Irish subsidiary. The court noted that Mr. Musk had not responded to requests to remove the tweet or make amends.
Ms Li Sun, a Dublin-based Chinese businesswoman, has launched High Court proceedings against Clonmannon House Retirement Village Limited. Ms Sun claims she invested €1m in 2019 through the Irish Immigrant Investor Programme, expecting to secure an Irish Visa and receive €1.3m, including interest, after five years. She alleges she has only received €100,000 and that the defendant has refused to provide quarterly management accounts or allow inspection of its books. Ms Sun expresses concern that the company may dissipate assets to avoid payment. The defendant's solicitors have denied any wrongdoing and stated Ms Sun has no reason for complaint. Ms Sun, represented by Sean O'Sullivan BL, secured a temporary High Court injunction on an ex-parte basis from Mr Justice Mark Sanfey. The order restrains the defendant from disbursing, dissipating, or disposing of any monies received from the sale or disposal of its assets or shares. The judge noted the need for caution in granting freezing orders after hearing only one side but was satisfied to grant the temporary order. The matter was adjourned to a date later this week. Ms Sun also seeks judgment for €1.3m, damages for breach of contract, and orders directing the defendant to provide accounts and freeze assets below a certain level pending the determination of the proceedings.
Andrew Cash, 32, was sentenced to eight years in prison, with the final year suspended, after pleading guilty to multiple offences including theft, robbery, attempted robbery and assault causing harm. The court heard that between May and November 2020 he carried out a series of violent robberies across Dublin, most notably an attack in Crane Lane where he punched a victim, kicked him to the ground, stamped on his head and left him with a concussion, slipped discs and a minor brain bleed. CCTV footage showed Cash returning with two accomplices to repeat the assault. He also pleaded guilty to a robbery at a launderette and theft of a debit card and mobile phone from an unconscious man. The judge cited his 66 prior convictions, the violence used and the threat of knives as aggravating factors, while noting his guilty plea, homelessness and substance abuse as mitigating.
Kacper Koszarski, 23, faced a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing after a series of violent burglaries and high‑speed car chases. He pleaded guilty to 17 charges, including four counts of dangerous driving, four of trespass, one of endangerment, four of criminal damage, two of burglary, one of knife production and one of unauthorised vehicle taking. The court noted his 39 prior convictions, seven of them theft, and warned that a "sentence of some significance" would be imposed. Judge Elva Duffy adjourned the case to 22 March for a probation report, urine analysis and governor's report, remanding Koszarski in custody. The hearing covered incidents from a Maynooth burglary where a Renault Megane was taken and chased, to multiple garden trespasses in Dublin where knives were found. Koszarski's partner testified about their son with additional needs, and he expressed remorse and a desire for rehabilitation. The court considered his young age, addiction history and willingness to cooperate. The case remains pending.
Jonathan Moles, aged 30, was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for a series of violent offences. He pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a woman and assault causing harm to her at a flat on Botanic Avenue on 8 August 2020, to assaulting a man at an ATM on Capel Street on 8 July 2019, to assaulting a man on 18 November 2019 and robbing him of over €2,000, and to assaulting a man on 18 November 2019. The court noted Moles' "violent disposition" and cumulative misbehaviour. He has 40 prior convictions, mainly for money laundering and drug possession, and no other convictions for assault or robbery. The judge accepted his guilty pleas, remorse and rehabilitation efforts, and imposed the sentence accordingly.
The Stardust management only complied with ten of 26 by-laws set down as terms of the nightclub's planning permission, an inquest jury has heard, with a lack of fire drills, lack of staff training, and the locking and obstructing of exits all showing non-compliance. Martin Davidson, a fire engineer with 29 years of experience, gave evidence in the Dublin District Coroner's Court during the inquest into the fire that killed 48 people in 1981. He stated that no revised drawings were submitted showing the use of carpet tiles on the walls instead of plastered walls. Doors were fitted with metal shutters that were fully down and locked, and temporary barriers were used, reducing exit width. Chains and padlocks were used on exit doors, which were not secured by automatic fastenings as required. Stardust manager Eamon Butterly confirmed that exits one, five and six were locked until between 11.30pm and midnight.
Charlie Lawlor, 21, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to a woman and assaulting her partner during an incident on 11 August 2022 in Church Street, Dun Laoghaire. The attack followed a dispute with his girlfriend after they had been chatting with a gay couple in a local pub. Lawlor threw homophobic slurs such as "fuck the gays" and "dirty gays" and punched one woman, causing a facial laceration that required surgery and numerous stitches in her mouth. The other woman suffered bruising to her face. The court heard the victims were emotionally scarred and that one woman was left with a permanent facial scar. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Lawlor to two and a half years, fully suspended, and ordered him to pay €7,000 to the more seriously injured woman and €1,000 to the other within nine months, with compensation to a charity if declined. Lawlor expressed remorse and is studying for a PLC course.
Patrick McDonagh, 52, is on trial accused of murdering his next-door neighbour, Peter McDonald, 73, with a machete on Whitechapel Road on July 25, 2020. McDonagh has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea the State has not accepted. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Michael MacGrath, heard evidence from consultant psychiatrist Prof Patricia Casey. She testified that McDonagh, who has a long history of schizophrenia dating back to 2001, was suffering from an acute psychotic episode at the time of the alleged killing. Prof Casey stated she did not believe McDonagh was feigning his delusional beliefs, which included identifying himself as Moses and his sister as the Blessed Virgin. She noted that McDonagh told her he was turned away from Connolly Hospital the day before the incident due to Covid restrictions. Prof Casey opined that his mental disorder substantially diminished his responsibility under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006. The trial continues.
The State applied to transfer the trial of Jason O'Connor, 45, accused of attempting to murder Charlie Cooper on 5 December 2016 at Parslickstown Green, Mulhuddart, to the Special Criminal Court. O'Connor also faces charges for possessing a 9mm firearm and 12 rounds of ammunition with intent to endanger life at the same place and time. At a non‑jury court hearing, State solicitor Michael O'Donovan secured a successful ex‑parte application, and Judge Caroline Biggs granted the transfer, adjourned the case to 7 February, and the trial will now be heard by a three‑judge Special Criminal Court.
Ciaran Foster, 30, a former Defence Forces member, was jailed for a year after pleading guilty to a robbery on Westmoreland Street, Dublin 2, on 23 July 2019. He punched an unarmed victim, knocking him unconscious for three and a half minutes, and stole a bag, a mobile phone and a watch. Garda Sean Tully reported that the victim had stopped to chat with someone he knew when Foster attacked him. CCTV footage showed the assault and Foster's escape. Foster was arrested on 9 November 2019. He had 13 prior convictions for traffic offences, criminal damage, public order and drug misuse. Judge Elma Duffy described the attack as "callous" and "unprovoked", noting Foster's difficult childhood and Defence Forces service as mitigating factors, but also the cowardly nature of the robbery as aggravating. Foster was sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended on strict conditions.
An expert witness, Dr Will Hutchinson, testified at the Stardust inquest that a fire could have started in the hot press of the dispense bar without being noticed by staff. He explained that if the fire originated there, it would have been contained in the cabinet and channeled upwards like a chimney, traveling into the ceiling void without producing noise or smoke for several minutes. The sound of music in the club may have masked any sounds from the fire. Dr Hutchinson noted that the fire could have developed unnoticed due to the absence of heat, smoke, or noise. He also discussed the possibility of the fire spreading through the ceiling void, igniting combustible materials, and eventually reaching the West alcove. The expert confirmed that no evidence suggested the fire was started maliciously. The inquest continues.
Michael Kelly, 34, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting a female taxi driver after they refused to pay her fare. The incident occurred on 19 December 2022 when Kelly and his partner left a taxi without paying, walked into their home, and the driver pursued them to the front door. Kelly pulled the driver by her jumper and punched her several times, causing bruising and tenderness to her face. CCTV contradicted his claim of self‑defence. He has seven prior minor traffic convictions. The judge, Martin Nolan, imposed a suspended two‑year jail sentence and ordered Kelly to pay the driver €3,000 within nine months, or donate the amount to charity if she declines. The sentence was suspended on conditions, and no custodial time was imposed at this stage. The driver suffered nausea and dizziness and was treated at hospital the next day.
Oliver Moore, 55, was sentenced to a four‑year suspended term for attempting to set fire to a house on 18 November 2022. He had a long‑standing grievance with the former resident, unaware that the house was now occupied by three students. Gardai found him early in the morning trying to push burning newspaper through the letterbox, claiming he intended to "burn him out." The students heard banging, saw him shouting, and fled to the garden before calling the police. Moore pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The judge noted his attempts were ineffectual but serious, and, citing mitigating factors, imposed the suspended sentence with conditions, warning him it was his first and last chance. He had no prior convictions and had not returned to the property since the incident.
Eoin Michael Cahill, a quantity surveyor, has filed a High Court claim against Ryanair, alleging defamation and an unjust travel ban. Cahill asserts that Ryanair accused him of disruptive behaviour on a flight he did not take and that an email sent to his employer on January 3, 2024, falsely claimed he was disruptive on a Dublin Airport journey. He says the airline's ban prevents him from travelling to Denmark for work and threatens his professional reputation. Cahill has requested details of the alleged behaviour, a correction to the employer, and lifting of the ban. Ryanair initially considered reversing the ban but later asked for time to investigate. Cahill's lawyers seek damages, injunctions against further defamation, and an order preventing Ryanair from maintaining the ban during the trial. The case is set to return to court in early February.
A 42‑year‑old convicted murderer, Richard Kearney, was sentenced to eight years in prison for a series of offences committed while on temporary release from a life sentence. In March 2023 he briefly imprisoned a former prison chaplain in her bathroom, then robbed and assaulted an 86‑year‑old woman in Clondalkin, and later attacked two priests in Clondalkin. He attempted to choke a 74‑year‑old priest, broke the hip of an 86‑year‑old priest, and locked both priests in an office while taking a phone and cash. The court noted the victims were elderly and unable to resist. Kearney's temporary release was revoked after the offences, and the Parole Board will consider his conduct separately. The judge highlighted that the attacks were similar to the murder for which Kearney was originally convicted in 2001. The sentence was back‑dated to March 2023. Richard Kearney pleaded guilty.
In a landmark ruling, the Court of Appeal held that CCTV footage can be used as evidence in criminal trials, rejecting arguments that its use breaches constitutional and EU rights. Mr Justice John Edwards, in the case of Philip Dunbar, who murdered a homeless man with a disability by stabbing him 183 times, said that where such evidence exists, it would be a dereliction of duty if Gardaí did not access and use it. He noted that data protection laws allow CCTV processing when necessary and proportionate for preventing, detecting, investigating or prosecuting crime. The judge described the footage as highly relevant, obtained from private homes, businesses and public places such as footpaths, roads, a public park, a bus and a shopping centre. He dismissed the appeal, stating that the arguments were "lacking in reality" and that no rights were breached.
Stewart Goodwin, 46, of Ashbourne, was found guilty of deceiving Old Borough National School in Swords by installing inferior flooring, resulting in a loss of €15,240. He pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after a District Court charge. Goodwin had been hired to repair a flood‑damaged floor, paid a deposit, and agreed on a specific type of wood. He instead ordered cheaper, lower‑quality timber, removed the old floor, and installed a thinner, untreated surface. The school cancelled the contract and demanded a refund. Goodwin repaid €9,510 in June but still owed €15,240. He expressed remorse, claiming he intended to improve the floor later. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a 21‑month suspended sentence, requiring Goodwin to repay the full €15,240 within one year under strict conditions. No victim impact statement was prepared.
Philip Dunbar, aged 23, was found guilty of murder after stabbing Adam 'Floater' Muldoon 183 times in an unprovoked attack in Tallaght in 2018. He appealed his conviction, arguing a mental disorder caused by chronic drug use and that CCTV evidence infringed his privacy. The Court of Appeal, hearing via video-link, dismissed all grounds. Justice John Edwards noted the appeal was "bordering on un-statable" and that privacy claims were "misconceived". He emphasised that without an expert opinion proving a mental disorder at the time of the murder, the defence could not rely on that defence. The court also rejected arguments about the admissibility of admissions and a key witness's evidence. Dunbar remains imprisoned, with no changes to his sentence announced. The case highlights the court's stance on mental disorder defenses and CCTV use in criminal trials.
Three men – Steven Byrne (36), Jonathan Dolan (47) and Anthony Grogan (55) – pleaded guilty to two counts of assaulting Gardaí and one count of violent disorder for an unprovoked attack on two Gardaí outside a takeaway on Ballyfermot Road on 21 November 2022. The Gardaí, Phillip Nash, Sean Savage and Nicole Malcolmson, were injured; Savage required staples and stitches to his head and Malcolmson suffered a knee injury. CCTV footage was shown in court. The men were arrested at the scene or later that day. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced each to 27 months imprisonment, to run concurrently on each count of assault and the violent disorder count. The sentence was imposed after the men pleaded guilty, cooperated, made admissions and expressed remorse. The court noted the Gardaí were performing their lawful duty when assaulted. The men's prior convictions were mentioned but did not affect the sentencing. The sentence was delivered in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
During the Stardust inquest, expert witness Dr Will Hutchinson, a fire investigator with 23 years of experience, stated that an electrical fault in a hot press was a likely cause of the 1981 nightclub fire that killed 48 people. He explained that defects in the electrical installation, including overloading of circuits and a removed plastic cover on the hot press's upper immersion unit, could have produced excess heat and ignited the wiring. The presence of combustible carpet tiles on the walls, combined with a low ceiling, contributed to the rapid spread of the fire. Dr Hutchinson confirmed that PVC-coated seats could ignite from flaming droplets, and that the carpet tiles' ignition increased heat output, leading to the uncontrolled blaze. The inquest will continue tomorrow in the Rotunda Hospital's Pillar Room.
A 32‑year‑old South African woman, Anele Ngwenya, was sentenced to 16 months' imprisonment in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for assisting the entry of a 16‑year‑old Congolese girl into Ireland on a fake passport. Ngwenya pleaded guilty to the offence of assisting the entry of another person at Terminal Two, Dublin Airport on 5 October 2023. She claimed she had agreed to escort the girl for €971 after being approached by members of her church in Johannesburg, describing the act as a "crime of desperation". The girl, who is now under Tusla's care, travelled from Paris with Ngwenya, who was questioned by immigration officers about her purpose of travel. Ngwenya had no prior convictions in Ireland or South Africa. The court accepted that there were no aggravating features and imposed a 16‑month custodial sentence, describing the offence as serious but not an insidious human trafficking case.
A 36‑year‑old woman, Christine Ward, was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison for her role in a violent robbery of a 79‑year‑old widower in Artane on 2 November 2018. Ward, who had previously called the victim for money, entered his home with her former partner Derek Bewley, who wielded a claw hammer. The victim was stabbed repeatedly, had his hearing aid shattered, and was robbed of €600, his phone, and his car. Ward pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and other counts, and the judge noted the offence was against a vulnerable elderly man. Ward's sentence of 10 years, with 18 months suspended, reflects the seriousness of the crime. Bewley, aged 48, is due to be sentenced later. The court also heard of a separate robbery of a visually impaired man on the same day, but Ward's sentence concerns the Artane incident.
Mark Kelly, 26, of Blanchardstown, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three and a half years in prison. Kelly pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply and possession of cash believed to be proceeds of crime, both alleged to have occurred at his home on June 29, 2022. The court heard that Gardaí found cocaine with an estimated street value of €285,000, along with €3,575 in cash, weighing scales, knives, and baggies during a warrant search. Kelly admitted to officers that he was holding the drugs to settle a €3,000 debt incurred through his own cocaine use, stating he had been threatened and was in debt for approximately six months. Defence counsel Tony McGillicuddy SC submitted that Kelly had no previous convictions, had lost his job, and immediately took responsibility for the drugs to protect others. Judge Martin Nolan acknowledged that Kelly acted at the lower end of the enterprise and had "got in over his head" due to addiction, but noted he was a "vital cog" in the supply chain. The judge jailed Kelly for three and a half years.
Nicolae Dulea, 36, of Tyrellstown, Dublin, was jailed for 18 months after pleading guilty to non‑payment of duty on 40,000 untaxed cigarettes and to keeping 60,600 cigarettes and 4.5 kg of fine‑cut tobacco without tax stamps. The cigarettes were discovered in a pallet that a detection dog flagged on 11 November 2021; the pallet, listed as children's playthings, contained two boxes of untaxed cigarettes totalling a €24,580 loss to the State. A separate search of a storage container rented to Prunesso Europe Ltd on the same day uncovered 60,600 cigarettes and 4.5 kg of tobacco, a €38,198.75 loss. The total loss to the State was €61,788. Dulea had two prior convictions, the most recent in 2013. He claimed to be a wholesaler of dried fruits and said he was collecting the boxes for a friend. He was cooperative, pleaded early, and his wife attended court.
In the Central Criminal Court, Patrick McDonagh (52) is on trial for the murder of his neighbour Peter McDonald (73) on 25 July 2020. McDonagh pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea the State has not accepted. He is charged with killing McDonald with a machete, resulting in head and neck wounds. The court heard that McDonagh, who has bipolar disorder, had not taken his medication for months before the attack, claiming it left him "defenceless against satan" and caused heart palpitations. Care worker Aaron Murtagh Casey testified that McDonagh was disorientated during a call with Gardaí, who later used a Taser to subdue him after a stand‑off. The jury is to decide whether McDonagh's mental state constitutes a diminished‑responsibility defence. The trial is before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath with a jury of nine men and three women.
Charles McClean, aged 35, already serving 16.5 years for facilitating a criminal organisation and conspiracy to murder Wayne Whelan, pleaded guilty to impeding the apprehension of the person who murdered gangland figure Mark 'Guinea Pig' Desmond in Lucan on 2 December 2016. McClean admitted he knew or believed the murderer was guilty of an arrestable offence, namely Desmond's murder, and that he had impeded the investigation. He was originally charged with Desmond's murder on the same day. The case was heard before the Central Criminal Court, where Mr Justice Paul McDermott remanded McClean in custody until 6 February for a sentence hearing and directed the preparation of a victim impact report. The hearing was scheduled to last 40 minutes. McClean's earlier convictions include an eight‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for facilitating the fatal shooting of Thomas McCarthy in 2020 and an eight‑year sentence for conspiracy to murder Whelan in 2021.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 33‑year‑old Daragh Houlihan pleaded guilty to robbery for an incident on 4 May 2021 in which he attacked his pregnant girlfriend, wrestled with her over a knife, pushed and kicked her, and stole her phone. The judge described his conduct as "utterly reprehensible" and noted the victim's pregnancy and the relationship's end. Houlihan's addiction to cocaine and heroin was cited as a mitigating factor. The court imposed a headline sentence of three years, reduced to two years and three months, and suspended the entire term for three years on strict conditions, including no contact with the victim and notification of any new intimate relationship. Houlihan agreed to participate in programs addressing intimate partner violence, anger management, and offence‑focused intervention. The victim's impact statement highlighted her fear and emotional distress following the assault. The case concluded with a fully suspended sentence and no custodial time.