The Director of Public Prosecutions has dropped all charges against Jonathan Gill, who was accused of participating in the 2011 kidnapping of a Drogheda family. At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Vincent Heneghan SC informed Judge Karen O'Connor that the State was entering a nolle prosequi regarding three charges of false imprisonment and one of robbery. Gill, of Malahide Road, Swords, had pleaded not guilty to falsely imprisoning Warren Nawn, Jean Marie Nawn, and their ten-week-old baby between August 1 and August 2, 2011. The State alleged Gill was part of a group that held the family hostage before robbing €660,000 from the man's workplace. No reason was given for the decision to drop the case. This follows a previous trial collapse in 2017 due to juror misconduct concerns and a subsequent adjournment in May 2023 when a vital witness was unavailable in Australia. Gill remained on bail throughout the proceedings. Separately, Mark McCarthy, of Ballyfermot, was jailed for nine years after pleading guilty to the kidnapping; his sentence was later increased to 15 years following a successful appeal by prosecutors.
Michal Wojciak, 36, of Ridgewood Grove, Swords, Dublin, pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography at the District Court and was sentenced by Judge Cormac Quinn in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a fully suspended two‑year prison term. The offence involved over 4,000 images and videos, seized from his former home in Sandyford on 19 September 2012, and later analysed in August 2016, revealing 681 videos and 3,873 images of pre‑teen and teenage girls in sexual activities. Wojciak admitted the possession, denied actively seeking the material, and cooperated fully with Gardaí, providing all requested items and information. He has no prior convictions, and a probation report and psychologist's assessment deemed him low risk of re‑offending. The judge ordered him to maintain good behaviour, remain under probation supervision, participate in a sex‑offender treatment programme, and avoid contact with any child under 18 except in the presence of a parent or guardian.
The trial of 50‑year‑old Garda civil servant Lynn Margiotta collapsed after Judge Patricia Ryan ruled that the seizure of her medical certificates breached her right to privacy. Margiotta was arrested in August 2014 after a complaint of bullying against her line manager, Sergeant Sharon Burke. She had claimed stress from her mother's death in January 2014 and had provided over a dozen sick certificates signed by her brother, Dr Tony Margiotta. The certificates were officially stamped in the names of Dr Teresa O'Brien and Dr Barry Brown. Margiotta faced 18 counts of using a false instrument, and her brother faced 18 related counts of making false instruments. Both denied the allegations. The judge found the seizure improper, the certificates inadmissible, and the content of the interviews inadmissible. Consequently, the Director of Public Prosecutions entered a nolle prosequi on all charges against both defendants.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Michal Wojciak, 36, admitted possession of over 4,000 child pornography images and videos, all discovered during a forensic analysis in August 2016. The material, seized from his Swords apartment in 2012, included 681 videos and 3,873 images depicting preteen and teenage girls in sexual activities, some with adults, and a 24‑minute video of a preteen masturbating. Wojciak denied actively searching for such material but acknowledged possession. He had no prior convictions and had lost his job in 2018. The court ordered him to remain on bail until 31 May, with the preparation of forensic psychological and probation reports requested by counsel. The case highlighted Gardaí's use of peer‑to‑peer monitoring and the delay in forensic analysis due to resource constraints. The hearing focused on the admission of guilt and the procedural steps pending before any sentencing. Michal Wojciak pleaded guilty.
A jury of six men and six women was sworn in by Mr Justice Michael White for the trial of Laura Kenna, 37, who is accused of attempting to murder Fionnuala Burke on Lower Drumcondra Road in Dublin on 3 January 2017. Kenna pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to both the attempted murder charge and an assault charge with intent to cause serious harm. The jury was told the trial would last about six days, and it will begin tomorrow before Ms Justice Tara Burns.
During the murder trial of Gary Watson, a witness, Emma Cooney, testified that she heard a shout of "Smiley I think you killed him" the night a former soldier, Warren O'Connor, was stabbed to death on Hole in the Wall Road, Donaghmede. Cooney, who was at a restaurant in Swords on the evening of January 15, 2010, later drove to Louise Kinsella's apartment on the same street. She described a gathering that was not chaotic and had no loud music. Cooney observed that Mr. Woodcock, his partner Suzanne Martin, and their son entered the apartment with a take‑away. She reported a scuffle between two groups of men, knives being waved, and a "bang" heard a few minutes later. The witness stated she had spoken to the Gardaí before returning home that night. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Michael White, continues on Wednesday. Gary Watson pleaded not guilty.
Steven McGinty, a 47‑year‑old former nurse from Swords, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of 260 child‑pornographic images and four videos and to distributing such material between 2006 and 2013. He received a wholly suspended sentence on 15 March 2018. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed, arguing the sentence was too lenient, but the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, confirming the suspended sentence was within the judge's discretion. The judge noted McGinty's cooperation, remorse, low risk of reoffending, and lack of prior convictions. He also highlighted the difficulty of detecting private offences and the need for deterrence. McGinty's sentence was upheld, and he was not sent to prison. The case was heard by a three‑judge panel, including Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, Mr Justice George Birmingham, and Ms Justice Marie Baker.
A 62-year-old British man has been sentenced to four years imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with the final 12 months suspended, for possession of nearly 150,000 prescription sleeping tablets valued at approximately €298,000. Michael Hall, from Bedfordshire in England, pleaded guilty to possessing Zopiclone tablets for supply on August 16, 2014, at the Regency Hotel in Drumcondra. He was arrested following a garda surveillance operation in Dublin four years prior. The court heard that Hall and two co-accused were observed transferring boxes of tablets between vehicles in a carpark before leaving in convoy. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a headline sentence of six years but reduced it due to mitigating factors, including Hall's significant health issues. She also imposed a ten-year ban on his return to the Republic of Ireland following release. The judge noted that whilst Zopiclone was not a controlled substance at the time of the offence, it has since become controlled due to its appeal among people with drug addiction.
James Jack, aged 20, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after an incident on Custom House Quay on 6 February 2016. He was 17 at the time of the assault, which involved three men who were trying to stop vandalism of public rental bikes. Jack joined the attack after a phone call and was seen on CCTV throwing punches and kicks. One victim, Markus Thomas, suffered a fractured left eye socket and a tear to his right shoulder, though the article does not state who inflicted the injuries. Jack had no prior convictions and had not been involved with Gardaí since. Judge Karen O'Connor imposed an 18‑month probation bond, noting aggravating factors such as the vandalism and Jack's violent behaviour, and mitigating factors including his guilty plea, youth and cooperation with CCTV evidence. The judge urged Jack to learn from the incident and move on.
Michael Cummins, aged 32, of Applewood Avenue, Swords, pleaded guilty to stealing an iPhone, making a threat to kill, burglary, false imprisonment and assault in Swords on 9 August 2017. He threatened to pour acid into a boy's eye and to blow up their house, actions that occurred during a drug‑induced paranoid episode. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced him to two years' imprisonment on 27 February 2018. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed, arguing the sentence was unduly lenient. The Court of Appeal added a two‑year suspended sentence, to be applied upon his release. Cummins' final net sentence is four years' imprisonment, with the last two years suspended. The case involved two teenage boys, aged 13 and 15, who were falsely imprisoned and threatened with violence. The Court noted Cummins' 230 prior convictions and the serious nature of the offence, including a racial element. The suspended sentence will be activated if he reoffends.
The Court of Appeal has adjourned the matter, reserving its judgment on an appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) against the sentence imposed on Michael Cummins. Cummins, a 32-year-old man from Swords with 230 previous convictions, pleaded guilty to stealing an iPhone, making a threat to kill, burglary, false imprisonment, and assault in Swords on August 9, 2017. He was sentenced to two years' imprisonment by Judge Martin Nolan on February 27, 2018. The DPP is seeking a review of this sentence on the grounds that it was "unduly lenient." During the appeal hearing, counsel for the DPP, Maurice Coffey BL, highlighted the "bizarreness" of the incident and questioned how aggravating and mitigating factors were balanced, noting that the sentencing judge had not indicated a headline sentence. The three-judge panel, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham with Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, heard the arguments and reserved its judgment. Consequently, the matter was adjourned, and Cummins must wait to hear whether his two-year jail term will be increased.
A Dublin man, Robert Ward, aged 24, was sentenced to three years in prison for fraud after he altered a €11,321 cheque taken from a flooring company and attempted to lodge it at AIB on Swords Road, Santry, on 13 June 2014. He also admitted using a €5,221 cheque as a false instrument at an AIB branch on St Brigid's Road, Artane, on 12 May 2014. Gardaí arrested eight people in connection with the fraud offences. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced Ward to four years, suspended the final 12 months, and credited him for seven months already spent in custody. Ward had previously pleaded guilty to stealing a safe containing €500 from Teo's Takeaway in Coolock on 27 March 2017. He has 106 prior convictions, including 18 for theft and three for Circuit Court offences.
Aaron Dawson, aged 23, was released from Swords Garda Station after being arrested for a public order offence and giving Gardaí a false name and address. Within an hour and a half of his release, he burglarised six nearby buildings within about 250 metres, leaving blood, fingerprints and documents bearing the false name he had supplied. The burglaries included Dillons Hair Salon, Zest, Abbey Travel, Havana Therapy and Pink Elephant Thai Restaurant. He damaged doors, took items such as an iPad, a watch and cash, and left his blood at the restaurant and fingerprints at the salon. The court heard he had been drinking heavily, up to two bottles of whiskey per day, and that no planning or disguise was involved. He pleaded guilty to eight burglary and criminal damage charges and was sentenced to three years, with two years suspended, to run consecutively to a term he is currently serving.
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, two men have been sentenced for sexually assaulting a 19-year-old woman while she lay asleep in a private room at a nightclub in Swords, Dublin in July 2017. Joshua Sykes, of Ardlo Manor, Mullagh, County Cavan, and Adam McCabe, of Clusker Park, Navan, County Meath, both pleaded guilty to the offence. Each received a three-year sentence, with the final eighteen months suspended. Judge Cormac Quinn described the case as shocking, noting the woman was vulnerable at the time and had been preyed upon. CCTV footage showed the assault occurring over five minutes while the woman remained unresponsive. Both men, who were attending a birthday party, claimed memory loss but were identified on camera. In a victim impact statement, the woman detailed ongoing psychological harm, including self-harm, panic attacks, and anxiety. The judge considered the men's early guilty pleas, youth, cooperation with probation services, and expressions of remorse when imposing sentence.
A man with previous convictions for manslaughter has been imprisoned after carrying out armed raids whilst serving a suspended sentence. Mark Bissett, aged 33, of Swords Road, Dublin 9, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to threatening to burn down the house of a charity worker in May 2016. The threat was made at Central Bank Plaza, Dame Street, during a soup run for homeless people in Dublin city centre. Judge Karen O'Connor had suspended a two-year sentence for this offence in June 2017, cautioning Bissett that he faced imprisonment if he reoffended. Within four months, Bissett carried out armed robberies on two shops in Ranelagh. On 15 October 2017 he wielded a knife during one raid, and on 26 October he used a fork during a pharmacy robbery. Judge O'Connor activated the suspended sentence, imposing the full two-year term. Bissett has sixty previous convictions including manslaughter, assault and public order offences.
A witness has testified at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in the ongoing trial of a man charged in connection with a €90,000 tiger kidnapping that occurred in September 2014. The witness described how his vehicle was struck by another car near McAllister's Garage in Malahide, following which two men fled the scene on foot. Paschal Kelly, aged 52 and from Cootehill, County Cavan, has pleaded not guilty to charges including falsely imprisoning three women at a property in Malahide, robbery at Bayside Post Office in Sutton, and making threats to kill. He also denies unlawful possession of a vehicle. The witness told the court that one man ran towards nearby woodlands whilst the driver departed in the direction of Swords Road. He noted the driver appeared frightened. Gardaí arrived within seconds of the men leaving the vehicle. The trial, now on its seventeenth day, continues before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, James Jack, aged 20, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Markus Thomas during an incident on 6 February 2016 at Custom House Quay. The assault occurred when three men, attending a beer festival, tried to stop young men from vandalising public rental bikes. Jack, who had been 17 at the time, joined the assault after receiving a phone call that his friends were being attacked. CCTV footage shows Jack throwing punches and kicks. Thomas suffered a fractured left eye socket and a tear to his right shoulder, resulting in a €700 loss. Jack had no prior convictions and was not the main aggressor. He was given a sentence that was adjourned to 21 December to allow him to raise additional compensation beyond the €500 he had in court.
A 31‑year‑old, Anthony Walsh, was found guilty of murdering 54‑year‑old Dermot Byrne in Swords on 16 July 2017 after a drunken altercation over a cigarette. The jury, after deliberating 2 hours 41 minutes, returned a unanimous verdict. Shawna Byrne, the victim's daughter, gave an emotional statement describing the loss of her father's life and dignity, noting that the family's world stopped that day. Walsh was sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment for the murder and an additional seven years for theft of the victim's bank card, Zippo lighter and keys. The court also noted Walsh's prior convictions for public order, burglary, criminal damage and drug misuse. The trial concluded with the judge expressing sympathy for the Byrne family and confirming the life sentence.
In the trial of Anthony Walsh, who admitted beating Dermot Byrne to death during a drunken altercation, the jury asked the judge to clarify the legal definitions of murder and provocation. Walsh, 31, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, theft of a bank card, keys and a Zippo lighter from Byrne on 16 July 2017. The jury spent about 90 minutes deliberating before requesting Justice Eileen Creedon to explain that murder requires intent to kill or cause serious injury and that provocation could negate that intent, potentially leading to a manslaughter verdict.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, 31‑year‑old Anthony Walsh pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter and theft of a bank card, keys and a Zippo lighter from Dermot Byrne on 16 July 2017. The prosecution, led by Vincent Heneghan SC, described Byrne's death as "savagery," urging a murder conviction. Defence counsel Remy Farrell SC argued that Walsh was provoked by Byrne, who had earlier attacked him and attempted to take a cigarette. Farrell presented CCTV from the Harp Bar showing a confrontation and highlighted Byrne's aggressive behaviour, including a prior incident at an Applegreen garage. He urged the jury to consider Walsh's lack of aggression and the injuries inflicted on Byrne, suggesting a manslaughter verdict. The jury was set to deliberate tomorrow.
During the murder trial of 31‑year‑old Anthony Walsh, Deputy State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster described the severe injuries to 54‑year‑old Dermot Byrne's face. She said the bones were broken into little fragments and that his brain had "swirled around" his skull after he was punched and kicked. Glass fragments were found in his face and neck. The body lay in blood at the top of seven steps leading to Fingal Community College. Dr Bolster noted multiple fractures to the jaw, nasal bones, ribs and lacerations to the scalp. Toxicology revealed 350 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood, indicating heavy intoxication. She concluded the cause of death was traumatic brain injury from blunt force trauma to the head, neck and chest, with fractured ribs and high alcohol levels complicating the condition. The jury heard this evidence before the trial proceeded to the next phase. Deputy State Pathologist Dr pleaded guilty.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing, Anthony Walsh, 31, admitted killing but denied murdering 54‑year‑old Dermot Byrne. He told a friend via Facebook Messenger that he had killed someone and that Byrne "kept coming at me" after three warnings. Walsh also sent messages to a woman who had recently added him on Facebook, describing her as "fit" and claiming he was "too much of a bad boy for you." He sent photos of Byrne's bank card and a newspaper article about Byrne's death. Walsh pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, and also pleaded guilty to stealing a bank card, keys and a Zippo lighter from Byrne on the same day and location. The trial is before Justice Eileen Creedon with a jury of twelve.
Anthony Walsh, 31, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Dermot Byrne, 54, but guilty to manslaughter and theft of Byrne's bank card, keys and a Zippo lighter on 16 July 2017. Garda Jason McDonnell arrested Walsh after listening to phone calls with his mother, Marie Walsh, during which Walsh claimed he was attacked and warned Byrne to "get away from me or I would murder you." In the garden of the Walsh home, Walsh told his mother he didn't mean to kill Byrne, describing a fight where Byrne "came at me swinging punches and kicks" and that Walsh "kicked Byrne in the head" causing Byrne to fall unconscious. Walsh later said he had no intention to kill Byrne and was sorry. He was released after arrest and charged two days later. The trial continues before Justice Eileen Creedon with a jury of twelve.
Anthony Walsh, 31, was arrested at his parents' home in Glencullen after the death of 54‑year‑old Dermot Byrne. Walsh pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, and also admitted stealing a bank card, keys and a Zippo lighter from Byrne on 16 July 2017 at North St, Swords. During the arrest, Walsh told Garda Jason McDonnell that he had not intended to kill Byrne, saying "I didn't mean to kill him. He kept coming at me. It was just a couple of straighteners." The trial is proceeding before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury of twelve.
In the Central Criminal Court, Marie and Hugh Walsh testified that they met their son Anthony the morning after he beat 54‑year‑old Dermot Byrne to death outside a school in Swords on 16 July 2017. Anthony, 31, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter and to theft of Byrne's bank card, keys and lighter. He told his mother, in tears, that he had not meant to kill Byrne. The court heard that Anthony had been in a fight, had called his father's phone, and had been arrested after a taxi ride to his mother's house. Witnesses described his physical state and the circumstances of the incident, and the trial continues before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury.
During a murder trial, retired Garda Niall Jones recounted his horror upon discovering a naked, bloody body on North Street, Swords, at about 2.50 am. While searching for a taxi, he mistook a lifelike inflatable dummy for a person and, upon closer inspection, found the body of a man who had been beaten to death. Jones called 999 and attempted resuscitation, but paramedic William Howard found no pulse and declared the victim dead. The case is being heard at the Central Criminal Court, with the accused Anthony Walsh pleading not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter and theft.
During a night in Swords on 16 July 2017, 54‑year‑old Dermot Byrne was involved in a scuffle with 31‑year‑old Anthony Walsh, who later pleaded not guilty to Byrne's murder but guilty to manslaughter and theft of a bank card, keys and a Zippo lighter. Door staff at the Harp Bar intervened when Byrne and Walsh argued around 2.11 am. Byrne, who had been drinking, asked the staff, "Why did you do that? I can look after myself," before walking away. Witnesses, including Vincent McCarthy, Krystzof Laszowski, Darren Kelly and Rory Robinson, described the confrontation, the presence of alcohol, and the attempts to calm the situation. The case is being heard at the Central Criminal Court before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury of twelve.
During a murder trial, a 24‑hour shop worker, Tayyeb Hasan, testified that the deceased, 54‑year‑old Dermot Byrne, told him, "I'm going to kill you," after refusing to sell him cigarettes. Hasan, who works at an Applegreen shop in Swords, said Byrne was drunk and had tried to use his bank card but could not remember his PIN. Hasan called the Gardaí after the threat but later said he did not take it personally and did not believe Byrne would act on it. Byrne was also accused of stealing a bank card, keys and a Zippo lighter from the same shop on 16 July 2017. The trial, held at the Central Criminal Court, continues with 31‑year‑old Anthony Walsh on trial for the murder and manslaughter of Byrne. The case is before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury of twelve. Anthony Walsh pleaded not guilty.
In a murder trial, Anthony Walsh, 31, admitted killing Dermot Byrne, 54, on 16 July 2017 in Swords, Co Dublin. Walsh pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to theft of Byrne's bank card, keys and lighter. Byrne had spent the evening at St Colmcille's GAA club, Estuary Bar, a bookmaker, and Harp Bar, where he was refused entry. At 2.10 am, outside the Harp Bar, Byrne attempted to pull a cigarette from Walsh's mouth; a brief altercation followed. Byrne was later found at 2.50 am, stripped of clothes and surrounded by blood. A pathologist recorded over 100 injuries, including facial fractures, rib fractures and bruising, and declared death from traumatic brain injury, intoxication and blood inhalation. Walsh's defence acknowledged unlawful killing and removal of Byrne's property. The trial continues before Justice Eileen Creedon.
Anthony Walsh, 31, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter of 54‑year‑old Dermot Byrne. Walsh, who has no fixed address, is charged with Byrne's murder on 16 July 2017 at North St, Swords, Co Dublin. He also pleaded guilty to stealing a bank card, keys and a lighter from Byrne on the same date and location. A jury of six men and six women will hear the murder trial tomorrow.
In a High Court hearing on 9 October 2018, professional golfer Kevin Beirth was ordered to give a sworn undertaking to cease presenting himself as a member or affiliate of the Professional Golfers Association (PGA). The PGA had previously sought to have Beirth imprisoned for contempt of court, alleging that he had breached earlier undertakings by continuing to portray himself as a PGA professional and offering lessons under that title. Beirth had been expelled from the PGA in 2012 after a disciplinary process and had previously settled a 2013 dispute with the association. The High Court, presided over by Ms Justice Caroline Costello, accepted Beirth's undertaking that he would not represent, be part of, affiliate with, or promote the PGA unless written agreement existed. The PGA's attachment and committal proceedings were therefore resolved. The case remains at the High Court stage, with no further sentencing or imprisonment imposed.
Judge Melanie Greally sentenced four men to a total of 53 years for their roles in the 2005 €2.08 million robbery of Paul Richardson and Securicor, along with the false imprisonment of the Richardson family. Mark Farrelly, Christopher Corcoran, David Byrne, and Niall Byrne, all of whom pleaded not guilty, were convicted by a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury. Farrelly, identified as the mastermind, received 17.5 years. David Byrne was sentenced to 13.5 years. Corcoran was sentenced to 12 years, with the final five years suspended due to his age and health. Niall Byrne, the former Securicor worker convicted of conspiracy to rob, received 10 years. The jury failed to reach a majority verdict on a kidnapping charge against Niall Byrne. The judge noted the victims' "uncommon and unbending faith" in the justice system after five trials. She ordered the forfeiture of €19,220 in cash and a BMW belonging to Niall Byrne. This sentencing follows previous legal history where convictions for Farrelly and Corcoran were overturned in 2012 and later acquitted in 2015 before those acquittals were overturned by the Court of Appeal.
Anthony Ward, 27, was sentenced to five years in prison, with the final 18 months suspended on condition of compliance with the Probation Service, after pleading guilty to two robberies in Santry in April 2018. Ward, who had 125 previous convictions, robbed a Spar shop on Shanowen Road at 12:40 pm, taking €250 and threatening the shop assistant with a knife. The next morning he entered a Maxol Service Station on Swords Road, demanding money and taking the assistant's wallet; a struggle left the assistant with two cut fingers. Gardaí identified Ward via CCTV and arrested him after a vehicle stop. Ward's lawyer noted his long‑standing drug problems, early guilty plea, remorse, and supportive pregnant partner, while the judge highlighted his difficult prison experience and respectable background in structuring a rehabilitative sentence.
Judge Melanie Greally adjourned the sentencing of Niall Byrne, Mark Farrelly, Christopher Corcoran, and David Byrne until July 16, remanding them in continuing custody. The men were convicted by a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury for their roles in the €2.08 million robbery of Paul Richardson and Securicor on March 14, 2005, and the false imprisonment of the Richardson family at their Raheny home on March 13 and 14, 2005. All four defendants had pleaded not guilty. The jury convicted Farrelly, Corcoran, and David Byrne of robbery and false imprisonment. Niall Byrne was convicted of conspiracy to robbery, while the jury failed to reach a majority verdict on a kidnapping charge against him. This was the fifth trial for the case; previous convictions for Farrelly and Corcoran were overturned in 2012 due to unconstitutional search warrants, and subsequent acquittals were reversed by the Court of Appeal. During the hearing, victim Paul Richardson described the crime as "heinous and inhumane" and driven by greed. His wife and sons also submitted impact statements detailing the long-term trauma. The court noted Farrelly had 25 previous convictions, while Corcoran, David Byrne, and Niall Byrne had prior records for minor offences. The matter was adjourned for sentence.
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Melanie Greally recorded a jury disagreement on kidnapping charges against Niall Byrne, Mark Farrelly, Christopher Corcoran, and David Byrne. The jury convicted all four men of conspiracy to robbery and five counts of robbery and false imprisonment related to the March 2005 seizure of €2.08 million from Securicor and the Richardson family. All defendants had pleaded not guilty. The State alleged Niall Byrne, a former Securicor employee, acted as the "inside man." This was the fifth trial for the case; previous proceedings resulted in hung juries, acquittals, or overturned convictions due to constitutional issues with search warrants. Farrelly, Corcoran, and Jason Kavanagh were previously jailed in 2009 but released in 2012 after their convictions were quashed. The jury deliberated for nearly 18 hours before reaching its verdict. Judge Greally remanded all four men into custody to appear before the court on June 5th for sentencing. The matter was adjourned and is not yet concluded.
Three men – Mark Farrelly (47), Christopher Corcoran (70) and David Byrne (45) – were found guilty by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of kidnapping the Richardson family and robbing a Securicor cash‑in‑transit van of €2.28 million on 13 March 2005. The jury, after nearly 16 hours of deliberation, returned a majority verdict. The defendants had pleaded not guilty to the robbery and the false imprisonment of the Richardson family at their home in Ashcroft, Raheny. The trial, which began in January before a specially enlarged jury of 15, involved testimony that armed men burst into the Richardson home, forced the family to cooperate, and transported them to the Wicklow mountains where they were held overnight. The case also included evidence of mobile‑phone activity linking the defendants to the gang's operations. The jury will continue deliberations on a fourth defendant, Niall Byrne (36).
The jury in the trial of four men accused of a €2.28 million cash‑in‑transit robbery and tiger kidnapping will continue deliberations tomorrow. Mark Farrelly (47), Christopher Corcoran (70), Niall Byrne (36) and David Byrne (45) all pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to the false imprisonment of Securicor driver Paul Richardson and his family at their home at Ashcroft, Raheny, Dublin, on 13 and 14 March 2005. They also pleaded not guilty to robbing Mr Richardson and Securicor of €2.28 million on 14 March 2005. The trial began last January before a specially enlarged jury of 15. Three jurors were discharged due to personal commitments and 12 jurors are now deliberating on the evidence. After six and a half hours of deliberations on Wednesday afternoon, Judge Melanie Greally told the jurors to suspend deliberations and sent them home for the night.
A jury has begun deliberations in a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court involving four men—Mark Farrelly (47), Christopher Corcoran (70), Niall Byrne (36) and David Byrne (45)—who are accused of a €2.28 million cash‑in‑transit robbery and tiger kidnapping. The defendants pleaded not guilty to the false imprisonment of Securicor driver Paul Richardson and his family at their Ashcroft home in Raheny on 13 and 14 March 2005, as well as to the robbery of Richardson and Securicor on 14 March 2005. The trial started last January before a specially enlarged jury of 15, but three jurors were discharged, leaving 12 to deliberate. Judge Melanie Greally spent over two days explaining the law and summarising the evidence before sending the jury out to deliberate for just under three hours, after which they were sent home for the night.
The trial of four men accused of the 2005 tiger kidnap and robbery of Securicor driver Paul Richardson and his family in Raheny, Dublin, is ongoing at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Niall Byrne, Christopher Corcoran, Mark Farrelly, and David Byrne have all pleaded not guilty to the false imprisonment of Mr. Richardson and his family on March 13 and 14, 2005, and the robbery of €2.28 million on March 14, 2005. This is the fifth time the matter has come to trial. In his closing address, defence counsel Feargal Kavanagh SC argued that Niall Byrne is an innocent family man with no previous convictions, rather than a hardened criminal. He contended that phone evidence linking Byrne to previously convicted accomplice Jason Kavanagh does not prove involvement, suggesting the calls were unrelated or that Byrne was unaware of the crime. The defence asserted that Byrne had no need to be an "inside man" given Securicor's large workforce and established security procedures. Judge Melanie Greally is scheduled to charge the jury in the law tomorrow. The matter remains at the trial stage, with no verdict or sentence yet delivered.
In the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Anthony Sammon SC defended 45‑year‑old David Byrne, arguing that the prosecution's case hinged on a single, unreliable witness, Alan Drumgoole. Sammon highlighted Drumgoole's admissions of lying to Gardaí and his contradictory statements about phone contacts, including a "Mousey" number that he claimed belonged to Byrne. He urged the jury to disregard Drumgoole's testimony, asserting that without trust in the witness, the prosecution's case collapsed. Byrne, along with Christopher Corcoran (70), Mark Farrelly (47), and Niall Byrne (36), had pleaded not guilty to false imprisonment and robbery of Securicor driver Paul Richardson and his family on 13–14 March 2005, a case that had reached trial for the fifth time. The defence also challenged circumstantial evidence linking Corcoran to the operation, noting discrepancies in phone data and travel routes. The trial proceeded with closing arguments before Judge Melanie Greally and a 14‑member jury.
The trial of Mark Farrelly, Christopher Corcoran, Niall Byrne, and David Byrne is ongoing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The four defendants, who have all pleaded not guilty, are accused of the false imprisonment of Securicor driver Paul Richardson and his family at their Raheny home on March 13 and 14, 2005, and the subsequent robbery of €2.28 million from Mr Richardson and Securicor on March 14, 2005. Prosecutors allege the gang operated with an organised command structure, with Mr Farrelly identified as the alleged mastermind. During closing speeches, defence counsel Ciaran O'Loughlin SC challenged the prosecution's theory that a fluorescent jacket found in Mr Farrelly's wardrobe was a souvenir from the crime, describing the suggestion as "daft" and an insult to the jury's intelligence. He further criticised the investigation's reliance on phone network analysis, specifically regarding a number referred to as 'the grey phone', arguing that the evidence was shoehorned into a pre-determined prejudice. The defence contended that the investigation was not thorough and that there is no evidence linking Mr Farrelly to all members of the alleged gang. The trial, which began last January, will resume on Tuesday with continuing speeches.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a jury heard all evidence in the trial of four men—Niall Byrne (36), Mark Farrelly (47), Christopher Corcoran (70) and David Byrne (45)—who are accused of a €2.28 million cash‑in‑transit robbery and the false imprisonment of Securicor driver Paul Richardson and his family at their Ashcroft, Raheny, home on 13 and 14 March 2005. All four pleaded not guilty to both the robbery and the false imprisonment. Judge Melanie Greally instructed the enlarged jury of fourteen members to consider the evidence before delivering their speeches and cautioned them against drawing conclusions prematurely. The case, now in its fifth trial, had previously involved a telecommunications expert who confirmed that calls from a third number to the Byrne couple's phones in the week before the robbery did not match their usual pattern.
During the trial of a €2.28 million Securicor robbery, Dr Kevin John O'Flynn testified that the accused, Niall Byrne (36), appeared stressed when he visited the doctor's practice on the day of the incident, complaining of back pain. The doctor noted Byrne's stress and referred him for a chest x‑ray due to concerns about a collapsed lung. Byrne was prescribed anti‑inflammatory medication and later returned with persistent back pain, attributing it to lifting heavy boxes at work. Byrne, along with Mark Farrelly (47), Christopher Corcoran (70) and David Byrne (45), pleaded not guilty to false imprisonment and robbery of Securicor cash‑in‑transit driver Paul Richardson and his family at their home in Ashcroft, Raheny, on 13–14 March 2005. The trial is proceeding before Judge Melanie Greally with an enlarged jury of fourteen.
During the trial of the men accused of a €2.28 million Securicor robbery, a witness, Graham Coleman, testified that he bought a Peugeot from the accused, Niall Byrne, for €6 000 in cash in September 2004. Coleman said he had obtained a loan and paid Byrne, who is 36, in cash. He also mentioned that he could not recall Byrne purchasing a motorcycle for €7 000 or a BMW about six months later, but acknowledged that a BMW had been taken from Byrne in connection with the case. Byrne, along with Mark Farrelly, Christopher Corcoran and David Byrne, all pleaded not guilty to the false imprisonment and robbery of Securicor driver Paul Richardson and his family on 13–14 March 2005. The trial is proceeding before Judge Melanie Greally with an enlarged jury.
The trial of Niall Byrne, Mark Farrelly, Christopher Corcoran, and David Byrne continues before Judge Melanie Greally at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. All four defendants have pleaded not guilty to the alleged false imprisonment of four members of the Richardson family at their home in Raheny, Dublin, on March 13 and 14, 2005, and to robbing Paul Richardson and Securicor of €2.28 million on March 14, 2005. During proceedings, forensic video analyst Feargal O Lideadha testified that he could not rule out that a Securicor CCTV recording was paused for three minutes between 5.26am and 5.29am on the day of the alleged robbery. The expert stated he had no explanation for the gap and noted that best practice guidelines for preserving digital evidence were not followed, as there was no audit trail or written explanation for the interruption. He declined to confirm whether the gap resulted from a system malfunction or manual intervention. The trial, which began in January, is currently ongoing before an enlarged jury of seven women and seven men. One juror was discharged earlier in the day due to pre-booked holiday plans. The matter remains at the trial stage, with no final verdict or sentence recorded.
The prosecution case in the trial of four men accused of a €2.28 million cash‑in‑transit robbery that took place on 13 and 14 March 2005 will close next Monday, the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard. The defendants – Niall Byrne (36), Mark Farrelly (46), Christopher Corcoran (70) and David Byrne (45) – have all pleaded not guilty to the false imprisonment of four members of the Richardson family at their home in Ashcroft, Raheny, and to the robbery of Paul Richardson and Securicor of €2.28 million. Judge Melanie Greally told the jury that the prosecution case would close and the trial, which began in January, would move on to its next phase. Earlier, Detective Superintendent Paul Scott revealed that 102 "persons of interest" were investigated, some arrested and some not, and that all Securicor staff were eliminated from the investigation apart from ex‑employee Niall Byrne.
Steven McGinty, a 46‑year‑old former nurse from Cherry Garth, Swords, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of 260 images and four video files of child pornography and to distributing such material within the State between August 2006 and October 2013. Gardaí found the material on his laptop, which had been stored at his home on 24 October 2013. McGinty voluntarily provided his computer passwords and directed officers to the storage location. Judge Karen O'Connor noted the relatively small volume of material, the absence of commercial activity, and McGinty's cooperation, including his attempts to seek rehabilitation. She also cited the long period over which the offences were committed and the impact on vulnerable children as aggravating factors. The judge imposed a four‑year jail sentence, fully suspended, with the sentence effectively suspended for the period of the sentence.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 29‑year‑old Romanian burglar, Constantin Bogdan Chirila, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for a burglary that involved a physical altercation with homeowner Kevin O'Donnell. O'Donnell, who had returned from a school run, found a bicycle outside his home and a small hole in the front door lock. Garda Finbar Fleming reported that O'Donnell believed the hole had been drilled and that he confronted the intruder, shouting and banging to frighten him. The two men scuffled twice, both inside and outside the house, before Chirila escaped on a bicycle carrying a bag of tools. O'Donnell later described the fight as "blurry" but noted his arms, ribs and kidney were sore. Chirila, who had no fixed abode, had previously pleaded guilty to burglary on 12 October 2016 and had six earlier convictions in Ireland. He was arrested for the burglary in September 2017.
The trial of Niall Byrne, Mark Farrelly, Christopher Corcoran, and David Byrne continues before Judge Melanie Greally at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. All four defendants have pleaded not guilty to the alleged false imprisonment of four Richardson family members at Ashcroft, Raheny, on March 13 and 14, 2005, and the alleged robbery of Paul Richardson and Securicor of €2.28 million on March 14, 2005. Retired Garda Chief Superintendent Nicholas Kenneally testified that he issued 66 search warrants during what was then the largest Garda investigation in history. He confirmed issuing warrants for specific Dublin addresses where investigators believed evidence, including weapons and phones, might be found. Kenneally denied that the extensive warranting constituted a "fishing expedition," stating he was satisfied evidence related to the robbery existed at each location. He acknowledged that one resident of a searched home was never prosecuted. Defense counsel noted that legal provisions in the warrants are now deemed unconstitutional. Kenneally denied issuing a specific warrant for the Richardson home but agreed investigators would have processed the premises as a crime scene. The matter is currently at the sentencing stage, though the trial continues with an enlarged jury.
Michael Cummins, 32, was jailed for two years after a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court found him guilty of falsely imprisoning and threatening two teenage boys during a drug‑induced paranoid episode in Swords in August 2017. Cummins, who had 230 prior convictions, approached a 13‑year‑old and a 15‑year‑old from across the street, demanding they look him in the eyes and threatening to pour what he claimed was acid into their eyes and to blow up their house. He struck the younger boy twice, forced the older boy to delete pictures from his phone, and entered the boys' home, where he also stole a wallet and an iPhone. Gardaí recovered the stolen items and the boys later reported increased fear and distress. Cummins pleaded guilty to theft, burglary, false imprisonment, assault and a threat to kill, and the court accepted his remorse, noting his drug‑induced paranoia but holding him fully liable for his actions.