Peter Moore, 25, of Lynnwood, Ballyboughal, was remanded in custody after pleading guilty to criminal damage at Chapel Lane, Swords, on 20 January 2015. He used a crowbar and angle grinder to destroy a parking meter because he was angry about a parking fine. Garda Amanda King arrested him after finding the tools in a boot of a nearby car. Fingal County Council estimated the damage at €11,000, covering replacement, disposal and removal of the old meter's concrete base. Moore's defence offered €3,000 in compensation and highlighted his cocaine and alcohol addiction, his role as a carer for his mother with motor neuron disease, and his work with the Homeless World Cup charity. Judge Martin Nolan described him as a vandal, noted his 47 prior convictions, and adjourned sentencing to 23 June, stating the cost of reinstating the meter was not fully understood.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Eric Wansboro, 27, was sentenced to eight and a half years in jail for dangerous driving that caused the death of 43‑year‑old Sinead Maguire and serious bodily harm to Liam McDonagh. Wansboro pleaded guilty to the offence committed on 29 May 2014 when he was driving a Toyota Avensis at high speed, pursued by a Garda patrol. The collision, which occurred at a junction with a 50 kph limit, left the car heavily damaged and all occupants unconscious. Maguire died from severe neck and spinal injuries; McDonagh suffered a fractured jaw and lost five teeth. Wansboro had a suspended three‑year sentence for a 2011 stolen‑car offence and a ten‑year driving disqualification. The judge imposed a five‑and‑a‑half‑year term for the dangerous driving, back‑dated to the date he entered custody, and added the suspended sentence, bringing the total to eight and a half years.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Garda Karen Duffy was injured when a stolen Nissan Micra, driven by 19‑year‑old Eoin Murphy, struck her patrol car's passenger door. The impact broke Duffy's nose and left a six‑centimetre scar on her forehead after 30 stitches. Murphy, who had 30 prior convictions including three for car theft, pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment and unlawful use of a car. He claimed he was "stoned" on tablets that night. Duffy suffered severe bruising, a cut to the back of her head, a broken nose, and post‑traumatic stress disorder. The judge adjourned the case to the next month and requested a Probation Services report. The court noted that Duffy would be compensated under the Garda Compensation Scheme. The case remains at the pleading stage.
During a two‑week trial at the Central Criminal Court, 39‑year‑old Jooda Akanbi was acquitted of murder after a fight with 45‑year‑old Taiwo Jamani on Main Street, Swords, on 10 October 2013. Akanbi claimed he acted in self‑defence, striking Jamani with a baseball bat after the latter allegedly punched him. Witnesses described the altercation as "like something out of Star Wars". Jamani died in hospital from a severe traumatic brain injury caused by a blunt force blow to the head. No CCTV footage captured the incident. The prosecution sought a murder verdict, arguing Akanbi intended to kill or seriously injure Jamani, while the State denied self‑defence. The jury, after more than seven hours of deliberation, returned a verdict of not guilty, and Akanbi was discharged. No family members of the deceased were present at the verdict.
The President of the High Court has rejected applications by three men imprisoned for drug possession offences, who sought release following a Court of Appeal decision that struck down provisions of the Misuse of Drugs Act as unconstitutional. Keith Willis was convicted of possessing ecstasy tablets after gardaí discovered drugs in his vehicle in Sligo in 2012. Anthony Murphy and Joseph Carberry were each convicted of possessing synthetic cannabis and pentedrone respectively for supply purposes. The men argued their detention had become unlawful after the Act's regulatory framework was found unconstitutional, contending the substances were not legally prohibited at the time of their arrests. Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns dismissed the applications, finding their detention remained valid. He held that prior Supreme Court authority established that cases concluded under laws subsequently found unconstitutional need not be reopened absent wholly exceptional circumstances. The judge determined none of the applicants satisfied the threshold for such exceptional relief. Anthony Murphy pleaded guilty. Joseph Carberry pleaded guilty. Keith Willis pleaded guilty.
Robert Lawlor, a 31‑year‑old Dublin father of three, was sentenced to 16 months in jail for possessing a stolen Ford C‑Max. He had previously been disqualified from driving and was caught driving the vehicle by a Garda at Airside Retail Shopping Centre, Swords. The Garda followed him to Bewleys Hotel on Clonshaugh Road, where CCTV captured him driving the car into the carpark while wearing blue latex gloves. DNA evidence linked Lawlor to the same gloves found when the stolen car was recovered two weeks later at another location. Lawlor pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing the stolen vehicle, which had been taken from a premises on Griffith Avenue in March 2012 and had registration plates from a vehicle stored in a County Clare garage. His 124 prior convictions include dangerous driving, public order offences and a five‑year sentence for drug possession.
The jury has begun deliberations in the Central Criminal Court trial of 39‑year‑old Jooda Akanbi, charged with murdering 45‑year‑old Taiwo Jamani on Main Street, Swords, on 10 October 2013. Akanbi claims he acted in self‑defence when he struck Jamani with a baseball bat, but the prosecution argues it was a fight and that he had the intent to kill or seriously injure. Judge Tony Hunt explained that the jury could find Akanbi guilty of murder, not guilty of murder, or not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter if they believed he used excessive force in self‑defence. The judge emphasised that a unanimous verdict was required and that the jury would review evidence including the bats and gloves. The jury deliberated for an hour and four minutes before returning home, with deliberations to resume the next morning.
The judge has begun charging the jury in the Central Criminal Court trial of 39‑year‑old Jooda Akanbi, who is charged with murdering 45‑year‑old Taiwo Jamani with a baseball bat on Main Street, Swords, on 10 October 2013. Akanbi claims he acted in self‑defence during a fight that broke out shortly before lunchtime. He was found dead on 13 November 2013 from a severe brain injury. Akanbi pleaded not guilty, the evidence finished today, and the judge has now begun summarising the case for the jury of five women and seven men.
In the Central Criminal Court, a 39‑year‑old Nigerian man, Jooda Akanbi, is charged with murder after striking 45‑year‑old Taiwo Jamani with a baseball bat on Main Street, Swords, on 10 October 2013. The prosecution, led by Denis Vaughan Buckley SC, argued that Akanbi's claim of self‑defence was unsupported, describing the force used as "unreasonable and excessive" and asserting that evidence indicated Jamani was not the initial aggressor. Witnesses testified to a brief fight outside a bank around 12.20 pm, with Akanbi admitting to hitting Jamani but denying it in Garda interviews. Buckley urged the jury to consider the evidence sufficient for a murder conviction, noting that the incident was a flash‑in‑the‑pan event on a busy street. The trial remains ongoing. Jooda Akanbi pleaded not guilty.
During a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, the defence presented Garda Damien Rogers as a witness. Rogers recounted a 2011 search of an apartment at The Bakery, George's Hill, Balbriggan, where the deceased, Taiwo Jamani, was present. He noted that Jamani's address was Dublin Street and that the premises was a computer business named Data Links owned by Jamani. Rogers claimed he entered a Garda Pulse system entry stating that Jamani and two others should be made suspects of computer and credit card fraud, but he also said no prosecution followed and Jamani had no prior convictions. The trial concerned the 2013 murder of Jamani by 39‑year‑old Jooda Akanbi, who was charged with killing Jamani with a baseball bat on Main Street, Swords. The defence argued that the alleged fraud allegations were unrelated to the murder case. The trial continued into the afternoon. Jooda Akanbi pleaded not guilty.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, 39‑year‑old Jooda Akanbi pleaded not guilty to the killing of 45‑year‑old Taiwo Jamani on 10 October 2013 on Main Street, Swords. The prosecution closed its case after the defence presented evidence that the fatal blow was delivered in self‑defence. Akanbi testified that he had been threatened by Jamani, who had allegedly tried to coerce him into fraud and had threatened to involve the Gardaí. Akanbi claimed he struck Jamani with a baseball bat after being punched and that the death was caused by the accused's actions. The judge struck the second count of serious harm from the issue paper, stating the death was caused by the accused's own actions. No conviction or sentencing was reported in the article.
During a trial at the Central Criminal Court, Jooda Akanbi, aged 39, faced charges of murdering 45‑year‑old Taiwo Jamani with a baseball bat on 13 November 2013, the day of Jamani's death at Beaumont Hospital. The case also included a separate charge of intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to Jamani on 10 October 2013, when the two men fought on Main Street, Swords. Akanbi pleaded not guilty to both charges, claiming self‑defence. Judge Tony Hunt announced that the second charge would be struck from the indictment, describing it as a precautionary, non‑fatal allegation that was now superfluous because the death was attributed to the accused's actions. The trial continued with the remaining murder charge. The article reports only the procedural decision to drop the second count and does not state any verdict or sentencing. The trial was ongoing at the time of reporting.
During a murder trial in the Central Criminal Court, the jury heard that on 10 October 2013, a fight involving two baseball bats broke out on Main Street, Swords. Jooda Akanbi, aged 39, was charged with intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to 45‑year‑old Taiwo Jamani and with murdering him on 13 November 2013. Akanbi pleaded not guilty, claiming self‑defence. Detective Garda James Tracey testified that Jamani was lying on the ground when Akanbi arrived, that Jamani had grabbed a bat from Akanbi's boot, and that Akanbi then struck Jamani's head with another bat. Akanbi was arrested at 12.40pm on suspicion of assault causing harm. The court heard from Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis, who described Jamani's skull fractures as caused by severe blunt force trauma. Two baseball bats recovered from Akanbi's car were shown to the jury. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt with a jury of five women and seven men.
David Byrne, 42, of Swords, Co Dublin, faces trial in 2017 for allegedly taking part in a €2.28 million robbery and false imprisonment of Paul Richardson, his wife Marie and their two sons Ian and Kevin on March 13–14, 2005. Byrne is accused of holding the family at Ashcroft, Raheny, and of stealing cash from Richardson and Securicor Security Services Ireland Ltd. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with prosecutor Seamus Clarke BL, noted that new Supreme Court exclusion‑evidence rules might affect the case. The trial is scheduled for 16 January 2017 and will last 12 weeks.
During a murder trial in the Central Criminal Court, a taxi driver named John Clarke testified that on 10 October 2013 he witnessed a violent altercation on Main Street, Swords, involving two men and baseball bats. Clarke described one man pulling a bat from a car boot and striking the other, then the second man retrieving another bat and swinging it. He likened the scene to "something out of Star Wars." Another witness, Pearse Fagan, recounted hearing the fight from his phone call, seeing both men swing bats, and noting the victim's head bleeding. Fagan, a first aider, removed his t-shirt to stop the bleeding and photographed the assailant. The accused, Jooda Akanbi, is charged with murdering Taiwo Jamani and with causing serious harm to another man on the same day. Akanbi pleaded not guilty, claiming self‑defence. The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Tony Hunt with a jury of twelve.
In a murder trial in the Central Criminal Court, a witness testified that the accused, Jooda Akanbi, told Taiwo Jamani he was going to beat him just moments before striking him twice in the head with a baseball bat on Main Street, Swords, in October 2013. The witness, Abayoni Oluvole, described the exchange in both English and Yoruba, noting that Akanbi repeated the threat three times before Jamani told him to leave. He also recounted that Akanbi took a bat from his BMW's boot and hit Jamani, who fell and did not rise. The witness denied any fabrication and was cross‑examined by Patrick Marrinan SC, who questioned the timing of the threat. CCTV footage showed the build‑up but not the actual strike. The case remains before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury, with a two‑week trial expected. Jooda Akanbi pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin murder trial, a 39‑year‑old man, Jooda Akanbi, is charged with killing 45‑year‑old Taiwo Jamani with a baseball bat on November 13, 2013, and with causing serious harm to another Nigerian on October 10, 2013. Akanbi pleaded not guilty to both charges, claiming self‑defence. The incident occurred on Main Street, Swords, during daylight, but none of the 12 local CCTV cameras captured it. However, footage of the build‑up was shown to the jury, including the movements of Akanbi's BMW 5 Series, a witness speaking to the injured party, and cyclist Adam Ounch. Ounch testified that he was cycling behind the BMW, heard the driver shouting, and later saw two men near the car, one lying on the street and the other speaking to Gardaí. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, is expected to last two weeks.
A 39‑year‑old Nigerian man, Jooda Akanbi, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of 45‑year‑old Taiwo Jamani on 13 November 2013. The alleged killing occurred on Main Street, Swords, in broad daylight at about 12.15pm on 10 October 2013, when Akanbi allegedly struck Jamani with a baseball bat, causing fatal head injuries. Akanbi pleaded not guilty to both the murder charge and a separate charge of intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm. He claims the act was in self‑defence. The prosecution, led by Denis Vaughan Buckley SC, presented eyewitness testimony, photographs of the scene, and post‑mortem evidence indicating blunt‑force trauma to the head as the cause of death. The trial is expected to last two weeks.
In a North Dublin town, a 39‑year‑old man named Jooda Akanbi, of Ashton Avenue, Applewood, Swords, pleaded not guilty to two charges before the Central Criminal Court. He is accused of murdering 45‑year‑old Taiwo Jamani on 13 November 2013 on Main Street, Swords, and of intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to Jamani on 10 October 2013. Akanbi, wearing a black suit and cream shirt, was arraigned and a jury of five women and seven men was sworn in. The trial is set to begin the following day and is expected to last two weeks.
In March 2015, Aziz Kaiwa, a 24‑year‑old asylum seeker from Western Sahara, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to five counts of possessing a false document without lawful excuse between January and September 2013. The fake ID bore Kaiwa's photo but used the name of French DCU student Thibaut Pawlisiak, whose identity card had been stolen. Kaiwa used the card to pass himself off as Pawlisiak on several occasions, including when stopped by Gardaí on 6 April 2013 and when treated for injuries at St James' Hospital on 23 April 2013. He was arrested for a separate mobile‑phone theft on 28 September 2013, presented the fake ID, and was taken into custody. Judge Patricia Ryan dismissed the sentence, applied the Probation Act, and ordered Kaiwa to keep the peace for six months, meaning he does not receive a criminal conviction.
Gerard Creighton, 49, was sentenced to three years in prison for failing to inform the Gardaí of his change of address between November 2013 and February 2014, for an attempted robbery at a bookmaker's on 28 February 2014, and for possessing an imitation firearm. He entered the shop in Dublin city centre armed with a 6mm air pistol loaded with ball bearings, handed a bag to a female staff member, and demanded money be placed in it. The woman fled, and Creighton left without any money. Gardaí recovered the pistol from a bin and later found his DNA on it. He also admitted possession of a stolen travel pass in the name of Michael Connors. The court noted his six prior convictions under the 2001 Sex Offenders Act and his registration as a sex offender in 1999. Judge Martin Nolan back‑dated the sentence to February 2014. Gerard Creighton pleaded guilty.
Three men – Gary Freeman (27), Barry Gannon (36) and John Redmond (38) – were found guilty of assault causing harm and violent disorder after a 12‑day trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The offence took place in the yard of Mountjoy Prison on 28 August 2012 when the men attacked prisoner William McDonagh, pushing him to the ground and kicking him, as shown on CCTV footage. The court saw that Gannon struck McDonagh with a mop head, Redmond kicked and punched him, and Freeman punched and stamped on his head. McDonagh suffered lacerations, a damaged ear and bruising, and required 30 sutures. Each defendant was sentenced to three years' imprisonment with the final year suspended; Freeman's and Gannon's terms were back‑dated to 26 February 2015, and Redmond's to 18 December 2013. The judge noted the defendants' prior convictions and their expressions of remorse and rehabilitation efforts. Gary Freeman pleaded not guilty. Barry Gannon pleaded not guilty. John Redmond pleaded not guilty.
At Balbriggan District Court, Artur Pietrynka (40), of Rush, pleaded guilty to urinating in public, being intoxicated, and using threatening and abusive behaviour on Upper Main Street in Rush on November 22nd. Judge Dermot Dempsey sentenced him to 240 hours of community service work in lieu of a two-month prison term. In a separate matter, Andrew O'Rourke (49) pleaded guilty to stealing €60.70 worth of food from the Noodle Box restaurant in Balbriggan on August 11th last year. Judge Michael Coughlan convicted O'Rourke and fined him €500, allowing six months to pay. Vatalie Raru (33), of Rush, is alleged to have possessed a nun chuck and used threatening and abusive behaviour towards gardai on December 17th. The matter was adjourned, with Raru remanded on continuing bail for a hearing on May 11th at Swords District Court. Additionally, Andrea Bunce (44), of Skerries, is alleged to have stolen stock and cash from Castle News & Toys in May 2013. Her case was adjourned to be heard on May 11th at Swords District Court, where she elected to have the trial at District Court level.
In a Swords District Court hearing on 9 March 2015, 22‑year‑old Blain Doyle pleaded guilty to possessing a baseball bat on 8 November 2014 at Brackenstown Road, Swords. Doyle was driving a vehicle that Garda Miriam O'Donovan described as acting suspiciously; she searched the car, found the bat, and noted Doyle wore a balaclava as a hat. Doyle admitted he had the bat and claimed he was "out to seek revenge" on people who had attempted to burgle his house that day. Judge Dermot Dempsey warned him that he could not take the law into his own hands and sentenced him to three months' imprisonment, suspended for two years. Doyle has eight prior convictions and was deemed unsuitable for community service work due to a back injury. The court did not consider any further charges or outcomes.
In Swords District Court, Mark Sheehan (25) pleaded guilty to driving without insurance and had his case adjourned until April 13th following a request from the Probation Service for further assessment. Sheehan has 15 previous convictions and was previously given a six-month suspended sentence and a six-year driving disqualification. Michael Reilly (21) pleaded guilty to stealing a remote controlled car and was convicted in his absence. As he did not appear to pay the €250 compensation, Judge Dempsey imposed a default order and fined him €250. Helen McDonnell (25) pleaded guilty to using a false driving licence and stealing groceries. Her case was adjourned until March 30th for a repayment meeting with the furniture store and to provide proof of arrangements. Adrian O'Reilly (50) pleaded guilty to being intoxicated and using threatening and abusive behaviour. Judge Dempsey ordered him to make a charitable donation of €250 to Pieta House and applied Section 1.1 of the Probation Act.
In Swords District Court on 2 March 2015, several cases were heard. Dean Whelan, 27, pleaded guilty to stealing €85 from a Polish shop's cash register to pay a drug debt. He was sentenced to two months' imprisonment, a term that will run concurrently with a three‑year sentence he is already serving. Brendan Donovan, 61, admitted possession of a stolen van that had been listed on Done Deal. He was adjourned until 27 April to arrange €500 compensation for the van owner's tools. Kevin Carroll, 27, failed to appear after pleading guilty to damaging a restaurant window, leading to a bench warrant. Patrick Joyce, 22, was convicted of stealing soft drinks worth €5, fined €100, and warned that a further offence could result in custodial time. Each case was addressed with the specific charges, pleas, and court orders as stated in the article.
Neil Curran, 32, of Baldoyle, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for the assault causing harm to Peter Lynch. The incident occurred on December 17, 2013, at Airside Retail Park in Swords. Mr. Lynch, who was Christmas shopping with his family, confronted a woman for littering. Curran, identified as the woman's boyfriend, allegedly struck Mr. Lynch from behind on the head, causing disorientation. The court heard that Curran continued to hit the victim until his nose bled, then kicked him before fleeing the scene. Mr. Lynch sustained severe head injuries, including a soft tissue injury to one eye, cheek swelling, and a chipped tooth. Curran pleaded guilty to the charge. Judge Martin Nolan handed down a sentence of three and a half years, with the final 22 months suspended on strict conditions. The judge noted Curran's early guilty plea and cooperation with gardaí but described the act as a "cowardly assault." Curran had previously apologized to the victim and offered a €3,000 bond as a token of remorse. The matter was finalized with this custodial sentence.
Sean Brady, 34, of Clonliffe Road, Drumcondra, was sentenced at Swords District Court for the burglary of Kinsealy Pet Store in North Dublin on October 24, 2013. Brady pleaded guilty to the offence, which resulted in over €600 worth of birds dying due to shock and cold. Garda Killian Layden testified that the store owner, Aidan O'Connor, discovered an intruder in the aviary area around 10:30 pm and saw a male fleeing toward a red BMW. O'Connor struck the vehicle with a hatchet, causing him to jump out of the way. Brady was arrested after his blood was found at the scene. Defence counsel Patrick Jackson noted that Brady has ten previous convictions and a drug habit, and that he had recently had a one-year portion of a three-year suspended sentence re-activated at Trim Circuit Court for unlawful possession of drugs for sale or supply. Judge Denis McLoughlin stated that committing an offence under a suspended sentence carries consequences. Consequently, Brady was sentenced to three months in prison, to run consecutively to the sentence he is currently serving. The judge also fixed recognisance in the event of an appeal.
Swords District Court heard several matters presided over by Judge Denis McLoughlin. Jandean Hyland, who pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, had his case struck out after paying €750 compensation. Anthony Lambe, convicted of causing criminal damage, was fined €200 and remanded on continuing bail until May 18th to pay the fine. Patrick McDonagh was convicted and fined €250 for theft, while his brother Eddie McDonagh, also convicted of theft, was given the benefit of the Probation & Offenders Act. Karl McQuillian, who pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of cannabis, had his case adjourned until May 18th for a Probation & Welfare report to assess suitability for 200 hours of community service in lieu of a five-month prison sentence. Algars Putnins, who pleaded guilty to intoxication, obstruction, and threatening behaviour, was remanded on continuing bail to reappear in May to make a €200 charitable contribution, with the Probation Act to be applied if the donation is made. Martin Maughan, who pleaded guilty to careless driving and failing to give a specimen, was disqualified from driving for four years and fined €300.
Swords District Court heard four matters. Rica Cantaragiu (28) pleaded guilty to driving without reasonable consideration on the R132 at Balrothery in May 2014. She was convicted and fined €150. Wojtek Jedrej (19) pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of drugs and unlawful possession of drugs. He was convicted, fined €400 for the driving offence, and disqualified from driving for four years, with the disqualification postponed until August 1st. He was also convicted and fined €300 for possession. Robert Kinsella (28) pleaded guilty to being intoxicated and using threatening and abusive behaviour in Swords in December 2014. The court ordered a probation report to assess his suitability for 240 hours of community service work in lieu of a two-month prison sentence. Anthony Byrne (21) pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of Ecstasy tablets in Coolock in July 2014. The matter was adjourned for a Probation & Welfare Report to be filed by April 13th.
During a hearing at Swords District Court, James Heraghty, aged 50, was removed from the courtroom after calling the Gardaí a "gang of thugs" and "dirty liars" and shouting "Make me" at Judge Dermot Dempsey. Heraghty had been charged with assaulting Garda Gavin McGee, obstruction, using threatening and abusive behaviour and being intoxicated on 29 April 2014 at Vauxhall Street, Balbriggan. The Gardaí had detained him after an incident at the Combined Clubs Community Centre where he had shouted at the building and struck the Garda. Heraghty was arrested, brought to the station and later stood up and refused to sit when Judge Dempsey ordered him to. He was warned not to disrupt the court again. Judge Dempsey convicted him of obstruction, assault and threatening behaviour, sentencing him to four months in prison, with the terms run concurrently. The court noted he had 68 previous convictions, including four for assaulting Gardaí. James Heraghty pleaded not guilty.
Swords District Court heard four matters. Gary Daly, 25, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of PVP. He was deemed suitable for 240 hours of community service in lieu of a prison sentence and is currently engaging with the Probation Service. Ann Gavin, 45, pleaded guilty to theft of clothes and theft of perfume and hair dye. Judge Dermot Dempsey convicted her and sentenced her to four months in prison. Babatunde Eyinola, 41, pleaded guilty to driving without insurance and driving without a driving licence. Judge Dempsey convicted him, fined him €400, and disqualified him from driving for one year for the insurance offence, taking the licence charge into consideration. Ailish Hammond, 38, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis herb. Judge Dempsey ordered a probation report to assess her suitability for 240 hours of community service in lieu of a three-month prison sentence. The matter was adjourned until April 20th.
Adam O'Mara, aged 20 and resident in County Louth, received a suspended sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following a high-speed pursuit on the N1 Motorway near Drogheda on 8 February 2012. O'Mara pleaded guilty to unlawful use of a stolen white Toyota Dyna, dangerous driving, and driving without insurance. During the 40-minute chase, the then 17-year-old attempted to ram a garda vehicle on four occasions whilst weaving through traffic and overtaking dangerously. He also threw objects from the vehicle before it came to a stop due to mechanical failure. Judge Mary Ellen Ring imposed a two-and-a-half-year custodial sentence, wholly suspended, and disqualified him from driving for four years. In mitigation, the court noted O'Mara's completion of a welding course and his engagement with drug treatment services since the offence. He was ordered to comply with probation supervision and maintain good behaviour for the period of the suspended sentence.
Sean McAuley, 20, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of Ketamine, MDMA, and cannabis for sale or supply. Following the completion of voluntary work and a positive Probation Report, Judge Dermot Dempsey struck out the case. In a separate matter, John Butterly, 39, pleaded guilty to assaulting Peter Thompson and producing a baseball bat. Lorraine Butterly, 34, is charged with assaulting three individuals and producing a rolling pin. Peter Thompson, 41, pleaded guilty to assaulting John Butterly. All three were remanded on continuing bail until April 13th for a hearing at Swords District Court. Zacheaus Odinga, 45, pleaded guilty to driving without insurance on Drogheda Street in Balbriggan. Judge Dempsey convicted him, fined him €400, and declined to invoke disqualification under special circumstances. The report also notes that David Cummins, 25, is charged with attempting to steal cash and a can of Coke; his case is scheduled for March 30th. Jade Gannon, 32, pleaded guilty to theft and non-payment of a taxi fare, receiving fines of €100 and €75 respectively. Andrea Bunce, 44, is alleged to have stolen stock and cash; she was remanded on continuing bail until February 12th. John Maxwell, 36, is charged with possession of cannabis; his case was adjourned until March 12th for the service of the Book of Evidence.
Jonathan Crilly, 29, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Martin Rooney, 42, in a van crash on 24 April 2013. Crilly was over twice the legal alcohol limit and was driving between 120 and 140 km/h. He was sentenced by Judge Patrick McCartan to three years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended on the condition of good behaviour for two years after release. He was also disqualified from driving for ten years. The incident involved Crilly, Rooney and a third passenger, all from Northern Ireland, who were on a construction job in Dublin. Rooney died at Beaumont Hospital after the van collided with a wall following a red‑light violation. Crilly's prior dangerous driving conviction in Northern Ireland was noted by the court.
In the Swords District Court, several cases were heard. Keith McNamara, 22, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of €1,100 worth of cannabis and to its sale. Judge Dermot Dempsey offered him a chance to avoid conviction if he donates €500 to charity, provides drug‑free urine tests, and submits an updated probation report, with the case adjourned to 8 September. Michael Gibbons, 32, was fined €400 and given a three‑year driving ban after being caught driving erratically while heavily intoxicated; he had a blood alcohol level of 210 mg/100 ml. Christopher Kane, 30, pleaded guilty to intoxication and was fined €250. Michael Reilly, 21, stole a remote‑controlled car worth €34.99; he may avoid conviction if he donates €250 to charity, with the case adjourned to 9 March. Fergal Reilly, 33, was convicted and fined €100 for intoxication that made him a danger to himself and others. All decisions were made by Judge Dermot Dempsey.
Michael Buckley, aged 66, was convicted of stealing €215 worth of women's dresses from Dunnes Stores in The Pavilion Shopping Centre, Swords, on 26 September 2014. He pleaded guilty before Swords District Court, where he was ordered to stay away from the shopping centre for two years. The court gave him a six‑month suspended sentence, suspended for two years, and remanded him on a €200 bond with a condition to remain away from the centre. Buckley has 69 prior convictions, mainly for theft and traffic offences, with a ten‑year gap since 2004. He has kidney and stomach problems and is 66 years old. The judge noted that a custodial sentence would not serve society, but a fine was not sufficient given his record. The solicitor argued that Buckley's gambling addiction had contributed to his offending, and he claims he is finished with such behaviour. The suspended sentence was imposed by Judge Dermot Dempsey.
Swords District Court heard several matters involving defendants Emmet Fitzsimons, Antons Marchinkevics, and Gillian O'Donnell. Fitzsimons, 21, pleaded guilty to being intoxicated and using threatening and abusive behaviour in Swords. Judge Dermot Dempsey struck out the case after Fitzsimons paid €250 to the Garda Benevolent Fund, noting the defendant had apologised and completed a security course. In a separate matter, Antons Marchinkevics, 33, pleaded guilty to drink driving and driving without insurance following a crash in Rush. He was disqualified for three years for drink driving and two years for lack of insurance, and fined €400 for each offence. Marchinkevics provided a breath sample of 72mg/100ml. Regarding Gillian O'Donnell, 38, the court issued a bench warrant for her arrest after she failed to appear. She is alleged to have stolen footwear from Tesco Express in Balbriggan and to be in unlawful possession of cannabis. The matter remains at the pre-trial stage with no plea entered or finalisation recorded. Additionally, Caroline Joyce was granted a hearing date of March 23rd for alleged criminal damage and breach of a protection order, though she is not a validated subject in this summary.
Swords District Court heard five matters presided over by Judge Dermot Dempsey. Mark Sheehan pleaded guilty to driving without insurance. The matter was adjourned until March 9th for a Probation & Welfare report to assess suitability for 240 hours of community service in lieu of a four-month prison sentence. Kevin Carroll pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage to a restaurant. He was remanded on continuing bail to provide €215 in compensation, with the facts of the case to be heard on March 2nd. David Lawrence, who was absent, had a guilty plea entered for being intoxicated and using threatening and abusive behaviour. He was convicted and fined €200. William Whelan pleaded guilty to holding a mobile phone while driving. He was convicted and fined €100. Marc Savage pleaded guilty to parking a lorry on a footpath. He was convicted and fined €100.
In a Balbriggan District Court hearing on 15 January 2015, Olivia Weldon, aged 40, pleaded guilty to theft after taking €55.56 worth of items from a Tesco Extra on 11 December 2014. She claimed she was under pressure due to her daughter's birthday and the upcoming Christmas. The judge fined her €150. A separate case involved Thomas Gaffney, 19, charged with multiple thefts including a car, bicycle, truckster, and chicken fillet rolls. His hearing was scheduled for 2 February at Swords District Court. Anthony Handley, 63, faced a dangerous driving charge; the book of evidence would be served in March, and he remained on bail until 5 March. Kevin Harmon, 26, was charged with assault causing harm to Darren O'Donovan; he was remanded on continuing bail and given an alibi caution, with a next appearance set for 30 January at the Criminal Courts of Justice. Olivia Weldon was convicted.
Swords District Court heard five cases presided over by Judge John Coughlan. Karl Dempsey pleaded guilty to being intoxicated and using threatening and abusive behaviour on a bus. He was convicted and fined €75. Winnie Joyce pleaded guilty to theft from TK MAX. She was convicted and fined €500. Stephen Wynne, who did not appear, was charged with unlawful possession of cannabis. The court proceeded in his absence, resulting in a conviction and a €300 fine. Drew Lynch pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of Ecstasy tablets. As his third drugs offence, he was convicted and fined €1,200, with recognisance fixed for appeal. Jill Devine pleaded guilty to theft from three shops. She was convicted and fined €200. All defendants were sentenced in this round-up.
Thomas Dennis, 21, was found guilty of failing to report an incident in which a woman's finger was severed when she was caught in the door of his car after leaving a Balbriggan nightclub. Dennis admitted he did not realise the finger was trapped until the following morning, when he discovered the tip stuck in the passenger side of the door. He called his father for advice and later contacted the gardai about three hours after finding the severed finger. The court noted that Dennis had no prior convictions and that he had been in shock when he discovered the injury. Judge John Coughlan convicted Dennis and fined him €100, stating that a driver is legally responsible for the actions of his passengers and that Dennis deliberately chose not to return to the scene. The decision was made at Swords District Court. The victim, hairdresser Shauna Weldon, has lost the top of her finger and is still receiving physiotherapy. Thomas Dennis pleaded not guilty.
In a Swords District Court hearing, two men, Sean Brady (34) and Damien Byrne (45), pleaded guilty to burglary at Kinsealy Pet Store on 24 October 2013. Brady also pleaded guilty to careless driving. Garda evidence showed the owner, Aidan O'Connor, discovered an intruder around 10.30 pm, and the store's doors were left open, causing €660 worth of birds to die from cold exposure. Blood at the scene matched Brady's DNA. O'Connor saw a male fleeing the aviary toward a red BMW, struck the vehicle with a hatchet, and had to jump out of the way. Garda Kevin Farrell noted the BMW, driven by Byrne, was stopped at Artane Roundabout. Brady, with ten prior convictions, will have his case sent back to Trim Circuit Court for a Section 99 re‑entry on 3 February next year.
Swords District Court sentenced four defendants. Jamie Cunningham (18) of Balbriggan, who pleaded guilty to failing to comply with a garda directive, was sentenced to one month in prison after failing to complete a previous 100-hour community service order; a second charge of obstructing the Gardai was struck out. Genadijs Ogurcous (45) of Lusk pleaded guilty to theft after cutting security tags from items in a Swords department store and received a six-month suspended sentence. Ishtiag Ahmad (33) of Coolock, who pleaded not guilty to permitting a child under three to travel without appropriate restraint, was convicted after Judge Dermot Dempsey accepted garda evidence over his defence; he was fined €150. Kevin Harris (24) of Clarehall, who pleaded not guilty to driving under the influence of cannabis, was found guilty following a collision at Hearse Road; the court imposed a four-year driving ban and a €1,000 fine. All matters were finalised at the sentencing stage.
Paul McGee, 21, was placed on a 12-month Probation Bond at Balbriggan District Court after pleading guilty to causing criminal damage and breaching a protection order. The charges relate to an incident on July 22nd at Selskar Avenue, Skerries, where Garda Anthony O'Connor alleged McGee kicked in a door and used threatening behaviour. Judge Dermot Dempsey ordered McGee to comply with Probation Services requirements. In a separate matter, Derek Gildea, 51, is charged with the unlawful possession of a combat knife allegedly found at Balbriggan Garda Station on October 24th. His case was adjourned to January 15th for a hearing. Additionally, Thomas Weldon, 32, is alleged to have committed burglary and assault causing harm in Brega on June 14, 2014. His case was adjourned to February 9th at Swords District Court. Finally, Daniel Michalow, 28, is alleged to have breached a protection order in Rush on December 7th by assaulting a woman. Sergeant Tony Tighe requested an adjournment to seek directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions regarding potential further charges. Judge Dempsey adjourned Michalow's case until February 26th.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, French musician Serge Elmalem, aged 57 and without a fixed address, was convicted of simple possession of cocaine and two related charges of having the drugs for sale or supply at Dublin Airport on 11 February 2014. The court found that 1.84 kg of cocaine, valued at €123,000, had been hidden in a false bottom of his suitcase, discovered when customs officers x‑rayed him upon arrival from Madrid. Elmalem had previously denied any knowledge of the drugs, claiming a woman had handed him the bag in São Paulo, but he admitted the cocaine was in his possession. He had no prior convictions and had been remanded since the arrest. Judge Patricia Ryan, taking into account his serious health problems, sentenced him to eight years' imprisonment with the final four years suspended, back‑dating the sentence to his initial custody date.
James McDonagh, aged 22, was sentenced to two months in prison after he threw a fine at a traffic warden and verbally abused him, telling the warden to "shove it up your hole." The incident occurred on 14 May at Drogheda Street in Balbriggan, where McDonagh had been parked in a loading bay for two minutes. He approached the warden, threw the fine, and began threatening and verbally abusing the warden, who was forced to hide. McDonagh had previously pleaded guilty to using threatening and abusive behaviour. He has 11 prior convictions and was under financial pressure at the time. The judge noted that McDonagh had already served community service and did not appear to have learned his lesson, leading to the custodial sentence. The sentence was fixed with recognisance pending any appeal.
Swords District Court sentenced five defendants in separate matters. Mark Delaney, 24, pleaded guilty to possessing €300 worth of cannabis for sale or supply and unlawful possession. Judge Dermot Dempsey sentenced him to nine months in prison for sale and supply, with a concurrent three-month term for possession, noting he had exhausted all avenues. Gary Daly, 25, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of PVP. He was ordered to complete 240 hours of community service in lieu of a four-month prison sentence; the case was remanded until February for a review and updated Probation Report. William O'Brien, 58, pleaded guilty to being intoxicated. He received a six-month suspended sentence and a two-year Peace Bond with a condition of sober habits. Caroline Collins, 32, pleaded guilty to stealing €256.81 worth of children's clothes. She received a six-month suspended sentence and a two-year Peace Bond. Dean Whelan, 27, pleaded guilty to stealing €85 in cash. The matter was adjourned until March for an updated Probation Report to assess suitability for community service.
Gerard Keane, 24, of Mooretown Avenue, Swords, was given 240 hours in lieu of a three‑month prison sentence after pleading guilty to possessing a wooden chair leg, threatening and abusive behaviour and intoxication at Broadmeadow Estate on 14 July. Garda Miriam O'Donovan reported that four men were drinking Heineken there; Keane had the chair leg and was directed to drop it. A friend of Keane's claimed he had been assaulted with a hurley, but no complaint was filed. Keane told the court he was "going to take lumps out of the c**t" and "going to go to town" on the alleged assailant. In a separate incident on 14 April, Keane, drunk, abused Gardaí, attempted to kick a passing car, and smeared blood in the Swords Garda Station cell, incurring a €66.40 cleaning bill. Defence solicitor Fiona D'Arcy noted Keane had the chair leg when Gardaí arrived and was off the drink again.
Swords District Court heard three matters. Mark O'Toole, 26, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of cannabis for sale or supply. He was sentenced to six months in prison. The judge refused to suspend any portion of the sentence, noting O'Toole had been afforded every opportunity. O'Toole immediately appealed the sentence after recognisance was fixed. Alexandra Mursean, 28, pleaded guilty to drink driving and driving without insurance. He was disqualified from driving for two years, fined €500 for drink driving, and fined a further €300 for driving without insurance. Keith McNamara, 22, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of €1,100 worth of cannabis herb. The case was adjourned until February 2nd for an updated Probation Report and urine analysis. The judge noted McNamara had complied with the Restorative Justice Programme but required further reports before finalising the sentence.