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.
The High Court has been asked to amend the grounds of a legal challenge brought by Thomas Reid against An Bord Pleanala's decision to allow Intel Ireland to proceed with a €3.76 billion expansion of its Co Kildare plant. The action was brought by Thomas Reid, who resides near the Intel Campus in Collinstown, outside Leixlip. The proposed expansion, if approved, would be one of the largest construction projects in the country's history. Reid claims that the board's 2019 decision permitting the expansion was contrary to EU Council directives, lacked sufficient reasoning, and violated fair procedures. Intel Ireland and An Bord Pleanala have applied for the court to amend the action and exclude certain material from the case, arguing that Reid failed to raise specific issues before the board. Intel's application is supported by the board, which asserts that Reid missed the opportunity to present these arguments during the initial proceedings. Reid, represented by James Devlin SC, opposes the motion, arguing that he should be allowed to present his case in full. The application was heard by Mr Justice Richard Humphreys, who reserved his decision. The full hearing of the action will take place later this year.
Przemyslaw Goska, 33, a Polish national, was sentenced to six years in prison for possession of MDMA worth €506,000 and cocaine worth €68,300. The drugs were found in his rented Kildare home and in a car he was driving. Goska admitted to transporting the drugs from "point A to point B" and claimed he was promised money for holding them. He said he had no intention of bringing the cocaine into the house, only to pick up clothes. Gardaí interviewed him ten times; he cooperated but was too afraid to give further information. He had no prior convictions. Judge Melanie Greally took into account his cooperation, guilty pleas, and family hardship, and imposed a seven‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence with the final 18 months suspended on the condition of good behaviour and leaving Ireland within 14 days of release.
Atilla Tasgin, 41, of Leixlip, Co Kildare, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for money laundering offences. The defendant pleaded guilty to four counts of removing proceeds of criminal conduct from the State at various north Dublin addresses between June 17, 2013, and April 5, 2018. He also admitted to two counts of transferring such proceeds at unknown locations in the State on December 3, 2018, and January 21, 2019. Prosecution evidence indicated Tasgin transferred just under €10,000 to Turkey on behalf of an individual referred to as "the provider." While Tasgin acknowledged knowing the funds were proceeds of criminal conduct, the court accepted he was not involved in the underlying fraud and received no cash, only favours such as rent-free accommodation. Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced Tasgin to two years and three months in prison. However, she suspended the final nine months of the sentence, resulting in an effective custody period of 18 months. The judge cited his cooperation with the garda investigation and lack of previous convictions as mitigating factors. The matter was finalised with this sentence.
The High Court heard a defamation claim brought by Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, the traditional ruler of the Yoruba people, against Irish-based blogger Esther Esabod Aboderin. Ogunwusi alleges that Aboderin's social media posts on Facebook and YouTube maliciously accused him of serious criminal offences, including human trafficking, money laundering, and ordering killings. He denies these allegations and sought injunctions under the 2009 Defamation Act to remove the material and prevent further posting. Before Mr Justice Anthony Barr, Aboderin, who represented herself, consented to interim injunctions pending the full hearing. She agreed to remove the allegedly defamatory material from her Facebook account and stated she would ask followers to remove YouTube posts, which she claimed were uploaded by others. Her defence is justification. Counsel for Ogunwusi noted that in separate proceedings last year, a Nigerian businesswoman, Rosala Uvbi Mku-Atu, also brought defamation claims against Aboderin over social media comments. Aboderin acknowledged those posts have been taken down. She stated she fears for her safety and will not return to Nigeria. The matter was adjourned for the full hearing of the action.
Damien Ionut, 34, was sentenced to three years in prison for a series of ATM attacks across eight European cities, including Dublin, Louth, Kildare, Wicklow, Meath, Westmeath, and Dublin. He and a group used a "transaction reversal fraud" technique, first withdrawing a small amount with a legitimate chip‑and‑pin card, then inserting a clip into the cash drawer to block the release of a larger withdrawal. They swapped the card for a dummy, causing the machine to think the customer had walked away, and then used a chisel to break into the drawer and take the cash. The attacks caused about €12,881 in damage and resulted in €5,980 in stolen cash. Ionut had 30 prior convictions for similar offences and was identified on CCTV footage. The court back‑dated the sentence to November 5, 2019. The case highlighted the vulnerability of ATMs to this type of fraud.
The High Court has ordered the appointment of a receiver over three luxury watches alleged to have been purchased with proceeds of crime. Christopher Waldron, aged 37 and with an address at Killala Road in Cabra, is facing proceedings brought by the Criminal Assets Bureau concerning two residential properties and the three watches, which include a Breitling chronograph, a Rolex Datejust and a Cartier Santos timepiece. The CAB contends that all or part of the properties and watches were acquired through criminal activity. Mr Waldron's claims denying the allegations were noted. Mr Justice Alex Owens appointed a receiver to take possession of the watches pending further order. A related case involving David Waldron, aged 42 and also from Cabra, concerning three properties in Wexford, Dublin and Kildare, was adjourned to 18 May. Those claims too are denied. The High Court's CAB list comprised 26 cases on the date in question, with social distancing measures in place among those attending.
A man who disposed of the chainsaw used to dismember the body of Kenneth O'Brien and impeded the prosecution of his father, who carried out the murder and dumped the victim's body parts in the Grand Canal, has been jailed for 18 months. Paul Wells Junior (33), of Beatty Park, Celbrudge, Co Kildare, was found guilty last November of disposing of a blood-stained chainsaw used to dismember the body of Mr O'Brien. He had denied disposing of the chainsaw motor at a time unknown between January 19 and 20, 2016 in Co Kildare, and had also pleaded not guilty to disposing of a chainsaw blade and chain on January 20, 2016 in the same location. His father, Paul Wells Senior (51), of Barnamore Park, Finglas in Dublin 11, was jailed for life in 2018 having been found guilty of murdering Mr O'Brien at his home in Finglas on January 15 or 16, 2016. Wells Snr admitted to shooting Mr O'Brien in his back garden, dismembering his body, and dumping it in a suitcase in the Grand Canal. At his own trial, Wells Snr argued that he had acted in self defence when he shot Mr O'Brien. The court heard that Wells Jnr had a 'difficult history' with his father and a credible threat had been placed upon his life by his father. Wells Jnr was sentenced to three years in prison with the last 18 months suspended on condition he keep the peace for that period of time. The judge said she had given 'great consideration' to handing down a fully suspended sentence but said she did not think it would mark the gravity of the offence.
In November 2019, Start Mortgages DAC filed two separate High Court actions seeking injunctions over alleged illegal reoccupation of two houses it had repossessed. In the first case, the lender sought orders against Joseph and Esther Carragher at a property on Doolargy Avenue, Dundalk. Start claimed it had taken possession in late September after the couple defaulted on an €80,000 loan in 2006, with €89,000 still owed. The Carraghers had moved out but returned in early October, and a letter signed by them indicated no intention to leave peacefully. Start alleged that steel panels were removed and its agents were attacked, including a sledgehammer incident damaging a firm van. Justice Leonie Reynolds granted Start permission to serve injunctions, seeking orders to stop trespassing, vacate the premises, and prevent interference with possession.
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.
Kerrie Fitzpatrick, 41, of Loughnamona Park, Leixlip, Co Kildare, was sentenced to 16 months in prison for attempting to smuggle 63 grams of heroin, worth €9,575, into Mountjoy Prison on 14 January 2017. She pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and had a prior conviction for a similar offence at Portlaoise Prison. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham, upheld the sentence after an appeal. Birmingham noted evidence that Fitzpatrick had been coerced and that her relationship with her former partner was violent and abusive, factors that may have influenced her decision to bring the drugs. He also remarked that the heroin was a "very significant quantity of hard drugs" likely intended for general supply within the prison, and that a custodial sentence was necessary given the seriousness of the offence. The appeal was dismissed by the panel of judges.
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.
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.
Esther Esabod Aboderin, a defendant from Leixlip, Co Kildare, appeared before the High Court to address allegations of defamatory and threatening social media posts directed at applicant Rosala Uvbi Mku-Atu. Before Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds, Ms Aboderin issued a sworn undertaking not to repeat any defamatory or threatening remarks regarding the applicant. Counsel for the applicant, Thomas Hogan SC, noted that while the defendant had removed her own posts, concerns remained regarding third-party content on other platforms. The defendant's counsel, Rory Kennedy BL, stated his client had complied with previous removal orders but could not control material posted by others. Consequently, the application to continue the injunction was adjourned generally, with permission granted to re-enter the matter if issues arise. The judge warned that any breach of the undertaking could result in imprisonment for contempt. The court also heard that Ms Aboderin was assaulted by unknown persons at the Four Courts on July 31, sustaining cuts and bruises, an incident requiring Garda intervention. The applicant's lawyers stated their client did not condone the assault, and a Garda investigation into that separate incident remains ongoing.
Kerrie Fitzpatrick, a 40‑year‑old mother of three from Loughnamona Park, Leixlip, was found guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of attempting to smuggle 63 grams of heroin into Mountjoy Prison on 14 January 2017. Garda Derek Gibney reported that a prison officer randomly selected Fitzpatrick for a check, during which she claimed to have concealed drugs inside her body. The package she handed over was discovered to contain heroin worth €9,575. Fitzpatrick said she had received a phone call instructing her to deliver a package to her former partner in prison, and that she had been given the package by an unknown man who she believed contained pills. She has 11 prior convictions, including a similar offence involving Portlaoise Prison, for which she had benefited from the Probation Act.
Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds adjourned a defamation action between Rosala Uvbi Mku-Atu and Ester Esabod Aboderin to a date later this month. The plaintiff, a London-based businesswoman, alleged that the defendant, who resides in Leixlip, Co Kildare, breached a previous High Court order by publishing a social media post in mid-August wishing her "a sudden death." Counsel for the defendant contested the alleged breach, noting that Facebook had frozen the client's account, preventing the removal of the post. The defendant also reported an ongoing Garda investigation into an assault she suffered at the Four Courts in July, where she claimed to have sustained cuts and bruises. While the plaintiff's legal team stated their client did not condone the violence, the judge expressed concern over the potential injunction breach. She directed the defendant's lawyers to immediately contact Facebook to unfreeze the account and remove the material. The judge accepted an undertaking from the defendant not to post further material about the plaintiff and warned of the serious consequences of breaching court orders. The matter was adjourned, with the judge thanking Gardaí for their attendance during the hearing.
A defamation action brought by London-based Nigerian businesswoman Rosala Uvbi Mku-Atu against Ester Esabod Aboderin was adjourned to October following a violent incident at the Four Courts. Ms Uvbi Mku-Atu alleges that Ms Aboderin, of Leixlip, Co Kildare, published defamatory and threatening social media posts regarding her businesses and reputation. During the hearing before Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds, counsel for the defendant stated that Ms Aboderin had been seriously assaulted by unknown parties outside the court, sustaining cuts and bruises, and that a complaint had been made to the Gardaí. Counsel for the plaintiff, who was not present, stated his client had no knowledge of the individuals involved and did not condone the violence. The judge noted that the Gardaí were investigating the incident and agreed to adjourn the case, with existing interim orders remaining in place until October. These orders, secured previously, require the defendant to remove the alleged comments and prohibit their reporting under Section 33 of the Defamation Act. The court heard that the defendant had removed the comments from platforms under her control, though steps were being taken to address posts on other platforms. The matter was adjourned and not concluded.
Ms Justice Leoine Reynolds granted an interim injunction in the High Court in favour of applicant Rosala Uvbi Mku-Atu against respondent Ester Esabod Aboderin. The applicant, a Nigerian businesswoman residing in London, alleged that the respondent, of Leixlip, Co Kildare, had published threatening and defamatory comments on social media platforms since May. These alleged posts, which reportedly included threats to kill the applicant and calls for others to attack her, were claimed to have reached a significant audience. The respondent was not present in court on the day of the hearing, having informed the court via email that she was out of the country. The judge expressed concern regarding the seriousness of the alleged threats and the respondent's absence. Consequently, the matter was adjourned to the following week. The judge directed the respondent to provide proof of her travel, such as an airline ticket, to the applicant's legal team. The interim order directs the removal of the complained-of material from social media platforms and prohibits the respondent from publishing similar content or engaging in threatening or intimidating behaviour. Additionally, orders were made under Section 33 of the 2009 Defamation Act to prohibit the reporting of the allegedly defamatory comments. The judge emphasised that it was in the respondent's best interests to attend the next hearing.
Simon Gold, aged 54, from Aughavas, County Leitrim, pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 22 charges of money laundering, theft, deception and control of false instruments between January 2010 and October 2012. During the second day of evidence, a transcript of a garda interview was read to the jury in which Mr Gold acknowledged using multiple names including Simon Gold, Simon Magnier, Niall O'Donoghue, Simon Gould and Stephen Gould. He stated he had adopted these names to prevent gardaí from tracking him, though he claimed to have remained "in plain sight". Mr Gold confirmed that €1.6 million was transferred into an Ulster Bank account for Anglo Irish Global Ltd in October 2012, which he said was intended for a renewable energy project in the Ivory Coast. He admitted dispersing funds on instructions from others and using false documents, including an ESB bill and UK driving licence, to open accounts and make purchases. A detective sergeant described finding vacant offices at Leixlip purportedly housing the company. The trial continues before Judge Martin Nolan.
The trial of two 14-year-old boys, referred to as Boy A and Boy B, charged with the murder of Anastasia Kriegel at Glenwood House in Lucan on 14 May last year, is ongoing before the Central Criminal Court. Both accused have pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. Boy A additionally faces a charge of aggravated sexual assault involving serious violence, to which he also pleaded not guilty. Gardai testified that the boys provided conflicting accounts of their last meeting with the victim. Boy A alleged he declined Ana's romantic interest and was subsequently assaulted by two unidentified males, claiming injuries to his right hand and leg. Boy B stated he had 'no clue' what happened to her after she appeared upset following her interaction with Boy A. Detective Sergeant John O'Keefe noted discrepancies between the boys' statements, while Sergeant Aonghus Hussey described observing confusion and inconsistent movements during a re-enactment at St Catherine's Park. The court heard that Boy A used his left hand to initial his statement due to a right-hand injury. The matter was adjourned and is scheduled to continue on Friday morning before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury.
Anastasia Kriegel, 14, vanished on 14 May after leaving home with a boy she had known. Her father, Patric Kriegel, says he saw her walk away with the boy, now identified as Boy B, at about 5 pm, before her phone last connected to her mother's office at 5:32 pm. The State claims she was dead by that time. The trial, held at the Central Criminal Court, is the second day of proceedings against two 14‑year‑olds charged with her murder. Both accused, who cannot be named, pleaded not guilty. Boy A is also charged with aggravated sexual assault. The prosecution alleges the boys lured Ana to a derelict farmhouse where she was murdered. The case remains at the trial stage, with no verdict yet.
Two 14‑year‑old boys are on trial in Dublin for the murder of 14‑year‑old Ana Kriegel. Prosecutor Brendan Grehan told the jury that one boy lured Ana from her home to a derelict farmhouse, where he watched the other boy sexually assault and kill her. The accused boy is also charged with aggravated sexual assault. Evidence presented included a zombie‑type mask in his backpack, male DNA on Ana's neck and semen in the murder scene, and a ligature tape matching the one found on her neck. The prosecution argued that the boy had planned the murder, lured Ana to the farmhouse, and then watched the assault and killing. Ana's body was found on 17 May, naked except for socks, with severe head and neck injuries. The trial is ongoing and the boys have pleaded not guilty.
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.
A former solicitor from Maynooth, County Kildare, has been granted bail on appeal at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following approval of a €100,000 independent surety. Michael Lynn, aged 49, faces allegations of stealing approximately €30 million from seven financial institutions. A family member provided the surety, which will remain frozen in her bank account throughout the trial, with the judge cautioning that the funds would be forfeited if bail conditions were breached. Mr Lynn's passports, along with those of his wife and four children, have been surrendered to gardaí. His bail conditions include daily sign-on at Leixlip Garda Station, residence at his Maynooth address, a 9pm to 6am curfew, prohibition from Irish ports and airports, and the requirement to carry a mobile phone accessible to gardaí. He was extradited from Brazil in March 2018, having been taken into custody there in August 2013. The trial is scheduled to commence in January 2020 and is expected to last six to eight weeks.
Szymon Flizikowski, aged 20, faces sentencing for possession of drugs worth over €150,000 and for two other offences committed in 2015. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbery of 30 cans of beer, assault with a Stanley knife in a Londis supermarket, and a separate knife assault in Leixlip. Garda Eoin O'Flaherty reported that Flizikowski threatened a staff member with a knife and fled with the beer. He was later arrested and, during a search of his home, police found MDMA, cocaine and ecstasy. Flizikowski claimed he was holding the drugs for a debt and feared a "bullet" if he refused. He admitted to calling a man a racist slur and slashing him with a knife, apologising and presenting a victim impact statement. He is currently remanded for sentencing on December 21 and is due for release in 2020.
Stephen Penrose, 35, of No Fixed Abode, was charged with attempted robbery and possession of a screwdriver after an incident in a supermarket car park in Kilcock, Co Kildare on 14 May. He had been remanded in custody following a 17 May appearance at Naas District Court and sought bail in the High Court on 26 June. Counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions, Barry Ward BL, argued that the State objected to bail on several grounds, citing the O'Callaghan principles and Section 2A of the Bail Act. Ward cited concerns that Penrose was a flight risk, might commit further offences, and could interfere with witnesses. He referenced statements from Chief Superintendent Gerard Roche and Detective Sergeant Aidan Hannon of Leixlip Garda Station. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy considered the evidence and, under Section 2 of the Bail Act, refused the bail application, stating the refusal was necessary to prevent the commission of a further serious offence.
Owen Travers, a former assistant bank manager at AIB, pleaded guilty to 15 counts of theft from seven vulnerable customers, stealing over €127,000 between 2006 and 2012. He admitted the thefts, which ranged from €200 to €25,000, and apologized to those affected. The court noted that all money had been repaid to the bank and that Travers had sought help for gambling addiction and alcoholism. Judge Sinead Ní Chulachain accepted his early admission and psychiatric care, deeming him low risk if he abstains from alcohol and gambling. He received a two‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended sentence, conditional on good behaviour for five years, and was deemed suitable for community service. The sentence reflected the serious breach of trust involved.
A Special Criminal Court trial has heard that gardaí discovered an improvised explosive device on a passenger bus bound for Dublin on the eve of a royal visit in May 2011. Donal Billings, aged 65, of Drumlish, County Longford, is charged with unlawful possession of an explosive substance at Longford railway station car park on May 16th, 2011, and with four offences of making false bomb reports under the Criminal Law Act 1976. The charges allege he made false reports claiming bombs were positioned at Busáras Dublin, Sinn Féin headquarters, Dublin Castle, and Cork airport between May 16th and 20th. Mr Billings has pleaded not guilty to all five charges. Garda evidence established that the device, located in a Tesco bag beneath a Corduff Travel bus at Straffan Road rail station in Maynooth, contained a two-litre bottle of flammable liquid, copper piping filled with explosive material, a mechanical timer, battery, and firework components. An Army Bomb Disposal Unit member disabled the device, confirming it possessed capability to cause serious injury. The trial continues.
In a High Court hearing on 1 July 2016, Rotunda Hospital apologised to Sarah Quigley and David Harding for the death of their son David, who was delivered stillborn on 2 September 2010. The apology, read by the hospital's staff and management, acknowledged shortcomings in the management of the late stages of Ms Quigley's pregnancy and expressed sincere regret for the grief and distress caused. The hospital's apology was part of a confidential settlement of the couple's action against the hospital, which had alleged that the hospital failed to recognise placental insufficiency and failed to act, resulting in the infant's death at 40 weeks. The couple, represented by solicitor Daniel Hughes, welcomed the closure of six years of litigation and expressed gratitude for the justice achieved. The hospital denied the claims in its defence. The settlement terms remain confidential.
An interim examiner, Mr Kieran Wallace of KPMG, was appointed by the High Court to oversee four companies that run the Dobbins restaurant in Dublin and the Becketts Hotel & Restaurant in Leixlip. The group, employing about 60 people, sought court protection because of cash‑flow problems caused by lost business contracts and historic bank debts. The companies, which acquired their assets during the Celtic Tiger boom, now carry a high level of debt. Mr Wallace was appointed after an Independent Expert's Report indicated the companies had a reasonable prospect of survival if a scheme of arrangement with creditors were approved. The scheme would involve restructuring bank debt, paying a dividend to creditors, securing new investment and leasing the premises on the open market. The case is set to return to the court in July. The main creditors are the Revenue Commissioners and KBC Bank.
Owen Travers, a 61‑year‑old former assistant manager at AIB in Clondalkin, pleaded guilty to 15 counts of theft from seven customers, all of whom were also friends. He stole between €200 and €25,000, totalling over €127,000, but the actual loss to victims was just under €90,000 because he moved money between accounts. The thefts were uncovered in February 2012 when a customer noticed a large sum missing from her mother's account; she later discovered €10,000 had also been taken from her own company's account. Travers admitted the thefts to the victim, his boss, and to Gardaí, claiming he was dealing with alcoholism, depression, gambling debts and suicidal thoughts. He has no prior convictions, is now the primary homemaker for his wife and two children, and will never work in the financial sector again. The case was adjourned for sentencing on 11 July.
Two men were sentenced to four years imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following their guilty pleas to car-jacking. Francis Stokes, aged 29, of Ballyconnell, County Cavan, and Martin Stokes, aged 24, of Celbridge, County Kildare, hijacked a vehicle at Blessington Road, Tallaght, on 10 November 2013. Judge Melanie Greally suspended the final two years of Francis Stokes's sentence and the last three years of Martin Stokes's sentence, having regard to their differing criminal histories. The victim described the incident as life-altering, stating it had severely restricted her confidence and ability to engage in activities she previously enjoyed. The court heard evidence that the complainant had become fearful of driving and was unable to maintain her former independence. The accused had claimed to gardaí that they commandeered the vehicle following an attack by another party, though the victim impact statements presented a substantially different account of events.
Jamie Gordon, James Gantley, and David Ward were sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to various charges. Gordon, who admitted to trespassing with intent to commit an offence at an ESB substation on Ninth Lock Road, Clondalkin, on November 3, 2013, received a three-year jail sentence suspended in full on the condition that he keep the peace for five years. Gantley, who pleaded guilty to demanding money with menaces from DX staff, was sentenced to five years, which was suspended in full. Ward, who also pleaded guilty to demanding money with menaces from DX staff and attempting to dishonestly cause a loss to FBD Insurance between July 22, 2013, and January 1, 2014, was sentenced to one year in prison. The court noted Ward's previous conviction in determining his effective custody. All defendants had admitted their respective charges, and the proceedings reached the sentencing stage with no further adjournments recorded for these specific finalisations.
In a 2015 High Court ruling, Mr Justice Raymond Fullam declared a 2‑litre VW Golf bought in 2014 for €17,000 and €6,000 in a Dundrum Credit Union account belonging to Thomas Connors to be proceeds of crime. Connors, a married man in his mid‑thirties, had purchased the car under a fictitious name and only sought to register it in his own name after Gardai seized it. CAB presented evidence that Connors was involved in multiple burglaries across South Dublin, Kildare and Meath, and that he had not worked between 2001 and 2013, receiving social welfare. A financial expert noted that €279,000 had been deposited into several of Connors' accounts between 2000 and 2015, mainly in 2008 and 2009, and could not be explained. Connors did not appear in court or submit a defence.
Brian Gavin, 28, was driving from Mullingar to Lucan at speeds up to 160 km/h when he clipped a car's wing mirror and later collided with a Skoda, causing Gerard Nolan to suffer a broken hip, broken leg, facial fractures and permanent scarring. Gavin then struck another vehicle before stopping. He told Gardaí he was trying to kill himself, citing suicidal thoughts and a desire to leave his family home. He has bipolar disorder, had stopped his medication, and had a prior suicide attempt. Gavin pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm and failing to stop, and to a second dangerous driving offence. He passed a roadside breath test. Judge Sarah Berkeley adjourned the case to monitor his medication compliance and imposed a mandatory four‑year driving ban.
In November 2015 the Supreme Court overturned a 2013 High Court ruling that had allowed the Industrial Development Authority (IDA) to compulsorily acquire 72 acres of Thomas Reid's farm and family home in Blakestown, Co. Kildare. Reid, aged 53, had sued the IDA and the State, arguing that the compulsory purchase order (CPO) issued on 14 November 2012 was beyond the powers granted to the IDA under section 16 of the 1986 Industrial Development Act. The Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision by five judges, held that the IDA had no authority to acquire land not immediately required for industrial use and that the CPO was ultra vires. The Court also found the IDA's decision to be objectively biased, as the IDA alone made the decision from start to finish. The ruling quashed the CPO and set aside the IDA's decision to acquire the land. All remaining matters, including costs, will be dealt with later.
Colin Hammond, 21, of Balbriggan, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to making false bomb reports that caused a motorway closure, air‑traffic control disruption and the evacuation of 4,000 Intel employees. He had been drinking and taking tablets with a friend who paid him €30 to make the calls because he did not want to work at Intel the next day. Hammond claimed bombs were at Intel and would explode in 12 hours, and when asked who made the call he said "Islamic State." Judge Martin Nolan described him as "profoundly stupid" and sentenced him to 200 hours of community service within 12 months, instead of two years' imprisonment. The court noted that 300 employees were evacuated, 3,700 were prevented from entering the site, the M4 motorway was closed, and air‑traffic control was disrupted before authorities realised the hoax.
In a 2015 case, a 21‑year‑old Dublin man named Colin Hammond pleaded guilty to making false bomb calls that shut down the M4 motorway, disrupted air traffic control and prevented 4,000 Intel staff from working. Hammond, who had been drinking and taking tablets, was paid €30 by a friend who did not want to go to work at Intel in Leixlip. He called 999 twice, claiming bombs would detonate in 12 hours and that "Islamic State" was responsible. The court heard that 300 employees were evacuated and 3,700 were prevented from entering the site, and that the incident cost Intel 6,000 hours of production. Judge Martin Nolan adjourned sentencing to October and indicated a potential sentence of 200 hours of community service in lieu of two years' imprisonment, pending suitability. The case highlighted the disruptive impact of hoax bomb threats on public safety and business operations.
Eoin Daly, aged 29, was sentenced to five and a half years in prison for a series of burglaries committed between July and September 2013 across Dublin suburbs and Leixlip. He pleaded guilty to five counts of burglary, one of trespass and attempted theft. The judge noted that Daly had been granted bail repeatedly after each arrest, questioning why he was not remanded earlier. Daly's lawyer described him as a "one‑man crime wave" linked to chronic heroin addiction. The judge suspended the final 18 months of the sentence on the condition that Daly cooperate with the Probation Service upon release. Daly had 30 prior convictions, including burglary, robbery, firearm possession and threats of killing. The sentence reflects the judge's concern that, if he does not change, he will spend his thirties in court and prison.
In a Dublin flat raid, 28‑year‑old David Doherty was found with 6 g of heroin and was charged with possession for sale. He pleaded guilty and received a suspended sentence of two and a half years, conditional on keeping the peace and attending the Tuam Community Training Centre. Doherty, who had 49 prior convictions mainly for traffic offences, was described by the judge as having made significant progress in dealing with his heroin addiction. His co‑accused, 36‑year‑old Stephen Lunders, pleaded guilty to the same charge and was given a three‑year jail term, with the last 18 months suspended. Lunders had 28 prior convictions, including drug offences, and was found with 2 oz of heroin and €1,010 in cash. The raid was triggered by a tip‑off, and the flat contained evidence of drug preparation and street‑dealing.
In February 2015 the Court of Appeal dismissed James Mansfield Junior's appeal against a €6.32 million summary judgment issued by the Commercial Court. The judgment arose from loans AIB advanced between 2003 and 2009 for the purchase of land in Duleek, Co Meath, and the development of apartment blocks, an underground car park and commercial units. Mansfield, together with three other parties, formed the "Duleek Partnership" to acquire the land. The Commercial Court found none of the four parties had an arguable defence and granted summary judgment. Mansfield appealed, arguing he was dyslexic and had signed the loan agreement by mistake (non‑est‑factum). The Court of Appeal, sitting with Justices Mary Finlay Geoghegan, Michael Peart and Alan Mahon, rejected the appeal, holding that Mansfield knew he was signing a legal document that created obligations and that no evidence showed he had asked questions about the liability he was undertaking.
Eddie Winston, a 60‑year‑old father of seven, and Lee Bracken Kennedy, a 21‑year‑old student, were sentenced for their roles in a large‑scale drug deal in Kildare. Winston met Kennedy at a Leixlip industrial estate to hand over nearly €20,000 worth of cannabis herb, but Gardaí intercepted them. A key found on Winston led to a lock‑up unit containing just under €180,000 of drugs, a gun and ammunition. Winston was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for possession of €176,325 worth of heroin, cocaine and cannabis resin, and for possession of a 12‑gauge double‑barrel shotgun with 238 rounds. Kennedy received a three‑year suspended sentence and was bound to the peace for three years for unlawful possession of cannabis herb. Both pleaded guilty; Winston initially denied involvement but later admitted it. The judge noted their gross errors of judgment.
Padraig Seery, 27, a Castle Celtic footballer, was charged with assault after head‑butting Leixlip Town captain Mark Coyne during a United Churches Football League match. Seery first kicked Coyne's ankle and then head‑butted him, causing a broken nose that required surgery. The referee issued a red card and the incident was witnessed by several Leixlip players who described it as unprovoked. Seery pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Martin Nolan suspended an 18‑month jail sentence and ordered Seery to pay €5,000 to Coyne. Seery had offered the payment as a token of remorse and an apology. Coyne accepted the payment, though he had not yet paid for his operation. Seery had previously sought anger‑management counselling and legal advice. The case was heard in February 2012 and concluded with the suspended sentence and financial penalty.
In a Dublin flat raid, 28‑year‑old David Doherty was found with 6 g of heroin and was remanded on bail pending sentencing in February. He claimed he was there to buy €325 worth of heroin, some of which he would use and the rest to sell to friends in Tuam. Doherty pleaded guilty to possession of heroin for sale or supply on North Circular Road on 27 June 2013 and has 49 prior convictions, mainly traffic offences. His co‑accused, 36‑year‑old Stephen Lunders, also pleaded guilty to the same charge and had 28 prior convictions, including drug offences. Lunders admitted responsibility for most of the drugs found in the flat, valued at €14,383, and said he was dealing to pay off a drug debt left by his deceased brother. Judge Mary Ellen Ring adjourned the case to 20 February to allow Probation Service assessment of the men's commitment to drug rehabilitation before sentencing.
Joseph Cooney, aged 22, pleaded guilty to arson of a shed behind the Salmon Leap pub and a house on Main Street in Leixlip in November 2012, causing almost €400,000 in damage. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to five years in prison but suspended the sentence in full after Cooney accepted a Garda's view that the arson was a one‑off "act of madness". At the hearing, Nolan ordered Cooney to spend two weeks in jail to reflect on his future if he fell from grace again. Cooney was told to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for the five years of his suspended sentence. He had no prior convictions, pleaded guilty, showed remorse, and had many good references, which contributed to the mitigation. The court noted that Cooney and a co‑accused were "basically on drugs for the night and were bored and decided to liven up their lives by setting properties on fire".
Joseph Cooney, 22, pleaded guilty to setting fire to a shed behind the Salmon Leap pub and a house on Main Street in Leixlip on 25 November 2012, causing almost €400,000 in damage. He was remanded in custody for sentencing on 24 November. Judge Martin Nolan, hearing the case at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, accepted a Garda's view that the arson was a one‑off "act of madness" and noted Cooney's near‑perfect mitigation due to his guilty plea, remorse, lack of prior convictions and strong references. The judge warned that "half of Leixlip" could have been destroyed and innocent people could have died because of Cooney's "gross error of judgement". Cooney was jailed for two weeks while the judge decided on his final sentence. The case involved three fires: a shed behind the pub, the pub's lounge, and a vacant terraced house on Main Street, with the latter causing an estimated €160,000 in damage.
Conor Egan, a 27‑year‑old bank worker from Kilmacredock, Maynooth, stole €100,000 from an AIB branch in Leixlip between January and November 2010. He moved the money to a Bank of Ireland account, then transferred it to various online bookmakers and used it to gamble. Egan admitted the thefts, which were premeditated and involved a breach of trust, and confessed to falsifying documents to conceal the thefts. He was caught when a colleague noticed missing cash during a day's leave. Egan's father, a retired Colonel, agreed to repay the bank in full using his retirement package, and Egan pledged to repay his father. Judge Patricia Ryan, noting Egan's good character and efforts to repay, imposed a four‑year sentence suspended in full for four years. The court recorded that Egan had no impact on customer accounts and that he had not spent the money on a lavish lifestyle. Conor Egan pleaded guilty.