A 61-year-old former scout leader has been sentenced to six years imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following his guilty plea to three counts of sexual assault committed between 1991 and 2000. The man, whose identity is protected to safeguard victims' anonymity, abused three boys aged between 11 and 14 at a scouting den in Dublin and at locations in Waterford and Monaghan. The abuse included inappropriate touching, masturbation and oral sex. Judge Martin Nolan described the defendant's conduct as "very serious" and "very reprehensible," noting he had abused his position of trust and authority over vulnerable, impressionable children and their families. The court imposed three-year sentences on each count, with two to run consecutively. Three victim impact statements were presented, with victims describing long-term psychological harm, damaged trust and ongoing mental health difficulties. The defence highlighted the defendant's guilty plea, work history and psychological assessment indicating low re-offending risk, though the judge found these factors provided only limited mitigation.
Debbie Paget, 56, of Knowth Court, Ballymun, Dublin, was convicted in May 2024 for dishonestly inducing James Byrne to give her €10,000 by claiming his deceased father had instructed her to receive the money, and for a lesser charge of inducing Maria Byrne to give €200. The jury found her guilty on the first count and not guilty on the second. She was jailed for one year by Judge Pauline Codd on 10 July. In the appeal, counsel argued that the trial judge erred by not directing a not‑guilty verdict at the close of the prosecution case, citing alleged inconsistencies in witness statements. The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, affirming the jury's findings and the conviction. The case remains at the sentencing stage, with no further outcome reported in the article.
During a stand‑off at a Dublin house, Detective Garda Michael Hughes sprinkled himself and armed officers with holy water after the accused, Patrick McDonagh, claimed he was speaking to God and accused the Garda of being the devil. McDonagh, 52, had a history of mental health issues and was surrounded by armed Gardaí and negotiators. He was later subdued and arrested. The Central Criminal Court heard that McDonagh had murdered his neighbour, 73‑year‑old Peter McDonald, on 25 July 2020, using a machete. Forensic evidence from blood stains on the victim's home matched McDonald's DNA, indicating a violent assault. McDonagh pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter; the State has not accepted the plea. The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath with a jury of nine men and three women.
Michelle Spellissy, a solicitor with the Legal Aid Board, brought a whistleblower penalisation claim after her manager docked her a day's pay and opened a disciplinary process when she complained about headaches and electrical shocks caused by a noisy ventilation fan in her office. She also alleged that her absence from work while attending a State‑sponsored Irish exam was treated as unauthorised. The Workplace Relations Commission found that the Board had not properly determined whether her absence was unauthorised, noting that Spellissy had not been told how the Board wanted her to treat exams or study time. The WRC awarded her €123.50 in back pay and dismissed her other complaints, concluding that the Board's actions did not amount to penalisation. The case remains at the employment‑tribunal stage, with no further outcome reported.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, William Cassidy, 59, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment for arson at Apache Pizza and three and a half years for assault causing harm, the last two years suspended. Cassidy had thrown two petrol bombs into the pizzeria on 9 July, set his jacket on fire, and then attempted to stab a female pedestrian on Drumcondra Road. He told Gardaí he sought "suicide by cop" and that the petrol bombs were intended for self‑harm. The court noted he had previously complained about noise from the shop, had a history of suicidal ideation and had stopped seeing his psychiatrist. Cassidy pleaded guilty to arson, possession of petrol bombs, assault, and possession of a knife. The judge described him as a dangerous man suffering mental health difficulties and said he was unlikely to reoffend with proper treatment.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Chen Hsien Tsai, 59, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for money‑laundering after he was found carrying more than €1.78 million in cash at Dublin Airport's Terminal One on 7 March. The cash, in euro, sterling and US dollars, was discovered in two envelopes and in bags that also contained food and sanitary items. Tsai, who has no fixed abode in Ireland and no prior convictions in Ireland or the UK, claimed he was merely transporting the money for a friend and was not paid for the service. He admitted to being afraid and frightened when arrested. Judge Martin Nolan noted that an English‑speaking national might have received a longer sentence and that the prison could be a lonely place for a foreign national. The sentence was back‑dated to the day of his arrest. The case has attracted the interest of UK authorities. Chen Hsien Tsai pleaded guilty.
Tadhg Keely, 19, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for stealing a Toyota Aqua from Belview Court, Blackrock, Co Dublin, and endangerment on the N81 Tallaght bypass. He pleaded guilty to these charges and further admitted to dangerous driving on the N7 in Naas, Co Kildare. Judge Martin Nolan described the incident as extremely dangerous, noting Keely's "disgraceful behaviour" when he drove through traffic cones, forcing a workman to "jump for his life." The court heard Keely led ten garda patrol cars on a 40-minute chase at speeds exceeding 160km/h, blowing two tyres and driving on the wrong side of the road. He was sentenced to three and a half years in prison, with the final year suspended due to his young age, guilty plea, and difficult background. Judge Nolan disqualified Keely from driving for three years and ordered one year of probation supervision upon release. Keely, who has 36 previous convictions, was in State care at the time. The matter was finalised with this sentence.
Michael Dunne, 50, a serial offender with 51 prior convictions, was sentenced by Judge Orla Crowe at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 18 months for throwing blue paint on a Luke Kelly statue, causing €240 damage. Nine months of the sentence were suspended on strict conditions. Dunne pleaded guilty on 12 July 2020 and had previously missed a sentencing date in December, leading to a bench warrant. The judge cited aggravating factors such as his criminal history and the bench warrant, but also noted mitigating factors including his guilty plea, expressions of remorse, vulnerable history, and personal circumstances. Garda David Kelly identified Dunne through CCTV footage. Defence counsel highlighted his drug addiction, mental health difficulties, and the impact on his family. The court acknowledged the case's media attention but emphasized that Dunne must face the consequences of his actions.
During the Dublin District Coroner's Court inquest into the 1981 Stardust nightclub fire, expert witness Dr Will Hutchinson testified that no accelerant was found and there was no evidence the fire in the west alcove was caused by arson. He explained that the Gardaí investigation had focused on the alcove, where the fire was first seen, and that samples taken over three days revealed no arson‑related substances. Hutchinson noted that witnesses who reported seeing a fire outside the club were observing a separate blaze, likely in the roof space, and that the timing of calls to emergency services supported this. He also discussed the possibility of expanded polystyrene insulation (Polyzote) on heating ducts as a potential fuel source, but confirmed no evidence of deliberate ignition in the alcove. The inquest will resume next Monday.
In a Central Criminal Court murder trial, the accused Patrick McDonagh (52) is charged with the death of his neighbour Peter McDonald (73) on Whitechapel Road, Clonsilla, Dublin 15, on 25 July 2020. McDonagh is alleged to have swung a machete at Garda armed support units who had forced entry to his home before being tasered and restrained. McDonagh pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea the State has not accepted. The trial heard that McDonald was found face‑down on his driveway, surrounded by blood, with a deep laceration from under his left ear to the Adam's apple and a deep cut on his left forearm. The injuries were described as incompatible with life. The case is proceeding before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath and a jury of nine men and three women.
Steven Russell, 47, of Cooperhill, Julianstown, was given a fully suspended one‑year prison sentence after pleading guilty to exposing his penis to a 10‑year‑old school girl in September 2020. He was ordered to pay €5,000 to the child's parents or guardians within six months to help cover therapy and counselling costs. The case had been listed for trial three times before the guilty plea, with the child prepared to give evidence each time. Russell had no prior convictions. The court noted the offence's seriousness and the impact on the child, but also considered his early plea, lack of previous convictions, family responsibilities, and the brief nature of the interaction. The offence does not result in Russell being registered as a sex offender. The suspended sentence means no custodial time unless the sentence is later activated.
Trevor Byrne, the appellant, has appealed his 2021 convictions at the Court of Appeal regarding the 2010 armed robbery of Boylesports in Swords, Co Dublin. Byrne, who pleaded not guilty, was convicted by the Special Criminal Court of robbery, possession of a firearm, false imprisonment, threatening to kill, and unlawfully seizing a vehicle. Mr Justice Michael MacGrath sentenced him to eight-and-a-half years for the robbery and false imprisonment, six-and-a-half years for the threat to kill, and seven-and-a-half years each for the firearm possession and vehicle seizure. These sentences run concurrently with each other but consecutively to a separate nine-year sentence for a 2019 firearms offence, resulting in a total of 17.5 years. Byrne's counsel argued the convictions were unsafe due to procedural defects in the CCTV identification process, specifically the lack of contemporaneous notes by Detective Garda Patrick McDonagh. The State contended the evidence was admissible and supported by other circumstantial evidence, including a phone dropped at the scene linked to Byrne. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice John Edwards, reserved its judgment, meaning the matter was adjourned and not concluded.
A 30‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment, with the last two years suspended, for a single count of rape committed on 9 February 2018. He claimed the act was involuntary, citing a sleep disorder called sexsomnia and describing himself as an "automaton." The victim, who had previously worked with him, was persuaded to lie in bed, fell asleep, and was then raped. She reported the assault to the Gardaí on 15 February, and DNA evidence linked the man to her clothing. The judge noted the seriousness of the offence and the victim's impact, but also considered the defendant's lack of prior convictions and supportive testimonials from family and employers. The sentence included strict conditions, such as supervision by the Probation Service, and the court acknowledged the defendant's remorse while noting he did not accept wrongdoing. The unnamed 30-year-old was found guilty.
During the inquest into the 1981 Stardust nightclub fire, expert witness Dr Will Hutchinson explained that the blaze would have been less likely to spread if carpet tiles had not been present on the walls. He noted that a low ceiling, foam on the seats, burning droplets, and the presence of carpet tiles all contributed to the rapid spread of the fire, which killed 48 people. Dr Hutchinson described how the fire may have originated in the west alcove or the hot press, and how heat from the low ceiling intensified the blaze. He also discussed the role of the hot press's immersion heater, the potential for electrical faults, and the impact of the ceiling's height on heat radiation. The inquest will continue tomorrow in the Pillar Room of the Rotunda Hospital.
A Central Criminal Court jury will hear evidence that 52‑year‑old Patrick McDonagh of Whitechapel Road, Clonsilla, Dublin 15, is charged with murdering his 73‑year‑old neighbour Peter McDonald on 25 July 2020. McDonagh pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea rejected by the DPP, so the trial proceeds. The State's counsel, Philipp Rahn SC, described the victim as a quiet pensioner who lived alone with cats, and said the killing involved a machete and knife, with multiple chopping and stabbing wounds to the head and neck. Witnesses reported McDonagh shouting threats, appearing drunk and mentally unstable, and that he was seen with a machete in his hand. Gardaí arrived at the scene early, found McDonald in a pool of blood, and seized the weapons. The case is being treated as murder, with the jury asked to consider whether McDonagh's mental state could give rise to a defence of diminished responsibility.
Nathan Kirby, 22, of Grand Canal House, Lower Rathmines Road, Dublin 6, was given a fully suspended two‑year sentence and ordered to pay €7,500 to a 76‑year‑old pensioner who was injured on Lower Rathmines Road on 6 January 2022. Kirby pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after an argument over change in a Holland and Barrett shop where he worked. He punched and kicked the pensioner, fracturing his jaw, breaking his dentures and knocking out a front tooth. The court noted Kirby's guilty plea, good work history and lack of prior convictions as mitigating factors. Judge Martin Nolan said Kirby had lost his temper but was unlikely to reoffend, and ordered him to maintain good behaviour for the suspended period. Kirby admitted the assault, expressed remorse, and is currently employed by Hertz Car Hire, planning to open a café in the future.
Anthony Dennis, 39, of Ballyfermot, was sentenced to an additional year and nine months in prison for threatening to kill a prison officer at Cloverhill Prison on 29 September 2020. The judge described the conduct as part of a "pattern of intimidation" that included several incidents. Dennis, who has 331 prior convictions—almost 200 for traffic offences—has spent half his life in custody. The first threat occurred while he was smoking on the prison landing, after which he ignored officers' requests to return to his cell. He later called the officer a "tramp" and a "scumbag" and threatened to "blow his head off" after being placed in a close‑supervision cell. The court noted that Dennis had been remanded since 12 January and that he has three prior assault convictions but no prior convictions for threats to kill. The sentence was back‑dated to 12 January. Anthony Dennis pleaded guilty.
A 75-year-old milk collection haulier from Castlederg, County Tyrone, has received a fully suspended sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for failing to remit over €160,000 in VAT to the Revenue Commissioners between 2012 and 2015. James Wauchope pleaded guilty to six sample counts of the offence. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a headline sentence of five years but suspended it in full for three and a half years, citing extenuating circumstances. The court heard that Wauchope suffers severe post-traumatic stress disorder following an incident in which he was locked in one of his trucks with a bomb by the IRA, and that he endured the death of a son who required round-the-clock care following a 1986 road accident. The judge stated that life had inflicted sufficient punishment on the defendant. Wauchope was ordered to repay €65,000 to Revenue within one year, in addition to €60,000 already repaid. He has no previous convictions.
Gary Maloney, a used‑car salesman, was dismissed by Bill Griffin Motors after he went on a holiday in Albufeira, Portugal, during a week when the company's directors were attending a family wedding. Maloney had requested annual leave for the week of 10 October 2022, but the sales director, David Griffin, denied the request, insisting the sales team be present. Maloney travelled to Albufeira, where he met the directors at a bar and took a selfie with them, which was circulated among staff. When he returned to the dealership, he was confronted by senior sales executive David Fleming, who questioned his whereabouts and told him to leave. Maloney claimed he was told to leave the premises and that the employer would contact him. The Workplace Relations Commission found no evidence of a disciplinary process and ruled the dismissal unfair, awarding Maloney €12,500 in compensation for his financial loss of €19,026.
A Luas employee, Matthew Cullen, claimed that a security manager said he would not hire black or Indian staff. The Workplace Relations Commission ruled that Cullen's report was a protected disclosure, but he was not penalised for it. Cullen also alleged that his safety concerns about staffing levels and equipment were ignored, and that he was dismissed after refusing to check tickets. The commission found no evidence of penalisation for his safety complaints and dismissed his statutory complaints. The commission accepted that Cullen's allegations of discriminatory recruitment were a protected disclosure, but found no proof that the manager had hiring authority. The decision concluded that Cullen was not sent home because of his refusal to work, and that the company had no evidence of unlawful hiring practices. The case was closed with no further findings.
In a January 2024 sentencing, 52‑year‑old Jason Kennedy, who has 100 prior convictions, was jailed for a series of violent offences. On 16 November 2017 he attacked his date, stole her car, drove it at high speed, crashed it 200 metres down the road and assaulted two gardaí, one of whom suffered a fractured hand. Kennedy pleaded guilty to assault, dangerous driving and criminal damage to a garda's stab vest. He also pleaded guilty to trespass and theft of a €285 till at an unoccupied Aunt Annie's bakery kiosk in Jervis Shopping Centre on 9 August 2022, where CCTV captured him and his DNA was found on the till. The judge, Martin Nolan, sentenced him to three years for the first incident and 2 years 3 months for the second, to run consecutively. Kennedy is currently serving a four‑year sentence for another matter and has a son and two grandchildren.
During the Stardust inquest, Dr Will Hutchinson, a fire investigator with 23 years of experience, presented expert testimony on possible origins of the nightclub fire. He suggested the fire could have started in a hot press, where electrical connections to immersion heaters may have had issues, or in the West alcove, where carpet tiles on the walls were a critical factor in rapid spread. He noted no evidence of resistive heating at a West alcove socket and no fuel in the ceiling void, making a fire there unlikely. The expert reviewed video recreations and expert reports, highlighting the role of carpet tiles in spontaneous ignition of seats and the rapid development of thick black smoke. He concluded that, due to severe damage and conflicting witness evidence, the exact area of origin could not be determined with certainty. The inquest will continue tomorrow.
Martin Gordon, a Paralympic cyclist and barrister, has filed a claim under the Equal Status Act 2000 against Semogo Ltd, the operator of La Maison restaurant in Dublin. He alleges that the bistro discriminated against him and his guide dog by refusing them entry on 14 January 2023 due to a "no dogs inside" policy. The restaurant contends that all indoor tables were booked and only offered outdoor seating. It has provided booking system data to the Workplace Relations Commission but claims that CCTV footage from the day is largely missing, except for brief clips of Gordon's arrival and departure. The hearing began with a dispute over the disclosure of documents and a request for the adjudicator to recuse himself due to a potential bias. The case will be scheduled for a full day of hearings at a later date by the WRC.
In a high‑speed chase on 27 December 2022, 20‑year‑old Kian Andrews drove a Toyota Avensis at 160 km/h in a 50 km/h zone, repeatedly rammed two Garda patrol cars, and drove on the wrong side of the road. Garda Sergeant Daniel Cuffe, patrolling the Sandyford and Dundrum area, pursued the vehicle, but Andrews refused to stop and continued to drive at dangerous speeds. When the Garda cars blocked the Avensis, Andrews attempted to drive into Sergeant Cuffe's car, prompting the officers to produce firearms. Andrews immediately raised his hands, cooperated, and was arrested. A small amount of cocaine and a flick knife were found in the vehicle. Andrews pleaded guilty to endangerment, dangerous driving and possession of drugs, and was sentenced to three years' imprisonment and a three‑year driving disqualification. The judge noted that the firearms produced by Gardaí had the desired effect in securing his arrest.
William Connors, aged 30, pleaded guilty to providing false documents for a fake passport application. He supplied his birth certificate and other papers to a third party who used them to apply for a passport at a Garda station in Kildare in January 2020. The application was certified by a Garda who is now facing charges. The Passport Office detected that the photos did not match Connors' previous passport and launched an investigation. Connors has 19 prior convictions, all for road‑traffic offences. He was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan to a two‑year term, suspended on conditions, after the court accepted his remorse and the minor nature of his earlier offences. The case is part of a broader investigation involving several co‑accused, including the certifying Garda, who are due to stand trial next year.
Cian Jones, 22, was found guilty of two counts of robbery and two of attempted robbery for leading a gang that robbed mobile phones from four teenage boys on a northbound Dart train between Dun Laoghaire and Tara Street. The court described the offence as serious, noting the victims were travelling home and were forced to sit beside the robbers, who threatened to stab them and demanded their phones. Jones took three iPhones and a Samsung A52, returned a blue iPhone and the Samsung, and demanded a factory reset from one victim. He also demanded cash, which the boys did not have, and warned them not to report to Gardaí. The judge imposed a four‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, suspended the final 18 months on strict conditions, and noted Jones's early guilty plea and personal circumstances as mitigating factors.
Killian McCabe, aged 27, was arrested on 20 November 2022 in Knocklyon, Dublin, with €718,240 worth of cannabis, cannabis resin, cocaine, amphetamine and heroin in two vans. He also had €30,800 in cash seized. Charlene Murphy, aged 33, was found with €87,240 worth of cannabis resin in her car and an additional €4,480 worth of cocaine in her home. Both pleaded guilty to possessing drugs for sale or supply; McCabe also pleaded guilty to possessing proceeds of crime. McCabe, with 43 prior convictions, was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment. Murphy, with 25 prior convictions, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment. The sentences were imposed by Judge Martin Nolan in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The article reports the convictions and sentences only, without further speculation or future outcomes.
A 17-year-old male was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to one count of assault causing harm on January 17, 2023, and one count of production of an article, a vice grip, during a dispute on December 5, 2022. Judge Elma Sheahan described the unprovoked attacks on two victims, including one on the Luas, as "disturbing" and "appalling," noting the defendant's significant role and use of the vice grip in a "frenzied manner." While the judge initially intended to impose a global period of detention of 34 months, with the final six months suspended under Probation Service supervision, she determined this order was not enforceable under the Children's Act. Consequently, she imposed a sentence of 28 months in detention, with the teenager required to liaise with relevant services during this period. The court considered mitigating factors, including the defendant's lack of previous convictions, age, expressions of remorse, and family support, alongside aggravating factors such as the level of violence and the unprovoked, repeated nature of the offending.
Mark Dolan, 49, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to masturbating in front of a child at a north Dublin address on 6 May last year. Judge Martin Nolan set a sentence date of 20 March and remanded Dolan on continuing bail until that date.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan presented evidence that Christopher 'Noel' Kirwan, an innocent man with no criminal involvement, was shot six times and died from multiple gunshot wounds to his head, chest, arm and abdomen. The pathologist identified eight separate injuries caused by six bullets, including a bullet that entered Kirwan's chest, damaging the aorta and the lower lobe of the left lung, leading to heart and lung failure. Additional wounds to the chest, abdomen and right arm caused blood loss. A bullet entered Kirwan's head below the right eye, fracturing his upper jaw and lodging beneath the lower jaw. Toxicology tests were negative for drugs or alcohol. Michael Crotty, 40, is on trial for allegedly facilitating Kirwan's murder by topping up a mobile phone for Sean McGovern; Crotty pleaded not guilty to the single charge.
Cathy Moore, superintendent at the Charles Sheils housing complex for older people in Killough, Co Down, was dismissed in September 2021 after a wave of complaints from residents who opposed Covid‑19 lockdown measures she enforced. An independent investigator found no basis for the complaints, yet the charity's governors re‑opened an investigation and terminated her employment, a process the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) described as flawed and contrary to natural justice. The WRC held that Moore was "entirely blameless" and awarded her €10,000 compensation under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977. The tribunal noted that the dismissal was akin to a mutiny, with residents resisting her authority and the charity yielding to group pressure. Moore had served since 2013, received a €4,658 allowance and tied accommodation, and was forced to relocate to Dublin after her dismissal. The case confirmed her legal domicile in Ireland, giving the WRC jurisdiction to adjudicate.
A 52‑year‑old man, Patrick McDonagh, who admits killing a 77‑year‑old pensioner in west Dublin on 25 July 2020, will go on trial for murder. He pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The plea was rejected by the Director of Public Prosecutions, and Mr Justice Paul Burns assigned a jury of nine men and three women. The case may run until 7 February, with the trial set to begin Wednesday at 11 a.m. before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath. Witnesses include civilian observers and forensic psychiatrists Dr Mary Davoren and Professor Patricia Casey.
Dainius Sakevicius, 54, pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm on 26 December 2022 after drinking for five days. He entered his former partner's bedroom about 30 minutes after she had gone to bed at 10.10pm, looking for a speaker, and punched her repeatedly on the forehead, right eye, nose and mouth. The victim sustained bruising, swelling, a loose tooth and arm soreness, and was treated at St Vincent's Hospital before being referred to St James's Hospital. Photos and a medical report were presented to the court. Gardai found Sakevicius intoxicated at his Bray address and deemed him unfit for interview. The victim later withdrew her statement and declined a victim impact statement. The case was adjourned to 14 April for finalisation, with a probation report to be compiled. The court noted Sakevicius had no prior convictions and had paid over €4,000 for the victim's medical costs.
A man from Letterkenny, County Donegal, has been sentenced to twenty-one months in prison following a dangerous driving conviction at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Kevin McMenamin, aged forty-two, pleaded guilty to causing serious bodily harm to a cyclist in Ballsbridge on July twenty-second, twenty twenty-one. The court heard that McMenamin drove through a red light and made a sudden left turn, striking the woman and trapping her beneath his truck for two metres. The cyclist, in her late sixties, sustained a fractured pelvis and severe leg injuries, requiring hospitalisation for nearly five months and placement in an induced coma. McMenamin was disqualified from driving at the time of the incident. Judge Martin Nolan noted McMenamin's thirty-three previous convictions, including road traffic offences, and stated he showed no regard for the law. The judge imposed an additional five-year driving disqualification.
An extradited criminal, Dragos Cirstea, 38, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for laundering money and purchasing luxury goods with €51,000 stolen from Adare Manor. He pleaded guilty to three money‑laundering counts in Dublin on 3 June 2019 and had four prior UK convictions. Cirstea used a bank card to buy items at Brown Thomas, Arnotts and Weir & Sons, spending €51,044, including a Rolex watch and jewellery worth about €44,000. The money had been sent by a Belgium Vintage Automobile Club to a fraudulent bank account, not to the hotel. No luxury items were recovered. The judge noted Cirstea's guilty plea and good work history as mitigating factors but also his role as a vital link in the criminal enterprise. He will receive credit for time served. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with Judge Martin Nolan presiding.
In Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Mohamed Axmed, aged 20, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for his role in a violent robbery of two UK tourists in Temple Bar on 17 September 2022. The court heard that Axmed, part of a group of young men, manhandled and assaulted the visitors, taking a bag that contained £1,050 sterling, bank cards, passports and a mobile phone. He pleaded guilty before the hearing, and the judge noted his prior convictions and the fact that he is already serving a sentence that will end in June 2025. Judge Martin Nolan extended his current stay in prison, citing his youth and the seriousness of the offence. The sentence was imposed with the intention that it would be a deterrent, though the judge acknowledged that the outcome might change upon his release. The other co‑accused have either taken trial dates, received bench warrants or remain unlocated.
In a case heard at the Central Criminal Court, a 49‑year‑old woman pleaded guilty to sexual assault and robbery at a Luas stop on 26 January 2023. The court described the assault as "vicious, humiliating and degrading," noting that the victim was forced to strip naked, had her legs held open, and was searched for items. The attacker threatened to kill her and throw her into the canal. The victim was found in a state of undress, upset, and later examined at a Sexual Assault Treatment Unit, where she had bruises and cuts but no vaginal injuries. Witnesses, including a man with a golf club, intervened and recovered a stolen mobile phone. The defendant had 49 prior convictions, many for drug offences, and was under the influence at the time. Mr Justice Paul McDermott sentenced her to four years' imprisonment, suspending the final 12 months on strict conditions, citing her early guilty plea and remorse as mitigating factors.
James Doyle, a 37-year-old from Walkinstown, appeared at the Court of Appeal to challenge his three-and-a-half-year prison sentence for dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm. In January of last year, Doyle pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to striking pedestrian Emily Doyle on Cromwellsfort Road in Walkinstown on April 23, 2020. The prosecution alleged he was travelling at speeds up to 130km/h in a 50km/h zone, causing spinal and leg fractures. Judge Martin Nolan originally sentenced Doyle, noting the victim's significant physical and emotional trauma. Doyle's counsel, Paul Carroll SC, argued the sentence was excessive and disproportionate, contending the trial judge placed too much weight on speed and failed to account for the absence of other aggravating factors. Carroll submitted the sentence should have included a suspended element to encourage rehabilitation. The State, represented by Jane McCudden BL, countered that the sentence was appropriate given the grave harm and Doyle's disregard for public safety, noting he had already received a 50% mitigation reduction. Mr Justice George Birmingham described the case as one of real seriousness and reserved his judgment until February 1. Consequently, the matter was adjourned and remains pending final determination.
In a January 2024 decision, the Workplace Relations Commission dismissed a series of discrimination claims lodged by Dr Pierce Parker, an American academic of Asian origin who had pursued a PhD at University College Dublin (UCD). Parker alleged that UCD had discriminated against him on the grounds of race, gender and civil status after he was disciplined for sleeping in campus buildings and after a post‑doctoral fellowship was not awarded to him. He claimed that the university's disciplinary process was racially motivated and that staff had "blindly" ignored his sleeping and cooking in the research institute from 2018 to 2021. The WRC found that Parker's complaints were made in bad faith, that he had a pattern of retaliating with allegations of discrimination, and that the university had acted fairly and transparently in the fellowship selection. Consequently, the WRC ruled the claims frivolous and dismissed them, noting that the allegations caused Parker undue stress and anxiety.
Craig Ryan, 35, of Killarney Court, Dublin, pleaded guilty to five separate burglary offences dating from 2014 to 2023. He was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan at Dublin Circuit Court to five years' imprisonment. The offences involved ransacking offices and stealing expensive equipment from businesses in Dublin, including a florist in Monkstown, a photographer's office on Burgh Quay, a car on Strand Street, a building on Arran Quay, and a convenience store on Cabra Road. Ryan's 235 previous convictions include theft and criminal damage. He cooperated with Gardaí, and no violence was involved. The judge noted his long history of offending and addiction challenges, but also his cooperation and lack of violence. Ryan is currently in custody and has shown remorse and engagement with treatment services.
Stephanie Hoey, 33, told the court that a 23‑year‑old ex‑partner, Conor Murphy, punched her in the eye during an unprovoked attack at her Clondalkin home, causing a blow‑out fracture and permanent vision loss. She described the assault as "foaming at the mouth" and detailed the severe physical injuries, including the need for hip bone graft surgery, ongoing migraines, nerve and muscle damage, and PTSD. Murphy had previously pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm, burglary and knife possession. Judge Orla Crowe set a headline sentence of ten years, then imposed seven and a half years in prison with the final 18 months suspended, and ordered probation for one year after release. Hoey's victim impact statement highlighted how the attack has torn her life apart, affecting her mental health, daily functioning and her daughter's well‑being. The court noted Murphy's drug use and prior convictions, and that he had been in custody since May 2023.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a woman who was violently assaulted by her then‑partner in her own home told the court that she sometimes wished he had killed her that night. The victim, who had a protection order in place, described how the man entered through an unlocked door, threatened to kill her, smashed her car, punched her, and choked her. She sustained a black eye and other injuries. The man pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, making threats to kill or cause serious harm, and breaching a protection order. He was intoxicated and had no prior convictions. The judge, noting the severity of the assault and the victim's fear, imposed a custodial sentence of three years, with the final 18 months suspended on strict conditions.
A 41‑year‑old man was ordered to serve a full three‑year, four‑month prison term after the Court of Appeal rejected his appeal against the severity of the sentence for sexually assaulting his nine‑year‑old daughter. The Court of Appeal found that the trial judge had not erred in sentencing. The offence occurred between 1 January 2017 and 30 April 2017 at the family home, when the father touched the girl's private parts while she was asleep. The appellant pleaded not guilty. He was first convicted in May 2021 after a second trial, had that conviction quashed in May 2022, and was convicted again in November 2022, receiving the three‑year, four‑month sentence. The appeal argued the sentence was too harsh, citing a comparable case with a four‑year headline. The Court of Appeal upheld the original sentence, noting the breach of trust and the lack of a guilty plea.
Cameron Curtis, aged 20, received an 18‑month jail term for a series of violent assaults, false imprisonment and threats against his partner, Alannah Corrigan. The Court of Appeal found the sentence unduly lenient, noting that the original headline sentence was 3 years 4 months, reduced to 2 years 6 months after mitigation, with the last year suspended for two years. Curtis's attacks spanned four dates, involving punches, kicks, strangulation, a chokehold, and threats with a knife and scissors. He repeatedly locked Corrigan in a bathroom for 45 minutes and prevented her from leaving a kitchen. The Court highlighted the aggravating factor of their intimate relationship and the prolonged nature of the assaults. Curtis has now served his sentence, having spent about 14 months in prison, and the Court has called for an updated probation report before finalising matters. The unnamed man pleaded guilty.
A 33‑year‑old mother of three, Aisling Dekker, was given a suspended three‑year sentence after pleading guilty to possessing and cultivating cannabis at her home. The police seized over €24,000 worth of cannabis, including two mature plants, when they searched her house following a warrant. Dekker claimed she was growing the plants to relieve joint pain from an autoimmune condition and that she had no drug debt. She cooperated with the Gardaí, took responsibility for the drugs, and expressed remorse. The court noted her lack of prior convictions and her role as a stay‑at‑home mother, but also considered the quantity of drugs and the potential societal harm. Judge Orla Crowe imposed a suspended sentence on strict conditions, citing mitigating factors such as early guilty plea and cooperation. The sentence was fully suspended, with no custodial time to be served.
John Murphy, 47, pleaded guilty to three counts of making false bomb reports in August and October 2022, with a fourth considered. He had previously made 100 hoax calls in one night claiming a bomb at Garda Headquarters in Phoenix Park. The judge noted his long period of homelessness and recent stable accommodation at Reuben Square. Defence counsel urged leniency to preserve his home. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a fully suspended three‑year sentence, ordering Murphy to exhibit good behaviour. The court highlighted the inconvenience and stress caused to emergency services and the public, and urged Murphy to stay away from phones. No victim impact statements were presented. Murphy's prior convictions included 30 offences, including three for false reports. The sentence reflects the judge's view that his current stability should not be disrupted by imprisonment.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 17 January 2024, a 23‑year‑old man named David Mbaya was sentenced to two years and ten months in prison for possessing €189,000 worth of cannabis for sale or supply at his home. The cannabis, weighing 9.4 kg, had been delivered to his Balbriggan address by gardaí after a sniffer dog detected it at Foyne's Logistics, Dublin Airport. Mbaya pleaded guilty on 3 October 2022. Judge Martin Nolan noted that had Mbaya been older he might have faced a longer sentence, but he considered his youth and described him as intelligent and capable of reform. Mbaya had previously been convicted of nine minor road‑traffic offences and was living with his sister, hoping to return to landscaping work and regain contact with his two children. The delivery had a strong smell, and Mbaya signed for it before being arrested. The drugs were analysed by Forensic Science Ireland.
An inquest jury heard that 48 people died in the 1981 Stardust nightclub fire, many of whom were young couples who perished together. Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane explained that the identification of victims was distressing, often relying on jewellery or clothing due to fire damage. Pathologists Dr Richard Shepherd, Dr Nat Cary and Dr Benjamin Swift reviewed post‑mortem evidence, concluding that most deaths were caused by rapid incapacitation from inhalation of fire fumes and heat. Specific cases mentioned include Helena Mangan (22) and her boyfriend John Stout (18), Julie McDonnell (20), Caroline McHugh (17), David Morton (19) with girlfriend Martina Keegan (16), Kathleen Muldoon (19) with Gerard McGrath (21), George O'Connor (17), Brendan O'Meara (23) who was removed alive but died from complications, Margaret Thornton (19) with Murtagh Kavanagh (27), and Paul Wade (17) who was identified later by DNA.
Wayne Gilligan, 28, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment and a three‑year driving disqualification after pleading guilty to endangerment, criminal damage and dangerous driving. The offence occurred on 10 February 2020 in Tallaght when Gilligan drove recklessly, narrowly avoiding collisions with several vehicles and forcing school children to run off the road to escape being struck. Garda Vincent Jaffray described how Gilligan's car, lacking a front bumper, was driven at high speed, over speed bumps, through red lights and in the wrong direction around a roundabout, causing damage to a patrol car and another vehicle. Gilligan's 89 prior convictions, many for road traffic offences, were noted by Judge Martin Nolan, who accepted his remorse and progress in prison while on remand. The judge emphasised that the custodial term was imposed before the driving disqualification. The case was prosecuted by Diana Stuart BL.
Jemima Tambo Bebi, a 19‑year‑old British teenager, was arrested at Dublin Airport after a suitcase she had picked up in Amsterdam was x‑rayed and found to contain about seven kilos of ketamine, a horse tranquilliser, valued at €445,452. The ketamine was intended for sale or supply at Terminal 2, Dublin Airport on 2 September. Bebi pleaded guilty and cooperated fully with the investigation. Judge Martin Nolan described the case as a "particularly stupid escapade" and, citing her young age and lack of prior convictions, departed from the mandatory ten‑year minimum, sentencing her to three years in prison. The sentence was back‑dated to the day she was remanded in custody on 2 September. Bebi had been planning to start training as a prison officer and had applied for third‑level courses at the time of the offence.