Jurors in the murder trial of law professor Diarmuid Phelan have been invited to hold and pull the trigger of the Smith & Wesson revolver used in the fatal shooting of Mr Conlon on Phelan's farmland. The prosecution, led by John Byrne SC, explained the exercise to help jurors understand the five kilos of pressure required to pull the trigger. The judge, Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford, declined to participate, stating she would pass. Mr Phelan, 56, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Conlon, 36, on February 24, 2022. Detective Garda Seamus O'Donnell testified that the revolver had no manually activated safety mechanism and that it was considered very safe. He confirmed that the gun had been made safe for the exercise and that it could not fire if dropped. Eight of the 12 jurors opted to pull the trigger.
During the murder trial of law professor Diarmuid Phelan, a ballistics expert warned that mixing different types of ammunition in a Smith & Wesson revolver is extremely dangerous. Evidence showed that the revolver used to kill Keith Conlon contained three spent rounds, possibly hollow‑point or pest‑control bullets, and that the fatal bullet was a hollow‑point projectile. The prosecution argued that Phelan fired a third shot at Conlon's back, intending to kill or seriously injure him. Phelan, 56, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Conlon, 36, who died on 24 February 2022 at Tallaght University Hospital. The trial, presided over by Justice Siobhan Lankford, continues with a jury hearing the forensic and eyewitness evidence presented by the state and defence.
The jury in the trial of barrister Diarmuid Phelan, accused of murdering Keith Conlon on his farm, was sent home for a second day after Judge Siobhan Lankford announced a difficulty because the next prosecution witness was unavailable. Phelan, 56, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Conlon, 36, which occurred on 24 February 2022 at Hazelgrove Farm in Tallaght. The judge said the jury had heard a lot of evidence but not all, and that more would come. She warned the twelve jurors, nine men and three women, against discussing the case or using social media and instructed them to refrain from independent research. The trial, expected to last six weeks, will resume on Monday at 2 pm. The case continues before Judge Lankford and the jury.
The trial of Prof Diarmuid Phelan, a barrister and law lecturer accused of murdering Keith Conlon, was adjourned until Friday morning. Phelan, 56, pleaded not guilty to the charge of murdering Conlon, 36, at Hazelgrove Farm in Tallaght, Dublin 24, on February 24, 2022. Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford sent the 12 jurors away for the day, stating there was no work for them due to reasons outside her control. She noted the trial is ahead of schedule and expected to conclude within the estimated six-week timeframe. In her opening address, Roisin Lacey SC outlined the State's case, alleging that three men, including Conlon, trespassed on Phelan's land while hunting. Phelan told gardai he shot a loose dog with a Winchester rifle, after which the men threatened him. He claimed he fired a Smith & Wesson revolver in the air in self-defense, but Conlon was struck in the back of the head. The State asserts Phelan intended to kill or cause serious injury. The defense is expected to argue the shooting was an accidental result of a legitimate act of self-defense. Conlon died at Tallaght University Hospital two days after the incident. The matter was adjourned and continues before Ms Justice Lankford on Friday.
Mark O'Neill, 51, pleaded guilty to possessing a loaded Smith and Wesson revolver and ammunition on 7 September 2022. He had ten prior traffic convictions. Judge Orla Crowe, after noting his remorse and that the incident was out‑of‑character, set a headline sentence of seven years but reduced it to four and a half years, suspending the final six months. O'Neill had pointed the gun at a relative during a family dispute, issuing threats and claiming the man owed him money. Gardaí recovered the revolver and six rounds of ammunition from his home, and DNA matched O'Neill. He had a history of drug addiction and intoxication, but his defence argued the event was isolated and he had since ceased drug use. The judge acknowledged his good behaviour and health issues but upheld the sentence.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, the accused, law professor Diarmuid Phelan, 56, is charged with the killing of Keith Conlon, 36, at Hazelgrove Farm in Tallaght on 24 February 2022. Phelan, a barrister and farmer, pleaded not guilty. The jury heard that Conlon had previously been arrested for burglary in 2010, during which he became "extremely violent", kicked a Garda and tried to jump from a patrol car. Conlon had pleaded guilty to burglary and assault in Dun Laoghaire District Court and received a 12‑month probation order. The prosecution alleged that on the day of the shooting, three men, including Conlon, trespassed on Phelan's land while hunting, and that Phelan fired a Smith & Wesson revolver in self‑defence, unintentionally killing Conlon in the back of the head. The trial continues tomorrow before Justice Siobhan Lankford and a jury of nine men and three women.
Law professor Diarmuid Phelan, 56, denies murdering Keith Conlon, 36, at Hazelgrove Farm, Tallaght, on 24 February 2022. In court, Phelan told Garda Kevin Curran that he had shot a man before pulling a Smith & Wesson revolver from his jacket pocket. Curran described how Phelan, driving a red Hilux jeep, claimed a male had been shot and that he needed help. Phelan admitted to shooting Conlon, who lay on his back with a gunshot wound to the back of the head. Phelan then surrendered the revolver, which had eight rounds, three of which had been fired. The revolver's rounds were described as possibly crow‑shot, used for shooting birds and rats. The trial continues before a jury and Justice Siobhan Lankford. Keith Conlon pleaded not guilty. Diarmuid Phelan pleaded not guilty.
The jury in the trial of law professor Diarmuid Phelan, accused of murdering an unarmed trespasser at Hazelgrove Farm in Tallaght, has viewed dashcam and mobile phone footage from the day of the incident. Garda Dara Kelly presented seven segments totalling 12 minutes, six from an ATV dashcam and one from the deceased Keith Conlon's phone. The mobile footage shows Conlon speaking to Phelan before being shot, with male voices saying "You're f**ked now" and "this is not the end of it mate, I'm telling you, you shot the f**king dog for nothing." The dashcam footage captures Phelan's movements, including retrieving a rifle, conversing with farm workers, and driving off. Phelan, 56, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Conlon, 36, who died two days after the February 24, 2022 shooting. The trial continues before Justice Siobhan Lankford and a 12‑member jury.
During a murder trial for the death of Keith Conlon, a video recorded by a trespasser moments before the shooting was shown to the jury. The clip captures male voices shouting threats and remarks such as "You're f**ked now" and "this is not the end of it mate, I'm telling you, you shot the f**king dog for nothing." The prosecution described a heated exchange between Diarmuid Phelan and the trespassers after Phelan shot a dog on his farm. Witness Julien Roudaut, a 24‑year‑old French farmhand, testified that Phelan fired warning shots into the air and that it was difficult to believe Conlon was actually shot. Roudaut also noted that Phelan's first shots were aimed at the air, and that the shooting occurred in a flash. The trial continues with the jury hearing further evidence of the incident. Diarmuid Phelan pleaded not guilty.
During the trial of law professor Diarmuid Phelan, an unarmed trespasser was reported to have turned his back after Phelan fired one or two shots from his revolver toward the air. French farmhand Julien Roudaut, aged 24, testified that he and Phelan were working on Hazelgrove Farm in February 2022 when they heard a dog bark and followed it into a wooded area. Roudaut said Phelan fired a shot at something on a steep bank, after which a man appeared and an argument ensued. Roudaut observed the man turn his back to Phelan after the first or second gunshot, and that the shots were fired toward the sky. Roudaut could not recall the exact number of shots or the precise direction, but he noted that Phelan was panicked and said "oh s**t" when he went to assist the injured man. The case remains before the jury. Diarmuid Phelan pleaded not guilty.
During the murder trial of law professor and farmer Michael Phelan, witness Alexandra Fernandes testified that she was "frozen to the spot" and afraid when she saw two intruders walking toward Phelan on the farm. She described seeing a rainbow and telling co‑workers to make a wish, and that one said, "I just want to stay alive for today," which astonished her. Fernandes said she had seen the intruders, described as determined, walking up the field and that Phelan fired a third shot at the same time the intruders were turning to leave. She reported hearing a noise like a firecracker and that the shots were fired quickly, with no time between them. Fernandes also stated she had not seen the first intruder reach for his pockets. The testimony was given in direct evidence on Tuesday and was cross‑examined by the defence. The trial continues before a jury.
Garry Gibson, 39, of Tallaght, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply after setting up a sophisticated two‑level grow‑house in his home. The court heard that Gibson had no prior convictions and that he had been under financial pressure from rising mortgage payments. He admitted to modifying the property to create the grow‑house, bypassing electricity, and that he had already completed two or three cultivation cycles. During the search, 50 mature plants and 1.4 kg of cannabis were seized, valued at over €68,000. Gibson accepted responsibility, stating he was working but had been injured and could not work for a time. Judge Elva Duffy imposed a headline sentence of seven and a half years, reduced to five years, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions. The court noted Gibson had not been a "gillie" but had engaged in the offence for profit.
In the murder trial of law professor and farmer Mr Phelan, French farmhand Alexandra Fernandes, aged 48, testified that on 22 February 2022 she was working on his farm when two unarmed trespassers approached. She claimed she heard Mr Phelan fire three shots from his revolver while the men were turning away. Fernandes described seeing the first man turn back as the third shot was fired, and that blood appeared on his head. She said Mr Phelan had then approached the injured man, offered first‑aid, and left in a buggy. The prosecution alleges the third shot killed Keith Conlon, 36, who died two days later. The case is being heard by Justice Siobhan Lankford with a jury of nine men and three women. The trial continues tomorrow. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
The trial of Diarmuid Phelan, a 56‑year‑old barrister and farmer, for the murder of Keith Conlon, a 36‑year‑old trespasser, is ongoing. Judge Siobhan Lankford informed the jury that a translation issue arose concerning a French‑speaking witness, Pierre Godreu, who described Phelan as "really p***ed off" before the shooting. The judge clarified that the French word "énervé" was translated as "pissed off" but is not a vulgar term and lacks the intensifier "really." The judge explained the nuances of translation and the range of meanings of "énervé." The trial resumed with evidence from a Garda mapping expert, Detective Padraig Coone, who described the terrain of Hazelgrove Farm and the trajectory of the fatal shot. The prosecution's case, presented by Roisin Lacey, alleges that Phelan fired a third shot at Conlon's head, intending to kill or cause serious injury. Diarmuid Phelan pleaded not guilty.
A German farmhand, Ms Hannah Felgner, testified at a murder trial that she witnessed Barrister Diarmuid Phelan shoot a man in the back on Phelan's Hazelgrove Farm in Tallaght. Felgner, who had arrived in Ireland to learn English and work on farms, described the incident as occurring on her third day. She said that after a verbal confrontation with two intruders, Phelan fired a shot into the air, after which the intruders turned and ran. A few seconds later Phelan fired a fatal shot into the back of one intruder, Keith Conlon, who fell and later died. Felgner expressed that she felt terror and was overwhelmed by the sudden gunfire. The trial is hearing Phelan's defence of self‑defence and the circumstances of the shooting. The case remains ongoing. The unnamed man pleaded not guilty.
Mark O'Neill, 51, of Knockmore Drive, Tallaght, was remanded in custody after pleading guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing a Smith and Wesson revolver and ammunition on 7 September 2022. He had ten prior convictions for road traffic offences. Gardaí were called to his relative's home after O'Neill produced a handgun and pointed it at the man, threatening to shoot him unless he paid money owed and claiming the man had stabbed him. O'Neill also threatened the man with death. A second male attempted to defuse the situation before the parties left in a car. The revolver was recovered from bushes near O'Neill's home, containing six rounds of ammunition, and his DNA was found on the firearm. O'Neill's case was adjourned to 30 October to allow the judge to consider the circumstances.
In the murder trial of law professor Keith Conlon, the jury heard three 999 calls made on 22 February 2022. The first, by accused Mr Phelan, described intruders on his farm and a "violent situation" before the fatal shooting. The second, by Hannah Felgner, reported a man shot on the farm and provided first‑aid instructions. The third, by Robin Duggan, a trespasser, claimed a farmer had shot him. The prosecution argued that Phelan fired a gun at trespassers who had "exploded" from the woods, and that a third shot killed Conlon in the back of the head. The defence contended that Phelan acted in self‑defence, firing in the air and that the fatal bullet was accidental. The case is heard by Justice Siobhan Lankford with a jury of nine men and three women.
During the opening of Mr Diarmuid Phelan's murder trial, an eyewitness, farmhand Pierre Godreu, described the events on the Tallaght farm on 22 February 2022. Godreu said Phelan, who was 56, drew a pistol from his pocket and fired two shots into the air before discharging a third shot "towards" an unarmed trespasser, Keith Conlon, who was 36. Conlon was seriously injured and died two days later. Godreu testified that the trespassers were advancing and that Phelan had been "really pissed off" after a dog ran onto his land. He also said Phelan had told the trespassers to leave and that the third shot was fired in quick succession. The prosecution argues the third shot was aimed at Conlon, while the defence contends it was an accidental act of self‑defence. The trial is set to continue before Justice Siobhan Lankford and a jury. Diarmuid Phelan pleaded not guilty.
The Court of Appeal was told by the Director of Public Prosecutions that the sentences imposed on Adam Murphy, aged 22, and Keith McCormick Smith, aged 23, for a crime spree that left businessman Ian McDonnell dead were too lenient. Murphy had been sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment for manslaughter, with the final two and a half years suspended on strict conditions, and also pleaded guilty to multiple vehicle‑theft offences. McCormick Smith received a sentence of three years and two months' imprisonment, with the final twelve months suspended. The DPP argued that the suspended portions should not have been fully suspended and that the headline sentences should have been higher, citing the seriousness of the offences and the fact that McDonnell was left to die while the offenders continued their crime spree. The court reserved judgment on the matter.
Diarmuid Phelan, a 56‑year‑old law professor and farmer, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Keith Conlon, 36, who was shot in the back of the head on 22 February 2022 at Hazelgrove Farm, Tallaght. Phelan told the Gardaí that he was terrified and "scared sh**less" when he fired a Winchester rifle at a loose dog and then, after three men emerged from the woods, he fired a Smith & Wesson revolver in the air. He claimed the third shot struck Conlon accidentally while he was turning away. The prosecution, represented by Senior Counsel Roisin Lacey, argued that the gun was pointed at Conlon when the fatal shot was fired, implying intent to kill or cause serious injury. The trial, held at the Central Criminal Court, will examine the circumstances of the shooting, the witnesses' accounts, and the forensic evidence regarding the bullet and the revolver's ammunition.
Stephen Kavanagh, 50, a former businessman now in debt, pleaded guilty to stealing alcohol worth €21,000 from a drinks company on 20 September 2023 while on bail for a similar offence. He placed the order under the alias "Mark O'Reilly," prompting the company's suspicion and a Garda surveillance operation that intercepted the delivery. Kavanagh was arrested, the alcohol was returned, and no victim impact statement was filed. He has 29 prior convictions, including a 2022 theft of the same nature. In court, his defence highlighted financial necessity, health issues, and threats from creditors, arguing for community service. Judge Orla Crowe accepted the plea, set a headline sentence of two years, reduced it to 18 months, and adjourned the case to February 2025 to decide on a 240‑hour community service order in lieu of prison.
The trial of Diarmuid Phelan, a senior counsel and law professor at Trinity College, for the murder of Keith Conlon, a father of four, will begin tomorrow after a delay caused by the removal of two jurors from the original panel. Phelan, aged 56, pleaded not guilty to the fatal shooting that occurred on 22 February 2022 at Hazelgrove Farm, Kiltalown Lane, Tallaght. Conlon, aged 36, was seriously injured in the incident and died two days later at Tallaght University Hospital. Justice Siobhan Lankford sworn in a new jury of twelve, consisting of nine men and three women, after the original eight‑man, four‑woman panel was altered. The prosecution, led by John Byrne and Roisin Lacey, will present its case, while Michael Bowman and Sean Guerin will defend Phelan. The trial is expected to last six weeks. The case was adjourned until tomorrow morning.
Diarmuid Phelan, a 56‑year‑old senior counsel and associate professor of law at Trinity College, was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court on 14 October 2024 for the murder of Keith Conlon, a 36‑year‑old father of four, at Hazelgrove Farm in Tallaght on 24 February 2022. Conlon was seriously injured on 22 February and died two days later at Tallaght University Hospital. Phelan pleaded not guilty. He will stand trial before a 12‑person jury and Justice Siobhan Lankford, with the prosecution led by John Byrne and Roisin Lacey and the defence by Michael Bowman and Sean Guerin. The trial is scheduled to begin on 15 October and is expected to last about six weeks. Justice Lankford instructed potential jurors to avoid any pre‑trial research or social‑media activity related to the case and to notify her if they had engaged with such content.
Rachel Smyth, a former junior buyer at Iceland, was laid off while seven months pregnant after the supermarket group was sold to Project Point Technologies. The layoff occurred without notice and the company failed to provide her with maternity benefit forms for over three months, preventing her from claiming statutory maternity benefit. Smyth's union representative argued that the company's actions constituted gender discrimination under the Employment Equality Act 1998. The Workplace Relations Commission tribunal found Metron Stores Ltd, trading as Iceland, in breach of the Act and awarded Smyth €51,000 in compensation. The award was intended as a deterrent. Smyth's case highlighted the stress and financial loss she suffered, including a €42 weekly shortfall and a gross earnings loss of €21,589 between March and June 2024. The tribunal upheld her complaint and noted the company's failure to inform her of her status or provide necessary documentation.
A one‑week pre‑trial hearing has started before Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin. The hearing concerns senior barrister Diarmuid Phelan, 55, of Kiltalown Lane, Tallaght, who is accused of murdering 36‑year‑old Keith Conlon in a fatal shooting at Hazelgrove Farm on 22 February 2022. Conlon was seriously injured and died two days later at Tallaght University Hospital. The prosecution is led by John Byrne and Roisin Lacey, while Michael Bowman and Sean Guerin head the defence. The case will proceed to trial before a jury once the pre‑trial hearing concludes.
Daryl Bolger, 32, of Kilcarrig Green, Tallaght, was jailed for endangerment after a high‑speed chase during the 2020 lockdown that ended in a head‑on collision with a Garda patrol car on Neillstown Road. He broke at least seven red lights, drove the wrong way around roundabouts, overtook dozens of vehicles on the wrong side of the road and reached speeds over 100 km/h in 50 km/h zones. No one was injured, but the patrol car was written off. Bolger pleaded guilty to endangerment and to driving without insurance at several locations in April 2020. He received a sentence of three and a half years, with the final six months suspended, and was disqualified from driving for five years. The court noted his 131 previous convictions, mostly for driving offences, and his participation in an enhanced prison regime. He has shown remorse in a handwritten apology, but the prosecuting Garda did not accept it.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Brian McKee, 29, pleaded guilty to criminal damage by arson after setting fire to his partner's parents' home at Heather View Lawn, Tallaght, on 27 July 2018. The blaze, reportedly ignited on a couch, spread through the attic and into two neighbouring houses, destroying three privately owned homes. McKee, who had been drinking a can of Coors Light and gin and possibly cocaine, was found by neighbours early in the morning with a long‑bladed knife and blood on his clothes. Garda Josh Doran recounted that McKee was unconscious in the stairwell when the fire erupted, and that the police had to detain him after he attempted to re‑enter the burning house. The owners, who were abroad, suffered significant loss of property and financial hardship, with one victim impact statement noting €2,600 in lost wages and €11,000 in repair costs.
Terence 'Terry' Connors, aged 49, was convicted of manslaughter for stabbing Peter Conroy to death during a brawl at Palmerstown Lodge B&B on 9 June 2015. In 2017, a jury found him guilty of manslaughter and he received a seven‑year sentence with the final two years suspended. He was released in July 2019, but in May 2023 he was re‑sentenced to three years after being found in possession of stolen goods. The possession offence triggered the suspended portion of his 2017 sentence, and the court activated the full two‑year suspension, which will run after his current term for the possession conviction. The case was heard by Mr Justice Paul McDermott at the Central Criminal Court, with counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions and for Connors present. Evidence at the 2017 hearing described a chaotic scene at the B&B, with Connors claiming he feared for his children's safety and subsequently stabbed Conroy.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, Hamed Azeez, 53, was convicted of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault against a girl aged six to eight, and two counts of sexual assault against her sister aged eight to ten. The offences occurred between 2013 and 2015 in County Dublin, while Azeez was in loco parentis of the girls. The court heard that the rape took place on a counter at Azeez's home, and that other children were playing nearby. Azeez also touched the girl inappropriately, and later assaulted her sister by touching her breasts and buttocks. The victims gave impact statements describing lasting pain, fear, anxiety and a sense of loss of safety. Azeez denied wrongdoing. Justice Eileen Creedon sentenced him to 11 years' imprisonment, with a headline term of 12 years for rape and eight years for the assault offences, reduced by one year each and imposed concurrently.
A former ESB electrician, Colm Sheehy, aged 43, pleaded guilty to possessing €133,752 worth of heroin and cocaine at his Tallaght home in October 2022. He was on bail for a prior drug conviction when the offence occurred. Judge Martin Nolan, hearing the case in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, normally would have imposed a six‑year sentence for the serious offence but reduced it to three years because Sheehy suffered a serious brain injury in 2017 after falling from a ladder at work. Medical reports showed a 30‑point IQ drop and ongoing cognitive difficulties, headaches, anxiety and depression. Sheehy has 33 prior convictions, including a previous three‑year prison term in 2002, and has struggled with long‑term drug addiction since age 18. The court noted his good work history and the impact of his injuries on his culpability. The case was adjourned to address his earlier conviction.
Alan Ward, 56, was convicted of murdering his wife Catherine Doyle, 41, on 1 March 2019 in their Clondalkin home. He had a long history of domestic violence and alcohol abuse, and in 2017 suffered a stroke that caused communication difficulties. Ward claimed diminished responsibility due to a mental disorder from the stroke, but the Court of Appeal rejected his appeal. The court noted that two experts disagreed on whether the stroke or intoxication better explained his actions. Ward's defence argued that the prosecution expert should not have weighed alcohol as a greater factor, a point the judge dismissed. The appeal was dismissed on all grounds, and Ward remains convicted of murder, with no change to his sentence. The court also upheld convictions for threatening to kill his son and for a prior assault on his wife.
Ann Wilson, 44, of Kilcock, Co Kildare, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for fraudulently claiming over €35,000 following a staged car crash. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a three-year prison sentence but suspended it in full, citing Wilson's parental responsibilities for her son, who was paralysed in an unrelated accident. Wilson pleaded guilty to one count of dishonestly inducing AXA Insurance to pay personal injuries between February 1, 2013, and July 15, 2014. The incident involved a low-velocity collision at Ballycullen Roundabout on February 4, 2013, where Wilson was driving and her partner, Thomas O'Neill, was an occupant. O'Neill, 47, previously pleaded guilty to one count of deception and was jailed for two years as an "active participant" in the scheme. Deirdre Mellor, 54, O'Neill's sister and a passenger in the other vehicle, pleaded guilty to attempted deception and previously received a suspended two-year prison sentence; she did not proceed with an insurance claim as it was statute-barred. AXA Insurance identified the parties as connected via social media during its investigation. Wilson received €21,595 for herself, €550 for material damages, and €14,000 for her son in a civil case. The court noted that none of the money was recovered. Wilson has four previous road traffic convictions, while O'Neill has 70 previous convictions, and Mellor has one previous conviction for driving without insurance.
Chantal Johnston, 37, of Crumlin, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and dangerous driving after she attacked a Domino's Pizza delivery driver on 9 July 2022. The victim, a health and safety officer who also worked part‑time for Domino's, described the assault as "like a vicious animal" and said Johnston called him a "bloody foreigner" and a "little Paki". Johnston bit the man's leg, drove her car toward him, and threatened to kill him. The court heard she had taken large amounts of anti‑depressants and was under the influence. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced her to 18 months, suspended for three years, and imposed a mandatory driving disqualification. Johnston also agreed to pay €1,000 to the victim as a token of remorse. No prior convictions were recorded. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Stephen Lane, aged 52, was convicted of repeatedly sexually abusing a girl aged five to seven between February 1986 and June 1988. He pleaded guilty to five counts of indecent assault, with eighteen additional counts considered at sentencing. The abuse occurred at several locations, including the victim's home, and stopped after her father discovered it. The victim, who remains anonymous, filed a complaint in June 2019 and later gave a victim impact statement describing the long‑term trauma and the way Lane had manipulated her into believing the abuse was normal. Judge Eileen Creedon, noting Lane's juvenile status, imposed a headline sentence of six years but reduced it to a final term of two and a half years, with the last six months suspended on strict conditions. Lane was also placed on the sex offenders' register for three years. The court considered his guilty plea, psychological reports, and work history in determining the sentence.
Paul Olunaike, a 34‑year‑old professional dancer and father of four, pleaded guilty to possessing €13,738 as proceeds of crime in his bank account on 25 August 2020. He had used €13,000 of laundered money to buy a €609 juicer, a €404.99 food processor and an oil extractor machine. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, after noting his significant shame and remorse, ordered him to complete 240 hours of community service within two years in lieu of an 18‑month sentence. Olunaike transferred €4,000 of the laundered money to his mother and gave €2,000 to the prosecuting Garda as a contribution toward losses. He has no further contact with Gardaí since the incident, and the court described him as a hardworking man and a father with many responsibilities. The juicer and food processor were to be donated to a local charity or refuge.
Ogaga Ogheneyoma, aged 17 when €31,842 was transferred into his AIB account as part of an invoice redirect fraud, pleaded guilty to handling the proceeds of crime on 19 November 2018. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, hearing in 2024, noted he was now 22, a fourth‑year accounting student at TU Dublin, living with his parents in Lucan and working part‑time. Judge Orla Crowe applied Section 100 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, imposing a €500 fine and a deferred 12‑month sentence, citing his youth, lack of prior convictions and significant progress since the offence. After paying the fine and avoiding any Garda attention, the court discharged him from the indictment. The case was originally uncovered when AIB reported fraudulent activity, and Gardaí found the money had been diverted from Universal Forest Products, a US company. Ogheneyoma's probation report placed him at low risk of reoffending and no supervision was required.
Edward Farrell, 49, admitted to possessing €2,173,920 worth of cannabis for sale or supply, with 105 kg found in a white Ford Transit van outside his Knocklyon home and an additional 15 kg in three black bin bags transported to Mountain Park, Tallaght. Gardaí also seized signed Oasis memorabilia, expensive whiskey, designer trainers, a disguised stun gun, drug paraphernalia including a vacuum‑packing machine, weighing scales and a mobile phone used for encrypted drug‑distribution messages. Surveillance captured Farrell moving the bin bags into a BMW X5 and then to a BMW 3 Series, where co‑accused Kevin Murphy, 41, was met. Murphy, who pleaded guilty to 15 kg of cannabis, was sentenced to four years earlier this year. Farrell, who has 32 prior convictions and claims to be on social welfare and HAP assistance, will be sentenced on 22 July.
In a court hearing on 5 June 2024, Caitriona Shaw, 42, of Tallaght, pleaded guilty to two counts of invoice redirect fraud in March 2020. Shaw's bank account, previously holding €55, received over €170,000 from Cembrit Ireland and Circle K after fraudulent emails altered bank details. The Bank of Ireland froze her account, recovering most of the money, but Circle K lost €18,180. Shaw had no prior convictions and had not attracted Garda attention before or after the offence. She was described by Judge Pauline Codd as a "mere money mule" and was given a fully‑suspended three‑year sentence, with the judge noting her vulnerable circumstances and lack of benefit from the offence. The sentence was suspended in full for three years. The case highlighted the use of innocent individuals to facilitate illicit transfers.
Thomas Kane, 29, of Ard Mor Drive, Tallaght, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of cannabis and cocaine with intent to sell or supply on 10 June 2020. Gardaí obtained a warrant and searched his apartment, finding more than 30 g of cocaine and 47.5 g of cannabis in the hot press, an additional 10 g in the kitchen, and almost 3 kg of cannabis in two Adidas bags in a bin marked with his apartment number. The drugs were valued at €60,946 for cannabis and €2,149 for cocaine. Kane claimed he kept the drugs to protect his brother, an addict with a drug debt, from threats to his life. The court accepted this explanation. Judge Patricia Ryan sentenced Kane to five years, which she suspended in full on a number of conditions.
The Central Criminal Court has adjourned the trial of Diarmuid Phelan, a senior barrister accused of the murder of Keith Conlon. Phelan, 55, is charged with killing Conlon, 36, at Hazelgrove Farm in Tallaght on February 22, 2022. Conlon died two days later at Tallaght University Hospital. The trial, originally scheduled to begin before Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford, was delayed until October 7. Defence counsel Sean Guerin SC requested the adjournment, stating the case was not ready to proceed from the defence perspective. The prosecution, represented by Sean Gillane SC, expressed disappointment at the late application but did not oppose it. Ms Justice Lankford expressed considerable reluctance to delay the matter, noting the case had been listed for 18 months. She ordered a progress report on July 22 to ensure the trial proceeds in October. Phelan, who was present in court, was remanded on continuing bail until October. His bail was previously granted by the Court of Appeal after the High Court initially refused it, requiring two bonds of €50,000 each from Phelan and his sister.
Anthony Walker, a 54-year-old taxi driver, was sentenced at the Special Criminal Court to concurrent terms of five years' imprisonment on two charges of possessing a firearm and five rounds of ammunition. Walker pleaded guilty to possessing a .38″ special calibre Smith & Wesson revolver and ammunition on November 23, 2021. Mr Justice Paul Burns suspended the final 18 months of each sentence for three years, during which Walker must engage with probation services. The judge described Walker as a "psychologically vulnerable" man who acted in a "moment of madness" while transporting the weapon for Ryan Kelly. Kelly, who pleaded guilty to possessing the same firearm and ammunition, was jailed for six years in January for his role in a "sophisticated enterprise." Walker was intercepted by armed gardaí after receiving the gun from Kelly, who was arrested separately with three other men. The court noted Walker's history of abuse, mental health issues, and remorse, deeming him a good candidate for rehabilitation despite his involvement in a larger plan. Walker's counsel highlighted his lack of prior serious convictions and his fear for his family if he named others involved.
Thomas O'Neill, 47, was jailed for two years after pleading guilty to one count of deception in a fraudulent insurance claim that involved a staged car crash in Rathfarnham in 2013. The incident, which was a low‑velocity collision between a white Toyota and a Mazda at Ballycullen Roundabout, was orchestrated to obtain more than €35,000 from AXA Insurance. O'Neill, who has 70 prior convictions for road traffic offences and handling stolen property, was an active participant in the fraud. His partner, Ann Wilson, 44, and his sister, Deirdre Mellor, 54, were also involved. Wilson was scheduled for sentencing the following day, while Mellor received a fully suspended two‑year sentence for attempted deception. The court noted that Wilson had received €21,595 in personal injury awards and that no claim was made by O'Neill. The case highlighted the parties' connections revealed through social media and the lack of any personal gain for Mellor.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 9 May 2024, Judge Pauline Codd sentenced Lee McDonnell, 32, to two‑and‑a‑half years for affray after he left a bus and joined a mob that attacked two gardaí on Kylemore Road on 20 February 2023. The officers were surrounded, threatened and had objects thrown at them by a large group that had left a funeral. McDonnell, who had 133 prior convictions, was not present when the trouble began but became part of the assault, lunging at the officers and attempting to punch them. He pleaded guilty, apologised and offered no explanation for his involvement. The judge noted the officers' frightening situation, urged McDonnell to take responsibility, and gave credit for time already served in custody.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, 53‑year‑old Anthony Walker, a taxi driver, admitted possessing a loaded .38 calibre Smith & Wesson revolver and five rounds of ammunition on 23 November 2021. He claimed he was unaware the item was a gun, saying he had only realised during the trip that it was a firearm. Walker said he had been instructed by 25‑year‑old Ryan Kelly, who had been jailed for a sophisticated enterprise, to deliver the weapon. Walker's contact with Kelly had lasted 18 months, and he had exchanged texts such as "I'll be there" and "send me the number, nearly there." Walker has eight prior convictions, mainly traffic offences, and is described by counsel as a vulnerable individual with Tourette's, ADHD and OCD. The court adjourned sentencing to 29 May and remanded Walker in custody. The prosecution will decide whether to charge him with participation in a criminal organisation. Ryan Kelly pleaded guilty.
Andy Cash, 26, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court to three mandatory terms of life imprisonment for the murders of his siblings, 18-year-old Lisa Cash and eight-year-old twins Christy and Chelsea Cawley. Cash pleaded guilty to all three counts of murder, which occurred at their family home in Rossfield Avenue, Tallaght, Dublin 24, in the early hours of September 4, 2022. Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed a life sentence for each count, with the sentences to run concurrently. The sentences were backdated to September 4, 2022, when Cash entered custody. During the hearing, Detective Garda Robert Whitty testified that the scene was one of "carnage," with post-mortem examinations revealing 71 injuries to Lisa Cash, 107 to Christy Cawley, and 65 to Chelsea Cawley. A victim impact statement from the family described the loss as devastating. Defense counsel Brendan Grehan SC conveyed Cash's apology for his actions. The judge noted the evidence was deeply traumatising and stated that his function was to impose the only applicable sentence for such appalling circumstances. The matter was concluded with the imposition of these concurrent life sentences.
Patrick Doran, 35, who fled Ireland in 2012 and lived abroad for 14 years, obtained an Irish passport under a false name in an attempt to "break the cycle of criminal offending," according to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Doran, who has 163 prior convictions—most for traffic offences—had no further convictions since leaving the country. He pleaded guilty to providing false and misleading information when applying for the passport on 13 September 2017. Gardaí discovered his passport during an investigation linked to another individual who supplied his details, and Doran was later arrested in New Zealand, extradited, and returned to Ireland voluntarily in November 2023. His wife and four children attended court. In his plea, his defence argued that Doran sought a fresh start and had established a business abroad. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to three years, backdated to his November 2023 arrest, emphasizing the seriousness of tampering with passport identity.
In a High Court hearing, Kevin McCarthy and Wealth Options Trustees Ltd claim that a Tallaght pub was "completely stripped bare" of equipment, fixtures and fittings worth €250,000 after the departure of a previous tenant. The plaintiffs allege that MPK Bars Limited and its director Kevin O'Shea, who leased the premises from the former tenant in 2018, removed the items without consent. The pub, located at Tuansgate, Begard Square East, covers 1,450 square metres over two floors and a basement, and holds a seven‑day publican's licence. The removal allegedly occurred in late 2023, after the parties could not agree on a new lease. McCarthy says the loss of the equipment will cost €250,000 to replace and could jeopardise licence renewal in September. He seeks an injunction to restore the property and a return of the licence. The case was adjourned to a later date this month.
Kevin Murphy, 41, of Tallaght, admitted to possessing 15 kg of cannabis worth almost €300,000 after a delivery he expected to be a small package turned out to be large black bags. He pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply at his Mountain Park address on 20 February 2023. Gardaí Brian Foran described how a delivery was made in a BMW jeep, with other men transferring the bags into Murphy's vehicle. Thirty vacuum‑packed packages were seized, valued at €298,760. Murphy, who has seven prior convictions including three for assault, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four years' imprisonment. The court noted his remorse, family tragedies, health issues, and recovery progress, and accepted that he was merely a transporter and holder, not the owner of the cannabis.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Sarah Berkeley adjourned the case of Martin Awoke, a 26‑year‑old from Tallaght, to July 8, giving him an opportunity to avoid prison by raising compensation for two victims who paid a total of €9,820 for student accommodation in Limerick. Awoke pleaded guilty on 12 August 2022 to handling the proceeds of crime, but the court noted his role was limited to allowing his bank account to be used; he had no involvement in the scheme itself. He had no prior convictions, had recently lost his job, and had cooperated with Gardaí. The judge directed a probation report and suggested Awoke find new employment to help pay the victims, who had lost money intended for their children's college. The judge emphasized that Awoke could choose to comply or go to custody, and requested payslips and documentation for the next hearing.
On the morning of a child's communion, shots were fired at Joanne Finnegan's mother's Dublin home, sparking heightened emotions. A woman from the opposing faction was later seen at a nearby Applegreen petrol station, where three women—Michelle Finnegan (38), Joanne Finnegan (37) and Caitlyn Donoghoe (22)—attacked her. They pulled her hair, dragged her down, kicked, punched and struck her head against the ground. CCTV footage was shown in court. The victim did not give a statement and was not seriously injured. Michelle and Joanne pleaded guilty to assault with intent to commit violent disorder and violent disorder respectively; Donoghoe pleaded guilty to violent disorder. Judge Martin Nolan, after hearing mitigating circumstances, suspended the two‑year sentences for Michelle and Joanne in full and, under Section 100, decided Donoghoe would not receive a criminal record, adjourned her case to July 24 and ordered good behaviour until then.