Two Dublin men, Kevin Braney (44) and Ciaran Maguire (30), were convicted of IRA membership by the Special Criminal Court and sentenced to four years and six months and four years and eleven months respectively. The court found that on 13 July 2017 they travelled from Dublin to an estate in County Meath, where they threatened an accident victim, claiming to be the IRA and threatening to shoot him if he did not withdraw a claim. The victim, who had fallen from a roof and suffered fractures, had filed a claim against his former employer over unpaid wages and hospital bills. Evidence from CCTV and the National Surveillance Unit corroborated the men's travel and threat. The judge relied on belief evidence from Detective Chief Superintendent Tom Maguire, concluding beyond reasonable doubt that the men were IRA members and had threatened the victim. The sentences were back‑dated to 2 August 2017 when the men entered custody. Kevin Braney was acquitted.
Dean Evans, 27, of Raheny, Dublin, received a mandatory life sentence at the Special Criminal Court for the murder of Peter Butterly. Evans pleaded guilty to shooting Butterly outside The Huntsman Inn, Gormanstown, Co Meath, in March 2013. He was extradited from Spain in April after failing to appear for a trial scheduled in January 2017. Evans expressed remorse, stating he made decisions as a younger man that he would not make today. The court heard from the victim's widow, who described the family's trauma. Evans is the third person to receive a life sentence for this murder, following convictions for Edward McGrath and Sharif Kelly. Frank Murphy, 58, of Bettystown, Co Meath, also appeared at the Special Criminal Court today, where he was charged with firearms offences arising out of the events at the Huntsman Inn. Previous firearms charges against Murphy were struck out. Three other men, Kevin Braney, Michael McDermott, and Frank Murphy, are due to go on trial later this year on the same murder charge.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Christopher Lenihan, aged 28, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended, following a 2017 assault on his ex‑partner Grace Brady at the Plaza Hotel, Tallaght. Lenihan held Brady down, punched her repeatedly, grabbed her hair, and covered her mouth to silence her. He later threatened to release personal photographs of her if she did not comply. After the attack, Lenihan sent over 200 harassing texts and emails, and was arrested for harassment in January 2017. He pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and assault causing harm, and admitted further harassment between 13 and 31 January. The judge noted Lenihan showed no remorse and had limited insight into the impact of his actions. Lenihan must complete probation supervision for 18 months, offence‑focused work, and a domestic‑violence programme if suitable. He has a prior conviction for breach of a barring order in February 2016.
A man from Strokestown, County Longford, has been sentenced to four years in prison for causing over €50,000 in damage to Oberstown Children Detention Campus during four separate incidents in 2016. The 18-year-old, who was 16 at the time, pleaded guilty to four counts of criminal damage at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The incidents involved stand-offs with staff spanning between three and four hours each. One incident included a fire being set in a multi-purpose room. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed the sentence with the final year suspended, and ordered two years' probation supervision upon release. The court acknowledged Ward's efforts at rehabilitation while in detention and his expressions of remorse, but noted the incidents were violent and aggressive, causing significant anxiety to staff and residents. Two further counts of assault and theft were taken into account.
Ryan McLoughlin, aged 22, was found guilty of assaulting Scott Byrne on the Tallaght bypass on 26 May 2013. McLoughlin followed Byrne after a night out, stabbed him in the buttock and stomach, and during the attack sliced an artery in his own left hand. Byrne was treated at Tallaght Hospital while McLoughlin was later taken to the hospital on a trolley with his injured hand. McLoughlin, who has prior convictions for drug offences and traffic matters, pleaded guilty on his trial date. The prosecution noted delays in the case and presented a victim impact statement and medical report. The court remanded McLoughlin in custody until December, when a sentence will be finalised, and ordered updated psychological and probation reports.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Kevin Braney (44) and Ciaran Maguire (30) were found guilty of IRA membership. The men had denied membership on August 2, 2017, but evidence from Detective Chief Superintendent Tom Maguire and CCTV showed they travelled from Dublin to an estate in County Meath on July 13, 2017. There, they threatened an accident victim, claiming to be the IRA and saying they would shoot him if he did not withdraw a claim against a former employer. The victim, who had suffered a fall and injuries, had filed a claim for unpaid wages and hospital bills. The court, satisfied beyond reasonable doubt of the men's IRA membership, found the threat a planned, joined enterprise to intimidate. Both men were remanded in custody until sentencing on July 31. The offence carries a maximum sentence of eight years. The court noted the men's family circumstances and prior convictions but did not yet impose a sentence.
David McCarton, a former defence forces member aged 38, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment with the final two years suspended for possession of child pornography and sexual exploitation of a child. The offence involved a young girl aged 11‑13 who believed she was communicating with a 14‑year‑old girl. McCarton recorded and possessed multiple illegal video and image files, including category one and category two child pornography, and admitted to viewing them out of curiosity. He also pleaded guilty to theft of ammunition and a magazine clip. The court noted his lack of prior convictions, his cooperation, and remorse, as well as the aggravating circumstances of the offence's nature and duration. The sentence, back‑dated to his custody, includes strict probation conditions and participation in a sex offenders treatment programme. No further offences have been reported since his admission of guilt.
A man arrested in Spain following his failure to appear at trial has pleaded guilty to murdering dissident republican Peter Butterly at the Special Criminal Court. Dean Evans, aged 27 and from Dublin, admitted to the charge of murdering Mr Butterly, who was shot dead outside The Huntsman Inn, Gormanstown, County Meath on 6 March 2013. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy remanded Evans in custody pending sentencing on 31 July, when he will receive a mandatory life sentence. Evans is the third person to receive a life sentence for the killing, following the conviction last year of Edward McGrath and Sharif Kelly. Three other men remain scheduled to stand trial later this year on the same charge, including a man with an address in Cavan. Evans had absconded before his trial was due to commence in January 2017, prompting a European Arrest Warrant. He was apprehended in Spain in April and subsequently surrendered to Irish authorities.
A court heard that a serial burglar, Lewis Smith, 21, was linked to a 2015 burglary after a two‑year delay in a forensic report that identified his DNA on blood left at the scene. Smith had 30 prior convictions, ten of which were burglaries, and pleaded guilty to trespass and theft at Hazel Grove, Tallaght. The burglary caused €1,400 in damage and theft of items worth €800. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a two‑year sentence with nine months suspended and reactivated six months of a partially suspended robbery sentence to run concurrently. Smith was already serving another sentence due to expire next year. The judge noted the burglary lacked aggravating factors but had an upsetting effect on the victim, who declined to give a victim impact statement. Smith's personal turmoil, including a family death, was cited as a factor in his criminal behaviour.
Gerard Lawlor, 68, of Balrothery, Tallaght, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 11 counts of fraudulently claiming €167,874 in social welfare payments from 2005 to 2015. The fraud was uncovered when his ex‑wife was audited by Revenue, revealing that Lawlor had claimed pre‑retirement, adult dependence, and jobseeker allowances while not living with his partner and while self‑employed. He also received rent payments for a co‑owned property and sold and purchased properties during the period. Lawlor, a father‑of‑three with no prior convictions, cooperated with Gardaí and entered an early guilty plea. He was sentenced to a wholly suspended three‑year term on 15 June 2017, a decision upheld by the Court of Appeal after the Director of Public Prosecutions appealed for a custodial sentence.
A 28‑year‑old Dubliner, Michael Corbett, was sentenced to nine years in prison for attempting to murder a 17‑year‑old and assaulting two friends at the Hellfire Club on Dublin's Montpelier Hill on 27 June 2016. Six years of the sentence were suspended because Corbett was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia at the time. He pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court. The judge praised the victim's courage and the two friends' assistance, noting the victim had a four‑inch stab wound to the chest and was close to losing his life. Corbett's sentence will be finalised on 31 July after a probation report. The victims expressed disappointment at the suspended portion, describing fear, trauma and lasting psychological effects. The case remains in custody pending the probation review.
A 35‑year‑old Nigerian wedding photographer, Adewale Yusuf, avoided jail after repaying all stolen money he had transferred from an account that had been used by a Russian company to receive €30,000 from an Italian firm. The money, totalling €9,002, had been transferred to Yusuf's account and then to other accounts linked to him. Yusuf pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of transferring property that was the proceeds of criminal conduct while knowing or being reckless about its source. Judge Karen O'Connor suspended a two‑year prison sentence, noting Yusuf's low risk of re‑offending and his full repayment. Yusuf admitted he had no knowledge of the money's origin and had transferred it because he lacked a card for the account, which normally held little money. He had five prior traffic convictions and had been in financial trouble in 2013.
In a sentence hearing on 2 July 2018, Mr Justice Michael White praised a 28‑year‑old man and a young woman for preventing the death of their 17‑year‑old friend who was stabbed at the Hellfire Club on 27 June 2016. The teenager had been attacked by Michael Corbett, who had a knife and was described as "in the throws of a psychotic episode". Corbett had attempted to murder the teen, stabbing him in the chest and cutting his throat three times before the teen managed to push him away. The teen was later stabbed again in the chest, the knife breaking and a log being used to strike him. The two other teenagers intervened, one of whom was also assaulted. The judge highlighted the courage of the friends in stopping the attack and noted that the teen had survived with serious injuries. Corbett pleaded guilty to attempted murder and was remanded in custody until 16 July.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Glen Byrne, aged 40, was sentenced to three and a half years' imprisonment for possessing €350,000 in criminal proceeds. The money was found in seven bales, each about €50,000, wrapped in masking tape and stored in a box inside a van driven by Byrne. The court described the operation as "planned and very well executed" and noted that Byrne had no financial duress, no declared drug addiction or debts, and had a strong work history. Judge Martina Baxter suspended the final six months of the sentence, citing Byrne's lack of prior convictions, his early guilty plea, and supportive letters. The case involved co‑accused Paul Carew, who had earlier been jailed for eight years for related money‑laundering offences. The possession of the cash was discovered during a surveillance operation targeting large organised crime. Byrne's sentence was back‑dated to 19 June 2017, the date he entered custody.
A 25-year-old man has received a fully suspended sentence for his involvement in an armed robbery at a pizzeria in Tallaght in September 2015. Craig Dempsey, now resident in Achill, County Mayo, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbing Apache Pizza in Oldbawn Shopping Centre, where approximately €2,535 was taken. He also admitted robbing a Spar store in Ballycullen in July 2015 while producing a broken bottle. The court heard that Dempsey and an accomplice, who carried an electric chainsaw, entered the pizzeria in the early hours demanding money. Judge Melanie Greally imposed consecutive sentences totalling six years, fully suspended for three years. The judge noted that Dempsey's principal risk factors, including cocaine use and association with antisocial peers, had been addressed. The court was informed that Dempsey had relocated to Mayo to distance himself from negative influences and was now caring for his unwell mother.
Gerard Lawlor, 68, of Balrothery, Tallaght, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 11 counts of fraudulently claiming €167,873 in social welfare payments from 2005 to 2015. The fraud was uncovered during a Revenue audit of his former wife's dieting company, which revealed that Lawlor had been claiming pre‑retirement payments for himself and adult dependent allowances for his estranged wife. On 15 June 2017 Judge Karen O'Connor imposed a wholly suspended three‑year sentence with strict conditions, citing a reluctance to imprison Lawlor because it would be detrimental to the life of his sisters, who rely on his support. The Director of Public Prosecutions has requested a review of the sentence on the grounds that it was unduly lenient. The Court of Appeal has reserved its judgment. The case remains at the appeal stage, with no further outcome reported.
Philip Nolan, 30, of Tallaght, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of child pornography, including text stories, images and videos, found in his home during a 2011 search. Australian investigators had alerted Irish authorities via Interpol about an IP address linked to Nolan's residence. Forensic examination in 2017 uncovered 106 files, including videos of pre‑teens masturbating, images of pre‑teen boys and girls with exposed genitals, and hentai images depicting five‑year‑olds in penetrative sex with an adult male. Nolan admitted attempting to masturbate to the material but expressed shame and regret. Judge Pauline Codd imposed a suspended sentence of two and a half years, conditional on Nolan attending a sexual offenders treatment programme. He was deemed low risk of re‑offending, had no prior convictions, and had accepted responsibility for his actions.
Brendan Delappe, 58, avoided jail after a suspended sentence of two and a half years for failing to pay €150,000 in tax. The court found his offences were not systemic fraud but stemmed from a poor business model and bad management, exacerbated by depression following his wife's death in 2008. Delappe had provided merchandising services, charged VAT to a company, but did not remit the payments to Revenue. He also failed to file correct income tax returns between 2007 and 2012. Revenue Officer Karen Burns reported €140,626 in unpaid VAT and €19,615 in unpaid income tax. Delappe pleaded guilty, cooperated with Gardaí, and showed genuine remorse. His three adult daughters now manage his affairs and are organising repayments. Judge Melanie Greally noted mitigating factors, including his depression, guilty plea, and cooperation, and commended the daughters' support. The headline sentence was four years, but the final imposed term was fully suspended.
Daniel McDonnell, aged 23, was convicted of murdering 16‑year‑old Melanie McCarthy McNamara in Tallaght on 8 February 2012. The Central Criminal Court found that a shot from a stolen black Hyundai Santa Fe hit McCarthy in the head while she sat in a car with her boyfriend and a friend. McDonnell was arrested the following week and pleaded not guilty. He was found guilty by a jury after over four hours of deliberation and received a mandatory life sentence on 24 January 2014. McDonnell appealed in April, arguing the reliability of two letters he wrote while in custody. The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, ruling the trial was fair and the jury's verdict safe, and upheld the conviction. The appeal also rejected arguments about the letters' admissibility and the lack of other evidence. The case remains at the appeal stage.
A man from Lucan has been sentenced to six years imprisonment at the Special Criminal Court for his involvement in a kneecapping incident in County Dublin in January 2013. Eamon McNamee, aged 37, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence, namely assault causing harm. The court heard that a man was shot in the leg at Fairgreen, Saggart after being brought to the location by McNamee and others. Gardaí recovered a bullet and found firearms residue on McNamee matching residue on the injured party's clothing. McNamee remained silent during police interviews. The three-judge court reduced his sentence from eight years and six months to six years, suspending the final two years following his public disassociation from unlawful organisations. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy noted this undertaking was a rare occurrence before the court and that McNamee held the lowest rank in the chain of command. He was also ordered to enter a €1,000 bond to keep the peace for five years.
Graham Fitzgerald, 22, and his cousin Gary Fitzgerald, 21, appeared at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court regarding an arson at Green Hills Court Apartments in Tallaght on March 26, 2015. Graham Fitzgerald pleaded guilty to arson and an attempted robbery at Milanos in February 2016. Gary Fitzgerald also pleaded guilty to the arson charge. Judge Melanie Greally noted that Graham's case had been adjourned on successive occasions, most recently to encourage engagement with the Probation Service. She cited his young age, drug use, and antisocial peers at the time of the offences, alongside psychological vulnerabilities. The court accepted tangible evidence that Graham was now drug-free. Judge Greally imposed consecutive sentences totalling five years, suspended in full on strict conditions. Gary Fitzgerald, who had seven previous convictions, received a three-year sentence with the final six months suspended for the arson offence. The court heard that the fire caused €45,000 in damage to an unoccupied apartment in a Focus Ireland complex, forcing an evacuation. While Gardaí could not establish the exact cause of the fire, CCTV identified the defendants as intruders. Graham had four previous convictions, including criminal damage, and was on bail for the arson when he committed the attempted robbery.
Michael Rae, 38, of Tallaght, pleaded guilty to arson at Knockmore Park on 26 May 2017, when he set fire to a car outside a family home using a makeshift petrol bomb in a plastic bottle. The incident, described by Judge Melanie Greally as an "extraordinarily dangerous" offence, was linked to a history of discord between Rae and the Brazil family. Rae was found intoxicated, with a slurred voice, and fled the scene after the car caught fire. CCTV from a petrol station and a nearby house showed Rae filling the bottle, setting it alight, and running to the Brazil house. He was sentenced to five years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, and was ordered not to approach the Brazil house or family for five years. The car, valued at €750, was written off and the house suffered smoke damage. Rae has 29 prior convictions, including road traffic offences, assault and criminal damage.
Dermot Griffin, 58, of Ballyfermot, was convicted of manslaughter after setting fire to a makeshift den on Rossfield Avenue, Tallaght, on 1 September 2001, killing 12‑year‑old Stephen Hughes. The 13‑day trial concluded with a 15‑year prison sentence imposed by Judge Patricia Ryan on 23 June 2014. Griffin appealed the conviction and sentence, but the Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice George Birmingham, dismissed the appeal in March. The court upheld the 15‑year term, citing the extreme recklessness of the offence and the high harm caused by the death of a child. Evidence included footage of an unidentified man, later identified as Griffin, approaching the den at about 5 a.m. and the den catching fire immediately. Witnesses, including former partner Tracy Deegan and others, testified that Griffin had left the house twice that night and intended to burn the hut.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Joseph Rafferty, aged 38, was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment for a cocaine‑fuelled rampage that lasted eight hours and covered 45 km. Rafferty seized multiple vehicles at gunpoint, pursued Gardaí in a high‑speed chase, and committed false imprisonment, aggravated burglary, threats with a sub‑machine gun and reckless endangerment. He pleaded guilty to burglary at Watergate Estate, assault of a homeowner, criminal damage, two carjacking counts, three counts of possessing a sub‑machine gun, unlawful possession of 9 mm Luger ammunition and reckless endangerment. He also admitted stealing a vehicle from Carroll and Roche Subaru. The judge noted his 34 prior convictions and reduced a potential 14‑year sentence to nine years, citing guilty pleas and remorse. No serious injuries were reported, though a man sustained a head laceration during a break‑in. The case highlighted the extensive police response, including 50 Gardaí, air support and the Garda Dog Unit.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Christopher Lenihan, aged 28, pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and assault causing harm after beating his ex‑partner Grace Brady at the Plaza Hotel, Tallaght, on 13 January 2017. Lenihan held Brady down, punched her repeatedly, grabbed her hair, and bit her arm, preventing her from breathing. He later sent over 200 harassing texts, threatening to release personal photographs if she did not comply. Brady reported the attack to Gardaí, who arrested Lenihan at his home on 31 January. Lenihan also admitted harassing Brady between 13 and 31 January. He has a prior conviction for breach of a barring order. The judge adjourned the case to July, noting Lenihan's alcohol abuse and high risk of re‑offending, and indicated a likely prison sentence.
Paul Bradley, aged 54, denies murdering Neil Reilly, 36, who was found dead at Esker Glebe after a shotgun attack on 18 January 2017. Bradley claims a masked man fired a shot that "whizzed" past his head while he slept. He says he tried to pursue the shooter but failed to locate him. Bradley and his sons Jason (20), Dean (24) and Ryan (18) have pleaded not guilty. Garda testimony notes Bradley's jeep was damaged and had blood on the driver's side panel and front wheel; Bradley attributes the damage to an earlier, unreported accident. Sgt Maeve Ward reports a broken sitting‑room window and glass on the floor at Bradley's home. Jason Bradley was found with a deep cut on his hand and dried blood on his feet; he was taken to Tallaght Hospital. The trial is before Justice Paul Coffey with a jury of twelve.
Liam Walsh, aged 26, was sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment for a series of thefts committed in Dublin during 2017. Over a two‑month period he stole bags, purses, wallets and a handbag from unsuspecting patrons of restaurants, a bar, Christchurch Cathedral and Whitefriar Street church. CCTV footage identified him and he was arrested on 20 October 2017. While in custody at Pearse Street Garda Station he attempted to escape in a "moment of madness" when the back gate opened to admit a Garda vehicle; he was pursued and recaptured a short distance away. Walsh pleaded guilty to the thefts and the escape, and he has 66 prior convictions. The judge, citing his attempts at rehabilitation and cooperation, imposed the sentence back‑dated to October 2017.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Kevin Braney (44) and Ciaran Maguire (30) were found guilty of membership in the Irish Republican Army (IRA). The court considered evidence that on 13 July 2017 the men travelled from Dublin to Longwood, County Meath, where they threatened an accident victim, saying they were the IRA and would shoot him if he did not withdraw a claim against a former employer. The victim, who had suffered injuries after falling from a roof, had filed a claim for unpaid wages and hospital bills. The court accepted belief evidence from Detective Chief Superintendent Tom Maguire that the men were IRA members, and corroborated this with CCTV and National Surveillance Unit testimony. The judge concluded beyond reasonable doubt that the men were IRA members and that their threats were deliberate intimidation. The defendants remain in custody until sentencing on 24 July.
Peter Hilliard, 54, of Tallaght, was convicted of sexually assaulting two vulnerable residents in a nursing home in Rathfarnham between February 2013 and June 2016. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. In June 2016 a colleague saw a Facebook video of Hilliard assaulting an elderly resident; Hilliard had recorded the assault with a mobile phone and uploaded the video, claiming he had only a few hours of sleep and had "mistakenly" posted it. He received an 18‑month suspended sentence from Judge Karen O'Connor on 24 October 2017. The Court of Appeal, hearing the case before Justices John Hedigan, George Birmingham and Alan Mahon, found the sentence "unduly lenient" and re‑sentenced him to 12 months imprisonment, with the final six months suspended. The victims were patients with profound intellectual disabilities, one with advanced dementia and the other with limited awareness of the assault.
Pawel Wisniewski, aged 43, was sentenced to an additional 33 months in jail for possessing cannabis and a stolen Ford Mondeo after being caught at a Dublin grow‑house. He had previously received a four‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for diesel theft and possession of cannabis and a firearm. The new sentence runs consecutively to a two‑and‑a‑half‑year term for earlier cannabis and firearm offences, and to a two‑year term for diesel theft. Wisniewski, who has 34 prior convictions, pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 12 October 2017. Judge Martin Nolan noted his mechanical and electrical skills and his cooperation, but highlighted that he was on bail for other offences at the time of the arrest. The court emphasised that he must avoid further criminal conduct. The case involved the seizure of 35 cannabis plants worth up to €28,000 and a stolen car found at Collinstown Cross Industrial Estate.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 9 May 2018, a 30‑year‑old man was sentenced to a three‑year suspended term for breaking into his ex‑partner's Tallaght home on 7 April, assaulting her and falsely imprisoning their one‑year‑old daughter. Gardaí found him intoxicated at about 5 am, ten minutes from the house, and persuaded him to return the child. The judge, Martin Nolan, imposed the suspended sentence on the condition that the man keep the peace for the duration of the term, comply with Probation Services supervision for 18 months, and refrain from approaching or contacting his ex‑partner or the child for three years unless authorised by the mother or a Family Court order. The court warned that breaching this condition could result in imprisonment. The man had previously been convicted of threatening and abusive behaviour. The unnamed 30-year-old pleaded guilty.
In 2014, former Garda press officer David Taylor was found to have made over 11,000 contacts with journalists between September and December, with 2,800 (24 %) involving Irish Sun reporter Eavan Murray. Chief Superintendent Francis Clerkin, who led the inquiry, said Taylor had been instructed to brief journalists negatively about whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe and had also forwarded "Critical Incident Reports" to his personal email. The investigation revealed that Taylor had deleted a large proportion of messages from his phone and personal account, and that a second mobile phone and laptop were seized in February 2015. Taylor was arrested in April 2015 and a file was sent to the DPP recommending prosecution for unlawful disclosure, but the DPP later decided not to prosecute. The tribunal concluded its hearing on the matter in February 2016, with no further disciplinary action taken.
Plasterer Patrick O'Reilly, 56, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to assault causing harm and unlawful production of a baseball bat. The incident occurred on August 8, 2016, at the Kiltipper Inn in Tallaght, where O'Reilly allegedly attacked Frank Shannon following a dispute over Olympic sailing. Garda Cian Steers testified that O'Reilly struck Mr. Shannon multiple times before being disarmed by others. Mr. Shannon suffered a full-depth hole in his upper lip, resulting in a permanent scar, though no bones or teeth were broken. O'Reilly handed himself in to gardai the following day. In mitigation, defense counsel Gaby Dean BL highlighted O'Reilly's remorse, his clean criminal record, and his background in sports, including two caps for Ireland in hockey. Judge Patrick Quinn acknowledged that O'Reilly made a "stupid decision" but noted his immediate admission of guilt and apologetic demeanor. The court suspended a 12-month prison sentence on the condition that O'Reilly pays €1,000 to the victim. The judge cited O'Reilly's good character and remorse as key factors in the disposal.
Robert Cronnolly, 29, of Tallaght, pleaded guilty to assaulting Cornelia Brouder on 26 March 2017. He punched her several times, grabbed her throat and attempted to strangle her, causing her jaw to fracture in three places and requiring facial surgery. Brouder suffered ongoing pain, anxiety and nightmares. The court heard that Cronnolly had been arguing with his girlfriend when Brouder intervened to stop a potential attack on her flatmate. He was sentenced to three years in prison, with a headline sentence of four to four and a half years, reduced by his guilty plea, remorse and mitigating personal qualities. Cronnolly has 12 prior convictions, including assault, and a history of alcohol and drug addiction. The judge described the assault as vicious, reprehensible and unforgivable. The sentence was passed by Judge Martin Nolan.
John Luong, 42, was sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to eight counts of theft from Icon Plc between November 2013 and November 2014. He stole a total of €156,497 by altering invoices and substituting his own IBAN details, diverting payments meant for the company into his personal account. The amounts ranged from €3,000 to €35,000 per incident. Luong, an accounts administrator, admitted a gambling addiction that drove the theft, estimating he had taken about €70,000. He had been suspended and later dismissed after an audit revealed the diversions. The judge described the theft as a "huge error of judgement" and a breach of trust, noting that none of the stolen money has been recovered. Luong has seven prior convictions for road traffic offences. The court acknowledged his personal suffering but emphasized the seriousness of the financial loss.
Pawel Wisniewski, 43, was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison for stealing thousands of litres of diesel from an Applegreen service station in Balbriggan over three days in August 2019. He also received a two-and-a-half year sentence for possession of cannabis for sale or supply and a firearm at a grow‑house in Tallaght, and a two‑year sentence for the diesel offence, all to run consecutively. Wisniewski, a qualified electrician and former Polish army serviceman, used a cloned Applegreen card to pump diesel into his van, stealing €5,220 worth of fuel. He was also convicted of driving without insurance. His girlfriend received a suspended one‑year sentence. Wisniewski was disqualified from driving for three years and his sentence was back‑dated to October 2019. The court noted this was the first case involving large‑scale diesel theft of this nature. Pawel Wisniewski pleaded guilty.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, two men, Kevin Braney, 44, and Ciaran Maguire, 30, pleaded not guilty to membership of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). The prosecution alleged that on 13 July 2017 the accused travelled from Dublin to Longwood, County Meath, where Braney threatened a man, saying they were the IRA and that if he did not drop a claim against a former employer they would shoot him. The prosecution relied on Chief Superintendent Tom Maguire's opinion that the men were IRA members, CCTV evidence, and testimony from the National Surveillance Unit. Defence counsel argued that the chief superintendent's opinion was unsubstantiated, that there was no reliable evidence of the threat, and that the likelihood of two men threatening a victim in a built‑up area was low. Judge Tony Hunt, with Judges Gerard Griffin and Flann Brennan, announced that a verdict would be delivered on 30 May.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, a National Surveillance Unit garda reported seeing Kevin Braney (44) and Ciaran Maguire (30) walk up the driveway of a house in Longwood, County Meath, where a man had claimed the men threatened to shoot him. The garda, whose identity is protected, stated that he was in Longwood on the evening of 13 July 2017 and observed a Ford Mondeo parked opposite the alleged victim's house. He then saw Braney and Maguire approach the house. The prosecution alleges that one of the men told the victim they were IRA members and threatened to shoot him if he did not drop a claim against a former employer. Braney and Maguire pleaded not guilty to membership of the Irish Republican Army. The court ruled that an interview conducted with Maguire under a section allowing inferences from refusal to answer questions was inadmissible. The trial will continue with closing speeches tomorrow.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, two Dublin men, Kevin Braney, 44, and Ciaran Maguire, 30, both pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation styled the Irish Republican Army (IRA). The prosecution alleged that on 2 August 2017, one accused told another man in Longwood, County Meath that they were the IRA and threatened to shoot him if he did not drop a claim against a former employer. The defence challenged the admissibility of the interviews. Detective Garda Brian Power and Detective Sergeant Carrie O'Connor each interviewed the accused on that date, invoking Section 2 of the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act, 1998, which allows inferences from a suspect's refusal to answer questions. Both men answered no questions. Judge Tony Hunt, with Judges Gerard Griffin and Flann Brennan, scheduled a ruling on the admissibility issue for the following morning. The trial continues.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Kevin Braney (44) and Ciaran Maguire (30) pleaded not guilty to IRA membership. They told a witness that they would shoot him if he did not drop a claim against a former employer. The witness, who was at home in Longwood on 13 July, heard heavy knocking, saw the two men, and was told they were IRA members. They claimed the witness had a claim against his former employer, who allegedly did work for republicans in Portlaoise prison, and urged him to drop the claim, calling it fraudulent. The witness said he was shocked and that he had indeed a claim for hospital bills after a fall on a roof. The court also heard that the men were seen driving from Dublin to Longwood that day. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt.
A Dublin man, Declan Tynan, aged 28, had served 11 months in jail for a violent disorder conviction at a Tallaght bookmakers on 13 December 2012. The prosecution alleged he was one of three men who attacked a customer, with one attacker stabbing repeatedly. Tynan's defence argued the case relied solely on a visual identification by a Garda from CCTV footage, and that no medical or victim impact reports were produced. A jury found him guilty, sentencing him to four years with the final year suspended. After an appeal was dismissed, new evidence emerged: another man claimed to have been the third attacker. The Court of Appeal quashed Tynan's conviction under Section 2 of the Criminal Procedure Act 1993, with no opposition from the Director of Public Prosecutions. The court noted procedural failures in handling the CCTV evidence, including lack of logs and inadequate testing of the identification process. No further outcome was reported.
The Special Criminal Court is hearing a second day of legal argument in the case of Kevin Braney, 44, and Ciaran Maguire, 30, who have pleaded not guilty to membership of the Irish Republican Army. Defence counsel are challenging evidence supplied by the National Surveillance Unit. The prosecution alleges that one of the accused told a man in Longwood, County Meath, that they were the IRA and threatened to shoot him if he did not drop a claim against a former employer. The hearing will continue on Monday before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, Judge Gerard Griffin and Judge Flann Brennan.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Kevin Braney, 44, and Ciaran Maguire, 30, both pleaded not guilty to charges of Irish Republican Army membership. The prosecution alleged that one accused told a man in Longwood, County Meath, that they were the IRA and threatened to shoot him if he did not drop a claim against a former employer. Defence counsel objected to evidence from the National Surveillance Unit. The case will continue tomorrow before Justice Tony Hunt, Judge Gerard Griffin and Judge Flann Brennan.
A man charged with the murder of Peter Butterly appeared at the Special Criminal Court after his arrest in Spain. Dean Evans, aged 25, from Raheny in Dublin, failed to appear for trial in January 2017 for the alleged murder of Butterly, who was shot dead outside The Huntsman Inn in Gormanstown, Co Meath in March 2013. Evans was arrested on April 5th in Spain pursuant to a European Arrest Warrant and consented to his return to Ireland. He was arrested again at Dublin Airport on Monday night. The court heard that Evans made no reply when cautioned. Mr Justice Tony Hunt indicated that Evans would be included in an October trial alongside three other men facing charges relating to the same alleged murder. Evans was remanded in custody pending a mention hearing on April 24th.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, judges ruled that the extensions to the detentions of Kevin Braney, 44, and Ciaran Maguire, 30, were lawful. Both men had pleaded not guilty to membership of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). Defence counsel had objected to the extensions, and Rosario Boyle SC for Braney challenged the use of CCTV evidence. The court heard the arguments and, with Justice Tony Hunt presiding alongside Judges Gerard Griffin and Flann Brennan, announced that a ruling would be made the following day.
In the Court of Appeal, Daniel McDonnell's lawyers argued that letters he wrote while in custody, bragging about the murder of 16‑year‑old Melanie McCarthy, were unreliable and should not have been admitted to the jury. McDonnell, 23, had been convicted of the murder on the basis of these letters and a single piece of graffiti. His barrister, Bernard Condon SC, contended that the letters were produced by a 17‑year‑old in a 23‑hour lock‑up, with a history of drug use and limited education, making them suspect. He highlighted the lack of other evidence linking McDonnell to the crime and the absence of safeguards during the letters' creation. The prosecution, represented by Brendan Grehan SC, maintained that the letters were voluntary, lucid, and highly probative. The appeal was heard by a panel of three judges, who reserved judgment on the matter. Daniel McDonnell pleaded not guilty.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, two men, Kevin Braney, 44, and Ciaran Maguire, 30, who live in Dublin, have pleaded not guilty to charges of membership in the Irish Republican Army. The prosecution alleges that Braney told a man in Longwood, County Meath, that they were "the IRA" and threatened to shoot him if he did not drop a claim against a former employer. Defence counsel objected to the legality of the arrests. Judge Tony Hunt, with Judges Gerard Griffin and Flann Brennan, announced that the court will decide the legal dispute tomorrow.
In the Special Criminal Court, two Dublin men, Kevin Braney, 44, and Ciaran Maguire, 30, were tried for alleged IRA membership. Both pleaded not guilty. The prosecution alleged that one accused told a man in Longwood, County Meath, that they were the IRA and threatened to shoot him if he did not drop a claim against a former employer. Defence counsel objected to the arrests of Braney and Maguire. The hearing continued tomorrow before Justice Tony Hunt, Judge Gerard Griffin and Judge Flann Brennan.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Detective Chief Superintendent Tom Maguire testified that he believed Kevin Braney, aged 44, and Ciaran Maguire, aged 30, were members of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) on the day in question. He based this belief on confidential information. Detective Sergeant Padraig Boyce provided evidence of Braney's association with individuals previously convicted by the Special Criminal Court, noting Braney's presence outside the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin on 3 February, conversing with Ciaran Burke, a 2012 firearms conviction. Boyce also mentioned Braney's attendance at an "anti-supergrass protest." The defendants pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation. The case is being heard by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, with Judges Gerard Griffin and Flann Brennan presiding. The trial continues.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, two men, Kevin Braney (43) and Ciaran Maguire (29), pleaded not guilty to membership of the Irish Republican Army. Prosecutor Fiona Murphy presented belief evidence from Detective Chief Superintendent Tom Maguire that the accused were IRA members on the day in question. She also introduced evidence that on 13 July 2016 Braney and Maguire travelled to Longwood, County Meath, where they confronted a man involved in a dispute with a former employer. The men allegedly told the man that if he did not drop a claim against his former employer, the next time they saw him they would shoot him. The prosecution also cited the men's arrest on 2 August 2017 and subsequent Garda interview, arguing that their failure to answer investigative questions should be inferred. The case is before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, with Judges Gerard Griffin and Flann Brennan presiding.