The Special Criminal Court heard closing submissions in the trial of Caolan Smyth and Gary McAreavey, who have both pleaded not guilty to charges related to the attempted murder of James Gately. Mr. Smyth is accused of the attempted murder and possessing a firearm with intent to endanger at the Topaz filling station in north Dublin on May 10, 2017. Mr. McAreavey is accused of impeding apprehension by assisting in the burning of the vehicle used in the attack at Newrath, Co Louth. Defence counsel John D Fitzgerald SC argued that the prosecution's circumstantial case relies on a "musical chairs" of shifting associations between the accused, a black Lexus, a mobile phone, and a Louth address. He contended that evidence linking Mr. Smyth to the car, phone, or his home on the morning of the shooting was speculative and lacked clear identification. Conversely, the prosecution maintained that Mr. Smyth was identifiable in CCTV footage and had conducted a "rehearsal" the day before the shooting. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, is in its fourth week. The matter was adjourned to allow Mr. McAreavey's counsel to deliver his closing speech.
Christopher Prentice, 25, of Tallaght, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for two armed carjackings committed on February 6, 2020. Prentice pleaded guilty to two counts of seizing control of a vehicle by force in south Dublin. He also admitted to dangerous driving in Clondalkin and assaulting two gardaí during a high-speed chase that ended when he rammed their patrol car. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Prentice to six and a half years in prison and disqualified him from driving for ten years. The judge noted that Prentice was serving the suspended portion of a January 2019 sentence for dangerous driving of a stolen car when these offences occurred. Prentice had previously been convicted of a carjacking in December 2014. In mitigation, his defense counsel, James Dwyer SC, highlighted Prentice's remorse and his claim that he was grieving the recent death of a cousin while under the influence of alcohol and cannabis. Victims described severe trauma, with one female driver stating she could no longer work in sales due to anxiety, and a taxi driver wishing to leave the profession. The court acknowledged the vulnerability of the victims and the traumatic nature of the attacks.
Patrick Russell, a former barrister aged 57, was sentenced to four years in prison, with the final 12 months suspended, for stealing €235,000 from businessman Paul O'Connell. Russell pretended to arrange the purchase of a warehouse in Co Kildare for O'Connell, using forged deeds and false documents to convince the victim to transfer €15,000 and €5,000 to a UK account and an account in his wife's name, and to pay an additional €215,000 to solicitors who believed the documents were genuine. The solicitors and O'Connell's family later reported the fraud to Gardaí. Russell pleaded guilty to the theft in March 2019 and had previously been struck off the bar in 2012 for professional misconduct. The judge noted Russell's limited criminal history, his cardiac condition, and his willingness to restore the stolen sum, but imposed a custodial sentence because he had not made tangible efforts to return the money. The €215,000 remains frozen in AIB.
Warren Nolan, 18 when he shot Alan O'Neill, 35, in Tallaght on 27 May 2015, was convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. He appealed to the Court of Appeal on the basis that the case against him was circumstantial, citing the absence of a test on a hoodie that had been lost during the investigation. The trial had found gunshot residue on his gloves and accelerant on his t‑shirt, but the hoodie was never examined. Nolan denied both the shooting and the arson. The Court of Appeal, led by Justice George Birmingham, rejected the appeal, stating that the missing hoodie did not materially affect the fairness of the trial and that the evidence presented was sufficient to uphold the conviction. The appeal was dismissed, leaving Nolan's life sentence intact.
Philip Dunbar, 20, was found guilty of murder by a jury at the Central Criminal Court for the stabbing of 23-year-old Adam Muldoon in Butler Park, Tallaght, in June 2018. The jury returned a unanimous verdict after rejecting the defence argument that Dunbar was too intoxicated to form the necessary intent for murder. Evidence presented included testimony from a friend who stated Dunbar boasted about the killing, claiming he put Muldoon "out of his misery" and expressed satisfaction at knowing what it was like to be a killer. Pathological evidence identified 183 stab wounds, including fatal injuries to the neck, liver, and lungs, as well as defensive wounds to Muldoon's hands. Dunbar had previously told gardai he experienced a "blackout" during the attack. Mr Justice Paul McDermott thanked the jury and exempted them from further service. Dunbar was not sentenced immediately; the matter was adjourned to this Friday for sentencing, where he will receive the mandatory term of life imprisonment for murder. Members of Mr Muldoon's family are scheduled to make statements to the court at that time.
Philip Dunbar, aged 20, is accused of stabbing Adam Muldoon, aged 23, 183 times in Tallaght on 22–23 June 2018. He pleaded not guilty to murder. Dunbar told police and psychiatrists he was drunk and on drugs when he entered the field where Muldoon's body was found the next morning, claiming a blackout and hallucinations. Judge Paul McDermott instructed the jury that if they are convinced beyond reasonable doubt that Dunbar carried out the stabbing, they must consider whether intoxication negated the intent to kill or cause serious injury. If that is reasonably possible, the conviction would be manslaughter rather than murder. The jury began deliberations this afternoon and will return to the Central Criminal Court on Monday.
The Court of Appeal has added a €20,000 fine to the sentence of Muiris Flynn, a 31-year-old appellant, following a successful DPP appeal against the undue leniency of his original sentence. Flynn pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm, drink driving, and driving without insurance at Doon near Boyle on September 24th, 2017. The original sentence, imposed by Judge Francis Comerford, was four years in prison for dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm, with the final two and a half years suspended, alongside concurrent disqualifications for the other charges. The three-judge appellate court, presided over by Justice John Edwards, found the original sentence unduly lenient and nominated a headline sentence of six years. However, considering Flynn's release from prison, his finding of new employment, and the interests of justice in promoting reform, the court decided not to increase the custodial element. Instead, they suspended the unserved balance of the newly imposed three-year term and imposed the substantial €20,000 fine. The court re-imposed the same driving disqualifications as the circuit court, acknowledging the adverse impact on Flynn's social and working life but deeming it an appropriate response to the devastating harm caused to the victims.
In the Central Criminal Court, Philip Dunbar, aged 20, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 23‑year‑old Adam Muldoon, who was stabbed 183 times in Butler Park, Jobstown Park, Tallaght, on 22 or 23 June 2018. His barrister, Giollaiosa Ó Lideadha SC, argued that the prosecution had not proved Dunbar had the intent to kill or cause serious injury, citing Dunbar's intoxication and long‑term drug use. Ó Lideadha highlighted that Dunbar had no memory of the incident, having blacked out after approaching the victim. He challenged the reliability of a prosecution witness who claimed Dunbar admitted "slaughtering" Muldoon, pointing out ten fundamental problems with that witness's evidence. The barrister urged the jury to consider that Dunbar's intent was not established, given his intoxication and the circumstances surrounding the crime. The judge, Paul McDermott, began addressing the jury, with proceedings to continue the next day.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, Philip Dunbar, aged 20, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Adam Muldoon, aged 23, who was stabbed 183 times in Tallaght in June 2018. His barrister, Giollaiosa O'Lideadha SC, argued that the prosecution failed to prove intent, citing a pathologist's view that the injuries could stem from a mental disorder. O'Lideadha highlighted that Dunbar had no memory of the act, had blacked out, and was intoxicated with cannabis and benzodiazepines at the time. The defence presented Dr. Brenda Wright, a forensic psychiatrist, who found no mental disorder and no diminished responsibility, but noted intoxication may have influenced behaviour. The prosecution's counsel, Pauline Walley SC, countered that intoxication did not negate intent, citing CCTV showing Dunbar's composed demeanor and a claim that he was not overcome by drugs. The jury was asked to weigh these conflicting accounts. Philip Dunbar was found not guilty by reason of insanity.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, a 20‑year‑old Dublin man, Philip Dunbar, accused of stabbing a homeless man 183 times, was examined by consultant forensic psychiatrist Dr Brenda Wright. She stated that Dunbar was intoxicated at the time of the alleged offence and that, if not intoxicated, he would not have behaved as he did. Dr Wright found no mental disorder qualifying for a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity or diminished responsibility. She described Dunbar's experiences of hearing voices and seeing outlines of faceless bodies as pseudo‑hallucinations caused by substance use, noting his voluntary use of alcohol, cannabis, prescription pills, and other drugs. She concluded that intoxication is excluded as a mental disorder under the Criminal Law Insanity Act and that Dunbar's blackout was partial. The defence closed its case after her testimony, and the jury will hear closing speeches on Tuesday.
In a murder trial, a forensic pathologist, Dr Carl Gray, testified that many of the 183 stab wounds on the body of Adam 'Floater' Muldoon, a homeless man with cerebral palsy, were deliberately placed rather than random and some may have been inflicted after death. He noted the symmetry and even spacing of the wounds, suggesting a possible mental illness or abnormal state of mind in the assailant. Dr Gray agreed with the cause of death determined by Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster and stated that the mental state of the accused, Philip Dunbar, is for the jury to decide. Dunbar, aged 20, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Muldoon, aged 23, at Butler Park in Jobstown Park, Tallaght, on 22 or 23 June 2018. The trial continues with the prosecution's evidence concluded and the next day's proceedings scheduled before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of six men and five women.
The trial of Philip Dunbar, 20, who has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of 23-year-old homeless man Adam 'Floater' Muldoon, continued before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury. The prosecution presented evidence from Detective Garda Mark Shortt regarding a mobile phone attributed to Mr Dunbar. Shortt testified that a text exchange was found on the device, sent on the evening following the alleged stabbing in Butler Park, Jobstown Park, Tallaght, on June 22 or 23, 2018. The messages included statements such as "I'm killing myself tonight" and a request to delete the messages. Mr Dunbar has accepted carrying out the stabbing but claims no memory of the incident. Mr Muldoon's body was found with 183 stab wounds. Additionally, the mother of an unnamed friend, protected by a court order, testified that her son had previously stated Mr Dunbar visited him with a knife and admitted to the stabbing. She reported her son expressed concern for Mr Dunbar's safety and begged her not to disclose the information. The matter was adjourned and the trial continues tomorrow.
A 31-year-old man from Geevagh, County Sligo has had his sentence referred for review by the Court of Appeal after being convicted of dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm, drink driving and driving without insurance. The offences arose from a collision on a country road near Boyle, County Roscommon, on 24 September 2017, when his vehicle struck two cyclists. One victim sustained spinal fractures and hip dislocation, requiring prolonged recovery and leaving her unable to return to her former employment as a teacher. The other cyclist suffered significant pelvic fractures and required intensive care treatment. At sentencing in Roscommon Circuit Court, the defendant received four years imprisonment with the final two and a half years suspended, along with an eight-year driving disqualification. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed the sentence as unduly lenient. The Court of Appeal found the original sentence was indeed unduly lenient and determined that re-sentencing was necessary. The court indicated it would consider all available options, including the possibility of imposing a substantial fine. Judgement is expected by month's end.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, forensic evidence was presented linking clothing found in a bag at the home of Philip Dunbar (20) to the murder victim, Adam 'Floater' Muldoon, 23. The bag contained tracksuit bottoms, a black t‑shirt, white socks and runners. Blood stains on the tracksuit's right hand pocket and lower left leg, the black t‑shirt, the outer part of a runner and a sock toe matched Muldoon's DNA. A mixed DNA profile from the tracksuit's waistband included Dunbar's DNA and that of three unknown individuals. The scientist also examined blood from another man's clothing, whose DNA matched the owner, and noted that this man was a person of interest because he was seen in the area that night with blood on his clothes. Garda Jennifer Brogan reported that four mobile phones were seized from Dunbar's home, two found in a pillow case in a bedroom. Philip Dunbar pleaded not guilty.
The Court of Appeal adjourned a murder‑conviction appeal until 30 October to allow the appellant, Warren Nolan, to attend in person rather than remotely because of his cognitive difficulties. Nolan, 23, had been convicted of shooting Alan O'Neill, 35, dead in the victim's front garden on 27 May 2015. He was sentenced to life imprisonment. His barrister requested the adjournment after it was discovered that Nolan had not been physically brought from prison to the Criminal Courts of Justice but had been connected remotely. The court noted that it had ordered Nolan's physical appearance despite Covid‑19 restrictions, citing the exceptional circumstances. Justice Birmingham, presiding, directed that Nolan be brought to court to facilitate access to his lawyers and postponed the hearing to the end of the month, with the possibility of further delay into the next year.
In the Central Criminal Court, 20‑year‑old Philip Dunbar, accused of stabbing a homeless man 183 times, testified that he felt guilty for not staying with his mother on the night she died. His grandmother, Mary Dunbar, gave evidence that Philip had been caring for his ill mother and had planned to stay with her that night, but instead stayed with her grandmother. She described Philip's upbringing, his mother's drug problems, and his own mental health struggles, including suicidal thoughts and hearing voices. Mary Dunbar also recounted Philip's movements on the night of the alleged murder, noting that he had been with a youth who had been with him all night. She said Philip had taken responsibility at Tallaght Garda station but could not remember the incident. The trial continues before Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of eleven. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
During the Central Criminal Court trial of 20‑year‑old Philip Dunbar, his aunt Doreen (Donna) Dunbar testified about the death of 23‑year‑old Adam 'Floater' Muldoon, whom Dunbar is charged with murdering. She described how, on the morning Muldoon's body was found in Butler Park, she had called her mother and learned that the accused was present with another person. She then called the accused three times to ask if he knew what had happened. He answered that he did not remember much and began crying. Dunbar said she brought him to her home and later to Tallaght Garda Station, where he admitted to being involved in a murder. She also noted that he had taken tablets and heard voices before the stabbing, and that he offered to show officers where he had thrown the knife, which was recovered from a small lake. The unnamed 20-year-old pleaded not guilty.
Two men, Tayab Kourtishe (47) and Jagjeet Singh (41), were sentenced to two and a half years in prison, suspended in full on strict conditions, for stealing almost €18,000 from Expo Casino in The Square, Tallaght. Kourtishe and Singh were caught on CCTV footage manipulating the casino's machines. Kourtishe removed the glass cover from a roulette table, placed a ball on a number, and then used a stolen key to unlock the fruit machine and withdraw the money that a third person had loaded into it. Singh later cleared the machine's transaction records, erasing evidence of the €50 notes that had been deposited. Kourtishe stole €8,895 from the fruit machines and the roulette table, while Singh stole €8,988. Both pleaded guilty, made full restitution, and had no prior convictions. The judge noted their actions were a breach of trust and that the offences were out of character, but accepted their cooperation and restitution.
In a murder trial held on 13 October 2020, a 17‑year‑old accused of stabbing a homeless man 183 times offered to show the police where the murder weapon was. The teenager, Philip Dunbar, 20, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 23‑year‑old Adam 'Floater' Muldoon, who was found dead in Butler Park, Tallaght, on 23 June 2018. Garda Shane Whelan testified that he was called to Tallaght Garda Station early on 24 June, where he met Dunbar and his grandmother. Dunbar claimed he knew he had killed Muldoon and could not remember the stabbing. He offered to show the police the location of the knife, which was later found in a small lake at Seán Wash Park after the lake was drained. Dr James Maloney examined Dunbar and found him fit for interview, recommending a psychiatric assessment. Dunbar denied being under the influence of drugs, describing himself as alert and coherent.
Philip Dunbar, aged 20, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 23‑year‑old Adam 'Floater' Muldoon, who was found stabbed 183 times in Butler Park, Tallaght, on 22 or 23 June 2018. Dunbar told Gardaí he had taken 15 "upjohn" tablets and had been hearing voices for weeks, which sometimes urged him to harm himself. He claimed he could not remember the stabbing, describing it as a blank moment, and said he would never have killed Muldoon in a sober mind. Dunbar admitted he had been "chilling" with a friend the day before and that he had helped Muldoon over a wall before an argument. He also stated he had thrown the knife into a body of water in Sean Walsh Park. The trial is proceeding before Mr Justice Paul McDermott with a jury of eleven.
Michael Cawley, aged 22, was sentenced to an additional two and a half years' imprisonment for two counts of endangerment, dangerous driving and driving without a licence. The sentence, imposed by Judge Karen O'Connor at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, was suspended for 18 months on strict conditions and will run consecutively to the three and a half year term he is currently serving for burglary and unauthorised taking of a car. The offence involved Cawley driving a Volvo at speeds up to 140 kilometres per hour, reversing and then driving straight at a Garda on a junction in Tallaght, narrowly missing the officer and forcing other motorists and pedestrians to take evasive action. The Garda lost sight of the vehicle while it was still on the road. Cawley's 35 previous convictions were noted, and the judge highlighted his young age, the aggravating circumstances of the incident, and his progress in custody. Michael Cawley pleaded guilty.
Gerard Cunningham, 48, a former homeless father, was evicted from his rented home and stayed with his sister‑in‑law before Christmas 2018. He took a €1,000 loan from someone he believed was a friend to buy a car for work, and under pressure to repay, agreed to store heroin and cocaine for the lender. On 22 December 2018 Gardaí searched his Tallaght address and found a black bag containing heroin and cocaine valued at €465,024. Cunningham pleaded guilty to possession of heroin and cocaine for sale or supply at his residence. He had seven prior minor traffic convictions. The judge, Melanie Greally, suspended the final 12 months of a four‑year prison term on the condition that he engage with Probation Services for a year after release. The case highlights the impact of the housing crisis on vulnerable families.
Sean Rausch, aged 22, was sentenced to a four‑year prison term for two robberies and false imprisonment committed on Wellington Quay and Aston Quay in February 2020. The first robbery involved a 19‑year‑old Latvian student who described Rausch holding a knife close to his face and threatening him. The second robbery targeted another 19‑year‑old man who, after being threatened, bought a chicken fillet roll and a soft drink for Rausch. Rausch claimed he was hungry and had been seeking help from passers‑by, which he said had been ignored. He pleaded guilty and wrote an apology letter to the court. Judge Karen O'Connor suspended the final year of the sentence on the condition that Rausch engage with the Probation Service and a victim awareness programme. Rausch has no prior convictions. The case was prosecuted by Tony McGillicuddy BL and defended by Pieter Le Vert BL.
In a Dublin incident on 3 January 2017, Laura Kenna, a homeless woman aged 37, slit the throat of civil servant Fionnuala Bourke while walking home from work. Kenna was arrested the following day and later pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, citing a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder. She was convicted of attempted murder and assault causing harm, and in April 2019 the Central Criminal Court imposed a 15‑year prison term, of which five years were suspended. The Court of Appeal dismissed Kenna's appeal against both the conviction and the sentence. The appeal was rejected on the basis that the jury's verdict was supported by credible expert testimony, and the sentencing judge's decision was deemed proper for the gravity of the offence. Kenna must serve the 10‑year custodial term imposed by the court.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Pauline Codd acquitted 60‑year‑old truck driver Joseph Coughlan of a charge of careless driving causing serious harm to a five‑year‑old schoolboy. The judge found the prosecution case to be speculative and lacking evidence of careless driving. Coughlan had pleaded not guilty to one count of driving without due care or attention and causing serious bodily harm. The incident occurred on 16 February 2016 when Coughlan was turning into a delivery bay at Sweeney Mews, Ongar, and a child was briefly trapped under the front wheel of his truck. The boy spent 23 days in intensive care and has made an excellent recovery, though he has permanent abdominal scarring. The judge thanked the jury and formally acquitted Coughlan.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Joseph Coughlan, 60, was tried for careless driving that caused serious harm to a five‑year‑old boy who was trapped under a truck's front wheel while walking to school with his family. The incident occurred on 16 February 2016 near Sweeney Mews, Ongar, when Coughlan was turning into a delivery bay. Witnesses described the boy lying between the truck's wheels and the mother's shock. Coughlan pleaded not guilty to one count of driving without due care or attention. He was breath‑tested and found negative for alcohol, and the truck was in good condition. The boy spent 23 days in intensive care, required ventilation, surgery and skin grafting, and has permanent abdominal scarring. The trial is ongoing before Judge Pauline Codd and a jury.
Eddie Farnan, 38, pleaded guilty to assault, threatening to kill and criminal damage after a violent domestic incident on 2 June 2017. He was given a 33‑month suspended sentence by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in October 2019. The DPP appealed, arguing the sentence was too lenient, but the Court of Appeal rejected the appeal. The court noted Farnan's extensive rehabilitation efforts, including a residential programme for addiction and engagement with services, and considered these mitigating factors. The judges acknowledged the brutality of the offence but concluded that a custodial sentence would undermine Farnan's progress. Consequently, the suspended sentence was upheld, with no custodial term imposed. The decision highlighted the balance between punishment for domestic violence and the potential benefits of rehabilitation outside prison.
During a murder trial in the Central Criminal Court, a witness testified that Philip Dunbar, aged 20, had always felt a desire to kill. The witness, who cannot be named, said that after stabbing Adam 'Floater' Muldoon, a 23‑year‑old homeless man, Dunbar called to his house and declared, "Now I know what it's like to be a murderer." The witness had given two statements to the Gardaí in 2018, one recorded on DVD, in which he described Dunbar's admission and his own observation that Dunbar had "always had the feeling to kill someone." The witness confirmed these statements to prosecution counsel Pauline Whalley SC. Dunbar has pleaded not guilty to the murder, which occurred in Butler Park, Jobstown Park, Tallaght, Dublin 24 on 22 or 23 June 2018, when Muldoon's body was found stabbed 183 times.
During a murder trial, a witness—whose name is protected by court order—described the accused, Philip Dunbar, as a "scummy bastard" and insisted he had not lied in his testimony to the jury. The witness claimed that Dunbar told him he had "put the deceased out of his misery" and "slaughtered him" after stabbing 23‑year‑old Adam Muldoon, a homeless man with cerebral palsy, on 22 or 23 June 2018. He said Dunbar visited his home shortly after the stabbing with a bloody knife and boasted about the act. The witness also stated that Dunbar was at Sean Walsh Park the next morning when the knife was disposed of. Dunbar, represented by barrister Giollaiosa O'Lideadha SC, has pleaded not guilty and admits he must have stabbed Muldoon but claims no memory of it.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 20‑year‑old accused, Philip Dunbar, was said to have boasted about stabbing Adam 'Floater' Muldoon, a homeless man with cerebral palsy, to death. The accused allegedly told a drug‑dealer witness that he had "put him out of his misery" and that he "knew what it's like to be a killer." The witness, who could not be named, described seeing Dunbar with a blood‑stained Swiss army knife and hearing him claim he had cut Muldoon's throat while the victim begged for his life. Dunbar's barrister admitted the accused must have carried out the stabbing but said he had no memory of the act. The accused has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Muldoon, which occurred in Jobstown Park, Tallaght, on 22 or 23 June 2018. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul McDermott, continues tomorrow before a jury of six men and six women.
The trial of Philip Dunbar, 20, who has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Adam Muldoon, 23, at Butler Park in Jobstown Park, Tallaght, on June 22 or 23, 2018, continued before the Central Criminal Court. Witness Paul Duggan testified that he never observed any conflict between the accused and the deceased, describing Mr Muldoon as a well-liked, homeless man with cerebral palsy who was treated with respect by the local community. Mr Duggan stated that on the evening in question, he left the accused and the deceased together on a wall, later finding only the deceased's Zimmer frame remaining. He described the accused as friendly and caring towards Mr Muldoon, comparable to how he treated a disabled family member. Another witness, Sinead Duggan, reported that the accused appeared unusually quiet and shocked when the community gathered the following day. A statement from Deborah Fitzgerald was read, indicating she saw the two walking together near a football field shortly after midnight, with the deceased appearing uninjured and willing. The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of six men and six women.
In a Dublin murder trial, the prosecution presented evidence that Philip Dunbar, aged 20, stabbed Adam 'Floater' Muldoon, a 23‑year‑old homeless man with cerebral palsy, 183 times in Butler Park, Jobstown Park, Tallaght, on 22 or 23 June 2018. The prosecution argued that the wounds, though many were superficial, severed three major neck vessels, penetrated the liver and lungs, and caused immediate death. After the stabbing, Dunbar allegedly admitted the act to a friend's house. The jury was instructed to remain impartial and consider the facts without sympathy. The case is being heard by Mr Justice Paul McDermott before a jury of twelve. The trial continues. Philip Dunbar pleaded not guilty.
A 20‑year‑old from Tallaght, Philip Dunbar, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of 23‑year‑old Adam Muldoon, who was killed in Butler Park, Jobstown, on 22 or 23 June 2018. He will be tried at the Central Criminal Court. A jury of twelve has been sworn in and the trial, expected to last six weeks, will open tomorrow under Mr Justice Paul McDermott.
The Special Criminal Court sentenced Patrick Curtis and Mohammed Smew for their roles in a Kinahan Cartel plot to murder Patrick "Patsy" Hutch. Curtis, 38, who admitted directing the criminal organisation, received a final sentence of 12 years imprisonment, with the last two years suspended. The suspension is conditional on a €100 bond, good behaviour, and one year of probation supervision following release. Smew, 27, who pleaded guilty to participating in the organisation by providing vehicles and assisting in planning, was sentenced to eight years and three months, with the final nine months suspended. Both sentences were backdated to December 2019. The court noted that the murder plan was postponed due to Storm Emma, after which Smew was arrested for a separate matter. Earlier in the case, co-accused Michael Burns, 43, who admitted a graver offence, was jailed for nine years. Stephen Curtis, 32, and Ciaran O'Driscoll, 25, were each sentenced to five years. Additionally, Mark Capper, 31, Gary Thompson, 35, Glen Thompson, 25, and Robert Browne, 36, received sentences of seven-and-a-half years, 12 years and six months, 12 years and six months, and 11 years and six months respectively for their involvement in the plot.
Eric Shorthall, 23, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Warren Nolan, knowing or believing Nolan to be guilty of the murder of Alan O'Neill. The offence is alleged to have occurred on May 27, 2015, at Belfry Manor, Tallaght. Shorthall, of Muskerry Road, Ballyfermot, was originally charged with the murder of O'Neill, who was shot dead in front of his partner outside his home on Kiltalown Road, Tallaght, on that date. Shorthall's counsel, Keith Spencer BL, noted that Shorthall was 18 at the time of the offence and requested a probation report. Mr Justice Paul McDermott ordered the probation report and remanded Shorthall in custody until November 16. The court also noted that Warren Nolan, then 22, was found guilty by a jury in December 2018 of the murder of O'Neill and setting fire to the car used in the shooting. Nolan, who was 18 at the time of the murder, was sentenced by Mr Justice McDermott to the mandatory term of life imprisonment for murder and six years for setting the car on fire. Both sentences were backdated to September 2017.
Sonia Collins, 38, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to one count of possessing cannabis for sale or supply at her home in Kilcronan Avenue, Clondalkin, Dublin, on March 4 last year. The court heard that Collins told gardaí she was under financial pressure ahead of her child's confirmation and had incurred a €200 drug debt after purchasing cocaine for social use. She claimed she agreed to hold the drugs for a short period but they were never collected. Garda Vincent Jaffray testified that officers searched the residence following a tip-off, and Collins immediately showed them the cannabis stored under the stairs. A small child was present during the search, and Collins was not arrested on the spot; she presented at Tallaght Garda Station days later to be charged. Collins declined to identify the person who supplied the drugs, citing safety fears. Defence counsel James Dwyer SC highlighted mitigating factors, including her status as a single mother of three, her early guilty plea, cooperation with gardaí, and lack of significant criminal history, arguing against the mandatory minimum sentence. Judge Melanie Greally suspended a prison sentence of two-and-a-half years on the condition that Collins remain drug-free.
A 20‑year‑old named Nathan Flynn was jailed for three‑and‑a‑half years after being repeatedly caught by Gardaí selling cannabis, cocaine and heroin from a vacant cabin in Rossfield Park, Tallaght. Flynn, who lived in the cabin, was arrested six times between June and August 2019, each time with drugs and cash seized. He pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply at the cabin and at his former address in Killinarden Heights. The court noted that Flynn was homeless and had been kicked out by his mother because of his drug use. The judge described his behaviour as "pretty stupid" and said he was probably working for someone else. Flynn's sentence was imposed for his repeated misbehaviour.
The Special Criminal Court sentenced Patrick Curtis and Mohammed Smew for their roles in a Kinahan Cartel plot to murder Patrick "Patsy" Hutch. Curtis, 38, pleaded guilty to directing the activities of a criminal organisation between February and March 2018. Smew, 27, pleaded guilty to participating in the organisation's activities, including providing vehicles and planning an attempted shooting. The court heard that Curtis suffers from claustrophobia and obsessive-compulsive disorder, while Smew was remanded in custody after a separate arrest, which ended his involvement. This sentencing concludes the case against the last two men involved in the plot. Previously, Michael Burns was jailed for nine years, while Stephen Curtis and Ciaran O'Driscoll received five-year sentences. Mark Capper, who withdrew from the plan, was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years. In a related 2019 case, Gary Thompson, Glen Thompson, and Robert Browne were sentenced to 12.5 years and 11.5 years respectively for planning the murder. The court noted the gang's hierarchical structure, with leadership operating from the Middle East coordinating sub-cells. The planned attack involved a staging post, a ruse to lure the victim, and a getaway route, though the operation was intercepted by the Emergency Response Unit before execution.
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, knowing the boy was underage, and to one count of assault on the boy at Chubb's home. The boy, whose name is withheld, had joined Tinder in 2016, was removed for being under 18, then re‑joined with a false birth date. He told Chubb he was 16 but "mature". They met at Chubb's house, where they had sex and the boy later described it as his first sexual experience. Chubb also bit the boy, causing pain, and later apologized. The boy did not attend the sentencing hearing and declined to give a victim impact statement. The case was adjourned for sentencing on 28 October.
Sean Rausch, aged 22, pleaded guilty to two robberies and false imprisonment at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He had earlier held a 19‑year‑old Latvian student at knifepoint on Wellington Quay, forcing the victim to hand over his wallet and flee. Later that day he robbed another 19‑year‑old man on Aston Quay, who described Rausch approaching him with a knife, then putting the blade away and telling him about his difficult life. The second victim, feeling threatened, offered Rausch a chicken roll and soft drink, which Rausch accepted before leaving the shop. Rausch, who had been homeless in an underground car park for several weeks and had a drug problem, wrote a letter of apology to the court, explaining he had robbed for food and drugs and regretted the fear he caused. Judge Karen O'Connor adjourned sentencing to October 6, 2020 to allow a probation report to be prepared.
In a case heard at the Court of Appeal, a 31‑year‑old Dublin man, David Murphy, had his original prison term increased after the State appealed a suspended sentence. Murphy had pleaded guilty to assault causing harm for striking a taxi driver with a beer bottle on Slade Road, Saggart, on 21 March 2015. The original sentence, handed down by Judge Pauline Codd, was three and a half years, with the final two years and nine months suspended. The Director of Public Prosecutions argued that the suspended portion was excessive, noting that Murphy would serve only six months and three weeks if remission applied. The Court of Appeal agreed, quashing the original sentence and re‑sentencing Murphy to three and a half years, suspending only the final two years. The case remains at the criminal sentencing stage, with no further outcome reported.
Wayne Lynch, a 37‑year‑old bread delivery man from Drogheda, was sentenced to four‑and‑a‑half years in prison for transporting firearms and storing cannabis during an ongoing crime feud. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of a pistol and ammunition in suspicious circumstances at a Lidl car park in Tallaght and possession of cannabis herb at his home on 19 July 2019. Lynch had a prior conviction in 2004 for drug possession. Gardaí, acting on confidential information, followed Lynch's bread van on 19 July 2019, seized two black handguns and ammunition from the van and recovered cannabis herb worth €35,606 from his home. Judge Elma Sheahan accepted that Lynch was not a "significant player" and would not have used the guns, but noted he was moving the equipment during an ongoing feud that had claimed many lives. The judge suspended the final 18 months of the sentence.
Wayne Lynch, 37, a bread delivery man from Newtown Meadows, Drogheda, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of a pistol and ammunition in suspicious circumstances at the Lidl Car Park, Tallaght, and possession of cannabis herb at his home on 19 July 2019. He had a previous conviction in 2004 for possession of drugs. Gardaí, acting on confidential information, followed Lynch in his bread van on 19 July 2019, approached the van at the Lidl car park, and searched it, recovering two black handguns and rounds of ammunition under the passenger seat. Lynch was arrested and taken to Crumlin Garda Station. A search of his home yielded cannabis herb valued at €35,606. Lynch claimed he was afraid for his life, had a cocaine habit that worsened after his father's death, and was told to drop off the package for a €1,000 discount.
Dermot Whelan, 67, of The Crescent, Belgard Heights, Tallaght, was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, after pleading guilty to possession of child pornography on two computer devices and to knowingly distributing child pornography between October 2012 and July 2014. He was found to have hundreds of child abuse images, including 53 explicit images, 182 exposure images, and three explicit videos, on a laptop seized by Gardaí following an undercover FBI operation that had placed an advertisement to attract users of child pornography. Whelan admitted viewing and emailing the material, claiming he was sexually aroused by it and that he had not bought or contributed to it. The judge noted the seriousness of creating a market for child abuse and imposed strict conditions for the suspended term, including compliance with the Probation Service for two years. No prior convictions were recorded.
Patrick Harte, 78, a former school teacher convicted of fondling boys at Sancta Maria Christian Brothers primary school between 1968 and 1970, failed to attend his sentencing hearing after being admitted to Tallaght Hospital with cardiac issues. His lawyers argued that he should not be compelled to attend court due to Covid‑19 guidelines for people over 70 and his medical condition, and requested a two‑month adjournment. Judge Martin Nolan refused the application, citing concerns about Harte's behaviour and the need for finality, and scheduled the hearing for 4 pm out of hours on Thursday. The prosecution, led by Anne Rowland SC, opposed the adjournment, noting that five of the seven victims had already attended court and were willing to read their impact statements. Judge Nolan emphasized that Harte's health is stable but vulnerable to coronavirus and that sentencing must proceed. The case remains in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Patrick Harte pleaded not guilty.
John Lawrence, 29, was spared a prison sentence after pleading guilty to possession of a stolen caravan and driving dangerously in a high‑speed pursuit. The court heard that he had completed an addiction studies programme and was volunteering as a mentor in a prison after‑care programme, a role described as "inspiring" by professionals. Lawrence, from Drogheda, drove a Jeep towing a €12,000 caravan stolen from Hertfordshire, England, at speeds over 140 km/h in a 100 km/h zone, forcing gardaí and the public to avoid collisions. He had prior convictions for theft, deception and traffic offences. Judge Karen O'Connor, after hearing mitigation, suspended a two‑year prison term on the condition that Lawrence continue his studies and voluntary work with prisoners.
James McDonagh, aged 33, was sentenced to two-and-a-half years' imprisonment after pleading guilty to two counts of attempted robbery and one count of assault causing harm. On 15 March 2020, while intoxicated, he approached two women returning from IKEA, claiming his girlfriend had coronavirus, and attempted to steal handbags, kicking and punching when they resisted. A third woman intervened, leading McDonagh to target her handbag; both women fell and the incident was recorded. Later that day he assaulted Patrick Sylvester, punching him and throwing a traffic cone. McDonagh admitted drinking that day and cited prior alcohol problems. He has 55 previous convictions, including assault and public order offences, and has two children. Judge Martin Nolan emphasised that McDonagh should stop drinking if he wishes to reform. The court imposed the two-and-a-half year custodial sentence.
Ricardo De Freitas Correia, a 34-year-old Portuguese national with an address in Dublin 15, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to deception and theft offences. The charges related to incidents in May 2019 at retail locations in Blanchardstown, Clondalkin, Swords and Tallaght. Gardaí established that Correia had exploited a debit card processing vulnerability, removing cards when machines prompted him to do so, then swiping them again to complete purchases without entering PINs. He acquired approximately €400 worth of goods including a watch, video games, perfume and an electric toothbrush through this method. All property was recovered. The court heard Correia was acting under direction from another person. Judge Elma Sheahan described the offending as organised and noted Correia's considerable knowledge of circumventing security measures. She imposed a two-and-a-half-year sentence, fully suspended on condition of Probation Service supervision following completion of a sentence he was already serving.
Edwards Wall, 46, was sentenced to 16 months in prison for two burglaries at The Well pub in Dublin. He had 177 prior convictions, including 68 for burglary. On January 8, 2020, CCTV captured him entering a restricted area of the pub and stealing six bottles of Jameson whiskey worth €360. Two days later he returned and stole another six bottles. No items were recovered. Wall pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He was arrested on January 11, 2020, and has been in custody since. The judge noted his extensive criminal record, drug addiction, and that the thefts were discovered by "happenstance." He described Wall as "not a very accomplished burglar" and highlighted the seriousness of burglary, imposing the sentence backdated to account for time already spent in custody. The sentence was imposed during the Covid‑19 pandemic, limiting family visits. The court did not mention any future appeals or additional charges.
Mr Justice Paul McDermott sentenced four individuals at the Central Criminal Court for their roles in the murder and concealment of Patricia O'Connor. Augustine 'Gus' O'Connor, who pleaded guilty to reporting his wife as missing while knowing she was dead, was sentenced to 18 months in prison. The judge described his actions as a betrayal of his wife and son. Louise O'Connor, found guilty of acquiescing in her daughter Stephanie disguising herself as the deceased to conceal the murder, received a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence. Stephanie O'Connor, found guilty of disguising herself as her grandmother, was jailed for one-and-a-half years. Keith Johnston, found guilty of assisting Kieran Greene in purchasing implements used to conceal the remains, was sentenced to three years. Mr Justice McDermott noted that Greene, who was separately sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder, had changed his account of the killing. The judge emphasized that the defendants' efforts to conceal the crime were elaborate and callous, noting that no attempt was made to seek emergency assistance. The sentences reflect the distinct culpability of each defendant, with the judge highlighting Louise O'Connor's dominant role in the household and Keith Johnston's intent to ensure the remains were never found.