Michael Kinsella, aged 24, has been sentenced to two years imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after admitting he intimidated a witness in a criminal investigation. Kinsella, formerly of addresses in Tallaght, Dublin and Ardkeen, Cavan, pleaded guilty to sending a threatening text message to a woman who had provided statements to gardaí investigating a murder inquiry in October 2011. The message contained references to violence and named a relative with whom the witness was residing. Detective Garda Brendan O'Hora gave evidence that the text would have been understood as a threat. Judge Terence O'Sullivan noted the seriousness with which he regarded witness intimidation and imposed the sentence to run concurrently with Kinsella's existing 15-year prison term for manslaughter.
A 16-year-old boy was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for assaulting a victim and causing criminal damage on the Luas. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a three-year detention order, suspending the final 18 months on strict conditions. The defendant pleaded guilty to two charges of assaulting the then 16-year-old boy and criminal damage, dated January 23 and February 28, 2015. Prosecution evidence detailed an unprovoked assault in a Tallaght park where the victim was hit, kicked, and stabbed, followed by the incident on the tram where black paint was thrown at the victim and other passengers, including an elderly woman whose coat was destroyed. The court noted the defendant had 34 previous convictions and had breached bail conditions. Judge Greally described the assaults as violent and vicious, causing disruption to the Luas service. She accepted the defendant's later admissions and cooperation with the Garda investigation. The judge warned that failure to change his behavior would result in a life behind bars. The matter was finalized with this sentence, which includes the suspended portion and strict conditions.
Mark McCowen, aged 40, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbing a man with cerebral palsy on 31 March 2014. He admitted he was heavily intoxicated, had no knowledge of the victim's disability, and had previously been convicted 66 times, including a five‑year manslaughter sentence in 1996. McCowen claimed he had stopped drinking, attends Alcoholic Anonymous, and expressed remorse. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned the case to 15 February next year, ordering a probation report and a condition that he abstain from alcohol over the adjourned period, with potential custody if he is found drunk. He was arrested after Gardaí received CCTV footage; he sold the stolen phone for €100 and spent it on alcohol. The victim suffered a cut from a kick but declined to give a victim impact statement. The court noted McCowen's long‑term addiction and health issues.
Derek Mulligan, a 43‑year‑old former estate agent turned DJ from Tallaght, was sentenced by Judge Melanie Greally at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to eight years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended. He pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply on 5 February 2015. Mulligan had previously been convicted of drug and firearm offences. He admitted that he owed €30,000 and that he had been told he would receive a €500 reduction on that debt if he agreed to transport and deliver cocaine, cannabis, ecstasy, mixing agents and prescription medication. Mulligan claimed he was coerced, saying he was "dancing to their tune" and had no choice. Gardaí had initially caught him with about €20,000 worth of cannabis in his car after a traffic offence, and a subsequent search of his home uncovered €592,471 worth of drugs, including €495,000 of cocaine.
In a case reported on 30 November 2016, Charles Farrell, aged 44, was arrested by Gardaí for loading two historic gates from Convent Cottage, Firhouse Road, into the back of a van. The gates, dating from 1710, were described by the owner as "priceless." Farrell was also charged with dangerous driving after he drove a stolen car through Tallaght on 25 June 2015, ignoring traffic signals and driving on the wrong side of the road. He pleaded guilty to theft of the gates and to unlawful use of a car and dangerous driving. The court adjourned his sentencing to 14 February 2017 to allow a probation report. Two co‑accused, James Spellman Junior and Trevor Matthews, received two‑year suspended sentences in January for their roles in the theft. Farrell has six prior convictions and was on bail at the time of the dangerous driving incident.
Joseph Hickey, aged 42, was jailed for five years after pleading guilty to possessing drugs worth over €13,000 for sale or supply at Tallaght on 28 October 2015. The court found he was a "small fish" in a larger drug operation and had no knowledge of the drugs' full value, which was €2.85 million. Hickey's involvement was motivated by a drug debt, and he had a history of chronic alcohol and cocaine addiction. He had four prior convictions, including one for child cruelty, and had received residential treatment for his addiction. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a seven‑year sentence with the final two years suspended, resulting in a five‑year custodial term. The case was part of an undercover operation that seized 28 bags of cocaine (27.9 kg) and 13 bags of heroin (6.4 kg) from Hickey's vehicle. The co‑accused was also charged with drug and firearm offences and received a similar suspended sentence.
Edward Travers, 24, of Tallaght, Dublin, was sentenced at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for burglary. He pleaded guilty to breaking into the home of a 66-year-old priest on December 2, 2013. The court heard that Travers, along with two co-accused, kicked in the door while the priest was on the phone. One co-accused allegedly punched the victim after he asked them to leave. Travers was identified via CCTV and arrested the following year. Judge Melanie Greally noted the victim was shaken, lost confidence, and upgraded his home security. The judge acknowledged Travers' remorse and positive steps toward addressing his drug addiction, including completing an anger management course. Despite his 70 previous convictions, Judge Greally imposed a three-year sentence. The final year of the sentence was suspended, and Travers was ordered to serve 12 months under probation supervision. The sentence was backdated to July, when evidence was originally heard. The matter was finalised with this sentencing order.
Derek Mulligan, aged 43, was arrested after Gardaí found over €600,000 worth of drugs in his possession, including €495,000 of cocaine, cannabis resin, ecstasy, prescription medication and mixing agents. He claimed he was a "runner" for a drug operation, saying he owed €30,000 and that he would receive a €500 reduction on his debt if he delivered drugs. Mulligan first appeared in court on 5 February 2014, pleading guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply. He has two prior convictions for drugs and firearms. Judge Melanie Greally remanded him on continuing bail until 2 December, after noting he had taken responsibility for the drugs but feared naming others. Mulligan also said he was a carer for his elderly parents and that he had been working as a DJ at the time of his arrest.
Thomas Kinsella, 37, a homeless man, was convicted of manslaughter by reason of self‑defence for the fatal stabbing of 23‑year‑old John Murdoch on 27 August 2011 in Tallaght. A Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty in December 2012 and he received a 14‑year prison sentence, five of which were suspended, on 31 January 2013. Kinsella's barrister Brendan Grehan SC has now withdrawn an appeal against conviction and is pursuing only a sentence appeal. Grehan argues the headline 14‑year term is unjustified and the five‑year suspended period is excessively long, especially given Kinsella's drug addiction and the circumstances of the incident. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Dominic McGinn SC, contended that Kinsella's habitual knife carrying aggravated the offence and justified the suspended period. The Court of Appeal will consider the appeal. Thomas Kinsella pleaded not guilty.
Joseph Hickey, 42, was found with more than €2.8 million worth of cocaine and heroin in his possession. He pleaded guilty to possessing drugs valued over €13,000 for sale or supply at Tallaght on 28 October 2015. Garda Stephen Connor explained that undercover officers were surveilling a carpark on Greenhills Road when Hickey arrived in a grey Fiat. He parked beside a co‑accused, and the two men exchanged bags that were later seized. The seized drugs included 28 bags of cocaine (27.9 kg, €1,957,000) and 13 bags of heroin (6.4 kg, €896,000), totalling €2.85 million. Hickey's co‑accused was charged with drug and firearm offences and received a seven‑year sentence with two years suspended. Hickey had four prior convictions, including one for child cruelty, and was described by his defence as a "small fish" who did not know the drugs' value. He has since undergone residential treatment for addiction.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 14 November 2016, Elliot Kidd, aged 25, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment with the final 18 months suspended, subject to strict conditions including engagement with the Probation Service and addiction and mental‑health services. Kidd pleaded guilty to possessing drugs for sale or supply on 11 June 2015. He was part of a scheme that moved €778,000 of cannabis imported from Spain, hidden under scented candles. The drugs were discovered when a customs officer with a sniffer dog found 37.9 kg of cannabis herb packed in pallets at a warehouse on 9 June 2015. Kidd, along with co‑accused Jonathan Carberry (35) and Gavin Mulvey (35), were arrested while unloading the pallets at Bath Lane, Dublin. Carberry received a seven‑year sentence with two years suspended, and Mulvey received three years with the last year suspended.
Jane Fay, 64, of Bawnlea Avenue, Tallaght, was found to have fraudulently claimed over €30,000 in social welfare benefits in the name of her late cousin, Teresa Royal. The fraud was uncovered in 2015 when a facial‑recognition check matched Fay's photo to a claim under Royal's name. Fay had stopped the fraudulent claims in September 2014 and has since repaid €22,000 to the Department of Social Protection, with an additional €11,534 remaining in a frozen bank account, leaving a balance of €747 outstanding. She pleaded guilty to 38 charges covering claims from April 2010 to September 2014, totalling €34,781 in losses. Fay has no prior convictions and has cooperated fully with Gardaí, providing admissions and testimonials from community members, friends and family. The court adjourned sentencing to February 2 to allow the balance of compensation to be gathered and to review the large number of testimonials.
Warren Brennan, 25, of Pearse Street, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbery at Alderwood Park, Tallaght, on October 27, 2015. He also pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary at a bookmakers on Lombard Street and resisting a police officer on the same occasion. Judge Catherine Murphy described the Tallaght robbery, in which Brennan attacked a 71-year-old victim with a hammer, as "particularly nasty" and involving "gratuitous violence." The judge noted Brennan's 54 previous convictions, including a 2011 three-year jail term for an attempted armed robbery. Although Brennan was on bail for the Lombard Street burglary when he committed the Tallaght robbery, he is currently in custody for other offences. The judge remanded Brennan on continuing bail until January 16 for sentence, stating she needed time to consider various reports. Defense counsel Sean Gillane SC highlighted Brennan's difficult childhood, addiction issues, and a psychiatric report indicating a risk of developing schizophrenia, urging the court not to discard him entirely. Prosecution counsel detailed how Brennan was identified after giving a false name and how he attempted to stab gardai during the Lombard Street incident. The matter was adjourned for sentencing.
At the Central Criminal Court, Ross Callery and Gerard Stevens were remanded in custody to await sentencing for their part in the killing of Dale Creighton. The seven accused, originally charged with murder and violent disorder, had their pleas changed on the 15th day of the trial. Callery and Stevens pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Jason Beresford pleaded guilty to manslaughter and violent disorder. James Reid pleaded guilty to possession of a knife. Aisling Burke pleaded guilty to violent disorder. Graham Palmer and David Burke pleaded not guilty to manslaughter. All murder charges were dropped. The court granted Aisling Burke bail until sentencing. Callery and Stevens, who had been on bail, were remanded in custody after answering their bail. The other accused, including Palmer, Beresford, Reid, and David Burke, were remanded in custody for sentencing on December 19th. The court noted a medical report might assist regarding Stevens. The incident occurred on New Year's Morning 2014 at a footbridge in Tallaght, where Creighton was assaulted and died the following day from blunt force injuries.
Edward Wall (44) and Patrick Wall (36) were sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four years imprisonment, with the final year suspended, for burglary at a house in Drogheda and an attempted burglary in Gainstown on 31 October 2014. Patrick had four prior burglary convictions, including one aggravated burglary, with two suspended sentences, one six‑month term and a community service order. Edward had eight prior burglary convictions, receiving various sentences from suspensions to a three‑year term. The Director of Public Prosecutions applied for a review on the grounds of "unduly lenient" sentences, but the Court of Appeal found no clear divergence from the norm. The judge noted the Walls' prior convictions, the planning and sophistication of the burglary, and the fact that they were on bail for other matters at the time of sentencing. The review was rejected. Edward Wall pleaded guilty. Patrick Wall pleaded guilty.
Paul Kavanagh, aged 25, was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment after stealing nearly €54,000 from the Londis shop where he worked. He had awarded himself fake Lotto wins and spent the proceeds on take‑aways, taxis and cannabis. Kavanagh had previously agreed to repay €1,000 a month to the shop owner and to pay €3,600 within three days, but he failed to do so after losing his security job amid publicity. He pleaded guilty to theft from owner Ray Sheehan between 2014 and 2015 and was found with a small amount of cannabis at his home. The judge noted his remorse, lack of prior convictions, early guilty plea and low risk of re‑offending as mitigating factors, but also that the loss was significant for the business. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the theft and the impact on the shop.
At the Central Criminal Court, the jury was discharged after five accused changed their pleas from not guilty to murder to guilty to manslaughter, while two co-accused admitted to lesser charges. The case concerns the death of Dale Creighton, who was assaulted at a Tallaght footbridge in 2014 and died from blunt force injuries. Aisling Burke pleaded guilty to violent disorder. James Reid pleaded guilty to possessing a knife. Ross Callery, Jason Beresford, David Burke, Graham Palmer, and Gerard Stevens all pleaded guilty to manslaughter. The court granted Aisling Burke bail until sentencing. Ross Callery and Gerard Stevens were remanded on bail until next Monday. Jason Beresford, David Burke, Graham Palmer, and James Reid were remanded in custody. The court directed probation reports for Callery, Stevens, Beresford, Aisling Burke, David Burke, and Palmer, as well as a victim impact report. The matter was adjourned, with sentencing scheduled for December.
Liam Fox, 19, of Rossfield Park, Tallaght, was sentenced to 20 months in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for his role in stealing €18,000 worth of computers and electronics from Brookfield Youth and Community Centre on 7 November 2014. The stolen items included five Dell laptops, three Playstations, iPads, Apple Macbooks, a digital camera and memory sticks, and the burglary caused damage to a glass door and filing cabinet. The offence lasted 55 minutes and was captured on CCTV, with Fox identified by Gardaí as one of four teenagers involved. Fox is already serving an eight‑year sentence for a separate aggravated burglary, with three‑and‑a‑half years suspended. The 20‑month term will run concurrently with that sentence. Judge Martin Nolan noted Fox's potential for reform upon release and warned that a future court appearance could result in a longer sentence. Liam Fox pleaded guilty.
Two Romanian nationals, Marius Radu, 38, and Bogdan Plesu, 31, were sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two years and two-and-a-half years in jail respectively for stealing a Visa card using a rudimentary device from an ATM and spending €17,064.67 in Argos shops. The device, described as a "Lebanese loop" made from a cut measuring tape, was used to trap the card and was later found in Plesu's girlfriend's home in Tallaght. CCTV footage linked the men to multiple Argos stores and a multi-storey car park, where the car they drove was traced to the same address. Gardaí discovered €3,500 in Plesu's room and €2,000 in Radu's room. Both men had previously pleaded guilty to theft of cash and a Visa card in January 2016. Judge Melanie Greally noted their education and employment records but was unconvinced that gambling motivated the offence.
The Central Criminal Court trial of seven Dubliners accused of murdering Dale Creighton and violent disorder is ongoing. Creighton was assaulted on New Year's Morning 2014 at a Tallaght footbridge and died the following day. All seven accused initially pleaded not guilty to both charges. However, Jason Beresford later changed his plea, admitting to the violent disorder charge while maintaining his not guilty plea to murder. The other six accused—Aisling Burke, David Burke, Graham Palmer, Ross Callery, James Reid, and Gerard Stevens—continue to contest both allegations. On the 14th day of the trial, the jury reviewed CCTV footage showing five accused running from the scene as gardai arrived. Sergeant Brian Cagney described specific actions, including kicks by Callery and Beresford, and strikes by Stevens, Palmer, and Beresford. The footage captured Beresford, Callery, Palmer, Aisling Burke, and David Burke fleeing simultaneously upon seeing police lights. James Reid and Gerard Stevens were seen moving separately. The matter was adjourned, with the prosecution case expected to conclude on Tuesday.
The Central Criminal Court trial of seven Dubliners charged with the murder of Dale Creighton has heard expert evidence regarding his cause of death. Creighton, 20, was assaulted on New Year's Morning 2014 at the footbridge over the Tallaght bypass and died the following day. Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis testified that Creighton sustained extensive blunt force trauma to the head and face, resulting in brain swelling, diffuse axonal injury, and brain stem compression. He identified a fractured skull, broken nose, dislocated thumb, and a stab wound to the thigh, noting the latter was likely inflicted by an implement other than a knife. Toxicology revealed modest alcohol and trace cocaine levels. Dr Curtis concluded the cause of death was blunt force injury, stating that axonal injury could result from direct violence or prolonged coma. Under cross-examination, he acknowledged that injuries from an earlier assault by a man not before the court could have contributed to the fatal brain damage. The accused are Aisling Burke, David Burke, Graham Palmer, Ross Callery, James Reid, Jason Beresford, and Gerard Stevens. All pleaded not guilty to murder. While all initially pleaded not guilty to violent disorder, Jason Beresford later changed his plea to guilty for that specific charge. The trial continues before Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy and a jury.
The Central Criminal Court trial of seven accused individuals charged with the murder of Dale Creighton and violent disorder is ongoing before Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy. The defendants, Aisling Burke, David Burke, Graham Palmer, Ross Callery, James Reid, Jason Beresford, and Gerard Stevens, have all pleaded not guilty to murder. While initially pleading not guilty to violent disorder, Jason Beresford subsequently changed his plea to guilty on that specific charge. On the 13th day of the trial, the jury reviewed CCTV footage of the fatal assault, which occurred on New Year's Day 2014 at a footbridge over the Tallaght bypass. Sergeant Brian Cagney provided commentary, identifying specific actions attributed to the accused, including David Burke striking the deceased and Ross Callery punching him. The sergeant also noted that James Reid was seen holding a knife and phone, and that Gerard Stevens slapped the deceased. Additionally, the jury heard evidence regarding James O'Brien, who was charged with assault causing harm after allegedly kicking and punching the victim. The matter remains at the trial stage and has not been finalised.
The Central Criminal Court trial of seven accused in the 2014 murder of Dale Creighton continues before Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy. The defendants, including Jason Beresford, Gerard Stevens, Aisling Burke, David Burke, Graham Palmer, Ross Callery, and James Reid, face charges of murder and violent disorder. While all initially pleaded not guilty to both counts, Beresford subsequently changed his plea to guilty on the violent disorder charge. The remaining six accused maintain their not guilty pleas to both murder and violent disorder. Evidence presented includes garda interviews with Stevens, who admitted to kicking, punching, and slapping the victim on the Tallaght bypass footbridge. Stevens stated he did not know why he acted and described the incident as a moment of madness. Cross-examination highlighted that Stevens became distressed while reviewing CCTV footage. Additionally, testimony regarding Aisling Burke confirmed she was arrested shortly after the assault and examined for injuries, though no probative evidence emerged from her interview. The trial is ongoing, with no final verdict or sentencing recorded at this procedural stage.
Jonathon Duffy, aged 33, was convicted of robbing the Blackrock Post Office on 16 April 2013 with a €2 toy gun, possessing an imitation firearm with intent to commit robbery, unlawfully seizing a vehicle and attempting to seize another. He was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment by Judge Mary Ellen Ring on 26 May 2014. Duffy appealed the sentence, but Mr Justice George Birmingham dismissed the appeal on 25 October 2016, stating that Duffy had entered the post office, threatened a woman with the toy gun, stole about €3,000 in €20 notes, and then attempted to stop cars while fleeing. Gardaí pursued him, and he was eventually apprehended after a woman's vehicle was seized. Duffy had 35 prior convictions, including 10 for robbery, and had been temporarily released from prison 11 days before the offence. The court found no error in principle and upheld the seven‑year term. Jonathon Duffy pleaded guilty.
In a case heard by the Court of Appeal, Tezaur Bita, who was charged with public urination under section 5 of the Summary Jurisdiction (Ireland) Amendment Act 1871, was granted leave to challenge the constitutionality of the indecent exposure offence. Bita allegedly parked on Old Nangor Road on 27 August 2015 and relieved himself in bushes, an act witnessed by a Garda who arrested him. His lawyers argued that the 1871 offence was too vague and uncertain, citing earlier rulings that struck down similar offences. The High Court had dismissed his bid for prohibition in May, but Bita appealed. The Court of Appeal, with Justice George Birmingham presiding, found the argument that the section was impermissibly vague and unconstitutional to be arguable and granted leave. Justices Garrett Sheehan and Alan Mahon agreed.
The Central Criminal Court trial of seven accused individuals for the murder of Dale Creighton and violent disorder is ongoing before Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy. The defendants, Aisling Burke, David Burke, Graham Palmer, Ross Callery, James Reid, Jason Beresford, and Gerard Stevens, have all pleaded not guilty to murder. While all initially pleaded not guilty to violent disorder, Jason Beresford subsequently changed his plea to guilty on that specific charge. The jury is currently hearing evidence regarding garda interviews with David Burke, who was arrested in Tallaght on January 2, 2014. Mr. Burke alleged that the deceased pulled a knife on him and stole his sister's phone, prompting him to strike the victim. He denied participating in the fatal assault, claiming he attempted to stop others and protect the deceased. However, when shown CCTV footage, he admitted to hitting and kicking Mr. Creighton, stating he did so in self-defense. The trial continues with further evidence to be presented to the jury.
Damian Trojnar, 33, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply at a Tallaght address on May 29, 2012. The case originated when Garda Cathal McGeoghan stopped Trojnar for bad parking, leading to the discovery of a European Arrest Warrant. Upon executing the warrant at Trojnar's rented home in Ellensborough Meadows, gardai seized bags of cannabis with an estimated street value of €21,132, along with €2,200 in cash, a suspected drugs tick-list, and weighing scales. Trojnar was initially extradited to Poland, where he served a four-year sentence for theft and burglary offences committed 12 years ago. Following his release, he voluntarily returned to Ireland to face the drugs charges. Judge John Aylmer described Trojnar as a reformed man, noting his exemplary behaviour in Polish prison and his voluntary return. The judge suspended a jail sentence of two years on the condition that Trojnar be of good behaviour. Defence counsel Dominic McGinn SC highlighted that Trojnar had lived in Ireland for six years, working in construction, and wished to make a life for himself. The matter was finalised with this suspended sentence.
The Central Criminal Court trial of seven Dubliners accused of the murder of Dale Creighton continues before Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy. The accused, Jason Beresford, Ross Callery, Aisling Burke, David Burke, Graham Palmer, James Reid, and Gerard Stevens, have all pleaded not guilty to murder. While each initially pleaded not guilty to violent disorder, Jason Beresford subsequently changed his plea to guilty on that specific charge. The jury is currently hearing evidence regarding garda interviews with Ross Callery, who allegedly assaulted Mr Creighton on New Year's Morning 2014 at the Tallaght bypass footbridge. Mr Creighton died in hospital the following day. Detective Garda Kieran McGrath testified that Callery admitted to kicking the victim while he was on his hands and knees, describing the force as a seven out of ten. Callery stated he was protecting himself by not identifying other participants and expressed shock upon learning of the death, stating he did not intend for the victim to die. The trial is ongoing, with no final verdict or sentence recorded at this procedural stage.
A 19‑year‑old named Niall Brooks was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, with the final six months suspended, for a "vile, barbaric and cowardly assault" on two St Patrick's Day volunteers at a Luas station in Tallaght. The assault, which took place on 17 March 2015, involved Brooks and another teenager repeatedly kicking the men in the head and body. The victims suffered extensive injuries, including skull fractures, broken eye sockets, broken cheek bones, and long‑term psychological effects. Brooks pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm. He has three prior convictions and is currently serving a sentence for a robbery committed in 2014. The judge noted that the victims were innocent and that nothing they did warranted the assault. The court also heard victim impact statements detailing the victims' physical and economic losses. The co‑accused, Dean McKeever, was also jailed for three years for his part in the assault.
The Central Criminal Court trial of seven Dubliners accused of murdering Dale Creighton, who died after being assaulted on New Year's Morning 2014 at a Tallaght footbridge, continues before Justice Deirdre Murphy. The accused are Aisling Burke, David Burke, Graham Palmer, Ross Callery, James Reid, Jason Beresford, and Gerard Stevens. All initially pleaded not guilty to murder and violent disorder; however, Jason Beresford later changed his plea to guilty for violent disorder. The others maintain their not guilty pleas to both charges. Evidence heard included garda interviews with Graham Palmer, who alleged the victim was already injured before he arrived. Palmer admitted punching the victim in the stomach and face, stating he did so to get his attention, while denying causing the fatal injuries. He expressed regret for his actions. The trial is ongoing and was adjourned to continue on Monday.
In a Dublin nightclub, Silviu Voivod (31) was charged with assault causing harm after he tried to stop a woman from being grabbed by a first‑year college student, Robert McMickan, at Dandelion Bar & Nightclub on 12 October 2014. Voivod was glassed in the face, losing two front teeth, and then punched in the back, side and head. McMickan was taken to Tallaght hospital, suffered severe facial injuries and had to miss two weeks of college. Voivod pleaded guilty, offered €500 to McMickan as an expression of remorse, and did not seek a trial date. The court heard that Voivod had no prior convictions and was in a relationship with a young son. Judge Melanie Greally noted the need for a custodial sentence to send a strong message against such "glassing incidents" and announced a custodial sentence would be imposed on 6 December.
The trial of seven Dubliners charged with the murder of Dale Creighton and violent disorder is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court. Creighton, a 20-year-old Tallaght native, died in hospital on January 2, 2014, after being assaulted on New Year's Morning 2014 at the footbridge over the Tallaght bypass. The accused are Aisling Burke, David Burke, Graham Palmer, Ross Callery, James Reid, Jason Beresford, and Gerard Stevens. All pleaded not guilty to murder. While all initially pleaded not guilty to violent disorder, Jason Beresford later changed his plea to guilty for that specific charge. During cross-examination, Beresford admitted to kicking Creighton in the head and punching him in the stomach, stating he was "stupidly drunk and furious." He denied stamping on the victim. The court also heard that James O'Brien, who was seen on CCTV punching and kicking Creighton, was charged with the lesser offence of assault causing harm. O'Brien pleaded not guilty to this charge. The jury was dismissed to allow the court to address a legal issue, with proceedings scheduled to resume on Wednesday.
The trial of seven accused individuals for the murder of Dale Creighton and violent disorder is ongoing before the Central Criminal Court. The defendants, Aisling Burke, David Burke, Graham Palmer, Ross Callery, James Reid, Jason Beresford, and Gerard Stevens, all pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. While all initially pleaded not guilty to violent disorder, Jason Beresford changed his plea to guilty on Wednesday. The court heard evidence that the deceased, who died on January 2, 2014, sustained a penetrating stab wound to his right leg in addition to being beaten. James Reid identified himself in CCTV footage holding a knife, claiming he took it from the deceased after it was swung at him, while denying any involvement in the assault. He described the footage as "horrific" and stated he regretted being present. Garda testimony confirmed Reid was arrested and interviewed, where he denied kicking, punching, or stabbing the victim. The trial continues under the direction of Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy.
The trial of seven Dubliners charged with the murder of 20‑year‑old Dale Creighton began on 13 October 2016. The defendants – Aisling Burke (23), David Burke (28), Graham Palmer (26), Ross Callery (23), James Reid (26), Jason Beresford (23) and Gerard Stevens (27) – all pleaded not guilty to murder and violent disorder, though Beresford later pleaded guilty to the disorder charge. Evidence from Garda Jennifer Walsh and Garda Avril Sharpe described a New Year's Day incident at the Tallaght footbridge where Creighton was found unconscious and badly beaten. The garda saw blood on the clothing of Palmer and Burke, and the footage showed the group leaving the bridge. The trial, before Justice Deirdre Murphy and a balanced jury, will continue on Friday morning. The court heard that Palmer was arrested at the scene and Reid was arrested the next day in Tallaght. The case remains at the Central Criminal Court.
The trial of seven Dubliners accused of murdering 20-year-old Dale Creighton is ongoing before the Central Criminal Court. Creighton died on January 2, 2014, following an incident at the footbridge over the Tallaght bypass on New Year's Day. While all seven defendants initially pleaded not guilty to murder and violent disorder, Jason Beresford (23) pleaded guilty to violent disorder on January 1, 2014, during the trial. The remaining six accused—Aisling Burke, David Burke, Graham Palmer, Ross Callery, James Reid, and Gerard Stevens—maintain their not guilty pleas to both murder and violent disorder. The matter was not adjourned; the trial proceeded as normal. Witness Carl O'Leary testified that he saw Creighton holding a knife on the footbridge after hearing a commotion about a phone robbery. His girlfriend, Shannon Downes, identified a white jacket belonging to a woman who claimed she was assaulted and robbed. Another witness, Sophie Percy, described seeing men at the bottom of the bridge, with footage showing one passenger punching a man not before the court. The trial continues with the jury hearing further evidence.
Gerard Hughes, 19, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended, for a series of drug‑induced offences including assault, property damage, unlawful car taking and dangerous driving. He pleaded guilty to assaulting a hotel manager at The Maldron Hotel in Tallaght on 20 November 2015, damaging property, unlawfully taking a Nissan Qashqai on 13 December 2015 and two counts of dangerous driving on the same day. The assault involved Hughes entering the manager's office with a fire extinguisher, demanding money, grabbing her around the mouth, shoving her to the ground and fleeing. The victim suffered a split lip, facial bruising and leg injury. Hughes was identified by CCTV, had no memory of the incident due to drug use, and was arrested after a chase that involved driving the stolen car the wrong way around a roundabout. He has 47 prior convictions and was banned from driving for 10 years.
The trial of seven Dubliners charged with the murder of 20-year-old Dale Creighton is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court. All defendants, including Aisling Burke, David Burke, Graham Palmer, Ross Callery, James Reid, Jason Beresford, and Gerard Stevens, have pleaded not guilty to murder and violent disorder. Prosecution counsel Seán Gillane SC alleged the group acted together to inflict serious injury or death during a 'vicious, prolonged' attack on New Year's Day 2014. Evidence presented includes CCTV footage and testimony from witness Síle McCarthy, who described seeing six or seven individuals surround, kick, and punch Creighton on the footbridge over the Tallaght bypass. The prosecution stated Creighton was thrown 'like a rag doll' down steps before being returned to the bridge, suffering blunt force injuries to the head and face that caused his death on January 2, 2014. The matter is currently at the trial stage before Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy and a jury; it has not been finalised and is expected to last approximately six weeks.
The trial of seven accused individuals for the murder of Dale Creighton is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court. Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy addressed the jury, warning them against conducting internet searches or discussing the case, emphasizing that their verdicts must rely solely on evidence presented in court. The accused, Aisling Burke, David Burke, Graham Palmer, Ross Callery, James Reid, Jason Beresford, and Gerard Stevens, are charged with murdering Mr. Creighton, who died on January 2, 2014, following an incident at the Tallaght bypass footbridge. All seven defendants have pleaded not guilty to the murder charges. Additionally, each accused pleaded not guilty to violent disorder at the same location on New Year's Day. The court highlighted the gravity of the proceedings, noting that murder is the most serious offence in the criminal calendar. The trial is currently at the trial stage, with no findings, sentences, or finalizations recorded. The matter was adjourned and will continue the following morning.
The trial of seven Tallaght residents accused of murdering 20‑year‑old Dale Creighton on 2 January 2014 has been adjourned to Monday. All seven, aged in their twenties, pleaded not guilty to the murder charge and to violent disorder at the footbridge over the Tallaght bypass. The accused are Aisling Burke (23), David Burke (28), Graham Palmer (26), Ross Callery (23), James Reid (26), Jason Beresford (23) and Gerard Stevens (27). A jury of six men and six women was sworn in to hear the case, which was scheduled to open that morning but was postponed because no judge was available. The court expects the trial to last up to six weeks. The incident occurred on New Year's Eve or New Year's Day, and the victim and all accused were from Tallaght. The trial will resume on Monday.
In a Tallaght court hearing on 6 October 2016, a woman and six men, all in their twenties and residents of Tallaght, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 20‑year‑old Dale Creighton, who died on 2 January 2014. The alleged killing took place at the footbridge over the Tallaght bypass between Saint Dominic's Road and Greenhills Road, about two days after an incident on New Year's Eve or New Year's Day. The accused—Aisling Burke (23), David Burke (28), Graham Palmer (26), Ross Callery (23), James Reid (26), Jason Beresford (23) and Gerard Stevens (27)—were charged with murder and violent disorder on the same occasion. All seven were arraigned before the Central Criminal Court, and the judge, Justice Patrick McCarthy, swore in a jury of six women and six men, noting that no juror should be from the Tallaght area. The trial was scheduled to begin the following day and could last up to six weeks.
In a Dublin pub fight on 7 May 2015, 45‑year‑old Graham Quigley struck French teacher Thomas Gohin with a pint glass, causing severe facial injuries. Gohin described his nose as "cut in two" and reported lasting psychological effects, though he could not afford counselling or surgery. Quigley, who had started the fight after his sister was insulted, pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Melanie Greally noted Gohin's attempt to end the fight and the resulting scar on his face and arm. Quigley was sentenced to three and a half years, with the final year suspended. He has since stayed out of trouble, expressed remorse, and is now living with his mother and working in a bakery. Gohin has left Ireland and returned to France.
Dean McKeever, aged 19, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended, for assaulting two St Patrick's Day volunteers on 17 March 2015. The volunteers were attacked at Belgard Square Luas stop in Tallaght, struck to the ground and kicked to the head while they were vulnerable. One victim suffered a fractured skull, bleeding to the ear and sciatica; the other sustained a broken cheekbone, a broken face plate, a severed facial nerve and eye damage, requiring treatment in three hospitals and the insertion of two titanium plates. McKeever also assaulted a man with a broken bottle at Jervis Centre on 19 November 2015, hitting him over the head with the bottle. He pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm and one count of assault causing harm and one count of producing a weapon.
A trial date has been set for Anti‑Austerity Alliance TD Paul Murphy and 17 others charged with false imprisonment of then Tánaiste Joan Burton after a protest at Jobstown in 2014. The protest delayed Burton and her entourage for about two hours on 15 November 2014, as they left a graduation event at An Cosan Education Centre to travel by car to St Thomas' Church. The defendants, including Dublin Councillor Kieran Mahon (38), Anti‑Austerity Alliance Councillor Michael Murphy (50) and Paul Murphy (33), were grouped by Judge Melanie Greally according to the charges they face. The first group of four, including Paul Murphy, Michael Murphy and Mahon, will be tried on 24 April 2017, with a pre‑trial hearing on 7 December. A second group of six faces a trial on 2 October 2017, with a pre‑trial hearing on 8 June.
Gavin Fitzhenry, 32, of Tallaght, pleaded guilty to three failed burglaries in south Dublin on the night of 27 June 2014. He was sentenced to three years' imprisonment. The court noted his 42 prior convictions and that he was helping to pay off his brother's €19,000 drug debt. Judge Elma Sheahan highlighted his efforts to become drug‑free while in prison, his remorse, and his willingness to enter a residential drug treatment programme after release. She also mentioned that he was expecting his first child and that Probation Services had given positive reports. The judge recorded the trauma and upset caused to the victims, especially the young children, and the fact that Fitzhenry carried out two further robberies after the first. The court heard from Garda Vincent Carroll about the incidents, the victims' reactions, and the impact on the families. Fitzhenry was caught after hiding in bushes near the scenes.
A 60‑year‑old man, James Redmond, was found not guilty by reason of insanity for murdering Mary Dargan and attempting to murder her daughter Karina in Killinarden Estate, Tallaght, on 15 March 2014. After a four‑hour deliberation, a jury returned majority verdicts of not guilty on both counts. Mr Justice Eagar ordered Redmond to be committed to the Central Mental Hospital (CMH). Dr Damian Mohan, a consultant forensic psychiatrist, testified that Redmond was admitted to the CMH on 26 March 2014, presented with delusional beliefs and auditory hallucinations, and had been receiving antipsychotic and antidepressant treatment. He noted that Redmond's condition had improved but he remained depressed, with Parkinson's disease diagnosed in 2015. Dr Mohan recommended continued inpatient care at the CMH, which the court accepted. The prosecution had argued that Redmond's delusions were unfounded and that he was unable to control his actions.
A Dublin man, Francis Fitzpatrick (37), of Kilmartin Avenue, Tallaght Dublin, was sentenced to five and a half years in custody at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following his guilty plea to possession of 11 kilograms of cocaine on the Tallaght by-pass on November 27, 2015. The drugs, with a street value of €770,539, were discovered during a Garda search of his blue BMW after he was stopped at the junction of Killinarden Heights. Fitzpatrick admitted to picking up the drugs to pay off a drug debt and stated he had been using cocaine for ten years. He also admitted to selling drugs to fund his habit. During the proceedings, it was noted that Fitzpatrick had one minor previous conviction and had taken steps towards rehabilitation, including being drug-free and assisting his mother in caring for his ill father. The court heard that Fitzpatrick had been cooperative with the Garda and expressed regret for his actions. Judge Martin Nolan acknowledged the seriousness of the case but departed from the presumptive mandatory ten-year sentence. The matter was finalised at the sentence stage with no adjournments.
Lewis Smith, 19, of Tallaght, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for robbing a mobile phone from an unconscious man at the Fortunestown City West Luas stop on 17 April 2015. Smith, who had 13 prior convictions, pleaded guilty to robbery. The victim, who was attacked while returning home from work, was tripped, fell onto the Luas tracks, and was then kicked and punched until unconscious. His €400 phone was taken while he lay on the ground. The victim spent three days in hospital with concussion and still suffers nerve pain. Smith's sentence includes a six‑month suspended portion and a 12‑month probation period with requirements for education, employment and drug treatment. The judge noted Smith had written an apology letter and that his cousin had died in a similar assault. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Two Dublin men, Jonathan Carberry and Gavin Mulvey, were jailed for their roles in moving €778,000 worth of cannabis from Spain, hidden under scented candles. The drugs were being unloaded at Bath Lane when Gardaí arrested them. Carberry, aged 35, pleaded guilty to possessing drugs for sale or supply on 11 June 2015, and was sentenced to seven years with two years suspended, citing his previous good character. Mulvey, also 35, received a three‑year sentence with the last year suspended, as he joined the scheme at the last minute and had no prior knowledge. Elliot Kidd, aged 25, was remanded on continuing bail and a Probation Service report was ordered. The court noted Carberry's debt and Mulvey's recent recovery from a neck injury, while Kidd had three prior convictions and was a drug addict seeking to pay a debt.
Sam Power, 31, of Cushlawn Park, Tallaght, was sentenced to three years in prison for possessing a sawn‑off shotgun, with the final 18 months suspended. He pleaded guilty to the offence, which occurred on 30 April 2015 at his parents‑in‑law's home. The gun, belonging to his missing brother‑in‑law William Maughan, was found wrapped on a radiator in the parents‑in‑law bedroom. Power had shown the weapon to a group of men in a "joking" manner, according to Detective Sergeant Gregory Sheehan, who had been in the area for a separate matter. Power has 82 prior convictions, including knives, assault and public order offences, and was on bail for possession of stolen property at the time of the offence. The court considered his personal circumstances, including the death of his mother when he was 15, his wife's heart condition, and the threat to his family, before imposing the sentence.
James Redmond, 60, of Killinarden Estate, Tallaght, Dublin 24, was found not guilty by reason of insanity of murdering Mary Dargan and attempting to murder Karina Dargan at their home on March 15, 2014. Redmond pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to both charges at the Central Criminal Court. The jury returned majority verdicts of not guilty on both counts after four hours and five minutes of deliberation. The court heard that Redmond allegedly jumped over a back wall with a shotgun, shooting Mary Dargan dead and Karina Dargan in the head. Two consultant forensic psychiatrists testified that Redmond was suffering from severe depressive episodes with psychotic symptoms, rendering him unable to refrain from his actions. Justice Robert Eagar committed Redmond to the Central Mental Hospital and ordered him to be brought back before the court at 9am the following day for a psychiatric assessment. The matter was adjourned for this purpose. Redmond expressed his sorrow for his actions and the devastating consequences for the Dargan family. Victim impact statements were read on behalf of the Dargan children and Karina Dargan, who described her ongoing fear and trauma. The judge exempted the jury from further service for five years.