A former haulage company owner has been given a suspended sentence for writing two cheques for green diesel that failed to clear. Kenneth Browne pleaded guilty to two counts of deception in 2019. He had agreed to pay for 2,500 litres of green diesel with a cheque, but the cheque bounced. He later ordered an additional 5,000 litres, which he also paid for with a cheque that also bounced. Browne had made some repayments to the supplier but stopped when he was told he would only receive a receipt upon full repayment. He attended a voluntary interview and admitted to making poor business decisions that led to his company's bankruptcy. His defence highlighted that he had no repeat offences in the past seven years and was now employed full-time. Judge Jonathan Dunphy noted that Browne had made a dishonest decision to write the cheques and had relevant previous convictions. He set a headline sentence of two and a half years, which he reduced to 20 months in prison on each count to run concurrently.
A Workplace Relations Commission adjudicator rejected cleaner Donna Ash's unfair dismissal complaint against Skerries Golf Club after finding the redundancy was genuine. The decision said honorary secretary Donnacha Neary's credibility was somewhat undermined when he initially tried to swear an oath using a work diary instead of a Bible. Despite shortcomings in the process, the club showed a sizeable saving from outsourcing its cleaning function.
An online Workplace Relations Commission hearing into an Unfair Dismissals Act complaint by Donna Ashe against Skerries Golf Club was adjourned for a written decision. Adjudication officer Conor Stokes warned the club's honorary secretary, Donnacha Neary, of potential perjury prosecution after Neary attempted to swear a religious oath using a book that was not the Holy Bible. Neary subsequently gave evidence under a secular affirmation. Neary testified that a finance subcommittee identified a potential annual saving of €7,500 by outsourcing cleaning services, characterizing the dismissal as a genuine redundancy arising from a structural business decision. He denied that performance issues triggered the dismissal, despite a May 2024 WhatsApp message from a committee member complaining about cleaning standards and threatening new hires. Ms. Ashe, a part-time cleaner earning €12.70 an hour, was dismissed in October 2024. Her barrister, Christian Douglas, argued the redundancy was a sham and the process grossly unfair, noting Ms. Ashe was not offered reduced hours. The tribunal heard details of two meetings in September 2024, including a five-minute final meeting where the decision was communicated. Stokes is to deliver his decision in writing at a later date.
Terry Maughan, 47, of Balbriggan, Dublin, had a seven‑month jail term for stealing nearly €9,000 of electrical cable and a six‑month concurrent sentence for burglary at Skerries Sailing Club overturned on appeal. The District Court Appeals Court replaced both sentences with a fully suspended sentence for 12 months, conditional on compliance with probation. Maughan was identified on CCTV stealing €8,982 worth of cable from an industrial estate in Santry and later admitted the theft, selling the cable for €535. He was also caught on CCTV removing a €300 barbecue from a concrete shed at the sailing club, which he returned. He has 133 prior convictions, including 15 thefts, and was described by Garda Jake Digney as "massively cooperative" and "deeply sorry.".
Harry Archer, a 23‑year‑old former junior cricketer from Kellys Bay Rocks, Skerries, was found with €4,886 worth of cannabis at his home on 18 January 2022. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where Judge Orla Crowe accepted that he is now drug‑free, has not attracted police attention since, and has a job offer. The judge imposed a 12‑month sentence, suspended in full, after noting Archer's "turned a corner" and ordered him to engage with the Probation Service for two years. Archer had 13 prior drug and traffic convictions. He had previously been caught with drugs, had a separate custody case, and had not appeared at the Garda station as promised. The case highlighted repeated attacks on his family home and his past cricket achievements, but the court focused solely on the current possession offence and the suspended sentence imposed.
Harry Archer, 23, of Kellys Bay Rocks, Skerries, Co Dublin, was remanded on bail pending sentence after pleading guilty to possession of cannabis at his home on 18 January 2022. The court found he was caught with €4,886 worth of the drug during a search. Archer had 13 prior drug and road traffic convictions. He claimed to have Covid‑19 at the time of the search and did not attend the Garda station as promised, later being taken in for questioning after a separate custody case. He made no admissions during the interview but pleaded guilty in the Circuit Criminal Court. The prosecution noted repeated targeting of his family home. Archer's defence highlighted his former cricket success and subsequent drug misuse following disappointment after being dropped from national teams. Judge Orla Crowe adjourned the case to 26 November 2024 for a probation report, with Archer remaining on continuing bail.
Laura Rice, daughter of Alan Rice, who died after being struck by a car in Skerries, Co Dublin, has called on drivers to be more cautious on the roads, stating that 'accidents don't happen, they are caused'. Alan Rice died on April 13, 2021, after Terry Gaff (56) veered onto the wrong side of the road while navigating a bend on the R127. Gaff pleaded guilty to careless driving causing death and was handed a six-month suspended sentence, along with a €1,000 fine. Judge Martin Nolan noted that Gaff had no previous convictions and that there were no aggravating factors, such as speeding, alcohol, or drug use. The judge acknowledged the devastating impact of the collision on Mr Rice's family and expressed condolences. Victim impact statements from Mr Rice's family highlighted the profound loss they have experienced, describing Alan Rice as a loving, supportive, and adventurous father, husband, and friend.
Sharanjeet Kaur, a chef from India, claimed she was subjected to daily sexual harassment and discrimination at Bombay Bhappa Ltd in Skerries, Dublin. She said the director forced her to withdraw cash from an ATM after receiving her wages, paid her as little as €200 a week, and threatened blackmail and deportation. Kaur alleged that colleagues falsely accused her of improper relations, attempted to blackmail her, and made unwanted sexual advances. She reported being forced to work 50 hours a week for €4.46 an hour, with minimal breaks and a five‑minute lunch. After refusing to comply with the cash‑withdrawal demand, she was dismissed in November 2022. The Workplace Relations Commission found the employer breached the Employment Equality Act, Unfair Dismissals Act, and other labour laws, awarding Kaur €143,268 in compensation and damages. The case was heard in 2024.
In a decision on 15 February 2024, Judge Martin Nolan ruled that Derek Keane, aged 44, could have his driving licence restored after serving two‑thirds of a five‑and‑a‑half‑year prison sentence imposed in December 2019 for dangerous driving that caused the death of Callum Grimes, a 27‑year‑old man. Keane had been disqualified from driving for six years and had pleaded guilty to the offence and to failing to provide assistance at the scene. The judge noted that Keane had served the required portion of his sentence and described his behaviour as "disgraceful", yet acknowledged his desire to resume normal life. The State objected to the licence restoration, citing the seriousness of the offence and the distress caused to the Grimes family. The judge, while recognising the family's suffering, emphasised that the main part of Keane's sentence had been the prison term and that he had served his time.
Arthur Batistis, 51, of Skerries, was sentenced to ten months' imprisonment by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for theft and deception. He stole €17,000 in pandemic unemployment payments and €10,000 in jobseeker's allowance between January 2021 and February 2022, despite not being entitled to either. Batistis also fraudulently obtained an American customer's card details over the phone to buy flowers, then processed unauthorised payments as legitimate sales and pocketed the cash. The theft was discovered when the victim reported the card charges, leading Gardaí to uncover his welfare fraud. Arrested in October 2022, Batistis admitted the offences and cooperated with the investigation. He had no prior convictions and a good work history, but the judge described the theft as reprehensible and imposed the prison term. Arthur Batistis pleaded guilty.
Erik Nemes, a 22-year-old college student from Skerries, Co Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for possessing the proceeds of crime. Judge Martin Nolan handed Nemes a one-year sentence, which was suspended in full. Nemes pleaded guilty to possessing €14,470 as the proceeds of crime at Bank of Ireland in Balbriggan on December 14, 2018. The funds were originally intended for the college fees of a UCD medical student from New Zealand, who discovered the money had been diverted to an account in Nemes's name. Prosecution evidence indicated Nemes provided his bank details to a friend under the pretext of obtaining discounted goods, before being pressured to withdraw cash and purchase iPhones. Judge Nolan noted that Nemes knew it was a criminal enterprise. The court ordered that €1,000 brought by Nemes be paid to the injured party within one month. Nemes, who studies engineering and technology at Drogheda Institute of Further Education, has no previous convictions. Defence counsel highlighted his difficult background and cooperation with gardaí, while the prosecution agreed he was unlikely to reoffend. A victim impact statement from the student's father, who suffered anxiety and had to replace the lost fees, was submitted to the court.
Charlie Cunningham, 24, of Kellys Bay Heights, Skerries, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for demanding money with menace at a garda's home in Donabate on 1 January 2021. He knocked on the door at 4.30 pm, asked for a specific person, and when the homeowner – who identified himself as Garda Sean McIllroy – denied the request, Cunningham returned and repeated the demand. He threatened that a group of men would break doors and windows and, after leaving, told the homeowner, "Now I know you're a garda, you're cooked". The homeowner followed him to the road, saw a group of six or seven men, and called the gardai. Cunningham pleaded guilty, cooperated with investigators, and apologized. He has eight prior convictions, including assault causing harm. Judge Martin Nolan noted the seriousness of the offence and the lack of sufficient mitigation to avoid custodial punishment, and imposed the two‑year sentence.
John Fanning, 48, a bank employee from Skerries, was fined €2,000 and disqualified from driving for three years after he drove his black Jaguar into a C&T Supermarket front while intoxicated. CCTV showed him attempting to park when his foot slipped onto the accelerator, propelling the car through the shop front and into the fruit and vegetable stand. Gardaí noted he had a blood alcohol concentration of 72mg per 100ml, over three times the legal limit. No injuries were reported. The court considered Fanning's strong work history and lack of prior convictions, and deferred the disqualification until February 1 to allow him to arrange care for his elderly mother, provided he abstains from alcohol during that period. The shop owner closed the store for the day and incurred about €30,000 in repair costs, fully covered by insurance. Fanning pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and drink driving.
Peter Mellors, 22, of Skerries, Dublin, pleaded guilty to holding over €100,000 worth of drugs at his home on 5 May 2021. He had been diagnosed with a neurological condition similar to multiple sclerosis at 17, which can cause blindness and leg paralysis. Mellors began using cannabis to self‑medicate and also used cocaine. Gardaí searched his house after a tip and found five kilograms of cannabis (worth €100,074) and 108 grams of cocaine (worth €7,500). He admitted to holding the drugs and said he was threatened that if he did not be present for "the drop" something would happen to his mother and house. The prosecution accepted his claim of a genuine threat. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Mellors' health condition, low culpability and cooperation, imposed a four‑year suspended sentence, suspending the entire custodial term.
In a decision by the Workplace Relations Commission, Skerries Harps GAA club was ordered to pay former coach Johnny Beggs €26,083 for unfair dismissal. Beggs, who had been involved with the club his whole life, claimed he was made redundant without an objective and fair consultation process. He said the club had decided his role was redundant before any consultation and that he had not been given a chance to explain how the role could be saved. The club argued that finances were drained after the pandemic and that a games promotion officer with similar duties was being paid by the Dublin county board. The commission found the selection process for redundancy was rigid, lacked meaningful consultation, and did not consider Beggs' length of service or previous experience.
Daniel Walsh, a 30-year-old college student from Rush, Co Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for drug offences. He pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply of cannabis herb and ketamine on the Skerries Road on January 9, 2021. He also admitted to having MDMA and cannabis for sale or supply at his home on the same date, as well as the unlawful possession of proceeds of crime. Gardaí stopped Walsh's van after observing it cross a white line, discovering nearly 2kg of cannabis, ketamine, and €6,900 in cash. A subsequent search of his home recovered additional drugs, including MDMA, with a total estimated street value of €42,924. Walsh told officers he was instructed to test the cannabis quality before handing over cash and stated he was selling drugs to support his own use. Defence counsel highlighted that Walsh is a third-year student who has removed himself from criminal associates following a psychotic episode linked to heavy drug use. Judge Martin Nolan acknowledged it was unlikely Walsh would reoffend but noted the serious quantity of drugs warranted a prison term. The court imposed a four-year sentence, suspending the final two years on the condition that Walsh keep the peace for the four-year period.
Kevin Joyce, aged 25, of Skerries, Co Dublin, was sentenced by Judge Melanie Greally at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to eight years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended. The sentence covers six unprovoked violent offences committed between May 2017 and January 2021, including a sustained sexual assault. Joyce pleaded guilty to attacks on friends and strangers, such as striking a friend in May 2017, punching Ronan Murphy in August 2017, assaulting three young people while on bail, and attacking a woman in a public park. He also punched a man on Grafton Street in March 2020, breaking the man's jaw, and used a bottle to knock a friend unconscious in January 2021. The judge noted Joyce's remorse, his placement on the Sex Offenders' Register, and ordered him to attend programmes for sexual offending and addiction, and to engage with probation services for two years upon release. The sentence was back‑dated to January 2021.
Darren Casey, aged 44, was found in possession of 400 child sexual abuse images and five videos on his mobile phone. Gardaí searched his home in November 2020 after being alerted to child abuse material from an IP address linked to his address. The images included 70 child‑explicit pictures, 100 involving child exposure, and the rest in lesser categories. Casey pleaded guilty to one count of possessing the material between 1 August and 1 September 2020. He has 13 prior convictions, including public order and traffic offences. At the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to three years, suspending the final two years on conditions. The judge noted Casey's guilty plea, cooperation, and low risk of reoffending, and emphasised that possession of child pornography is not a victimless crime.
Michael O'Leary, aged 41, was sentenced to two‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment for a series of violent incidents involving Gardaí. In March 2019 he attacked a patrol car with a hurl, smashed windows, and struck a detective in the hip. He pleaded guilty to criminal damage and obstructing a peace officer. In April 2020 he returned armed with a hatchet and kitchen knife, threatened to kill Gardaí, and threw a hatchet at a garda's head, smashing a car window. He pleaded guilty to threatening to kill a garda and endangerment. The court noted his recent widowhood and struggles with alcohol and prescription drugs. Judge Martin Nolan described his conduct as violent, aggressive and threatening, and warned that re‑offending would lead to further imprisonment. The sentence was back‑dated to his 2020 arrest. The judge emphasised that the incidents were a one‑off, but the court remained cautious.
In a Court of Appeal decision on 27 January 2022, the State's application to jail a man for assaulting his four‑month‑old daughter was rejected. The man had previously received a six‑month prison sentence for assaulting his partner in a separate incident. Judge Martin Nolan, in the original sentencing, had said he was "taking into consideration" the attack on the child when imposing the sentence at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in March. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed, arguing the sentence was unduly lenient. The first assault occurred on 18 September 2019 when the man repeatedly punched his partner while she held their daughter, pushing the child against a wall; the baby vomited and was still vomiting when Gardaí arrived. The unnamed man pleaded guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Amanda Hamilton, aged 29, addressed her father, Paul Hamilton, 55, after he pleaded guilty to two counts of oral rape and four counts of sexual assault. Hamilton first abused Amanda when she was eight, orally raping her after showing her a magazine and telling her it was normal. The abuse continued for about two years, ending in 2002 when Amanda informed her mother, who then forced Hamilton to leave the family home. The case was investigated in 2019 after Amanda, now an adult, made a complaint. Justice Michael White sentenced Hamilton to eight years' imprisonment, suspending the final year on strict conditions. Amanda's victim impact statement described lifelong guilt, health problems, and her father's lack of remorse, while the court noted Hamilton's cooperation and lack of prior convictions as mitigating factors.
Damien Ionut, 34, was sentenced to three years in prison for a series of ATM attacks across eight European cities, including Dublin, Louth, Kildare, Wicklow, Meath, Westmeath, and Dublin. He and a group used a "transaction reversal fraud" technique, first withdrawing a small amount with a legitimate chip‑and‑pin card, then inserting a clip into the cash drawer to block the release of a larger withdrawal. They swapped the card for a dummy, causing the machine to think the customer had walked away, and then used a chisel to break into the drawer and take the cash. The attacks caused about €12,881 in damage and resulted in €5,980 in stolen cash. Ionut had 30 prior convictions for similar offences and was identified on CCTV footage. The court back‑dated the sentence to November 5, 2019. The case highlighted the vulnerability of ATMs to this type of fraud.
An IT specialist, Alexander Jones, 33, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to dishonestly operating a computer with intent to gain at Eircom. Between 4 February and 24 April 2014, while employed by a tech‑support firm for Eircom, Jones accessed confidential data, claiming it was through system vulnerabilities. Investigations found he copied data onto his personal laptop, including customer telephone conversations and insurance claims. The court described the offence as unusual, noting it caused worry for the company. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a suspended three‑year sentence, ordering Jones to pay €15,000 to injured parties within a month and an additional €20,000 in a year. Jones, who had no prior convictions, had previously generated unauthorised Xbox discount codes and had been subject to a European arrest warrant. The case highlighted the misuse of IT skills for personal gain.
Derek Keane, 40, was sentenced to five‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment for dangerous driving that caused the death of 27‑year‑old Callum Grimes on 27 December 2016. Keane, who had drunk between 12 and 15 pints of Guinness and possibly a gin and tonic before driving, collided with Grimes on a rural road near Loughshinny, Skerries, where no footpath existed. Grimes suffered catastrophic brain injuries and died seven months later at Beaumont Hospital. Keane also pleaded guilty to failing to provide assistance at the scene. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, presided over by Judge Martin Nolan, disqualified Keane from driving for six years. Keane had no memory of the night in question and had reported his van's damage the next day after learning of the hit‑and‑run. The court noted that Grimes was described by his family as a shy boy who loved life. The disqualification was imposed following the sentencing.
Derek Keane, a 40‑year‑old part‑time firefighter, was sentenced to five‑and‑a‑half years in prison for dangerous driving causing the death of 27‑year‑old Callum Grimes on 27 December 2016. Keane, who had consumed up to 15 pints of Guinness that day, had no memory of driving home or the collision. Grimes was walking home from St Stephen's Day celebrations when he was struck on a rural road between Skerries and Rush. He suffered catastrophic brain injuries, underwent multiple surgeries, and died on 14 July 2017 after life support was withdrawn. Keane also pleaded guilty to failing to provide assistance at the scene. The court noted his previous speeding conviction and his role as a qualified electrician and volunteer first‑aid provider. The sentencing judge described the case as "lamentable and tragic" and highlighted the severe impact on Grimes' family.
Siobhan Maguire, 48, of The Brambles, Skerries, was convicted of 32 sample theft and fraud charges for fraudulently lodging 660 cheques into her personal bank account between 2001 and 2015. The cheques, falsely endorsed on the back, ranged from €5,000 to several hundred euros, and the total theft amounted to €1,187,616. She had initially faced 1,320 charges. The Court of Appeal found her original four‑year sentence too harsh compared with similar offences and re‑sentenced her to three years imprisonment, with the final year suspended. The judge noted her early guilty plea, cooperation, good character, low re‑offending risk, genuine remorse, and lack of wealth. She entered a good‑behaviour bond for the suspended year and pledged to comply. The sentence was imposed on 3 October 2018.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Christopher Lenihan, aged 28, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended, following a 2017 assault on his ex‑partner Grace Brady at the Plaza Hotel, Tallaght. Lenihan held Brady down, punched her repeatedly, grabbed her hair, and covered her mouth to silence her. He later threatened to release personal photographs of her if she did not comply. After the attack, Lenihan sent over 200 harassing texts and emails, and was arrested for harassment in January 2017. He pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and assault causing harm, and admitted further harassment between 13 and 31 January. The judge noted Lenihan showed no remorse and had limited insight into the impact of his actions. Lenihan must complete probation supervision for 18 months, offence‑focused work, and a domestic‑violence programme if suitable. He has a prior conviction for breach of a barring order in February 2016.
The Central Bank was granted access to the transcripts and exhibits from the trial of former Anglo Irish Bank CEO David Drumm. The application was made before Judge Karen O'Connor at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after written submissions and relevant case law were submitted last Tuesday. The application was not contested by the Director of Public Prosecutions or Drumm. Drumm, aged 51, was jailed for six years last month for his role in a multi‑billion‑euro bank fraud scheme in 2008. The jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts on conspiracy to defraud and false accounting after just over ten and a half hours of deliberations. The State alleged that Drumm conspired with former Irish Life & Permanent CEO Denis Casey, Anglo's former financial director Willie McAteer and former Head of Treasury John Bowe, among others, to carry out €7.2 bn in fraudulent circular transactions to inflate Anglo's customer deposits figure.
David Drumm, former chief executive of Anglo Irish Bank, has received a fully suspended sentence of fifteen months at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for his involvement in an unlawful loan scheme. The 51-year-old from Skerries, County Dublin pleaded guilty to ten counts of authorising unlawful financial assistance to the Maple Ten group of developers and businessmen between July 2008. The loans were designed to unwind a substantial undisclosed shareholding in Anglo Irish Bank accumulated by Cavan businessman Sean Quinn through financial instruments. Judge Karen O'Connor imposed the suspended sentence to run concurrently with a six-year custodial sentence imposed following Drumm's conviction on conspiracy and false accounting charges. The judge noted Drumm's role as chief executive meant he held responsibility for ensuring legal compliance and transparency. Drumm was also disqualified from acting as a company director for five years as an automatic consequence of the conviction under the Companies Act.
David Drumm, former CEO of Anglo Irish Bank, pleaded guilty to ten counts of authorising unlawful financial assistance for the purchase of bank shares by the Maple Ten group between 10 and 17 July 2008. The loans were part of a scheme to unwind a 28 % stake that businessman Sean Quinn had built in the bank using contracts for difference (CFDs). Drumm's defence argued that he was trying to resolve a problem entirely created by Quinn, who had used CFDs to speculate on Anglo shares and whose position threatened the bank's stability. Drumm, aged 51, was transferred from Mountjoy Prison, where he is serving a six‑year term for a separate €7.2 bn fraudulent loan scheme, to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for sentencing. The court heard that Drumm had attempted to persuade Quinn to reduce his CFD position and, after other options failed, proposed that ten high‑net‑worth individuals purchase a portion of the Quinn shareholding. David Drumm was convicted.
Former Anglo Irish Bank chief executive David Drumm, aged 51, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to authorising or permitting illegal loans to ten businessmen in 2008 to purchase shares in the bank. The loans were given to the so‑called Maple 10 group, comprising Brian O'Farrell, Gerard Conlon, Gerard Gannon, Gerard Maguire, John McCabe, Joseph O'Reilly, Patrick Kearney, Patrick McKillan, Seamus Ross and Sean Reilly, between 10 and 17 July 2008. Drumm was transferred from Mountjoy Prison, where he is serving a six‑year sentence for conspiracy to defraud and false accounting, to the court. He answered "guilty" to the ten charges. The prosecution, led by Paul O'Higgins SC, announced that the remaining 21 charges would be withdrawn, including six relating to loans to the wife and children of former billionaire Seán Quinn, 14 concerning false documents, and one about breaching an EU transparency directive.
Former Anglo Irish Bank CEO David Drumm was sentenced to six years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for conspiracy to defraud and false accounting. Judge Karen O'Connor described the conduct as "grossly reprehensible" and part of a "premeditated and planned" scheme. Drumm, who pleaded not guilty, was convicted by a jury of conspiring with former officials Denis Casey, William McAteer, John Bowe, and others to dishonestly inflate Anglo's 2008 deposits by €7.2 billion. He was also found guilty of false accounting for misleading the market on December 3, 2008. The judge noted that while the bank was in difficult circumstances, this did not excuse the fraud. Drumm received credit for five months previously served in a US federal penitentiary. He had been on bail throughout the trial, and his bail was continued following the conviction. The judge acknowledged the personal impact on Drumm and his family but emphasized the abuse of trust and significant planning involved in the alleged fraud.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Christopher Lenihan, aged 28, pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and assault causing harm after beating his ex‑partner Grace Brady at the Plaza Hotel, Tallaght, on 13 January 2017. Lenihan held Brady down, punched her repeatedly, grabbed her hair, and bit her arm, preventing her from breathing. He later sent over 200 harassing texts, threatening to release personal photographs if she did not comply. Brady reported the attack to Gardaí, who arrested Lenihan at his home on 31 January. Lenihan also admitted harassing Brady between 13 and 31 January. He has a prior conviction for breach of a barring order. The judge adjourned the case to July, noting Lenihan's alcohol abuse and high risk of re‑offending, and indicated a likely prison sentence.
Former Anglo Irish Bank CEO David Drumm was found guilty by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on two charges: conspiracy to defraud and false accounting. The jury returned unanimous verdicts after 87 days of trial, the third-longest in the State's history. Drumm, who pleaded not guilty to both charges, was convicted of conspiring with former bank officials Denis Casey, William McAteer, John Bowe, and others to defraud depositors and investors by dishonestly creating the impression that 2008 deposits were €7.2 billion larger than they were. He was also found guilty of false accounting on December 3, 2008, for furnishing misleading information to the market regarding the bank's deposit figures. The prosecution alleged the scheme involved fraudulent circular transactions between Anglo and Irish Life & Permanent to artificially inflate customer deposits from €44 billion to €51 billion. Although Drumm was on bail throughout the trial, Detective Sergeant Michael McKenna opposed its continuation, citing flight risk and the substantial prison terms received by his co-conspirators. Defense counsel Brendan Grehan SC requested bail on humanitarian grounds, noting Drumm's family was in the US. Judge Karen O'Connor granted bail, requiring Drumm to sign daily at Balbriggan Garda Station. The matter is now at the sentencing stage, with the maximum penalty for conspiracy to defraud being unlimited and ten years for false accounting.
The jury in the trial of former Anglo Irish Bank CEO David Drumm was sent home after a third day of deliberations, marking day 81 of proceedings in a 16‑week trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Karen O'Connor had instructed jurors that a unanimous verdict was required for both counts against Drumm, but that each count could be considered separately, allowing an acquittal or conviction on either or both. Drumm, aged 51, had pleaded not guilty and was presumed innocent. The State alleged that he conspired with former Anglo executives to carry out €7.2 billion in fraudulent transactions to inflate the bank's deposit figures. Drumm's lawyers acknowledged the transactions occurred in 2008 but disputed their fraudulent nature. The jury had deliberated for just over seven hours before being sent home for the night.
The trial of former Anglo Irish Bank chief executive David Drumm, aged 51, has been delayed for a second consecutive day because a juror was unavailable. Drumm is on trial for conspiracy to defraud and false accounting, having been in court for 17 weeks. Judge Karen O'Connor informed the jury that the case had reached a critical stage and that a unanimous verdict was required on both counts, though each count could be considered separately. She reminded jurors that Drumm had pleaded not guilty and was presumed innocent until proven otherwise. The State alleges that Drumm conspired with former Anglo executives to carry out €7.2 billion in fraudulent transactions to inflate deposit figures. Drumm's lawyers acknowledged the transactions occurred but denied they were fraudulent or dishonest. The jury had deliberated for three hours and nine minutes over two days before the interruption.
The jury in the conspiracy to defraud and false accounting trial of former Anglo Irish Bank CEO David Drumm paused their deliberations because one juror was "indisposed" and could not attend court. Judge Karen O'Connor informed the jury that they had no alternative but to send them home for the day, with courts services in contact with the juror and expected to provide further information later. The jury, composed of nine men and three women, had begun considering a verdict on Tuesday, day 81 of proceedings, after a 16‑week trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. They had deliberated for a total of three hours and nine minutes. Judge O'Connor reminded the jurors that a unanimous verdict was required for both counts against Mr Drumm (51), but that each count could be considered separately, allowing for acquittal or conviction on either or both. David Drumm pleaded not guilty.
The jury in the Anglo Irish Bank CEO David Drumm trial was sent home for a second night after deliberating for just under two hours today, bringing their total deliberation time to three hours and nine minutes. The case, which has been one of the longest in the State, involves two separate counts of conspiracy to defraud and false accounting. Judge Karen O'Connor required a unanimous verdict on each count, reminding jurors that Drumm, aged 51, had pleaded not guilty and was presumed innocent. The State alleges that Drumm conspired with former Anglo officials to carry out €7.2 billion in fraudulent transactions to inflate deposit figures. Drumm's lawyers admit the transactions occurred but dispute their fraudulent nature. The jury was told they could not listen to recorded phone evidence in the jury room but could return to court to do so. The trial is ongoing.
The Dublin Circuit Court jury in the trial of former Anglo Irish Bank chief executive David Drumm was sent home after deliberating for just over an hour. The jury, consisting of nine men and three women, returned to court later that day to hear a recorded phone call between Drumm and former Anglo treasury director John Bowe from late September 2008. Bowe is named as an alleged co‑conspirator in Drumm's indictment. The State alleges that Drumm conspired with former Irish Life & Permanent CEO Denis Casey, former Anglo financial director Willie McAteer, Bowe and others to carry out €7.2 bn in fraudulent transactions to inflate the bank's deposit figures. Drumm's lawyers admit the transactions occurred but dispute their fraudulent nature. Judge Karen O'Connor reminded the jury that Drumm pleaded not guilty and is presumed innocent, and that they must consider each count separately. The jury will return tomorrow at 2 pm for further deliberations.
The State's case against former Anglo Irish Bank chief executive David Drumm at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court closed after 74 days of evidence. Prosecutor Paul O'Higgins SC informed the jury that the DPP's evidence was complete and the prosecution case had closed. Judge Karen O'Connor sent the jury home for the day, noting that Mr Drumm's lawyers would make an application to the court which she would consider in their absence. Drumm, 51, of Skerries, Co Dublin, pleaded not guilty to conspiring with former bank officials to defraud depositors and investors by dishonestly creating the impression that Anglo's 2008 deposits were €7.2 billion larger than they were. He also pleaded not guilty to false accounting on 3 December 2008. Drumm accepts that the multi‑million euro transactions took place between Anglo and ILP in 2008 but disputes that they were fraudulent or dishonest.
During the fifteenth week of David Drumm's trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a financial analyst, Eamon Hughes, testified that Anglo Irish Bank's share price fell from 0.94c to 0.48c after the release of preliminary 2008 figures. Hughes explained that the drop reflected a 50‑percent decline and that the loan‑to‑deposit ratio had risen, a key metric for investors. He described attending the bank's presentation on 3 December 2008, noting that the figures were later used by Goodbody Stockbrokers to produce an early market assessment. Hughes also acknowledged that the share price slump was traumatic and that the bank's results were below expectations. Drumm, aged 51, has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to defraud and false accounting, and the prosecution's case is described as "very close to conclusion.".
The jury in the conspiracy to defraud trial of David Drumm, a 51‑year‑old from Skerries, Co. Dublin, has been informed that the prosecution will finish presenting its evidence next week. Judge Karen O'Connor noted that the case is at day 72 of hearing and is approaching its conclusion. Drumm has pleaded not guilty to conspiring with former Anglo Irish Bank officials Denis Casey, William McAteer, John Bowe and others to defraud depositors and investors by falsely presenting 2008 deposits as €7.2 billion larger than they were. He also pleaded not guilty to false accounting at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The prosecution read a witness statement from Lorraine Hanrahan, who confirmed her awareness of September and October 2008 transactions between Irish Life Investment Managers and Anglo Irish Bank, and described the transactions as non‑standard and unusually large. The jury was reminded not to conduct independent research and will return on Monday for further evidence.
The trial of David Drumm, former Anglo Irish Bank CEO, continued before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury, with the defendant pleading not guilty to conspiring with former officials Denis Casey, William McAteer, John Bowe, and others to defraud depositors and investors. He is also charged with false accounting on December 3, 2008, allegedly by furnishing information that Anglo's 2008 deposits were €7.2 billion larger than they were. On day 71, State expert witness Dan Taylor of BDO testified that including a €7.2bn transaction in the bank's preliminary stock exchange announcement was "misleading and inaccurate." Taylor stated the announcement lacked specific disclosure regarding transactions with Irish Life and Permanent (ILP) and that these transactions lacked commercial substance. Drumm accepts the transactions occurred but disputes they were fraudulent or dishonest. Judge O'Connor reminded the jury that they must decide the weight of the expert evidence, noting it is a trial by jury, not by accountant. The matter remains at the trial stage and has not been finalised.
During the 70th day of David Drumm's conspiracy to defraud trial, the jury heard from Pamela Lennon, a former Central Bank manager, who described a shared European network that recorded real‑time balances of banks. Lennon testified that the network captured daily balances and that the data was transferred to storage facilities in Germany, France and Italy. She showed the jury account statements for 29 and 30 September 2008, revealing 583 transactions on Anglo's account on 29 September and a €1 bn deposit from the Central Bank, an overnight facility with a fee. Lennon confirmed that Anglo was eligible for and received €1 bn from the European Central Bank on that day. Drumm admitted the transactions occurred but denied they were fraudulent or dishonest. The hearing continues in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury of ten men and four women. David Drumm pleaded not guilty.
During the 13th week of David Drumm's trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a jury heard that a €7.2 billion transaction between Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Life and Permanent had no commercial substance because Anglo's asset profile did not change. Dan Taylor, a chartered accountant from BDO London, testified that the purpose of the transactions was to inflate Anglo's year‑end balance. Taylor explained that the circular nature of the deals could have continued indefinitely, limited only by the time banks' payment systems could process them. He observed that the loans appeared unsecured, with no underlying security or contract between the banks, a situation not uncommon in interbank transactions. Drumm, aged 51, admitted the transactions occurred in 2008 but denied they were fraudulent or dishonest. He remains not guilty of conspiracy to defraud and of false accounting for the 2008 deposits. The case proceeds before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury of ten men and four women.
In a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, the chair of Irish Life and Permanent's audit committee, Breffni Byrne, testified that he was not informed of a €7.2 billion cash‑for‑cash deal with Anglo Irish Bank until months after it occurred in September 2008. Byrne said he expected the transaction to be discussed beforehand because of its size and nature, and that he only received full details on 12 February 2009. He noted that the ILP board had met with the Central Bank on 1 May 2008 and that the September 2008 transaction was unusual. Byrne also confirmed that ILP had disclosed its 2007 borrowing from the European Central Bank. The case, in its thirteenth week, involves David Drumm, who denies the transactions were fraudulent, and is being tried for conspiracy to defraud and false accounting. The trial is before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury of ten men and four women. David Drumm pleaded not guilty.
During the 64th day of David Drumm's conspiracy to defraud trial, former ILP credit manager Peter McCabe testified that he overheard ILP dealers discussing a €7.2 billion Anglo deposit figure in September 2008. McCabe said he warned his boss, David Gantly, that the situation was dangerous, but Gantly dismissed his concerns and told him his input was unnecessary. McCabe also provided a recorded call with Irish Life Assurance's Ger Knowles, who confirmed a €1 billion transaction between ILP and Anglo that day, noting it was a "touchy feely subject" and that the Central Bank was encouraging such deals. McCabe maintained that he was merely present by chance and that the transactions were not fraudulent. The trial, presided over by Judge Karen O'Connor, is in its thirteenth week before a jury of ten men and four women. David Drumm pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, former Anglo Irish Bank chief executive David Drumm, aged 51, pleaded not guilty to conspiracy and false accounting charges. He is accused of colluding with former bank officials to defraud depositors and investors by falsely claiming Anglo's 2008 deposits were €7.2 billion larger than they were. The case also involves allegations that Drumm and others dishonestly created the impression of a larger deposit base. A senior AIB officer, John O'Donnell, testified that Anglo's chief financial officer Matt Moran had informed him that the financial regulator was aware of a proposed "back‑to‑back" transaction between Anglo and AIB. O'Donnell described how the proposal was discussed in an AIB meeting on 27 March 2008, noting that both regulatory and board approval would be required. The trial, presided over by Judge Karen O'Connor, is in its twelfth week with a jury of ten men and four women.
The trial of David Drumm, 51, of Skerries, Co Dublin, continued at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury. Drumm, the former Anglo Irish Bank CEO, has pleaded not guilty to two charges: conspiring with former officials Denis Casey, William McAteer, John Bowe, and others to defraud depositors and investors by allegedly creating the dishonest impression that 2008 deposits were €7.2 billion larger than they were; and false accounting on December 3, 2008, for allegedly furnishing the market with that inflated figure. The prosecution called Tony O'Hanlon, former head of credit at Anglo, who testified that the bank's practice of fast-tracking credit limit approvals was not normal. He stated he was unable to sign off on a €6.7 billion credit increase for Irish Life and Permanent in September 2008 because he could not authorise it retrospectively. O'Hanlon expressed concerns about the bank's systems and procedures, noting that instructions were given to exclude ILP from daily interbank excess reports. During cross-examination, the defence suggested the witness was applying hindsight, noting a lack of contemporaneous emails outlining his concerns. Drumm accepts that multi-million euro transactions occurred between Anglo and ILP in 2008 but disputes that they were fraudulent or dishonest. The trial, now in its twelfth week, continues.
David Drumm, 51, former CEO of Anglo, is on trial in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for conspiracy to defraud. He admits that multi‑million euro transactions occurred between Anglo and Irish Life & Permanent in 2008 but denies they were fraudulent or dishonest. Drumm has pleaded not guilty to conspiring with former bank officials to defraud depositors and investors by falsely presenting 2008 deposits as €7.2 billion larger than they were, and to false accounting on 3 December 2008. The trial, now in its eleventh week, continues with a jury of ten men and four women.