Paul Rice, 25, of Tallaght, was jailed for two years after taking part in a violent assault on a bouncer at Copper Face Jacks nightclub on 23 September 2014. He pleaded guilty to violent disorder. The incident began when a group of six men, including Rice, were refused entry to the club. They returned with four other men and, after being denied entry again, Rice and another man dragged a bouncer across the street and punched him 17 times, delivering nine punches. The bouncer suffered a cut ear and facial bruising. Rice was identified on CCTV footage and arrested. He had 11 prior convictions, including public order offences. The judge, Terence O'Sullivan, noted the attack was pre‑meditated and extremely violent, and sentenced Rice to three years' imprisonment with the final year suspended. The sentence effectively amounts to a two‑year custodial term.
An inmate, Eoghan McGarry, 30, was brought to Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 8 April 2016, flanked by five prison officers in riot gear. He had assaulted three officers at Mountjoy Prison on 23 April 2015, using a homemade weapon made from razor blades melted into a toothbrush. The officers were delivering breakfast trays when McGarry lunged at them, causing injuries: one sustained wounds to face and torso, another a wound under the chin, and the third was struck on the head. The incident was captured on CCTV. McGarry pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. He is currently serving a four‑year sentence for aggravated burglary, with the final year suspended, and has 38 prior convictions. The court adjourned sentencing to 21 April to consider reports, including victim impact statements and reports from the prosecution and defence. The officers suffered significant psychological distress and anxiety as a result of the attacks. The case is pending further proceedings.
In a June 2016 sentencing hearing, 32‑year‑old Gavin Fitzhenry of Tallaght pleaded guilty to three failed burglary attempts in south Dublin on the night of 27 June 2014. The first incident occurred at 1 a.m. in a Palmerston Road home when a woman, awake in bed, saw a man enter her bedroom. She froze, the intruder apologized, and he fled. At 2:45 a.m. in a Kilmacud Road house, a man heard a dark figure in his dining room; he confronted the intruder, who pleaded not to be hit and escaped. At 4:10 a.m. another Kilmacud resident was awakened by a noise from his bathroom; he saw a man on his roof, shouted, and the intruder leapt off and fled. Fitzhenry was later found near the scenes, fled, and hid in bushes before being arrested. He claimed he broke in because he owed €7,000 in drug‑related debt.
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Melanie Greally adjourned the case of Paul Murphy and 18 co-accused to May 3 for mention. The defendants face charges including false imprisonment of acting Tánaiste Joan Burton and Karen O'Connell, violent disorder, and criminal damage, arising from a protest in Jobstown in November 2014. Defence counsel requested the adjournment to review recent State correspondence regarding separate trials. The prosecution indicated it had sent written instructions and an indictment later than anticipated. Thomas Kelly (33) of Cushlawn Dale, Tallaght, was remanded in his absence after failing to attend court due to starting a new job as a commis chef. Judge Greally noted he had "seriously underestimated" his attendance obligations but granted leniency given the prosecution's generous attitude, remanding him to the same date as his co-accused. Antoinette Kane (23) of Cloonmore Park, Jobstown, was also remanded in her absence; her counsel stated he could not take instruction from her, who is due a baby in two weeks. A warrant was issued for Dylan Collins (20) of Bawnlea Green, Tallaght, who failed to answer his bail. Other accused include Keith Preston (36), Kieran Mahon (38), and Michael Murphy (50). The matter was adjourned, not concluded.
A Dublin man, Gary Flynn, aged 31, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the 2009 murder of Seamus Shay O'Byrne in Tallaght. The trial lasted nine weeks, with the jury taking one hour and forty minutes to convict. Flynn pleaded not guilty. The judge, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, backdated the sentence to October 2013, the date of Flynn's arrest under a European Arrest Warrant. Flynn was not identified as the gunman; the shooter was identified as Garrett O'Brien, convicted in 2012. Evidence against Flynn included CCTV footage of him traveling with Eugene Cullen, a "Topaz Phone" linking him to the gang, and gunshot residue on a hoodie. The court heard a victim impact statement from O'Byrne's family and girlfriend, Sharon Rattigan, who was also shot during the incident. Flynn was taken to prison to begin his mandatory life term.
A 31‑year‑old Dublin mother, Shineen Mulhall, received a 12‑month suspended sentence and was ordered to complete 150 hours of community service within two years. She pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to stealing €16,885 from Oaklee Housing Trust on 4 February 2013 and €5,564 from the Irish College of General Practitioners on 3 March 2013. Gardaí described her as a "pawn" in the operation, noting that two cheques totalling over €21,500 were lodged into her account and later withdrawn under instructions from a man. Mulhall had 19 prior convictions for road traffic offences. The judge, Catherine Murphy, noted that she had not attracted adverse Garda attention and had fully cooperated. The case involved CCTV evidence of her lodging the cheques and the Garda interview in October 2013 where she admitted to cashing them on behalf of the man.
James Butler, a 38‑year‑old former nurse from Springfield, Tallaght, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm to his partner on 14 December 2014. He put his hands on her neck, choked her and struck her head against a wardrobe. The victim, who has a young son with Butler, collapsed and later received medical treatment, including four stitches to her cheek. Butler was not jailed because he had no prior convictions, had taken responsibility, and ensured the victim received medical care. Judge Catherine Murphy ordered Butler to complete 150 hours of community service within two years and to pay €1,155 in medical costs by April. The case highlighted the couple's volatile relationship, with no prior protection orders and Butler's continued contact with the child after the assault.
A jury in the Central Criminal Court will start deliberations on the trial of Gary Flynn, 31, who is accused of being part of the murder gang that killed Seamus 'Shay' O'Byrne at Tymon Park North in Tallaght on 13 March 2009. Flynn has pleaded not guilty. The trial began almost nine weeks ago, with more than 100 witnesses giving evidence, and Justice Patrick McCarthy will finish his charge on Wednesday, after which the jury will consider their verdict.
In Wheatfield Prison, Limerick man Niall Carey, aged 28, was found guilty of violent disorder and assault causing harm to fellow prisoner Noel Murray on 21 January 2013. Carey, who led a group that attacked Murray after a dispute over missing personal items, received a custodial sentence of three years, with the final year suspended. His co‑accused, Daniel Martin, 30, was sentenced to one year suspended for his role. A third participant, Stephen Seery, 34, had earlier been sentenced to six months for the same incident. Carey, who has 40 prior convictions and is due for release in May, pleaded guilty and was described by the judge as the ringleader who marshalled the attackers. The court noted his loss of 56 days' privileges and his remorse, but imposed the custodial term accordingly. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 14 March 2016, Justice Patrick McCarthy addressed a jury of eight men and three women regarding the trial of Gary Flynn, aged 31, who is accused of being part of a "murder gang" that shot Seamus 'Shay' O'Byrne to death in Tallaght on 13 March 2009. Flynn has pleaded not guilty. The judge explained that the prosecution's case is built on circumstantial evidence, which, while insufficient alone, can establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt when combined. He emphasized that the standard of proof remains the same and that the prosecution must eliminate any rational hypothesis that contradicts its narrative. McCarthy clarified that the case does not allege Flynn fired the fatal shot, but that he could still be guilty as part of the common design, citing an example of a burglary gang where the getaway driver is as culpable as the breaker.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court adjourned proceedings involving TD Paul Murphy and 18 others, including Keith Preston and Antoinette Kane, who face charges of false imprisonment and violent disorder. The allegations stem from a November 2014 water charges protest in Jobstown, where it is alleged that Tánaiste Joan Burton and Karen O'Connell were falsely imprisoned. Prosecuting counsel Tony McGillicuddy BL indicated the State intends to sever the indictment into up to four separate trials. He requested an adjournment until April 4 to allow time for the State to set out its reasons for severance in writing by March 18. Defence counsel Conor McKenna BL stated that Mr Murphy will contest the case but wishes to review the indictment before a trial date is set. Padraig Dwyer SC, representing Keith Preston, argued for a joint trial and requested the State's terms in writing. The court noted that Antoinette Kane is due a baby imminently and her attendance may be excused if medically unfit. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned the matter, with a trial date likely to be set next month.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, the prosecution argued that Gary Flynn, 31, was linked to the gang that killed Seamus 'Shay' O'Byrne on 13 March 2009. They cited CCTV, mobile phone and forensic evidence, including gunshot residue on Flynn's hoodie and a phone credit purchase at a Topaz garage shortly before the shooting. The prosecution claimed Flynn travelled in a Nissan Primera to Tymon Park with Garrett O'Brien, who shot O'Byrne, and that Flynn's alleged gang members fled after the victim's girlfriend, Sharon Rattigan, tackled O'Brien. Defence counsel countered that Flynn's phone use was not proven and that he may have simply bought credit for Eugene Cullen. The jury heard evidence that Flynn was seen with Cullen in Coolock after the shooting but not during the crime. The case was presented to a jury of nine men and three women, with the trial continuing on Monday. Gary Flynn pleaded not guilty.
The trial of Gary Flynn, 31, of Tallaght, continued at the Central Criminal Court before Justice Patrick McCarthy. Mr Flynn has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Seamus 'Shay' O'Byrne on March 13, 2009, at Tymon Park North in Tallaght. Prosecution evidence presented by Alex Owens SC focused on mobile phone tracing conducted by gardai. Senior crime analyst Sarah Skedd testified that investigators traced calls, texts, and locations of 13 mobile phones believed to be used by a gang. She detailed communications between these devices in the days leading up to the shooting, including a text sent by a phone linked to Eugene Cullen to a device found at the crime scene, which is associated with Garrett O'Brien. The prosecution alleges Mr O'Brien was the shooter. Skedd's evidence, which includes charts of phone interactions, is ongoing. Additionally, Brendan McKenna of Vilicom Engineering provided analysis of mobile mast locations, tracing a phone seized from Mr O'Brien to areas from Bray to Ballymount, and another phone found in a Nissan Primera to Coolock. The trial previously heard from Forensic Science Laboratory analyst Liam Fleury, who stated that fingerprints lifted from the Nissan Primera matched Mr Flynn's. The matter is currently at the trial stage and will continue on Thursday.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 1 March 2016, 31‑year‑old Gary Flynn of Rossfield Drive, Tallaght, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Seamus 'Shay' O'Byrne, who was shot at Tymon Park North on 13 March 2009. The court heard that Flynn had been nicknamed "Damien Duff" by Garda John O'Connell because of his resemblance to the former Irish soccer player. Evidence was presented by Garda Damien McGarry concerning several mobile phones linked to suspects. One phone found at the shooting scene had a contact named "Damien Duff" matching a number belonging to Eugene Cullen, another phone given to Garda by Cullen's former girlfriend, Louise Lawlor, had a number saved as Gary Flynn, though Lawlor could not confirm the identity.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing on 29 February 2016, Gary Flynn, aged 31, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Seamus 'Shay' O'Byrne, which occurred on 13 March 2009 at Tymon Park North, Tallaght. An expert, Liam Fleury of the Forensic Science Laboratory, testified that he found firearms residue on Flynn's right hand and on the cuffs of a grey hoodie that Gardaí said belonged to him. No residue was found on Flynn's face or left hand. Fleury explained that such residue is emitted when a gun is fired and can adhere to the shooter's skin and clothing. He had not examined any evidence relating to Garrett O'Brien, who the prosecution claims was the actual shooter and has already been convicted of the murder. Detective Garda Shane Farrell reported finding fingerprints on a Nissan Primera bonnet, one belonging to Eugene Cullen and another to Flynn.
A 40‑year‑old man, Terence Connors of Drumcairn Drive, Tallaght, is accused of murdering Peter Conroy in the Palmerstown area of Dublin on 9 June 2015. His trial, originally set for May 2017, has been moved forward to 12 December 2016 at the Central Criminal Court.
Aaron Shattock, aged 20, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm at the M50 exit 11 pedestrian walkway in Tallaght on 21 August 2013. The assault, which involved racial abuse and a stick thrown at an Iraqi immigrant, caused the victim to lose sight in one eye. Shattock was originally sentenced to three‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended, by Judge Martin Nolan on 17 April 2015. On appeal, the Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan, found that the sentencing judge had not given sufficient consideration to the "perfect mitigation" Shattock presented, including remorse, youth, good character and employment. The Court therefore reduced the suspended portion, leaving the three‑and‑a‑half‑year term in place but suspending the final two years, thereby cutting the overall jail term. The decision was delivered alongside Mr Justice George Birmingham and Mr Justice Alan Mahon.
Robert Jones, a 26-year-old bank worker from Tallaght, Dublin, received a suspended sentence of 18 months at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for assault causing harm. Jones pleaded guilty to the charge, which carries a maximum penalty of five years, after the Director of Public Prosecutions agreed to withdraw a more serious charge of assault causing serious harm, which carried a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. A nolle prosequi was entered on the withdrawn charge. The incident occurred on July 20, 2014, at Palace night-club, Camden Street, where Jones allegedly struck victim Brian Murphy with a pint glass, leaving the medical student blind in one eye. Judge John Aylmer noted that while he made no determination on provocation, he was legally bound to give Jones the benefit of the doubt regarding witness accounts of provocation. The judge cited Jones' impeccable character, the spontaneous nature of the act, and the fact that a custodial sentence would destroy Jones' career prospects, thereby affecting the victim's ability to seek civil compensation. Jones brought €8,000 to court as a token of remorse. The court heard that Jones had previously faced trial on the more serious offence before pleading guilty to the lesser charge.
Ian Quinn, 34, of St Aongus Park, Tallaght, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to attempted robbery of Kilnamanagh Post Office on 6 June 2015 and to possession of a Crossman C11 firearm at his home on 1 October 2015. Judge Melanie Greally remanded him in continuing custody until 8 March, when evidence will be heard.
Terry O'Donoghue, 51, of Tallaght, was found guilty of possessing €2 million worth of cannabis for sale or supply at Cookstown Industrial Estate between 27 and 28 February 2013. He was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment, with the final three years suspended, by Judge Mary Ellen Ring on 7 April 2014. O'Donoghue appealed against the severity of the sentence, but the Court of Appeal found no error in principle. Mr Justice Alan Mahon, sitting with Justices Garrett Sheehan and John Edwards, upheld the sentence, noting the large value of the drugs and O'Donoghue's extensive involvement in the operation, including renting premises and organising vehicles. The appeal was dismissed, leaving the 10‑year term, three years suspended, in place. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
A 22-year-old man who admitted to manslaughter in connection with a fatal stabbing will be sentenced in April at the Central Criminal Court. Michael Kinsella, with addresses in Tallaght and Cavan, pleaded guilty to the unlawful killing of Adil Essalhi, who died on January 6, 2011, following an attack in which he sustained over 50 stab and chop wounds. The Director of Public Prosecutions accepted the plea to the lesser charge of manslaughter. At a hearing on February 16, 2016, the court ordered that psychological reports prepared by the defence be disclosed to the prosecution, and granted permission for a prosecution psychiatrist to assess Mr Kinsella prior to sentencing. The defence indicated its client would cooperate with this evaluation. Justice Deirdre Murphy adjourned the sentencing hearing to April 11, 2016. Mr Kinsella's uncle, Wayne Kinsella, was previously convicted of Mr Essalhi's murder in 2012.
In 2016 the Court of Appeal dismissed Timothy Rattigan's application to have his 2005 conviction for the murder of 65‑year‑old Joan Casey declared a miscarriage of justice. Rattigan, 36, had been found guilty by a jury at the Central Criminal Court and sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment by Mr Justice Paul Carney. He argued that evidence obtained from a search of his house and his arrest would be inadmissible under the 2012 Supreme Court decision 'Damache', which declared section 29 search warrants unconstitutional. His counsel, Ken Fogarty SC, claimed the new ruling should render the evidence inadmissible. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Tara Burns SC, said the application was bound to fail. Mr Justice George Birmingham, sitting with Mr Justice Alan Mahon and Mr Justice John Edwards, agreed with the DPP, citing the 2014 McKevitt case and the 2014 'JC' judgment, and ruled that the appeal should be dismissed. Timothy Rattigan pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Melanie Greally sentenced a 16‑year‑old boy to two and a half years' detention for burglary at The Avenue, Belgard Heights, Tallaght, on 7 June 2015. The teenager, whose name is withheld, had pleaded guilty and had prior convictions for burglary and drug possession. He and an accomplice were found hiding under a blanket in the house they had broken into. The judge noted the boy had no adult supervision since his mother's death five years earlier and no one in court to support him. She imposed the custodial term with an 18‑month suspended period, subject to strict conditions including engagement with the Probation Service and attendance at any recommended alcohol or drug therapy. The judge expressed hope that the custodial environment would provide the stability needed for the boy's future rehabilitation. The co‑accused has since taken a bench warrant.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing on 10 February 2016, it was revealed that Gary Flynn, aged 31, was in possession of drugs and two mobile phones when he was arrested by the Gardaí four days after the fatal shooting of Seamus 'Shay' O'Byrne on 13 March 2009. The arrest also uncovered €1,000 in cash. Flynn, who lives on Rossfield Drive in Tallaght, pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. The trial also discussed the arrest of another suspect, Garrett O'Brien, who was apprehended on 17 March 2009 at a house on Oldcourt Avenue in Bray, Co. Wicklow, under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act. Gardaí Det. Sgt. Tom McManus and Det. Gda Gary Corrigan testified that O'Brien was alone in the sitting room when seized, and that the items—two mobile phones, blue tablets, Valium, hash, methadone, and €1,000—belonged to him.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, scientists reported that firearms residue was found inside a Volkswagen Passat but not in a Nissan Primera, both vehicles suspected of being used in the alleged gang murder of Seamus 'Shay' O'Byrne at Tymon Park North, Tallaght, on 13 March 2009. Dr Thomas Hannigan of the Forensic Science Laboratory explained that samples from the Passat's seatbelt, driver's cockpit and driver's door tested positive for residue, while the Primera's samples were negative. He agreed with the defence that the shooter likely left the scene in the Passat. Garda Terence Toal presented fingerprints linking Gary Flynn (31) and Eugene Cullen to items from the vehicles, matching Flynn's right thumb print to a sample from the Primera's interior passenger door. Gary Flynn pleaded not guilty.
In a 2016 Central Criminal Court hearing, Garda Detective Michael McGrath presented CCTV evidence linking 31‑year‑old Gary Flynn of Rossfield Drive, Tallaght, to the scene of the fatal shooting of Seamus 'Shay' O'Byrne at Tymon Park North on 13 March 2009. The footage showed a Nissan Primera with a defective headlight stopping at a Topaz garage on Forfield Road about 90 minutes before the shooting. A man matching Flynn's description exited the vehicle, wearing a grey tracksuit and white runners, and entered the garage. Further CCTV from a homeowner's system in Tymon Park displayed a saloon‑type car, possibly a Nissan Primera, arriving before five shots were fired and then leaving the estate. Flynn pleaded not guilty, and the trial was set to continue before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of nine men and three women. The prosecution argued that the same case was being made against Flynn as for another suspect, Eugene Cullen.
Daniel Wall, a 23‑year‑old boxer from Tallaght, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm after attacking Gerard Dempsey with a knife on 10 February 2014. The judge ordered Wall to pay €1,100 to the victim before sentencing. Wall received a four‑year sentence, with the final two years suspended on strict conditions. The judge noted Wall's boxing background and his mother's terminal cancer, taking these into account. Wall claimed the attack was unprovoked, while the victim said it was retaliatory. Wall had 57 prior convictions, including robbery and burglary. After the hearing, Wall announced he would fire his legal team, calling the sentence "bollox.".
Two men were sentenced to four years imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following their guilty pleas to car-jacking. Francis Stokes, aged 29, of Ballyconnell, County Cavan, and Martin Stokes, aged 24, of Celbridge, County Kildare, hijacked a vehicle at Blessington Road, Tallaght, on 10 November 2013. Judge Melanie Greally suspended the final two years of Francis Stokes's sentence and the last three years of Martin Stokes's sentence, having regard to their differing criminal histories. The victim described the incident as life-altering, stating it had severely restricted her confidence and ability to engage in activities she previously enjoyed. The court heard evidence that the complainant had become fearful of driving and was unable to maintain her former independence. The accused had claimed to gardaí that they commandeered the vehicle following an attack by another party, though the victim impact statements presented a substantially different account of events.
The High Court rejected Italy's request to extradite Aisha Ahmed, a mother of six, who was arrested in 2014 under a European Arrest Warrant. The warrant alleged that Ahmed, also known as Gloria Anwulika Aro, acted as promoter, leader and organiser of an association that imported, sold, distributed and traded large quantities of cocaine in Italy between 1999 and 2000. She was convicted in absentia in 2005 and sentenced by the Court of Naples to 20 years in prison. During hearings, Ahmed first claimed mistaken identity, giving the name Gloria Aro and a December 1967 birth date, and supplied an Irish passport. She later admitted the name on the warrant was hers. In October, her lawyers argued she had not been properly notified of a scheduled trial, and the notice served on her defence lawyer did not meet extradition requirements.
Two cousins, Edward Wall (43) and Patrick Wall (36), were jailed after pleading guilty to burglary at The Park, Highlands, Drogheda, Co. Louth, on 31 October 2014, and to attempted burglary at Gainstown, Co. Meath, on the same date. Both were pursued by the Emergency Response Unit after a car, carrying house‑breaking tools and stolen items, fled from a silver Mazda. The car collided with Garda vehicles; Edward escaped but was arrested, while Patrick was taken from the rear by an armed Garda. The court imposed four‑year sentences on each, suspending the final year, and ordered €500 from each to be paid to the burglary victim. The defendants' prior convictions and the details of the burglary, including the €4,600 damage and the missing €349 Armani watch, were noted in the proceedings. The defendants offered €3,000 each as tokens of remorse. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Shane O'Connor, 34, of Tallaght, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to the offence of producing an article at Mountjoy Prison on 25 September 2013. The incident involved O'Connor attempting to throw a jug of warm water at fellow inmate Keith Hughes while prison officer Leon Maguire was refilling a jug for tea. O'Connor rushed past Maguire, who was restraining him, and struck Maguire on the forehead with the jug. Maguire was treated for a cut and received one stitch. O'Connor was already serving a four‑year robbery sentence and had 29 prior convictions. He was undergoing drug rehabilitation at Tiglin Centre and was reported drug‑free for a year. Judge Patricia Ryan, after hearing the evidence, imposed a two‑year suspended sentence on strict conditions, recognising O'Connor's admissions, family support and drug‑free status. The sentence was suspended, not executed, pending compliance with the conditions. The case remains at the suspended‑sentence stage.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 5 February 2016, Detective Garda Michael McGrath presented CCTV footage that linked three suspects to the March 2009 murder of Seamus 'Shay' O'Byrne in Tallaght. The footage showed Gary Flynn (31) entering the Leisureplex in Coolock with Eugene Cullen and another suspect at 8.50 pm, after the fatal shooting at 8.14 pm. McGrath identified Flynn's Nissan Primera, missing a headlight and wing mirror, and Garrett O'Brien's white Micra, both seen near the Red Cow roundabout. He also described a saloon with a defective headlight entering Tymon Park minutes before the shooting, though the exact make was disputed by defence counsel, who cited teenage witnesses claiming a Volkswagen Passat. Dr Michael Burrington testified that DNA from a mobile phone matched O'Brien's profile, with a one‑in‑two‑million chance of coincidence. The case proceeded to trial before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of nine men and three women. Gary Flynn pleaded not guilty.
Gary Flynn, of Rossfield Drive, Tallaght, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court, having pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Seamus 'Shay' O'Byrne at Tymon North Park on March 13, 2009. Prosecuting counsel Alex Owens SC stated it is the prosecution's case that Flynn was part of a "murder gang" that plotted the killing. Detective Garda Michael McGrath testified that gardai trawled through days of CCTV footage from south and west Dublin to investigate the incident. He presented footage tracking a Ford Transit Van, a red Honda Accord, and a white Nissan on March 12. The evidence showed Eugene Cullen arriving in the Ford Transit to purchase petrol, while Garret O'Brien arrived in the Honda Accord wearing a New York Yankees cap and blue hoodie. A second man in a grey Nike jumper was also observed. Footage from the Red Cow Hotel area indicated an interaction between the vehicles. On the day of the alleged murder, a speed camera captured the Nissan Micra with a driver wearing similar attire to O'Brien. The trial continues before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of nine men and three women.
Lewis Smith, 19, pleaded guilty to the robbery of Joseph Benson at City West Luas on 17 April 2015. Smith, who has 12 prior convictions, and a friend attacked Benson, shouting "get him" and kicking him. Smith tripped Benson onto the tracks, where his accomplice continued to kick him in the head. The victim's phone was taken. CCTV footage was shown in court. Smith's co‑accused, a cousin of the defendant, was defended by counsel who noted a similar attack in 2014 that killed a man. Benson, who fled Liberia 17 years earlier, suffered serious injuries and was hospitalized for three days. Judge Sarah Berkeley remanded Smith in custody until 4 April for sentencing. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In a 2016 Central Criminal Court hearing, Detective Garda Janette O'Neill presented a Webley & Scott revolver found in a car near the site where Seamus 'Shay' O'Byrne was shot dead in 2009. The gun had been decommissioned by the Birmingham Proof House museum, but O'Neill noted that the firing arm had been replaced and the barrel refilled, restoring its functionality. Five spent cartridges were recovered, and State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy confirmed five bullets in O'Byrne's body, though they were of the wrong calibre for the revolver. Gary Flynn, 31, pleaded not guilty to the murder. The court also heard CCTV evidence from a local Spar showing a nervous man purchasing items on the day of the shooting, and additional surveillance from petrol stations and a Topaz shop. The trial proceeded before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury.
The Central Criminal Court heard evidence during the ongoing trial of Gary Flynn, who has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Seamus 'Shay' O'Byrne at Tymon Park North in Tallaght on March 13, 2009. Detective Sergeant Daniel Kelly testified that gardai traced a can of Red Bull found at the scene to a specific batch produced in Switzerland. The can was linked to a Spar shop in Ballymount, where it was delivered on January 16, 2009. Factory records indicated the can was one of a maximum of 800 produced with that specific code. Garda Patrick Tarrant presented CCTV stills from the same shop showing a man identified as Garrett O'Brien purchasing two cans of Red Bull at 6.35 pm on the day of the shooting. Tarrant noted that the green rain jacket worn by O'Brien matched one found in a vehicle believed to have been used by the group alleged to have killed Mr O'Byrne. Prosecuting counsel Alex Owens SC stated the prosecution intends to demonstrate that Flynn was part of a "murder gang" that executed a plot to kill the victim. The trial continues on Tuesday.
In a 2014 incident at Show Nightclub, Tallaght, a 19‑year‑old named Ciaran Meleady stabbed a stranger in the buttock with a knife, claiming the victim had also been stabbed. No prior interaction existed. Meleady, who had eight prior road‑traffic convictions and was taking medication for depression, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. The victim required steri‑strips and antibiotics. Judge Melanie Greally described the act as occurring "for absolutely no apparent reason," citing possible alcohol‑medication interaction and the recent death of Meleady's grandmother. She sentenced him to 18 months, suspended in full for two years. The knife was not recovered and the assault was not captured on CCTV, though footage showed Meleady standing behind the victim before the attack. Meleady left the premises when Gardaí arrived and was later identified via CCTV. The case was prosecuted by Rosin Lacey BL and defended by Kieran Kelly BL.
Professor Marie Cassidy, State Pathologist, gave evidence at the Central Criminal Court regarding the murder of Seamus 'Shay' O'Byrne, who was shot five times on 13 March 2009 at Tymon Park North, Tallaght. She described the bullet wounds: one in the head, two in the back, one in the right shoulder and one in the left thigh. The wounds to the torso caused extensive bleeding and damaged the lungs and heart, leading to death. The head wound caused bruising to the brain surface, while the hip wound was a superficial flesh injury. Cassidy noted that the hip bullet might also have injured Sharon Rattigan, who was shot when she tried to wrestle the gun. She could not determine if all bullets came from the same gun. Garda evidence included swabs and fingerprints taken from Gary Flynn, the accused, by Sergeant Ciaran Loughrey and Garda Declan Claffey. The trial continues before a jury and Justice Patrick McCarthy. Gary Flynn pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 29 October 2013, Brendan Byrne, a 58‑year‑old taxi driver from Millrace Avenue, Saggart, pleaded guilty to dishonestly appropriating household furniture and assorted items from an apartment in Hazelgrove Court, Tallaght. Byrne, together with three others, removed a range of items including two televisions, two couches, a washing machine, a microwave, mirrors, paintings, tables and light fittings. The landlord had changed the locks after a Garda raid a few days earlier, and the tenancy agreement between the landlord and Byrne's stepson had not yet expired. Byrne had previously been convicted of attempted robbery (1984) and forgery (1998). Judge Melanie Greally accepted Byrne's recklessness regarding ownership, noted that some items were recovered while light fittings and small pieces were not, and that Byrne had pushed the door open.
Gary Flynn, aged 31, was arrested in a silver Nissan Primera shortly after the March 13, 2009 shooting that killed Seamus 'Shay' O'Byrne at Tymon Park North, Tallaght. Detective Garda Mary Moore, of the NBCI, stopped the car in Kimmage, noting it matched the description of a vehicle the Gardaí were seeking. She reported that Flynn was seated in the front passenger seat and that three people were inside the vehicle. Flynn was handcuffed and evidence bags were placed over his hands to preserve any firearm residue. Garda Alan Curry examined the car, noting it lacked a tax disk, had an out‑of‑date NCT, and contained a mobile phone and McDonald's wrappers. Additional evidence was seized from a Ford Transit van, including a mismatched chassis number and fingerprints. The case is pending before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury. Gary Flynn pleaded not guilty.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal, James Spellman Junior (40) and Trevor Matthews (41) pleaded guilty to theft of "priceless" 300‑year‑old gates from Convent Cottage, Firhouse Road, on 4 April 2015. Gardaí had observed the men loading the gates into a van at 9.30 pm, refusing to answer questions and leaving a pickaxe behind. The gates, dating from 1710, were listed and considered invaluable. Both men had minor prior convictions. Judge Melanie Greally, after hearing counsel, sentenced each to a two‑year prison term suspended in full on strict conditions, including one year of engagement with the Probation Service. The judge noted the men were not the ringleaders and had limited previous convictions, and accepted their cooperation with authorities. The case concluded with the suspended sentences and conditions imposed.
The High Court appointed Mr Michael McAteer of Grant Thornton Ireland as provisional liquidator for Xtra‑Vision Entertainment Ltd and Xtra‑Vision Ireland Ltd, following a petition by Oxtermont Ltd, part of Hilco Capital. Mr Justice Paul Gilligan confirmed the appointment after learning the firms were insolvent and could not meet debts as they fell due. The companies operate over 80 outlets across the Republic and Northern Ireland and employ 583 full‑time and part‑time staff. The court noted the bulk of these jobs are likely to be lost, though some positions may be retained at related companies such as the HMV chain. Xtra‑Vision's owners cited a significant decline in revenues—over €12.4 million in 2015—and a €2.5 million loss, attributing the downturn to the decline of the movie‑rental market, increased online streaming, and piracy.
Richard Mansfield, 21, of Tallaght, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two endangerment charges, taking a vehicle and dangerous driving after stealing a BMW. He admitted smoking cannabis before driving. Mansfield performed a handbrake turn into oncoming rush‑hour traffic on the Tallaght Bypass on 7 January 2015, accelerating at high speed across three lanes and narrowly missing a patrol car and pedestrians. Garda Alan Young arrested him after a chase. Mansfield had 60 prior convictions, including dangerous driving, burglary and drug possession. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to four and a half years, suspending the last 18 months, and disqualified him from driving for four years. The suspended portion is conditional on probation for two years after release. The sentence reflects the serious risk posed to many people, including Gardaí, during the incident.
Two men, Niall Carey (28) of Hyde Road, Ballinacurra Weston, and Daniel Martin (30) of Brookview Gardens, Tallaght Dublin, are to be sentenced for their roles in an attack at Wheatfield Prison on January 21, 2013. Both pleaded guilty to violent disorder at the prison and Carey also pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Noel Murray during the same incident. The charges were admitted, and both men have pleaded guilty. A third man, Stephen Seery (34) of Ballyogan Vale, Carrickmines, Dublin, was last year sentenced to six months imprisonment for violent disorder at the prison during the same incident. The case is at the sentence stage. Judge Patricia Ryan adjourned both men's cases until March and ordered probation reports. Carey has 40 previous convictions and is due for release in June. Martin has 47 convictions and was released last August. The matter was adjourned and no sentence has been imposed yet.
Ajibola Ajala, 22, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after an unprovoked attack on Gary Doran at the Wright Venue nightclub in Swords on 17 December 2011. Doran suffered head injuries and a fractured jaw, with nine staples inserted into his skull. Ajala, who had never been in trouble before and had come to Ireland from Nigeria at age 15, was found by Judge Patrick McCartan to have no reason for the assault. The judge, citing that everyone is entitled to one mistake, suspended a two‑year jail term on the condition that Ajala pay €5,000 to Doran within six months. Failure to pay or any further trouble within two years could result in imprisonment. The case was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with counsel for both parties present. The judge emphasised the lack of evidence that Ajala was involved in any groping or that a drink had been thrown at him.
Anti-Austerity Alliance TD Paul Murphy, 32, of Ballinteer, appeared at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court alongside 18 co-accused, including Alliance Councillor Michael Murphy, 50, of Ballyboden, and Dublin Councillor Kieran Mahon, 38, of Tallaght. The group faces allegations of falsely imprisoning Tánaiste Joan Burton and violent disorder during a water charges protest in Jobstown on November 15, 2014. Prosecution counsel Tony McGillicuddy BL requested that all accused be remanded to appear for arraignment on March 7, noting that some defendants seek trial dates while others require further disclosure. Judge Melanie Greally granted senior counsel to all accused except Cllr Mahon, who has not yet been assigned legal aid. The court remanded Mr Murphy and all co-accused on continuing bail to appear on Monday, March 7, for arraignment. The defence indicated they are anxious for further disclosure but intend to seek a trial date at the next occasion. The matter was adjourned.
Keith Hall, aged 26, was sentenced to 20 years for the manslaughter of 16‑year‑old Melanie McCarthy McNamara, who was shot in a car in Tallaght on 8 February 2012. Hall pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, and the Director of Public Prosecutions accepted the plea. On appeal, the Court of Appeal quashed the original sentence, re‑imposed 20 years as the headline figure and suspended the final two‑and‑a‑half years. The appeal argued that the sentencing judge had not adequately considered mitigating factors such as Hall's drug addiction, dysfunctional background, remorse, family support and prospects for rehabilitation. The Court of Appeal found the judge's failure to specify the extent of any discount a departure from best practice, and ordered Hall to enter a bond to keep the peace during the suspended period. Hall was not directly involved in the shooting but assisted in events before and after the incident.
The trial of Gary Flynn, 31, of Rossfield Drive in Tallaght, continued at the Central Criminal Court. Flynn has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Seamus 'Shay' O'Byrne at Tymon Park North in Tallaght on March 13, 2009. Sharon Rattigan, a co-defendant in the case, testified that she was shot in the leg while grappling with a gunman who allegedly killed her partner. She described the suspect as a stocky man in dark clothing who fired at Mr O'Byrne before turning on her. Rattigan stated she disarmed the man, and they both fell over a wall before he fled. She kept the weapon and placed it in her car. Prosecution counsel Alex Owens SC presented CCTV footage showing a car and van entering the estate, followed by four shots within 12 seconds, and a vehicle speeding away. Neighbours Elizabeth and Anthony Caffola corroborated hearing the shots and seeing the victims. Garda John O'Connell detailed the audio and visual evidence, while Garda Adrian King and Eddie Fallon described securing a Red Bull can and mobile phone found near the scene. The jury, comprising nine men and three women, was sent home for two days for legal arguments before Justice Patrick McCarthy. The matter is adjourned, with the jury scheduled to return on Friday.
In the Central Criminal Court, State lawyers argued that Gary Flynn, 31, of Rossfield Drive, Tallaght, was a member of a "murder gang" that planned and carried out the killing of Seamus 'Shay' O'Byrne at Tymon Park North on 13 March 2009. Prosecutor Alex Owens SC told the jury that the gang met at Moran's Hotel on Naas Road, travelled to Tallaght in three vehicles—a Nissan Primera, a Volkswagen Golf and a Mercedes Van—and left around 7.30 pm. At about 8.15 pm, a gang member shot O'Byrne, was tackled by Sharon Rattigan who was waiting outside, and the shooter fell over a wall, separating from the rest of the gang. Rattigan was wounded in the leg. Owens said the shooter returned alone to Moran's Hotel, and that Flynn's membership and involvement in the common design to murder O'Byrne were central to the State's case. Flynn pleaded not guilty.
A 20‑year‑old man named Dale Byrne, who was part of a group that broke into an apartment on Herberton Street, Rialto, Dublin, on 17 March 2015, was charged with burglary. The group stole €25,000 worth of photography equipment and personal belongings, including a €900 guitar and an expensive bicycle. Byrne left the guitar in a flower bed to avoid being seen carrying it, but CCTV later captured him riding the bicycle in the area. He was arrested after Garda Kevin Lawless spotted him wearing the same clothes as during the burglary. Byrne pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He had no prior convictions. The judge imposed a two and a half year sentence, which was suspended in full on strict conditions, including 18 months of probation supervision. The stolen items have never been recovered and the homeowners had no insurance for them.