A District Court judge in Tallaght refused jurisdiction over a case involving Abbie Kinsella, a 20‑year‑old from The Green, Earl's Court, Kill, Co. Kildare, who was charged with a phone scam that allegedly defrauded a man of more than €16,000. Kinsella was living in Dublin at the time of the alleged offence and was arrested and charged there. Garda O'Connor explained that the victim received a text message purporting to be from the Eir mobile network, warning that his phone service would be cancelled unless he paid an outstanding bill. Believing the message to be genuine, the man provided his banking details, and later discovered that more than €16,400 had been withdrawn from his account. Garda O'Connor stated that €4,900 was allegedly transferred into Ms Kinsella's Revolut account. Ms Kinsella is charged with an offence under Section 7(1) of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010.
Michael Fitzpatrick, 47, of Tallaght, was remanded on bail pending sentencing in July after pleading guilty to possessing drugs for sale or supply. Gardaí stopped him on July 25, 2024, after spotting him driving in the middle of the road. He appeared nervous and, when told they intended to search his car, handed over a silver package he claimed was cocaine, saying he had been asked to move it for a friend. He admitted to transporting the drugs and that he would be paid €50 for moving them from point A to point B. A subsequent search of his home found no drugs or paraphernalia. The drugs were estimated to have a street value of just over €34,500. Fitzpatrick had no prior convictions and was not known to the Gardaí. He was taken into custody, remanded on continuing bail, and the case was adjourned for sentencing on July 14.
In Tallaght District Court, Melissa O'Shea, 44, pleaded guilty to a series of thefts from Dublin retailers, including clothing, alcohol, cosmetics and household goods. She admitted to stealing €103 worth of clothing from Dunnes Stores, €150 worth of cosmetics, €41 worth of alcohol, vodka from Tesco, and €68 worth of goods, among other offences. O'Shea has 47 prior convictions, 38 for theft, and is currently serving a custodial sentence that will not end until June 2026. Judge Patricia McNamara imposed an additional 10‑month prison term to run consecutively with her existing sentence, with no portion suspended. The judge noted O'Shea's extensive offending history but also her positive engagement in prison, including drug‑free status and participation in support services. The court heard she had been remanded on bail in October 2024 before being committed to custody later that month.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Padraig Delaney, aged 44, was found guilty of murdering his friend Shane Knott, aged 37, who was discovered in a dog pen in Delaney's back garden wrapped in carpet underlay. Delaney claimed self‑defence after an alleged attack with scissors, but the jury rejected this defence. The court described the killing as brutal, with Knott suffering multiple head and brain injuries and his left face crushed. Delaney's statements about a Kinahan crime organisation sending Knott were deemed unfounded. Delaney, a former cabinet maker with a history of alcohol and substance abuse, was sentenced to life imprisonment. The judge called the murder "particularly brutal" and the treatment of the body "callous and disrespectful.".
Rachael Kearney, 42, was on bail when she committed a series of offences over 20 months, from July 2023 to March 2025. The offences included shoplifting from Aldi, Tesco, Boots, Dunnes Stores, JD Sports and Lifestyle Sports, dangerous driving, setting fire to cardboard at a business premises, unauthorised vehicle use and fire damage. She pleaded guilty before Judge Patricia McNamara at Tallaght District Court. The court imposed a total of 24 months' imprisonment, the maximum that can be imposed for multiple charges in a single case, with some terms to run consecutively. Kearney also received a two‑year driving ban. She has been in custody since 28 March and will appear again at Arklow District Court on 14 May under a Section 99 warrant, where a partially suspended 10‑month sentence may be activated. She has indicated she does not intend to appeal her sentence.
Liam Devoy, 23, was sentenced at Tallaght District Court after pleading guilty to driving without insurance, dangerous driving and possession of cannabis and cocaine. He had been disqualified from driving for four years in June 2023 and was caught driving a Volkswagen Golf on the N81 Tallaght Bypass on 7 July 2023, still disqualified and without a licence. Gardaí found small amounts of drugs in the car, and a blood sample was taken. Judge Patricia McNamara imposed a five‑month prison sentence, suspended for two years on the condition that Devoy does not drive or control a vehicle during that period. He was also disqualified from driving for an additional five years and fined €500, payable within five months. The court noted he had 17 previous convictions, including three for driving without insurance. The defence counsel highlighted his employment and impending fatherhood, but the judge warned that any future offence would lead to immediate arrest and imprisonment.
A man in his forties was remanded in custody after allegedly threatening his former partner and their young son during a domestic disturbance at a south Dublin house on the night of May 8. He was accused of breaching a safety order, shouting that he would kick the woman's head in, threaten to "kick the face off" her and her son, and that he would burn the house down, calling it "his house" because the children lived there. Garda Daragh Melinn arrested him after he resisted arrest, used handcuffs and a patrol van was called to transport him. The woman gave direct evidence at Tallaght District Court, stating she had to get her niece to take the children upstairs for safety and that one child was traumatised. The accused had three bench warrants in the past 18 months and was not intoxicated at the time of arrest.
A 45‑year‑old woman from Tymon North Gardens, Tallaght, Dublin 24, is due to be sentenced next month after pleading guilty to a series of theft and deception offences that spanned from December 2022 to October 2024. She stole cosmetics, clothing and toiletries worth between €60 and €270 at several locations, including Penneys on O'Connell Street, Arnotts, Citywest Shopping Centre and a Spar outlet in the Village Green. In one incident she was stopped after taking two suitcases worth €90 from Penneys, and in another she stole €150 worth of cosmetics. All items were recovered in saleable condition. The most recent offence occurred on 10 October 2024 when Gardaí were called to Spar; she became abusive and was arrested for theft and deception under Section 4(3) of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001. An active bench warrant was executed during her court appearance that day.
A 22-year-old woman from Athlone with a history of 19 bench warrants has been refused bail at Tallaght District Court. Janelle Quinn, currently of no fixed abode, faces charges including theft, public order offences and criminal damage. She was arrested on foot of two active warrants and made no reply when cautioned. During the hearing, Judge Catherine Ghent expressed concern about the accused's presentation and condition, noting apparent withdrawal symptoms. Her barrister submitted that Ms Quinn was undergoing detoxification and willing to engage with the process, including daily signing at Athlone Garda Station. However, gardaí objected, citing her pattern of failing to appear. The judge stated serious reservations about whether Ms Quinn would return to court if released, despite acknowledging the charges were not of the most serious nature. She noted the accused required medical attention. Ms Quinn was remanded in custody for one week to reappear on 13 May. Legal aid was granted.
A 35‑year‑old man accused of two attacks on his former partner was refused bail by Judge Catherine Ghent at Tallaght District Court. The man is charged with two counts of assault causing harm, alleged to have bitten the woman's forehead, strangled her, pulled her hair and head‑butted her nose in separate incidents in April and July 2024. The victim sustained a broken nose; hospital records and photographs were presented as evidence. She reported the assaults after receiving support from counselling services and Women's Aid, citing a controlling relationship as a reason for the delay. Garda Sarah Cullinane objected to bail on grounds of the seriousness of the offences and potential witness interference. Defence solicitor Michael Hennessey denied the allegations and offered strict bail conditions, but the judge cited grave concerns for the victim's safety and refused bail under Section 2 of the Bail Act.
In a Tallaght District Court hearing on 6 May 2025, a 24‑year‑old woman faced a charge of breaching a protection order that prohibited her from contacting her former partner. The complainant, a 25‑year‑old man, alleged that the woman sent him an abusive WhatsApp message on 3 January, which he had shown to Gardaí and printed as evidence. The woman's solicitor, Michael Hennessy, argued that the message was fabricated using Photoshop, noting that no digital record of the message existed on the defendant's phone and that the phone was water‑damaged and not examined. The prosecution, represented by Dr Seán Smith, maintained that the printed screenshot matched the complainant's phone and that no expert analysis was required. The case collapsed when Judge Patricia Cronin discovered that the charge sheet listed a different name and address, violating Order 38 of the District Court Rules, and dismissed the proceedings for lack of admissible evidence.
Lisa Lyons, a 36‑year‑old mother of four from Tallaght, appeared before Judge Michael Connellan at Tallaght District Court after a Garda search of her home on 15 November 2021. The search uncovered a handbag containing nine individual bags of cannabis (29 g) and €508 in cash. Lyons pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply under Section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 and unlawful possession under Section 3 of the same Act. She has six prior convictions for road‑traffic offences but no drug‑related history. Her lawyer, Ethan Foley, argued that Lyons was pressured by criminal groups to hold the drugs and had been living in fear, noting her clean record, family responsibilities, and volunteer work. The court accepted her plea and imposed a €600 fine with a seven‑month payment period, urging leniency. Lyons stated she is now a born‑again Christian and that her anxiety has improved.
Anthony Macken, a 21‑year‑old from Oakpark Avenue, Santry, appeared before Judge Michael Connellan at Tallaght District Court after admitting he had handled a stolen motorbike and was later convicted of dangerous driving. The incident occurred on 28 October 2023 on the M50 northbound at Ballymount, Dublin 24, when Garda Aaron Wogan found a damaged motorbike that had been stolen. Macken pleaded guilty to handling stolen property under Section 18 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001 and was convicted of dangerous driving under Section 53(1) of the Road Traffic Act 1961, as amended by the Road Traffic (No. 2) Act 2011. He was fined €200 for handling the stolen motorbike and €50 for dangerous driving, each with a six‑month payment period, and was disqualified from driving for two years. The court heard that a probation report assessed Macken as posing a moderate risk of re‑offending.
In a Dublin Circuit Court hearing, Judge Ronan Munro sentenced 24‑year‑old Dylan Gilligan to six and a half years in prison for carrying a firearm with intent to assault Scott Purdue on 17 December 2019. The final 18 months of the sentence were suspended on strict conditions. Gilligan, who denies any involvement, maintains he was not the shooter and claims the incident was a stand‑alone case. The judge highlighted the lack of direct evidence linking Gilligan to the shooting, noting no bullets, shell casings or recovered firearm, and that Purdue declined to give evidence. Munro emphasised Gilligan's youth and absence of a significant offending background, urging him to choose a crime‑free life upon release. The court also heard that Gilligan had been struck by a car in October, for which he is receiving rehabilitative treatment. Dylan Gilligan was convicted.
In a Tallaght District Court hearing on 30 April 2025, Christopher Armstrong, 39, was convicted of failing to remain at the scene after striking a pedestrian on Old Bawn Road on 20 December 2024. CCTV showed Armstrong stopping his van, checking on the injured man, and then leaving the scene without providing details. The victim suffered serious injuries, including four broken ribs, a broken nose, 12 stitches, and a broken wrist that required surgery. Armstrong pleaded guilty, admitted the incident, and cooperated fully with the investigation. He was fined €1,000 and disqualified from driving for three months. The judge noted mitigating factors such as Armstrong's remorse, lack of prior convictions, and his full-time employment, but upheld the conviction due to the seriousness of the injuries and his failure to remain at the scene.
Jamie Birmingham, 34, of Drumfinn Road, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10, was fined €1,300 by Tallaght District Court after a hearing that found he was driving a van on the N81 on 4 April 2020 without a licence, tax or insurance. Garda Michael Gleeson reported that Birmingham was stopped at 3.30am, failed to produce the required documents at a nominated Garda station, and had 39 prior convictions, including three for driving without insurance, violent behaviour at a Garda station and failure to comply with Garda direction. Earlier this year he received a four‑month suspended sentence and a four‑year driving ban for driving drunk and without insurance, and was convicted of three counts of no insurance at Blanchardstown District Court.
Joseph Rafferty, 45, was remanded in custody after appearing in Tallaght District Court on charges related to a car hijacking in Dublin and two robberies in Wicklow over the weekend. He was arrested at 6.15pm on Sunday at Tallaght Garda Station and formally charged by Sergeant Michael Martin. Rafferty was cautioned and made no reply to the charges. The incidents occurred on Saturday, 26 April. At about 7.45pm, a woman was allegedly threatened and forced out of her black Nissan Qashqai at a commercial premises on St Peter's Road in Walkinstown, Dublin 12; Rafferty is charged with hijacking under Section 10 of the Criminal Law Act 1997 and unlawful use of a vehicle under Section 112 of the Road Traffic Act 1961. Later that evening, he allegedly attempted to rob a store on the Dublin Road in Bray, threatening cashiers as he left, and is charged with attempted robbery.
In a case heard at Tallaght District Court, a 43‑year‑old man named Darren Kane was found asleep in the driver's seat of a Volkswagen camper van at the Spawell Service Station on 9 May 2021. Gardaí discovered two suspected deals of cocaine, each worth €70, in the passenger seat. Kane pleaded guilty to possession under section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act. The court noted that he had 27 prior convictions, including five under the same act, and had previously received a 10‑month suspended sentence in May 2022 for a Section 15 drugs offence. His defence counsel reported that Kane had made "remarkable" progress since then, completing a 20‑month residential programme at Cuan Mhuire, obtaining a Level 6 qualification in psychology, and volunteering to support others in addiction recovery. He had also spoken at a graduation event in March 2024 about his journey and the importance of second chances.
A 32‑year‑old man, Clinton Martin, was fined €250 for stealing a €15 bottle of Jameson from a Centra shop in Tallaght on 15 March 2022. CCTV captured him removing the bottle and leaving without paying. Gardaí identified him the next day, and he pleaded guilty, admitting the theft and apologising. The case was heard at Tallaght District Court where Judge Deirdre Gearty noted the theft occurred over three years ago, remarking that the whiskey was likely long gone. The judge recorded a conviction and imposed the fine, giving Martin five months to pay.
On 20 October 2023, Garda Niall McGahern stopped a car on Whitestown Way, Tallaght, after noticing the driver acting suspiciously at a traffic light. The driver, Adam Printo, 26, of Sundale Villas, Jobstown, Tallaght, Dublin 24, produced a large butcher's knife from inside the car and could not explain why he had it. He was arrested and taken to Tallaght Garda Station, where a small amount of cannabis was also found on him. Printo entered a guilty plea to a charge under Section 9 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act. Defence counsel Lauren Flanagan BL argued that Printo had been using the knife as a makeshift screwdriver earlier that day to fix the windscreen wipers. The court heard that Printo was employed full‑time in a warehouse, earning around €500 a week, and had no previous convictions or history of addiction. The knife was presented in court as evidence in a plastic bag.
A 40‑year‑old man, Philip Cox, was sentenced to five‑and‑a‑half years in prison for twice stabbing his partner of 18 years, Cristal O'Brien, with three knives. The judge noted that the first knife broke on a stairwell wall, yet Cox returned with another knife and threatened to finish her off. He also committed aggravated burglary by smashing Ms O'Brien's neighbour's front door, breaking a window and entering the dwelling. Cox had previously pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, aggravated burglary and the production of a knife. The judge imposed a consecutive sentence of three years and six months for the knife production and three years and three months for the assault and burglary, suspending the last 15 months. The custodial term is back‑dated to 2 June 2023, and Cox must not contact the two women or approach within 100 metres of their homes.
Two Dublin men, Stephen Tynan (46) and Raymond Fitzgerald (41), were convicted of murdering Andrew Guerrine, who was found with 20 stab wounds on a roadside. They pleaded not guilty and were sentenced to life imprisonment by Mr Justice Michael White in December 2018. In a Court of Appeal hearing on 11 April 2025, Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy rejected all grounds of appeal. The appeal argued that the men were accessories after the fact and that evidence such as CCTV footage, ANPR data and a voluntary caution statement were inadmissible or unreliable. The judge found the evidence admissible and the defendants' statements lawful, and concluded that the trial judge had properly instructed the jury on the possible verdicts. Consequently, the appeal was dismissed and the convictions remain in force.
In a case heard in Tallaght District Court, a clothes shop owner was charged under Section 45 of the Criminal Justice (Sexual Offences) Act for allegedly lifting a woman's skirt and making a sexually explicit remark about her "beautiful pussy" while also making a suggestive hand gesture. The incident, reported to have occurred on 7 January 2022 in a Dublin shop, involved no physical contact. Garda Sergeant Ruth Finnegan presented the evidence, noting the alleged lifting and comment. The accused, represented by solicitor Michael Hennessy, pleaded not guilty and requested that the case be heard in a higher court with a judge and jury, arguing that the act was part of his job in alterations. Judge John Brennan denied this request, ruling that the offence was too minor for a higher court and that the State should not incur undue expense.
In a Tallaght District Court hearing, Judge Patricia McNamara sentenced Dumitru Lupu, a 30‑year‑old cleaning‑company owner from Boherboy, Saggart, to pay €150 for criminal damage and €100 to a garda charity after he urinated all over a garda cell while intoxicated. Lupu, who has no prior convictions except for traffic offences, was arrested following a verbal altercation at his home on 30 September 2022. Garda officers described him as unsteady, aggressive and abusive, and he laughed when informed of the damage. The judge noted that, given his occupation, Lupu "would have been in a good position to clean up his own mess" but that it was too late. He was ordered to complete 80 hours of community service pending a probation report on 12 May. The court also ordered a €100 donation to Little Blue Heroes, a charity for children with disabilities. Dumitru Lupu pleaded guilty.
In a Tallaght District Court hearing, Judge Patricia McNamara refused jurisdiction over a violent disorder case involving five men after viewing CCTV footage of a 15‑year‑old being repeatedly beaten with metal bars on the top deck of a bus at The Square Shopping Centre on 29 February 2024. The footage showed two accused men boarding the bus at 9:30 pm, one initiating the assault and the other also striking the teenager, while a third remained outside. The men—Rasel Chowdhury (42), Gao Jiansheng (44), Shafiulla Shafiulla (40), Kamrul Islam (43) and Md Imrul Mahamud (27)—were charged under the Public Order Act for violent disorder. Judge McNamara described the attack as "relentless" and ruled it too serious for the District Court, granting prosecutors 12 weeks to prepare the Book of Evidence. The accused remain remanded on bail until 19 June, and Mr Gao Jiansheng will require a Mandarin interpreter for future proceedings.
In Tallaght District Court, a father whose weekly child‑support payments are €80 had his bail revoked after alleged breaches of a protection order. The court heard that on 13 March he used the Revolut payment app to send a love‑heart emoji with a payment, a white‑flag emoji a week later, and a text praising the complainant as a "great mother" and offering help. The complainant said the messages were not innocent but an attempt to emotionally manipulate her, describing feeling unsafe and having to change her home locks. She claimed that any contact from the accused caused significant distress and that she feared for her safety. The prosecution argued that even emoji contact violated the protection order. The accused, who had no prior convictions, admitted an "error of judgment" but denied intent to intimidate.
Tony Wasiu Amusa, 30, of Russell Green, Tallaght, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three counts of possessing the proceeds of crime between 2020 and 2021, with a total amount of €33,733. Judge Martin Nolan described Amusa as an energetic participant in the laundering scheme but judged him to be "not much of a threat to society." He imposed a 27‑month sentence, suspended in full on strict conditions, and warned Amusa that this was his last chance before any further court appearance.
Barry Horan, 55, of De Selby Green, Tallaght, was stopped by Garda Aaron Murphy at an Applegreen petrol station on 6 April 2024 over a public order matter. When asked if he possessed a firearm or offensive weapon, Horan said he had an object in his pocket for "self‑defence". He was arrested, cautioned and taken to Tallaght Garda Station under Sections 9(1) and (7) of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act. In court, a sharp, green steel object in a clear plastic bag was presented to Judge Patricia McNamara, who noted it resembled a key ring. Horan's counsel, Ms Lauren Flanagan, instructed Horan to say the object was used for "sexual purposes", prompting laughter. During cross‑examination, Garda Murphy admitted he had not cited the legal power under which the search was conducted.
Rachel Redmond, 34, was found guilty by a jury of impeding the Garda investigation into the murder of drug dealer Jordan 'Jordo' Davis. The jury heard that Redmond collected the shooter, Wayne Cooney, from a bus stop minutes after he killed Davis and later checked him into the Clayton Hotel near Dublin Airport. Redmond denied knowing Cooney had committed murder, claiming she was unaware of his criminality and that she had only helped him because she loved him. The prosecution described her testimony as "risible" and argued that she knowingly obstructed the investigation. The judge remanded Redmond in custody pending a sentencing hearing on 12 May. No other charges or outcomes were reported in this article.
A 28‑year‑old Irish national, Iskilu Awolumate, was sentenced to 18 months in jail, with the final year suspended, for his role in a large‑scale smishing fraud that targeted Permanent TSB customers. The court heard that between March 2020 and January 2021 he handled €25,800 that had been transferred from 22 affected accounts, though only three victims were identified. Awolumate's account was used to move the money, and Garda evidence suggested he was not merely a mule but part of a wider operation. He had previously moved to the Netherlands, where he works as an engineer, and had been contacted by Gardaí 13 times before surrendering to Tallaght Garda Station. He claimed he was coerced and feared for his safety. The judge noted the operation was "large‑scale" and that the money could not be accounted for by ordinary work. Iskilu Awolumate pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Christopher Murphy (33) and his partner Malika Amraoui (35) faced charges after a high‑speed car chase and subsequent confrontation at a house on Swiftbrook Drive. Murphy had crashed a black Range Rover into traffic lights, causing €15,473 of damage, and fled on foot. A garda sergeant entered the house to arrest him, but Murphy resisted, threatened to bite the officer, and was pepper‑sprayed before being taken into custody. Amraoui, who had been with Murphy, removed the garda's gun from its holster and was forced back by the sergeant. Both pleaded guilty to their respective offences. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a fully suspended three‑year sentence on Amraoui and a three‑year custodial term with a five‑year driving disqualification on Murphy, citing their disgraceful conduct and the danger they posed during the pursuit.
Kevin Braney, aged 49, is appealing his conviction for the murder of Peter Butterly at the Special Criminal Court. The appeal, heard before a three-judge panel, centres on two main issues: the lawfulness of surveillance authorisation and the admissibility of evidence from an accomplice-turned-State's witness. Braney's counsel argues that gardai breached his privacy rights by deploying a listening device at a KFC restaurant in Charlestown Shopping Centre, Finglas without proper district court authorisation. The defence contends a superintendent in County Meath could have sought judicial approval at nearby Balbriggan District Court rather than relying on emergency powers under the Criminal Law (Surveillance) Act 2009. The Director of Public Prosecutions argues the superintendent acted appropriately given time constraints when the criminal meeting emerged. The prosecution also disputes whether private conversation expectations apply in a public restaurant setting. Additionally, Braney's legal team challenges the trial court's reliance on evidence from David Cullen, who pleaded guilty to firearms offences and entered witness protection. The defence characterises Cullen as unreliable and willing to lie in his interests.
The Court of Appeal is hearing an appeal by Kevin Braney, who was convicted by the Special Criminal Court of the 2013 murder of Peter Butterly. Counsel for Braney argued that the conviction should be overturned because the trial relied on the evidence of David Cullen, a State's witness described as a perjurer and accomplice. Cullen had previously pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a semi-automatic pistol, receiving a seven-year sentence with half suspended, in exchange for dropping a murder charge. The defence contended that Cullen's credibility was undermined by his admitted dishonesty and personal animus toward Braney. The Director of Public Prosecutions countered that the circumstantial evidence, including observed movements of gang members, was compelling and supported Cullen's testimony that Braney instructed the killing. Braney, who was previously sentenced in 2018 to four years and six months for IRA membership, was found guilty of premeditated murder in February 2019. Co-defendants Edward McGrath, Sharif Kelly, and Dean Evans also received life sentences for the murder, with Evans identified as the shooter. The three-judge Court of Appeal will hear further submissions from both parties before making a decision.
Sodiq Jimoh (30) of Rossfield Close, Rossfield, Tallaght, Dublin 24, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to contributing to the activities of a criminal organisation and nine charges of money laundering on dates between May 2019 and August 2020. Jimoh admitted to laundering €1,000,065 from various individuals and small Irish companies. The court heard that some of the victims' money was reimbursed and some of the cash was recovered. Detective Garda Ester Devally stated that Jimoh was involved in a global investigation into invoice redirect fraud and compromised email scams, known as Operation Skean. Gardaí found suspicious activity in accounts with Bank of Ireland and Allied Irish Bank, with various lodgements totalling €26,000 into accounts linked to Jimoh over a 16-month period. Analysis of his phone revealed WhatsApp conversations with others involved in the fraud, including a comment from Jimoh stating, "Fam, at the end of the day it's free money." Jimoh was arrested and questioned multiple times, but no evidential value was gained from the interviews. Victim impact statements were submitted but not read out. Defence counsel highlighted Jimoh's background, including his early arrival in Ireland and a promising football career, and his role as a family breadwinner during the pandemic. Judge Martin Nolan acknowledged Jimoh's mitigation but stated that the wrongdoing was serious and sentenced him to five years and four months, with credit for six weeks spent on remand in custody.
A jury of twelve was sworn in on 18 March 2025 to hear the trial of Brian Ibe, a 24‑year‑old from Newbridge, who has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of 65‑year‑old Peter Kennedy, which took place between 28 April and 12 May 2020. Ibe was also charged with assault causing harm to Garda Brendan O'Donnell on 29 April 2020, to which he likewise pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. The trial will last about two weeks, with a possibility of a slight extension. The prosecution will present witnesses including consultant psychiatrist Dr Mary Davoren and clinical psychologist Dr Kevin Lambe, while the defence will call consultant psychiatrists Dr Conor O'Neill, Dr Stephen Monks, Dr Patrick McLoughlin, Dr Gauruv Malhan and psychologist Dr Marie English. A large number of Garda witnesses from Newbridge, Kildare, Athy, Rathangan, Portlaoise, Tallaght and Naas will also testify.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Rachel Redmond, 34, continues before Mr Justice Paul Burns. Ms Redmond, from Coolock, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of assisting Wayne Cooney to evade prosecution for the murder of Jordan Davis on May 22, 2019. The prosecution alleges she drove Cooney from the scene and checked him into the Clayton Hotel near Dublin Airport. Evidence presented includes testimony from Ashling McNally, former partner of Robert Redmond, who stated she collected Robert from Belcamp Lane at 4:13 pm, minutes after the shooting. Robert Redmond, Ms Redmond's brother, previously pleaded guilty in May 2013 to possessing heroin worth almost €37,000 and was sentenced to five years in prison. Detective Garda Shane Kelly identified Cooney in CCTV footage, while hotel staff confirmed a booking under Ms Redmond's name. The jury is tasked with determining if Ms Redmond knew or believed Cooney committed the murder. The trial was adjourned and is scheduled to continue on Tuesday.
In a Dublin City Centre incident on 23 July 2020, Peter Burns, a 50‑year‑old truck driver from Tallaght, caused a cyclist to be crushed between his vehicle and another after failing to check his mirrors. CCTV showed the cyclist's backpack caught in the wheels, spinning her body so her lower limbs were trapped rather than her head. The cyclist was taken to hospital in critical condition, suffered multiple fractures and crush injuries, and has undergone at least six surgeries with ongoing rehabilitation. Burns pleaded guilty to careless driving causing serious injury. Judge Martin Nolan, hearing the case at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, imposed an eight‑month suspended sentence and did not impose a driving ban, citing Burns' lack of prior convictions and the absence of aggravating factors. The judge noted Burns' responsibility to observe all road users and his failure to give the cyclist a wider berth.
In March 2025, 18‑year‑old Josh Kenny of Tallaght was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for assault causing serious harm after he threatened and then slashed a security guard's face with a 13‑cm wound. The incident began when Kenny, riding an e‑scooter, confronted a guard in a car park. A verbal altercation escalated, and after a brief departure, Kenny returned and, while the guard was on camera, struck him in the face before fleeing. The guard was hospitalized and required stitches. Kenny pleaded guilty to the charge on 25 April 2024. He had no prior convictions at the time, but later accrued seven offences. The judge noted Kenny's age and personal circumstances as mitigating, yet described the crime as "nasty" and "vicious vengeance." The sentence was back‑dated to the day he entered custody.
Georgina Tuohey, mother of three children who were raped and sexually abused by Brendan Cornally, spoke from the court during his sentencing at the Central Criminal Court. Cornally was sentenced to a total of 17½ years for the rape and sexual assault of her two sons and the sexual assault of her daughter. He had previously served 10 years for the rape of a boy aged 10‑14 and 21 months for the assault of a sister aged 13‑15. The judge imposed a headline sentence of 20 years, with the final two and a half years suspended on strict conditions for five years. Tuohey expressed that the sentence was lenient and that the justice system would let people like her down, while the judge noted the impact of Cornally's actions on her son, who suffered a severe decline in health and became catatonic. The sentencing was consecutive to his existing 11‑year‑nine‑month term. Brendan Cornally pleaded guilty.
Mark Davis, 35, with 207 prior convictions, was sentenced in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for stealing a DPD delivery van on 4 December 2023. Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin imposed a headline sentence of three years, reduced to two, but suspended the entire term. Conditions include engagement with the Probation Service, drug treatment, employment or education, and victim‑focused work. Davis was also disqualified from driving for five years. He pleaded guilty to the van theft, stealing 66 packages worth €901, and driving without a licence. The judge noted his lack of insight into the seriousness of the offence but acknowledged pro‑social support from family. Davis had previously been under a 20‑year driving ban and had a history of hit‑and‑runs, burglary, theft and other offences. The court remanded him on bail pending the sentencing hearing.
Colin Brady, a 35-year-old man from Kilcloon, Co Meath, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to two counts of possession of child pornography, one count of exposure in a public area, and recording videos of another without their knowledge or consent. The offences occurred between May 2021 and September 2022 at various locations in Dublin, including pubs, shopping centres, petrol stations, and his workplace. Detective Garda Kevin Bold stated that Brady was detained after being observed suspiciously in a Tallaght pub toilet, leading to the seizure of two mobile phones and other digital media. Analysis revealed 1,355 videos on SD cards, including footage of men using urinals and 25 videos depicting children. The court heard that seven men were identified in the recordings, one of whom was an off-duty garda. Defence counsel Geraldine Small SC highlighted Brady's early guilty plea, lack of previous convictions, and engagement with counselling. Judge Martin Nolan described the case as unusual and noted the prolonged and repeated nature of the behaviour. While the judge inferred the intent was to video men and children were recorded by accident, he noted Brady did not delete the footage. Having considered the mitigation and Brady's personal circumstances, the judge imposed a two-year prison sentence.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Peter Doyle, aged 68, was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment for indecent assault and rape of two girls aged six to nine between 1977 and 1991. The victims, who wish to remain anonymous, recounted how they were ignored when they tried to alert adults, with one told the abuser was "just experimenting." Doyle pleaded guilty to all charges. The judge, Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo, set a headline sentence of 15 years but, citing mitigating factors such as Doyle's guilty plea, lack of prior convictions, good work history and remorse, imposed consecutive sentences totalling eight years. The court noted the deep and lasting harm suffered by the victims and the breach of trust involved. The case was classified as "more serious" by the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Diarmuid Phelan, a law lecturer and barrister, was acquitted of murder after a 10‑week trial that concluded on 3 January 2025. The case involved a shooting at Hazelgrove Farm, Tallaght, where Phelan fired three shots at trespassers on his land. The third shot struck Keith Conlon in the head, killing him. Phelan claimed the fatal shot was accidental and that he acted in self‑defence. A jury found him not guilty. Following the trial, Michael Bowman SC, one of Phelan's senior counsel, requested that the court decide whether the State should pay Phelan's legal costs. The matter will be heard by Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford on 10 March. Phelan, who has assets in the millions, was represented by two senior and two junior counsel and did not receive legal aid. The case also involved expert witnesses who testified after the prosecution's case closed.
Oluwasegun Azeez, 31, was sentenced to six and a half years in prison after the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court found him guilty of participating in a Ghanaian criminal organisation that carried out PUP fraud, money laundering, social welfare theft, business email compromise and loan fraud between 2020 and 2022. Azeez recruited money mules, opened bank accounts, sent false documents to secure loans, and directed others to move money. Garda investigations revealed he used staff details to claim €49,500 in Pandemic Unemployment Payments, fraudulently purchased a suit from Louis Copeland, and entered a hire‑purchase agreement for an Audi Q3 jeep. He also attempted to recruit others for phishing and smishing scams. The court noted his early guilty plea and personal circumstances, but imposed the six‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence.
Derek Fee, a 37‑year‑old Dubliner, was jailed for six and a half years after a series of drug‑related offences while on bail. In June 2022, Gardaí stopped him in Tallaght and seized three deals of cocaine, 300 diazepam tablets, a weighing scale and a burner phone. A warrant led to a search of his home, where no drugs were found, but a false compartment in a car he had owned for four weeks yielded €14,000 worth of cannabis. The following month, while driving a rental van, Gardaí discovered a kilo of cannabis under the passenger seat, valued at €20,000. Fee pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply on both occasions. The court, noting his prior convictions and the mitigating evidence presented, imposed two and a half years for the first offence and four years for the second, to run consecutively.
Ian Kidney, a 37‑year‑old Dublin resident, was sentenced to seven years in prison for his role in a €3 million cannabis and cocaine operation. He had no prior criminal record but was under Garda surveillance from 3 April last year. Kidney pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of drugs for sale or supply: one for transporting drugs on Dublin's north side and another for a haul at a south‑side storage facility. Garda Brian Kirwan testified that Kidney drove a van to Finglas, delivering two boxes to Liam Mellows Road, where €320 000 of cannabis was found. He then drove into Dublin City Centre, where a stop on Beresford Street led to the seizure of €198 332 of cannabis. A self‑storage unit in Ballymount yielded €2.28 million of cannabis herb, €5 572 of resin and €694 858 of cocaine; Kidney held one of two keys.
Robert Cummins, 45, of Cushlawn Park, Tallaght, was jailed for ten years after pleading guilty to two drug offences. In August 2023 he was found with €196,540 worth of cannabis and €68,327 of cocaine for sale or supply at his home, and in July 2024 he was found with €55,695 of cocaine and €12,912 of cannabis for sale or supply while on bail for the first offence. Cummins admitted responsibility for the drugs, claiming they were hidden in a shed and that he had them for a few hours after work to reduce a gambling debt. He said he feared those to whom he owed money. His defence highlighted his family life and remorse. Judge Martin Nolan accepted pre‑meditation and imposed a seven‑year term for the first offence and a consecutive three‑year term for the second, totalling ten years in custody.
David McNamara, aged 24, was sentenced to five years in prison at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for a series of violent offences. He pleaded guilty to assaulting his 16‑year‑old girlfriend in September 2019, to assaulting a second girlfriend and coercive control of her between 17 and 19 July 2023, to hijacking a taxi and threatening to stab the driver on 20 July 2023, and to possession of cocaine and heroin for sale at the time of his arrest on 5 September 2023. The court heard that McNamara had repeatedly failed to appear for court dates, was granted bail twice, and that armed support and a helicopter were required to surround his Tallaght home before he was finally arrested. He denied the allegations of violence and coercion, but the judge noted the seriousness of the assaults and the threats made to the taxi driver.
Andy Donohue, 19, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to one count of arson at St John's House, High Street, Tallaght, on May 24 last year. The defendant admitted to petrol-bombing the building, which had been earmarked for asylum seekers, causing €28,000 in damage. Judge Martin Nolan stated that Donohue was "inspired by racism and some political motive" when committing the offence. Although the offence carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, the judge set a headline sentence of 10 years, reduced to six years following mitigation. The final year of the sentence was suspended on a number of conditions, and the sentence was backdated to when Donohue entered custody. Defence counsel argued that the teenager had been led astray by racist influences following a challenging childhood, noting that Donohue has since expressed shame and is studying for his Leaving Certificate while in custody. A female security guard inside the building at the time fled safely, and no injuries were reported. Donohue, who has no previous convictions, was identified via CCTV footage and arrested shortly after the incident.
Gareth McGrath, 35, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for a series of violent offences against his then‑girlfriend. The court heard that the couple met while attending residential addiction treatment and that their relationship quickly turned violent. McGrath pleaded guilty to assault causing harm on 29 July and 8 August 2023, to threatening to kill her on 8 August 2023, and to intimidating a person assisting Gardaí in the investigation of an offence in August 2023. He had 15 previous convictions. The victim's impact statement described repeated unprovoked assaults, a forced attempt to withdraw her Garda complaint while she was in hospital, and lasting psychological effects. Judge Pauline Codd noted McGrath's history of violence and intimidation, commended the victim's resilience, and imposed a concurrent sentence of five and a half years with the final year suspended, subject to conditions including no contact with the victim and engagement with services.