The Special Criminal Court heard that Declan Brady, his wife Deirdre Brady, and Erika Lukacs laundered approximately €1.3m in crime cash. At today's sentence hearing, Brady (55) pleaded guilty to seven further money laundering offences, Deirdre Brady (53) admitted to 17 more, and Lukacs (37) pleaded guilty to five additional offences. The court heard that Brady laundered €318,654, Deirdre Brady laundered €770,499, and Lukacs laundered €196,864. Deirdre Brady allegedly transferred over €140,000 to Thomas 'Bomber' Kavanagh and paid €138,000 towards a Spanish mortgage. The court also noted that €66,301 was paid for a wedding at Druids Glen, with €27,265 paid in cash. Declan Brady is already serving an 11.5-year sentence for supervising a weapons cache. All three defendants have paid money to the Criminal Assets Bureau. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding with Judges Gerard Griffin and David McHugh, remanded Brady in custody until July 30, when he will be sentenced. The matter was adjourned.
Maura Keogh, 55, pleaded guilty to 42 counts of theft from CS Construction Spares Ltd, stealing €23,366.55 between January and September 2016, and to three counts of producing false accounting documents. She was the accounts manager at the Clondalkin machinery firm until the theft was uncovered. Garda Linda Ryan reported that a discrepancy was found when a colleague noticed that cash and cheques recorded did not match the actual lodgements. A sting operation revealed that the cash had not been deposited. Keogh admitted the theft at a meeting on 16 September 2016, was dismissed four days later, and a Garda investigation commenced. The owner, Joseph O'Reilly, said the breach shattered trust and caused a ripple effect, leading to the closure of the Dublin premises and restructuring that resulted in several colleagues losing their jobs.
The Court of Appeal has heard appeals from Matthew Cummins and James Davy against their convictions for the murder of Thomas Dooley. Sean Davy, the third convicted person, previously failed in a 2018 bid to overturn his conviction. All three men were found guilty by a unanimous jury at the Central Criminal Court in 2016 and sentenced to life imprisonment for the 2014 killing of the 64-year-old Offaly man. During the trial, the accused offered conflicting accounts, with Cummins and Davy blaming each other for the fatal blows, while Davy denied involvement. In the current appeal, counsel for Cummins argued that the trial judge's directions on joint enterprise were biased and that the indictment should have been severed. Counsel for Davy similarly contended that the judge's directions were confusing and that his client's reasonable excuse of fear was not properly addressed. The prosecution, represented by Patrick Treacy SC, maintained that all three men were intrinsically involved in the savage attack. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Justice George Birmingham with Justices John Edwards and Isobel Kennedy, reserved its judgment on these applications.
In a case heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Jaroslav Nowakowski, a 36‑year‑old resident of Kildare, pleaded guilty to assaulting Noel Conway on Moore Street in Dublin on 3 November 2019. Nowakowski claimed he had mistaken Conway for a bike thief, believing he was stealing his bicycle. The court found Conway to be completely blameless and merely going about his business when the attack occurred. Nowakowski's defence, represented by Gerardine Small BL, argued that his reaction was a split‑second decision and that he had remained at the scene, showing genuine concern for the victim. The court accepted that the incident was isolated and that Nowakowski was unlikely to reoffend. Judge Karen O'Connor imposed an 18‑month suspended sentence, noting the defendant's remorse and his willingness to offer €1,000 to the victim, who had agreed to accept the payment. The sentence was suspended on a number of conditions.
Declan Brady, Deirdre Brady, and Erika Lukacs appeared before the Special Criminal Court, where Brady pleaded guilty to concealing €268,940 in cash in the attic of a Naas property on January 24, 2017. Prosecutors indicated that additional pleas from all three accused are required. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding with Judges Sarah Berkeley and David McHugh, remanded Brady in custody for a sentence hearing scheduled for June 14. The matter was adjourned to that date. Previously, in July 2019, Brady was sentenced to 11.5 years for possessing an arsenal of firearms and ammunition at a Dublin business park. Deirdre Brady and Erika Lukacs, who were originally charged with 52 money laundering offences, each pleaded guilty to one count on April 13. Deirdre Brady admitted to concealing the source of funds in a Permanent TSB account between 2014, while Erika Lukacs admitted to similar offences regarding an Allied Irish Bank account in 2012. Both women were remanded in custody for the June 14 sentence hearing. The court proceedings remain at the sentencing stage, with final disposals pending the upcoming hearing.
In a High Court ruling, Justice Mary Irvine ordered the temporary suspension of Dr Gerard Waters, a GP in Celbridge, following a patient complaint that he had told the patient that Covid‑19 was a hoax and that government measures were harmful. The patient, who had sought treatment for a suspected chest infection, claimed Dr Waters had denied a Covid‑19 test, spread misinformation about masks and the virus, and suggested that deaths were not caused by Covid‑19. Dr Waters admitted expressing his views but said he did so professionally and only to patients seeking his opinion. The Medical Council, after receiving the complaint, requested assurances that he would follow HSE guidelines; when these were deemed insufficient, it applied to the High Court for suspension under the 2007 Medical Practitioners Act. Justice Irvine found the allegations serious enough to justify a temporary suspension pending further disciplinary proceedings. The order remains in effect until the outcome of those proceedings.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 13 April 2021, Deirdre Brady (53) and Erika Lukacs (37) pleaded guilty to one count each of money‑laundering offences under Section 7 of the Criminal Justice Act 2010. Brady, wife of Declan Brady, admitted to concealing or disguising the true nature of money credited to a Permanent TSB account between 1 January and 31 December 2014, knowing or believing the funds were proceeds of crime. Lukacs admitted similar conduct with an Allied Irish Bank account between 1 January and 31 December 2012. Both were remanded on continuing bail until 14 June for a sentence hearing. Declan Brady, appearing by videolink, was granted legal aid and remanded in custody until 23 April. The court received evidence from the National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau and served books of evidence and USB keys to the defendants.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Declan Brady (54), his wife Deirdre Brady (53), and Erika Lukacs (37) were charged with 68 cash‑laundering offences under Section 7 of the Criminal Justice Act 2010. The charges cover a five‑year period from 1 January 2012 to 24 January 2017 and involve amounts ranging from €2,000 to €269,000. Brady faces 16 non‑scheduled offences, Deirdre 36, and Lukacs 16. Allegations include concealing €2,000 and £10,000 in a breadbin and €268,940 in an attic at The Dairy, Naas, on 24 January 2017, and manipulating funds in Ulster Bank, Allied Irish Bank and Permanent TSB accounts between 2012 and 2016. Detectives from the National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau presented evidence of arrests, warrants and the charge sheets. All three accused were remanded in custody until 24 March, with bail conditions for Deirdre and Erika, and Brady also remanded until that date.
The High Court granted former Fianna Fail TD Frank O'Rourke permission to add 'persons unknown' to defamation proceedings concerning social media posts made during the 2020 General Election. Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds issued the order, allowing O'Rourke to formally join unidentified individuals before the statutory 12-month limitation period expires. O'Rourke has previously obtained Norwich Pharmacal orders against Twitter International Company and Facebook Ireland Ltd to identify the posters. His counsel, Declan Doyle SC, argued that despite efforts to identify the Facebook poster, the individual remains unknown, and joining them as 'persons unknown' was necessary to preserve his right to sue. Facebook, represented by Rossa Fanning SC, raised no objections. O'Rourke alleges that wholly untrue statements posted in February 2020 were designed to cause professional damage during his campaign and a personal marriage breakdown. He claims these posts, which included defamatory remarks about his family and finances, negatively impacted his supporters in North Kildare. A tweet calling for voters not to support him was also cited. O'Rourke, who lost his North Kildare seat in the February election after finishing fifth, seeks to amend the proceedings' title once the alleged defamer's identity is established. The court noted the unusual nature of the application but found the justice of the matter favoured joining the unknown party.
In a High Court hearing, Facebook Ireland Ltd argued it would face difficulties complying with a Norwich Pharmacal order sought by former Fianna Fail TD Frank O'Rourke. O'Rourke's application, following a successful order against Twitter, seeks details of an account he claims posted defamatory content about him, including the holder's name, email and IP address. Facebook's counsel, Rossa Fanning, explained that the company lacks a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) for the alleged defamatory post, which is necessary to identify the poster. The company also cited concerns about handing over information on a common name that could lead to the wrong account being disclosed. Justice Leonie Reynolds directed Facebook to submit a sworn statement detailing the steps it has taken to locate the account. The case was adjourned to January, with O'Rourke alleging that the posts were intended to damage his political career during the 2020 General Election. The court noted that O'Rourke had lost his seat in February's election.
Mihai Adrian Hofman, a Romanian chef who has lived in Ireland since 2010, has filed a High Court challenge against the State's decision to stop his Covid‑19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) after he temporarily left the country for a family emergency in late June. Hofman began receiving PUP payments in late March, but when he returned to Romania in June, the Minister for Social Protection unilaterally ceased his payments. He returned to Ireland on 21 July, having been prevented from returning earlier by a flight cancellation. Hofman argues that the cessation was unreasonable, unlawful, and that he was denied notice and an opportunity to address the Minister's concerns. He seeks an order quashing the Minister's decision, back payments, and declarations that the Minister erred in law and failed to provide notice. The case was granted ex‑parte permission by Mr Justice Charles Meenan and is set for a January hearing.
In a High Court hearing, counsel for Freddie Sherry argued that the 2020 Leaving Certificate standardisation process would not have discriminated against students from disadvantaged schools, even if historical school performance data had been used. He compared the Irish system to those in England and Scotland, noting that the latter had faced criticism for disproportionately downgrading students from poorer areas. The counsel highlighted that Irish authorities had incorporated safeguards to prevent such bias and that the Minister had decided in August 2020 to exclude historical data from the calculation, despite assurances that this would not harm disadvantaged students. Sherry, a fee‑paying student from Belvedere College, claimed the removal of school data led to a 55‑point downgrade, affecting his CAO points and his application to Trinity College Dublin's Pharmacy programme. The Minister and the State denied any unlawful interference, asserting that the process was fair and that Sherry was treated like all other students.
In a High Court hearing, Mr Freddie Sherry, a student from Dublin's Belvedere College, argued that changes to the calculated Leaving Certificate grades model unfairly disadvantaged him. His counsel, Feichín McDonagh SC, presented expert evidence showing that the Minister's decision to exclude historical school performance data disproportionately lowered Sherry's grades, reducing his estimated CAO points from 542 to 487. Sherry claimed the reduction of 55 points in five subjects prevented him from gaining a place in pharmacy at TCD. The State and Minister countered that the model was lawful, that no unfair treatment occurred, and that the changes were necessary due to the Covid‑19 cancellation of exams. They also argued that reinstating historical data would be inappropriate and could undermine the results of many students. The case remains before Mr Justice Charles Meenan.
In a High Court hearing on 8 December 2020, lawyers for Freddie Sherry argued that the Minister for Education unlawfully interfered with the 2020 Leaving Certificate calculated‑grades process by excluding historical school performance data. Sherry, a student from Belvedere College, claimed the minister's August 2020 directive to omit such data caused his estimated CAO points to fall from 542 to 487, a 55‑point downgrade that prevented him from gaining a place in pharmacy at Trinity College Dublin. Counsel described the minister's action as a "top‑down intervention" that produced inflated grades and breached commitments to fairness and comparability with previous years. The minister and state lawyers denied the allegations, asserting that the exclusion was justified and that reinstating historical data would be inappropriate after CAO offers had been issued. The case, part of a broader challenge by about 50 students, is set to continue for two weeks before Mr Justice Charles Meenan.
Former TD Frank O'Rourke has filed separate High Court applications against Facebook and Twitter seeking to identify the posters of what he alleges are untrue and defamatory posts about his personal life that appeared on social media shortly before the February 2020 general election. He claims the posts were designed to cause maximum professional damage to him during the election, at a time when he was experiencing a difficult marriage breakdown. O'Rourke says the posts, made on Facebook pages linked to the Celbridge area in early February, alleged false matters about his family and finances and were intended to show him as unfit to serve in Dáil Éireann. He also alleges a tweet was sent shortly before the election urging people not to vote for him and repeating the same untrue statements. O'Rourke, represented by Declan Doyle SC, seeks Norwich Pharmacal orders to obtain the account holders' names, addresses and IP addresses so he can sue them for defamation.
Tony Hunt, 47, was sentenced to two years in prison after the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court found he had no choice but to hold 198 rounds of 9mm Parabellum ammunition. The bullets were moved from a wheelie bin into the spare wheel well of his car when the bins were due for collection. Gardaí discovered the package during a random stop after seeing the car leave a known drug dealer's home in Kildare. Hunt initially claimed the ammunition belonged to a deer‑hunting colleague, later admitting he had been told a package would be left in his bin for 24 hours but did not know its contents. He pleaded guilty to possession of the rounds, which were mainly used in semi‑automatic handguns. Judge Pauline Codd suspended the final three years of a five‑year sentence, requiring Hunt to keep the peace for the entire period. Hunt's only prior conviction was for possession of stolen property in 2004.
The High Court has adjourned the lead challenge to the standardisation of 2020 Leaving Cert grades, a case brought by Freddy Sherry of Belvedere College, Dublin. The case was set to start on Wednesday morning but was postponed because the court was told that the matter was not ready to proceed due to an issue concerning the discovery of documents by the State. Mr Sherry's case will be heard early next week, and all other challenges to the standardisation process have been adjourned to a date next month pending the outcome of his action. In his application, Mr Sherry, represented by Micheál P O'Higgins SC, Feichin McDonagh SC and Brendan Hennessy BL of Ferry Solicitors, alleges that a decision by the Minister for Education in August "interfered" with the work of the Independent Steering Committee on Calculated Grades.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal by a debt collector against an 18-month custodial sentence imposed for intimidation and harassment offences. Kevin Molloy, aged 51, originally from Donegal and currently residing in Cavan, was convicted in May at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court of harassing a man and his daughter between April and August 2015. His offences included threatening to kidnap and harm an individual, and arranging the distribution of defamatory flyers at equestrian events and in Mullingar. Molloy, who operated a debt recovery business based in Kildare, received a headline sentence of four years with 18 months suspended. The three-judge court, presiding over the appeal on Friday, upheld the sentencing judge's assessment that the offences fell within the upper mid-range. The judges described the 18-month actual custodial term as generous and rejected claims the sentence was unduly harsh. The court also upheld a seven-year ban on Molloy operating as a debt collector, deeming it legitimate and proportionate. Molloy was permitted time to arrange his affairs before beginning his sentence on 30 September.
Ciaran O'Brien, 37, was sentenced to three‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment for armed robbery and a threat to kill Garda PJ Cummins. He robbed the Applegreen Service Station at Celbridge on 27 November 2019, armed with a hammer and a small machete, and took €360 in cash before fleeing. O'Brien then drove a car straight at Cummins, who was off‑duty and had to jump out of the way to avoid being run over. The judge, Karen O'Connor, noted that O'Brien was homeless at the time and had 27 previous convictions but was not known to be violent. The final 18 months of the sentence were suspended on strict conditions, including 12 months of probation. The case was heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Ciaran O'Brien pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 25 May 2020, 36‑year‑old Ciaran O'Brien pleaded guilty to robbing the Applegreen Service Station in Celbridge on 27 November 2019. He entered the station armed with a hammer and a small machete, forced the shop assistant to open the till, and took €360 in cash before fleeing. While off‑duty, Garda PJ Cummins witnessed the robbery and pursued O'Brien. O'Brien threatened Cummins with a knife, saying he would stab him, and then drove a car straight at the Garda, forcing Cummins to jump out of the way to avoid being run over. O'Brien was later arrested and has 27 previous convictions. The case was adjourned for a Probation Services report, with sentencing scheduled for 20 July.
Paul Wells Junior (33) was found guilty at the Central Criminal Court of impeding the prosecution of his father, Paul Wells Senior (51), by disposing of a blood-stained chainsaw. The court heard the weapon had a piece of "brown meat" embedded in its motor. Wells Junior had pleaded not guilty to disposing of the chainsaw motor between January 19 and 20, 2016, in Co Kildare, and not guilty to disposing of the blade and chain on January 20, 2016. A jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict on both counts after three hours and 55 minutes of deliberation. The judge directed a probation report and remanded Wells Junior on continuing bail until February 10, when his sentence hearing will take place. This follows the life sentence handed to Wells Senior last year for the murder of Kenneth O'Brien at his home in Finglas on January 15 or 16, 2016. Ms Justice Carmel Stewart extended sympathies to the O'Brien family, noting they had to listen to harrowing details again during this second trial. The matter was adjourned for sentencing.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, Paul Wells Junior, aged 33, faces charges of impeding his father's apprehension by disposing of the chainsaw used to dismember murder victim Kenneth O'Brien. The jury, after two and a half hours of deliberation, was instructed by Judge Stewart to consider each count separately: disposing of the chainsaw motor and disposing of the chain and blade. The prosecution alleged that Wells Junior knowingly removed the equipment, while the defence argued he acted under a reasonable excuse, citing a history of abuse and fear of his father. Judge Stewart emphasized that the burden remained on the prosecution to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that no reasonable excuse existed. The jury was required to reach a unanimous verdict on both counts before proceeding with further deliberations. The case remains pending, with no verdict announced yet. Paul Wells Junior pleaded not guilty.
Paul Wells Junior, aged 33, stands trial for disposing of a chainsaw motor, blade and chain that were used to dismember Kenneth O'Brien. He is charged with impeding the apprehension or prosecution of his father, Paul Wells Senior, who was later convicted of O'Brien's murder. The defence argues that Wells Junior acted in panic, was physically abused by his father, and did not intend to obstruct the investigation. He voluntarily gave a statement to Gardaí on 5 February 2016 and was arrested the next day on suspicion of murder. The prosecution maintains that Wells Junior knew his father had committed the offence when he disposed of the chainsaw and fully understood the consequences. The case is before the Central Criminal Court, with the jury to deliberate on the charges of impeding the investigation. The trial is ongoing and no verdict has yet been reached. Paul Wells Junior pleaded not guilty.
During the trial of Paul Wells Junior, 33, the accused admitted to disposing of the chainsaw used to dismember Kenneth O'Brien, 33, a murder committed by his father, Paul Wells Senior, 51. Wells Junior told Gardaí he had wanted to pay for O'Brien's headstone to express remorse. He explained that he had taken the chainsaw from his car, unaware it had been used in the murder, and later disposed of its blade and chain at The Curragh. He claimed he had no intention of hiding the evidence and that he had been influenced by trauma inflicted by his father. Wells Junior pleaded not guilty to the charges of disposing of the chainsaw motor and its blade and chain. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Carmel Stewart, continues with the jury hearing closing arguments. The case remains at the trial stage.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Paul Wells Junior (33) continues before Ms Justice Carmel Stewart and a jury. Wells Junior, of Beatty Park, Celbridge, Co Kildare, has pleaded not guilty to disposing of a chainsaw motor between January 19 and 20, 2016, and not guilty to disposing of a chainsaw blade and chain on January 20, 2016, in Co Kildare. The prosecution alleges he impeded the apprehension or prosecution of his father, Paul Wells Senior (51), by disposing of the chainsaw. Wells Senior, of Barnamore Park, Finglas, Dublin 11, was jailed for life last year after being found guilty of murdering Kenneth O'Brien at his home in Finglas on January 15 or 16, 2016. Evidence presented includes garda interviews where Wells Junior stated he received the chainsaw from his brother and later disposed of its parts in the Grand Canal and The Curragh. He testified that he believed his father was responsible for the murder and that he disposed of the items out of fear. The trial resumes on Thursday.
In a trial at the Central Criminal Court, Paul Wells Junior, aged 33, pleaded not guilty to disposing of a chainsaw motor and blade in County Kildare in January 2016. He claimed he was unaware the chainsaw had been used to dismember Kenneth O'Brien, whose body was found in a suitcase on the Grand Canal. Wells Junior said he had thrown the chainsaw into the canal to avoid hindering the investigation, believing it was stained with what he thought was dog meat. He also stated he had spoken voluntarily to Gardaí to help the O'Brien family seek justice. The court heard that O'Brien died from a gunshot wound to the head, and that his dismembered remains were found in a suitcase. Paul Wells Senior, aged 51, was jailed for life for O'Brien's murder. The trial continues before Justice Carmel Stewart and a jury of twelve.
During the Central Criminal Court trial, the jury heard that Paul Wells Senior, aged 51, shot Kenneth O'Brien in his back garden on 15 or 16 January 2016, dismembered the body with a chainsaw and dumped it in the Grand Canal. The prosecution alleged that the accused, Paul Wells Junior (33), who was charged with impeding the apprehension or prosecution of his father, had been forced by his father to carry explosives and join the IRA. Witness Gary Wells testified that his father was a violent man who had a toxic relationship with family members, had attacked his sister and mother, and had tried to get his son to carry explosives. Gary Wells also described how his father had asked him to dispose of a chainsaw and other items, and how he had been involved in a football team to keep him busy. Paul Wells Junior pleaded not guilty.
Paul Wells Junior, 33, of Celbridge, Co Kildare, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court for impeding the apprehension of his father, Paul Wells Senior. Wells Senior was jailed for life last year after being found guilty of murdering Kenneth O'Brien in Finglas in January 2016. The prosecution alleges that Wells Junior, who endured a "life of hardship" under his father, disposed of chainsaw parts in different locations while knowing his father had taken a life. Wells Junior has pleaded not guilty to disposing of a chainsaw motor between January 19 and 20, 2016, and not guilty to disposing of a chainsaw blade and chain on January 20, 2016, in Co Kildare. The trial heard that two walkers discovered a suitcase containing a dismembered body in the Grand Canal, while a chainsaw motor was later found at Pikes Bridge. Wells Junior told gardai he panicked and deposited a blade and chain in the Curragh because he believed his father was trying to "set him up." The case is currently at the sentence stage for the convicted person, Paul Wells Senior, who received a life sentence. The trial for Paul Wells Junior continues before Ms Justice Carmel Stewart and a jury.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Paul Wells Junior (33) continues, with the validated procedural stage identified as sentence. Wells Junior, of Beatty Park, Celbridge, Co Kildare, has pleaded not guilty to charges alleging he impeded the apprehension or prosecution of his father, Paul Wells Senior (51), and disposed of a chainsaw motor and blade in Co Kildare between January 19 and 20, 2016. The prosecution alleges Wells Junior dumped these items knowing his father had taken a life. Paul Wells Senior was previously convicted of murdering Kenneth O'Brien (33) at his home in Finglas on January 15 or 16, 2016, and was jailed for life last year. Wells Senior admitted dismembering the victim and dumping the body in the Grand Canal. Detective Sergeant Gerard Moore testified that the chainsaw motor was found at Pike Bridge, Maynooth, while the blade and chain were recovered at the Curragh. Wells Junior told gardai he feared being shot by his father during a drive on January 16, after which he heard splashes near the canal. The court heard that Wells Senior was a known IRA member with prior firearms convictions. The matter remains at the sentence stage.
Paul Wells Junior (33) is on trial at the Central Criminal Court, accused of impeding the investigation into the murder of Kenneth O'Brien. The prosecution alleges that Wells Junior disposed of a chainsaw motor and blade in Co Kildare between January 19 and 20, 2016, knowing his father, Paul Wells Senior, had committed the crime. Wells Junior has pleaded not guilty to these charges. The trial follows the sentencing of Paul Wells Senior (51), who was jailed for life last year after being found guilty of murdering O'Brien at his home in Finglas on January 15 or 16, 2016. Prosecuting counsel Michael Bowman SC outlined that O'Brien died from a close-range gunshot and was subsequently dismembered with the chainsaw, which was later dumped in the Grand Canal and the Curragh. The prosecution contends that Wells Junior acted with knowledge of the offense, despite enduring a 'life of hardship' under his father. The case is before Ms Justice Carmel Stewart and a jury of twelve, with proceedings expected to last up to three weeks.
In July 2019, a Dublin couple, Clare Ellis (34) and Gareth Boyle (32), pleaded guilty to attempting to obtain services by deception from KBC Bank after forging documents to secure a €239,000 mortgage. They had believed they would never qualify for a housing loan and had paid a "creative accountant" €2,500 for the false paperwork. The bank, suspicious of the documents, notified Gardaí, who found the couple cooperative and contrite. Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin, noting the case was "not a highly sophisticated" deception, sentenced Ellis to 120 hours and Boyle to 100 hours of community service, replacing six‑ and five‑month prison terms. The judge highlighted that the bank suffered no loss but was misled, and that the couple's actions were driven by a desire to keep a roof over their heads and those of their children. The sentencing reflected the judge's view that the offence was "highly unusual and exceptional.".
Declan Brady, 53, of Celbridge, Co Kildare, was sentenced to 11-and-a-half years imprisonment by the Special Criminal Court for possessing an arsenal of firearms and ammunition in suspicious circumstances. Brady, known as 'Mr Nobody', pleaded guilty to possessing nine revolvers, four semi-automatic pistols, a sub-machine gun, an assault rifle, and 1,355 rounds of ammunition at a fake business premises in Rathcoole, Co Dublin. The court found he was in overall charge of the cache, which was assembled to support organised crime. His headline sentence of 14 years was reduced due to his timely guilty plea, lack of relevant previous convictions, and good behaviour in custody. The final year of his sentence was suspended on condition he enters a good behaviour bond. The sentence was backdated to January 24, 2017. Two co-accused, Jonathan Harding, 45, of Sallins, Co Kildare, and James Walsh, 33, of Clondalkin, Dublin 22, were previously sentenced to 10 years and nine years imprisonment respectively, with the final year of each sentence suspended. The court noted that Brady received instructions from senior criminal figures abroad to maintain the weapons, which were found ready for imminent use during a surveillance operation.
A Kildare man known as "Mr Nobody" pleaded guilty to possessing 15 lethal firearms and 1,355 rounds of ammunition at a Dublin business park. The Special Criminal Court heard that the weapons were supplied by senior criminals abroad. Gardaí recovered four loaded revolvers ready for imminent use, a sub‑machine gun, an assault rifle, four semi‑automatic pistols, two silencers and ten spare magazines. The defendant, Declan Brady, 53, was arrested on 24 January 2017 after a surveillance operation. He had seven prior convictions for road traffic offences and had received instructions from overseas figures. Brady's co‑accused, Jonathan Harding and James Walsh, had previously been sentenced to ten and nine years' imprisonment with one year suspended. The court noted the seriousness of the firearms and the lack of any innocent use. Brady was remanded in custody until 15 July, when he will be sentenced.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence regarding a search at Sallins Bridge, Sallins, Co Kildare, on January 24, 2017. Michael Brady, 54, of Blackrock, Co Dublin, pleaded not guilty to nine counts, including alleged possession of €1.5 million worth of cocaine, €1.26 million worth of heroin, an assault rifle, and ammunition. Prosecution counsel Fiona Murphy SC alleged that gardaí failed to find these items during the initial search, which she described as a "very fast-moving operation." She stated that the property owner later discovered drugs and a firearm under a bed. The State's case is that forensic evidence links Mr Brady to the items. Earlier, the court ruled that Mr Brady's arrest and detention were lawful. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Coffey, sitting with Judges Gerard Griffin and David McHugh. Separately, Declan Brady, 52, of Celbridge, Co Kildare, pleaded guilty to possessing 15 firearms and over 4,000 rounds of ammunition at Greenogue Business Park on the same day. He is awaiting sentence. Jonathan Harding and James Walsh were previously sentenced to ten and nine years' imprisonment, respectively, for possessing a "lethal arsenal" of weapons at the same location.
The Special Criminal Court has heard that Michael Brady, 54, is the brother of Declan Brady, who was previously caught with 15 firearms and over 4,000 rounds of ammunition. Michael Brady, of Blackrock, Co Dublin, is currently on trial for allegedly possessing €1.5 million worth of cocaine, €1.26 million worth of heroin, an assault rifle, and more than 180 rounds of ammunition at a property in Sallins, Co Kildare, on January 24, 2017. He has pleaded not guilty to all nine counts on the indictment, including charges under Section 15A of the Misuse of Drugs Act and unlawful possession of a 7.62 x 39mm VZ 58 assault rifle and various ammunition. Prosecutors stated the Sallins property was under surveillance as part of a wider operation targeting Greenogue Business Park, where Declan Brady, Jonathan Harding, and James Walsh were arrested earlier that morning. Declan Brady pleaded guilty to possessing the firearms and ammunition at Greenogue and is awaiting sentence. Harding and Walsh were sentenced in January to ten and nine years' imprisonment, respectively, for possessing a "lethal arsenal." The trial has entered legal argument regarding the lawfulness of Michael Brady's arrest in Naas, where he allegedly provided a false name. The court is expected to rule on these issues on Friday before resuming the case.
A jury of six men and six women was sworn in by Mr Justice Michael White for the trial of Laura Kenna, 37, who is accused of attempting to murder Fionnuala Burke on Lower Drumcondra Road in Dublin on 3 January 2017. Kenna pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to both the attempted murder charge and an assault charge with intent to cause serious harm. The jury was told the trial would last about six days, and it will begin tomorrow before Ms Justice Tara Burns.
A 52‑year‑old man from Co Kildare, Declan Brady, pleaded guilty to possessing fifteen lethal firearms and over 3,000 rounds of ammunition at a Dublin business park in 2017. The firearms included nine revolvers, four semi‑automatic pistols, a sub‑machine gun and an assault rifle. Brady admitted to holding a .357 Magnum Zastava M83/02, two .38 Smith & Wesson Model 37s, a Rossi revolver, an Ingram M11 sub‑machine gun, a 9mm Smith & Wesson semi‑automatic pistol, a Ruger revolver, a Taurus revolver, a Remington Taurus, a Beretta Model 70, a VZ 58 assault rifle, an Amadeo Rossi revolver, a Glock Model 26, a Colt semi‑automatic pistol and a Kaleshnikov pattern magazine.
A 23-year-old man has been sentenced to three and a half years imprisonment, with the final twelve months suspended, following a high-speed car chase across Kildare and Dublin last May. Christopher Prentice, of Tallaght, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to unlawfully using a stolen vehicle and three counts of dangerous driving. The court heard that gardaí observed Prentice driving a jeep reported stolen on the Naas Road and pursued him as he drove at speeds exceeding 180 kilometres per hour, broke red lights, crossed lanes, and forced oncoming traffic to swerve. The chase ended when Prentice lost control, mounted a kerb, and came to a stop on Raphoe Road. Judge Melanie Greally described it as miraculous that no injuries or damage occurred. Prentice was also disqualified from driving for five years. He has thirty-three previous convictions. The sentence was backdated to May.
Paul Wells Junior, aged 33, has been charged with impeding the apprehension or prosecution of his father, Paul Wells Senior, by disposing of the chainsaw used in the 2016 dismemberment of Kenneth O'Brien. Wells Senior was convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment in 2017. Wells Junior was brought before the Central Criminal Court on 17 December 2018, where a trial date was set for 4 November 2019. His barrister, Damien Colgan SC, noted that this would be the fourth attempt to set a trial date, with the case having been postponed on three previous occasions over a span of three years. The court acknowledged the ongoing pressure on Wells Junior and indicated that the case would remain on the docket until a suitable date could be secured, with the possibility of an additional judge in the new year. The proceedings remain at the impeding charge stage.
David Browne, 41, of Clondalkin, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to eight burglary counts in Celbridge in June 2017. Garda Conor Morris presented CCTV evidence of Browne entering sheds, taking power tools and a laptop from a business premises, and avoiding confrontation with homeowners. Browne has 171 prior convictions, including 36 theft offences, one robbery and 108 traffic offences. He had a four‑year sentence in 2013 for 11 thefts. Judge Pauline Codd imposed a four‑year prison term, suspending the last 15 months on condition he engage with the Probation Service after release.
In the murder trial of Paul Wells Senior, the prosecution argued that Kenneth O'Brien was not merely killed but executed in a premeditated act. Wells, aged 50, admitted shooting O'Brien, a 33‑year‑old, and dismembering his body. He claimed O'Brien had brought a gun to his home to force him to murder O'Brien's partner so he could take their child to Australia. Wells said a scuffle over the gun led to him shooting O'Brien in the back of the head, after which he panicked and used a chainsaw to chop the body, placing the torso in a suitcase and dumping it in the Grand Canal. The prosecutor presented evidence of a contact entry wound and other forensic findings to support the claim of premeditation, urging a guilty verdict. The defence questioned the plausibility of the alleged plan and the involvement of Wells's family in the disposal of the remains.
A Dublin business owner has been ordered to complete 240 hours of community service for using fraudulent documents to secure a €71,000 mortgage. Kevin Molloy, aged 49, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three offences under the Theft and Fraud Offences Act committed between December 2014 and August 2016. The Donegal native, now resident in Celbridge, Co Kildare, had submitted false salary certificates, altered tax documents, and fabricated wage slips to Ulster Bank during his mortgage application in 2016. Judge Melanie Greally imposed the community service order, to be completed within twelve months, in lieu of an eighteen-month prison sentence. The judge noted the bank sustained no financial loss, that Molloy had cooperated with gardaí, and that he maintained mortgage repayments. The offences were discovered following a Bank of Ireland report to gardaí in July 2016.
Paul Wells Senior, aged 50, admitted to the Central Criminal Court that he shot and dismembered Kenneth O'Brien, a 33‑year‑old father, at his own home on 15 or 16 January 2016. Wells claimed that O'Brien had asked him to kill O'Brien's partner, Eimear Dunne, and that he had been in a dispute over a gun when he fired at O'Brien, killing him. Wells said he panicked and dismembered the body, which was later found in the Grand Canal and other locations. The prosecution presented evidence that the torso and limbs were recovered in plastic bags and that DNA matched O'Brien. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul McDermott, is ongoing with a jury of twelve. The case remains at the trial stage. Paul Wells Senior pleaded not guilty.
The Court of Appeal upheld a joint trial for Seán Davy (24), Matthew Cummins (24) and James Davy (27) who were convicted of murdering 64‑year‑old Thomas 'Toddy' Dooley in his Edenderry home on 12 February 2014. The men broke into the house and beat Dooley with a baseball bat, delivering eight blows to his head. Each defendant gave conflicting accounts: Cummins claimed Davy struck first and then continued the assault; Davy said James Davy delivered most blows and he struck once with less force; James Davy denied striking and said Davy beat him while Cummins kicked. All were found guilty by jury and sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment by Justice Margaret Heneghan on 10 October 2016. Davy's appeal to separate his trial was dismissed by the Court of Appeal, which ruled the case was "compelling" for a joint trial and the judge's refusal to sever the indictment was proper.
A 64-year-old man, Seán Davy, has appealed his conviction for the murder of Thomas 'Toddy' Dooley, who was brutally beaten to death in his home in Edenderry on February 12, 2014. Seán Davy, along with Matthew Cummins and James Davy, was found guilty by a jury of the murder of Mr Dooley, who suffered eight blows to the head with a baseball bat. All three men had denied the charges. They were each given a mandatory life sentence by Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan in October 2016, who described the attack as 'brutal, motiveless' and targeted a 'defenceless elderly man'. Seán Davy's barrister, Ronan Munro SC, argued that his client's conviction was unsafe due to a pre-trial decision not to sever the indictment and order separate trials. He claimed that the garda statements of James Davy and Matthew Cummins gave the jury a 'peculiarly vivid' picture that it was 'all Seán Davy's fault', which overwhelmed any judicial direction. Counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions, Patrick Treacy SC, stated that the case was presented as one of joint enterprise or common design, with Seán Davy being the only accused who admitted striking the deceased with a baseball bat. The court has reserved its judgement on the appeal.
A Dublin businessman has admitted to submitting fraudulent documents to obtain a €71,000 mortgage from Ulster Bank in April 2016. Kevin Molloy, aged 49, of Dublin Road, Celbridge, County Kildare, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three offences under the Theft and Fraud Acts committed between December 2014 and August 2016. The owner of a debt recovery business had initially applied to Bank of Ireland in late 2014, but that application was declined after officials questioned the authenticity of his documentation. When Molloy subsequently approached Ulster Bank, he provided altered bank statements, a falsified P60 tax document, and wage slips from companies in liquidation. The offences came to light in July 2016 following a Bank of Ireland report to gardaí. Molloy continues to reside in the property with his family and maintains mortgage repayments. Ulster Bank has not pursued charges. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned sentencing to October 2018 and ordered a community service assessment. Molloy was remanded on continuing bail.
Dary Sharif, aged 24, was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison, with the final 18 months suspended, for violent disorder after a knife attack at a Luas stop on 5 April 2015. Sharif was stabbed 14 times by two men, one of whom was Daryl Smith, 26, who later required brain surgery. Security staff pulled Smith to the ground, and Sharif, along with two other co‑accused, kicked Smith while he lay helpless. The court considered Sharif's claim of lawful self‑defence, noting he had been severely provoked and had suffered a frenzied knife attack. Judge Cormac Quinn set a headline sentence of four years but reduced it due to mitigating factors, including Sharif's rehabilitation efforts and good behaviour. The sentence reflects the incident's violent nature and the court's assessment of self‑defence and aggravating circumstances. Dary Sharif pleaded guilty. Daryl Smith pleaded guilty.
Peter Kernan, 57, a former Aer Lingus ground staff member, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment in Dublin Circuit Court for his role in a people‑trafficking operation at Dublin Airport between December 2016 and January 2017. He pleaded guilty to four counts of facilitating the entry of illegal immigrants and to three counts of handling proceeds of crime, amounting to €40,366. Kernan was paid €2,000–€3,000 per person trafficked and used Aer Lingus staff swipe cards to bypass passport control, escorting foreign nationals from the air bridge to the immigration hall via a catering truck and a staff turnstile gate. He had no prior convictions except a traffic offence. Kernan had undergone quadruple heart bypass surgery four months earlier and had other health issues, including a cancer gene. His co‑accused, Frederick Cham, also received a four‑year sentence.
Frederick Cham, a 63‑year‑old Aer Lingus ground handler from Railway Cottages, Hazelhatch, Celbridge, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for facilitating the illegal entry of five people into Ireland between 13 December 2016 and 22 January 2017. He pleaded guilty to five charges of assisting illegal immigrants or asylum seekers at Dublin Airport and to two charges of handling money he knew to be proceeds of crime. Cham admitted that he and another Aer Lingus employee used staff swipe cards to access an employee gate, bypassing passport control, and that they transported foreign nationals from the air‑side to the land‑side via a catering truck and a staff turnstile gate. The court noted that Cham's role was "invaluable" to the smuggling operation, which involved cash transfers from China totalling about €6,000 and payments of €2,000–€3,000 per smuggling run.
An Aer Lingus ground handler, Frederick Cham, 63, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to five charges of facilitating the entry of illegal immigrants or asylum seekers into Ireland between 13 December 2016 and 22 January 2017. He also admitted two charges of handling money he knew to be proceeds of crime in December 2016 and January 2017. Cham, originally from Hong Kong and a long‑time employee at Dublin Airport, described the scheme as a "Mickey Mouse operation" and said he earned €2,000–€3,000 per smuggling run, spending the money on Guinness. The operation involved bypassing passport control with staff swipe cards, escorting foreign nationals from the air‑side to the immigration hall via a lift and a catering truck, and using a staff turnstile gate to move them to the land‑side. Gardaí traced the scheme through CCTV, staff swipe‑card records and Western Union transfers totalling about €6,000.