Robert Murphy, 32, a drug addict, was convicted at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for possessing a knife, discharging a firearm, and arson. He received an effective sentence of four years imprisonment with five years suspended on 10 October 2014. The Court of Appeal, agreeing with the Director of Public Prosecutions, found the sentence "unduly lenient" and ordered a new sentence to be imposed later. The appeal highlighted that Murphy was found with a flick knife in May 2012, discharged a sawn‑off shotgun at a house door, and set fire to a house occupied by a mother and child. The court noted Murphy's history of 60 convictions, including six for knife possession, and that the suspended periods for the shotgun and arson offences were also deemed unduly lenient. The new sentence will be determined at a future hearing. Robert Murphy pleaded guilty.
Eugene Cullen, 30, from Sundale Villas, Tallaght, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of a firearm and arson on 4 August 2008. He and Adam Griffiths, 27, were seen leaving a hedge in Palmerstown Green after driving a stolen Honda Civic from Cherry Orchard. Cullen leaned into the car and flames soon erupted. Gardaí stopped a vehicle driven by a third man shortly thereafter. An inspection of the charred car revealed a 9‑mm pistol in the passenger side glove box, confirming the vehicle had been reported stolen. Neither man was charged with the theft. Griffiths pleaded guilty to driving without the owner's consent. He received a two‑year suspended sentence. Cullen, already serving a life sentence for murder, was given a six‑year custodial term, with no credit for time already served on the firearm charge. The court noted that Cullen had no knowledge that the gun was in the car.
The Special Criminal Court granted temporary bail to Brian Nick McBennet, one of seven men charged with membership of an unlawful organisation, specifically the IRA. McBennet, aged 56, and his co-accused—Peter Burns, Kevin Braney, Michael Barr, John Brock, Declan Phelan, and Desmond Christie—were charged on July 3, 2013. The three-judge panel, presided over by Justice Paul Butler, allowed McBennet bail from May 22 to May 24 on consent. Conditions included a €100 personal bond, surrendering travel documents, residing at a specified address, daily garda station sign-ins, a curfew, and providing a dedicated mobile phone number. He was also prohibited from contacting prosecution witnesses or associating with persons charged with scheduled offences outside the presence of his legal team. An independent surety of €10,000 was provided, with the surety agreeing to freeze their bank account to maintain that balance. The court noted that an application to adjourn McBennet's trial, currently listed for June 9, will be made on Tuesday. This adjournment is pending an appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions on a point of law in a connected case, which is scheduled for the following week in the Court of Appeal. The matter remains subject to this procedural delay.
Robert Hedderman, aged 30, was jailed for three years for burglary, criminal damage and unlawfully producing a firework that threatened a Garda. On 6 May 2014 he broke into a flat on North Great Georges Street, used a hacksaw to cut the window bars, and was discovered by a neighbour who called the Gardaí. When the Gardaí arrived, Hedderman told them to leave or he would kill them and burn the flat. He brandished a large kitchen knife, held a lighter and attempted to ignite fireworks, causing small explosions. Gardaí called for armed backup and the Dublin Fire Brigade arrived. Hedderman barricaded himself inside, but after three warnings he dropped the knife and was arrested. The damage to the door cost €500. Hedderman has 25 prior convictions, including robbery and burglary, and was previously jailed for robbery. Robert Hedderman pleaded guilty.
Anthony Piercy, a 33‑year‑old father of four from Naas, was sentenced to three years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for making demands with menace and for two separate threats to damage property. He claimed that Martin Gallagher, owner of Glenshane Stores in Tallaght, was responsible for €30,000 worth of damage to his home and threatened to use pipe bombs to burn the shop. Piercy called Gallagher's partner, Lisa Plunkett, demanding money and threatening to burn the shop if Gallagher refused to meet him. He returned to the shop the next day, again threatening to use pipe bombs and to close the shop at 3 pm. Judge Martin Nolan accepted that Piercy had a "wrong and irrational belief" about Gallagher's involvement, suspended the final 18 months of the sentence, and noted that Piercy had been a good family man and had no prior convictions for similar offences. Anthony Piercy pleaded guilty.
Martin Cash, aged 20, was sentenced by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three and a half years in prison for theft and dangerous driving. He stole jewellery worth €1,830 from a house on Howth Road, Raheny, and was caught after a police chase. Cash also admitted to endangering traffic by cutting across a six-lane junction, driving in bus lanes, and mounting footpaths, forcing cars and buses to swerve. He drove dangerously at a green area where children were playing and at junctions on Collins Avenue. He pleaded guilty to trespassing at a house on Furry Park Road, Killester. Judge Mary‑Ellen Ring suspended the final 12 months of his sentence on the condition of good behaviour for a year, ordered probation supervision, and disqualified him from driving for five years. Cash has 37 prior convictions, including assault, criminal damage, drug misuse and possession of stolen goods. He was drug‑free at the time of sentencing.
The High Court struck out a €50,000 defamation claim brought by 23‑year‑old Karl Morrison against Maxela Ltd, the operator of a Tallaght shop. Morrison alleged that the shop had displayed a poster on its front door with his picture and the words "Attention Shoplifters." He claimed the poster caused him to lose his address and employment. Maxela denied ever putting up such a poster, stating the shop had no shop‑lifting issues and that any posters were related to a sub‑tenant. The court found Morrison had failed to prove his claim, citing lack of credible evidence and confusion in his testimony. The judge dismissed the case, noting no order would be made regarding costs, and criticised the defence for insufficient preparation. No further orders were issued.
Sarah Nolan, a 22‑year‑old science student from Blackrock, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after she threw a glass at student nurse Hannah Foster at a Temple Bar nightclub on 23 September 2011. Nolan claimed she intended only to splash water over Foster, who was speaking to Nolan's late boyfriend, Ciaran Carr, but the glass struck Foster's mouth, damaging her teeth and causing nerve injury. Foster was treated at Dublin Dental University Hospital and requires costly ongoing care. Nolan, who was in her final year at Tallaght IT and had earned an An Gaisce President's Award, paid €5,000 in compensation and was sentenced to one year in prison, suspended for two years, with an additional €3,000 compensation order. The judge noted the reckless nature of the act and the pain inflicted on Foster.
A 25‑year‑old Latvian woman was given a two‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended sentence after she threw her partner's six‑year‑old son against a wall and beat him with a mop while drunk. She admitted to drinking three bottles of wine that night and to having been upset and angry. She first told gardaí she had no idea how the child was injured, but later confessed to the assault. The boy was initially taken into foster care, but returned to his father after the woman's statement. The court accepted psychological reports that the woman was not a threat to children and that she had suffered a miscarriage and depression. Judge Martin Nolan, citing the circumstances, imposed a suspended sentence, noting the woman had no prior convictions and had shown remorse. The case was heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following early pleas of guilty from the District Court.
In the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 1 May 2015, five men—Brian Mongan (30), Martin Mongan (39), Simon Reilly (28), Anthony Reilly (25) and Patrick Reilly (23)—pleaded guilty to violent disorder at The Castle Inn pub in Rathfarnham on 16 October 2012. The incident began when Brian Mongan spilled a drink over Simon Reilly, leading to a confrontation that escalated into a riot involving 40 to 50 men and women. CCTV captured the men throwing glasses, chairs, fire extinguishers and other furniture, causing over €26,000 of damage. Judge Martin Nolan described the event as "12 minutes of mayhem, violence, aggression and anarchy." He imposed three‑year suspended sentences on each defendant, ordered them to pay €8,700 in restitution to the pub owners, and gave them 12 months to raise an additional €5,400. The men were otherwise described as of good character but acted "grossly reprehensibly.".
The High Court has been asked to overturn a €50,000 defamation award against Maxela Ltd, the operator of the retail unit Rasputin in Tallaght Village. Judge Raymond Groarke awarded Karl Morrison €50,000 after finding that the shop had defamed him by placing a picture of the 23‑year‑old on its door with the words "Attention Shoplifters." Morrison claimed he saw the poster in June 2011, informed his uncles, and asked staff to remove it. The staff refused and gave him a manager's number, which he called to no avail. Morrison said the poster caused him distress, forced him to leave his address, and harmed his job prospects. Maxela Ltd denies defamation and has appealed the Circuit Court's decision to the High Court, where the case is now before President Nicholas Kearns. The case continues.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, a 25‑year‑old Latvian woman pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after she threw her partner's six‑year‑old son against a wall and beat him with a mop while intoxicated. She admitted drinking three bottles of wine that night and that she had been angry. The boy, who had been under the care of his father, sustained extensive bruising and was initially taken into foster care. The woman denied causing the injuries until she later admitted the assault. She had no prior convictions. The judge remanded her on continuing bail pending sentencing. The case highlighted the boy's fear of women and the father's concern for his son's wellbeing. No sentence was announced in the article.
The High Court heard that Garda Commissioner Nóirín O'Sullivan denies claims by Asst Commissioner John Fintan Fanning that she asked him about his views on 'left wing political extremism in Ireland' and left wing politicians during interviews for the position of Deputy Commissioner. Asst Commissioner Fanning initiated High Court action, alleging an 'unfair' competition for the post and claiming he was 'taken aback' and 'uncomfortable' at being asked such questions. He also claims Commissioner O'Sullivan should have declared a potential conflict of interest prior to the interviews and recused herself from them. The case is against the Public Appointments Service, Ireland and the Attorney General. Asst Commissioner Fanning seeks an injunction to restrain the PAS from taking further steps in appointing any persons as Deputy Commissioner pending the outcome of his case, and also seeks declarations that the procedures adopted for recruitment to that post infringed his constitutional rights, including to fair procedures and natural justice. The matter was adjourned for one week for mention only, to see if a date for the hearing of the injunction application can be fixed. Counsel for the respondents said they are prepared to give an undertaking not to appoint any persons as Deputy Commissioner until the injunction application is heard.
Thomas Finnegan, a 26‑year‑old Dublin boxer who had won a gold medal at a European competition, was sentenced to two years in prison by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for assault causing harm. The offence occurred on 15 May 2013 at Cookstown Industrial Estate, Tallaght, when Finnegan, after a dispute over a tyre, repeatedly punched tyre fitter Mr Mantis Viknius. Viknius suffered a fractured eye socket, a broken nose, nerve damage and permanent loss of memory, and required a steel plate in his right eyebrow. Finnegan pleaded guilty and was described by the judge as a strong man who had applied his skills destructively. He had 23 prior convictions and had been stabbed in a previous assault, which ended his boxing career. Finnegan brought €3,800 to court as a token of remorse. The court noted his sporting achievements and the letters of support from mentors, but also his history of drug and gambling problems.
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a jury has acquitted Gail O'Rorke of attempting to assist the suicide of her friend. The jury returned not guilty verdicts after an eight-day trial and seven hours of deliberation. Ms O'Rorke, a taxi driver from Tallaght with connections to Monaghan, had faced charges of attempting to help Bernadette Forde travel to a euthanasia clinic in Switzerland. Ms Forde, who suffered from severe multiple sclerosis, died in June 2011. Prior to the jury's decision, the trial judge had directed not guilty verdicts on two additional charges relating to the procurement of barbiturates and funeral arrangements. This was the first prosecution under the Criminal Law (Suicide) Act 1993, which criminalises assisting another person's suicide. The judge commended the jury for their careful consideration of what he described as a difficult case.
The jury in the trial of Gail O'Rorke, 43, a taxi driver from Tallaght, is set to continue deliberations tomorrow. O'Rorke faces a single charge of attempting to help Bernadette Forde, 51, a multiple sclerosis sufferer, travel to Dignitas in Zurich to end her life. The jury spent three and a half hours today considering the evidence that O'Rorke tried to arrange the trip between March 10 and April 20, 2011, but the plan was foiled when a travel agent informed Gardaí. O'Rorke has pleaded not guilty. Last week Judge Patrick McCartan ordered the jury to acquit her of a second charge involving a lethal dose of barbiturates from Mexico and a third charge of procuring Forde's suicide by organising her funeral. The judge explained that the prosecution had not produced sufficient evidence for these counts, and that O'Rorke's actions were too remote from the suicide to constitute aiding and abetting.
The jury has begun deliberations in the trial of Gail O'Rorke, a 43‑year‑old taxi driver from Tallaght, who is accused of attempting to assist the suicide of her friend Bernadette Forde, 51. O'Rorke is alleged to have arranged travel to the Swiss euthanasia clinic Dignitas, a plan that was stopped when a travel agent alerted the Gardaí. Judge Patrick McCartan addressed the jury, summarising the prosecution's case that the facts are not in dispute and that O'Rorke's actions were too direct to be considered "too remote" from the suicide. He also explained the defence's argument that O'Rorke lacked criminal intent and that ignorance of the law is not a defence. The judge instructed the jury to give the benefit of the doubt where facts were uncertain and to consider the presumption of innocence. Gail O'Rorke pleaded not guilty.
In a High Court judgment, Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns ordered the demolition of Gregory Kinsella's wooden chalet on the N81 in Tinode, Blessington, after finding it breached planning laws. The chalet, built without permission, was owned by Kinsella and his sister Gillian. Wicklow County Council had sought demolition under Section 160 of the 2000 Planning and Development Act. Kinsella agreed to have the chalet demolished by 31 January 2016, and the judge welcomed the agreement, noting it brought the matter to an end. The judge declined to make a costs order, citing the special circumstances of the case, including a prior High Court decision on a similar chalet near Lough Dan. The judgment emphasized the importance of planning control to prevent unlawful development. The chalet was located on the busy N81 between Tallaght and Blessington. The court's order was made in 2015, with demolition to occur in early 2016.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Patrick McCartan directed a jury of twelve to acquit Gail O'Rorke, aged 43, on two of the three charges against her in the assisted‑suicide case involving Bernadette Forde, aged 51. The jury was ordered to find O'Rorke not guilty of ordering a lethal dose of barbiturates from Mexico, which Forde later used to end her life, and not guilty of "procuring" Forde's suicide by arranging her funeral before death. O'Rorke remains charged with attempting to arrange travel to the Swiss euthanasia clinic Dignitas, a plan foiled when a travel agent alerted Gardaí. The judge cited insufficient evidence for the two charges, while both defence and prosecution delivered closing speeches before the jury began deliberations on Monday. The case remains at the jury stage.
In a Dublin supermarket raid on the Grange Road, Michael Coleman (34), Michael Sweeney (32) and Waymon Sweeney (33) used an axe, a large knife and a gun while wearing balaclavas. They threatened staff and the manager, forced customers to lie on the floor, and stole €24,556 from the safe. After the robbery, the men fled in a getaway car, pursued by gardaí, and later abandoned and burned a second vehicle. Coleman was arrested at the scene; Michael Sweeney was detained after a McDonald's visit and DNA evidence linked him to the second car. Waymon Sweeney failed to return from lunch recess, leading to a warrant for his arrest. All three pleaded guilty to robbery and were sentenced to five years' imprisonment. The court described the crime as a well‑planned, ambitious robbery. The case highlighted the men's drug‑related problems and personal losses.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Gail O'Rorke, 43, pleaded not guilty to aiding and abetting the suicide of Bernadette Forde, 51, who died in June 2011 after taking pentobarbital. O'Rorke admitted that she helped Forde obtain the drug from Mexico and that a courier delivered the pills to Forde's home, where Forde allegedly cried with relief upon receiving them. She denied arranging travel to Zurich for a euthanasia clinic and denied making funeral arrangements in advance of Forde's death. O'Rorke also claimed that Mary Lundy, a friend, had contacted an exit‑international organisation and that Lundy was present when Forde took the pills. The trial, presided over by Judge Patrick McCartan, continues with a jury of twelve. The prosecution has finished presenting its evidence. The case remains at the trial stage.
In 2015 a trial heard that Gail O'Rorke, 43, was accused of aiding Bernadette Forde, 51, in taking her own life in 2011. O'Rorke claimed that another friend, Mary Lundy, had contacted the euthanasia organisation Exit International on Forde's behalf and that Lundy had used Forde's credit card to buy a book on suicide methods and set up a private email account. O'Rorke said that on 5 June 2011 she visited Forde's house, washed her, and spoke about "important things." She alleged that Lundy was present when Forde took a lethal dose of pentobarbital, that Forde had said she was "doing well," and that Lundy later claimed the drug was a dud. O'Rorke denied that anyone else was charged and stated that Tom Curran, a representative of Exit International, had advised Forde. The case was before Judge Patrick McCartan with a jury of twelve. Gail O'Rorke pleaded not guilty.
In a 2015 trial, Gail O'Rorke, a 43‑year‑old taxi driver, pleaded not guilty to aiding and abetting the suicide of her friend Bernadette Forde, 51, who died in June 2011 by taking pentobarbital ordered online from Mexico. O'Rorke denied knowingly paying for the lethal drug, saying she had no knowledge of its purpose and that she had only transferred money for errands. She claimed she had supported Forde's decision to seek assisted suicide in Switzerland, but that Gardaí had intervened after a tip‑off. O'Rorke also denied arranging travel to Zurich or making funeral arrangements. The court heard that Forde left O'Rorke 30 % of her estate and that her solicitor confirmed she was of sound mind and not under undue influence. The case was heard by Judge Patrick McCartan with a jury of twelve.
During the trial of Gail O'Rorke, a 43‑year‑old taxi driver, the court heard that she was named as a major beneficiary in the will of her friend, Bernadette Forde, who died by suicide in June 2011. Forde, aged 51, left 30 % of the residue of her estate to O'Rorke, a non‑family member, after she had instructed solicitor Maurice O'Callaghan that she wanted to do so because "Gail makes her life better." O'Rorke pleaded not guilty to aiding and abetting Forde's suicide, claiming she did not procure or administer the toxic substance, arrange travel to Zurich, or make funeral arrangements. O'Callaghan testified that he met Forde in February 2011, confirmed her mental capacity and that she had no undue influence from O'Rorke. The court heard that Forde had multiple sclerosis and that O'Rorke had helped her with personal care after a severe car crash in 2008.
The trial of Gail O'Rorke, accused of aiding and abetting the suicide of Bernadette Forde, is ongoing before Judge Patrick McCartan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. O'Rorke, a 43-year-old taxi driver, has pleaded not guilty to charges alleging she helped Forde procure and administer a toxic substance between April 20 and June 6, 2011. She also denies attempting to aid suicide by arranging travel to a Swiss euthanasia clinic and procuring suicide by making funeral arrangements. Evidence heard includes testimony from Forde's nephew, Bernard Forde Monaghan, who stated he had no problem helping his aunt travel to Dignitas, believing he was assisting with logistics. The trip was interrupted when gardaí were alerted. Another witness, Catherine Campbell, testified that O'Rorke tried to dissuade Forde from ending her life. Dr Muna Sabah confirmed Forde died from a lethal concentration of pentobarbital. The trial, expected to last two weeks, continues with a jury of twelve.
The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Bernadette Forde, aged 51, died from a lethal dose of the barbiturate pentobarbital, which she had ordered online from Mexico. The drug is used in capital punishment in the United States and for euthanasia where legal. Gail O'Rorke, 43, a taxi driver from Kilclare Gardens, Tallaght, is accused of assisting Forde's suicide by helping her obtain and take the drug between 20 April 2011 and 6 June 2011 at a Dublin location. O'Rorke denies aiding the suicide by arranging travel to Zurich, arranging funeral arrangements, or procuring the drug. Dr Muna Sabah testified that a lethal concentration of 53 micrograms per millilitre of pentobarbital was found in Forde's system. The trial, expected to last about two weeks, is before Judge Patrick McCartan and a jury of twelve. Bernadette Forde pleaded not guilty. Gail O'Rorke pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, a 43‑year‑old taxi driver, Gail O'Rorke, is accused of aiding the suicide of her 51‑year‑old friend, Bernadette Forde, by helping procure and administer phenobarbital between April and June 2011. O'Rorke denies assisting the suicide, arranging travel to Zurich for Dignitas, or making funeral arrangements. The prosecution presented a recorded last‑words message from Forde, found on a Dictaphone beside her body in Donnybrook, in which she expresses frustration at being forced to act alone and her desire to end her life without implicating others. The trial, presided over by Judge Patrick McCartan, is expected to last about two weeks and involves witnesses including Forde's housing association head and a Garda who found medication and correspondence related to Dignitas. The case remains at the trial stage, with no verdict yet. Bernadette Forde pleaded not guilty. Gail O'Rorke pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin trial, 43‑year‑old taxi driver Gail O'Rorke pleaded not guilty to aiding and abetting the suicide of 51‑year‑old Bernadette Forde. O'Rorke denies helping Forde procure a toxic substance, arranging travel to Zurich, or making funeral arrangements before Forde's death. The prosecution, led by Remy Farrell SC, presented evidence that Forde, suffering from advanced primary progressive multiple sclerosis, had considered assisted suicide after a car crash and the death of her sister. Farrell alleged O'Rorke assisted with travel plans to Zurich and later helped obtain phenobarbital from Mexico, which Forde took. Witnesses, including a resident who found Forde's body and a Garda who discovered medication and a Dictaphone note, testified. The jury was instructed that the trial is not a forum for debating the legality of assisted suicide. The case is scheduled to last two weeks before Judge Patrick McCartan.
Gail O'Rorke, aged 43, pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to aiding and abetting the suicide of Bernadette Forde, 51, by helping procure and administer a toxic substance between 20 April and 6 June 2011. She also entered not guilty pleas to two further charges: that she tried to arrange travel to Zurich, Switzerland, between 10 March and 20 April 2011, and that she arranged funeral arrangements for Forde between 4 and 6 June 2011. The trial, expected to last two weeks, began with an opening speech by prosecuting counsel Remy Farrell SC.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 17 April 2015, 19‑year‑old Aaron Shattock pleaded guilty to assault causing harm for a racist attack that left law student Yasser Saud blind in one eye. The assault took place on 21 August 2013 at exit 11 of the M50 in Tallaght, where Shattock and a companion confronted Saud and his cousin Hudi, who were with a female friend. A gang of up to 12 men joined, and Shattock swung a large stick, striking Saud's right eye and causing optic nerve damage. Hudi suffered a broken jaw and was left knocked out. Shattock admitted throwing the stick but denied intent to blind Saud. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Shattock's remorse, clean record and lack of intent, imposed a three‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence with the final 18 months suspended on strict conditions, effectively sentencing him to two years' imprisonment.
Mark Freer, 37, of Ballyfermot, was sentenced to three and a half years' imprisonment for assault causing harm after he struck neighbour Louise Smith on the head with a beer bottle. Smith alleged the attack occurred while she was walking home, claiming Freer had insulted and threatened her family. Freer pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 28 July 2013. He had ten prior convictions, including a two‑year jail term in 2007 for violent disorder. Judge Martin Nolan noted that Smith had reportedly insulted Freer's family and that Freer believed she was about to enter his house. Smith suffered severe cuts to her lip, nose and cheek, requiring stitches and a lump on her forehead. The judge suspended the last 18 months of the sentence on strict conditions, citing the seriousness of the assault and Freer's perceived provocation and fears.
Gail O'Rorke, aged 43, of Kilclare Gardens, Tallaght, has gone on trial in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for allegedly assisting Bernadette Ford, aged 51, in suicide by helping her obtain and administer a toxic substance between 20 April and 6 June 2011 at a Dublin location. O'Rorke pleaded not guilty to charges of aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring the suicide. A jury of six men and six women was empanelled after Judge Patricia Ryan warned potential jurors to remain unbiased and to ignore media coverage and internet material. The trial, to be heard by Judge Patrick McCartan, is expected to last up to two weeks. Witnesses include Gardaí, a coroner's doctor, a travel agent, a FedEx employee and a professor. Remy Farrell SC represents the prosecution, while Dermott McGuinness SC defends Ms O'Rorke.
Jamie O'Hara, 20, of Killinarden Estate, Tallaght, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to multiple offences. He admitted to the robbery of a phone at Sean Walsh Park, Tallaght, on September 9, 2014, as well as stealing a mobile phone and a purse on the same date. Additionally, he pleaded guilty to the attempted robbery of a mobile phone on May 13 and to unlawfully producing a knife to intimidate on June 30, both at Sean Walsh Park. The court heard that O'Hara was on bail for the earlier offences when he committed the September robbery, during which he threatened a mother walking her children. Judge Mary Ellen Ring imposed a four-year sentence on all counts. She suspended the final year of the term on the condition that O'Hara go under the supervision of the Probation Services for that period. The judge noted that the local park is now a safer place with O'Hara in custody. Defence counsel highlighted the defendant's remorse and his different behavior when not under the influence of drugs. The sentencing concluded the proceedings for these specific charges.
David Murphy, 25, of Wheatfield Avenue, Clondalkin, was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two and a half years' imprisonment for assaulting Garda Dara Kelly during a public order incident on 1 March 2014 in Rathfarnham. Murphy pleaded guilty to the offence and had a history of violent conduct, including four prior convictions for assaulting gardaí and 30 other offences. The assault caused soft‑tissue damage to Kelly's jaw, requiring treatment at Tallaght Hospital, restricted jaw movement for four days, and a ten‑day absence from work. The judge described Murphy's behaviour as disgraceful, noting he was not only drunk but also violent and aggressive. The sentence included a suspended 18‑month period, to be enforced on strict conditions. The court did not read the victim impact report.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 12 December 2013, Ronald Emmett, aged 36, pleaded guilty to robbery and possession of a realistic imitation firearm after a raid on an EBS in Killiney. Garda Martin Egan chased and tackled Emmett, who was carrying a gun wrapped in a newspaper; the gun was later found to be an imitation. Emmett had previously been convicted of 39 offences including hi‑jacking and possession of forged prescriptions, and was on bail for earlier robbery offences. He claimed he was "practically set up" and that he needed money for his addiction, stating he was now on methadone. Judge Mary Ellen Ring praised Garda Egan and manager Barry O'Brien for their actions, imposed a four‑year sentence to run consecutively with a five‑year term already served, and suspended the final two years, noting Emmett's intention to become drug‑free.
Declan Phelan, 32, of Tallaght, Dublin, was granted bail by the Special Criminal Court on charges of membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army. The court imposed strict conditions, including surrendering his passport, signing daily at Naas Garda Station between 2 pm and 11 pm, observing a curfew from midnight to 6:30 am, and refraining from leaving the jurisdiction or associating with persons charged or convicted of scheduled offences. He must also maintain a single mobile phone with the Gardaí. Bail was set on an independent surety of €10,000 and his own bond of €100. Phelan is scheduled to appear again on June 9, 2015. This case stems from a special sitting in July 2013, where Phelan and six other men were charged with the same offence on July 3, 2013. The co-accused are Peter Burns, Kevin Braney, Michael Barr, Brian Nick McBennett, John Brock, and Desmond Christie. All seven men face allegations of IRA membership, but no pleas, findings, or sentences have been recorded for the group at this procedural stage. The report confirms only Phelan's bail grant and upcoming court date, while the status of the other accused remains pending further proceedings.
Cornelius Van Gent, a 73-year-old Dutch national, was sentenced to seven years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for his involvement in a large-scale drug operation. Judge Martin Nolan accepted that Van Gent, who had no prior criminal record, was not at the upper echelons of the group and allowed him to depart from the mandatory minimum sentence due to his age, plea, and cooperation. Van Gent pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis resin for sale or supply at North City Business Park, Finglas, on May 16, 2014, and possession of cannabis herb at Ikea on May 2, 2014. His co-accused, Sean Mahony and Peng Cheng, also pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply at locations in North Dublin on May 16, 2014. Mahony, who gardaí accepted acted as a courier to pay off a drug debt, was jailed for six years earlier this month. Cheng, who claimed he was involved to pay a gambling debt, was jailed for nine years. The court heard that gardaí intercepted 72.7 kg of cannabis in a van and discovered a further 137 kg of herbal cannabis and 88 kg of resin in a warehouse, with a total estimated value of nearly €4.7 million. The drugs were concealed within boxes of Basmati rice.
A 35‑year‑old Dublin man, Francis Whelan of Cushlawn Park, Tallaght, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of a pipe bomb found in his tracksuit pants on 13 October 2012 in the Killinarden Heights area. He claimed he was set up by an acquaintance that day and did not know the item was a pipe bomb, saying he carried it for a €100 reward of cannabis. Prosecutor John Quirke BL described the bomb as a viable explosive with serious potential consequences, while defence lawyer Dean Kelly BL noted Whelan's positive participation in the St Dominic's community‑based project and lack of further police attention. Judge Melanie Greally warned of the extreme and horrifying results of pipe bombs, described Whelan as somewhat apathetic, and urged him to change his life. She imposed a two‑year suspended jail sentence, conditioned on engagement with addiction support services and regular drug testing.
David Towell, 36, of Tallaght, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to attempted robbery and possession of an air pistol at Paddy Power bookmakers in Saggart on 6 July 2013. He had 20 prior convictions and had planned the robbery with an accomplice he met only the night before. Towell rode a moped driven by the accomplice, but an off‑duty Garda and his father intervened, knocking him off the scooter and preventing the robbery. He struck the cash desk, left with nothing, and was arrested on the spot. Judge Catherine Murphy sentenced him to four years, with the last year suspended, citing the seriousness of the offence and his drug‑addiction history. He was ordered to remain under Probation Services supervision, attend addiction services, and engage in victim‑awareness work.
In March 2015, Daniel McDonnell, a convicted murderer serving a life sentence for the 2012 killing of 16‑year‑old Melanie McCarthy McNamara, obtained High Court injunctions from Mr Justice Brian Cregan. The judge found that McDonnell's solitary confinement for a year breached his constitutional right to bodily and psychological integrity. The injunctions require Wheatfield Prison to grant McDonnell two hours daily of social interaction with other prisoners for five days a week, three hours daily out of his cell for five days a week, and two family visits per week of about an hour each. McDonnell's lawyers argued that his situation had not improved since the initial judgment, while the prison governor opposed the orders and appealed the decision. The court emphasised that the injunctions were a proportionate remedy to protect McDonnell's rights without interfering with prison management. The injunctions remain in force for the foreseeable future.
Wicklow County Council has asked the High Court to order the demolition of a wooden chalet at Tinode, Blessington, which the council says was built without planning permission on land owned by Gregory and Gillian Kinsella. The chalet sits on a site that already had an old cottage and is located on the busy N‑81 road. The council seeks orders under Section 160 of the 2000 Planning and Development Act to remove the concrete base and timber structure. The Kinsellas argue they had a right to build the chalet as a replacement for the earlier cottage and that they would use only one dwelling on the site. The council cites a prior warning letter and a refusal of a retention application, and argues the chalet poses a traffic hazard. The case is pending, with the judge reserving his decision until after Easter.
Glen McGowan, 38, was sentenced to five and a half years in prison for possession, distribution and production of child pornography. He met a convicted Meath paedophile through the peer‑to‑peer file‑sharing programme Gigatribe, where they traded images, videos and texts containing child pornography. McGowan pleaded guilty to two charges of possession, two of distribution and one of production of child pornography for material dated between December 2010 and July 2012. The judge suspended the final two years of the sentence on strict conditions. McGowan's computer was found to hold 56,647 files, including images of boys as young as four, and a file showing a 13‑year‑old boy being abused on webcam. He admitted using Gigatribe daily, providing passwords to other users, and that he was an accessory to the production of child pornography. The court noted his remorse, isolation, heavy drinking and mental health history.
Jamie Griffin, aged 20, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to affray for a violent attack in a Ladbrokes bookmakers shop in Tallaght on 13 December 2012. Griffin, two other men and a short blade were involved. They entered the shop at 5.30pm, targeted a customer, and one attacker stabbed the man repeatedly while customers were still being served. The victim's brother intervened, but the attackers later returned and attacked him. Gardaí were called; both injured men were taken to Tallaght Hospital, one with multiple stab wounds and the other with a broken hand. Griffin, already serving a six‑year sentence on another charge and with 13 prior convictions, was given a three‑year custodial sentence with the last year suspended on condition of good behaviour. The other two men were charged separately with violent disorder. The court noted that Griffin was only 17 at the time of the offence.
In March 2015, a High Court judge was set to decide whether to grant an injunction to Daniel McDonnell, a convicted murderer of 16‑year‑old Melanie McCarthy McNamara, who had been in solitary confinement at Wheatfield Prison for 11 months. The judge had previously found that McDonnell's solitary confinement breached his constitutional rights to bodily and psychological integrity. McDonnell's lawyers argued that nothing had changed since that ruling and sought an injunction to stop the governor from further breaching his rights, claiming he was kept in solitary for his own protection and that his physical and mental health had suffered. They requested at least two to three hours of daily social interaction and access to the gym or yard with non‑threatening prisoners. The governor's counsel opposed the injunction, arguing that McDonnell's isolation was necessary for his safety and that the court could not micromanage prison operations.
Luke Curry, 25, was found asleep on a couch with a pile of €275 of stolen cash after a pharmacy robbery in Tallaght on 12 February 2013. He had opened the security door while his masked accomplice, armed with a kitchen knife, entered the shop and demanded money and tablets. The pharmacy staff, recognising Curry as a customer, opened the door and were threatened by the armed man. Staff handed over €400, of which €275 was later recovered. Curry pleaded guilty to robbery at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Desmond Hogan imposed a three‑year sentence, suspended in full on the condition that Curry completes 240 hours of community service. He was also charged with drug dealing and has 12 prior convictions. The case was prosecuted by Elva Duffy BL and defended by Sarah Jane O'Callaghan BL.
Seven men from Dublin were acquitted of IRA membership by the Special Criminal Court after the prosecution's case collapsed. The court ruled that belief evidence from Chief Superintendent Peter Kirwan, who claimed confidential information that the men were IRA members, was inadmissible because it had not been disclosed to the defence and was based on human sources and telephone intercepts. The men—Kevin Braney, Des Christie, Hubert Duffy, William Jackson, Declan Phelan, John Brock and Darren Murphy—had pleaded not guilty to membership of an illegal organisation. The prosecution had alleged they were part of an IRA operation to extort money from a used‑car dealer in Clondalkin and that they had travelled to the dealership for that purpose. The court found no evidence to support the claim and directed the men to be acquitted.
Two men were jailed for their roles in a sophisticated cannabis import scheme that involved nearly €5 million worth of drugs. Sean Mahony, 39, and Peng Cheng, 24, pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply at locations in North Dublin. Gardaí observed the pair arriving at an IKEA store in vans, then transporting the drugs to a warehouse at North City Business Park. The drugs were concealed in pallets of legitimate goods, including Basmati rice, and were marked with a coded barcode system. Gardaí seized 72.7 kg of cannabis in Mahony's van and an additional 137 kg of herbal cannabis and 88 kg of cannabis resin in the warehouse, bringing the total value to almost €5 million. Peng was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment, while Mahony received six years. Both men had no prior convictions. The case highlighted the use of legitimate import routes and coded packaging to conceal large quantities of drugs.
Phillip Farrell, 35, of Cushlawn Park, Tallaght, Dublin, was charged with possession of heroin worth €23,000 and cannabis resin worth €732, for which he pleaded guilty in December 2013 and February 2014. He also faced charges of unlawful possession of ecstasy, estimated at just over €200, but the State withdrew those charges following a Court of Appeal ruling that temporarily legalised possession of the drug. Farrell had not entered pleas to the ecstasy counts, which were considered at sentencing. He claimed he was holding the drugs to clear a €30,000 debt and expressed fear for his life, a claim the court accepted as evidence of duress. The case was adjourned to May for sentencing, with 31 prior convictions noted. The article does not state the final sentence.
During the 33rd day of Graham Dwyer's murder trial, the Central Criminal Court heard over a thousand text messages that the State claims were sent by Dwyer to Elaine O'Hara in 2011. The messages, recovered from various devices, include threats of killing O'Hara in the woods, requests for her to find a victim, and detailed instructions on how to stab and kill. Dwyer, 42, is charged with murdering the 36‑year‑old childcare worker on 22 August 2012, hours after she was discharged from a mental health hospital. The prosecution, led by Seán Guerin SC, presented the texts as evidence of Dwyer's intent to kill for sexual gratification. The trial is before Justice Tony Hunt and a jury of five women and seven men. The case remains at the hearing stage.
The Special Criminal Court ruled that the opinion evidence of Garda Chief Superintendent Peter Kirwan, who claimed that seven Dublin men were IRA members, was inadmissible because the defence was not informed beforehand that telephone intercepts underpinned his opinion. Kirwan had previously told the court that he believed, based on confidential information, that all seven accused were IRA members, and he claimed privilege over the sources. During cross‑examination he admitted the evidence was based on human sources and telephone intercepts. Justice Paul Butler declared a basic unfairness of procedure and ordered the belief evidence to be excluded. The trial was adjourned to Friday while the prosecution awaited instructions from the Director of Public Prosecutions. The seven men—Kevin Braney, Des Christie, Hubert Duffy, William Jackson, Declan Phelan, John Brock and Darren Murphy—had pleaded not guilty to membership of an illegal organisation, the IRA, on 29 March 2013.