The trial of Mark Farrelly, Christopher Corcoran, David Byrne, and Niall Byrne is ongoing 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. Witness testimony revealed that Niall Byrne, then a Securicor employee, reported an injured back on the day of the alleged raid. A colleague stated Byrne later inquired about the robbery, while a Securicor assistant manager described Byrne as jovial after he saw a doctor. The manager also testified that he discovered the Richardson family were being held hostage around 9am on March 14, 2005, noting that the van's GPS indicated it was in County Westmeath despite crew member Sean Kelleher claiming it was in Tallaght. Another witness, Tony Coffey, stated his commercial jeep was stolen while unlocked and later found, with some items recovered at Dollymount Strand. The trial, expected to last three months, continues with an enlarged jury.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 23‑year‑old Gavin Mulgrew was sentenced to three‑and‑a‑half years in jail, with the final two‑and‑a‑half years suspended. The judge described his two random assaults on July 9, 2015, as "horrific, gratuitous, violent and unprovoked." Mulgrew admitted to punching David Rooney on Suffolk Street, causing a fractured cheekbone and requiring surgery, and to assaulting French national Yannick Said on Chancery Place, resulting in a dislocated shoulder, facial injuries and a broken nose. He pleaded guilty, claiming he was high on tablets and had a hazy memory of the events. The judge noted his progress in custody, his drug‑free status, and his rehabilitation work in the prison kitchen. The suspended portion of the sentence was conditional on victim‑focused work, addiction counselling and probation appointments. The sentence was back‑dated to October 10, 2017.
During a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, CCTV footage showed two men entering a service station on the night of a €2.28 million cash‑in‑transit van robbery. Kevin Richardson, aged 13 at the time, testified that the men wore clothing similar to the raiders who later abducted the Richardson family. The accused—Mark Farrelly (46), Christopher Corcoran (70), David Byrne (45) and Niall Byrne (36)—have pleaded not guilty to false imprisonment of Paul Richardson, his wife Marie and their sons Ian (17) and Kevin (13) at their Ashcroft home on 13–14 March 2005, and to robbing Paul Richardson and Securicor. The trial, the fifth time the matter has been heard, includes testimony from the Richardson family, a former Securicor control‑room supervisor, and cross‑examination by defence counsel. The case is set to continue for three months before Judge Melanie Greally and an enlarged jury.
In a 2018 trial, a mother and her two teenage sons recounted being kidnapped near the Wicklow Mountains during a €2.28 million robbery that occurred almost 15 years earlier. Marie Richardson described how she and her sons were bundled into a jeep, taken to a secluded area, kept for hours, and bound with cable ties before being released. She recalled her husband, Paul Richardson, a cash‑in‑transit driver, being forced to deliver the money at a Dublin pub car park. The defendants—Mark Farrelly, Christopher Corcoran, David Byrne and Niall Byrne—pleaded not guilty to false imprisonment and robbery. The jury heard the kidnapping, the captors' orders, and the family's eventual escape, with the trial continuing before Judge Melanie Greally and an enlarged jury.
The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment on an appeal by Brian McHugh, who was found guilty of robbing a woman of her phone in Swords on January 13, 2014. McHugh, who pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment by Judge Pat McCartan on June 16, 2016. His barrister, Michael O'Higgins SC, argued that the trial judge erred by refusing to admit a witness's statement under section 16 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006. The defence contended that this provision, typically used by the prosecution to admit statements from hostile witnesses, should have allowed the admission of a "mixed statement" that both parties agreed was critical. O'Higgins SC submitted that the failure to put this evidence before the jury rendered the trial unfair, as the prosecution is obliged to call all relevant evidence. Mr Justice George Birmingham, sitting with Mr Justice John Edwards and Mr Justice John Hedigan, noted that if the witness was an accomplice, the prosecution would not be obliged to call them. The court has not yet delivered its decision, and the matter remains adjourned pending the reserved judgment.
During the second day of the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, Paul Richardson, a Securicor cash‑in‑transit van driver, recounted how he collapsed on the road after learning that an armed gang had released his wife and sons. Richardson said the gang had burst into his home on the evening of 13 March 2005, taken his family, and instructed him to continue his work the next day while they monitored him by phone. He described receiving aggressive calls, being told to drive to the Anglers Rest pub to deposit €2.28 million, and being pressured to keep moving. After the gang announced the family's release, Richardson felt severe chest pains and fainted, falling from the van onto the road. He was later taken to Mullingar hospital by ambulance. The trial involves four men—Mark Farrelly, Christopher Corcoran, David Byrne, and Niall Byrne—who pleaded not guilty to kidnapping and robbery charges.
Paul Richardson, a cash‑in‑transit van driver for Securicor, gave evidence at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on the first day of a retrial for four men accused of kidnapping his family and robbing €2.28 million in March 2005. The accused – Mark Farrelly (46), Christopher Corcoran (70), David Byrne (45) and Niall Byrne (36) – pleaded not guilty to false imprisonment and robbery. Richardson described how armed men in navy boiler suits and balaclavas entered his home on 13 March, forced him and his family into the living room, and threatened his 17‑year‑old son with a handgun while the son suffered a panic attack. The men demanded Richardson collect cash from his van and deliver it to a pub, threatening the family's release. The trial, expected to continue until mid‑April, focuses on proving the four men's involvement in the kidnapping and robbery.
Four men—Mark Farrelly (46), Christopher Corcoran (70), David Byrne (45) and Niall Byrne (36)—were tried in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for a tiger kidnapping that took place on 13–14 March 2005. They were accused of abducting the Richardson family, the family of cash‑in‑transit van driver Paul Richardson, and of robbing €2.28 million from Securicor. The men allegedly burst into the Richardson home in March 2015, armed and wearing balaclavas, and forced the family to cooperate. They transported the family to the Wicklow mountains, held them overnight, and released them after the ransom was paid. The prosecution presented mobile‑phone evidence linking the accused to the robbery. All four pleaded not guilty. The trial was scheduled to continue until mid‑April 2018.
In 2013 a Dublin man, Ross Archibold, 40, was found with more than €400,000 worth of ecstasy pills in the boot of a car near his home in Snowdrop Walk, Darndale. Gardaí spotted him acting suspiciously beside the vehicle and, after he jumped a garden fence, searched the boot and discovered four bags containing over 40,000 MDMA tablets. The drugs had a street value of €403,000. Archibold was also found to have receipts from Lifestyle Sports in Swords and an Applegreen service station on the M1, and CCTV footage showed him buying a sports bag at Lifestyle Sports and being a passenger in the car that carried the drugs. He pleaded guilty to one count of possessing MDMA for sale or supply at Buttercup Park on 12 April 2013, entered an early guilty plea, was re‑charged and re‑entered a guilty plea in 2016. He has 18 previous convictions, mainly for minor offences.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, four men—Mark Farrelly (46), Christopher Corcoran (70), David Byrne (45) and Niall Byrne (36)—are accused of falsely imprisoning four members of the Richardson family at their Raheny home on 13–14 March 2005 and of robbing Paul Richardson and Securicor of €2.28 million on 14 March 2005. The defendants pleaded not guilty to both the false imprisonment and robbery charges. The judge, Melanie Greally, warned jurors that the case had been tried before and that they must not consult any prior media coverage or internet material. A larger than usual jury of 15 members is being empanelled due to the case's length, which is expected to last over three months, with evidence set to begin on Tuesday. The trial is scheduled to continue until mid‑April.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Kastriot Boza, a 44‑year‑old Albanian national with no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to burglary at the home of Teresa (83) and Edward Keenan (86) on 28 June. The couple had withdrawn €9,600 for an inter‑generational holiday, but Boza knocked them to the ground, stole €3,000 from Teresa's wallet, €5,000 from her bag and €300 from her purse, and fled. Gardaí recovered the money and arrested Boza in Swords the next day. He was sentenced to five years' imprisonment, back‑dated to the date he entered custody. The court noted the victims' panic attacks, sleeplessness, anxiety and stress, and the impact on their confidence and family life. Boza had 33 prior convictions, including robbery, and the judge considered his apology and remorse in imposing the sentence.
A legal dispute between farmers Rory Bridgette and Albert Murphy and Sainfoin Property Company, part of the Comer group owned by brothers Luke and Brian Comer, has been resolved. The applicants claimed rights to five acres of land at Turnapin, Cloghran, near Dublin Airport, which they used for grazing horses, alleging they were bullied and intimidated by company representatives. The defendant denied these allegations, stating the farmers had no rights to the land purchased in 2014 and that the claims were made to denigrate the firm. The matter was heard before Mr Justice Brian McGovern at the Commercial Court. Counsel for the applicants, Martin Hayden SC, stated the proceedings had been resolved and the claim withdrawn, requesting a costs order in favour of the defendant. Counsel for the farmers, Eanna Mulloy SC, confirmed an agreement to remove a lis pendens registered against the lands. The judge welcomed the resolution. Previously, in September, Ms Justice Eileen Creedon discontinued a temporary injunction obtained by the farmers, preferring the company's evidence that there was no basis for the claims of interference or trespass. The court noted the farmers had fenced off the land since the early 2000s, while the company alleged the farmers attempted to extort compensation. The current hearing concluded with the withdrawal of the claim and the agreed removal of the lis pendens.
Wojciech Kwasny, a 41-year-old mechanic from Swords, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to cultivating cannabis at his home and an industrial unit at Mace Pool, Kilsallaghan, Co Dublin, on February 25, 2016. The defendant admitted to the charges, claiming he grew the drugs for medicinal purposes to ease his osteoarthritis. Garda Thomas Doherty testified that officers from the Swords Drug Unit executed a search warrant at the Kilsallaghan unit, where they discovered two rooms in a marquee equipped with foiled heating lamps, cultivation equipment, and dehumidifiers. Inside, they found cannabis plants at mature growth stages and a drying tent containing 1.49kg of the drug, valued at €29,860. Kwasny subsequently directed gardai to his home, where ten sapling plants worth €8,000 were found. Prosecuting counsel Gerardine Small BL presented the evidence, while defending counsel Maria McCormack BL highlighted Kwasny's cooperation, remorse, and twelve-year employment history. Judge Martin Nolan expressed suspicion regarding the large quantity involved but noted Kwasny had no previous convictions. The judge stated it would be unjust to imprison the defendant given his good record. Consequently, the court suspended the sentence for three years.
David Cashin, aged 49, was convicted in 2014 of sexual assault and buggery of a teenage girl between October 2002 and February 2005. He received concurrent sentences totalling seven years imprisonment. Cashin applied for an extension of time to appeal his conviction and sentence, but the Court of Appeal refused on the basis that justice would not be served by allowing the extension. The court noted that Cashin had denied the charges, claimed his former solicitor advised him he could not appeal, and that his grounds of appeal were generic and not specific to the facts of the case. The court also highlighted that no new information had been presented to support a successful appeal. The refusal was made by Mr Justice George Birmingham, with Mr Justice Seán Ryan and Mr Justice Alan Mahon presiding. The victim was 14 at the time of the abuse, and Cashin was 35.
Seamus McGrane, 63, of Dromiskin, County Louth, was remanded in custody until December 7 for sentencing at the Special Criminal Court. He was convicted last month of directing the activities of an unlawful organisation, styling itself the IRA, between April 19 and May 13, 2015, and of IRA membership between January 18, 2010, and May 13, 2015. McGrane denied both charges. The court found he discussed an operation involving explosives in the run-up to Prince Charles's State visit. Detective Chief Superintendent Tom Maguire outlined evidence from audio recordings at The Coachman's Inn in Swords, where McGrane allegedly directed Donal O'Coisdealbha regarding explosives and a specific operation. McGrane is the second person convicted of directing terrorism in the State, following Michael McKevitt, who was jailed for 20 years in 2003. Defense counsel Michael O' Higgins SC argued the case is distinct from McKevitt's, noting McGrane's group was a splinter organisation with no fatalities. He highlighted that co-accused O'Coisdealbha received a five-and-a-half-year sentence for membership. Ms Justice Kennedy, sitting with Judges Sinead Ni Chulachain and Cormac Dunne, adjourned the matter, remanding McGrane in custody until December 7 when he will be sentenced.
Patrick Murphy and Gavrila Puscas were sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to illegally dumping two skip-loads of mixed waste at a vacant site in Santry on the night of May 14/15, 2015. Judge Petria McDonnell described the act as "odious" and a "blight on the landscape." She sentenced Murphy to nine months suspended and Puscas to six months suspended, both for a period of 12 months, with conditions to keep the peace and be of good behaviour. The judge indicated she would have imposed tougher sentences had she not been constrained by the one-year suspended sentence previously imposed on their employer, Wayne O'Hare, in April. O'Hare, the former director of W K Waste Ltd, was sentenced by Judge Patricia Ryan. The court heard that Murphy, on a JobBridge scheme, and Puscas, a new driver, were directed by O'Hare to dump the waste. Gardaí arrested the men after surveillance by a Dublin City Council officer tracked the truck. Both defendants have no previous convictions. Defending counsel highlighted Murphy's intention to impress his boss and Puscas's limited industry knowledge. The illegally dumped waste was removed six weeks later. W K Waste Ltd has since gone into liquidation.
Wayne Gilligan, 22, was sentenced by Judge Melanie Greally at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four years in prison for stealing two family cars from a house in Swords on 3 January 2016 and for possessing €28,600 worth of cannabis at his home on 9 January 2016. The judge suspended the last 18 months of the sentence, citing Gilligan's serious drug addiction, debts, death threats and the impact on the car owners. She credited his early guilty pleas, young age and cooperation with Gardaí, and directed him to seek treatment at Coolmine Residential Centre.
Vytautas Tarasevicius, 40, of Swords, Co Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for possession of card trapping equipment. He pleaded guilty to possessing such equipment with the intention that it be used in connection with a theft in Howth on March 1, 2016. Judge Karen O'Connor ordered him to perform 240 hours of community service in lieu of 18 months imprisonment. The judge had previously adjourned the case in June to assess Tarasevicius's suitability for community service, considering testimonials regarding his voluntary work and a medical report outlining his health difficulties. Tarasevicius, who has seven previous convictions, was stopped by gardaí with a friend, Deividas Sevcenko, 34, of Swords. Gardaí recovered metal implements from Sevcenko and further similar items from Tarasevicius's car, along with images of ATM machines on his iPhone. Sevcenko, the co-accused, had earlier received 240 hours of community service in lieu of twelve months imprisonment for his role in the matter. Defence counsel Leanora Frawley BL highlighted Tarasevicius's remorse, his status as a father of two, and his lack of garda attention for the last 12 years. The court accepted his plea and imposed the community service order as the final disposal.
Ibrahim Lawel, a 36‑year‑old Nigerian resident of Marina Court, Athy, pleaded guilty in Naas Circuit Criminal Court on 25 May 2011 to possession of cocaine for sale or supply in County Kildare. The cocaine, worth €1.4 million, had been delivered in a green bag marked "Diplomatic Mail" and falsely addressed to a fictitious South African consul, Tony Tuto, at his own address. Lawel accepted the parcel, signed for it, and later left the premises in his car. He claimed he was unaware of the drugs and had signed as a favour for a friend, a plea based on recklessness. The original 10‑year sentence, with the final three years suspended, was quashed by the Court of Appeal, which found the mitigating discount inadequate. Lawel was resentenced to six years imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended, after the Court of Appeal reversed a prior discharge and reinstated the charge.
The High Court has granted an injunction in a dispute over Valley Lane, Portrane, North Co Dublin. Applicants, including Desmond Guinness, alleged that owners Kieran and Maura Morrissey blocked the lane by locking a gate, placing stones, and digging a trench, preventing residents from accessing the public road. The applicants claimed a long-standing right of way existed. The Morrisseys denied wrongdoing, stating no right of way exists on the land folio and that their actions were necessary to remove hazardous rubble placed by the plaintiffs. Mr Morrissey alleged the plaintiffs had locked him and his family in their home on two occasions and that he was assaulted in April. In a sworn statement, Mr Guinness alleged Mr Morrissey engaged in intimidating and abusive behaviour and threatened his family with imprisonment for trespass. Ms Justice Carmel Stewart granted the injunction, ordering the Morrisseys to restore the lane for vehicular and pedestrian access by the close of business on Tuesday. A gate may remain at the top of the lane but must not be locked. The judge cited the need for emergency vehicle access as a key ground for the order. The injunction remains in place until the full hearing of the dispute, where the applicants also seek a declaration that a right of way exists.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Lithuanian man Julian Matiunin, aged 34, was sentenced to three and a half years' imprisonment for assault causing harm after punching Jan Wielgus, aged 46, in the jaw on 21 June 2015 at St Stephen's Green West. Witnesses described Wielgus falling "like a tree" and hearing the crack of his head on pavement. Wielgus suffered severe head injuries, was admitted to intensive care, spent over three weeks in an induced coma, and later returned to hospital with stomach problems from intubation. He continues to suffer headaches and vomiting. Matiunin pleaded guilty and had two prior public order convictions. Judge Karen O'Connor suspended the last 12 months of the custodial term, noting the violent attack on a person walking away and describing Wielgus as a "peace maker" who tried to calm the situation.
Roman Vladislav, a 35‑year‑old Moldovan, was sentenced to three and a half years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended, for setting fire to the front door of his former housemate's home in Swords, Co. Dublin. The arson occurred on 9 May 2016 after a dispute over a missing mobile phone, during which Vladislav, who was intoxicated, had made drunken threats and had previously threatened to kill the occupants. He had also grabbed a resident's arm and put a knife to her throat, threatening to kill her and her sons. Gardaí were called to a commotion at the house; Vladislav fled before they arrived. The fire brigade extinguished the blaze, which had not entered the interior. Vladislav had 13 prior convictions and had cooperated with the investigation. The judge noted his use of custody time productively and a moderate risk of re‑offending, but accepted the pre‑meditated nature of the offence. Roman Vladislav pleaded guilty.
On 12 July 2017, four men graduated from the Dublin District Drugs Court, marking the highest number of simultaneous graduates in the court's 16‑year history. The court, located at Green Street Courthouse, offers an alternative to custody for minor drug‑related offences, requiring participants to complete a programme of at least nine months aimed at achieving drug freedom and securing full‑time training, education or employment. At the graduation ceremony, all charges faced by the four participants were dropped, giving them clean records if they had no prior convictions. Judge Ann Ryan praised the graduates, noting their improved health and future prospects. The graduates were a 30‑year‑old married father of three, a 35‑year‑old man seeking a driving licence and delivery work, a 27‑year‑old father of two from Dublin, and a 28‑year‑old father of two from Swords who is now an apprentice plumber.
Daniel Weldon, a 31‑year‑old heroin addict, was jailed for four years after pleading guilty to two attempted robberies in Swords on 1 July 2016 and a successful robbery on the same day in a second pharmacy on Main Street, where he stole €230. He also pleaded guilty to a robbery at a Spar shop on Upper O'Connell Street on 7 April 2015, during which he threatened staff with a blood‑filled syringe, stole €80, and left the syringe and blood‑stained notes behind. The judge imposed consecutive sentences totalling five and a half years, suspending the final 18 months on strict conditions, backdating the sentence to July 2016 and ordering 18 months of post‑release supervision. Weldon had 52 prior convictions and had written apology letters to the victims. He had been drug‑free for a year and had completed several courses while in custody, hoping to work in health and fitness after release.
Mark Bissett, 31, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to making a threat to damage Michael Maher's house. The incident occurred on May 27, 2016, at Central Bank Plaza, Dame Street, where Bissett allegedly threatened to burn down Maher's home. Bissett, who previously served a six-year sentence for manslaughter, was reportedly angry that Maher's charity, "You're not alone," was assisting a relative with whom he had fallen out. Judge Karen O'Connor imposed a two-year sentence, which she suspended on strict conditions. The judge described the behavior as disgraceful and warned Bissett that he faced two years in prison if he reoffended. She ordered him to stay away from the charity, Mr. Maher, and his home. Bissett has 60 previous convictions, including assault and public order offences. Defense counsel submitted that Bissett had significantly turned his life around and addressed risk factors related to substance misuse. The court noted Bissett remains at high risk of re-offending and ordered him to be brought back before the judge if further trouble arises.
A 40‑year‑old Lithuanian man, Vytautas Tarasevicius, was found in possession of "card trapping" equipment and images of ATM machines on his iPhone, which Gardaí believed were intended for use in ATM thefts. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of the equipment with the intention of using it in a theft that occurred in Howth on 1 March 2016. Tarasevicius has seven prior convictions. The judge, Karen O'Connor, noted his voluntary community work and a medical report of health difficulties, and decided to impose 240 hours of community service in lieu of an 18‑month prison sentence, to be completed within one year. The case was adjourned to October to assess his suitability for community service before the order is affirmed. The court also heard that a co‑accused, Deividas Sevcenko, had received a similar sentence for his role in the same incident.
John McDermott, 24, of Swords, Co Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for assault causing harm. He pleaded guilty to the offence, which occurred on July 10, 2014, at Talbot Street, on the understanding that he did not slash the victim's face. The court heard that Russ Hogan, described by Judge Cormac Quinn as a "good Samaritan," was attacked by McDermott and a 16-year-old friend. Prosecutors alleged that while the teenager slashed Mr Hogan's face, McDermott approached the victim with an improvised weapon made from a jagged beer can and assisted in punching and kicking him. Mr Hogan sustained two moderately deep wounds to his right cheek and other cuts. McDermott, who has 103 previous convictions, was under the influence of alcohol and tablets at the time. He is currently serving a sentence for two robberies committed last year. Defence counsel noted that McDermott had apologised to Mr Hogan, who accepted the apology, and highlighted his chronic addiction issues. Judge Quinn sentenced McDermott to 18 months in prison, with the final six months suspended.
Deividas Sevcenko, a 34‑year‑old university student, was arrested on 1 March 2023 in north Dublin after Gardaí found two metal implements used for ATM card retrieval in his possession. He pleaded guilty to one count of possessing equipment with intent to use it in a theft at Howth Road, Raheny. Sevcenko, who was highly intoxicated at the time of arrest, had previously been convicted of five road traffic offences and a failure to appear in court. The court, noting his lack of significant prior convictions, his education, and his family circumstances, imposed a sentence of 240 hours of community service to be completed within a year, in lieu of a 12‑month prison term. Sevcenko, a married father of two, had been living in Ireland for 12 years and was enrolled in a full‑time degree program. The judge highlighted his willingness to comply with the court's conditions to remain with his wife and children.
Daniel Weldon, a 31‑year‑old heroin addict, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two attempted robberies in Swords on 1 July 2016 and to a successful robbery of €230 in a second pharmacy on the same day. He also admitted to a 2015 robbery of a Spar shop where he threatened staff with a blood‑filled syringe and stole €80. In each incident he was intoxicated and left a "trail of money" as he fled. Weldon has 52 prior convictions, including robbery, theft, public order and drug offences. He has been drug‑free for a year and has written apology letters to the victims. Judge Karen O'Connor adjourned his sentencing to 5 July and ordered a probation report for that date.
Two former Assistant Censors, Olga Bennett and Mairead Marron, aged in their 70s, applied to the High Court for injunctions to stop the Minister for Justice from dismissing them from their posts. They argued that the Minister's decision to terminate their appointments on 31 March was unlawful, cynical and made without a rational reason, and that they were entitled to be informed of the grounds for dismissal. The applicants sought declarations that they remained Assistant Censors, that the Minister's decision be quashed, and that the Minister communicate the reasons for termination. The Minister denied the claims and opposed the injunctions. Mr Justice Max Barrett, hearing only the injunction application, expressed sympathy for the women but declined to grant the injunctions, reasoning that the risk of injustice outweighed the potential benefit of preventing the Minister from undoing her decision. The court therefore refused to issue the requested interlocutory injunctions.
Christopher Cummins, 37, of Cherry Park, River Valley, Swords, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for his fiftieth burglary conviction. The offence involved the theft of €12,000 from a health store in Liffey Valley Shopping Centre on 31 October 2015, when a safe was left unlocked and an employee was distracted. Cummins had 139 prior convictions, including 49 burglaries, and had been released from a four‑year sentence the day before the Liffey Valley robbery. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced by Judge Pat McCartan on 21 July 2016. Cummins appealed the sentence, but the Court of Appeal, with Justice George Birmingham, dismissed the appeal, stating that a harsher sentence might have been upheld and that the five‑year term was not unduly severe. The court noted Cummins' extensive criminal record and the seriousness of the theft. The appeal was rejected.
The trial of Jonathan Gill, aged 35, collapsed after the jury was discharged by Judge Elma Sheahan on the fifth day of deliberations. Gill was accused of kidnapping a Drogheda postal worker, his partner and their 10‑week‑old baby, then robbing €660,000 from the workplace. The jury, consisting of seven men and five women, had deliberated for just over 14 hours. A juror handed a note to the judge, alleging that jurors were receiving outside information and that strangers had discussed the case on a tram. The judge, citing the seriousness of the allegations, discharged the jury and remanded Gill on continuing bail to appear again on 28 April. The case may be heard by another jury. Jonathan Gill pleaded not guilty.
The jury in the trial of Jonathan Gill, 35, accused of kidnapping a Drogheda postal worker, his partner and their 10‑week‑old baby before robbing €660,000 from the workplace, is set to begin its fifth day of deliberations. The jury, composed of seven men and five women, has already spent 13½ hours deliberating since the trial began last Thursday. Judge Elma Sheahan asked the jury forewoman whether more time would help reach a verdict; the forewoman replied that she could not say yet if more time was needed. Judge Sheahan reminded her that there is no time limit on deliberations and that the jury may continue as long as they are making progress. Gill, who pleaded not guilty, is charged with false imprisonment of Warren Nawn, Jean Marie Nawn and their baby in Drogheda between 1 and 2 August 2011.
A jury in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has finished its third day of deliberations in the kidnapping trial of Jonathan Gill, 35, who is accused of abducting a Drogheda postal worker, his partner and their ten‑week‑old baby before stealing €660,000 from the workplace. The State alleges Gill was part of a five‑man group that held the family hostage in their home and later moved them to a shed about 90 minutes away. Gill pleaded not guilty to false imprisonment of Warren Nawn, Jean Marie Nawn and the infant, and the jury will resume tomorrow morning.
Gary Simpson, aged 29, was jailed for four and a half years after robbing several bookmakers in Dublin in November and December 2015. He used a note under the counter claiming he had a gun, leaving the note with his fingerprints. Simpson had previously been convicted 112 times and had a suspended five‑year sentence for earlier robberies. He was on bail for those offences when he committed the bookmaker robberies. The court noted he had completed a residential drug rehabilitation course and reactivated the suspended portion of his earlier sentence, imposing a concurrent total sentence of six years with the final 18 months suspended. He was captured on CCTV during all incidents and admitted the crimes during a Garda interview. Gary Simpson pleaded guilty.
Patrick Connors, 46, was sentenced to two and a half years in jail at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for dangerous driving after a high‑speed chase. He drove over 160 km/h on the wrong side of a busy road, performed a U‑turn at speed, exceeded 100 km/h on a 50 km/h road, ran a red light and collided with a taxi at a junction. Connors pleaded guilty to endangerment creating a substantial risk of death or serious harm to another on Swords Road on 19 September. He also admitted possession of stolen laptops, jewellery, a screwdriver and a "jemmy" bar, which were found in his car when the chase ended. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a three‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence with the final year suspended, citing the seriousness of the charges and Connors' 89 prior convictions, including dangerous driving, burglary, theft, assault and 56 summary road traffic offences.
In a kidnapping trial, a jury will resume deliberations after a three‑hour session. The accused, Jonathan Gill, 35, faces charges of kidnapping a Drogheda postal worker, his partner and their ten‑week‑old baby, and of robbing €660,000 from the workplace. The State alleges Gill was one of five who held the family hostage in their home before moving them to a shed about 90 minutes away. Gill pleaded not guilty to false imprisonment of Warren Nawn, Jean Marie Nawn and the infant, and the case is before the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Jonathan Gill, aged 35, faces charges of kidnapping a Drogheda postal worker, his partner and their ten‑week‑old daughter, followed by a €660,000 robbery. The prosecution argues that, though no direct forensic evidence links Gill to the crime scenes, circumstantial evidence—his association with two other men linked to the offence, a car he owned that was in the area on the day of the kidnapping, and CCTV footage of him buying milk at 5.30 am while the kidnapping was underway—collectively proves his guilt. The jury was told the evidence is circumstantial but compelling, likening the combined threads to a rope. Gill pleaded not guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. His defence counsel highlighted the lack of evidence of his presence between the start of the kidnapping at 10.30 pm and the milk purchase, arguing no guilt by association. The case will be presented to the jury tomorrow for deliberation.
During the trial, a jury was informed that CCTV footage from a petrol station in the early hours of August 1, 2011, showed Jonathan Gill, aged 35, buying a litre of milk. Gill is accused of kidnapping a Drogheda postal worker, his partner, and their ten‑week‑old baby, holding them hostage in their home before moving them to a shed about 90 minutes away. The State alleges that the family was held overnight in the shed, where the baby cried and was given milk. After the kidnapping, authorities recovered an empty milk container from a partially burnt vehicle and other items from the shed, including cigarette butts. A detective testified that he canvassed 24‑hour shops, found a sale of milk at Topaz Garage in Balgriffin, and reviewed the CCTV, identifying Gill in the footage. The case continues before Judge Elma Sheahan and a jury of seven men and five women. Jonathan Gill pleaded not guilty.
A surveillance garda testified that he saw Jonathan Gill, 35, driving a silver Renault Clio on Rathbeale Road in Swords on 1 August 2011, the day before the alleged kidnapping of a Drogheda postal worker, his partner and their ten‑week‑old baby. The garda, who cannot be named, also observed a silver Opel Corsa with registration 10D4798 in the same area, which he said stopped briefly before both vehicles left. Gill is charged with false imprisonment of Warren Nawn, Jean Marie Nawn and their baby between 1 and 2 August 2011. He pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The case is before Judge Elma Sheahan and a jury of seven men and five women. The garda's testimony was challenged by Gill's defence counsel, who questioned the accuracy of the witness's observations. The trial continues.
During a trial in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, the State presented evidence that Jonathan Gill, 35, was part of a group that kidnapped a Drogheda postal worker, his partner and their ten‑week‑old daughter in August 2011. The family was held hostage in their home before being moved to a shed about 90 minutes away. Gill pleaded not guilty to false imprisonment. Gardaí had spotted a car linked to Gill on the N51 north of Drogheda at 6 pm on the day of the kidnapping. The car, a silver Renault Clio registration 06D10959, was recorded by the Automatic Number Plate Recognition system but did not trigger a warning. The ANPR system compares licence plates to databases and flags vehicles of interest. The trial continues before Judge Elma Sheahan and a jury of seven men and five women.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced Dubliner Patrick Anderson, a former Ireland ice hockey player, to two years' imprisonment for assaulting his cousins, Graham Dunne and Paul Dunne. Anderson pleaded guilty to assault causing harm at the Wright Venue nightclub in Swords on February 15, 2015. The court heard that Anderson punched and kicked both victims inside the venue and continued the assault outside after security ejected them. Graham Dunne suffered a broken kneecap, which affected his equestrian career and left him at risk of arthritis, while Paul Dunne sustained a broken jaw and psychological trauma. Judge Melanie Greally noted Anderson was a first-time offender with an excellent employment record and sporting history. However, she emphasized the seriousness of the two offences committed in one night and the lasting effects on Graham Dunne. The judge imposed a three-year sentence but suspended the final year on conditions, resulting in an effective custody period of two years. Prosecution counsel Maurice Coffey BL presented evidence that Anderson initiated the violence by punching Graham Dunne after a perceived bump. Defense counsel Ray Boland BL highlighted Anderson's intoxication and lack of prior convictions. An offer of compensation by Anderson was reportedly refused by the victims.
During a kidnap and robbery trial, gardaí discovered a baby hat, duct tape and a cable tie in a hay shed near Swords, Co. Dublin. Jonathan Gill, 35, is accused of kidnapping postal worker Warren Nawn, his partner Jean Marie Nawn and their ten‑week‑old baby in Drogheda on 1–2 August 2011, then robbing over €600,000 from the workplace. The State alleges Gill was part of a five‑person group that held the family hostage in their home before moving them to the shed about 90 minutes away. The shed, previously used for hay storage, was searched on 18 August after a warrant. Initial search yielded duct tape, a cable tie, a milk carton pull ring, masking tape and two keys. A later search on 24 August recovered the baby hat, duct tape, cable tie and three cigarette butts. Jonathan Gill pleaded not guilty.
The trial of Jonathan Gill, 35, of Malahide Road, Swords, Dublin, is ongoing before Judge Elma Sheahan and a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Mr Gill has pleaded not guilty to the alleged false imprisonment of Warren Nawn, Jean Marie Nawn, and their baby girl in Drogheda between August 1 and August 2, 2011. The State alleges he was part of a group that held the family hostage before forcing Mr Nawn to retrieve over €600,000 from his workplace. Evidence presented includes a 999 call from Ms Nawn, who described being threatened at gunpoint and beaten during a 15-hour ordeal. She testified that she was left tied to a bedpost with her infant, who had not been fed for 17 hours. G4S worker Gerard Whelan, an applicant in the proceedings, testified that he found Ms Nawn distressed and with cable ties on her hands near the IBM factory in Swords. He contacted gardaí despite her fears for her partner's safety. Detective Garda Donal Tully reported that Ms Nawn had severe bruising on her arms and temple. The matter is currently at the trial stage and has not been finalised; the proceedings continue.
In a 2017 trial, Jean Maire Nawn testified that a group of five men, including Jonathan Gill, threatened her and her ten‑week‑old baby with gunfire and the threat to "blow their heads off" unless her partner complied with demands to steal €600,000. Nawn described being tied to a bedpost in an abandoned house, repeatedly threatened at gunpoint, and beaten over the head with a gun. The raiders moved the family to a shed on a farmyard in Swords, where they were held overnight. Nawn recounted that the men forced her to watch a Liverpool match, threatened to shoot her if anyone called, and told her she and her partner would have to try for another baby. She was later tied to a cast‑iron bed frame, freed after 15 minutes, and then rescued by Gardaí. The case is before Judge Elma Sheahan and a jury, with a four‑week trial expected. Jonathan Gill pleaded not guilty.
A 34‑year‑old university student, Deividas Sevcenko, was caught by Gardaí while walking with a friend and found to be in possession of two metal implements used for retrieving bank cards from ATMs. He pleaded guilty to one count of possessing equipment with the intention of using it in a theft that was planned for Howth Road, Raheny, on 1 March of the previous year. Sevcenko, who lives in Holywell Dene, Swords, and is a married father of two, has five prior convictions for road traffic offences and failing to appear in court. He was highly intoxicated at the time of the stop, and a doctor recommended delaying his interview by four hours because of his drunkenness. He has expressed remorse and is willing to comply with any court‑ordered conditions to remain in the community with his wife and children. The case is adjourned for probation and community service reports, with sentencing scheduled for 18 May.
A postal worker gave evidence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court describing his ordeal during an alleged kidnapping and robbery in County Louth in August 2011. Warren Nawn told the jury he was tied up and beaten before being forced to collect €600,000 from An Post while his partner and baby were held by armed raiders. Mr Nawn said he feared he would never see his family again, particularly when he spotted a garda car during the journey to work. The State alleges that Jonathan Gill, aged 35, of Malahide Road, Swords, Dublin, was one of five people involved in holding the family hostage in their home before moving them to a shed approximately 90 minutes away. Mr Gill has pleaded not guilty to falsely imprisoning Mr Nawn, Jean Marie Nawn, and their baby in Drogheda between August 1 and 2, 2011. The trial before Judge Elma Sheahan is expected to last four weeks.
Patrick Connors, aged 46, was found guilty of endangerment for driving at speeds exceeding 160 km/h, including a high‑speed chase on Swords Road, Dublin. He drove on the wrong side of the road, wrong‑way around a roundabout, performed a u‑turn at speed, and exceeded the 50 km/h limit, even running a red light and colliding with a taxi. Connors also admitted possession of stolen laptops, jewellery, a screwdriver, and a "jemmy" bar, items recovered from his vehicle after the chase. He was charged with dangerous driving but did not plead to those charges. With 89 prior convictions, including dangerous driving, burglary, and theft, Connors was remanded in custody for sentencing in April, and a Probation Service report was ordered.
Jonathan Gill, aged 35, faced trial in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for kidnapping An Post worker Warren Nawn, his partner Jean Marie Matthews, and their 10‑week‑old baby in August 2011. The State alleged Gill, part of a five‑man gang, held the family hostage in their Drogheda home, threatened them with what appeared to be guns, tied them with cable ties, and moved them to a shed 90 minutes away. Gill pleaded not guilty to false imprisonment and to robbery of €661,125 from An Post. Prosecutor Vincent Heneghan presented evidence of the family watching TV when the abduction began, the use of a pizza box to assault Nawn, and the subsequent forced transport of the family to the shed. The trial, presided over by Judge Elma Sheahan, is expected to last four weeks. The case remains ongoing.
Shane Murphy, 25, of Swords, was sentenced to one year in prison for assault causing harm to Aidan Mullen on 10 July 2011. The offence occurred after a dispute over a stolen green bin. Mullen, who had a heart attack in March, was attacked by Murphy who shouted, "I don't give a fuck about you or your heart attack." Murphy struck Mullen on the face, causing fractures to his skull and cheekbone, and inflicted pain that led to medical bills of €1,500 and lost income of €4,200. Murphy pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and had 19 prior convictions, including assault and intoxication offences. He had previously been sentenced to three years with the final two years suspended, but the judge imposed a one‑year term for this offence. The court noted his history of drug addiction and that he had since completed residential treatment.