Vasilica Stan, a 21‑year‑old Romanian who had lived in Dublin since age 14, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting Haseeb Ghous and Majid Khan on 7 December 2013 at the Alchemy nightclub. He claimed he had been motivated by a text that the men had harassed a female friend, describing his actions as "misguided chivalry". The court found no physical provocation and accepted that Stan was remorseful. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended sentence and ordered Stan to pay €2,000 to Ghous and €1,000 to Khan within a year. The assault occurred at 2:10 am; Ghous was knocked unconscious, suffered dental and facial injuries, and was treated at Mater Hospital, while Khan was hit twice, later experiencing dizziness and neck pain. Stan admitted the assault but denied kicking Khan when he was on the ground. The court received reference letters from his employer, girlfriend and landlord.
Andrew Gilmore, a 27‑year‑old serving member of the Irish Defence Forces, pleaded guilty to violent disorder at the Central Bank Plaza in Dublin on 9 February 2012. On 29 November 2013 Judge Martin Nolan imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year deferred sentence, requiring Gilmore to keep the peace, behave well for a specified period and pay €3,000 to the injured parties. The Court of Appeal considered that a custodial sentence, a suspended sentence or a fine over €800 would have automatically led to his discharge from the army. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed, arguing the sentence was "unduly lenient" and that the judge had shown too much mercy. Mr Justice George Birmingham, joined by Mr Justice John Edwards and Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan, rejected the appeal, noting that the deferred sentence was appropriate given the mitigating circumstances and that a suspended sentence would have had serious consequences for Gilmore's military career.
Ian Dent, 21, of Crumlin, was convicted of two counts of violent disorder for his role in a group attack on two American tourists in Temple Bar on 29 April 2012. The tourists suffered serious injuries, including a broken arm and permanent facial scarring. Dent was sentenced to five years' imprisonment by Mr Justice Patrick McCartan on 29 July 2014. Two other Dublin men received concurrent sentences, and a fourth man was jailed separately after pleading guilty. The Court of Appeal, hearing the case on 4 June 2015, found Dent's five‑year sentence excessive. A new sentence will be imposed on 9 July 2015. The appeal was based on Dent's lack of prior convictions, his youth, and his attempts to restrain the group and defuse the situation, which the trial judge had not considered. The Court of Appeal remanded Dent in custody pending the new sentence. Ian Dent pleaded not guilty.
Sarah Nolan, a 22‑year‑old science student from Blackrock, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after she threw a glass at student nurse Hannah Foster at a Temple Bar nightclub on 23 September 2011. Nolan claimed she intended only to splash water over Foster, who was speaking to Nolan's late boyfriend, Ciaran Carr, but the glass struck Foster's mouth, damaging her teeth and causing nerve injury. Foster was treated at Dublin Dental University Hospital and requires costly ongoing care. Nolan, who was in her final year at Tallaght IT and had earned an An Gaisce President's Award, paid €5,000 in compensation and was sentenced to one year in prison, suspended for two years, with an additional €3,000 compensation order. The judge noted the reckless nature of the act and the pain inflicted on Foster.
Bernard Foran, 41, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three and a half years' imprisonment for a series of burglaries, including the theft of €27,000 from Bad Bobs Nightclub's safe in 2013. Foran had 157 prior convictions, 60 of which were burglaries, and was on bail for five years during which he committed two additional burglaries. He pleaded guilty to trespass and theft at O'Neill's Pub in 2009, Bad Bobs Nightclub in 2013, and Lynams Hotel in 2014. Gardaí recovered no cash from the burglaries, despite searching three addresses linked to Foran. The judge noted his severe addiction problems and expressed hope for reform, while his defence counsel highlighted his attempts at rehabilitation and the offer of residential treatment. The court imposed consecutive terms totalling three and a half years, with the possibility of future rehabilitation support.
Michael Whelan, 33, of Lucan, was sentenced to five years in prison for robbing three taxi drivers in July 2013. He admitted carrying out robberies on July 2, 4 and 7 at Croftwood Gardens and Blackditch Road, Ballyfermot. During the incidents he threatened victims with a syringe, used a knife, punched one driver breaking his two front teeth, and stole phones, CDs, a SatNav and cash. Judge Martin Nolan, hearing the case at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, described Whelan as a "menace to society" and noted the vulnerability of taxi drivers. The judge suspended the final 18 months of the sentence, ordered 18 months of probation on release, and allowed credit for time already spent in custody. Whelan has 29 prior convictions, including robberies, and has a history of mental health issues and a childhood in State care. Michael Whelan pleaded guilty.
Andrew Moore, a 19-year-old college student from Charlemont, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm in Alchemy nightclub, Temple Bar, on March 28, 2014. Judge Martin Nolan suspended a two-year prison sentence, imposing a condition that Moore collects €3,000 to be offered to the victim as a token of remorse. The judge ordered this payment to be made to the gardaí within 18 months, noting that if the victim declines the funds, the court will determine their disposition. The judge described the unprovoked attack as a "cowardly act" and suggested it stemmed from a "spasm of misguided jealousy," while acknowledging Moore's guilty plea and lack of previous convictions. Garda Sergeant Mark Looby testified that the victim, a juvenile, suffered slight scarring at her eye and has become more cautious when going out. Moore had consumed five pints of lager and ten Jager bomb cocktails before swinging at the victim from behind, knocking her to the floor. Defending counsel Karl Monaghan BL characterized the incident as extreme over-indulgence in alcohol, noting Moore has no anger management issues. The matter was finalized with the imposition of the suspended sentence and financial condition.
Li Zhongbo, a 33-year-old Chinese national from Rathfarnham, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm at Sin Nightclub in Temple Bar on March 25, 2013. The court heard that Li swung a glass jug during a melee between groups of men, striking an uninvolved bystander, Adam Cleary, who suffered facial and chest injuries requiring 29 sutures. Judge Patrick McCartan noted that Cleary had graciously told Garda Eoin Carroll he did not want Li jailed, viewing the act as out of character. The judge highlighted Li's lack of previous convictions, his sincere apology, and his offer of €1,000 in remorse. Consequently, the court applied the Probation of Offenders Act, allowing Li to walk free. The judge described the victim as generous and fair. Li, a married father of two who has worked legally in Ireland for ten years, shook hands with Cleary after the sentencing. The matter was finalised with this disposition.
John Paul Maughan, aged 33, had his five‑year burglary sentence reduced to three years by the Court of Appeal. Maughan was convicted in December 2013 of burglary and threatening to kill at a Temple Bar premises. The original sentence, imposed by Judge Patrick McCartan, was five years imprisonment with the final year suspended for burglary and three years for threatening to kill. On appeal, barrister Luigi Rea argued that Maughan had no intention to rob the premises and that the offence was committed while he was on bail. Judge Seán Ryan found that the trial judge had erred in principle by sentencing Maughan to five years, noting the seriousness of burglary and Maughan's extensive criminal record. The Court therefore reduced the burglary sentence to three years, which Maughan will serve consecutively with the three‑year threatening‑to‑kill term. The reduction was based on the circumstances of the crime and the need to protect the community.
Leonard Dumbrell, 26, from Wexford, led Gardaí on a high‑speed chase through Dublin's city centre after stealing a car in Ballsbridge. He drove the vehicle at speed, up the wrong way on one‑way streets, and crashed it at Temple Bar Square. The court heard he nearly knocked over pedestrians on O'Connell Bridge while evading police. Dumbrell pleaded guilty to car theft in Dublin 4 and two counts of dangerous driving in Dublin city centre on 2 January 2013. He has 108 prior convictions, including car thefts, assaulting a Garda and violent disorder. Judge Mary Ellen Ring remanded him in custody until sentencing but granted bail to attend an eight‑week residential drug treatment programme, with a four‑week after‑care programme to follow. The court warned that any breach of the bail bond would result in remand in prison. The case highlights the Gardaí's pursuit of a repeat offender with a serious drug problem.
The Commercial Court has heard pre-trial proceedings brought by National Asset Loan Management Limited, a NAMA subsidiary, against businessman David Cullen, his wife Mary, Seafield Hotel Ltd, Paramount Hotel Ltd, solicitor Fintan Wallis, and Stephen Cullen. The applicants allege that David C unlawfully transferred or charged over 40 properties to his wife in 2009 and 2010 to place assets beyond the reach of creditors, including Bank of Ireland loans later assumed by NAMA. It is further alleged that Cullen leased the Turk's Head Bar and Paramount Hotel to companies in breach of security covenants. Mr Fintan Wallis is accused of unlawfully procuring the registration of land transfers to Mrs Cullen, while Stephen Cullen is alleged to have acquired a leasehold interest in Seafield Hotel Ltd as its beneficial owner. All defendants deny these claims. NAMA previously secured a €29 million High Court judgment against David Cullen for unpaid loans. Defence counsel Martin Hayden SC opposed fast-tracking the case, citing alleged culpable delay by NAMA. However, Mr Justice Peter Kelly rejected this argument, noting that NAMA required time to assimilate evidence from Mary Cullen's cross-examination and that a suspicion of fraud had been articulated. The judge transferred the litigation to the Commercial Court due to the number of properties involved and Cullen's status as a €29 million judgment debtor. The matter remains at the charge or pre-trial stage.