Court archive
2026-03-03 · Dublin
Tomasz Zdechlikiewicz was sentenced after being convicted of possessing 36 kilogrammes of cannabis for sale or supply and €13,000 in cash. Judge Martin Nolan found he acted as a supervisor in a sophisticated operation and imposed ten years for the drug offence, concurrent with four years for money laundering.
2025-12-15 · Dublin
Lee Byrne and Sam Garvey, who committed a 'senseless and violent' robbery in Dublin, have been jailed for one year after reoffending despite being given a chance by a judge. Both pleaded guilty to the robbery, which involved a victim being attacked and robbed on Phibsborough Road. Judge Elva Duffy initially adjourned the case for 12 months, giving them an opportunity for rehabilitation, but after they reoffended, she imposed a custodial sentence. Byrne and Garvey were involved in assaults and criminal damage, with Byrne serving a two-year sentence and Garvey in custody until next May. The victim suffered serious injuries and continues to feel the emotional impact of the attack. Both men expressed remorse and sought to address their addiction issues, but the court ruled that their reoffending made a custodial sentence necessary. The case highlights the challenges of rehabilitation for individuals with substance abuse issues.
2025-12-02 · Dublin
A driver has appeared before Dún Laoghaire District Court charged with causing the death of cyclist Gretchen Price Martin in Dublin last year. Oleg Popov (47), of Peyton Court, Rathcoole, Co Dublin, is charged with dangerous driving causing the death of Ms Price Martin at Glenageary Road Upper, Glenageary, on 24 April, 2024. He is also charged with driving a mechanically propelled vehicle while a known defect made it dangerous to the public on the same date. Defence counsel, Michael O'Brien BL, told the court that a Romanian interpreter will be required to assist the accused. Judge Anne Watkin adjourned the matter to 10 February next to allow the book of evidence to be prepared. The case is expected to proceed with the preparation of the evidence book before the next court date, and the accused will require interpretation services during the proceedings. The charges relate to the incident that occurred on Glenageary Road Upper, where the cyclist lost her life as a result of the alleged dangerous driving.
2025-11-20 · Kildare
A 24-year-old man, Valeriu Melnic, has been jailed for eight years for the manslaughter of his sister's partner, Ion Daghi, following a fatal stabbing in Co Kildare in May 2024. Melnic told gardai he was so drunk he couldn't remember the incident, but the court found his self-induced intoxication was an aggravating factor. The jury rejected the defence's claims of intoxication and provocation as mitigating factors, though they found him not guilty of murder. During the trial, evidence showed that Melnic had threatened to kill Mr Daghi before stabbing him in the chest with a kitchen knife. The judge noted that Melnic had armed himself with a knife and initiated the altercation. He also acknowledged the victim's mother's heartrending impact statement, describing the loss as irreplaceable. Melnic had pleaded guilty to manslaughter but not guilty to murder. The judge considered his guilty plea and cooperation with gardai as mitigating factors but noted his lack of insight into his wrongdoing.
2025-11-11 · Dublin
Mary Hall, 70, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two theft counts for taking €26,562 in Carer's and Disability Allowances in her deceased son's name between 25 May 2022 and 30 November 2023. The son had leukemia and died in 2022; Hall continued to collect his disability allowance after the Department of Social Protection was notified of his death. She admitted she was not entitled to the payments and used the money for bills, rent and funeral costs. Hall has no prior convictions. Judge Sinead McMullan imposed a suspended sentence of two and a half years, suspended in full on strict conditions, including continued weekly repayments. The court noted Hall's remorse and consistent repayments as mitigating factors. The sentence reflects theft from the State, not premeditated in the normal sense, but Hall was aware of the wrongdoing. The condition requires Hall to maintain the weekly repayments.
2025-11-03 · Kildare
In a sentence hearing for 24‑year‑old Valeriu Melnic, the court heard a victim impact statement from the mother of the deceased, Mr. Ion Daghi, who described the loss as "irreplaceable" and said it would always stain her heart. Melnic, who admitted to being "so drunk" that he could not remember stabbing Daghi with a kitchen knife, was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter by a jury in July. The hearing reiterated that Melnic's intoxication and the fact that he had no intent to kill were key defence arguments. The court noted that Melnic's relationship with his sister was "somewhat gone" and that he had tried to write to her but could not find the words. The judge remanded Melnic in custody until his sentencing on 17 November.
2025-10-29 · Dublin
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Kevin O'Riordan, 40, of Rathcoole, Moone, Co Kildare, was found guilty of failing to stop at the scene of a collision and of careless driving. The incident occurred on 21 September 2023 when O'Riordan, while turning left onto Meath Street, struck an elderly man who was crossing the road. O'Riordan stopped his car and remained for four minutes before driving away, later telling the gardai that he did not realise he had hit the victim. The court noted that the driver had ample time to see the pedestrian but did not. O'Riordan received a suspended prison sentence of 18 months, was banned from driving for two years, and was required to keep the peace. The victim, who suffered a fractured hip and now requires assistance to walk, has expressed that the incident has severely impacted his independence and mental health.
2025-07-22 · Kildare
A 24‑year‑old Moldovan national, Valeriu Melnic, was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter by a Central Criminal Court jury after he stabbed his sister's partner, Ion Daghi, to death with a kitchen knife on 12 May 2024. Melnic told Gardaí he was "so drunk" that he could not remember the stabbing, and he had earlier said "I will kill you" to Daghi. The jury rejected the prosecution's murder case, accepting the defence of intoxication and provocation. The judge, Mr Justice David Keane, noted the graphic evidence and the jury's service, and remanded Melnic in custody until a sentencing hearing on 3 November. The Daghi family will be able to give a statement at that hearing. The case was listed for mention on 20 October. The trial detailed the night's events, including multiple bottles of whiskey, a dispute, and the fatal stab wound to Daghi's chest.
2025-07-21 · Kildare
A jury of eight men and four women is set to return to the Central Criminal Court to continue deliberating the verdict in the murder trial of Moldovan national Valeriu Melnic, aged 24, who is accused of fatally stabbing Ion Daghi, aged 39, with a kitchen knife on 12 May 2024. Melnic pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The jury has spent five hours and 52 minutes over two days considering the case and has not yet reached a unanimous verdict. Judge David Keane has advised that they may seek a majority verdict, requiring at least ten jurors to agree, and has asked them to return tomorrow for further guidance on the defence of provocation. The jury is also instructed to consider whether intoxication could negate intent, and whether provocation could reduce the charge to manslaughter. The case remains at the deliberation stage, with no verdict yet announced.
2025-07-18 · Kildare
The jury heard that the 24‑year‑old Moldovan national Valeriu Melnic, who stabbed Ion Daghi to death with a kitchen knife, was heavily intoxicated after drinking three bottles of "firewater." Melnic pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The defence argued that intoxication and provocation should reduce the charge to manslaughter, citing Melnic's memory loss and the alleged assault by Daghi. The prosecution countered that Melnic's statement "I will kill you" and the circumstances of the struggle showed intent to kill, making murder the appropriate verdict. Judge Keane explained that intoxication is not a full defence to murder and that provocation must be a sudden, complete loss of self‑control. The jury was instructed to decide between guilty of murder or guilty of manslaughter. Valeriu Melnic was acquitted.
2025-07-16 · Kildare
During the trial, 24‑year‑old Moldovan national Valeriu Melnic pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in the death of Ion Daghi, 39, who was stabbed with a kitchen knife at The Close, Sallins Park, on 12 May 2024. Melnic, who was heavily intoxicated, told Gardaí that he could not remember the stabbing but later said that "all the evidence pointed" to him being "the only one responsible." He described a drunken argument with Daghi, a brief moment of choking, and a fight that escalated to the use of a knife. Melnic admitted he had caused the fatal wound but could not recall holding or stabbing the knife. The jury heard his statements, the prosecution's case that he armed himself with a kitchen knife, and the defence's claim of intoxication and lack of memory. The trial is set to continue before Mr Justice David Keane and a jury of eight men and four women.
2025-07-15 · Kildare
The sister of Valeriu Melnic, accused of murdering Ion Daghi, testified that her evidence to the jury last week was the opposite of what she had said in her Garda statement. In the statement, she described her brother as the aggressor who had a knife and threatened to kill her husband. In court, she denied that she was trying to protect him and said she had not seen the earlier part of the fight. She admitted that she had described her husband as the one armed and that her brother had wanted to leave the house. She also said she had only seen the leg of a chair in his hand and did not see them fighting. The trial continues tomorrow before Mr Justice David Keane and a jury of eight men and four women. Valeriu Melnic pleaded not guilty.
2025-07-10 · Dublin
In a High Court settlement, Christopher Miley's family will receive €185,000 after his death on 28 October 2021 when a loader shovel at Behan Quarry in Rathcoole, Dublin, struck and crushed him. Miley, 31, was refuelling vehicles for Shannon Valley Plant Hire while employed by Euro Oil. His partner, Shelly Keating, brought a personal injury claim against five defendants: Shannon Valley Plant Hire Unlimited Company, Laurence Behan Senior, L Behan and Sons Ltd, L Behan Aggregates and Recycling Ltd, and MPM Oil trading as Euro Oil. The claim alleged negligence, breach of statutory and contractual duty, and failure to provide a safe work environment, including inadequate lighting after dark. No defendant admitted liability. The court approved the settlement, waiving claims from Miley's sisters and mother, and expressed sympathy for Keating and the children.
2025-07-10 · Kildare
During a Central Criminal Court hearing on 10 July 2025, a witness described how Valeriu Melnic (24) of Calliaghstown Lower, Rathcoole, attempted to protect his head while Ion Daghi (39) of The Close, Sallins Park, held a chair leg and threatened to beat him. The witness, Moldovan Alexandru Beccieu (24), testified that the two men had been drinking heavily, with Melnic allegedly consuming a "colossal amount" of whiskey. Melnic had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. A pathologist told the jury that Daghi died from a single 13‑cm stab wound to the chest, causing rapid death. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice David Keane, continues with a jury of eight men and four women. The witness's testimony focused on the altercation, the drinking, and the fatal stabbing, without providing any further legal conclusions.
2025-07-09 · Kildare
Valeriu Melnic (24), of Rathcoole, Co Dublin, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court for the alleged murder of Ion Daghi (39) at The Close, Sallins Park, Sallins, Co Kildare, on May 12, 2024. Mr Melnic has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster testified that Mr Daghi died from a single stab wound to the left chest, which measured 13cm in depth and penetrated the heart's right ventricle. She stated that death would have been rapid due to hemorrhage and shock, with 250ml of blood found in the pericardial sac. Dr Bolster noted blunt force injuries to the deceased's hands, consistent with offensive or defensive actions during an altercation, and confirmed that 73mg of ethanol was detected in his system. A knife blade recovered from the scene measured 19.5cm, consistent with the wound. Prosecuting counsel Carl Hanahoe SC alleged that Mr Melnic armed himself with a kitchen knife and stabbed Mr Daghi following a dispute after they spent the night drinking together. The trial continues before Mr Justice David Keane and a jury.
2025-07-08 · Kildare
In a murder trial, a 24‑year‑old man, Valeriu Melnic, was charged with the fatal stabbing of Ion Daghi, 39, at The Close, Sallins Park, Kildare, on 12 May 2024. Melnic pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea rejected by the Director of Public Prosecutions. The case was heard by a jury of eight men and four women. The prosecution, represented by Carl Hanahoe SC, recounted that Melnic and his friend Alexandru Beccieu had spent the night drinking at Daghi's house, arriving at 8 pm and consuming three bottles of whiskey. Around 3 am a dispute arose between Melnic and Daghi, escalating into a physical altercation involving Beccieu. Melnic allegedly armed himself with a kitchen knife, entered the kitchen, and stabbed Daghi once in the chest. A pathologist is expected to confirm a single stab wound to the left side of the chest, causing rapid death.
2025-07-07 · Kildare
A 24‑year‑old man, Valeriu Melnic, will be tried for the killing of Ion Daghi, 39, in Kildare on 12 May 2024. Melnic admits he killed Daghi but denies murder, pleading not guilty to murder and guilty to manslaughter. The Director of Public Prosecutions rejected the plea, and Mr Justice David Keane has sworn a jury of eight men and four women to hear the case. The trial will start tomorrow afternoon and is expected to continue until the end of next week.
2025-04-11 · Dublin
Two Dublin men, Stephen Tynan (46) and Raymond Fitzgerald (41), were convicted of murdering Andrew Guerrine, who was found with 20 stab wounds on a roadside. They pleaded not guilty and were sentenced to life imprisonment by Mr Justice Michael White in December 2018. In a Court of Appeal hearing on 11 April 2025, Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy rejected all grounds of appeal. The appeal argued that the men were accessories after the fact and that evidence such as CCTV footage, ANPR data and a voluntary caution statement were inadmissible or unreliable. The judge found the evidence admissible and the defendants' statements lawful, and concluded that the trial judge had properly instructed the jury on the possible verdicts. Consequently, the appeal was dismissed and the convictions remain in force.
2025-02-26 · Wicklow
David Williams, 68, was sentenced to six years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to multiple counts of deception, providing legal services while unqualified, and acting as an unauthorised personal insolvency practitioner between January 2019 and June 2020. The court found that Williams, who was not a practising barrister, defrauded hundreds of foreign nationals through bogus firms including THL Legal and Moore, Barrington and Walters. In a separate bill, he admitted to defrauding a Galway woman in her 80s by dishonestly inducing her to purchase a Kuboto U27 mini-digger for €7,841. Co-accused Crystal Talia, 46, pleaded guilty to impeding an investigation by allowing Williams to use her bank accounts. Talia, who has no previous convictions, was previously given a one-year suspended sentence. Judge Orla Crowe described Williams as an "endemic recidivist fraudster" who breached the trust of victims seeking to regularise their status in Ireland. Williams had previously failed to attend a sentencing hearing, resulting in two bench warrants. Defence counsel cited Williams' cardiac condition and employment history in mitigation, while noting his multiple prior convictions dating back to the 1970s. The matter was finalised with the imposition of the custodial sentence.
2025-01-17 · Wicklow
A judge issued a bench warrant for David Williams, 67, after he failed to appear for sentencing. Williams, who had pleaded guilty to multiple counts of deception, including fraudulently posing as a barrister and defrauding a Galway woman of over €7,000, had previously been adjourned for medical reasons and had a history of non‑attendance. He was also convicted of providing legal services while unqualified and acting as an unauthorised insolvency practitioner. His partner, Crystal Talia, 46, was sentenced today for allowing Williams to use her bank accounts to facilitate the fraud. Talia received a fully suspended 12‑month sentence, with the judge noting her good character and family circumstances. The case involved the fraudulent firms THL Legal and Moore, Barrington and Walters, which were raided and found to have a client list of 1,200 victims. The bench warrant was issued to ensure Williams' arrest.
2024-12-05 · Dublin
Stephen Tynan (46) and Raymond Fitzgerald (41) have appealed their convictions for the murder of Andrew Guerrine, Tynan's cousin, who was stabbed 20 times in May 2015. The appeal argues that both men were only accessories after the fact, not principals. Tynan's counsel claims another person was involved in a drug transaction and that Tynan only assisted after the murder. Fitzgerald's counsel challenges the admissibility of CCTV footage and Automatic Number Plate Recognition evidence, arguing the system's accuracy is unproven. They also contest a voluntary caution statement taken in June 2015, asserting it was not given under custody and therefore inadmissible. The court has reserved judgment on these grounds. The appeal is heard in the Central Criminal Court, with the original convictions based on circumstantial evidence linking the defendants to the murder vehicle and location. The case remains pending. Stephen Tynan pleaded not guilty. Raymond Fitzgerald pleaded not guilty.
2024-11-15 · Dublin
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced three members of the Wall family for a burglary in Killiney, south Dublin, on February 19, 2021, where they stole €19,800 in gold jewellery from an elderly couple. Edward Wall (52), Martin Wall (45), and Patrick Wall (21) pleaded guilty to the offence. The court heard the men used a modified vehicle to aid the crime, with Edward and Martin acting as lookouts while Patrick and an accomplice entered the home. All property was returned. Judge Elva Duffy jailed Edward and Martin for four years each, finding them active participants in a joint enterprise. Patrick was sentenced to three-and-a-half years, with the final 12 months suspended. The judge declined to apply compensation, stating it would not restore the victims' peace of mind. Patrick Wall had previously pleaded guilty to possession of stolen property after gardaí captured him digging up almost €80,000 buried in coffee jars in a suburban Dublin field. The defendants have extensive criminal records, including prior convictions for burglary and possession of stolen property. Counsel for the defendants cited personal hardships and the benefit of guilty pleas, but the judge imposed custodial sentences reflecting the pre-planned nature of the offence and the defendants' histories.
2024-11-01 · Wicklow
David Williams, 68, and co-accused Crystal Talia, 46, pleaded guilty to multiple charges at the pretrial stage. Williams admitted to multiple sample counts of deception between January 2019 and June 2020, as well as defrauding a Galway woman in her 80s by dishonestly inducing her to buy a Kuboto U27 mini-digger for €7,841. Talia pleaded guilty to impeding an investigation by allowing Williams to use her bank accounts. The court heard allegations that Williams, who is not a qualified barrister, operated bogus legal firms to scam approximately 1,200 people. In the separate mini-digger case, Williams allegedly directed the victim to a vendor and provided his own bank account details, though Gardaí traced the machine to a third party and fully refunded the victim. Judge Orla Crowe refused a request for a probation report but granted time for Williams to gather character references. The matter was adjourned, with both defendants remanded on continuing bail for finalisation on December 13.
2024-04-10 · Dublin
Shannon Haddock, 28, of Redgap, Rathcoole, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a 12‑month suspended term for assisting her partner in a burglary at a house in South Dublin. She pleaded guilty to assisting an offender and dangerous driving. The burglary occurred on 1 March 2023 when the co‑accused, previously jailed for 27 months for a burglary in Sallynoggin, drove a red Audi away from the scene, then switched places with Haddock. Both fled on foot, but Haddock was arrested shortly after. The court noted her lack of prior convictions, her efforts at rehabilitation, and her difficulties with addiction and mental health. She was disqualified from driving for two years and the suspended sentence will be enforced on strict conditions for two years. The judge highlighted her active participation and driving as aggravating factors, while recognising her mitigating circumstances.
2024-03-21 · Dublin
Dominik Golebiowski, a 30‑year‑old Polish chef from Krakow, pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis for sale after a detector dog found the drugs at a logistics warehouse in Co Dublin. The drugs were concealed in insulation pallets, cut into ten sheets, and were discovered when customs officers searched a warehouse at Dachser Ireland. Golebiowski travelled to the warehouse to collect the pallets, signed for the consignment with a false Polish ID, and attempted to transport the goods in a rented white Tuscon hatchback. He managed to fit four insulation sheets into the car, but Gardaí intercepted him at Dublin Port, where they seized two iPhones and 14 packages of cannabis worth about €200,000. The remaining €300,000 of drugs were found in the warehouse, bringing the total seized to over 25 kg valued at €505,340.
2024-03-19 · Dublin
In March 2024, Shannon Valley Plant Hire Ltd was fined €600,000 after the death of Christopher Miley, a 31‑year‑old worker who was knocked down by a digger at Behan Quarry in Rathcoole on 28 October 2021. Miley was refuelling vehicles for the company in wet, dark, windy conditions, with no lighting, traffic marshal or designated refuelling area. The court found that Shannon Valley failed to ensure the health, safety and welfare of individuals on the site, and that Behan Aggregates and Recycling Ltd, the quarry operator, failed to maintain suitable operating procedures. The fine for Shannon Valley was the maximum allowed in such cases, while Behan Aggregates received a €50,000 fine. The judge highlighted a "certain level of complacency" on site and the lack of adequate safety measures. The case was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with the families of the deceased present for the sentencing. The companies had no prior health and safety breaches. The unnamed man pleaded guilty.
2024-03-11 · Dublin
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Michael, Thomas and Patrick Wall were charged with possession of stolen property after they were caught digging up almost €80,000 in coffee jars buried in a suburban field. Garda helicopter footage showed the brothers, identified as members of the "Wall Organised Crime Group", using shovels and a mini digger to excavate the cash. The court noted the brothers had approached local businesses to inquire about groundworks on the land and had claimed they were building horse fences. Michael Wall, aged 30, had no prior convictions and received a fully suspended sentence. Thomas Wall, aged 39, had served 12 months in custody and was given an 18‑month sentence, while Patrick Wall, aged 20, was adjourned to May for a probation report. The brothers were also charged with money laundering, but guilty pleas to possession of stolen property were accepted by the Director of Public Prosecutions.
2024-02-01 · Dublin
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.
2023-12-19 · Dublin
In a Dublin suburb, three brothers – Michael (30), Thomas (39) and Patrick (20) – were caught by Garda helicopter digging up nearly €80,000 in coffee jars at a field in Keatings Park, Rathcoole, on 14 August 2020. The cash, believed to come from burglaries, was found in Lidl coffee jars, with loose cash and a smashed jar, and was damp, suggesting recent excavation. The brothers had earlier approached local businesses to inquire about groundworks on the land and asked that the works be stopped, but were told a builder was removing hedges. They claimed they were building horse fences. Initially charged with money‑laundering, they pleaded guilty to possession of stolen property. The court adjourned sentencing to 4 March 2024 for mitigation pleas. The case involved the "Wall organised crime group" and was investigated with confidential information that the brothers were seeking buried cash. The brothers were arrested and identified on Garda footage.
2023-12-01 · Dublin
Dennis Menton, a 34‑year‑old father of five from Rathcoole, pleaded guilty to possession of 30 kg of cannabis for sale or supply outside his home. He was caught after Garda officers, acting on confidential information, stopped him while he parked a rental car and discovered the drugs in a second vehicle. Menton admitted transporting the drugs on five to six occasions over the past three months, earning €2,000 per job. He had no prior convictions and had been working multiple jobs to meet financial obligations. The court noted his early guilty plea, cooperation, good work record and family responsibilities. The offence carries a mandatory 10‑year sentence, but the judge departed from that and imposed a five‑and‑a‑half‑year term, citing mitigating factors. Menton has expressed remorse, is attending counselling and has considered studying community addiction studies. The court accepted his statements that the drugs were cannabis, a less harmful substance than cocaine or heroin.
2023-11-24 · Kildare
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, Gerry Daly, 57, was found not guilty of dangerous driving causing the death of Jacqueline Griffin, 39, in a fatal M50 collision on 24 January 2019. The jury, after six hours and fifty minutes of deliberation, accepted the defence's argument that Daly's type‑one diabetes had severely impaired his judgment, preventing a conscious decision to drive. Expert testimony from a consultant endocrinologist who had supervised Daly for over a decade confirmed that his blood glucose was well below normal, likely causing confusion and a loss of consciousness. Evidence indicated Daly's vehicle was travelling between 138 and 151 km/h at the time of the crash, which involved a high‑speed collision with a truck and a subsequent roll‑over of Griffin's car, resulting in catastrophic head injuries and her instant death.
2023-11-15 · Kildare
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, the jury heard that the death of 39‑year‑old Jacqueline Griffin on the M50 on 24 January 2019 was caused by catastrophic head injuries after her vehicle was struck from the rear by a black car travelling at high speed. The accused, 57‑year‑old Gerry Daly of Kildare, pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing death. A doctor's report read at the hearing described the scene: a vehicle on its side, a decapitated head on the road, and a body in the rear. A post‑mortem confirmed the head injuries. Witnesses, including truck driver Joseph Dunne and passenger Judith Ryan, described the collision and Daly's hypoglycaemic episode. Daly was treated on scene for low blood sugar, given glucose, and taken to hospital. The case remains before Judge Elma Sheahan and a jury.
2023-02-27 · Dublin
John Kelly, 36, of Cherrywood Villas, Clondalkin, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to cultivating cannabis at a derelict farmyard in Johnstown Kennedy, Rathcoole, on 26 November 2018. He was found supervising a grow house that contained three tents with 140 cannabis plants and saplings, valued at €60,000 for sentencing purposes. Kelly has 89 prior convictions, mainly for traffic offences, and previously served a seven‑year sentence for drug possession and a term for endangerment. Garda Donal Donoghue reported that Kelly's suspicious electricity bill led to a search warrant and the discovery of the grow operation. The court, noting mitigating factors such as his guilty plea and his legitimate stud‑farm business, sentenced him to two and a half years' imprisonment, suspending the final six months of a three‑year term on condition of continued engagement with the Probation Service to address his addiction. The sentence was back‑dated to 17 May of the previous year.
2022-12-02 · Dublin
Desmond O'Farrell, a truck driver for McGuire Haulage Ltd, was banned from the Danone site in Rocklands, Co. Wexford, after a night's visit to retrieve a forgotten work phone. The ban, suggested by McGuire to Danone, left him without work for two years, effectively creating a constructive dismissal. O'Farrell's union, Siptu, argued he was made a "fall guy" to appease Danone's security concerns. McGuire offered him unsuitable work in Dublin, which O'Farrell declined. The Workplace Relations Commission upheld his complaint, finding the ban unreasonable and a breach of contract. The commission ordered McGuire to pay €34,680 (51 weeks' pay) plus €5,440 for notice, totaling €40,120. The decision followed a Labour Court ruling that denied him redundancy, confirming he remained an employee but was left in a limbo employment situation. The case highlights the employer's failure to provide alternative work and the impact of the site ban on O'Farrell's livelihood.
2022-11-17 · Dublin
The High Court has appointed an interim examiner to Blacklough Construction Limited following an application on grounds of cash-flow insolvency. The company, which has 48 employees and engages subcontractors, is currently constructing over 360 social housing units across five sites for Respond Housing Association, including developments in Charlestown, County Mayo, and locations in Dublin, Meath, Westmeath and Louth. An independent expert's report indicated the company has reasonable prospects of survival if certain steps are taken. Counsel attributed the firm's difficulties primarily to a 33 per cent rise in building material costs since 2020, alongside a potential planning permission issue at the Carrickmines site in Dublin. Trade creditors are owed over €3 million. Chartered accountant Joe Walsh was appointed as interim examiner by Mr Justice Michael Quinn on Thursday. The court was satisfied that creditors would fare better under an examinership than in liquidation. Proceedings were adjourned to later in the month, with creditors to be notified of the application.
2022-11-02 · Dublin
Brian Kelly, aged 60 and a survivor of the Stardust fire, was sentenced to 30 months in prison after pleading guilty to transporting €159,922 worth of cannabis in his van on 12 March 2020. He claimed he was acting to help his nephew, who owed €30,000 in drug debt, and believed the nephew was in personal danger. Gardaí had surveillance of Kelly's van at Vernon Loughran's house, where they seized a large brown box containing eight vacuum‑packed packages and two mobile phones, one a burner phone. Loughran, aged 59, pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis and cocaine worth €840,000 after a search of his home. He was sentenced to six years in prison, with the final twelve months suspended. Both defendants had no prior convictions and showed remorse, factors considered by Judge Melanie Greally in determining their sentences. The court noted Kelly's family circumstances, his role in animal welfare, and his recovery from drug addiction.
2022-06-28 · Dublin
In a 2022 court hearing, former Garda Stephen Cooper (37) and accomplice Stephen McGrath (37) were sentenced for drug‑ and alcohol‑fuelled assaults on two women. Cooper forced a woman to undergo a "strip search" after claiming she stole drugs, threatened her, and inserted his fingers into her body. McGrath then violently assaulted a second woman, kicking, punching, and tearing her hair, while both men threatened to take her to the mountains and bury her. They attempted to place her in a van, but she resisted and was ultimately left in the footwell. Cooper pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to the first woman and to threats against the second, while McGrath pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, sexual assault, and weapon production. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a three‑year sentence for Cooper's assault and a three‑year sentence for the threats, to run consecutively.
2022-05-17 · Dublin
John Kelly, 36, of Cherrywood Villas, Clondalkin, pleaded guilty to cultivating cannabis at Old Farm Yard, Johnstown Kennedy, Rathcoole, Co Dublin, on 26 November 2018. He was remanded in custody pending sentence. Kelly, who has 89 prior convictions mainly for road traffic offences, had been supervising a grow‑house set up in a derelict farmyard. The landowner noticed a rise in electricity bills and flashlights near the buildings, prompting Garda Donal Donoghue to obtain a search warrant. Gardaí found three grow tents containing 140 cannabis plants and saplings. If all were mature females, the potential street value would have been €112,000; the agreed valuation for sentencing purposes was €60,000. Kelly was arrested, interviewed five times with no information emerging, and later entered a guilty plea. He is a legitimate businessman in the horse industry and owns a stud with 35 stables. The case was adjourned to 19 October, with Judge Melanie Greally remanding him in custody.
2022-02-07 · Dublin
The Special Criminal Court delivered a sentence in the case of 'Jimmy' Mansfield, who was found not guilty of conspiring to kidnap former security guard Martin Byrne. The court accepted that on June 9, 2015, a gang led by Dessie O'Hare and Declan Duffy kidnapped Mr Byrne at Keating Park, assaulting him and holding him at The Towers. While the judge found insufficient evidence that Mansfield deliberately lured Mr Byrne for the kidnapping, he was found to have lied about his interactions with the criminals. The court determined that Mansfield was aware of and approved the involvement of New IRA and INLA members in efforts to recover properties lost during the 2008 economic crash, including the Citywest Hotel. Mansfield was also found to have instructed the destruction of CCTV footage linking him to the events. The judgment noted that Mansfield had previously associated with dissident paramilitaries to address debt demands. O'Hare and Duffy, both notorious criminals with prior convictions for serious offenses including murder and false imprisonment, were central to the plot. The court highlighted Mansfield's 'shoddy and selfish' conduct, such as failing to contact his former employee after the incident, but concluded that his lies did not establish guilt for the conspiracy charge. The matter was finalized with this sentencing judgment.
2022-02-07 · Dublin
Jim Mansfield Jnr, a property magnate, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to two years' imprisonment with the final six months suspended for a period of six months, back‑dated to 17 January 2022. The sentence followed a conviction for attempting to pervert the course of justice by directing Patrick Byrne to destroy CCTV footage that showed Mansfield and former employee Martin Byrne leaving Finnstown House Hotel on 9 June 2015, the day Byrne was later kidnapped by republican terrorists Dessie O'Hare and Declan 'Whacker' Duffy. Mansfield, 54, had ordered the footage destroyed to distance himself from the kidnappers and to hide his association with them. He was acquitted of a separate conspiracy charge for falsely imprisoning Byrne. The court noted his lack of prior convictions, his mild intellectual disability, his role as a carer for his 78‑year‑old mother and his generally good character as mitigating factors. Jim Mansfield Jnr pleaded not guilty.
2021-11-18 · Dublin
Historian Kerron Ó'Luain, aged 34, was charged with unlawful violence after he punched a Polish man during an anti‑Pegida protest in Dublin on 6 February 2016. The incident occurred when a group of protesters, who believed the victim knew members of the far‑right group Pegida, attacked him. CCTV footage showed Ó'Luain delivering a single punch to the victim's head before leaving the scene. He pleaded guilty to the offence. In July, Judge Melanie Greally found his culpability to be in the low range for violent disorder, describing the conduct as reprehensible but very short‑lived. She ordered him to donate €200 to Pieta House and to keep the peace for a set period. At a subsequent sentencing hearing, the court noted that Ó'Luain had complied with all conditions and discharged him from the indictment. The victim sustained cuts and bruises but did not make a statement to Gardaí. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
2021-10-26 · Dublin
In a dispute over a mobile phone that was later found in the accused's flat, Scott Byrne, aged 31, stabbed his neighbour Jamie Shortt, aged 28, on 11 July 2020. Byrne and two friends had been at a party celebrating a six‑year‑old's birthday, then joined another party in Shortt's flat where alcohol and cocaine were consumed. After the party, Byrne's friend could not locate his phone and suspected it was in Shortt's flat. Byrne and two others forced entry, and Shortt locked himself in a bathroom. Shortt later armed himself with a hammer and entered Byrne's flat, where Byrne, holding a knife, stabbed Shortt six to eight times around the shoulder and neck. Shortt sustained superficial injuries and fully recovered. Byrne was arrested, tried, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and assault causing harm, and was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment. The court noted Byrne's 16 prior convictions, including burglary, theft and violent disorder.
2021-07-30 · Kildare
Senior Kinahan Cartel lieutenant Declan Brady was sentenced to eight years and three months in prison, with the final year suspended, for laundering €268,940 of crime cash. He is already serving 11‑and‑a‑half years for firearms offences. Brady's wife, Deirdre Brady, received a fully suspended three‑year sentence for laundering €770,499, and former mistress Erika Lukacs, aged 37, received a fully suspended three‑year sentence for laundering €196,864. The court found that the laundering involved mortgage payments on a Spanish holiday property, a wedding at Druid's Glen, and transfers to other gang members. Brady's wife and Lukacs were not involved in the underlying criminality that generated the cash, and the judge considered their lack of prior convictions and good character in deciding on suspended sentences. The sentences will run from 23 April 2021, the date of Brady's guilty plea.
2021-07-29 · Armagh
Former INLA member Dessie O'Hare, known as "The Border Fox," withdrew his appeal against the severity of his sentence at the Court of Appeal. O'Hare, of County Armagh, was jailed in 2019 by the Special Criminal Court for seven years for falsely imprisoning a family and leading a violent attack. He pleaded guilty to assaulting John Roche and falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne at Rathcoole and Saggart on June 9, 2015. The court sentenced him to three years for the assault and ten years for the imprisonment, with the final three years suspended for life; the sentences run concurrently. A previous appeal hearing was adjourned after O'Hare dismissed his lawyers. During today's hearing, Justice George Birmingham warned that the court could increase his sentence, noting his 1988 conviction for kidnapping Dr. John O'Grady, for which he received 40 years before release under the Good Friday Agreement. Counsel argued O'Hare was being punished for past sins, citing co-accused Declan "Whacker" Duffy, who received six years in 2018 for similar offences. After Justice Birmingham indicated the appeal was unlikely to succeed, O'Hare instructed his barrister to withdraw the appeal. The matter was adjourned following the withdrawal, and the original sentence stands.
2021-06-14 · Kildare
The Special Criminal Court heard that Declan Brady, his wife Deirdre Brady, and Erika Lukacs laundered approximately €1.3m in crime cash. At today's sentence hearing, Brady (55) pleaded guilty to seven further money laundering offences, Deirdre Brady (53) admitted to 17 more, and Lukacs (37) pleaded guilty to five additional offences. The court heard that Brady laundered €318,654, Deirdre Brady laundered €770,499, and Lukacs laundered €196,864. Deirdre Brady allegedly transferred over €140,000 to Thomas 'Bomber' Kavanagh and paid €138,000 towards a Spanish mortgage. The court also noted that €66,301 was paid for a wedding at Druids Glen, with €27,265 paid in cash. Declan Brady is already serving an 11.5-year sentence for supervising a weapons cache. All three defendants have paid money to the Criminal Assets Bureau. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding with Judges Gerard Griffin and David McHugh, remanded Brady in custody until July 30, when he will be sentenced. The matter was adjourned.
2021-05-17 · Laois
The Special Criminal Court sentenced Sean Ruth, a former mid-tier Kinahan Cartel member, to four years and six months for two money laundering offences. Presiding Judge Tony Hunt suspended both sentences for six years and ordered Ruth to repay €9,900 within 12 months. Ruth pleaded guilty to concealing or disguising the source of funds in his Allied Irish Bank account between 2016 and 2017, knowing or being reckless as to whether they were proceeds of criminal conduct. The court noted he had paid over €20,000 to the Criminal Assets Bureau, with his parents assisting with the remaining balance. Judge Hunt reduced a headline six-year sentence by 25% due to Ruth's guilty plea and mitigation, including his reformation and education since his 2019 release from a separate firearms conviction. Ruth was previously jailed for three years for possessing a .38 Special revolver and ammunition. The report also details that Jonathan Harding and James Walsh were previously sentenced to 10 and nine years imprisonment respectively, with the final year of each suspended, after pleading guilty to possessing nine revolvers, four pistols, a submachine gun, an assault rifle, and ammunition at the Greenogue Unit.
2021-04-23 · Kildare
Declan Brady, Deirdre Brady, and Erika Lukacs appeared before the Special Criminal Court, where Brady pleaded guilty to concealing €268,940 in cash in the attic of a Naas property on January 24, 2017. Prosecutors indicated that additional pleas from all three accused are required. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding with Judges Sarah Berkeley and David McHugh, remanded Brady in custody for a sentence hearing scheduled for June 14. The matter was adjourned to that date. Previously, in July 2019, Brady was sentenced to 11.5 years for possessing an arsenal of firearms and ammunition at a Dublin business park. Deirdre Brady and Erika Lukacs, who were originally charged with 52 money laundering offences, each pleaded guilty to one count on April 13. Deirdre Brady admitted to concealing the source of funds in a Permanent TSB account between 2014, while Erika Lukacs admitted to similar offences regarding an Allied Irish Bank account in 2012. Both women were remanded in custody for the June 14 sentence hearing. The court proceedings remain at the sentencing stage, with final disposals pending the upcoming hearing.
2021-03-26 · Dublin
Sean Ruth, 32, of Portlaoise, Co Laois, was remanded on continuing bail until May 17 for sentencing after pleading guilty to two money laundering offences at the Special Criminal Court. Prosecutors alleged that Ruth, described as a mid-tier Kinahan Cartel member, allowed his bank accounts to be used to launder over €50,000 in crime proceeds between 2016 and 2017 while claiming State benefits and paying no tax. He has paid the Criminal Assets Bureau over €20,000, with his mother assisting to discharge the remaining €9,000 liability. Defending counsel argued that Ruth has reformed since his 2019 release from a previous three-year firearms sentence and requested the court consider whether imprisonment was necessary. The court heard that Ruth was previously linked via DNA evidence to a revolver found at a Greenogue business park, an arsenal that also contained weapons seized from James Walsh and Jonathan Harding. Walsh, 36, and Harding, 48, were previously sentenced to 10 years and nine years imprisonment respectively, with the final year of each sentence suspended, after pleading guilty to possessing nine revolvers, four pistols, a sub-machinegun, an assault rifle, and ammunition at the same location. Ruth's current matter remains adjourned for final sentencing.
2021-01-22 · Armagh
The Court of Appeal has adjourned the sentencing appeal of Dessie O'Hare, a former INLA member known as "The Border Fox." Mr Justice George Birmingham agreed to the adjournment, noting there is "no particular urgency" as O'Hare's sentence is not due to expire soon. The judge stated he "wouldn't expect an early release" even if the appeal succeeded. O'Hare, of County Armagh, was jailed in 2019 by the Special Criminal Court for seven years for falsely imprisoning a family and leading a violent attack. He pleaded guilty to assaulting John Roche and falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne at Rathcoole and Saggart on June 9, 2015. The court also considered two counts of falsely imprisoning Mr Byrne's wife and son. O'Hare received three years for the assault and ten years for the false imprisonment, with the final three years suspended for life; the sentences run concurrently. The judge noted O'Hare's threat to society had not abated. A previous appeal hearing was adjourned after O'Hare dismissed his lawyers. He is currently unable to consult his legal team while in prison. O'Hare previously served 40 years for the 1987 kidnapping of Dr John O'Grady, from which he was released in 2006 under the Good Friday Agreement.
2020-12-16 · Dublin
The Special Criminal Court adjourned the trial of Jim Mansfield Jnr until June 2, 2021, following a second delay caused by newly disclosed CCTV footage. Mansfield, 53, of Saggart, pleaded not guilty to conspiring to falsely imprison Martin Byrne and attempting to pervert the course of justice by directing the destruction of CCTV footage. The court, presided over by Mr Justice Alexander Owens with Judges Ni Chulachain and Faughnan, granted the defence time to review 12 days of previously undisclosed footage. While the trial is adjourned, related proceedings concluded with Christopher Maguire, 41, of Lusk, receiving a three-year suspended sentence after pleading guilty to falsely imprisoning Martin and Lisa Byrne in Rathcoole/Saggart on June 9, 2015. Maguire's sentence was suspended, with no effective custody imposed. In a separate 2007 matter, James O'Gorman was convicted of defrauding a company director of €54,000. The current trial remains ongoing, with the next mention scheduled for January 2021.