The jury in the trial of Brian McHugh, a 40‑year‑old man from Ballymun, is watching a CCTV montage that the prosecution says shows his movements near the home of Lisa Thompson, a 52‑year‑old mother of two, on the night of her murder in May 2022. McHugh has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Ms Thompson, who was found inside her home with multiple stab wounds and a blind cord around her neck. The prosecution alleges a mixed DNA profile on the cord that could not exclude McHugh as a contributor. Witnesses have testified that Ms Thompson was dealing prescription drugs from her home and that her death was caused by ligature strangulation and multiple stab wounds. The trial is proceeding before Justice Karen O'Connor with a jury of four men and eight women.
Eimear Barron, 53, pleaded guilty to 12 counts of theft totalling €25,793, representing 41 unauthorised transactions between February 2019 and November 2021. She worked as a payroll manager for a contractor that handled payroll for two companies. The companies noticed suspicious activity in March 2022 and reported it to Gardaí. Barron transferred the stolen funds to her bank and a Revolut account, updating employee records with her own account numbers and making batch payments. She was arrested in May 2023 and admitted the money was used for living expenses and bills. She had no prior convictions. Judge Orla Crowe imposed a two‑year prison sentence, fully suspended on strict conditions for three years, and directed that the €25,793 be paid to the injured parties. Barron's family home had been sold, making the full amount available for repayment.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentencing hearing, Victoria Quinn, 46, pleaded guilty to careless driving causing serious harm after colliding with an elderly couple's car at a crossroads on the R125 in Swords on 4 June 2022. The collision left the 72‑year‑old woman with a fractured back and other injuries, and the couple's husband died 19 days later from unrelated pneumonia. Quinn received a suspended two‑year sentence, a €8,000 fine payable in six months, and no custodial term. The court noted Quinn's earlier statement to Gardaí that she had approached the junction slowly, which witnesses contradicted by describing her driving at speed and failing to see the stop sign. Quinn's cooperation and remorse were acknowledged, but the judge found her statement inconsistent with the evidence. The case ended with the court's full condolences to the victim's family.
Maria Stefan, 33, pleaded guilty to fraudulently claiming €18,045.60 in one‑parent and rental allowances between December 2017 and December 2018. She had previously lived at Thomas Moore Road, West Dublin, but was seen at an Ashton Drive house in Swords where her then‑partner lived. An investigation began after a welfare inspector noticed inconsistencies in February 2021. A search of the Ashton Drive house on 4 June 2021 found a letter addressed to Stefan and other items, and evidence that she used the address online 54 times. Stefan admitted the online account was hers and that she sent the messages. She has 10 prior convictions, including theft and burglary. Judge Orla Crowe directed her to complete 240 hours of community service in lieu of a two‑year, three‑month prison term and to engage with probation services for one year.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Victoria Quinn, 46, pleaded guilty to careless driving causing serious harm after she ran through a crossroads on the R125 in Swords on 4 June 2022, colliding with a car carrying an elderly couple. The collision fractured the 72‑year‑old woman's back and left her with bruising and pain to her wrist, elbow and chest. Quinn's car was written off, and the victim remained in hospital for five weeks, during which she contracted Covid‑19. The victim's husband, who was driving the other car, died 19 days later from pneumonia, an illness unrelated to the crash. Quinn, who had no prior convictions, was told by the court that her driving fell below the required standard and that her statement to Gardaí was inconsistent with the evidence. The case was adjourned for finalisation on 20 January next year.
A 22‑year‑old man, Brandon Gavin, was sentenced to a mandatory life term in prison for the murder of his former friend, Marius Mamaliga, who was stabbed in the neck on 23 February 2023. The victim's parents, Inga and Victor Mamaliga, delivered an emotional impact statement, describing the loss as a void that will never be filled. Gavin had pleaded not guilty, claiming self‑defence after a drug debt dispute, but the jury found his defence "self‑serving nonsense." Witnesses testified that Gavin had been messaging women on Tinder minutes before the attack and had searched for "prison sentence for murder in Ireland" the day before. Marius was in the driver's seat with two friends when Gavin entered the rear passenger side, reached across, stabbed him once in the neck, and fled. He was taken to hospital in critical condition and died three days later.
Robert Redmond, a career criminal serving life imprisonment for the murder of Barry Wolverson in Swords, Co Dublin, on January 17, 2020, appealed his conviction at the Court of Appeal. Redmond, of Kilbarrack, Dublin 5, had denied the charge. His counsel argued that a North Face jacket containing gunshot residue, central to the prosecution, should have been excluded due to improper storage by gardaí, which raised contamination risks. The appeal also challenged the forensic expert's opinion on who fired the weapon, alleging it assumed Redmond's guilt. The DPP countered that CCTV and witness evidence established an unbroken chain of custody and Redmond's presence at the scene. Redmond's co-accused, Bernard Fogarty, was also sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder. At the Special Criminal Court, Redmond received a life sentence for the murder, five years for assault causing harm on Gerard Wildman, and 12 years for possession of firearms and ammunition. He is also serving a consecutive seven-year sentence for the murder of Jordan Davis. The court reserved its judgment, meaning the matter was adjourned and not concluded.
A 22‑year‑old man, Brandon Gavin, was found guilty of murder by a jury at the Central Criminal Court after he stabbed his former friend, 19‑year‑old Marius Mamaliga, in the neck on 23 February 2023. The jury, after nearly five hours of deliberation, rejected Gavin's self‑defence claim, describing it as "self‑serving nonsense." Evidence showed Gavin entered Mamaliga's car, took a knife, and stabbed him within about 14 seconds. DNA on the knife matched Gavin, and blood from the victim was found on a penknife nearby. Witnesses testified that Gavin owed Mamaliga €2,500 for drugs and that the victim had sold drugs in the past. Gavin had also searched online for "prison sentence for murder in Ireland" and was active on Tinder minutes before the incident. The verdict was delivered on 13 November 2024, and Gavin remains remanded in custody awaiting sentencing. The unnamed 22-year-old pleaded not guilty.
A jury will return to the Central Criminal Court tomorrow to continue deliberating the verdict in the trial of 22‑year‑old Brandon Gavin, who denies murdering 19‑year‑old Marius Mamaliga over a drug debt. The prosecution alleges Gavin entered the back seat of a car behind Mamaliga and stabbed him in the neck with a knife, intending to kill or seriously injure him. In Garda interviews, Gavin claimed he stabbed Mamaliga in self‑defence, fearing for his life because he owed money for drugs. Witnesses testified that Mamaliga had sold cannabis and that Gavin owed him €2,000 for cocaine. The jury, consisting of seven men and five women, began deliberations after 2 pm and will return tomorrow morning. The judge explained that the jury has three possible verdicts: guilty of murder, not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, or not guilty.
In a murder trial, Brandon Gavin, aged 22, is accused of a planned and pre‑meditated stabbing of his 19‑year‑old friend Marius Mamaliga. Prosecutors argue Gavin entered the victim's car, stabbed him in the neck within eight seconds, and then disposed of the knife before returning home, citing his Google search for "prison sentence for murder in Ireland" and Tinder activity as evidence of pre‑planning. They describe the act as "murder – plain and simple" and dismiss his self‑defence claim as "self‑serving nonsense." Defence counsel counter that Gavin had made 47 calls that day trying to raise €2,000 owed for cocaine, and that he was in distress and fear, possibly acting in self‑preservation. They portray him as a young man spiralling out of control, not a cold‑blooded killer. The jury is instructed to weigh these conflicting accounts before delivering a verdict. Brandon Gavin pleaded not guilty.
The court heard that 22‑year‑old Brandon Gavin's phone was used 24 hours before he stabbed 19‑year‑old Marius Mamaliga to death. The phone searched for "prison sentence for murder in Ireland" and engaged with a woman on Tinder 20 minutes before the fatal stabbing. Texts show Mamaliga demanded money for drugs from Gavin, warning that "boys looking for that money" would be at his door. Gavin claimed he stabbed Mamaliga in self‑defence, fearing for his life because he owed money for drugs. The prosecution argued Gavin entered the back seat of a car behind Mamaliga and stabbed him in the neck with a knife. The case is set to close on Monday before Justice Eileen Creedon and the jury. Brandon Gavin pleaded not guilty.
During the murder trial of Brandon Gavin, the State Pathologist Dr SallyAnn Collis testified that 19‑year‑old Marius Mamaliga suffered a fatal neck stab wound that caused severe blood loss, leading to cardiac arrest and hypoxic brain injury. The post‑mortem revealed a 9 cm wound 1.9 cm long and 7.5 cm deep, angled downwards from the left side of the neck, damaging the left common carotid artery, left jugular vein, and upper windpipe. The injury also caused diffuse haemorrhage on the right side and damage to the left side of the voice box and both sides of the esophagus. Dr Collis confirmed the knife recovered by Gardaí had a single cutting surface, 9.5 cm long, matching the wound tract. She described the force as moderate, noting no hilt wound. Brandon Gavin pleaded not guilty. SallyAnn Collis pleaded not guilty.
The trial of 22‑year‑old Brandon Gavin, accused of murdering 19‑year‑old Marius Mamaliga, is ongoing. Gavin, who lives on Brookdale Road, Rivervalley, Swords, walked into Swords Garda Station with his father on 23 February 2023, where his father told officers that Gavin wanted to "hand himself in." Gavin told the garda that he had stabbed Mamaliga in the neck while sitting behind him in a car, claiming the deceased "came at" him and that he was in fear for his life because he owed €2,500 for drugs. He also said he had thrown the knife away after the incident. Garda David Durnin, who was on duty that day, gave evidence that Gavin had told him he was in panic after the stabbing. Detective Garda Conor Tumbleton reported that when Gavin was cautioned, he repeated that he had defended himself. Brandon Gavin pleaded not guilty.
During a murder trial, a jury examined CCTV footage showing Brandon Gavin, 22, entering and briefly exiting a car before fleeing the scene. The footage captured Gavin's movements in the estate, his brief presence in the back seat of the deceased's black Audi, and his subsequent run across the road. Audio from the clip included the sound of a car door closing and opening, followed by voices shouting "call an ambulance." The prosecution argued that Gavin, armed with a knife, stabbed Marius Mamaliga, 19, in the neck, claiming self‑defence. A folding penknife found in River Valley Park contained the deceased's blood and DNA matching Gavin's. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Eileen Creedon, continues the following day. Brandon Gavin pleaded not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court, 22‑year‑old Brandon Gavin pleaded not guilty to the murder of 19‑year‑old Marius Mamaliga, who was stabbed in the neck on 23 February 2023. The prosecution argued that Gavin entered the back seat of a car behind Mamaliga and, without warning, stabbed him with a knife, claiming the act was an attempt to kill or seriously injure the victim. Gavin's father, Eddie, testified that his son had called him in distress, saying "Dad, I f**ked up," and that Gavin had been shaking and hysterical. He also said that Gavin wanted to hand himself in and that the son had no intention of hiding. The court heard that Gavin's mother, Jacqueline, had known of his long‑standing mental health problems and that he had used marijuana and cocaine. The trial is proceeding before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury.
During the murder trial of Brandon Gavin, an eyewitness described a brief, seconds‑long episode in which Gavin, described as "calm and collected," entered the back seat of a black Audi, slowly drew a knife and stabbed Marius Mamaliga on the left side of his neck before fleeing. The witness, David Octavian, testified that he saw Mamaliga's hand on his throat, that he called an ambulance, and that Mamaliga was unconscious for about ten minutes. Octavian also confirmed that Gavin and Mamaliga had previously met over drug matters, with Gavin owing Mamaliga €2,000 for cocaine. The prosecution argued that Gavin intended to kill or seriously injure Mamaliga, while Gavin claimed self‑defence, stating that Mamaliga had attacked him. The trial is ongoing before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury. Brandon Gavin pleaded not guilty.
A 22‑year‑old man, Brandon Gavin, is on trial for the murder of 19‑year‑old Marius Mamaliga, who died from a neck stab on 26 February 2023. The jury heard that the incident lasted about 14 seconds, during which Gavin entered the rear passenger seat of Mamaliga's black Audi, reached forward and stabbed him once in the neck. Gavin allegedly dropped his mobile phone and two HSE appointment cards in the rear footwell, which were recovered by gardaí. He claimed he stabbed Mamaliga in self‑defence, fearing for his life because he owed €2,500 for drugs. Gardaí also recovered a knife with Gavin's DNA on the handle and the victim's blood on the blade. Gavin has pleaded not guilty. The trial is before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury.
The Court of Appeal heard submissions on 8 October concerning the convictions of Jason Bonney and Paul Murphy, who were found guilty at the Special Criminal Court in 2022 of facilitating a murder at the Regency Hotel, Whitehall, Dublin on 5 February 2016. Their barristers argued the trial was unfair and that judges made conclusions unsupported by evidence, including claims that one gunman travelled in Murphy's Toyota Avensis and that the vehicle was later part of a getaway convoy from St Vincent's GAA ground. They contended insufficient evidence existed to prove the men knew of a criminal organisation or that they were facilitating serious crime. The DPP's counsel countered that identifications could be made by CCTV registration details and that the men's knowledge could be inferred from their actions in relation to the meticulously planned offence. Issues regarding un-cautioned interviews and vehicle searches were also raised. The three-judge court reserved judgement. Murphy, aged 62 of Swords, received nine years imprisonment; Bonney, aged 53 of Portmarnock, received eight and a half years.
David Callaghan, aged 33, was sentenced to 13 and a half years in prison for assisting an organised crime group involved in international money laundering and drug trafficking between 29 April 2021 and 4 February 2022. The sentence was reduced to 8.5 years with the final five years suspended. The court heard that Gardaí discovered an electronic ledger showing over €924,000 moved between June 2021 and January 2022, and that Callaghan communicated with a driver via the Signal app about money laundering, drug trafficking and operational details. Evidence included photos, videos, and instructions for handling drugs and cash. Callaghan pleaded guilty, exercised his right to silence during the interview, and later expressed regret, promising to avoid future criminal activity and to protect his children. The judge cited mitigating factors, including the tragic deaths of three of Callaghan's siblings, when suspending part of the sentence.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, witnesses described Peter Kennedy, aged 65, as a kind, "absolute gentleman" who had taken in Brian Ibe's mother and offered his home to the homeless. Ibe, 23, denied murdering Kennedy but admitted causing his death. He claimed Kennedy demanded money from him and threatened to kill him. Ibe's mother, Martha, testified that her son had threatened Kennedy, used a knife, and stabbed him in the back of the neck. Garda Shane Lehane found Kennedy flat on his back, saturated in blood, and the victim was taken to Naas and Beaumont hospitals before dying on 12 May 2020. A pathology report cited multiple contusions, fractures, and brain injury as the cause of death. The trial will determine whether Ibe's defence of not guilty by reason of insanity applies.
Trevor Byrne, a 43‑year‑old from Finglas West, will continue to serve a 17.5‑year jail term after the Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal. Byrne, who has 44 prior convictions, was convicted in 2021 by the Special Criminal Court on five charges stemming from an armed robbery of Boylesports in Swords on 19 March 2010. The charges were robbery, possession of a firearm, false imprisonment, threat to kill and unlawful seizure of a vehicle. He was found guilty after a mobile phone dropped at the scene was identified as his and after a Garda recognised him in CCTV footage. Byrne's counsel argued the identification evidence was unsafe due to lack of contemporaneous notes, but the court upheld the evidence as admissible and the appeal was rejected. The 17.5‑year sentence, which runs concurrently with other convictions, remains in force. Trevor Byrne pleaded not guilty.
Sean Keenan, 28, of Rosse Court Heights, Balgaddy, was sentenced to 27 months in prison for stealing a Peugeot 206 and its keys from a home in Holywell View, Swords, on 17 September 2022. He used a fishhook to snatch the keys from the hallway. Keenan has 118 prior convictions covering theft, assault, and other offences. Garda Brian Murphy presented CCTV footage and evidence from a search of Keenan's house. Keenan pleaded guilty, admitting intoxication and drug influence at the time of the crime. The judge, Martin Nolan, noted his early guilty plea and cooperation as mitigating factors, suspended the final 12 months of the sentence for 12 months, and ordered probation supervision for one year after release. Keenan is currently serving a three‑year sentence and is due for release in May 2025.
The High Court on 3 July 2024 appointed Tom Murray and Eoin Massey of Friel Stafford as joint provisional liquidators for Cube Logistics 3PL Limited, a freight logistics company employing over 30 people. The court found the company insolvent, unable to pay debts as they fall due, after a difficult 2023 trading year that saw losses of €610,000 despite a turnover of €5.38m. Cube had expanded by leasing two new warehouses, but new customers did not use them, and it lost key clients such as Hilti Ireland, Lloyd Fraser Holdings' UK parent, and PRL Ireland. The company owes €655,000 to Revenue for VAT, PAYE and PRSI and cannot meet a phased payment arrangement. It had attempted restructuring via SCARP and considered examinership, but the court deemed that option unviable. The liquidators will manage the company's affairs, including customer stock worth about €5m, and may continue trading, dismiss or retain staff.
A man from Wicklow has been sentenced to six and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to drug trafficking offences at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Ryon Fitzpatrick, aged 34 and with an address in Enniskelly, was arrested in October 2020 as he accompanied a van containing approximately 304 kilograms of cannabis concealed in shoeboxes near Swords, County Dublin. The drugs, imported from Spain, had an estimated street value of €6.08 million. Fitzpatrick, who was driving a lookout vehicle, fled to Spain following his initial arrest and questioning but was apprehended there last year and extradited to Ireland in December. Judge Pauline Codd imposed a headline sentence of eleven and a half years, reduced to nine years following mitigation, with the final two and a half years suspended on conditions. Two co-accused, Anthony Kinghorn and Mark Nesbitt, both from England, were separately convicted and received eight-year sentences in 2021 and 2022 respectively.
Robert Redmond (35) was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for conspiring to murder Jordan Davis in 2019. Redmond, who is already serving a life sentence for the murder of Barry Wolverson, pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge. Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed a seven-year term, which runs consecutively to Redmond's existing 12-year sentence for firearms possession. This results in a total of 19 years' imprisonment to be served concurrently with his mandatory life sentence. The judge rejected defense arguments that the consecutive structure constituted a disproportionate 'quasi-life sentence,' citing Redmond's 'deep involvement' in the 'cold-blooded' killing and his 99 previous convictions. Evidence presented included threatening text messages from Redmond to Davis regarding a €70,000 drug debt and 'tick lists' found at addresses linked to Redmond. Wayne Cooney (33), who was convicted of the actual murder of Davis in July 2022, is currently serving a life sentence. The court noted that Davis was shot while pushing his infant son in a pram near a school in Darndale.
In a decision by the Workplace Relations Commission, Hannah Murphy, aged 22, was awarded €10,000 for age‑based discrimination after being told she was "very young" and not ready to manage a salad bar at Freshly Chopped Ltd. Murphy had worked for the chain for just under two weeks in December 2020, training to become a branch manager in Swords. The area manager, who had previously praised her performance, told her on 21 December that she would not take the Swords post and that she was "still very young" and "not ready for the job". Murphy claimed the manager had also suggested she might be better equipped in two years. The company denied the claim, citing a "poor attitude" and alleged misconduct, but the WRC found the manager's statements about her age credible and ruled that age was one of the reasons for her dismissal. The tribunal awarded Murphy €10,000 in compensation for the discrimination.
Petru Budai, 43, of Finnslawn, Lucan, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after biting part of a restaurateur's ear on 28 October 2021 at Whitehall Terrace, Swords. The victim was preparing to open his restaurant when Budai, intoxicated and accompanied by two others, demanded food and drink. When told the premises were not yet open, Budai wrapped his hands around the restaurateur, bit his ear and uttered a phrase that sounded like "I eat you." The victim was taken to hospital; the bitten ear fragment was recovered but could not be re‑attached. Judge Martina Baxter described the attack as devastating and noted the victim was sober and attempting to explain the restaurant's status. Budai, with no prior convictions, expressed remorse, wrote an apology letter, and paid €5,000. The judge ordered 240 hours of community service in lieu of a three‑year prison term. Budai thanked the court after sentencing.
Sean Boland (41) of Dundalk, Co Louth, and co-accused Jeffrey Reynolds (34) of Bray, Co Wicklow, were sentenced at the procedural stage of sentence following their convictions for possessing cannabis. Boland admitted possessing approximately 12kg of cannabis valued at €240,000 across three locations on October 17, 2022, and was sentenced to five years in prison. Reynolds pleaded guilty to possessing about €88,000 worth of cannabis herb on the same day and was sentenced to three years in prison. Prosecution evidence indicated gardaí acted on confidential information regarding a suspected transaction, leading to the search of a van driven by Reynolds, which contained 4.4kg of cannabis. Further searches of Boland's apartment in Dundalk and another unit in the same complex revealed over 7kg of cannabis, along with a vacuum sealer, scales, and a tick list. Boland made full admissions upon arrest, stating he had handed a box of cannabis to Reynolds to settle a debt. Reynolds' defense counsel noted his client operated at street level and worked on a farm to become drug-free. Judge Nolan accepted both men had good work histories and mitigation, finding them unlikely to reoffend, before imposing the respective custodial sentences.
Matthew Grogan, 26, of Applewood Village, Swords, was jailed for three years and nine months after pleading guilty to possession of stolen property, trespassing, criminal damage, driving without insurance and two counts of dangerous driving. The offences occurred between 22 and 23 September 2021 in County Louth and County Dublin. Grogan had stolen a taxi, reported it to the gardai, and then drove the vehicle at speeds up to 170 km/h, running red lights, weaving through lanes, passing a toll plaza and nearly colliding with an unmarked garda car. The pursuit involved armed gardai from the Armed Support Unit, Louth and Dublin. He was arrested in the Swords area, was intoxicated at the time of arrest, and later described the night as a "blur". Grogan has 64 prior convictions, including burglary and assault, and will be released in June 2026. The court noted his addiction issues and that he has two children.
Michael Tuzuka, 46, of Orchard Drive, Stamullen, pleaded guilty to 11 counts of using false instruments for counterfeit cheques totalling €98,250, lodged between March and April 2018 at branches of Permanent TSB in Drumcondra, Swords, Malahide, Ashbourne and Drogheda. Gardaí, alerted by Permanent TSB on 12 April 2018, identified Tuzuka on CCTV making the lodgements and later spotted him driving a Jaguar to another bank at about 1 am. The cheques were immediately flagged by bank software and frozen, so no loss was incurred. Tuzuka had 11 prior convictions, including theft and abusive behaviour, and had previously served a three‑year sentence during which he contracted TB. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to three years' imprisonment, noting his cleverness but that he was defeated by the software. The court heard he had struggled to find work after release and was motivated by a desire to support his family.
Two men, Ainis Guzauskas and Eric Brils, are set to be tried in criminal court for allegedly flying drones too close to Dublin Airport. They have filed High Court challenges claiming that the 1975 Air Navigation and Transport Act's Section 6, which bars suspended sentences and probation, is disproportionate, draconian and unconstitutional. Guzauskas, a furniture mover, is charged under Section 3 for a July 2022 incident, while Brils, a company employee, faces a similar charge for a January 2023 flight. Both pleaded not guilty and are represented by Mark Lynam SC. Their judicial review seeks to prevent further prosecution under Section 3, declare Section 6 incompatible with the Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights, and obtain orders from the court. Justice Niamh Hyland granted permission for the actions, with the cases scheduled to return next month.
Robert Redmond (35), a convicted murderer currently serving a life sentence for the killing of Barry Wolverson, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to conspiring to murder Jordan Davis. The 22-year-old victim was shot dead in 2019 while pushing his infant son in a pram. Prosecution counsel Bernard Condon SC stated the plea was acceptable to the DPP, and a nolle prosequi will be entered on the original murder charge after sentencing. Mr Justice Paul McDermott remanded Redmond in custody until May 13 for a sentence hearing, where a victim impact report is expected. Redmond is the second person dealt with regarding this offence; in 2022, Wayne Cooney (33) was jailed for life for the murder after a jury found he fired eight shots at Davis. Separately, Redmond and co-accused Jamie Gray (27) previously pleaded guilty to possessing a RAK PM-63 submachine gun in 2020. Redmond was jailed for six years in 2023 for that offence. Bernard Fogarty (34) was also sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Wolverson in December 2022. The matter was adjourned for sentencing.
In a Workplace Relations Commission hearing, adjudicator David James Murphy ruled that a complaint by nurse Vanessa Rodrigues-Linhan against Carechoice Swords 2 Ltd was well founded, ordering the employer to pay €30,000 in compensation. The adjudicator found the employer failed to establish adequate risk management for two patients. Regarding Patient A, the adjudicator noted the employer failed to prove efforts were in place to manage the risk he presented prior to incidents where he allegedly racially abused the complainant and pushed a decoration into her chest. Although action was taken after reports, the adjudicator found no prior process to manage his aggressive behavior. Regarding Patient B, a dementia patient, the adjudicator found that despite known issues with sexual behavior, there was no process to ensure information cascaded to night-shift carers. The adjudicator determined the complainant was subjected to serious racial and sexual harassment, making her legitimately fear for her safety. He criticized the employer for relying on senior staff support after the fact rather than having immediate supervisors on hand to react to risks. The adjudicator noted the director and assistant director of nursing appeared professional but failed in their immediate supervisory duties. The employer's defense was rejected, resulting in the compensation award.
Derek Delaney, a 60‑year‑old former Irish Defence Forces soldier who served 43 years and five tours in Lebanon, was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 20 months in prison for indecent assault of his sister between 1982 and 1988 and to a concurrent 15‑month sentence for assault causing harm to his former partner on 2 July 2023. Delaney admitted the indecent assault occurred when he was in his early twenties and his sister, aged nine to eleven, was sexually abused at a family home on Bunratty Road, Coolock. He also admitted head‑butting and knocking his partner unconscious after an argument, citing jealousy. The judge reduced the headline sentence of two to four years on mitigating factors, including Delaney's long military service. Derek Delaney pleaded guilty.
In the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Brian Lucey (44) was sentenced for illegally possessing a submachine gun at the M11 Shankill roundabout on March 7, 2020. Lucey, of Ashford, Co Wicklow, initially took a trial date but later pleaded guilty. Judge Martin Nolan accepted that Lucey, a 'gilly' expecting to collect cannabis, was 'completely taken by surprise' when an unknown individual threw the firearm into his car. The judge noted Lucey's low culpability and 'agony of the moment,' resulting in a four-year fully-suspended sentence. The court heard that Lucey was used by co-accused to move the weapon. In related proceedings, Robert Redmond and Jamie Gray pleaded guilty to possessing the firearm for an unlawful purpose and were jailed in July 2023. Redmond, who denied the charge of murdering Barry Wolverson in January 2020, was sentenced to life imprisonment in December 2022. His co-accused, Bernard Fogarty, was also sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Mr Wolverson. Separately, Fogarty pleaded guilty to possession of the submachine gun in 2020 and was jailed for five years by the Special Criminal Court.
Stewart Goodwin, 46, of Ashbourne, was found guilty of deceiving Old Borough National School in Swords by installing inferior flooring, resulting in a loss of €15,240. He pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after a District Court charge. Goodwin had been hired to repair a flood‑damaged floor, paid a deposit, and agreed on a specific type of wood. He instead ordered cheaper, lower‑quality timber, removed the old floor, and installed a thinner, untreated surface. The school cancelled the contract and demanded a refund. Goodwin repaid €9,510 in June but still owed €15,240. He expressed remorse, claiming he intended to improve the floor later. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a 21‑month suspended sentence, requiring Goodwin to repay the full €15,240 within one year under strict conditions. No victim impact statement was prepared.
Trevor Byrne, the appellant, has appealed his 2021 convictions at the Court of Appeal regarding the 2010 armed robbery of Boylesports in Swords, Co Dublin. Byrne, who pleaded not guilty, was convicted by the Special Criminal Court of robbery, possession of a firearm, false imprisonment, threatening to kill, and unlawfully seizing a vehicle. Mr Justice Michael MacGrath sentenced him to eight-and-a-half years for the robbery and false imprisonment, six-and-a-half years for the threat to kill, and seven-and-a-half years each for the firearm possession and vehicle seizure. These sentences run concurrently with each other but consecutively to a separate nine-year sentence for a 2019 firearms offence, resulting in a total of 17.5 years. Byrne's counsel argued the convictions were unsafe due to procedural defects in the CCTV identification process, specifically the lack of contemporaneous notes by Detective Garda Patrick McDonagh. The State contended the evidence was admissible and supported by other circumstantial evidence, including a phone dropped at the scene linked to Byrne. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice John Edwards, reserved its judgment, meaning the matter was adjourned and not concluded.
Peter McHale (38) and Robert O'Rourke (30) pleaded guilty in the District Court to burglary, false imprisonment, threats to kill, money laundering and, for O'Rourke, production of a screwdriver. The offences took place between mid‑March and 11 April 2023 when they broke into a man's home, held him for about four hours, threatened him with a screwdriver and demanded cash to satisfy a drug debt that had risen from €1,500 to €26,000. O'Rourke's partner, Nicole Munson (30), pleaded guilty to money laundering for allowing the victim's mother to transfer €5,000 to her Revolut account. The court sentenced O'Rourke to five and a half years, McHale to five years and Munson to a fully suspended sentence of three and a half years. The judge described the men as the "more serious actor" and the "lower tier" and noted the victims' fear and distress. The case was heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Derek Byrne, 40, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court to eight years and six months in prison for facilitating the attempted murder of Noel Boylan. The court found Byrne guilty of participating in the activities of a criminal organisation with the intention of facilitating the offence, which occurred between May 27 and June 1, 2019. He was identified on CCTV footage purchasing the Toyota Avensis used to transport the gunman. The judge noted that the shooting only became an attempted murder because the weapon jammed. Byrne, who has a history of drug abuse and 78 previous convictions, was already serving a seven-and-a-half-year sentence for unlawful possession of a firearm, having been in custody since December 3, 2019. The new sentence includes a suspended portion of 12 months for three years, conditional on engaging with probation services. The court determined the new sentence should run concurrently with the existing one. Separately, Alan Graham, 51, was previously jailed for 10 years after pleading guilty to facilitating the attempted murder of Lee Boylan, Noel Boylan's son, in a related incident on March 6, 2019.
Derek Byrne, 40, of Swords, appeared before the Central Criminal Court at the sentence stage for his role in the attempted murder of Noel Boylan. Byrne pleaded guilty to intentionally facilitating a serious offence by a criminal organisation, specifically the attempted murder of Boylan between May 27 and June 1, 2019, with knowledge of the organisation's existence. He also admitted to participating in the activities of a criminal organisation during a pre-trial hearing. Prosecution counsel Sean Gillane SC noted that Byrne's guilty plea acknowledged his previous false statements to gardai regarding the purchase of a Toyota Avensis used by the gunman. The court heard that the shooter's weapon jammed while pursuing Boylan into a Lidl supermarket, where CCTV captured frightened shoppers, including children, running for cover. Boylan made a full recovery. Byrne, who has 78 previous convictions, is currently serving a seven-and-a-half-year sentence for unlawful possession of a semi-automatic pistol. His defence counsel, Giollaiosa O'Lideadha SC, highlighted Byrne's severe cocaine addiction and requested the court consider backdating the new sentence to his initial custody date. Mr Justice Paul McDermott remanded Byrne in custody until next Monday, when he will be formally sentenced. Separately, Alan Graham, 51, was previously jailed for 10 years in 2021 after pleading guilty to facilitating the attempted murder of Lee Boylan, Noel's son, in a related incident on the same road in March 2019.
Paschal Kelly, aged 57, has failed in his appeal against conviction for a €92,000 post office robbery committed in September 2014. The Court of Appeal dismissed his challenge on all grounds, upholding his 18-year sentence imposed by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in 2018. Kelly, with last addresses in Cootehill, County Cavan, and Castlepollard, County Westmeath, was convicted of offences including false imprisonment, robbery, burglary and threatening to kill three women during the crime. The gang entered the home of postmistress Susan Lawlor in Malahide, bound her, her daughter and a student guest with cable ties, and transported them to Bayside Post Office in Sutton where the robbery occurred. Mr Justice John Edwards upheld the trial judge's admission of CCTV evidence and garda identification testimony, finding the evidence reliable and the conviction safe. Kelly's legal team indicated a sentence appeal remains pending. He has 60 previous convictions including robbery and assault.
In October 2023, Dublin City University (DCU) and developer Kinwest Ltd lodged judicial review actions in the High Court challenging the inclusion of their properties on the map of sites subject to the Residential Zoned Land Tax (RZLT). DCU, represented by Joe Jeffers SC, seeks to quash the board's decision to list two sites—Griffith Avenue, Glasnevin, and Albert College Park—arguing they are exempt because they are used for education, a provision in the Taxes Consolidation Act. Kinwest, represented by Martin Hayden SC, contests the board's upholding of Fingal County Council's rulings that it must pay the RZLT on three sites in Auburn, Streamstown, and Malahide. The developer also challenges the constitutionality of the Act's amendment and the ministerial guidelines, claiming they were made outside the minister's powers. Both parties' applications will return before the High Court in December, with DCU also seeking declarations that the board erred in law and made unreasonable decisions.
A banking professional who worked at a Dublin pub for nearly three decades has alleged he was unfairly dismissed and denied a redundancy package because the pub owners did not want to pay him. Alan Ecock, who has worked for AIB since 1994, told the Workplace Relations Commission that his co-workers at the bank were unaware of his second job as a bar manager at Kavanaghs in Stoneybatter, where he started as a lounge boy in the late 1980s. His solicitor, Setanta Landers, claimed the pub owners' assertion that Ecock was self-employed was a 'parade of fiction.' Ecock stated he worked at the pub four nights a week throughout his college years after losing his father as a teenager and felt obliged to support his mother. He continued working there even after signing a full-time contract with AIB in 1994, reducing his hours to two nights a week when he married in 2013.
Vasile Lazar, 52, a Romanian national, was sentenced to two years in prison for eight counts of theft and one attempted robbery. Between November 2022 and January 2023, he stole €9,745 from victims in Donaghmeade, Swords, Artane, Bettystown and Mullingar. He targeted shoppers in Dunnes Stores and other retail outlets, taking purses, debit cards and withdrawing cash from ATMs. He also used stolen debit cards to withdraw €1,600 and to pay €650 to a Cyprus company via Google Pay. Lazar admitted the thefts, expressed remorse, and claimed desperation after a personal breakdown. He has no prior convictions in Ireland but has convictions in the UK, Austria and Italy. The judge noted aggravating factors such as the amount stolen and victim impact, but also considered his guilty plea and remorse. The sentence is back‑dated to his arrest.
On 2 October 2023, Mr Justice Alexander Owens approved three Debt Settlement Arrangements in the High Court. The first allowed 51‑year‑old Brian Carrig, a self‑employed accountant from Ashfield, Drogheda, to write off more than €5 million of debt for a lump payment of about €15 000. The arrangement, lasting six months, aims to restore Carrig's solvency and gives creditors only 0.32 % of what they are owed; it is funded by a €20 000 payment that includes a fee for his Personal Insolvency Practitioner. The second arrangement, for 56‑year‑old David Hoban, a former building contractor, permits the write‑off of over €1.3 million for a €20 000 payment over 60 months, with 81 % of creditors accepting. The third arrangement concerns 47‑year‑old Daniel Desmond, an IT director, who will write off €2.2 million of debt for a €70 000 payment over 12 months; all creditors voted in favour.
Anthony Byrne, 40, used a fake name and doctored a letting contract to defraud four victims, each paying €3,000 for a rental deposit that never existed. He advertised the property on daft.ie, claiming to be a letting agent named Stephen Cummings, and demanded cash payments. Gardaí traced the scheme after a woman reported the fraud; they found the doctored contract and evidence linking Byrne to the false persona. Byrne pleaded guilty to four charges of deception and use of a false instrument at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He repaid the €12,000 to the victims and, after early guilty pleas and expressions of remorse, was sentenced to a two‑year term suspended in full for two years. The judge noted the financial loss was made good and considered Byrne's difficult family and financial circumstances. The victims suffered significant hardship and emotional distress.
In a High Court hearing on 26 July 2023, Mr Justice Brian O'Moore confirmed that the temporary injunction issued last week against three owners of luxury holiday lodges near the Johnstown Estate hotel was largely complied with. The injunction, which restrains the use of sirens, airhorns, alarms or power generators that produce loud noise near the hotel, was obtained after the hotel stopped supplying electricity and water to the lodges. The court heard that the siren's noise had ceased and that signs criticizing the hotel's owner had been removed. Two of the defendants, David Godwin and Martin Kennedy, who appeared in court, offered written undertakings to comply with most terms, though no undertakings were offered regarding their generators. Mr Justice O'Moore said he would continue the injunction on the generators and urged a compromise, while the third defendant, Peter Wilson, was absent and the orders against him were maintained. The matter was adjourned to August.
At the Special Criminal Court, Robert Redmond (35) and Jamie Gray (27) were sentenced for possessing a RAK PM-63 submachine gun at M11 Southbound, Shankill, Dublin, on May 7, 2020. Both pleaded guilty to charges under Section 27A(1) of the Firearms Act 1964. Mr Justice Paul Burns sentenced Redmond, who is serving a life sentence for murder, to six years imprisonment. This sentence runs from October 5, 2021. Gray received a sentence of five years and three months, with the final year suspended for three years, running from July 10, 2023. The judge noted the weapon was in poor condition, missing components, and had an erased serial number. Redmond has 97 previous convictions, while Gray has 91, mostly for road traffic offences. The court acknowledged both men sourced the weapon for others without intent to use it. Separately, Bernard Fogarty (34) was previously sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Barry Wolverson and jailed for five years in 2020 for possessing a similar firearm on March 7, 2020. Fogarty was involved in the initial handover of the weapon in Clondalkin. The judge described the prevalence of such firearms as a dangerous scourge on society.
The owners of the Four‑Star Johnstown Estate hotel, Lefgem Limited and Wave Prime Limited, have obtained a temporary High Court injunction to stop three neighbours from using a siren or airhorn at night. The defendants – David Godwin, Peter Wilson and Martin Kennedy – each own a luxury holiday lodge near the hotel and have allegedly used a loud industrial‑style siren for up to six hours each night, starting at 10:45 pm. The hotel claims the noise has damaged its business reputation and disrupted two upcoming weddings. The injunction, granted ex‑parte by Mr Justice Brian O'Moore, prohibits the defendants or anyone aware of the order from using a siren, airhorn, alarm or power generator to produce loud noise near the hotel. The order is returnable next week. The case arose from a broader dispute over services and property use between the hotel and the lodges.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed Jonathan Dowdall's appeal against his four-year sentence for facilitating the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel. The three-judge panel, led by Mr Justice George Birmingham, described the sentence as "very lenient" and within the available range, rejecting arguments that it was unduly severe. Dowdall, who pleaded guilty to making a hotel room available to the Hutch gang ahead of the February 2016 attack, had argued his sentence was too high compared to his father, Patrick Dowdall, who received two years for the same offence. The appeal court found a clear basis for differentiating their roles, noting Jonathan Dowdall's significant post-murder involvement, including driving an associate to Northern Ireland. The court also rejected claims that the sentencing judge failed to adequately consider the life changes resulting from Dowdall becoming a State's witness. While acknowledging the assistance provided was "very significant," the judges upheld the Special Criminal Court's decision, stating that even a higher pre-mitigation headline sentence would not have warranted intervention. The appeal was heard after Dowdall's counsel argued he was "duped" and that the sentence did not properly account for his cooperation with authorities. The court emphasized that the Hutch organisation was a "tier one criminal organisation," not a minor group, and that Dowdall's actions were "very serious indeed."