Kevin Brosnan, aged 40, was sentenced to four‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment for a knife‑point robbery at Centra, Old Bawn Shopping Centre, Tallaght, on 2 April 2020. During the robbery he removed his mask, shouted "Coronavirus" at a security guard, threatened to kill the guard and used a racial slur. He demanded the till be opened, claiming to be HIV positive, and threatened the guard again as he fled. Brosnan was found with €630, which was returned to the shop. He pleaded guilty to the robbery and had 82 prior convictions, including burglary, theft, possession of knives and affray. The judge, citing his difficult background, chronic addiction and homelessness, suspended the final 18 months of the sentence on strict conditions, including participation in a programme on racist behaviour. Brosnan had previously pleaded guilty to a robbery at Mace, Killinarden Way, Tallaght, in October 2019, where he and an accomplice threatened a shop assistant with a knife.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 20 April 2021, Judge Martin Nolan announced that he would begin issuing indicative sentences, to be formally imposed at a later date, because prison officers were on industrial action and had not arrived at court by the scheduled time. The Prison Officers' Association had directed staff to focus on prison duties amid a dispute over Covid‑19 vaccination timing, leading to delays in escorting prisoners for court appearances. Eight sentences originally scheduled for the morning were adjourned to later in the month. Judge Nolan said he would first address bail cases and then hand down indicative sentences in cases where the Prison Service was unavailable, noting that the situation was unlikely to improve and might worsen. He postponed the formal sentencing for several weeks, citing the ongoing strike and the absence of prison officers.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Dale Lawlor, aged 25, was sentenced to a suspended 18‑month prison term for assault causing harm after he used a shop worker as a human shield during an altercation at a Centra convenience shop in Tallaght. Lawlor and another man entered the shop and were chased by five men. Craig Courtney, also 25, swung a hurley at both men. Courtney cornered Lawlor, who then hid behind the female shop worker, Roberta Rodriguez Brasil, and used her as a shield. The woman fell, sustaining a sprained wrist and a concussion when Courtney struck her head with the hurley. Lawlor pleaded guilty to the assault, admitted he had been heavily using cocaine, and offered an apology. He brought €2,000 to court as a gesture of remorse, which the judge required him to pay to the victim.
Prince Joseph Ncube, aged 24, worked for a financial services firm when he discovered a glitch in Bank of Ireland's online banking system in April 2017. He opened four deposit accounts and used a sequencing and timing anomaly to create notional credits, transferring €48 between accounts to generate a credit that did not exist. Repeating the process, he built a notional balance exceeding €24,500, withdrawing €14,500 in cash before the bank froze the account. A senior fraud investigator recovered €10,000, and the bank provided documentation that led to Ncube's arrest. He pleaded guilty to theft at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to three years, suspended in full, with a condition to pay €14,500 to the Gardaí for onward transmission to the bank within six months. Ncube's defence highlighted his youth, family background, and ongoing studies, while the prosecution noted the sophisticated nature of the fraud.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced Dubliner Gareth McCarton to two years' imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. The offence occurred at his address in Tallaght on April 13, 2020. Prosecution evidence alleged that McCarton dragged his partner, Shannon Mahon, from bed, threatened to kill her, and subjected her to a sustained episode of violence involving punching, choking, and biting. Gardaí intervened after receiving reports of screaming; Ms Mahon was later diagnosed with a fractured nasal bone and extensive bruising. McCarton, a father of three, admitted the charge. His defence counsel noted that McCarton claimed he had taken crack cocaine for the first time prior to the incident and expressed remorse, stating the act was out of character. The judge acknowledged his previous convictions, including possession of a realistic firearm, and noted that his bail had been revoked for failing to stay away from his partner. Judge Melanie Greally described the incident as a vicious and extreme breach of trust. She emphasised the need for McCarton to address his drug difficulties while recognising his desire to maintain family responsibilities. The court imposed a custodial sentence of two years imprisonment.
A man accused of perverting the course of justice in connection with a dissident republican murder has been remanded on bail pending judgment. The Special Criminal Court hearing concerns Ray Kennedy, who is charged with deliberately destroying a mobile telephone SIM card on the day Peter Butterly was shot dead at Gormanston, County Meath in March 2013. The prosecution contends the SIM card would have been of significant evidential value to the murder investigation. Mr Kennedy's defence counsel argued his client had plausible reason to panic after arranging to meet Mr Butterly that afternoon about an illicit matter, and that the State has failed to prove the charge beyond reasonable doubt. The three-judge court, presiding Justice Tony Hunt with Judges Gerard Griffin and Flann Brennan, will deliver judgment on May 17th. Four men have already received life sentences for Mr Butterly's murder, with two others jailed for roles in the killing. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Graham Shields, aged 34, received a fully suspended 18‑month sentence for assault causing harm after punching his then partner in the face at Mulvey Park, Dundrum, on 1 July 2018. The court noted the attack followed a verbal exchange after a wedding celebration involving alcohol. Shields, diagnosed with an anti‑social personality disorder and experiencing high anxiety, pleaded guilty. The victim suffered significant injury, including swelling and bruising that took about three weeks to heal, blurred vision, and required two years of weekly counselling. Shields has no prior convictions, is on cordial terms with the victim, contributes financially to their son, and is under Probation Service supervision for 18 months. The judge suspended the entire sentence on strict conditions, citing Shields' mental health history, lack of previous convictions, and remorse.
Bernard Norton, 49, from Newrath View, Kells, Co Meath, was sentenced at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a fully suspended two‑year imprisonment for fraudulently claiming €15,854.70 in Jobseekers Allowance in his own name and in his brother Robert's name between 2013 and 2015. He also pleaded guilty to six counts of theft at Killinard Post Office and deception at the same address. The fraud was uncovered when a photograph taken during a Public Services Card application matched a photo of Robert Norton, who had been working in the UK the whole time. Norton had previously been convicted of stealing over €200,000 from a financial institution in 2001‑2002 and of stealing about €35,000 from another employer in 2016, for which he received a two‑year custodial sentence.
Nicola Henry, 32, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to three counts of theft, two counts of attempted theft, and two counts of making a false instrument. The offences, committed between April 2014 and September 2015, involved Henry, then secretary of the Johnson & Johnson social club, forging colleagues' signatures to write 37 cheques to herself. She cashed 27 of these, receiving €17,326, which she spent on luxury holidays, shopping, and beauty treatments. Additionally, she spent €3,233 on a company credit card after it was blocked. Judge Pauline Codd accepted that Henry's actions were driven by depression and noted a psychological report indicating low re-offending risk. The judge handed down a two-year sentence but suspended the final 18 months on conditions. The sentence was backdated to November last year, when Henry was placed in custody following her arrest. Henry, of Co Roscommon, has no previous convictions. A further 65 counts were taken into consideration. The court heard she was suspended from her role when the thefts were discovered in August 2015. Defence counsel highlighted her remorse and family history, while the prosecution detailed the specific luxury expenditures. The matter was finalised with this suspended sentence and effective custody period.
In 2021 the Court of Appeal increased the sentence of 51‑year‑old Stephen Joyce, a father of seven from Tallaght, for a 2019 mugging. Joyce had approached a woman alone at a bus stop, asked for a cigarette, then grabbed her bag and threatened her with a knife. A security guard heard the incident, confronted Joyce and called the gardai, who found him still in possession of the victim's items. CCTV identified him and he pleaded guilty to robbery at the Circuit Criminal Court, receiving a 21‑month sentence on 18 June 2020. The Court of Appeal, after hearing from the Director of Public Prosecutions, agreed the sentence was too lenient and raised it to four years, suspending the final six months for two years. The decision was made by Justice Patrick McCarthy, with Justice Aileen Donnelly and Justice Isobel Kennedy present.
In March 2021, John Roche, a 57‑year‑old barber from Bridgefoot Street, Dublin, lost an appeal against the severity of his seven‑year prison sentence for possessing 152 kg of homemade explosives. The appeal argued that Roche had no prior convictions, was well‑known for charitable work, and had not previously attracted Garda attention. The Court of Appeal upheld the Special Criminal Court's decision, noting that Roche's sentence had been reduced from a headline ten years to seven after considering mitigating factors such as his good record and community standing. The court found no rational basis for suspending any part of Roche's sentence, unlike co‑accused John Brock, whose 18‑month suspended portion was tied to a condition of dissociating from the IRA. John Brock pleaded not guilty.
David Berney, a 39‑year‑old from Tallaght, was convicted of looting a Centra store in Jobstown during Storm Emma in March 2018. He pleaded guilty and received an 18‑month suspended sentence, which the Court of Appeal later deemed unduly lenient. The court set a three‑year term but suspended the entire period, subject to conditions such as maintaining employment and engaging with probation services if he loses his job. The suspension was back‑dated to November 2019. Berney also faced a separate 2014 burglary of a private home, for which he received a two‑year sentence and an additional 18‑month suspended term, contingent on staying out of trouble and participating in addiction and reintegration services. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed the original sentence, arguing it was too lenient. The court warned that if Berney fails to stay "on the straight and narrow," he will be sent to prison.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Adetola Jimoh, aged 53, was sentenced to 240 hours of community service over 18 months instead of prison for his role in a €362,810 invoice redirect scam. Jimoh admitted to accepting €10,000 that had been transferred to his account as part of the fraud, claiming he believed the money was for buying a car for a friend. He pleaded guilty to one charge of money laundering on 25 August 2015 and had no prior convictions. The court noted that the €10,000 was withdrawn through ATMs and point‑of‑sale transactions. Judge Melanie Greally accepted his plea as based on recklessness, acknowledged the Garda evidence, and ordered the community service sentence. The case involved a fraudulent payment to a construction firm, Rhatigans, by Maynooth University, which was never received. The university was the victim of an invoice redirect fraud originating from a server in America.
Ray Kennedy, aged 40, has pleaded not guilty at the Special Criminal Court to a charge of perverting the course of justice. The prosecution alleges that Kennedy deliberately destroyed a mobile phone SIM card on 6 March 2013, the day dissident republican Peter Butterly was shot dead in the carpark of the Huntsman Inn at Gormanston, County Meath. Kennedy had arranged to meet Butterly that afternoon and arrived at the scene shortly after the shooting. The State contends that Kennedy's phone had been in contact with a burner phone connected to the killing, and that destroying the SIM card was intended to hamper the garda investigation. Kennedy, attending his trial remotely, is accused of deliberately destroying evidence of significant value. Four men have already received life sentences for Butterly's murder, and two others have been imprisoned for their roles in the killing. The trial, before three judges, is expected to last four to five weeks.
David Berney, a convicted burglar from Tallaght, was found guilty in 2018 of looting a Centra store in Jobstown during Storm Emma. He had previously pleaded guilty to a 2014 burglary of a private home. At the Circuit Court, a two‑year sentence was imposed for the 2014 offence and an additional 18‑month term for the 2018 looting, which was suspended on the condition that he remain law‑abiding and engage with addiction and social reintegration services. The Court of Appeal, after reviewing positive probation reports, deemed the original sentence unduly lenient but chose to increase the suspended portion rather than impose further custodial time. Berney, who could not attend the appeal hearing because he was starting a plumbing apprenticeship, will receive a new sentencing date at a later time. The appeal was brought by the Director of Public Prosecutions, who argued that Berney's prior conviction and bail status warranted a harsher penalty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced 28‑year‑old Francis Lynch to a four‑and‑a‑half‑year prison term for possession of drugs for sale or supply, after he pleaded guilty. Lynch had moved about two kilos of cocaine in a specially modified Ford Kuga, which had a concealed compartment accessed by a hydraulic false floor. Gardaí observed Lynch and co‑accused Alan O'Flaherty (37) transfer the drugs from the Kuga to O'Flaherty's car at De Selby Park, Tallaght, before both vehicles were stopped and searched. The drugs were found to be worth roughly €139,000. Lynch claimed he acted under duress because of a "drug debt," but the judge found these submissions uncredible, citing evidence that he had no debt and that he was motivated by financial need. The judge accepted his guilty plea, remorse, support for his family and a history of depression as mitigating factors, but did not find duress.
Craig Courtney and Kane Duffy, both of Tallaght, were sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for offences committed on April 6, 2017, at Centra, Old Bawn Shopping Centre. Courtney pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Roberta Rodriguez Brasil and violent disorder, while Duffy pleaded guilty to violent disorder. Both defendants admitted to committing these offences after being released from custody. Judge Patricia Ryan noted that in a "perfect world," Courtney would have been sentenced for this offence concurrently with his money laundering conviction. The court heard that Courtney accidentally struck Ms Brasil with a hurley stick while she was used as a human shield during an incident described as "extreme lawlessness." Courtney later returned to the shop with flowers, chocolates, and an apology. Judge Ryan sentenced both men to two-and-a-half years imprisonment, but suspended both sentences in their entirety on strict conditions. The judge ordered that €4,000 in compensation, comprising €3,000 from Courtney and €1,000 from Duffy, be handed over to the garda to be forwarded to the injured party.
James Fagan, aged 28, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm and three counts of making threats to kill or cause serious harm after an incident at Red Cow Luas Stop on 28 July 2019. He had punched a security guard who had tried to restrain him following reports of passenger abuse on a tram. While restrained, Fagan threatened to kill the guard and a colleague, claiming affiliation with a "well‑known crime group." He was found intoxicated, having taken ecstasy and cocaine, and had used a tin can as a weapon. Fagan's prior conviction for assault causing harm is currently serving a five‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence with the final 18 months suspended. The court adjourned the case for finalisation to 12 May, ordering a Probation Service report. The defence described Fagan as a young man attempting to change his ways, noting his violent tendencies and personal background.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Jordan Murray, aged 23, was sentenced to four-and-a-half years imprisonment for possession of a firearm and ammunition. The case stemmed from a police search of a taxi that stopped at Neilstown Road, Clondalkin, on 31 July 2020. Gardaí discovered a Glock 9mm handgun, 12 rounds of 9mm ammunition, and a small amount of cannabis in the vehicle. The handgun's serial number had been filed off, and Murray offered no explanation for its presence. He had previously pleaded guilty to the firearm offences and had nine prior convictions for public order offences and theft. The judge noted that the detective's suggestion that Murray had obtained the gun for revenge after a prior assault could not be relied upon, and he emphasized that the gun could have been used to threaten, injure, or kill. Murray's record was considered, but the judge highlighted his apparent willingness to reform while in custody.
Joseph Cahill, aged 42, was sentenced to five years in prison for robbery after he and an accomplice attacked Eileen Hughes and her husband in a Tallaght car park on 25 March 2018. Cahill, armed with a knife, and the gunman forced Hughes to hand over two rings she had advertised on the "Done Deal" website, worth €12,000. The robbery lasted about two minutes. Hughes' three children, aged 4, 6 and 9, were present. Cahill had pleaded not guilty to the single count but was convicted by a jury. The judge suspended the final twelve months of the sentence on the condition that he keep the peace. Cahill has over 100 prior convictions, including burglary, theft and offences involving stolen cars. He admitted that his life had spiralled due to crack cocaine and heroin addiction, and that custody had saved him.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced Dubliner Dean McAuley to two years' imprisonment for assault causing harm, with the final 18 months suspended on strict conditions. McAuley, 28, pleaded guilty to fracturing the nose of his then-partner, Rachel Williams, at Kingswood LUAS Stop in Tallaght on September 13, 2019. Prosecution evidence alleged that after an argument over a broken wine bottle, McAuley punched Williams in the face, struck her with his knee while she was on the ground, and punched her again, leaving her bleeding heavily. Although McAuley initially denied the assault to gardaí, he later apologized to the victim. Judge Martin Nolan noted McAuley's five previous convictions, including violent behavior in a garda station, and described the incident as a serious offense driven by alcohol. However, the judge acknowledged McAuley's potential for reform and his current homelessness. The effective custody period is six months, as the remaining 18 months are suspended. Judge Nolan stated that a more substantial criminal record would have resulted in a lesser deduction from the sentence. The matter was finalized with this sentencing.
A 21‑year‑old man, Shane Chubb, pleaded guilty to one count of sexual intercourse with a 16‑year‑old boy he met on Tinder and to one count of assault. The boy, a virgin, met Chubb at the latter's home, where they had sex. The next day the boy returned, and Chubb assaulted him, biting him and causing pain. The boy later reported the incident to Gardaí and did not attend the sentencing hearing. Judge Karen O'Connor, noting Chubb's background and guilty plea, imposed a two‑year prison term, suspended the second year, and required Chubb to cease using Tinder and engage with Probation Services. The sentence was one year of custody, with conditions aimed at preventing future offences. The case highlights the seriousness of sexual offences involving minors.
Kevin Brosnan, 40, pleaded guilty to a robbery at Centra, Old Bawn Shopping Centre, Tallaght, on 2 April 2020. He entered the shop armed with a knife, removed his mask and shouted "Coronavirus" at a security guard, using a racial slur and threatening to kill the guard. He demanded the till be opened, claiming to be HIV positive, and repeatedly threatened the guard as the guard tried to block him. A public witness reported the incident, leading to Brosnan's arrest. He was found with €630, which was returned to the shop. Brosnan had 82 prior convictions, including burglary, theft, knife possession and affray. The court ordered a Probation Service report and adjourned the matter for finalisation on 23 March. The judge noted Brosnan's remorse and the contrast between his sober demeanor and his actions during the offence.
Desmond McGrath, aged 50, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for his role in a violent forced eviction that took place on 9 June 2015 at The Towers, Garter Lane, Saggart. McGrath, who claimed he was attending a job interview for security work, was part of a gang of seven men that included convicted murderer Declan Duffy and INLA kidnapper Dessie O'Hare. The gang falsely imprisoned the Byrne family, assaulted security guard John Roche, and inflicted injuries on Martin Byrne, who sustained fractures to his forearm and nasal bone. McGrath pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and false imprisonment, and his sentence was suspended for 12 months on strict conditions. The court noted his guilty plea, remorse, and efforts to rehabilitate from drug and alcohol addiction as mitigating factors. The case was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with the judge distinguishing McGrath's conduct from that of the ringleaders. The Byrne family remains in the Witness Protection Programme.
In a case heard by the Court of Appeal, Dung Tran, a 41‑year‑old Vietnamese man who had arrived in Ireland at 18 and was an Irish citizen, was sentenced to twelve years' imprisonment for possessing €480,000 worth of cannabis. The original sentence, handed down by Kilkenny Circuit Court in May 2020, had two years suspended. Tran was caught on 6 February 2019 when Gardaí stopped his black Mercedes in Rathcash, Co. Kilkenny, after it was observed overtaking at about 160 kph. Gardaí noted a strong smell of cannabis, searched the vehicle and found six black refuse sacks in the boot containing vacuum‑packed cannabis. Tran pleaded guilty, cooperated fully, had no prior convictions, and had not applied for bail. He had lost his job before Christmas 2019 and had three children. The Court of Appeal, hearing arguments from Mr Séamus Clarke SC and Mr David Humphries BL, found that the 12‑year sentence was excessive.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Gerard Carey, aged 43, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for possessing stolen North Face clothing and a Mini Cooper. The case stemmed from a break‑in at the North Face Ireland storage depot on 30 May 2019, during which €45,000 of merchandise was stolen. Gardaí searched Carey's Tallaght home on 3 June 2019 and found €12,000 worth of North Face items, some removed from packing boxes and others still on the bed with tags. The court noted that none of the remaining merchandise had been recovered. Carey pleaded guilty to knowingly or recklessly being in possession of stolen property. He had 70 prior convictions, including a partially suspended eight‑year term for armed robbery in 2013. The judge, citing the value of the stolen goods and Carey's addiction history, imposed a three‑year term, suspended the final year on condition of engagement with Probation Services.
An Algerian man, Lounes Ouachek, 50, of Tallaght, pleaded guilty in 2014 to attempting to murder his wife, Ruta, by striking her with a kettlebell on 23 August 2012. He was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment, with the final three years suspended, and the sentence was reduced by one year in 2015. In January 2021, Ouachek applied to the Court of Appeal for permission to bring a new appeal after the statutory period had passed. He claimed he was misled by his legal team, that Garda evidence was fabricated, and that he had not understood English or had an interpreter at his hearing. The Court of Appeal, hearing arguments from the Director of Public Prosecutions, found no basis to extend the time and refused his application. The appeal was therefore denied. The case remains at the stage of a denied appeal application.
Desmond McGrath, 50, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm to John Roche and false imprisonment of Martin and Lisa Byrne on 9 June 2015. McGrath was part of a gang of seven, including convicted murderer Declan Duffy and INLA kidnapper Dessie O'Hare, who were ringleaders of the forced eviction. McGrath claimed he had been told he was attending a job interview for security work and was dressed "almost as a bouncer". He admitted to punching and kicking Roche but not to physical violence against the Byrne family. The Byrne family has been in the Witness Protection Programme since the incident. McGrath was remanded in custody and the matter was adjourned to 3 February. The court noted McGrath's heroin addiction and his claim of remorse.
The trial of Kieran Greene, aged 61, centred on the murder of his partner's mother, Patricia O'Connor, who was found dead in a shallow grave in Wexford. Greene admitted to a physical altercation in the house, claiming he struck her with a hurley and she struck him back. He said she became unresponsive, that he carried her upstairs, placed her in the boot of a Toyota Corolla, drove to Wexford, dug a shallow grave, buried her, and later dismembered her body with a hacksaw. Greene told Gardaí he had acted alone, that he had no accomplices, and that he had handed himself in because he could not live with the guilt. He also claimed the murder was self‑defence. The prosecution presented CCTV footage, forensic evidence of hair and body parts, and statements from family members to show Greene's involvement. The jury heard that Greene's December interview was unreliable and that he had changed his account.
Cameron Malcomson, 21, received a suspended sentence after pleading guilty to possession of drugs for supply. Gardaí found €17,332 worth of cannabis hidden in a washing machine at his Tallaght flat. Malcomson claimed he was holding the drugs for someone else but did not disclose the person, citing fear for his life. He had no prior convictions at the time of the charge, but had since accumulated three convictions for possession of drugs and knives. The court considered his traumatic childhood, including his mother's alcohol addiction and his father's suicide when he was 11. Judge Pauline Codd, noting his young age and early guilty plea, imposed a suspended sentence of four and a half years under strict conditions. The sentence includes a three‑year term for the drug offence and an 18‑month term for an attempted car‑jacking on 27 October 2019, for which he had been out on bail.
The Special Criminal Court adjourned the trial of Jim Mansfield Jnr until June 2, 2021, following a second delay caused by newly disclosed CCTV footage. Mansfield, 53, of Saggart, pleaded not guilty to conspiring to falsely imprison Martin Byrne and attempting to pervert the course of justice by directing the destruction of CCTV footage. The court, presided over by Mr Justice Alexander Owens with Judges Ni Chulachain and Faughnan, granted the defence time to review 12 days of previously undisclosed footage. While the trial is adjourned, related proceedings concluded with Christopher Maguire, 41, of Lusk, receiving a three-year suspended sentence after pleading guilty to falsely imprisoning Martin and Lisa Byrne in Rathcoole/Saggart on June 9, 2015. Maguire's sentence was suspended, with no effective custody imposed. In a separate 2007 matter, James O'Gorman was convicted of defrauding a company director of €54,000. The current trial remains ongoing, with the next mention scheduled for January 2021.
A woman from Kiltoom, County Roscommon, has pleaded guilty to theft and forgery offences at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Nicola Henry, aged 32, admitted forging colleagues' signatures on 37 cheques while serving as secretary of a Johnson & Johnson social club, obtaining €17,326 which she spent on luxury holidays to Australia, Sri Lanka and Dubai, along with restaurants, shopping and beauty treatments. A further €3,233 was spent using a company credit card after the initial thefts came to light in August 2015. Ten cheques totalling €35,340 were unsuccessful. Henry pleaded guilty to three counts of theft and two counts of attempted theft, along with two counts of making a false instrument. A total of 65 additional counts were taken into consideration. The court heard she failed to appear at several earlier hearings, resulting in her arrest. Judge Pauline Codd ordered psychological and probation reports and remanded Henry in custody pending sentencing on 8 March 2021.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Pauline Codd praised Garda Fergus Holly's bravery after he was dragged and run over by a car driven by Clive Sweeney, 37, who was attempting to flee from Dundrum Town Centre. Sweeney, who had 85 prior convictions and was on bail, pleaded guilty to endangerment and failing to stop. Holly sustained bruising and a permanent finger injury. The judge noted Sweeney's reckless driving, his guilty plea, remorse, and personal circumstances, including drug addiction. She imposed a four‑year sentence, suspending the final year on the condition of one year of probation supervision, and a ten‑year driving ban. The incident involved a blue Fiat Bravo that had been used in a theft at Snow and Rock earlier that month. The judge commended Holly for his courage and acknowledged the aggravating factor that Sweeney knew Holly was a garda.
In December 2020 the Court of Appeal reserved judgment on the appeal of Sharif Kelly and Edward McGrath, who were convicted of murdering Peter Butterly in 2013. The men had been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Special Criminal Court. Their conviction relied heavily on testimony from former co‑accused David Cullen, who had pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a pistol and was later turned into a State witness. Cullen's evidence, which alleged a planning meeting and the men's presence, was contested by the defence as unreliable and tainted. The appeal argued that Cullen's testimony was not credible and that the men's state of mind at the time of the murder was not established. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Justice George Birmingham, has not yet ruled on the appeal.
Dubliner William Morrison (56) appeared at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for sentence after pleading guilty to the robbery of An Post on St Andrew Street, Dublin, on April 16. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a sentence of five and a half years on Morrison, of Kilmartin Drive, Fettercairn, Tallaght. The court heard that a 64-year-old post office worker discovered Morrison behind the counter stuffing cash into his pockets. During a struggle, Morrison allegedly grabbed a large pair of scissors, but the worker disarmed him and forced him to the floor. Defending counsel Stephen Montgomery BL told the court that Morrison, a recovering drug addict, turned to hard drugs at 35 after suffering systematic sexual and emotional abuse at a reformatory school in the 1970s. He described the incident as an opportunistic crime committed to feed a drug habit, noting Morrison's 286 previous convictions, including 64 for theft. Judge Greally acknowledged Morrison's difficult childhood and his current engagement with psychiatric services through the National Drugs Treatment Centre. She suspended the final 18 months of the sentence to motivate Morrison to continue addressing his addiction issues. The matter was finalised with this custodial order.
In a murder conviction appeal, the DPP's counsel, Paul O'Higgins SC, acknowledged that David Cullen, a former murder suspect who became a State witness, was a 'tarnished' witness. Cullen had previously pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a semi‑automatic pistol and was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment, half suspended, for that offence. He testified for four and a half days in the Special Criminal Court trial of Sharif Kelly and Edward McGrath, who were convicted of murdering Peter Butterly in 2013. The defence argued that Cullen's evidence was tainted and should have been excluded, citing his prior perjury conviction. O'Higgins countered that no rule bars a person convicted of perjury from giving evidence, and that the trial court could rely on Cullen's testimony only if corroborated by other evidence. The appeal remains before the Court of Appeal.
The appeal of Edward McGrath and Sharif Kelly, who were convicted of the murder of Peter Butterly in 2013, is ongoing before the Court of Appeal. McGrath's barrister, Paul Greene SC, argued that while McGrath was 'caught red-handed' in the criminal enterprise, there was a lack of evidence regarding his state of mind at the time of the shooting. The appeal hinges on the reliability of David Cullen's testimony, who was originally charged with the murder but later pleaded guilty to the unlawful possession of a semi-automatic pistol at the Huntsman Inn on the day of the shooting. Cullen's evidence was central to the convictions of McGrath, Kelly, and others. The appeal is examining whether the trial judges erred in accepting Cullen's testimony, which was the basis of the convictions. The matter was adjourned for further submissions from the DPP, with Paul O'Higgins SC set to continue his arguments tomorrow. Dean Evans, who pleaded guilty to the murder, was not present for the trial but was extradited back to Ireland. The case remains in the appeal stage, with no finalised conclusions yet.
Two men, Edward McGrath and Sharif Kelly, are appealing their convictions for the murder of Peter Butterly, a dissident republican, in a five‑day hearing before the Court of Appeal. The appeal focuses on the reliability of evidence given by former murder suspect David Cullen, who became a State witness. Cullen's testimony, which lasted four and a half days, is alleged by the defence to be tainted and untrustworthy. The defence argues that Cullen's statements were inconsistent, often vague, and that he used evasive language such as "don't know" and "possibly" to undermine his credibility. The appeal contends that the trial judges erred by accepting Cullen's evidence and not adequately addressing his credibility. The hearing will continue the following day before a three‑judge panel of the Court of Appeal.
A trial date has been set for 38‑year‑old Christina Anderson, a mother of three, who is accused of murdering Garreth Kelly, 39, who died from stab wounds after an incident at Brownsbarn Estate, Kingswood, Co Dublin, on the morning of 25 February. Mr Justice Paul Coffey scheduled the trial for 7 March 2022 at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin. Anderson, who lived at Brownsbarn Wood, Kingswood, was arrested and held at Clondalkin Garda station before being transferred to the Central Mental Hospital for treatment. She was not present for the hearing.
A High Court judge in Dublin ordered the surrender of Laurence 'Larry' Connors, 29, to the United Kingdom to face three burglary charges linked to alleged thefts of clothing, jewellery, accessories and cash exceeding £100,000 from homes in Kilbride, Hamilton and Cumbernauld, Glasgow, in January 2018. The European Arrest Warrant, issued in November 2019, states the offences are aggravated by a connection with a serious organised crime organisation. Connors, already in custody on other matters and scheduled for release from prison in 2026, was arrested under the warrant in May 2020. He had previously been sentenced in February 2020 by Cork Circuit Criminal Court to ten years, with the final two years suspended, for burglary, possession of stolen property and endangerment of Gardaí. Connors has appealed the severity of that sentence. The judge, Mr Justice Paul Coffey, ordered his surrender but postponed the transfer to March 22, 2021, by which time his appeal is expected to be finalised.
The Court of Appeal has upheld a finding that the sentence imposed on Muiris Flynn, a 31-year-old appellant, was unduly lenient for dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm, drink driving, and driving without insurance at Doon near Boyle on September 24, 2017. Flynn pleaded guilty to all charges. While the three-judge panel nominated a headline sentence of six years, they decided not to increase the custodial element because Flynn had already been released from prison and secured new employment. Instead, the court imposed a €20,000 fine, describing it as a substantial part of his punishment. The unserved balance of the three-year custodial sentence was suspended. The court re-imposed the original driving disqualifications, acknowledging their adverse impact on his social and working life but deeming them an appropriate response to the devastating harm caused to the victims. Flynn was given until December 31, 2020, to pay the fine in a single instalment, with permission to pay through the Roscommon Town court office. The matter was not adjourned; the re-sentencing and fine payment deadline were finalized.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 23 November 2020, Judge Martin Nolan faced a dilemma over the release of 26‑year‑old John Delaney, who had no fixed abode and was awaiting trial for assault, intimidation and criminal damage at the Fr Peter McVerry shelter. Delaney was on the waiting list for the Central Mental Hospital, which was full, and had spent nine months in Portlaoise prison. After a consultant psychiatrist confirmed Delaney was unfit to stand trial, the judge remanded him in custody but later ordered his immediate release, citing the lack of accommodation. The Peter McVerry Trust was found to provide housing, and Delaney was referred to Tallaght Mental Health Services for treatment. Dr John Francis Kelly, a psychiatrist, noted Delaney's deteriorating autistic spectrum disorder and his inability to understand the proceedings. The court thanked all parties and hoped the new arrangements would benefit Delaney.
Edward Wall, 46, was sentenced to nine months in prison for a series of burglaries in which he repeatedly entered unoccupied bars in open pubs during daylight hours and stole alcohol. Lawyers for Wall told the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that most of his 68 prior burglary convictions involved this pattern of theft. Garda Niall Cunningham described how Wall slipped into closed bar areas and took drinks, noting that the judge considered this his "specialisation". In November 2019, Wall entered the Vat House bar in Temple Bar, slipped behind the bar, and stole two bottles of Jameson whiskey; the theft was discovered later during a stock take and CCTV footage was examined. On 10 January, he entered a bar at the Mercantile Hotel on Dame Street, again walked behind an unmanned bar, and was confronted by staff while holding a bottle of whiskey. Wall pleaded guilty to trespass and theft on both occasions.
The Special Criminal Court trial of Jim Mansfield Jnr, who is accused of conspiring to falsely imprison Martin Byrne and attempting to pervert the course of justice, continues before a non-jury court. Mansfield Jnr has pleaded not guilty to both counts. During cross-examination, alleged victim Martin Byrne, who is in the Witness Protection Programme, testified that the incident was "all Mansfield business" and that Mansfield Jnr was present when he was taken prisoner by a gang including Dessie O'Hare and Declan Duffy. Byrne's son, Brandon Byrne, also gave evidence, describing how his parents were held at The Towers while security guard John Roche was assaulted outside. The court heard that Christopher Maguire, who pleaded guilty to falsely imprisoning Martin and Lisa Byrne on June 9, 2015, received a three-year suspended sentence. Additionally, Daniel Kane, who pleaded guilty to assaulting John Roche and falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne, was sentenced in April 2018 to five years' imprisonment with the final year suspended. Background evidence noted that James O'Gorman was previously convicted of defrauding a company director out of €54,000 in 2007. The trial is ongoing, with proceedings continuing before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and two other judges.
A 23-year-old man from Ballyfermot, Dublin has been sentenced to six years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for his role as a getaway driver in the murder of Alan O'Neill. Eric Shorthall pleaded guilty to impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Warren Nolan, who was convicted of shooting Mr O'Neill in the driveway of his Tallaght home on 27 May 2015. Shorthall provided a second getaway vehicle, strategically positioned and driven in convoy with the primary escape car used by the gunman. CCTV evidence showed the drivers communicating before the fatal attack. Mr Justice Paul McDermott noted the seriousness of Shorthall's active participation, imposing a headline sentence of nine years before reducing it to six years and nine months, having regard to his early guilty plea, youth, and remorse. The final nine months were suspended for two years on condition of compliance with probation and counselling services. The investigation remains ongoing. Mr O'Neill, described as a devoted family man, left a partner and three children.
Eric Shorthall, aged 23 and resident in Ballyfermot, Dublin, is to be sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for his role as getaway driver in the May 2015 murder of Alan O'Neill in Tallaght. Shorthall pleaded guilty to impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Warren Nolan, who was convicted of the shooting in December 2018. Detective Garda evidence indicated that Shorthall, then 18, drove a strategically positioned second getaway vehicle in convoy with the primary hit car. CCTV footage showed communication between the drivers before the shooting. O'Neill, described as a devoted family man with no criminal connections, was shot in his Kiltalown Road driveway. The court heard victim impact statements from O'Neill's family members. The defence submitted that Shorthall had experienced significant personal tragedy and highlighted his early guilty plea. The investigation remains ongoing, though only Shorthall and Nolan have faced court proceedings. Sentencing is scheduled to conclude the hearing.
In March 2019, Laurence Grocott, aged 36, fired a machine gun through the front window of a Dublin family home while two children were inside. He pointed the gun at the mother's face and, after she shouted that children were present, he fired two shots that struck the mantelpiece. CCTV footage showed the children cowering and the mother's panic as she moved them to safety. Grocott pleaded guilty to creating a substantial risk of death or serious harm and to unlawful possession of the submachine gun. He also received a separate two‑year sentence for drug possession. Judge Karen O'Connor, noting the premeditated and indiscriminate nature of the attack, imposed an eight‑year prison term, suspending the final year on condition of peacekeeping for one year, for a final operative sentence of ten years with one year suspended. The case highlighted Grocott's history of drug abuse and prior convictions.
In the Special Criminal Court, former employee Martin Byrne, aged 53, testified that Jim Mansfield Jnr wanted him to attend the funeral of murdered Real IRA leader Alan Ryan in September 2012 on Mansfield's behalf. Byrne denied being solely employed by convicted fraudster James O'Gorman and claimed he worked mainly for Mansfield, though he also worked for O'Gorman. He said Mansfield had arranged meetings with the New IRA and INLA to help recover family property assets, and that Mansfield had set him up for false imprisonment. Byrne also recounted being taken prisoner by a gang including former INLA man Dessie O'Hare and Declan "Whacker" Duffy, and that he was later robbed of money and documents. The court heard Byrne's evidence about Mansfield's alleged conspiracy to falsely imprison him and attempts to pervert the course of justice. Mansfield pleaded not guilty to both charges.
A 24‑year‑old mother was given a suspended three‑year sentence after pleading guilty to two counts of allowing her two‑year‑old son to be ill‑treated. The offences occurred in February 2017, when the child suffered extensive bruising that was discovered by hospital staff at Tallaght Hospital. The mother repeatedly lied about the injuries, claiming the boy was a "clumsy child" and later fabricated a visit from a biological father. She failed to seek medical attention and allowed the child to remain in a dangerous environment. The judge noted the seriousness of the assault and the mother's lack of prior convictions. The sentence is suspended on conditions that include continued engagement with relevant services. The child has been removed from her care and is now raised by his maternal grandparents.
Philip Dunbar, aged 20, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Adam 'Floater' Muldoon, a 23‑year‑old man with cerebral palsy, who was stabbed 183 times in an unprovoked attack at Butler Park, Jobstown Park, Tallaght on 22 or 23 June 2018. The Central Criminal Court found Dunbar guilty by unanimous jury verdict. The sentencing judge, Mr Justice Paul McDermott, backdated the life sentence to the date of the murder, 24 June 2018, and noted that the victim's family had suffered immense grief. Dunbar's defence argued intoxication and lack of intent, but the jury rejected these claims. The judge also acknowledged that Dunbar had previous convictions under the Theft Act, for possession of drugs and for Road Traffic Act violations. The case remains subject to appeal by Dunbar's counsel. Philip Dunbar pleaded not guilty and was found guilty.