A man who smashed his neighbour's window and engaged in anti-social behaviour had his three-month jail term replaced with a fully suspended sentence on appeal. Karl Hiney broke his neighbour's living room window and damaged another after having 'issues' with them. He was also convicted of being intoxicated in a public place and using threatening and abusive behaviour. Hiney was later lodged an appeal against the severity of his sentence. Sergeant Shay Leonard told the court that Hiney made admissions to breaking a window and was conveyed to a garda station. Defence counsel said that Hiney had a long history of mental health problems and had issues with his neighbours over the years. Judge Christopher Callan said that he understood the context in which the incident happened with regard to Hiney's mental health and decided to suspend the three-month sentence for a period of two years on the condition that Hiney engage with the Probation Service and continue with counselling and psychotherapy courses. Karl Hiney pleaded guilty.
Sunday Onwukaike, 49, of Saggart, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for possession of drugs for sale or supply. He pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis with a market value of €13,000 or more at an address in Lucan on July 27, 2024. The court heard that gardaí carried out a controlled delivery of a parcel intercepted by customs, which contained 11kg of cannabis valued at €211,910. Onwukaike signed for the parcel and was arrested, indicating he was paid €1,000 to collect it. Judge Elma Sheahan noted the offence carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years, but departed from this in exceptional circumstances. Considering his guilty plea, lack of prior drug convictions, family circumstances involving a child with complex needs, and remorse, the judge set a headline sentence of five years. She imposed a sentence of three years imprisonment, suspending the final six months on strict conditions. Onwukaike, who has two previous road traffic convictions, was jailed for two and a half years.
The Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) was granted High Court permission to sell three high-end vehicles, a BMW M2, a BMW M3, and an Audi Q7, seized from former Real IRA member Nathan Kinsella. Barrister Daragh Breen BL, representing the CAB, described the cars as assets of "very high worth" and in depreciation. Mr Justice Liam Kennedy granted the application to appoint a CAB receiver to sell the vehicles, with proceeds to be held pending a substantive hearing. The matter was adjourned to next month. Kinsella, of Blackrock, Co Dublin, was not present. In 2024, Kinsella pleaded guilty to three counts of failing to furnish tax returns for capital acquisitions tax in 2018, 2019, and 2020. He was sentenced to one year in prison. Previously, in 2014, the Special Criminal Court sentenced him to two years for membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA, for acts committed on September 13, 2012. Kinsella has 17 previous convictions, including road traffic offences and impeding a prosecution.
An uninsured motorist who believed he was covered when stopped by gardaí has avoided a driving ban after appearing before Tallaght District Court. Claudius Dsouza (44), of Marybrook Village, Portlaoise, Co Laois pleaded guilty to driving without insurance and failing to produce an insurance certificate. The court heard that Mr Dsouza was stopped by gardaí on Garter Lane, Saggart, on March 9, 2025. Garda checks showed the 2009-registered car was not insured at the time. Mr Dsouza was unable to produce an insurance certificate at the roadside and did not later produce one at a garda station. Gardaí told the court the defendant later accepted he had no insurance on the vehicle on the day in question. Solicitor Jeremiah Breen, for Mr Dsouza, said his client had believed he was insured and expressed regret for the incident. The court heard he is married with two children and works part-time in a garage. It was confirmed he has no previous convictions.
Clive McCowan, 45, a former PhD student in social studies, was sentenced to just over three‑and‑a‑half years in prison for possessing €285,000 worth of heroin. He pleaded guilty to three counts of possession of drugs for sale or supply at Millrace Park, Saggart, on 6 June 2024. Gardaí searched his residence at Rossfield Court, Tallaght, and found approximately 2 kg of heroin, 147 g of cannabis, and 8 g of cocaine, along with weighing scales and a boiler. McCowan admitted to receiving the drugs two weeks earlier, having been instructed to cut a section of diamorphine, and claimed he had a drug debt of €30,000. He had eight prior convictions, including robbery, and had previously completed a residential treatment programme. Judge Martin Nolan, noting the substantial mitigation and McCowan's cooperation, imposed a four‑year sentence, reduced by four months for his treatment. The court considered this his second incursion into drug‑dealing activity.
Paul Kearney, 47, pleaded guilty at Tallaght District Court for stealing €300 worth of scratch cards from a SuperValu in Firhouse on 8 September 2024. The theft was described as an opportunistic, spur‑of‑the‑moment act captured on CCTV. Kearney admitted being in the footage but denied memory of the act. After a month he returned to the shop, where staff recognised him and alerted Gardaí, but the cards were no longer recoverable. The judge ordered him to complete a restorative justice programme and adjourned final sentencing to 10 October.
Rachael Kearney, 42, was on bail when she committed a series of offences over 20 months, from July 2023 to March 2025. The offences included shoplifting from Aldi, Tesco, Boots, Dunnes Stores, JD Sports and Lifestyle Sports, dangerous driving, setting fire to cardboard at a business premises, unauthorised vehicle use and fire damage. She pleaded guilty before Judge Patricia McNamara at Tallaght District Court. The court imposed a total of 24 months' imprisonment, the maximum that can be imposed for multiple charges in a single case, with some terms to run consecutively. Kearney also received a two‑year driving ban. She has been in custody since 28 March and will appear again at Arklow District Court on 14 May under a Section 99 warrant, where a partially suspended 10‑month sentence may be activated. She has indicated she does not intend to appeal her sentence.
Jason Buckley, a 28‑year‑old plumber from Verschoyle Vale, Saggart, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for endangerment after he drove at Matthew Kenny, the boyfriend of Buckley's ex‑partner, on Fairgreen, Saggart, on 21 March 2021. The incident occurred while Kenny was helping the ex‑partner move house; he saw Buckley revving his engine and then driving at him. CCTV from a neighbour's house confirmed the revving. Kenny suffered a badly sprained left wrist, cuts, bruises and lacerations, and he described living in constant fear and anxiety, taking large amounts of medication, and being unable to pursue his dream of becoming a barrister because of medical bills. Buckley pleaded guilty, had eight prior convictions, and claimed the act was not pre‑planned.
In a Tallaght District Court hearing, Judge Patricia McNamara sentenced Dumitru Lupu, a 30‑year‑old cleaning‑company owner from Boherboy, Saggart, to pay €150 for criminal damage and €100 to a garda charity after he urinated all over a garda cell while intoxicated. Lupu, who has no prior convictions except for traffic offences, was arrested following a verbal altercation at his home on 30 September 2022. Garda officers described him as unsteady, aggressive and abusive, and he laughed when informed of the damage. The judge noted that, given his occupation, Lupu "would have been in a good position to clean up his own mess" but that it was too late. He was ordered to complete 80 hours of community service pending a probation report on 12 May. The court also ordered a €100 donation to Little Blue Heroes, a charity for children with disabilities. Dumitru Lupu pleaded guilty.
Nathan Ndaba, 26, of Coolmine, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to money laundering €8,500 on August 15, 2019. The court heard that an injured party fell victim to a phishing scam, resulting in an unauthorised transfer to Ndaba's account. Garda Darragh Cash testified that Ndaba was approached by a man known as "Black John" to use his account, though another individual later attempted to withdraw the funds. Under cross-examination, the garda acknowledged Ndaba's peripheral role, his early plea, and that the full amount was recovered. Judge Nolan noted Ndaba's 29 previous convictions for road traffic offences and failing to appear, but accepted his defence counsel's mitigation that these were not of a similar nature. The judge stated that the appropriate sentence was 20 months, which he suspended in full on strict conditions. Additionally, Ndaba was ordered to pay €1,000 to gardai for application to a charity within three months. The judge remarked that providing one's bank account to others indicates wrongdoing, and the fine was intended to remind Ndaba not to re-offend.
Margaret Doran (36), from Kimmage in Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of a false registration certificate for a caravan on 15 October 2019 at the Ranch House in Saggart, Dublin. Gardaí discovered the caravan's Vehicle Identification Number had been partially ground down during a search of the premises where Doran was renting a parking space. She produced a false logbook when questioned. The caravan, valued at €25,000, was seized. Doran stated she had exchanged her own caravan and paid money to a man in Sligo whose identity gardaí could not verify. The court heard she became homeless following seizure of the caravan. Judge Martin Nolan noted her guilty plea, absence of previous convictions, and personal tragedies, including the death of her husband. He determined that imprisonment was inappropriate and found her unlikely to reoffend. Doran received a two-year prison sentence, suspended in full.
Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin rejected a probation report that described Liam McGrane, 59, as "open and honest" and at low risk of re‑offending. The judge noted that the full record of McGrane's previous convictions was not supplied to Probation Services and that the court was not satisfied with the report's assessment. McGrane pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery at Dublin hotels in December 2018 and August 2019, where he took €1,500 and €1,800 respectively from escort clients. He had earlier admitted to similar offences and had no current employment, with financial pressure cited as a factor in his past crimes. The judge sentenced him to four years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended on strict conditions, and warned that any change in his circumstances could increase the risk of re‑offending.
At the Central Criminal Court trial of Diarmuid Phelan, the jury heard extensive background evidence regarding repeated trespassing and criminal damage at his Hazelgrove farm in West Dublin. The defence argued that understanding the defendant's history was essential to contextualizing the events of February 24, 2022. Testimony detailed numerous incidents, including arson, vehicle theft, and assaults, which Phelan reported to gardai. Specific attention was given to a 2017 District Court case involving three young men, including Kallum Coleman and Robin Duggan, who were accused of trespassing. Although the source text notes that three individuals were previously convicted of trespassing and criminal damage in that earlier matter, the current trial focused on the subsequent murder charge against Phelan. The defence highlighted that Phelan had been threatened by these individuals in court, leading to his fear of returning. The trial also examined the context of badger baiting, an illegal activity, which Phelan allegedly encountered when he shot a dog he believed was threatening his livestock. The jury was presented with Phelan's account of the confrontation that followed, where he claimed the men emerged from the bushes and screamed at him. The proceedings emphasized the long-standing conflict between Phelan and local trespassers, with the defence urging jurors to consider the cumulative impact of these alleged crimes on the defendant's state of mind.
In a murder trial at Tallaght, State Pathologist Dr Heidi Okkers testified that a deformed lead projectile measuring 0.8 cm was recovered from the head of Keith Conlon, a 36‑year‑old father of four who died on 24 February 2022 after being shot on the farm of barrister Diarmuid Phelan. Okkers described the bullet's trajectory, noting it entered 3 cm behind Conlon's right ear and 5 cm above it, and that the entry wound was 1.64 cm above the unshod heel. She reported no soot or powder tattooing around the wound, indicating a distance of more than one metre between shooter and victim. The pathologist also detailed a CT scan showing a complete fracture of the right parietal bone and multiple metallic fragments in the brain. Phelan, 56, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Conlon, who was shot in the back of the head while turning away to leave.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Liam McGrane, aged 59, pleaded guilty to two robbery offences committed at separate hotels in December 2018 and August 2019. McGrane, who had prior convictions for traffic offences and similar robberies, used a knife to threaten escort workers who had booked meetings through Escorts.ie. In the first incident, he stole €1,500 and attempted to extort more from a neighbouring room. In the second, he took €1,800 and fled in a blue car, which was traced to his residence. Gardaí obtained CCTV evidence and recovered the stolen sums. McGrane admitted the robberies, expressed remorse, and offered apologies to the victims. The judge acknowledged the seriousness of the knife crimes, noted McGrane's counselling, and adjourned sentencing to January 2025, ordering a probation report.
The High Court extended an injunction that bars four named individuals and unknown persons from entering or interfering with the former Crown Paints factory in Coolock, which is slated to become an asylum‑seeker facility. The injunction, originally issued in July amid violent protests, prohibits trespassing, threatening or intimidating behaviour toward employees or contractors of Townbe Unlimited Company and Remcoll Capital Ltd. It applies to anyone attending the site for violent or intimidating protests against housing foreign nationals. Two defendants, Kevin Coyle and Leon Bradley, were local election candidates who allegedly posted videos of themselves on the property and claimed to have thrown rocks. Sean Rush is accused of creating a social‑media page inciting riots. A fourth unnamed defendant was served via social media. The court noted that the violence seen in summer has not re‑occurred, but the protest remains unresolved.
The Special Criminal Court has adjourned the sentencing hearing for Nathan Kinsella until June 17 to allow gardai to complete an investigation into newly filed tax returns. Kinsella, 44, of Richmond, Blackrock, Co Dublin, previously pleaded guilty to three counts of failing to deliver full and true Capital Acquisitions Tax (CAT) returns for the years 2018, 2019, and 2020. The charges alleged he failed without reasonable excuse to comply with section 46(2) of the Capital Acquisitions Tax Consolidation Act 2003 while residing at addresses in Saggart, Dublin, and Blackrock. During the hearing, the Director of Public Prosecutions stated that Kinsella had recently filed income tax returns for the same period, which the State described as "not in keeping with the evidence" regarding funds on which CAT should have been paid. Defense counsel explained the returns were filed on accountant advice to encompass all money received. Mr Justice Michael MacGrath, presiding on behalf of the three-judge court, ordered the adjournment to permit gardai to investigate the basis of these new returns and any overlap with the funds in question. Kinsella was previously sentenced to two years in prison in 2012 after pleading guilty to membership of the Irish Republican Army (IRA), an unlawful organisation, following an investigation into paramilitary activity at the funeral of Alan Ryan.
Saulius Daunaravicius was jailed for two years after pleading guilty to keeping and supplying anabolic steroids without a prescription from his family home in Saggart, Co Dublin. The drugs, valued at an estimated €69,000, were found during a search conducted by HPRA officer Alan Smullen and Gardaí on 23 September 2022. The search uncovered 78,689 tablets and 5,961 vials, including 9,040 tablets and 61 vials in a package addressed to his wife, Kristina Daunaraviciene. Daunaravicius, who had no prior convictions, admitted responsibility and claimed the drugs were for his use and friends. Kristina, also guilty, received a two‑year suspended sentence after a judge noted her cooperation, lack of criminal record, and family responsibilities. The case highlighted the dangers of unregulated anabolic steroid distribution.
Jennifer Dunne, 38, of Richmond, Blackrock, Co Dublin, was discharged from proceedings at the Special Criminal Court after the State dropped all nine charges against her. The Director of Public Prosecutions entered a nolle prosequi application, citing the receipt of certain documents, which resulted in the withdrawal of six money-laundering counts and three counts of failing to furnish tax returns. Dunne had been accused of money-laundering offences relating to AIB accounts between 2018 and 2019, and failing to deliver capital acquisitions tax returns between October 2018 and October 2020. Following the order, she was free to leave the court. This development occurred five days after her partner, Nathan Kinsella, 44, also of Richmond, Blackrock, pleaded guilty to three similar counts of failing to furnish tax returns for the same period. Kinsella's case was adjourned to January 22 for sentencing, while six money-laundering charges against him were not pursued by the State. Kinsella was previously jailed by the Special Criminal Court ten years ago after pleading guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Óglaigh na hÉireann, otherwise the Irish Republican Army on September 13, 2012, for which he was sentenced to two years.
Ex-IRA man Nathan Kinsella has pleaded guilty to three counts of failing to furnish tax returns, as well as two additional counts of the same offence on or before October 31, 2019, and October 31, 2020. Kinsella, who was previously jailed for two years in 2012 for membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, was sentenced to two years for that offence. The matter was adjourned to January 22, 2024, for sentencing. Kinsella was jailed by the same court 10 years ago after a garda investigation into paramilitary activity at the funeral of Dissident Republican Alan Ryan. Jennifer Dunne, Kinsella's partner, is charged with the same tax and money laundering offences. Paul Greene SC, counsel for Ms Dunne, stated that his client has three documents of interest that involve returns to the Revenue, and these are available in hard copy at the accused's home. He said the documents will be furnished to the prosecution before the weekend, and Ms Dunne's case was adjourned to next Monday. Kinsella and Ms Dunne were previously charged with money laundering offences under Section 7 of Criminal Justice (Money Laundering & Terrorist Financing) Act, 2010. The couple were charged with converting, transferring, handling, acquiring, possessing or using property, namely funds lodged to an AIB account on dates between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2019, within the State, knowing or believing or being reckless as to whether the property was the proceeds of criminal conduct. Dominic McGinn SC, for the State, said that the State would now be entering a nolle prosequi on these charges in relation to Kinsella.
Nathan Kinsella (44) and his partner Jennifer Dunne (38) of Richmond, Blackrock, Co Dublin, are due to go to trial at the Special Criminal Court over alleged money laundering offences. They have been re‑charged with the six original money‑laundering offences under Section 7 of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering & Terrorist Financing) Act 2010. In addition, they face three new counts under the Finance Act 2008 for failing to file tax returns. The charges relate to converting, transferring, handling, acquiring, possessing or using property—specifically funds deposited into an AIB account between 1 January 2018 and 31 December 2019—while knowing or recklessly believing the property was the proceeds of criminal conduct. They are also charged with failing to submit full and true capital acquisitions tax returns for the periods ending 31 October 2018, 31 October 2019 and 31 October 2020, with addresses at Tasaggart House, Alpine Heights and Richmond, Newtownpark respectively.
Kevin Brazil, 53, was sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment for sexually assaulting a 13‑year‑old boy in Wicklow between January and July 2020. The boy was befriended by Brazil, who gave him money, alcohol and cigarettes, and took him to Blessington Lakes where Brazil offered drinks and cigarettes. The assault involved Brazil touching the boy's leg. Brazil has a long criminal record, including eight years already served for earlier sexual assaults, a 2004 sentence of three years with the final year suspended, and a 2021 sentence of two‑and‑a‑half years for a 12‑year‑old victim. He also pleaded guilty in 2024 to sexual assault and communication offences in the State. The court noted the boy's mother observed a "massive change" in her son after the offence. Brazil's 15‑month term is back‑dated to January and he will not be released from his other sentences until January 2027.
Stephen McInerney, 29, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and the production of pepper spray after confronting a stranger in Saggart on 14 July 2020. McInerney had read false social‑media claims that the victim was a paedophile and, acting as a vigilante, confronted him while he was walking to the shops. He showed the victim a photo, accused him of paedophilia, threatened to kill him, and sprayed him with pepper spray. The victim fled to a shop, was helped by security staff, and later recorded the incident. CCTV footage and a search of McInerney's home revealed pepper spray and clothes. McInerney admitted he found the spray on a bus and claimed he was sorry. The court adjourned the case to March 2023 for a probation report and ordered McInerney to keep away from the victim.
The High Court ordered a Criminal Assets Bureau receiver to take control of a west Dublin property near Tallaght that was deemed to be the proceeds of drug‑trafficking by cartel boss Daniel Kinahan. The receiver, Mr Kevin McMeel, was appointed under Section 7 of the Criminal Assets Bureau Act to sell the house on the open market and manage the €3,850 found there. The property, a five‑bedroom house at Coldwater Lakes in Saggart, was valued at €750‑800k in 2013 and was found uninhabited when CAB visited on 25 October 2022. No respondent claimed ownership. The receiver will hold the sale proceeds in a nominated bank account and, after seven years, the funds will be forfeited to the State. The court noted that CAB had served papers on Kinahan and Thomas Kavanagh, who were aware of the proceedings but had not contested the order.
Zachary McLoughlin, 22, pleaded guilty to one count of assault at the Cookstown Luas stop on June 26, 2021. Judge Elma Sheahan adjourned the sentencing hearing to May 10, 2023, when the case will be finalised. The court heard that McLoughlin assaulted a Luas ticket inspector, causing facial injuries requiring nine stitches and leaving scarring. The victim lost €1,800 in wages. Judge Sheahan noted the facts were troubling and suggested McLoughlin take out a loan to provide a more appropriate financial token of remorse. She ordered McLoughlin to pay €3,200 immediately and the remaining balance of €6,800 within six months, totaling €10,000. The judge also ordered McLoughlin to participate in a restorative justice programme and complete a probation report. Defence counsel highlighted McLoughlin's remorse, lack of prior convictions, and that he brought €3,200 to court. The judge acknowledged mitigating factors including his age and early guilty plea. The matter was adjourned and is not yet concluded.
The High Court granted the Criminal Assets Bureau a Section 3 order to seize a five‑bedroom luxury mansion in Saggart, west Dublin, which the court deemed to be proceeds of crime linked to cartel boss Daniel Kinahan, 45. The property, valued at €750,000 in 2013 and likely worth more now, was described as "effectively owned" by Kinahan. In an affidavit, Detective Chief Superintendent Seamus Boland alleged that Kinahan sanctioned several murders in the Hutch/Kinahan feud and was involved in drug trafficking, weapons importation and money laundering. CAB presented evidence that Kinahan had lived in the house, including a passport and a Ryanair boarding pass in his name, and that €3,850 in cash was found in a hidden compartment. The court was satisfied that Kinahan and Thomas "Bomber" Kavanagh were in control of the property and the cash, that they had been duly served, and that no evidence of a contrary claim was presented.
Daniel Kinahan has until October to decide whether to challenge the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) in its attempt to seize a south Dublin property linked to him and jailed businessman Jim Mansfield Junior. The High Court was informed that attempts have been made to serve papers at addresses linked to Kinahan in Dubai, but confirmation of receipt is pending. If Kinahan does not respond, Mr Justice Michael MacGrath will hold a hearing on October 3 to consider the CAB's request for the property to be seized. Thomas 'Bomber' Kavanagh, an associate of Kinahan, has already been served papers while in prison in the UK. Mansfield and his brother Patrick Joseph Mansfield have waived any claim over the property. It is alleged that Kinahan and Kavanagh provided Mansfield Jnr with €4.5 million in suitcases, which was to be invested in property for the cartel. The deal collapsed during the economic downturn, but it is alleged that Mansfield Jnr later repaid them by giving them a house in Saggart. The CAB proceedings were initiated to seize property in Dublin linked to Kinahan and Mansfield Jnr. Last February, the Special Criminal Court jailed Mansfield Jnr in an unrelated case for 18 months for ordering the destruction of CCTV footage showing him with a former employee on the morning the employee was kidnapped by republican terrorists. The court noted that Mansfield Jnr 'stood and watched' as his former security guard was taken by the kidnappers and 'placed in great danger'. Presiding judge Mr Justice Alexander Owens stated that Mansfield Jnr's actions fell into the category of 'foolish and selfish criminality' and that he sought to distance himself from involvement with the kidnappers.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Francis Kelly, aged 33, was sentenced to a suspended 32‑month term for possessing cocaine and cannabis for sale. Kelly, who had a near‑death experience after an overdose in 2020, has since stopped using drugs and has undergone a profound personality change, according to a clinical psychologist. He now studies computer programming and intends to pursue third‑level education. The drugs, valued at €8,400, were seized in a Saggart carpark after a Garda report. Kelly pleaded guilty to two counts of possession for supply on 4 May 2018 and has 35 prior convictions, mainly for traffic offences. The judge noted his educational progress and the absence of further Garda attention, and imposed the suspended sentence on a number of conditions.
Gerard Hughes, 25, was sentenced to one year in prison for criminal damage after smashing 21 doors at Citywest Hotel, Saggart, Dublin, in September 2018, causing over €7,000 in damage. He received an additional 18‑month consecutive sentence for possessing cannabis for sale, found at his home in March 2021. Witnesses, including security officer Conor Flynn, reported Hughes breaking hotel doors and attempting to smash a safe with a fire extinguisher. The hotel paid €7,717 for repairs, and an office was broken into with keys later found on Hughes. Hughes admitted the acts, expressed remorse, and cited the murder of his brother a year earlier as a distressing factor. He has 81 prior convictions, including drug offences, and was on bail for the criminal damage charge at the time of sentencing. The judge back‑dated the sentences to May 21, when Hughes entered custody for a separate robbery and endangerment matter. Gerard Hughes pleaded guilty.
In a High Court hearing on 17 June 2022, Xilinx Ireland, part of AMD, reported that up to 30 caravans had been illegally parked on its Dublin campus at Logic Drive, Citywest Business Campus, Saggart. The company alleged the occupants had trespassed, brought refuse, animals and quad‑bikes, and interfered with a fire‑safety water pump. Xilinx had commenced proceedings on 8 June, seeking an injunction to compel the occupants to vacate. The court granted Xilinx permission to serve notice. On 15 June, counsel informed Justice Siobhan Stack that the occupants had left the premises between 7 pm and 10 pm on Wednesday, after earlier failed promises to depart. Xilinx no longer needed the injunction but remained concerned about remaining material and potential return. The judge adjourned the action, allowing re‑entry if necessary. Xilinx thanked the court and Gardai for their assistance.
The High Court has permitted the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) to serve papers on Daniel Kinahan by registered post. Acting for the CAB, Shelley Horan BL informed Mr Justice Michael MacGrath that the US Treasury Department's April press release identified residential and business addresses for Kinahan in Dubai. Due to security concerns at gated communities, personal service was deemed difficult. Kinahan has 35 days to indicate if he intends to defend the proceedings, which aim to seize property in Dublin linked to him and Jim Mansfield Jnr. It is alleged that Kinahan and Thomas 'Bomber' Kavanagh gave Mansfield €4.5 million for property investment, a deal that collapsed before Mansfield allegedly agreed to repay the cartel with a house at Coldwater Lakes, Saggart. The CAB claims Kinahan has effectively owned the property since 2014. Mansfield and his brother, Patrick Joseph Mansfield, have consented to an order waiving any claim over the property. Kavanagh was previously served in a UK prison. In an unrelated matter, the Special Criminal Court jailed Mansfield Jnr for 18 months last February after he was found to have ordered the destruction of CCTV footage showing him with former employee Martin Byrne on the morning Byrne was kidnapped by Dessie O'Hare and Declan 'Whacker' Duffy. The court described Mansfield Jnr's actions as "foolish and selfish criminality" intended to hide his association with the kidnappers.
Xilinx Ireland, a semiconductor manufacturer based at Citywest Business Campus in Saggart, Dublin 24, brought High Court proceedings against persons unknown, including Mr Aaron McDonagh, alleging illegal trespass. The company claims that between 25 and 30 caravans were towed onto its campus without authorization. Xilinx alleges the occupants have interfered with the site's fire sprinkler water pump, posing a serious safety risk, and have engaged in quad-bike joyriding, dumped refuse, and brought animals onto the premises. The company stated that despite Garda involvement and negotiations, the occupants refused to leave, though they promised to vacate by 9pm on Wednesday, June 15. Counsel for Xilinx, Stephen Byrne BL, indicated the company was prepared to wait until this deadline expired before seeking an interim injunction to avoid inflaming the situation. Mr Justice Brian O'Moore heard the matter on an ex-parte basis. He granted permission to serve short notice of the proceedings on Mr McDonagh and the other persons unknown, directing that service occur only if the defendants failed to leave as promised. The judge described the proposed course of action as sensible and adjourned the matter to Friday's sitting of the court.
The High Court heard that the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) is still trying to serve papers on Daniel Kinahan, who remains in Dubai, in its attempt to seize a luxury property in Dublin linked to Kinahan and jailed businessman Jim Mansfield Jnr. CAB's solicitor, Shelley Horan BL, said she will update the court on June 21 as the bureau continues its inquiries. She also reported that Thomas 'Bomber' Kavanagh, a senior Kinahan cartel associate currently in Belmarsh Prison, was served papers by pushing them under his cell door; Kavanagh declined to participate in the proceedings. Horan noted that the bureau has not yet found an appropriate address for Kinahan and may seek a substitute on the next hearing. The case remains at the stage of attempting to serve papers before any property seizure order can be made. The proceedings were adjourned to June 21.
Nalavan Samy, 42, a former manager at Quinn's Centra in Ballymun, stole €9,349.78 over a nine‑month period from September 2019 to June 2020. He did this by creating false refunds on the till, taking cash up to four times a week. The theft was discovered when an employee noticed a discrepancy in stock levels for a product that had zero sales but seven refunds recorded. Samy admitted the theft to the operations manager and later to Gardaí, citing financial hardship and a gambling problem. He had no prior convictions. The court, considering his role as sole provider for his wife and non‑verbal daughter, imposed a 20‑month prison sentence that was fully suspended on strict conditions. He was ordered to pay €1,000 to the Simon Community over eighteen months and to donate the €4,000 he had saved to the former business owners. The business has since been sold. Nalavan Samy pleaded guilty.
Jonathon Farrelly (33) of Lucan, Co Dublin, pleaded guilty to the false imprisonment of Martin Byrne and his wife Lisa Byrne, violent disorder, and the assault causing harm of John Roche, all occurring on June 9, 2015, at The Towers, Garter Lane, Saggart. Judge Orla Crowe adjourned the matter to allow time for consideration, remanding Farrelly in continuing custody until April 7 for sentence. The court heard that Farrelly was part of a group of seven men, including convicted murderer Declan Duffy and INLA member Dessie O'Hare, who forcibly evicted the Byrne family. Five co-accused were convicted in the Special Criminal Court in 2019. Desmond McGrath (50) of Tallaght, Dublin, who pleaded guilty to the same offences, was sentenced in February 2021 to four years imprisonment with the final 12 months suspended. Additionally, Jim Mansfield Junior was jailed for 18 months last month after being found guilty of attempting to pervert the course of justice for ordering the destruction of CCTV footage. Mansfield was acquitted of a separate charge of conspiracy to falsely imprison Byrne. Prosecution evidence detailed the violent nature of the incident, including injuries to Roche and threats made to Byrne, leading the family to enter the Witness Protection Programme. Defense counsel noted Farrelly was not a ringleader and has rehabilitated from drug addiction.
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.
Jim Mansfield Jnr, a property magnate, faces sentencing at the Special Criminal Court for 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 kidnapped by Dessie O'Hare and Declan 'Whacker' Duffy. Defence counsel Bernard Condon SC presented a psychologist's report indicating Mansfield operates at a mild intellectual disability or borderline range. Mansfield, 54, was acquitted of a separate conspiracy charge to falsely imprison Byrne. The court noted Mansfield's involvement with the New IRA and INLA in dealing with threats from traveller gangs and his efforts to recover assets lost in a crash. He has no prior convictions except a traffic offence over ten years ago, complied with bail conditions, and is a carer for his 78‑year‑old mother. The sentencing hearing will determine the final imposed term. Jim Mansfield Jnr pleaded not guilty and was found guilty.
Jim Mansfield Jnr was remanded in custody by the Special Criminal Court after being found guilty of perverting the course of justice. The 54-year-old pleaded not guilty to two charges: conspiring to falsely imprison Martin Byrne and directing Patrick Byrne to destroy CCTV footage. The court acquitted Mansfield on the conspiracy charge, finding insufficient evidence that he knew Dessie O'Hare and Declan Duffy planned to kidnap Byrne. However, he was convicted of perverting the course of justice for ordering the destruction of footage showing him with Byrne on the morning of the kidnapping. Mr Justice Alex Owens stated that while Mansfield knowingly involved O'Hare and Duffy in asset recovery efforts, the court could not exclude the possibility that he was misled regarding the kidnapping plot. O'Hare was jailed for seven years in 2019 and Duffy for six years in 2018 for falsely imprisoning Byrne. Following the verdict, the court refused Mansfield's request to remain on bail and remanded him in custody. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for February 7.
Jessy Feval, 31, was fined €750 after pleading guilty to driving without reasonable consideration when he struck 78‑year‑old Michael Jenkins, who was attempting to cross Rathgar Road on 7 November 2016. Jenkins, aged 83, suffered a fractured leg and a blood clot to his brain, and his wife had to care for him. Feval, who had no prior convictions, remained at the scene, admitted the offence, and cooperated with Gardaí. A breathalyser test was negative for alcohol or drugs. The court noted the incident was "the kind of thing that could have happened to any of us" and that Feval's good character and lack of previous convictions were mitigating factors. Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin imposed the fine and did not disqualify Feval from driving. No further court matters were pending.
Matthew Bell, 25, of Ambervale, Cookstown, pleaded guilty to participating in the gangland murder of John Gibson, who was shot dead at Citywest Shopping Centre, Saggart, Dublin on 18 September 2017. Bell admitted he contributed to the murder to facilitate a criminal organisation's activities. No evidence was presented, and the case was adjourned to a sentencing hearing on 4 March 2022.
The Special Criminal Court will deliver a judgement in the New Year in the trial of property magnate Jim Mansfield Jnr, who denies setting up one of his employees to be kidnapped by a criminal gang. Mr Mansfield pleaded not guilty before the three‑judge, non‑jury court in October last year but due to a number of lengthy adjournments, the trial continued until last month. Mr Justice Alex Owens, presiding, had indicated that a judgement might be delivered today. At a brief hearing this morning Mr Justice Owens said that the court has not concluded its consideration of the evidence and judgement will be delivered on January 17 next. Mr Mansfield Jnr (54), of Tasaggart House, Garters Lane, Saggart, Co Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to conspiring with one or more persons to falsely imprison Martin Byrne on a date unknown between January 1, 2015 and June 30, 2015.
Derek O'Callaghan, aged 41, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for possessing drugs for sale or supply, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions. He was found to be storing over €44,000 worth of cocaine and ecstasy in a bedroom in his uncle's house and over €29,000 worth of cocaine and cannabis in another home, his caravan and two cars during Garda searches in 2017 and 2018. The total street value of the drugs was €73,450. O'Callaghan pleaded guilty to two counts of possession for sale or supply, one at his Tallaght address in February 2017 and one at a Saggart address in June 2018. He has 12 previous convictions, including a drug‑supply offence in 2003, for which he received a suspended two‑year sentence. The judge noted his cooperation, vulnerability and efforts to rehabilitate, but said his level of involvement did not warrant a suspended sentence for the offence.
In the Special Criminal Court, defence counsel Bernard Condon SC argued that the State's chief witness, Martin Byrne, had lied and was unreliable. Condon said Byrne had told the Criminal Assets Bureau about IRA ties but denied them in court, and later could not recall what he had said. He claimed Byrne's testimony was dishonest and muddled, and that there was no evidence the abduction was intended to evict Byrne from The Towers. Prosecution counsel Shane Costelloe SC maintained that Jim Mansfield Jnr. lured Byrne to a remote office where former terrorist Dessie O'Hare and criminal Declan 'Whacker' Duffy abducted him to evict him from Mansfield's property. Mansfield, 54, pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to falsely imprison Byrne and to perverting the course of justice by directing Byrne's brother to destroy CCTV. The judge, Alex Owens, set a mention for 15 November, with no verdict date announced. The case remains at the hearing stage.
The Special Criminal Court has rejected Jim Mansfield Jnr's application to dismiss the case, so the trial will proceed to closing speeches. Mansfield, 54, denies setting up an employee to be kidnapped by a gang and denies conspiring to falsely imprison Martin Byrne between 1 January and 30 June 2015. He also denies attempting to pervert the course of justice by directing Patrick Byrne to destroy CCTV footage related to Byrne's false imprisonment at Finnstown House Hotel between 9 and 12 June 2015. The prosecution will present its closing argument tomorrow, followed by Mansfield's defence. Jim Mansfield Jnr pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court heard closing submissions in the trial of Jim Mansfield Jnr, who has pleaded not guilty to conspiring with one or more persons to falsely imprison Martin Byrne between January 1 and June 30, 2015. He also denies attempting to pervert the course of justice by directing Patrick Byrne to destroy CCTV footage. Defence counsel Bernard Condon SC argued that former INLA members Dessie O'Hare and Declan Duffy were on a "frolic of their own" and that there is insufficient evidence to establish a conspiracy involving Mr Mansfield. He contended that the prosecution failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Mr Mansfield knew of the plot or agreed to it. Prosecution counsel Shane Costelloe SC countered that evidence shows Mr Mansfield conspired with the two men, citing the arrangement of the meeting at Keating Park and the subsequent destruction of CCTV footage as indicators of his involvement. The three-judge court, presided over by Mr Justice Alex Owens, will deliver its judgement on the defence application to acquit tomorrow morning.
Tomasz Lorenc, a 32‑year‑old Polish national living in Dublin, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing cannabis for sale or supply. The offence involved €467,000 worth of cannabis found in a rented 40‑foot metal storage container at Meadowfield Storage in Saggart. Gardaí obtained a search warrant and matched Lorenc's fingerprints to those taken from the drugs. The container had been rented under an alias, Karl Finnegan BL, which later proved to be Lorenc's. He is wanted in Poland for an assault charge and faces an outstanding European arrest warrant. Lorenc has one prior UK conviction for drug importation. He will be returned to Poland after serving his sentence. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to five years' imprisonment, back‑dated to his September 2020 arrest. The sentence was imposed after a psychologist report noted Lorenc's addiction, depression and other mental health issues.
Jim Mansfield Jnr, aged 54, denies hiring Declan "Whacker" Duffy or Dessie O'Hare, both of whom have pleaded guilty to falsely imprisoning one of Mansfield's employees. He is on trial at the Special Criminal Court for conspiring to abduct security man Martin Byrne and for attempting to pervert the course of justice by directing Byrne's brother, Patrick, to destroy CCTV footage of Byrne's abduction. Mansfield says he never had an issue with Byrne, who worked for him and lived rent‑free at a Dublin property owned by the Mansfields. He claims he never employed Duffy or O'Hare, who he says were known to him but never worked for him, and denies bringing Byrne to them for any purpose. He also denies telling Patrick Byrne to destroy the recording device. The trial continues before a three‑judge court.
During the Special Criminal Court hearing, Patrick Byrne testified that Jim Mansfield Jr. instructed him to destroy a digital recording device that stored CCTV footage from Finnstown House hotel. Byrne, who worked in security with Mansfield's brother Martin Byrne, said Mansfield asked him to remove the device from the system and then to bring it out the back and smash it. Byrne had already viewed the footage, which showed two men attempting to access Martin Byrne's car and both Mansfield and Byrne leaving the hotel in a black Audi A6. Mansfield, 55, denies conspiring to falsely imprison Martin Byrne, 53, between January and June 2015, and denies attempting to pervert the course of justice by directing Byrne to destroy the footage. The case is ongoing at the non‑jury Special Criminal Court presided by Justice Alex Owens.
The trial of businessman Jim Mansfield Jnr (54) was adjourned at the Special Criminal Court until October. Mansfield, of Saggart, Co Dublin, pleaded not guilty to conspiring to falsely imprison Martin Byrne and attempting to pervert the course of justice by directing Patrick Byrne to destroy CCTV footage. The matter was adjourned after Garda evidence regarding exhibits was heard. Previously, Dessie O'Hare (64) pleaded guilty to falsely imprisoning Byrne and assaulting John Roche. He was sentenced to ten years in prison with three years suspended for the false imprisonment and three years for the assault. Christopher Maguire (41) pleaded guilty to falsely imprisoning Lisa Byrne and received a three-year suspended sentence. Declan 'Whacker' Duffy (46) was also sentenced to six years for false imprisonment. Martin Byrne, who testified that Mansfield was present when he was taken prisoner, is currently in the Witness Protection Programme.
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.