In a Tallaght District Court hearing, a woman in her 40s, whose name is withheld for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to breaching a protection order on 19 July 2024, violating Section 33(1) of the Domestic Violence Act 2018. The court heard that she had made a threatening phone call and sent abusive text messages to her former partner, who was left in fear. The texts included insults such as "junkie bastard" and accusations that he was not the father of their child, and a phone call in which she threatened that he would never see their daughter again. The judge, Patricia McNamara, noted this was the woman's second conviction for breaching a protection order. She was sentenced to seven months' imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, on strict conditions that she not reoffend, take prescribed medication and pay €200 within five months. If she breaches any of these conditions, she will face the seven‑month term.
The Court of Appeal heard arguments regarding the conviction of Wayne Cooney for the murder of Jordan Davis (22) in Darndale, Dublin, on May 22, 2019. Cooney, who pleaded not guilty to murder and possessing a 9mm semi-automatic pistol and ammunition, was convicted by a jury in July 2022. Defence counsel Michael O'Higgins SC argued that the trial judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, effectively closed down the defence case by delivering an argumentative charge that favoured the prosecution. The prosecution alleged Davis owed €70,000 to Robert Redmond, Cooney's then-girlfriend's brother. Robert Redmond pleaded guilty in April 2024 to conspiring with Cooney to murder Davis and received a seven-year prison sentence. Rachel Redmond, Cooney's ex-girlfriend, was convicted earlier this year of impeding Cooney's apprehension. During the appeal, O'Higgins contended the judge's comments were strident and denied the defence a fair airing. In response, DPP counsel Bernard Condon SC stated the judge correctly advised the jury to avoid evidential wastelands and that the conviction was supported by CCTV and DNA evidence linking Cooney to the scene. The court has adjourned the matter to deliver its judgement at a later date.
Andrew Pender, 52, was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment for running a sophisticated drug‑distribution cell in Dublin. He pleaded guilty to possession of nearly €10 million worth of drugs, €1.15 million in cash, two vehicles fitted with hidden compartments, a stolen Garda uniform and a rented shipping container. The drugs included almost €4.5 million in cocaine, €2.5 million in ketamine, €1.3 million in cannabis and €700,000 in MDMA. Pender also admitted money‑laundering offences. Judge Orla Crowe noted his long‑standing cocaine addiction, medical issues and a letter of remorse, but emphasised that he was in "clear control" of the operation and had no higher‑level contacts. The sentence was back‑dated to his initial arrest and credit was given for time served on remand. The State was ordered to forfeit the seized drugs, cash, vehicles and container. No part of the sentence was suspended.
Casandra Lingurar, a 19‑year‑old Romanian‑born teenage mum living in Tallaght, was sentenced to seven months' imprisonment at Tallaght District Court for stealing groceries worth €577.07 from a Lidl store on Nutgrove Avenue, Rathfarnham, on 6 October 2024. She entered the store at 4.50 pm with an empty trolley, filled it with groceries, and was caught by store security and Gardaí around 5.03 pm while attempting to exit. Lingurar pleaded guilty to a theft charge under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001. The court noted she has nine prior convictions, seven of which are for theft, and that she had previously received a three‑month suspended sentence for stealing clothing and jewellery from The Square Shopping Centre. The judge accepted her early guilty plea but, given her extensive criminal record, imposed the seven‑month custodial sentence. The case was heard in Tallaght District Court.
Daniel Kelly, 36, of Tallaght, was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison for aggravated burglary after he forced his way into a Dublin home on 6 July 2024. He entered the house armed with a large kitchen knife, threatened to stab the homeowner, and demanded money. The victim, a woman with an autistic child, was terrified; the child was present and distressed. Kelly handed over €20 and a box of cigarettes before fleeing with his former partner, who had knocked on the door under the pretense of selling clothes. Kelly, who has 71 prior convictions, claimed he was under the influence of crack cocaine and heroin at the time. He pleaded guilty, and the judge noted his difficult childhood, guilty plea, and drug rehabilitation efforts as mitigating factors. The judge imposed a four‑year, six‑month sentence, suspending the final nine months under conditions. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Seán Byrne, 44, of Tallaght, was jailed for four and a half years for arson on 20 October 2023. He set fire to two cars and a house where the owners were sleeping, but he was intoxicated and could not remember the incident. Gardaí were called to a car on fire in Tyrconnell, Inchicore at 3.15 am; CCTV showed Byrne entering and exiting the vehicle before it ignited. The second car also caught fire, and the front of the house suffered heat damage. The owners' insurance paid over €21,000 for the damage. Byrne had more than 70 prior convictions and was highly intoxicated when arrested. The judge, Orla Crowe, suspended the final nine months of the sentence for two years, provided he engages with the probation service after release. The case was described as unusual because no accelerant was used. Seán Byrne pleaded guilty.
An amateur MMA fighter, Karl Byrne (27), of Russell View, Russell Square, Tallaght, was found in possession of cannabis for sale or supply on July 29, 2022, during a traffic stop in Tallaght. Byrne admitted guilt to the charge and was invited by Judge Patricia McNamara to voluntarily engage with a restorative justice drugs awareness programme, described as an opportunity to reflect. The case was adjourned to October 10 for Byrne to complete the programme and submit a reflective piece. Byrne, who has 14 previous convictions, mostly for road traffic and public order offences, stated he had since stopped using cannabis and returned to training as an amateur MMA fighter. Thomas Kane (31), of Ard Mór Drive, Brookfield, Tallaght, was convicted of knowingly permitting the possession of drugs in a vehicle under Section 19 of the Misuse of Drugs Act. Kane had pleaded not guilty, claiming he was unaware of the drugs. Judge McNamara rejected his account and found him guilty. She imposed 120 hours of community service in lieu of an eight-month sentence, subject to a probation report confirming Kane's suitability. His case was adjourned to October 3 for finalisation.
Callum Howell, 21, of Sandyford, Dublin 18, was sentenced at Tallaght District Court after pleading guilty to trespassing, theft, public order offences, road traffic matters, and failing to appear in court. The court heard that gardaí found Howell on a residential driveway in Stepaside in April 2025 in possession of stolen goods. He admitted to the charges, which included offences under the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act, and the Road Traffic Act. The judge noted Howell's 26 previous convictions but accepted evidence of severe mental health issues, including anxiety, neurodivergence, and substance misuse. Judge Patricia McNamara convicted and sentenced him on the trespassing charge to eight months in prison. This sentence was suspended for 12 months on the condition that Howell does not reoffend, possesses no illicit or non-prescribed substances, attends all medical appointments, complies with prescribed medication, and engages fully with Cluain Mhuire once a place becomes available. The judge warned that failure to comply would result in the immediate activation of the eight-month sentence. All remaining matters were taken into consideration in the disposal.
Philip Ormond, 43, was sentenced to four years and three months in prison for dangerous driving that caused the death of Kathleen Furlong, an elderly woman, on 8 September 2023. Ormond was driving 18 km/h over the speed limit when he ran a red light at the R136 junction in Tallaght, striking Furlong as she crossed the road. He fled the scene, later changing clothes and covering his car's registration plates with black plastic bags. The court heard evidence that he had a long opportunity to see the red light and that he deliberately chose to drive dangerously. He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death and leaving the scene. Judge Martin Nolan imposed the sentence, disqualified Ormond from driving for six years, and noted his remorse but highlighted the aggravating factors of speed, failure to obey the light and leaving the scene.
A man in his 30s was jailed for three months after breaching a safety order by calling his former partner and claiming a five‑year‑old girl had dialled the number. He pleaded not guilty under Section 33(1) of the Domestic Violence Act 2018. The woman, who was preparing her children for school when the call rang on 2 July 2024, said she was frightened and left the house. She did not answer the call, but it was enough to create fear. The accused said he had given the phone to a child in the car and that the child had made the call. He had previously deleted the complainant's number but was using a new phone with a SIM that still contained it. Prosecuting solicitor Tom Conlon questioned the plausibility of the explanation, noting the accused's six prior convictions, including assault and three prior breaches of safety and protection orders.
In a Tallaght District Court hearing on 9 July 2025, 36‑year‑old Danielle Kavanagh pleaded guilty to driving without insurance and a licence, and to the theft of makeup from Dunnes Stores. The court noted that on 25 August 2024 Garda Shane Whelan stopped Kavanagh on Cloonmore Drive while she was visibly distressed and engaged in a loud phone argument. Gardaí confirmed she had no valid licence or insurance and was already serving a four‑year disqualification imposed in October 2023. The vehicle was seized. Judge William Aylmer fined Kavanagh €100 for driving without insurance and an additional €50 for having no licence, and upheld the four‑year disqualification. The court also dealt with a June 13 incident in which Kavanagh stole makeup worth €331 from Dunnes Stores; she was found to have concealed the items in a buggy. The goods were recovered and suitable for resale.
Paul Kearney, 47, pleaded guilty at Tallaght District Court for stealing €300 worth of scratch cards from a SuperValu in Firhouse on 8 September 2024. The theft was described as an opportunistic, spur‑of‑the‑moment act captured on CCTV. Kearney admitted being in the footage but denied memory of the act. After a month he returned to the shop, where staff recognised him and alerted Gardaí, but the cards were no longer recoverable. The judge ordered him to complete a restorative justice programme and adjourned final sentencing to 10 October.
A man in his 20s was denied bail after he allegedly breached a protection order by assaulting his former partner at the Longitude music festival in Dublin's Marlay Park on 24 June. The incident, described by Sergeant Ruth Finnegan, involved the man approaching the woman, becoming aggressive, striking her jaw, putting his hands around her neck and leaving bruises on her left face. Witnesses saw the event and the man was arrested on site. He is currently prohibited from contacting his child under existing court orders. Gardaí opposed bail, citing the seriousness of the allegations. The man's solicitor offered to sign daily, provide a fixed address and stay away from the woman and child, but Judge Patricia McNamara refused bail. He was remanded to Cloverhill Prison and will appear again via video link on 9 July.
Neil Murray, 47, of Kilnamanagh, pleaded guilty to producing a hammer in a manner likely to intimidate under Section 11 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act, 1990, after an alleged altercation involving his son. He brought the hammer to a house on 3 July 2024, claiming it was a reaction to his son being assaulted by a boy who was not yet an adult. Garda David Dunne reported that Murray was fully cooperative with police. Murray's solicitor, Kevin Tunney, described him as a construction worker who overreacted out of concern for his son and now accepts that his response was wrong. He has a prior conviction for knife possession in 2005. Judge Vincent Deane asked him if he had ever heard of the Guards, questioned his future conduct, and secured a sworn promise not to repeat the offence. Murray paid €300 to the Little Blue Heroes charity.
James Fuery, 32, of Tallaght, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply after a sniffer dog at Dublin Airport flagged a suitcase he had brought from Ibiza. Customs officers seized €404,520 of cannabis, weighing just under 22.5 kg, in 45 vacuum‑sealed packets. Fuery admitted it was his first time bringing drugs into the country and explained that he had relapsed into addiction, built a €15,000 drug debt, and was under pressure. Judge Elma Sheahan, noting the seriousness of the offence and Fuery's early plea, imposed a headline sentence of four and a half years. The court set a three‑year custodial term, suspended the final 12 months on strict conditions, including drug treatment. Fuery is a chef with a pro‑social family and has no prior drug convictions. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Jordan Mallon, 26, was sentenced by Judge William Aylmer at Tallaght District Court to eight months' imprisonment for assaulting Garda James Cullen on 14 October 2024. Mallon, who had previously pleaded guilty to five charges including violent behaviour in a garda station, criminal damage to a bus stop, and two public‑order offences, spat saliva into Cullen's eye while in custody. The judge noted the incident was highly distressing, though no lasting harm occurred. Mallon's 38‑count criminal record, with recent convictions in March and June 2025, was cited. The sentence, imposed under Section 19 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994, was reduced from nine to eight months for the early guilty plea. Four months were suspended for 12 months, conditional on full engagement with the Probation Service, participation in a Restorative Justice programme, and addressing alcohol misuse. Mallon was also ordered to enter a €300 peace bond.
In a case heard in May 2024, Judge Sarah Berkeley sentenced 26‑year‑old Martin Awoke to a two‑year suspended sentence after he fully repaid students who were defrauded of €9,820 for accommodation in Limerick. Awoke, who had no prior convictions, had allowed his bank account to be used in the scheme but did not participate in its planning. He pleaded guilty to handling the proceeds of crime on 12 August 2022. The court noted that Awoke had previously saved €10,000, spent €3,000 on bills, and had been directed to pay €7,000 to the investigating Garda. After a job interview and a commitment to raise the remaining balance, Awoke repaid the full amount, submitted apologies, and requested time to arrange compensation with family support. Judge Berkeley declined to remove the conviction, citing the impact on the victims, and imposed the suspended sentence under strict conditions.
An on‑bail offender, Stephan Obelngoa, 24, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a fully suspended 12‑month term for assault causing harm, assault of a peace officer and resisting arrest. The offence occurred on 2 October 2023 at The Square, Tallaght, when Obelngoa dragged an 11‑year‑old visually impaired girl away from her mother, threw her into a concession stand, and spat blood and saliva at Garda officers who tried to restrain him. He was pepper‑sprayed and subdued by security guards before Garda arrival. The court noted Obelngoa had six prior convictions, was on bail, and had been unmedicated for six months, suffering from schizophrenia. Judge Ni Chulachain accepted the defendant's guilty plea and the victim's young age, imposed a 12‑month imprisonment term, but suspended it in full on strict conditions, citing a low risk of re‑offending under probation supervision.
Siddarth Thirunavukkarasu, a shop supervisor at Circle K's Belgard filling station in Tallaght, brought a complaint under the Employment Equality Act 1998 alleging gender‑based harassment after his manager, Julita Howe, allegedly told him to "be a man" and forced him to supervise a homeless man cleaning a bathroom that had been contaminated with faeces. Thirunavukkarasu claimed he was made to watch the homeless man clean the toilet with bare hands, was threatened with Garda reporting if he did not comply, and was instructed to give the man gloves and a blue towel while holding the door open. He reported nausea and discomfort from the smell and refused to continue, but Howe allegedly replied "Come on, be a man." The Workplace Relations Commission found no evidence of discrimination or victimisation but accepted that the remark constituted harassment, ordering Circle K to pay €1,000 in compensation.
Wayne Harte, 44, of Cloonmore Lawns, Tallaght, was found guilty of possessing a firearm and ammunition in his home on 8 November 2023. He claimed the gun was given to him by a third party for self‑defence after his shop and family were allegedly threatened. The court noted the weapon was "operative and lethal" and that Harte's explanation could not be verified by Gardaí. Harte had prior convictions, mainly for traffic offences, and was a carer for three children. Judge Martin Nolan, acknowledging the defensive claim and references in support of Harte, departed from the mandatory minimum of five years and imposed a five‑year suspended sentence, suspended in full under conditions. Harte thanked the judge during sentencing. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
Jason Hughes, aged 21, pleaded guilty to arson at Pairc Na Greine, Tallaght, on 9 December 2022, for which he received an eight‑and‑a‑half‑year custodial sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 27 October 2023. The court found that the fire, set on the balcony of an apartment complex, caused €80‑90 000 in damage and left the occupants, including Hughes's estranged father, with nothing. Hughes was 19 at the time of the offence and had a history of chaotic life, ADHD, suicide attempts and drug activity. He appealed, arguing that part of the sentence should have been suspended to encourage rehabilitation, citing his personal circumstances and the psychological report. The Court of Appeal will decide at a later date. The appeal was heard by defence counsel Giollaíosa Ó Lideadha SC and represented by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Aoife McNickle BL. The case remains pending.
Sumod George Sam, 45, pleaded guilty at Tallaght District Court to being in charge of a vehicle while exceeding the legal breath alcohol limit. The court heard that on August 9, 2023, Garda Dylan O'Malley found Sam asleep at the wheel of a white Honda Insight on Greenhills Road, Dublin 12, with the engine running and an empty vodka bottle in the passenger seat. A subsequent breath analysis recorded 99 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath. Sam, who resides in Terenure, Dublin 6, had a previous drink-driving conviction and was already serving a three-year disqualification imposed in May 2024. Defence counsel Lauren Flanagan BL described the incident as an act of "stupidity" while Sam was "partying with friends," noting his remorse and willingness to undertake a driver awareness course. Judge Patricia McNamara described the alcohol level as "extremely dangerous." The court convicted Sam and imposed a five-year driving disqualification, effectively extending his existing ban by three years. Additionally, a four-month prison sentence was imposed, suspended for two years on Sam's own bond of €400. Conditions require him not to drive or be in control of a vehicle and to remain of sober habits. Sam had already surrendered his licence to Blanchardstown Garda Station.
In a Tallaght District Court hearing, a man in his 30s was denied bail after being charged with breaching a protection order by allegedly making threatening phone calls to his ex‑partner on 23 June. The court heard that the woman, who shares a young child with the accused, received four calls from a private number within three minutes that evening. She answered the fourth call, identified the caller's voice, and reported that he threatened her, saying he would "dance her head into the ground" and that his cousins would "smash it up." She also claimed the man had used private numbers and had access to two phones, though he denied this. The accused denied all allegations, asserting he had never threatened or shouted at her. Judge Patricia McNamara found the woman's evidence more credible, refused bail, and remanded the accused in custody to appear via video link from Cloverhill Prison on 27 June.
Stuart Murphy, 46, of Tallaght, was jailed for five years after admitting he had stored €360,000 worth of cannabis resin in a van outside his home. Gardaí said he was under duress, having been shown photographs of his father, fiancé and a younger family member to pressure him into holding the drugs. Murphy had a drug debt of €8,000 and had relapsed into addiction during the Covid pandemic. He had previously been clean for over 20 years but lost his job during Covid, leading to depression and a relapse. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, offered an unreserved apology, and was found to have held the drugs for a short time without intent to sell. The judge accepted his duress claim, set a headline sentence of 12 years, but imposed a final sentence of six years, suspending the last 12 months for 12 months on condition of probation engagement.
Gardai failed to revoke a man's bail after a judge heard he strongly denies breaching a protection order. The man, whose identity is withheld to protect the injured party, is accused of appearing at the building where his former partner works and where their child's crèche is located on June 6, the same day he had appeared before Tallaght District Court on a breach of a protection order and was granted bail. Garda Catherine Conroy alleged the man was captured on CCTV entering the building at 1 pm and was escorted out by another man, and that the injured party saw him and fled in fear, though no verbal exchange occurred. Conroy applied to revoke bail under the O'Callaghan principles, citing concerns that the man might continue to intimidate or interfere with the injured party. The court heard that Gardaí had tried to contact the accused in the two weeks after the alleged breach but received no response.
Michael Uhrovic, 46, of Landsdale Lawns, Tallaght, was stopped by gardaí on 25 September 2023 at Catherine Tynan Road for driving without a licence or insurance. He pleaded guilty. The Tallaght District Court noted he had 12 prior convictions, including several road‑traffic offences, and had been disqualified from driving for four years in 2018 and again for ten years in 2020. Judge Patricia McNamara convicted him of driving without insurance, disqualified him for a further five years, and imposed a €600 fine payable within five months. He received a five‑month custodial sentence, suspended for two years on a €200 bond, with a warning that a repeat offence would activate the sentence. The case was heard under sections 38(1) and 38(5)(a)(i) of the Road Traffic Act 1961, as amended, and sections 56(1) and (3) of the same Act.
In a Dublin shopping centre, 24‑year‑old Stephan Obelngoa, who was on bail, dragged an 11‑year‑old visually impaired girl away from her mother and brother. The mother, who was walking with her family, saw the boy, who was topless, and tried to avoid him. She then noticed her daughter had vanished from her peripheral vision and turned to find the child being dragged by Obelngoa. The girl screamed, cried and struggled; Obelngoa threw her into a concession stand. Two security guards subdued him, and when Gardaí arrived he shouted, spat a mixture of blood and saliva, and tried to bite them as they attempted to cuff him. The girl was examined the next day, suffering minor spinal tenderness and abrasions, and reported extreme anxiety and trouble sleeping in public places thereafter. Stephan Obelngoa pleaded guilty.
In Tallaght District Court, 45‑year‑old Norman Purfield pleaded guilty to simple possession of heroin under Section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act after a police stop on Old Bawn Road. He was found with 6.8 g of heroin, worth about €952, and claimed it was for personal use, bought in bulk to avoid theft. Judge Patricia McNamara dismissed the original charge of possession for sale or supply, citing insufficient proof beyond reasonable doubt, and convicted him of simple possession. She imposed a three‑month sentence, suspended for 12 months, conditional on Purfield attending a drug treatment programme in Deonach, Tallaght. Purfield, who has 42 previous convictions including three drug‑related offences, was warned that failure to attend treatment could lead to the sentence being imposed. The judge noted the lack of weighing scales, paraphernalia, or evidence of supply, and accepted Purfield's explanation and willingness to engage with treatment.
Ines Perez, 43, of Willowpark Avenue, Glasnevin, pleaded guilty at Tallaght District Court to drink‑driving on 7 October 2023. She was driving a Volkswagen Polo on Scholarstown Road, Knocklyon, shortly after 2 am when she crashed into a light pole, causing traffic lights to topple and block the road. Garda Mark Faul, who was in the area, spoke to Perez, noted signs of intoxication, and she failed a roadside breath test. A blood sample taken at a Garda station showed 144 mg of alcohol per 100 ml, nearly three times the legal limit of 50 mg. Perez had no previous convictions and was fully cooperative. Her defence counsel noted she was a mother of two, had been going through an emotionally difficult breakup, and rarely drank. The court heard she was deeply embarrassed and anxious to be before the court.
Alexandru Enacke, 32, of Hazelgrove Estate, Tallaght, appeared before Tallaght District Court after a Garda stop at Killinarden on 5 December 2023. He was found driving a Mercedes with a fake AXA insurance disc and a false NCT disc, while the vehicle was uninsured, had no valid NCT, and Enacke held no valid Irish driving licence. He pleaded guilty to driving without insurance, driving without a valid licence, and using false insurance and NCT discs with intent to mislead. Enacke had eight prior convictions, including two for driving without insurance, and had been disqualified for two years in February 2024. The court, hearing his defence that a policy had lapsed due to a typo, rejected his explanation. Judge Patricia McNamara sentenced him to eight months in prison, suspended for two years, a five‑year driving disqualification, a €650 fine, and required him to sign a bond and comply with existing disqualifications.
A man in his 20s was denied bail after a court heard that armed Gardaí had to break into his mother's Dublin home to remove him, who is accused of breaching a barring order issued in August 2024 to protect his mother, a woman in her 60s. The order, under Section 33(1) of the Domestic Violence Act 2018, prohibits the man from being at the residence. Gardaí responded to a midnight call from the mother, who reported her son was present despite the order. The man refused to engage, barricaded himself, and Gardaí forced the back door to gain entry. The mother, who was at a relative's home, later testified that she feared her son, describing him as aggressive when drinking or using drugs, and that he had threatened to kill her and her family. The man's solicitor denied the threat allegations and argued the man believed he had the mother's consent.
A man in his 50s, unnamed for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to a Section 3 offence under the Non‑Fatal Offences Against the Person Act after assaulting his wife at a hotel. He struck her arm repeatedly, held her down on the bed and briefly placed a pillow over her face, but caused no serious injuries. The court noted aggravating factors such as the intimate relationship, the victim's vulnerability, the use of a pillow as a weapon, and alleged threats of serious harm. Mitigating factors included the defendant's impulsive reaction to a suspected affair, lack of prior convictions, early guilty plea, completion of the MOVE programme, and no subsequent Garda attention. Judge William Aylmer sentenced him to seven months' custody, fully suspended for 12 months, with probation supervision and a bond, while recognising the couple's ongoing efforts to resolve their difficulties. The wife does not currently hold a protection order.
William Morrison, 60, of Tallaght, was sentenced by Judge John O'Leary to three months in prison for failing to appear in court on four separate occasions, a breach of Section 13(1) of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. Morrison, who pleaded guilty on one count, has 305 prior convictions, including theft, criminal damage, public order offences and previous failures to attend court. The judge described the case as "depressing" and said Morrison was "on a path to self‑destruction." Defence solicitor Kevin Tunney noted Morrison's long‑standing alcohol addiction and his place on a waiting list for treatment. Morrison was remanded in custody to appear at Cloverhill District Court on 13 June for further matters, with no bail application made and legal aid assigned.
A tribunal awarded a reduced sum to Janine Halpin, a part‑time Penneys retail assistant, after finding she was largely responsible for her own dismissal. Halpin was sacked for gross misconduct at the Tallaght store on 5 June 2024. She had replied with two "crying laughing" emojis to a colleague's threat to "skull drag" a manager in the private WhatsApp group "052 Madness". The tribunal noted that Halpin had previously received a final written warning in October 2023 for using foul language and refusing a management instruction. The investigation was criticised for giving her only 30 minutes' notice of a meeting, which the adjudicator described as an ambush. The tribunal reduced the compensation by 70 % and directed Primark to pay €1,277.64, less than four weeks' gross wages, rather than the four months' pay sought by her union. The case was heard under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977.
Aaron Finn, 28, of Tallaght, was charged in Tallaght District Court with 12 offences after breaking into a commercial van in an underground carpark of a Dublin apartment complex on the night of 8 June. CCTV footage showed him smashing a window of a Scania van and stealing three mobile phones, a black sledgehammer, an air pump, a valve and several bags of tools. He was arrested shortly after the incident. Finn faces ten counts of possession of stolen property under Section 18 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act, one count of criminal damage and one count of handling stolen property. The court refused bail, citing the seriousness of the alleged offences, the strength of the evidence and the use of a wrench to gain entry. Finn was remanded in custody to appear via video link at Cloverhill District Court on 13 June for DPP directions, and legal aid was granted.
A 24‑year‑old man named Brandon Deegan of Redwood Court, Tallaght, was sentenced by Tallaght District Court to 15 months in jail for a series of offences committed between April and September 2023. The offences included possession of cocaine on two occasions, possession of a silver extendable baton, and obstructing Garda Neil Lynch during a drug search. Deegan pleaded guilty to all charges. The court noted that he had prior convictions, including a six‑month sentence for drug possession in 2020 and a three‑month term in May 2023 for a similar offence. Defence counsel described Deegan's background as a "deeply traumatic upbringing", with 18 years in State care, the loss of his mother's body at age 18, the death of his father in 2014, and the loss of a close friend in a road traffic incident.
Wayne Wilson, 45, was fined €100 for drunken threatening and abusive behaviour in public after making a xenophobic remark to Gardaí on November 13, 2024, on Belgard Road, Tallaght. He was found intoxicated, approached a patrol car, and said, "What the f** are you going to do about all the foreigners?" before sarcastically offering to help. Wilson claimed his views came from "Sky News." He pleaded guilty under Sections 4 and 6 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act. The court noted his 18 prior convictions, including a suspended six‑month knife‑possession sentence that is now activated because of this offence. Wilson returned voluntarily the next day with an apology letter. He was remanded on bail with a recognisance of €300 and must appear again on June 23. The judge also acknowledged Wilson's recent steps toward sobriety and mental‑health treatment.
In Tallaght District Court, Judge Catherine Ghent sentenced a 26‑year‑old man to 11 months' imprisonment for breaching a protection order, criminal damage and obstructing Gardaí. The judge highlighted that the offender, who has been in custody since age 12 and has a "very serious history of violence," has not received the services he needed. She noted that the victims, particularly the man's former partner, are now bearing the consequences of his actions. The partner's victim impact statement described how the man "ruined her mental wellbeing" and left her living in fear. Judge Ghent praised the partner's courage in seeking protection and warned that domestic violence directly affects children, who must be protected. The sentence included five months for breaching a protection order, four months for criminal damage, and two months for obstructing Gardaí, all to run consecutively. A separate five‑month sentence for breaching a safety order was also imposed. The unnamed 26-year-old pleaded guilty.
James Fuery, 32, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply after customs officers at Dublin Airport seized €404,520 of cannabis in a suitcase he had brought from Ibiza. The drugs, weighing just under 22.5 kg, were found in 45 vacuum‑sealed packets. Fuery claimed he was under pressure from a €15,000 drug debt and that this was his first time bringing drugs into the country. He described difficulties with cocaine and cannabis, a relapse into addiction, and previous homelessness due to addiction. He has eight prior convictions for road traffic, theft and public order offences but none for drug offences. The court accepted his early guilty plea, noted his cooperation and lack of wealth, and remanded him in custody while ordering a urine analysis. The case was adjourned for finalisation on 7 July.
Linda Byrne, 45, of Tymon North Gardens, Tallaght, was sentenced to three months in prison at Tallaght District Court for a two‑year shop‑lifting spree that took place between December 2022 and April 2024. The final month of the sentence was suspended for 24 months, and the whole term was back‑dated to 3 April 2024, the day she was first taken into custody. Byrne pleaded guilty and the judge noted a "significant shift" in her behaviour while remanded at the Dóchas Centre, where she is now receiving addiction treatment and education. The thefts involved goods worth €60 to €270 from stores such as Dunnes, Penneys and Spar; all items were recovered in saleable condition. A serious incident on 10 October 2024 at Spar in Tallaght led to Byrne's arrest under Sections 4 and 3 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001.
Cassandra Lingurar, 19, a Romanian national living in Tallaght, pleaded guilty to theft at New Look and Carraig Donn in The Square Shopping Centre. She removed €310 of clothing and €188 of jewellery without paying. With six prior convictions, including three thefts, she was sentenced by Judge Michael Connellan to a three‑month suspended sentence under Section 99 of the Criminal Justice Act. The judge noted her age and personal circumstances but described her conduct as totally unacceptable.
Robert Ward, 30, of Walker Grove, Parkside, Clongriffin, Dublin 13, appeared before Tallaght District Court after a drunken outburst on 6 October 2024. The incident occurred near the N81 in Tallaght, shortly after a League of Ireland match at Tallaght Stadium. Ward, who had been filming a bus that had stalled with passengers inside, shouted a profanity at Gardaí and ran into oncoming traffic. He was heavily intoxicated, threw three cans of Bulmers on the ground, and was arrested. Ward pleaded guilty to two public order offences – threatening behaviour and intoxication in a public place. He has 122 prior convictions, including traffic, theft and drug offences, and two bench warrants. At the time of the incident he was serving a five‑month suspended sentence for trespassing. Ward has two bench warrants outstanding and a history of convictions for traffic, theft, and drug offences. He has a suspended sentence for a trespassing conviction.
Sergiu Lupo, 39, pleaded guilty to 43 counts of theft, attempted theft and criminal damage for a three‑day spree of targeted ATM thefts in Dublin from 3 to 6 June 2019. He stole €7,260 and caused €7,147 in damage across 24 incidents at AIB ATMs in locations such as Artane, Stillorgan, Dundrum, Crumlin, Tallaght, Clondalkin, Rathfarnham, Finglas, Swords and Portmarnock. Lupo also assisted in a separate incident at Sutton Cross, where he watched two men withdraw cash and then drove them away. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced him to two years and six months' imprisonment, back‑dated to 15 November 2024, for the deliberate, organised nature of the offences and the significant financial loss and inconvenience caused to AIB and the public. The sentence reflects the aggravating factors of the scale of theft and damage, and the fact that Lupo fled and was extradited back to Ireland. He has no prior convictions in Ireland or elsewhere.
Rosie Ward, 33, of Tallaght, pleaded guilty to multiple thefts after being stopped by security at The Square Shopping Centre on 4 May. She admitted taking €30 worth of clothing from Dunnes Stores, €292.40 of groceries from Tesco and €740 of items from Easons. While in custody at Tallaght Garda Station, she threw a can of Monster energy drink at a table with electrical equipment. She was remanded on bail and will appear again on 1 July 2025 for finalisation.
In a Court of Appeal hearing, lawyers for Philip Disney (30) and Sean Carlyle (32) argued that footage of Disney dancing in a pub after the August 24, 2019 murder of Vincent Parsons should not have been shown to the jury. They claimed the clip was prejudicial, suggesting Disney was celebrating the killing, and that the prosecution had failed to prove an act directly committed by Disney. The appeal also challenged the admissibility of comments made by Disney and Carlyle during police searches of their homes, arguing that the searches were conducted without proper caution or procedural safeguards. Counsel for Carlyle further contested the use of inference interviews and the identification of Carlyle in CCTV footage, citing potential bias. The appeal was heard by a three‑judge panel, with the court reserving judgment on the arguments presented. The case remains at the appeal stage, with no verdict or sentencing yet announced.
Amy Mongan, 25, of Kilbarrack, Dublin 5, pleaded guilty at Tallaght District Court to stealing €1,387 worth of cosmetics from Boots in Tallaght on September 21, 2023. The court heard that Mongan committed the offence while on bail and has 28 previous convictions, including 24 for theft. She is currently on a 12-month probation bond and had previously received a suspended sentence in December 2024. Defence counsel Lauren Flanagan BL, instructed by Padraig O'Donovan, stated that Mongan struggled with addictions and is no longer using drugs. Counsel noted that Mongan is caring for her unwell mother, her own child, and her sister's children. Judge Catherine Ghent described the offence as serious given Mongan's record but ordered a community service report to assess her suitability. The matter was adjourned to July 18, and Mongan was remanded on bail. The judge told Mongan, "Too many people are depending on you now for you not to be available to them."
In a decision issued by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) on 22 May 2025, adjudication officer Breiffni O'Neill dismissed six employment rights complaints filed by Maureen McHugh against her employer, the Tallaght Probation Project trading as Deonach. McHugh, a tutor earning €2,400 a month for a 19‑hour week, had alleged breaches of the Employment Equality Act 1998, the Terms of Employment (Information) Act 1994 and the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005. The hearing was scheduled for 9:30 am on 30 April at Lansdowne House, Dublin 4. McHugh arrived at 10 am, 30 minutes late, after having called the WRC reception at 9:30 am to explain a 10‑minute traffic delay. The officer waited until 9:50 am, then proceeded with the hearing without McHugh's evidence, noting that the employer's representative and two witnesses were present.
Karl Finnegan, 41, was found by Gardaí with €230,860 in cash and five Rolex watches during a search of his Dublin home on 16 September. The watches, valued at about £89,000, were sent to the UK for expert analysis. Finnegan pleaded guilty to possession of the proceeds of crime and was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four years' imprisonment, backdated to his arrest, with the final 12 months suspended. He must remain under probation supervision for 12 months post‑release, stay drug‑free, undergo random drug testing and participate in treatment programmes. Finnegan, who has five children and a history of drug addiction, was described by the judge as an "important cog" in assisting a criminal organisation. The court noted the cash and watches were likely proceeds of crime, though Finnegan claimed the cash was his and the watches were second‑hand. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the offence and the mitigating factors presented.
A 35‑year‑old mechanic from Dublin, Declan Daly, was sentenced at Tallaght District Court for a 2019 incident where he allegedly drove a black VW minibus without insurance. Garda Dillon O'Malley stopped him for speeding on Old Military Road, Rathfarnham, and issued a summons after he failed to produce an insurance certificate within the statutory period. The certificate that was later provided covered garage work, not private driving, and did not cover the time of the offence. Daly claimed his employer had instructed him to take the van home for an NCT test, but the vehicle was registered in his name and no supporting documentation existed. Judge Patricia McNamara, noting Daly's 24 prior convictions—including five for driving without insurance—imposed a six‑month prison sentence suspended for two years on a €200 bond, a six‑year driving disqualification, a €600 fine, and a five‑month payment deadline.
Jamie Murray, 30, known also as Jamie Kinsella, was unable to attend Cloverhill District Court on 20 May 2025 because he was hospitalised. He faces charges of unauthorised vehicle taking, assault and dangerous driving after an incident in Citywest on 12 May. The defence counsel, Alexander Langan MacDonnell, informed Judge Alan Mitchell that Murray was receiving medical treatment and requested photographs of his injuries taken upon admission to Cloverhill Prison. The judge agreed to remand Murray in custody until 4 June, citing a medical certificate, but declined to compel the prison service to release the photos, stating they were not directly relevant to the current charges. The case stems from an alleged hijacking of a milk delivery van at Carrigmore Crescent, where the driver's adult daughter was inside and later escaped from the vehicle before it crashed near Glencree, Co. Wicklow. Murray was arrested at the crash site. The court noted that the incident occurred around 3 a.m.