Eoghan McGarry, 30, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for assaulting three Mountjoy Prison officers on 23 April 2015. He attacked the officers with a homemade shiv made from razor blades melted into a toothbrush while they were delivering breakfast. The officers were injured and required treatment; one sustained facial wounds, another a wound under the chin, and the third was struck on the head. McGarry appeared in court handcuffed and surrounded by riot‑gear officers. He had already been serving a four‑year sentence for aggravated burglary, with the final year suspended, and the new sentence will run consecutively to that term. Judge Melanie Greally suspended the last year of the new sentence on the condition that McGarry engage in psychiatric care and take prescribed medication. He has 38 prior convictions, including assault, burglary and criminal damage. The incident was captured on CCTV and the cell was searched, revealing the shiv. Eoghan McGarry pleaded guilty.
In a 2016 hearing, the Special Criminal Court found Brian Kenna, 54, breached bail conditions by speaking at a Wolfe Tone commemoration in Sallins, County Kildare. Kenna, who had been charged with membership of the Irish Republican Army, was required not to associate with anyone charged or convicted before the court. At the event, he was observed conversing with Edward McGrath, 33, who is also on bail for murder, firearms and IRA membership. Garda Colm Finnerty reported seeing both men together and taking their names. Kenna denied any conversation with McGrath and claimed he was not in danger of breaching bail. The court, impressed by Finnerty's testimony, ruled that Kenna had indeed breached his bail conditions and directed the matter to be reconsidered for further action.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, James Redmond, aged 60, is charged with murdering Mary Dargan and attempting to murder Karina Dargan on 15 March 2014 at their Killinarden Estate home. Redmond pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC argued that the sole issue was Redmond's state of mind, claiming evidence showed he was mentally unfit. Prosecution counsel Pauline Walley SC presented two forensic psychiatrists who agreed Redmond suffered severe depressive episodes with psychotic symptoms, preventing him from controlling his actions. She also highlighted that allegations of chanting, laughing, or paedophilia were delusions. The jury was instructed to decide whether Redmond should be held criminally responsible or found mentally unfit, and they began deliberations after 3.30pm, having spent 25 minutes so far.
Damien Halpin, 29, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for possession of €17,318 of cocaine and for assault causing harm at Gibson Hotel. He pleaded guilty to both offences. The court noted that he had previously fled to Australia in 2011 after being labelled a "rat" by graffiti and that his home was shot at. In Australia he was convicted of arson, assault and being armed with intent in 2015, served one year in New South Wales, and was deported to Ireland in January 2016. Judge Melanie Greally accepted his admissions about the drugs, his chaotic lifestyle, and his positive attitude in custody, but imposed consecutive sentences totaling six years, suspending the final two years on strict conditions. The case also highlighted 21 prior convictions for traffic and public‑order offences.
In a 2016 trial, forensic psychiatrist Dr Conor O'Neill testified that James Redmond, 60, suffered from severe depressive episodes with psychotic symptoms and would have been unable to refrain from his actions. Redmond, charged with murdering Mary Dargan and attempting to murder Karina Dargan on 15 March 2014, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. Dr O'Neill described Redmond's history of hearing voices, weight loss, and persecutory delusions, noting that he had been admitted to the Central Mental Hospital after a transfer from Cloverhill Prison. He diagnosed Redmond with psychotic depression, stating that Redmond was fit to be tried but would remain under treatment. The case was set to continue before Mr Justice Robert Eagar.
James Redmond, aged 60, was charged with murdering Mary Dargan and attempting to murder her daughter Karina Dargan at their Killinarden Estate home on 15 March 2014. He pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity at the Central Criminal Court. The prosecution presented three interviews from Tallaght Garda Station on 16 March 2014. In the first interview Redmond claimed that Karina had been "chanting" he was a paedophile for nearly three months before the incident, describing it as a game and mind‑games that drove him to shoot. He said he had been sleepless, had taken cartridges from a shotgun he owned for 20 years, and fired at the house. In the second interview he said he felt "rotten" and that the chanting had made his head "fit to burst," prompting him to go to the Dargan house. The trial continues.
In a 2016 murder trial, 60‑year‑old James Redmond pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity for killing Mary Dargan and attempting to kill her daughter Karina in their Killinarden Estate home on 15 March 2014. Redmond, who owned and licensed a shotgun, shot Dargan in the kitchen while she was drinking tea, severing an artery and killing her. He then fired at Karina's head as she fled, but she survived after a neighbour took her to hospital. Redmond claimed he was being called a paedophile by the Dargans and that he had been depressed and had sought medical help in January 2014. The prosecution presented evidence that the families had lived peacefully together for years and that Redmond had been under psychiatric care since the incident. The case was set to continue before Mr Justice Robert Eagar.
Michael Kinsella, aged 24, pleaded guilty in December 2015 to manslaughter for his role in the 2011 killing of Adil Essalhi in Tyrrelstown, Dublin. Justice Deirdre Murphy sentenced him to 15 years in June 2016, describing the case as "difficult to envisage a more horrific case of manslaughter". The sentence was backdated to 10 December 2014 to account for the delay between the investigation's completion and Kinsella's charging. No part of the sentence was suspended, but Justice Murphy suggested a one‑third reduction if he engages in addiction treatment and education while incarcerated.
James Redmond, aged 60, has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of Mary Dargan and the attempted murder of her daughter Karina Dargan, both of whom lived with him at the Killinarden Estate in Tallaght. The alleged offences occurred on 15 March 2014. The Central Criminal Court has sworn in a jury of seven men and five women for a trial expected to last two to three days. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy instructed the prosecution to provide brief information, noting that the Redmond and Dargan families had lived side by side for many years.
Sean Rausch, 18, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a total of five and a half years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions. He received a consecutive three‑year term for an endangerment charge arising from a high‑speed chase in which he drove a stolen Hyundai Santa Fe on three wheels, breaking 24 traffic lights, crossing two green areas, and driving on the wrong side of a national road for 2 km. He also received a five‑year term for assault causing serious harm to a 17‑year‑old schoolboy, who sustained life‑threatening injuries including a brain bleed, fractured jaw, broken eye socket, multiple broken teeth and missing chin skin. The court noted the victim's injuries and the severity of the assault, while Rausch had previously pleaded guilty to two attempted robberies, two robberies, possession of a stolen vehicle, handling stolen keys, endangerment and dangerous driving.
Paul Kavanagh, a 25‑year‑old shop worker, admitted to stealing almost €54,000 from the Londis store where he worked by creating fake Lotto wins. He spent the money on take‑aways, taxis and cannabis, as his counsel noted. Kavanagh pleaded guilty to theft from owner Ray Sheehan between 2014 and 2015 and was also found with a small amount of cannabis at his home. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned the case to January 13th next year, allowing Kavanagh to repay €1,000 a month to the shop owner and to pay €3,600 within three days from his savings. The court's decision gives him a chance to avoid jail by repaying the stolen funds. The case remains at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court stage.
Judge Melanie Greally adjourned the matter to next October, when she will set dates for the trials of 19 defendants, including Anti-Austerity Alliance TD Paul Murphy and Alliance Councillor Michael Murphy, who are accused of falsely imprisoning former Tánaiste Joan Burton. The charges stem from a water charges protest in Jobstown in November 2014, where it is alleged violence broke out, delaying Ms Burton for approximately two hours. At the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, the Director of Public Prosecutions proposed dealing with the accused via three separate trials, a structure the judge previously ruled was necessary to avoid placing unrealistic demands on jurors. Defence counsel, including David Staunton BL and Peadar Ó Maolain BL, argued that their clients would be disadvantaged in the third trial because prosecution witnesses would have already been cross-examined twice, removing the element of surprise. Prosecuting counsel Tony McGillicuddy BL stated that scheduling the trials would inevitably disadvantage some parties. Before hearing submissions, Judge Greally warned that anyone recording proceedings on mobile phones could be removed from the courtroom and found in contempt of court. Several defendants, including Paul Murphy, were absent as their attendance had been previously excused due to work commitments. The court also noted related proceedings before the Children's Court. The matter was adjourned, not concluded.
Sean Bird, 25, of Ard Mor Lawn, Fortunestown, Tallaght, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to five years in prison for possession of drugs for sale or supply. The final three years of the sentence were suspended on strict conditions. Bird pleaded guilty to possessing €34,000 worth of heroin found at his home on December 18, 2014. He initially denied the charge but changed his plea to guilty on the second day of trial, after which he was remanded in custody pending sentence. Judge Patrick McCartan noted that Bird had no previous convictions and acknowledged evidence of mental health issues, citing his mother's testimony regarding prior psychiatric assistance. The judge praised Garda Fran Glennon for his police work in stopping Bird and removing the drugs from circulation. Despite offering leniency due to Bird's supportive family and good character, Judge McCartan emphasized the need to send a strong message against assisting drug trafficking. He expressed dismay that the Direction of Public Prosecution left the sentencing decision to the court, given Bird's late guilty plea. The judge also noted that while defense counsel submitted Bird only abused cannabis, reports indicated he had also taken heroin and cocaine. The matter was finalized with this sentence, reflecting the court's balance between leniency for a first-time offender and the severity of the offense.
In a High Court decision on 19 July 2016, the court dismissed a damages claim brought by John Cash, represented by his mother Mary, against Fingal County Council. The claim alleged that the council was negligent because it failed to cover an uncovered manhole on Old Ashbourne Road, Co. Dublin, where a five‑year‑old boy, John, had fallen on 20 April 2010, sustaining serious injuries including a fractured left arm that required surgery. The council denied negligence, arguing that medical accounts of the incident varied and that evidence was inconsistent. The judge, Mr Justice Paul McDermott, found that while the boy had indeed suffered serious injuries, the claim of council negligence was not proven on the balance of probabilities. The court dismissed the appeal, awarded the council its costs, and made no orders regarding the Circuit Court's costs. The case was previously dismissed by the Dublin Circuit Civil Court.
Patrick Brunell, 35, was jailed for five years after Gardaí seized €2.5 million worth of drugs and a large weapons cache at his father's transport company in Tallaght. He handed over 29 kg of cocaine, 6.4 kg of heroin, a Czech CZ rifle with silencer, a Beretta shotgun, a Yugoslavian AK‑47 style assault rifle and a German Sauer rifle with telescopic sight, plus 105 rounds of ammunition. Brunell, who had held the items for two weeks, claimed he was paid €1,500‑€2,000 and that he had no choice. He pleaded guilty to possession of the drugs and weapons. Judge Patrick McCartan, citing the seriousness of the weapons but noting Brunell was not the dealer, imposed a seven‑year sentence with the final two years suspended. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The article reports no further legal developments.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 13 July 2016, a 27‑year‑old man named Mark Davis, who has 207 prior convictions, was found guilty of two counts of dangerous driving. The offence involved a ten‑minute high‑speed pursuit through Tallaght on 27 March 2015, during which Davis drove between 80 and 100 km/h in a 50 km/h zone, repeatedly crossed to the wrong side of the road, broke several red lights and nearly collided with a Luas tram. Garda David Jennings recounted that the pursuit was halted after ten minutes because it was too dangerous, citing heavy traffic and children playing on the roads. Davis was arrested after presenting himself at a garda station. The judge, Melanie Greally, described the incident as "terrifying" for the many road users exposed to danger and adjourned sentencing to 10 November 2016.
A 15‑year‑old was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after he threw black paint at a 16‑year‑old on a crowded Luas tram. CCTV captured the assault, and the victim had previously reported a violent attack by the boy and a group of local youths a month earlier. The teenager, who had one prior conviction and 33 subsequent offences including violent disorder, robbery, dangerous driving and car theft, was not complying with bail conditions such as a curfew. He is currently serving a sentence in a detention centre and is due for release next October. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a three‑year detention sentence, deferring its imposition until 25 November, and allowed the boy to be released on bail pending review of his behaviour. The judge set strict bail conditions, including a curfew and restrictions on contact with certain youths in Tallaght. The unnamed 15-year-old pleaded guilty.
In a burglary that took place in 2013, Edward Travers, 24, along with a man and a woman, broke into the home of a 66‑year‑old priest. While the priest was on the phone, the intruders forced their way in and attempted to raid his office. Travers punched the priest in the jaw after the cleric told the burglars to leave. The sacristan of a nearby church noticed an unusual car outside the parochial house, entered to investigate, and later provided the registration of the getaway vehicle. The burglary was captured on CCTV, leading to Travers' arrest the following year. He pleaded guilty to burglary on 2 December 2013 and has 70 prior convictions. The case was adjourned to 25 November for sentencing, with a probation report and urine analysis scheduled, and the court heard that the priest suffered bruising and felt unsafe in his home.
In a Luas robbery on 14 August 2012, 42‑year‑old Suzanne McGowan and 37‑year‑old David Larkin robbed Izabela Portyka, taking her handbag. McGowan spat at Portyka and Larkin punched her several times before the pair fled. The incident involved verbal abuse, a threat to grab the bag, and Larkin's assault, including a punch to the head and pushing Portyka's head into a steel column. Portyka suffered neck and head injuries, later treated in hospital, and now experiences migraines and psychological issues. Both defendants pleaded guilty. Larkin, with 30 prior convictions, received a four‑year sentence with the final two years suspended. McGowan, with 24 prior convictions, was given a two‑year suspended sentence, suspended in full for three years. The court noted the offence was "out of character" for McGowan, a mother of two, and that she had not appeared for a prior probation report, leading to a bench warrant and remand until sentencing.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 30 April 2014, Michael Hanrahan, aged 35, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after slashing Martin Wall with a Stanley blade on Henry Street. The attack left Wall with a permanent disfiguring scar requiring 43 stitches to his head, nose, lip and face. Hanrahan, who lives on Mac Uilliam Parade, Tallaght, had 68 prior convictions for road traffic offences, assault, burglary, criminal damage and assaulting a Garda. Judge Martin Nolan described the injuries as a "very apparent disfiguring scar" that would have a long‑term effect and said the attack was one that Wall "certainly didn't deserve." Hanrahan was sentenced to three years and nine months' imprisonment. The case was prosecuted by Elva Duffy BL, with Garda Nicola Connolly reporting that she responded to the incident at 4 pm and that CCTV footage identified Hanrahan, who was arrested the following November.
James Casey, aged 25, was severely beaten in a Tallaght halting site clash on 20 September 2015. He did not report the assault to the gardai but later armed himself with a slash hook and was charged with possession of an article with intent to cause injury or intimidate others. In Dublin Circuit Criminal Court he pleaded guilty. Judge Melanie Greally suspended a two‑year prison sentence for four years, citing Casey's role as a peace maker who had since helped calm disputes and moved away from the site. Sarah‑Jane Callaghan BL defended Casey, noting his fear for his life and the attack on his home. The case also referenced Casey's three prior convictions for public order offences and possession of stolen goods. The court's decision was based on his demonstrated change in behaviour and efforts to maintain peace.
Darren McKevitt, 26, of Walkinstown, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to arson of a car, dangerous driving, driving under the influence, driving without insurance, three counts of assault, possession of a stolen Toyota Avensis, a PSV certificate, an Irish driving licence and insurance certificate, and unlawful possession of a stun gun. The offences occurred between October and November 2014, including a bonfire incident on Halloween where he drove a car into a bonfire, jumped out, and assaulted three gardaí on Durrow Road, Crumlin. Blood tests showed he was five times over the alcohol limit. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a five‑year sentence, back‑dated to November 2014, with the balance suspended, and ordered continued work with probation officers, drug rehabilitation and employment training. The court noted McKevitt had nine previous convictions, including drug possession for sale or supply. The case was prosecuted by Monika Leech BL and defended by Libby Charlton BL.
Two Dublin men, Michael Finlay, 36, and Dean Byrne, 24, were sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to five years' imprisonment for unlawfully possessing a loaded 9mm semi‑automatic pistol and its magazine, as well as various rounds of 9mm ammunition, at Glenshane Crescent, Tallaght on 5 June 2014. The weapons were found in a stolen Renault Kangoo van that the men were in when Detective Sergeant Joseph Finnegan approached. Both men were wearing disguises of fake beards, hats and glasses; Finlay also wore an An Post jacket. The detectives, acting under Sections 18, 19 and 19(a) of the Criminal Justice Act, questioned the men about the firearm, ammunition, van, disguise and jacket, but neither responded. Both pleaded not guilty, yet the judge noted they had not opposed any evidence and that the offences were "completely unexplained." Finlay's sentence was back‑dated to 5 June 2014 and Byrne's to 8 May of the same year.
In June 2016 a 16‑year‑old Dublin teenager was sentenced to four‑and‑a‑half years' detention for a series of robberies in which he threatened four women with a large knife. He pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and four robbery charges in the Tallaght area. The court noted that the teenager had 29 prior convictions but this was his first violent offence. He admitted to using a knife and drugs to feel brave enough to commit the robberies. Judge Martin Nolan suspended the final two years of the sentence on the condition that the teenager engage with the Probation Service for two years after release and take every educational opportunity while in custody. The case was prosecuted by Fiona Murphy BL and defended by Cathal McGreal BL, who highlighted the defendant's borderline intellectual disability and history of abuse. The incidents involved threatening victims, demanding cash, and stealing phones and bank cards.
In March 2015, 18‑year‑old Niall Brooks and two other youths assaulted Brendan Cahill and Derek McDonald at the Luas terminal on Belgard Square East. CCTV showed a scuffle that escalated into the attackers repeatedly kicking the men in the head and body while they were unconscious. The assault caused extensive injuries: skull fractures, broken eye sockets, broken cheekbones, and other trauma. Both victims reported severe physical and psychological impacts, including loss of confidence, anxiety, and economic losses. Brooks pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm and will be sentenced in October. He has three prior convictions and is currently serving a sentence for a robbery. The court noted the attack was "appalling" and ordered a Probation Services report before sentencing. The victims' statements highlighted lasting health and financial consequences from the incident.
A woman with 234 previous convictions, Winne Cash (46) of Blessington Road, Tallaght Dublin, has been sentenced to four years in prison for stealing a handbag from a 73-year-old woman and trespassing on the curtilage of a house at Main Street, Baldoyle on November 23, 2015. Cash pleaded guilty to the charges at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Melanie Greally noted that Cash had previously received a three-year sentence for burglary in 2013 and surmised that she would not have been out of prison for long at the time of this offence. The judge described the offence as particularly nasty with some degree of premeditation and imposed a four-year sentence, suspending the final year. The matter was adjourned for the purposes of the court's consideration of the suspended portion of the sentence. The case-subject, Tallaght Dublin, also admitted to the same charges and pleaded guilty, but no sentence was imposed at this procedural stage.
A judge has given the 19 people accused of falsely imprisoning former Tanaiste Joan Burton one week to raise any issues they have with their trial listing. The accused include TD Paul Murphy and 18 others, including Councillors Kieran Mahon and Michael Murphy. Judge Melanie Greally had earlier ruled that the accused should have separate trials, stating that a joint trial would place unrealistic demands on jurors. Prosecutor Tony McGillicuddy told the court that the DPP proposed to try the first four accused together, followed by three groups of five. Two accused had formally objected to this listing. Lawyers for the accused said they could not point to any specific prejudice but would reserve the right to raise the issue again. The judge instructed that any objections must be written to the DPP within seven days, after which they would not be entertained.
Two Dublin men, Michael Finlay (36) and Dean Byrne (24), were found guilty by the Special Criminal Court of possessing a 9mm semi‑automatic pistol, a fully‑loaded magazine, and various rounds of 9mm ammunition at Glenshane Crescent, Tallaght, on 5 June 2014. Both pleaded not guilty to the unlawful possession charges. The court heard evidence from the Special Detective Unit, including a briefing that Detective Superintendent Tom Maguire had received confidential information about IRA activity involving a stolen Renault Kangoo van with false registration plates that day. Detective Sergeant Finnegan observed the van, saw Byrne in the driver's seat and Finlay in the rear, both wearing disguises. Finlay appeared to hold a firearm; he dropped it after the detective's order. A pistol and magazine were found on the van's floor, plus loose ammunition in a black hold‑all bag.
Jonathan Rafferty, 38, was jailed for seven and a half years after a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing. He pleaded guilty to a series of offences: robbery of a security cash box containing €19,000 in October 2013, possession of an imitation firearm, possession of cannabis resin and herb, and stolen artwork in October 2013; robbery of a second cash box containing €230 in March 2014 with an imitation firearm; burglary at Sunrise Dry Cleaner in February 2015, along with dangerous driving and criminal damage to a car. The court noted he had been using cocaine daily and was under a €6,000 drug debt at the time of the offences. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed consecutive sentences totalling eleven years, suspending three and a half years, for a net effective custodial term of seven and a half years. Rafferty had 12 prior convictions and had written a letter of apology to the court.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, two Dublin men, Michael Finlay (36) and Dean Byrne (24), were tried for unlawful possession of a 9mm semi‑automatic pistol and ammunition. Gardaí observed them in disguises inside a stolen Renault Kangoo van in June 2014. Finlay was seen holding the handgun, which he later dropped when ordered by Detective Sergeant Joseph Finnegan. Both men were questioned under Sections 18, 19 and 19(a) of the Criminal Justice Act and failed to explain the handgun, ammunition, van, fake beards or an An Post jacket. Their defence counsel did not contest the evidence. The court remanded Byrne on continuing bail and held Finlay in custody, with judgment expected on 16 June 2016. Michael Finlay pleaded not guilty. Dean Byrne pleaded not guilty.
Daniel O'Connor, a widower from Kilnamanagh, Tallaght, has filed a High Court claim against Irish Life Insurance Plc after the insurer refused to pay a €300,000 life assurance policy following his wife Ashling's death at age 32 in November 2008. The policy, taken in February 2008, was linked to a mortgage for their home. Irish Life declined payment in June 2009, citing non‑disclosure of Mrs O'Connor's medical investigations in 2004, 2006 and 2008, including a diagnosis of Reynaud's disease and a small left kidney noted in an ultrasound. O'Connor seeks damages, aggravated and exemplary damages for loss, distress and upset caused by the insurer's alleged negligence and breach of contract. He also claims the insurer's refusal led to job loss, mortgage arrears and repossession proceedings by Stepstone Mortgages. Irish Life denies the claims and argues the policy was void due to non‑disclosure, and has counter‑claimed a declaration that it was entitled to void the contract.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 9 June 2016, two Dublin men, Michael Finlay (36) and Dean Byrne (24), were tried for unlawful possession of a 9mm semi‑automatic pistol, a magazine and various rounds of ammunition at Glenshane Crescent, Tallaght on 5 June 2014. Both pleaded not guilty. The prosecution presented evidence that a Kildare man's Renault Kangoo van had been stolen from his home on 30 April 2014, with its keys missing, and that the van was later recovered by the Gardaí. The van's registration number did not match the tax disc at the time of the alleged offences. Garda Graham Dunne interviewed Byrne on 6 June 2014, questioning him about the firearm, ammunition, the stolen van with false plates, and his presence at Glenshane Crescent the previous morning; Byrne gave no reply. The trial continues.
During the Special Criminal Court trial, evidence was presented that Michael Finlay (36) and Dean Byrne (24) were accused of unlawfully possessing a 9mm semi‑automatic pistol and ammunition at Glenshane Crescent, Tallaght, on 5 June 2014. The prosecution alleged that in June 2014 Gardaí investigating suspected IRA activity observed the pair in a stolen Renault Kangoo van, both wearing disguises, and that Finlay was seen dropping a handgun. Both men pleaded not guilty to the possession charges. In a Garda interview on 6 June 2014, Detective Sergeant Padraig Boyce questioned Finlay about the firearm, ammunition, the van, false number plates, an An Post jacket, a false beard, gloves and a black bag containing two rounds of 9mm ammunition. Finlay made no comment. Forensic evidence included diesel oil found in a bottle seized from the van, a Russian‑made pistol with its serial number obliterated, and no fingerprints on the firearm or magazine. The trial continues.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 7 June 2016, Michael Finlay, 36, and Dean Byrne, 24, pleaded not guilty to unlawful possession of a 9mm semi‑automatic pistol and magazine, and to possession of 9mm ammunition, alleged to have occurred at Glenshane Crescent, Tallaght, on 5 June 2014. Detective Superintendent Tom Maguire, of the Special Detective Unit, informed the court that he had confidential intelligence about IRA activity involving a white Renault Kangoo van with false registration plates that day. He briefed Detective Sergeant Joseph Finnegan, who then drove to the location, approached the van with his firearm drawn, and ordered the men inside to show their hands. Finnegan observed a firearm in the rear seat, which was dropped after he commanded it to be released. The men were wearing disguises of fake beards, hats and glasses; Finlay was in the rear seat and Byrne in the driver's seat, wearing a green An Post jacket.
A 23‑year‑old man named Sean Carlyle was sentenced to three years for violent disorder after a savage brawl at Kusanta Snooker Club in Tallaght on 22 December 2013. The incident involved a group that used snooker cues, bottles and a metal security pole as weapons. CCTV footage was shown to the court. Carlyle pleaded guilty to violent disorder and production of articles. Two other men remain before the courts and a fourth, Christopher Wynne, has died. The brawl left three injured parties – two men and a woman – with serious wounds, including stab wounds to a lung and broken arms. Judge Melanie Greally described the group's actions as "extreme acts of violence" and imposed a three‑year sentence, suspending the final year. The case was prosecuted by Noel Devitt BL, with Garda Aidan Ferris testifying about the injuries and the chaotic scene.
Damien Halpin, 29, fled to Australia in 2011 after being labelled a "rat" following a drugs conviction and a subsequent attack on his home. He was convicted in Australia in 2015 for arson, assault and being armed with intent, claiming it was a prank gone wrong. He served one year in New South Wales before being deported to Ireland. In January 2016 he was arrested by Gardaí at Dublin Airport. Halpin has 21 prior convictions in Ireland, mainly for road traffic and public order offences. He pleaded guilty to possession of €17,318 of cocaine in 2009 and to assault causing harm in 2010. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court adjourned his sentencing to July 27, 2016, to allow an updated probation report. Bench warrants were issued in March 2012 when he failed to appear in court for both cases.
A 24‑year‑old man, Michael Kinsella of Swiftbrook Close, Tallaght, was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for his role in the brutal killing of Adil Essalhi on 6 January 2011. Kinsella pleaded guilty to manslaughter in December 2015. Justice Deirdre Murphy described the death as "dreadful" and noted that Kinsella admitted bringing a knife, which he used to stab Essalhi twice while his uncle, Wayne Kinsella, attacked him with a machete. The judge accepted the manslaughter plea, found Kinsella acted under an immediate threat of violence, and refused to suspend any part of the sentence. She recommended that the Minister for Justice consider a reduction if Kinsella engages with educational and psychiatric services while in prison. A further hearing is scheduled for 25 July to decide on back‑dating the sentence. Michael Kinsella was convicted.
In a 2016 court hearing, the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal of Darren Canning, a 36‑year‑old former Luas driver, who had pleaded guilty to burglary at an apartment block in Tallaght on 1 March 2015. Canning had been sentenced to three years' imprisonment by Judge Martin Nolan on 27 July 2015. The appeal was rejected because the Court of Appeal held that the jail term could not be deemed excessive. The case was presented as a "public service" by the Luas driver who, after seeing Canning smash a ground‑floor window, alerted her controller and prompted Gardaí to intervene. During the arrest, pepper spray was used and Canning was found with a camera, mobile phone, jewellery and two cans of beer. The judge noted Canning's 67 prior convictions, including 18 for burglary, and his long‑standing heroin addiction, but also his early engagement with rehabilitation services.
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Melanie Greally ruled that Anti-Austerity Alliance TD Paul Murphy and 18 other accused, including Dublin Councillor Kieran Mahon and Alliance Councillor Michael Murphy, must face separate trials on charges of false imprisonment, violent disorder, and criminal damage. The allegations stem from a water charges protest in Jobstown in November 2014, where it is alleged that violence delayed TD Joan Burton and her entourage for approximately two hours. Prosecutors argued that the 45-count indictment should be divided into manageable blocks, while the defence initially contested the court's jurisdiction to sever the case. Judge Greally determined she had the authority to alter the indictment, stating that trying all 19 defendants together would place unrealistic demands on jurors and exceed the physical capacity of the court complex. She ordered the accused be separated into groups relevant to the proposed evidence. The matter was adjourned to July 22 to allow for legal argument regarding the proposed groupings and to set trial dates. All accused were remanded on bail until that date.
Craig McManus, 23, of Kiltalown View, Tallaght, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four years' imprisonment, with the last 18 months suspended. He pleaded guilty to possession of €101,537 worth of heroin in his home in May 2014 and to possession of €8,225 worth of heroin on 26 October 2014. The court noted his 80 prior convictions, including drug dealing, theft and public order offences, and that a probation report placed him at moderate risk of re‑offending. Judge Karen O'Connor cited his supportive family, rehabilitation and lack of association with criminal peers, and the fact that his mother had previously paid off his drug debts after threats. The judge imposed the custodial sentence, suspending the final 18 months on strict conditions.
A 17‑year‑old boy in State care was sentenced to four and a half years' detention for a series of robberies committed with a group of teenagers. Between 23 June and 15 November 2015 he pleaded guilty to seven robberies in Dublin city centre and Tallaght. The offences included the early‑morning robbery of three men on 23 June, a robbery of a Chinese man on 10 July, and a robbery of three women on 15 November. The boy had prior convictions for burglary, theft and drug offences. Judge Melanie Greally noted his difficult family background, periods of homelessness and influence from negative peer groups. She observed that when away from these influences he showed insight, remorse and shame. The judge imposed a five‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence with the final year suspended, giving a total of four and a half years' detention.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 3 May 2016, TD Paul Murphy and 18 other defendants challenged a State application for four separate trials on 45 counts, including false imprisonment of Tánaiste Joan Burton, violent disorder and criminal damage, arising from a water‑charges protest in Jobstown. Prosecutor Tony McGillicuddy argued that the case should be divided into manageable blocks, citing UK case law that multiple accused could burden the judge and jury and that no courtroom could handle 19 defendants. Defence counsel, including Colman Fitzgerald for Antoinette Kane, contended that Judge Melanie Greally lacked jurisdiction to grant severance and that the State's application was illogical, as the Director of Public Prosecution had drafted the indictment. They warned that separate trials would create multiple "trials within a trial" and that a single jury should assess the entire incident for justice. Judge Greally said she would decide on 12 May and excused some defendants from the next sessions.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 3 May 2016, Justice Deirdre Murphy adjourned sentencing for Michael Kinsella, 24, who admitted his part in the 2011 stabbing that killed 29‑year‑old Adil Essalhi. Kinsella pleaded guilty to manslaughter in December 2015. The court reviewed details of the incident: Kinsella and his uncle, Wayne Kinsella, took Essalhi from a party to a field in Tallaght where the fatal attack occurred. Wayne Kinsella, already convicted of murder for the same death, was described by defence counsel as a "dominant" force that Kinsella feared. Prosecutor Kerida Naidoo confirmed that Kinsella admitted his role, including bringing a weapon, using it, and later attempting to set Essalhi's body on fire. The State accepted the guilty plea on the basis of these admissions, and Justice Murphy agreed the case constituted an "assault to manslaughter" verdict. Sentencing was postponed until 31 May 2016.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Anti Austerity Alliance TD Paul Murphy, aged 32, and 18 other defendants faced charges of false imprisonment and violent disorder related to a water charges protest in Jobstown nearly 18 months earlier. The defendants, including Councillor Kieran Mahon (38) and Michael Murphy (50), indicated through their legal teams that they intend to plead not guilty and seek a trial date. They objected to a State application to sever the indictment for separate trials. Defences for Antoinette Kane (23) and Carol Purcell (56) were discussed, with Kane's counsel awaiting instructions after the birth of her child and Purcell's counsel seeking a section 4e application due to disputed facts. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned the case to later that afternoon to allow the defence teams to present their objections to severing the indictment. The hearing also noted that Ms.
Anti-Austerity Alliance TD Paul Murphy was assigned legal aid by Judge Melanie Greally in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court regarding his upcoming trial on two charges of false imprisonment. The defendant, aged 32 and residing in Ballinteer, faces allegations of falsely imprisoning acting Tánaiste Joan Burton and Karen O'Connell during a water charges protest on November 15, 2014. The incident allegedly occurred at Fortunestown Road, Jobstown, when Ms. Burton and her entourage were delayed for approximately two hours while attempting to travel from An Cosan Education Centre to St Thomas' Church. Mr. Murphy's solicitor submitted a statement of means, noting the trial could last four to six weeks. The State solicitor confirmed no garda objection based on the financial documentation, leaving the decision to the court. Judge Greally granted the application based on the average weekly income provided, though specific figures were not disclosed in open court. No trial date has yet been fixed. The matter was adjourned and will return to the court on May 3 for a mention. This procedural step does not constitute a final determination of the charges, which remain allegations pending trial.
Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy adjourned the sentencing of Michael Kinsella, 24, of Tallaght, to May 3 after expressing "enormous difficulty" in determining the appropriate penalty. Kinsella pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Adil Essalhi, who was killed in 2011. His uncle, Wayne Kinsella, was previously convicted of murdering Mr Essalhi. The judge noted that while the plea was accepted on an agreed basis, there are "differing accounts" regarding Kinsella's culpability. Specifically, conflicting evidence exists as to whether Kinsella knew his uncle had lured Mr Essalhi to extract revenge for the murder of Lee Kinsella, or if he was only informed of this at the scene. Ms Justice Murphy stated that without a clear factual basis from the prosecution, the court could not perform its task. She highlighted that the sentencing range available spans from a suspended sentence to life imprisonment. The judge requested that the prosecution clarify the basis on which the guilty plea was accepted before the court can set an appropriate sentence. This follows an earlier adjournment on April 11, during which a victim impact statement was heard from Mr Essalhi's mother, Geraldine.
In a case involving an inmate who assaulted three prison officers, the final sentencing has been adjourned until the High Court's recent ruling on the activation of suspended sentences is clarified. Judge Melanie Greally, hearing the case at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, intended to impose a partially suspended term on Eoghan McGarry, 30, but declined to enforce a sentence that could not be upheld if he re‑offended. McGarry, originally from Tallaght and without a fixed abode, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to the officers on 23 April 2015. He attacked them with a homemade weapon made from razor blades and a toothbrush while they delivered breakfast. Two officers suffered post‑traumatic stress and have not returned to work. McGarry was present in court flanked by five officers in riot gear.
John Brock, a 43‑year‑old Dublin resident, was charged on 13 April 2016 with possessing 57 kg of homemade explosives—ammonium nitrate fuel mix—and thirty‑eight 2.5 kg rolls of Kemegel industrial explosives found at Naas Road, Dublin 12. He was also charged with membership of an unlawful organisation, the Irish Republican Army (Oglaigh na hEireann). The Special Criminal Court granted him bail, allowing release on a €1,000 personal bond and a €20,000 independent surety. Conditions of his bail required surrender of his passport, daily reporting at Tallaght Garda Station, a curfew from 11 pm to 7 am, prohibition from leaving the jurisdiction or travelling to Northern Ireland, avoidance of contact with charged or convicted persons, and prohibition of contact with proposed prosecution witnesses. He must also provide a phone number to the Gardaí. His co‑accused, John Roche, 53, was granted temporary bail from 9 am to 7 pm on 22 April.
Two Dublin men, John Brock, 43, and John Roche, 52, were charged at an out‑of‑hours sitting of the Special Criminal Court on 15 April 2016. They face possession of 150 kg of explosives, including 57 kg of homemade ammonium nitrate fuel mix and thirty‑eight 2.5 kg rolls of Kemegel industrial explosives found at Naas Road, Dublin 12, on 13 April 2016. Both men are also charged with membership of an unlawful organisation, the Irish Republican Army (IRA). Brock was arrested by the Special Detective Unit on St Ronan's Avenue, Clondalkin, and Roche on Rossmore Avenue, Ballyfermot. Each was detained at a Garda station before being taken to the Special Criminal Court, where they were shown the charge sheet and made no reply. The court remanded them in custody until 21 April, when bail applications are expected.
At the Central Criminal Court, Michael Kinsella, aged 24, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of 29‑year‑old Adil Essalhi, who was stabbed on 6 January 2011. Essalhi suffered 50 stab and chop wounds before his killers attempted to set his body on fire and then dumped it in a ditch in Tyrrelstown. Kinsella's mother, Geraldine, spoke of the devastation to her family, describing her son as kind, loving and full of promise. Detective Sergeant Dan Callaghan revealed that Kinsella's uncle, Wayne, was convicted of murder for his part in Essalhi's death. Kinsella had been in detention since age 14, had 30 prior convictions, and claimed he was coerced by his uncle. Justice Deirdre Murphy adjourned the sentencing to 25 April. The hearing focused on the circumstances of the killing and the defendant's background.