Maynooth University administrators failed to act on a pay gap between the managers of its golf and GAA programmes, a tribunal has found. Barry Fennelly, the golf programme manager, alleged gender discrimination in relation to salary. The pay gap between Fennelly and Ms X, the GAA development manager, widened to over €16,000 at one point. The tribunal found that the disparity was rooted in an anomaly rather than discriminatory intent. Fennelly was on a lower pay scale compared to Ms X, who was granted a higher salary when made permanent. The pay gap had closed to €2,433 a year by 2024 after Fennelly was promoted. The adjudication officer noted that the university was aware of the potential issues but did not take action. She had no power to address the historic pay differential under equality law.
A money mule who allowed scammers to channel almost €3,000 through his Revolut account during two "smishing" frauds has been directed to the Restorative Justice Programme. Josh Pope (22) of Priorsgate, Tallaght, Dublin 24, pleaded guilty to two counts of engaging in handling the proceeds of criminal conduct. The court heard that two separate "smishing" scams in April 2023 resulted in €2,946 being lodged into Pope's Revolut account. One injured party lost €711, while a second victim lost €2,235 after receiving fraudulent text messages and supplying their bank details. Pope had been offered €200 to allow his account to be used and had shown "sympathy" for the victims in his victim impact statement. He is currently studying culinary arts at Maynooth and has no previous convictions. Judge Karen Dowling directed Pope to engage with the Restorative Justice Programme and adjourned the matter to 3 April for an updated report, when the matter is expected to be finalised.
Conor Meyler, a Tyrone senior inter‑county footballer and 2021 All‑Ireland winner, has filed a defamation claim against the Irish Post and its parent company, The Color Company (TM) Ltd. The High Court heard that the Irish Post published an article in January 2025 containing untrue details about Meyler. He alleges the article caused him loss, damage, inconvenience, expense, distress, embarrassment, annoyance and anxiety. The court allowed the Color Company to join as a co‑defendant and adjourned the case for a later hearing.
Cristan Turbat and Dorina Turbat, of Maynooth, Kildare, were sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for social welfare fraud. The couple pleaded guilty to sample charges representative of an indictment of over 570 charges covering April 2017 to January 2019. Cristan Turbat admitted to 10 charges of stealing cash from the Department of Social Protection and one charge of making a false statement. Dorina Turbat pleaded guilty to 10 similar theft charges and one false statement charge. Judge Martin Nolan jailed both defendants for 18 months, reducing a headline sentence of three years due to their guilty pleas, cooperation, and remorse. The court found they conspired to defraud the State of over €114,000 by having Cristan work under a false identity while Dorina claimed jobseeker's allowance, working family payment, and rent supplement. Michael McMahon, their employer, was previously sentenced to a 14-month suspended term for aiding and abetting the fraud. His sentence was suspended in full on the condition he repay €55,215. €21,350 found in the Turbats' home will be confiscated, leaving a balance of just over €13,000 to be repaid. The matter was finalised with the imposition of these custodial sentences and repayment conditions.
DJ Carey, a former Kilkenny hurler aged 54, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to five and a half years in prison for defrauding over 20 people of almost €400,000 by falsely claiming to have cancer. Between 2014 and 2022, he obtained €394,127 and $13,000 from victims, promising repayment but never fulfilling it; only €44,200 was repaid, leaving €349,927 and $13,000 outstanding. Carey pleaded guilty to ten counts of dishonestly inducing payment, eight further charges of dishonesty, and two counts of using a false instrument. The judge described the fraud as "very low" yet "reprehensible" and imposed a global sentence of five and a half years, comprising a four‑year term followed by a consecutive one‑and‑a‑half‑year term. Carey had no prior convictions and had cooperated with Gardaí, but the court noted his reputation as a celebrated hurler had been destroyed by the case.
A judge warned that a custodial sentence is inevitable for former hurler DJ Carey, who defrauded nearly €400,000 from 13 complainants, including Denis O'Brien, by pretending to have cancer. Carey, 54, was remanded into custody pending sentencing. He pleaded guilty to 10 counts of dishonestly inducing people to pay money, with an additional 10 counts considered. The court heard that Carey obtained €394,127 and $13,000 US dollars, repaid €44,200, leaving €349,927 and $13,000 outstanding. He claimed to need funds for treatment in Seattle and a HSE medical claim, but investigations found no evidence of cancer treatment or HSE claims. The judge noted the victims' generosity and said the sentence would be "inevitable.".
DJ Carey, aged 50, was due to be sentenced for 10 counts of dishonestly inducing people to pay him money after fraudulently claiming to have cancer. The sentencing hearing was adjourned to Friday because Carey did not appear in court; he is currently at Portiuncula University Hospital in Ballinasloe, awaiting a bed. He presented a medical note to the court, and Gardaí confirmed his presence but could not verify his inpatient status. The prosecution, led by Dominic McGinn SC, noted that one count of deception was struck out, while the remaining counts, including two for using a false instrument, would be considered by the judge. Carey's case involves 13 complainants and was originally set for a four‑week trial. He has a history of significant health issues, including heart surgery last summer, and has requested legal aid and a psychological report for sentencing. Dj Carey pleaded guilty.
DJ Carey, a former hurling star aged 54, pleaded guilty on the morning of his trial to ten counts of defrauding people by falsely claiming to have cancer and needing money for treatment. The charges cover the period 2014‑2022 and involve 13 complainants, including Denis O'Brien and the Conway family. One count of dishonestly inducing a person to pay was struck out, leaving the remaining counts for sentencing. Carey's defence highlighted his genuine health problems, noting he underwent heart surgery last summer, and requested legal aid and a psychological report. Judge Patricia Ryan granted these requests, set a sentencing hearing for 29 October, and remanded Carey on bail until then. The case was to be heard without a jury, with the prosecution originally expecting about 28 witnesses. Carey is a celebrated former Kilkenny hurler who has won five All‑Ireland medals and served as a selector and U21 manager after retirement.
Maynooth University was ordered by a Workplace Relations Commission adjudication officer to issue a music tutor, Janyce Condon, a banded‑hours contract after her union alleged the college was operating a de‑facto zero‑hours contract. The decision, made under the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997, as amended, found that the university had failed to provide a contract setting out minimum guaranteed hours. Condon, a performance tutor since 2013, had been paid €831 per student per academic year and was expected to conduct 20 one‑to‑one tutorials of 45 minutes each, including preparation, scheduling, feedback and professional development. The university had previously issued her a contract that the union described as essentially a zero‑hours contract, which Condon rejected. The adjudication officer directed the university to place Condon on an appropriate band of hours and awarded her €2,494 in compensation for a separate breach of the Terms of Employment (Information) Act 1994.
Patricia Ducie, 50, of Gardiner Street Lower, Mountjoy, Dublin 1, had pleaded guilty in the District Court to 22 charges, including 12 thefts, four possession of stolen property, five failures to appear after bail, and one possession of an article intended for theft. The District Court, on 18 March 2025, imposed an 18‑month sentence with two months suspended. On appeal, the court noted Ducie's 182 previous convictions and the specific incidents: a €1,100 theft of liquor from a Tesco in Celbridge on 27 January, arrests with a man in a bush, and two separate thefts of €132 and €100 worth of chocolates from Butlers Chocolates Cafes. Other thefts involved Evoke, Marks & Spencer and Tribe stores. The appeals court, hearing arguments from defence counsel Seosaimhin Ni Chathasaigh BL, suspended 12 months of the 18‑month term, leaving Ducie with a 6‑month custodial sentence.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Sharon Hickey, 45, pleaded guilty to possessing 2.9 kg of heroin for sale or supply outside the Lamplighter pub on 12 April 2022. The heroin, worth €417,480, was found in a green Aldi bag given to her by co‑accused Gregory Dunne, who also handed her €500 in cash. Hickey had been told to hide the drugs to reduce a debt from bills, credit cards and drugs, and was promised the cash in exchange. She admitted the offence, expressed regret and remorse, and has since become drug‑free, is fully employed and her risk of reoffending has fallen from moderate to low. Judge Elma Sheahan, after a year's adjournment, imposed a headline sentence of five years, but suspended a three‑year term in full for four years, citing her progress and rehabilitation. The case remains adjourned for finalisation.
Kacper Koszarski, aged 23, was sentenced to four and a half years' imprisonment for a series of burglaries and dangerous driving incidents in Leinster. He pleaded guilty to 17 charges, including four counts of dangerous driving, four of trespass, one of endangerment, four of criminal damage, two of burglary, one of knife production and one of unauthorised vehicle taking, committed between 2020 and 2022. Judge Elva Duffy imposed consecutive sentences totalling five and a half years, suspending the final year on strict conditions. Koszarski was ordered to engage with the Probation Service for two years after release and was disqualified from driving for ten years. The court noted his history of 39 prior convictions, including seven for theft, and his statements of remorse and desire for rehabilitation. The sentence reflects the seriousness of his offences and the potential benefit of rehabilitation to society.
Leroy Roche Dumbrell, 37, of Griffith Rath Hall, Maynooth, Co Kildare, was sentenced to three years in prison for assault causing harm after attacking a man in Dublin City Centre on 30 August 2022. The victim, who had a deep facial cut and other injuries, later died, but the death was unrelated to the assault. CCTV identified Dumbrell as the assailant. He has 81 prior convictions, including serious offences such as setting a woman on fire and a prison brawl. He was charged in September 2023, spent months in custody, and was granted bail on strict conditions in December. A urine test showed cannabis and benzodiazepines. Judge Jonathan Dunphy imposed a headline sentence of four and a half years, reduced to three years, and suspended the final 12 months on the condition that Dumbrell engage with the Probation Service for two years after release. Roche Dumbrell pleaded guilty.
A 16‑year‑old boy, who cannot be named because he is a juvenile, was sentenced to two years' detention in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for a series of high‑speed pursuits in suburban Dublin. He stole a Toyota from Tesco in Maynooth on 31 July 2023 and drove erratically, entering oncoming traffic and a shopping‑centre car park, forcing gardaí to leap over a barrier to avoid being hit. He was later arrested after abandoning the vehicle. Three months later, he stole an Audi, drove at over 160 km/h in an 80 km/h zone, broke a red light and was pursued again; he fled on foot. He pleaded guilty to multiple counts of endangerment, dangerous driving, taking a car without consent, driving without a licence or insurance, and possession of items used to steal a car. He has 13 prior convictions and has been detained in Oberstown juvenile centre since October.
Gavin Belmont, 26, of Clondalkin, received a two-year suspended sentence at the sentence stage after pleading guilty to possessing child abuse material. The defendant admitted to possessing 54 explicit images and videos on a mobile phone at his home on May 24, 2022. Prosecution evidence indicated that the Garda Online Child Exploitation Unit identified activity on the Kik messaging app linked to Belmont's username and email address. Following a search warrant, gardaí recovered the phone, which contained the explicit material. Belmont cooperated with the investigation, providing his device and password, and has no previous convictions. The court heard that he attended counselling immediately after the discovery and expressed significant remorse for the impact on his family. Judge Martin Nolan handed down the fully suspended sentence, noting that while the material was at the explicit end of the scale, Belmont's early guilty plea, full cooperation, and lack of prior record were mitigating factors. The judge emphasized that possessing child pornography is not a victimless crime. Belmont was ordered to be of good behaviour and to abide by the instructions of probation services for the duration of the suspended sentence.
An accountant, Gerard Young, trading as Mara Young & Company, has denied all allegations of wrongdoing after NCS Autoparts Limited, its director Paul Lanigan and his wife Brenda Lanigan filed an injunction against him. The plaintiffs claim that Young is attempting to intimidate and harass them over an alleged €19,000 debt. They say that in early January, Martin 'the Viper' Foley, a convicted criminal, called their home and left a business card in an attempt to collect the debt on Young's behalf. Young has obtained a circuit court judgment against the plaintiffs but the plaintiffs are seeking to have that order set aside. The court adjourned the matter, with an undertaking that Foley will not communicate with the plaintiffs or attend their property until the case returns later this month. The plaintiffs also request an injunction restraining Young from instructing Foley or his debt‑recovery business to contact them.
In a High Court case on 1 February 2024, the directors of NCS Autoparts Limited, Paul and Brenda Lanigan, alleged that chartered accountant Gerard Young, trading as Mara Young & Company, had hired convicted criminal Martin 'The Viper' Foley to collect an approximate €19,000 debt. The plaintiffs claim Foley's visits to their home, including leaving a business card, constituted intimidation. They seek an injunction preventing Young from instructing Foley or his debt‑recovery business to contact them. The court noted the alleged intimidation as "very intimidating" and granted the plaintiffs permission to serve short‑notice injunction proceedings on the defendant. The matter was set to return next week, with the judge expressing confidence that Foley would not call the plaintiffs' property until the next hearing. No orders were made at this stage. The case remains pending.
Kacper Koszarski, 23, faced a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing after a series of violent burglaries and high‑speed car chases. He pleaded guilty to 17 charges, including four counts of dangerous driving, four of trespass, one of endangerment, four of criminal damage, two of burglary, one of knife production and one of unauthorised vehicle taking. The court noted his 39 prior convictions, seven of them theft, and warned that a "sentence of some significance" would be imposed. Judge Elva Duffy adjourned the case to 22 March for a probation report, urine analysis and governor's report, remanding Koszarski in custody. The hearing covered incidents from a Maynooth burglary where a Renault Megane was taken and chased, to multiple garden trespasses in Dublin where knives were found. Koszarski's partner testified about their son with additional needs, and he expressed remorse and a desire for rehabilitation. The court considered his young age, addiction history and willingness to cooperate. The case remains pending.
Sharon Hickey, 45, of Kilmainham, Dublin 8, pleaded guilty to possessing 2.9kg of heroin for sale or supply outside the Lamplighter pub in Dublin 8 on April 12, 2022. She appeared before Judge Elma Sheahan in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where she admitted to the charge. Gardaí reported that Hickey was intercepted after receiving a bag containing the drugs and €500 in cash from co-accused Gregory Dunne. During interview, Hickey stated she was instructed to find a hiding place for the drugs to settle a drug debt, for which she was to be paid €500 and have her debt reduced. Her defence counsel highlighted her difficult childhood, addiction struggles, and a certificate in addiction studies, urging leniency. Hickey has one previous conviction for larceny from the 1990s. Judge Sheahan adjourned the case for finalisation on January 12, 2024. Co-accused Gregory Dunne, 39, of Dublin 7, had previously pleaded guilty to the same charge. In October, Judge Sheahan sentenced Dunne to eight years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended on strict conditions.
In the trial of Michael Lynn, a former legal executive, Liz Doyle, testified that she signed another solicitor's name on documents at Lynn's instruction, citing intense pressure and fear in the firm. Doyle, who worked as a legal executive at Michael Lynn & Co, described a demanding environment with constant calls and emails, and claimed she followed Lynn's directions to sign the name of Fiona McAleenan, a solicitor in the practice, and also the signature of Kinsella Mitchell and Associates, auditors for the firm. She admitted she was aware that signing the documents was wrong but felt compelled by the pressure. Doyle also discussed personal financial strain, including her husband's business collapse and multiple mortgages. The prosecution alleges Lynn obtained multiple mortgages on the same properties, while the defence disputes the extent of Doyle's knowledge and intent. The case is before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
A trial date of 2 July 2025 has been set for former hurling star DJ Carey, who is accused of fraudulently claiming he needed money for cancer treatment and inducing people to pay him. The 52‑year‑old, from The Drive, Newtown, Maynooth, appeared briefly at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court where the judge, Orla Crowe, set the trial to last three to four weeks. Carey denies all 19 counts of dishonestly inducing payments and two additional charges of using a false instrument. He also faces a request for a variation of bail conditions to allow him to sign at a different Garda station closer to his new address. The State's counsel, Simon Matthews, did not object to the bail variation. The case is set to proceed in 2025, with no further developments reported in the article.
Luke McNamee, a 20‑year‑old Leaving Cert student from Loughlinstown Road, Celbridge, was recruited by a Snapchat user named "R Boogie" to act as a money mule for pandemic unemployment payments. McNamee, then 18, gave his bank details and received €4,700 in PUP funds, which he was instructed to transfer to other accounts or use to buy goods for resale. He later admitted the scheme, presented his story to Gardaí with his parents, and cooperated fully. The court found him guilty of possessing the proceeds of crime in his AIB account between 18 May and 30 July 2021. Judge Orla Crowe applied Section 100 of the Criminal Justice Act, deferring sentencing and imposing conditions until 14 December, with a possible 12‑month sentence if he fails to comply. She ordered McNamee to repay €1,500 he gained and to keep the peace, noting his lack of prior convictions and his cooperation.
Joe McCabe, aged 21, pleaded guilty in the Central Criminal Court to one count of sexual assault against a 16‑year‑old friend at his home in Maynooth between 2 and 31 March 2018. He was 17 at the time of the offence. The victim, now 21, gave consent for his name to be disclosed. At the hearing, Justice Karen O'Connor remanded McCabe in custody before sentencing. She imposed an 18‑month sentence, suspended in full on a number of conditions, noting that he must be sentenced as a minor and that detention should be a last resort. The judge highlighted the victim's catastrophic life impact, her disrupted education, ongoing depression, anxiety and flashbacks, and the significant and ongoing effect on her daily life. McCabe's guilty plea and the fact that the victim avoided trial were taken into account as mitigating factors.
Michael John Cummins, 22, of Dreenane, Carbury, was sentenced to five years in prison for the anal rape of a teenage friend who was asleep after a house party in County Kildare on 25 November 2018. Cummins pleaded guilty in June 2022. The victim, who chose to remain unnamed, gave permission for Cummins to be named and provided a victim impact statement in which she questioned why he had not pleaded guilty earlier and expressed relief at his eventual admission. The judge noted the profound effect on her life, her fear, and her resilience. Cummins was found to have genuine remorse, and the court imposed a custodial sentence of six years and three months, with the final 15 months suspended on strict conditions, including no contact with the victim and engagement with the Probation Service. The case highlighted the victim's struggle to regain safety and confidence after the assault.
Denis Maguire, 65, former head of finance and company secretary at Our Lady's Hospice (OLH), pleaded guilty to deception for selling a Spanish property, Aloha Lake Village, Marbella West, at €37,500 in March 2015, far below its €240,000 market value. Maguire, who had no prior convictions, managed OLH's inherited properties and secured a resolution allowing him to dispose of the Spanish asset. He accepted a third‑party offer within 24 hours, without due diligence, and arranged the sale to Sun Orange Property LLC, a New York‑registered shell company. OLH suffered a loss of over €28,000 after liabilities were deducted. The scheme was uncovered following an HSE audit in September 2015. In November 2022, Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Maguire to 27 months' imprisonment, back‑dated to 17 October, citing the devious nature of the crime and the breach of trust he had owed to OLH.
Lee McMullen, aged 22, pleaded guilty on 31 July 2019 to two counts of endangerment and two counts of dangerous driving after driving a car on the wrong side of a motorway at high speed with its lights off. The incident, which lasted eight to ten minutes, involved McMullen driving at speeds up to 160 km/h, crossing road dividers, and continuing onto the motorway in the outbound lane. Garda Michael Martin chased the vehicle, which eventually broke violently at the Leixlip junction and was abandoned. McMullen was apprehended nearby; passengers were later found in a taxi. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a sentence of 21 months for the endangerment count, with the remaining two years and three months suspended on strict conditions. The sentence reflects McMullen's eight prior convictions and the serious nature of the offence.
Ann Doherty, an employment support instructor at St John of God Community Services, was denied permission to work from home while pregnant during the first year of the Covid‑19 pandemic. She claimed discrimination under the Employment Equality Act, arguing that other staff were allowed to work remotely. The Workplace Relations Commission found that the employer had unlawfully denied her full pay and work access from March to August 2020. The adjudicating officer noted that Doherty was particularly vulnerable, being pregnant and caring for a young child, and that the employer's refusal was not justified. Consequently, the commission ordered St John of God Community Services to pay Doherty €45,000 in compensation for the loss of pay and the discriminatory treatment she endured.
Two young men, Joel Kialunda, 20, and Emmanuel Esuku, 23, were sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to fully suspended one‑year imprisonment for laundering money defrauded from a Swedish trade union. The fraud involved fraudulent emails claiming that three ventilators would be purchased for donation to a hospital for Covid‑19 treatment. The union transferred €27,594.63 into an account provided in the email, which was later found to belong to Kialunda. Over €23,000 was withdrawn or transferred elsewhere, including €3,000 sent to a Revolut account belonging to Esuku. Both men pleaded guilty to money laundering on 22 and 23 April 2020, respectively. Judge Martin Nolan, citing their age and mitigation, suspended the sentences in their entirety on strict conditions. The court noted that neither accused had been involved in the initial defrauding of the union and that the money had been recovered and returned to the union.
Enda Holmes, 38, received a fully suspended sentence of two‑and‑a‑half years for a campaign of harassment against a woman he met on an escort website. Holmes repeatedly called and texted the victim, set up an account on the same website displaying her phone number and her daughter's name, and sent messages that linked to her location. He also paid her €200 by direct debit and continued to contact her after she blocked his number, including visiting her workplace. The victim reported the incidents to Gardaí in February 2020, after which Holmes ceased contact. Judge Melanie Greally imposed the suspended sentence on strict conditions, ordering Holmes to avoid the victim's residence and workplace for ten years and to refrain from any contact. A breach of this order is a separate offence punishable by up to 12 months imprisonment. The unnamed man pleaded guilty.
At a sentence hearing in the Central Criminal Court, the court heard that David Fortune, 33, of Rutland Grove in Crumlin, was jailed for eight years in 2006 for manslaughter after he fatally stabbed 31-year-old Michael Murphy outside the 'Buddha Bar' in Dublin west. The court also heard that Fortune was re-arraigned following legal discussions and pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in the killing of his father, Gerry Fortune, 62, on August 19, 2018. The Director of Public Prosecutions accepted the plea. Sean Gillane SC, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, told Ms Justice Eileen Creedon that the killing of Gerry Fortune in 2018 falls in the upper end of seriousness for manslaughter and the defendant should be jailed for up to 15 years. Defence counsel Michael Bowman SC said his client had a 'very close bond and friendship' with his father and had 'no animus whatsoever' towards him. He asked the court to place the offence in the mid-range and to consider suspending a portion of the sentence to allow Fortune to continue his education and rehabilitation. Leona Lambe, David Fortune's half-sister and daughter of the deceased, told the court that there are 'no winners' regardless of the sentence imposed. She added that David will have to live with what he did for the rest of his life, knowing he took the life of a man who only ever showed him love, and that is worse than ten life sentences. Ms Justice Creedon adjourned sentencing until June 28.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Adetola Jimoh, aged 53, was sentenced to 240 hours of community service over 18 months instead of prison for his role in a €362,810 invoice redirect scam. Jimoh admitted to accepting €10,000 that had been transferred to his account as part of the fraud, claiming he believed the money was for buying a car for a friend. He pleaded guilty to one charge of money laundering on 25 August 2015 and had no prior convictions. The court noted that the €10,000 was withdrawn through ATMs and point‑of‑sale transactions. Judge Melanie Greally accepted his plea as based on recklessness, acknowledged the Garda evidence, and ordered the community service sentence. The case involved a fraudulent payment to a construction firm, Rhatigans, by Maynooth University, which was never received. The university was the victim of an invoice redirect fraud originating from a server in America.
In a Dublin incident on 3 January 2017, Laura Kenna, a homeless woman aged 37, slit the throat of civil servant Fionnuala Bourke while walking home from work. Kenna was arrested the following day and later pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, citing a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder. She was convicted of attempted murder and assault causing harm, and in April 2019 the Central Criminal Court imposed a 15‑year prison term, of which five years were suspended. The Court of Appeal dismissed Kenna's appeal against both the conviction and the sentence. The appeal was rejected on the basis that the jury's verdict was supported by credible expert testimony, and the sentencing judge's decision was deemed proper for the gravity of the offence. Kenna must serve the 10‑year custodial term imposed by the court.
A student teacher, Ekaette Kwuogor from Cappagh Road, Finglas Dublin 11, has initiated High Court proceedings against Maynooth University, alleging that the university prevented her from graduating as she was unable to complete her teaching practice due to the closure of schools during the Covid-19 pandemic. Ms Kwuogor was studying for a Higher Diploma in Further Education at the university's Department of Adult and Community Education. She was accepted into the programme for the 2019-20 academic year and commenced the teacher training part of her course last January. However, she faced delays in starting her teaching practice due to the need for police clearance reports from both the Gardai and Nigerian authorities. The closure of schools in March 2020 further hindered her ability to complete the required teaching practice modules. The university informed her in April that she could not graduate due to insufficient teaching experience. Ms Kwuogor appealed the decision but has not received an outcome. She claims the delay is inordinate and breaches her rights to natural and constitutional justice. She seeks orders compelling the university to make a decision on her appeal and declarations regarding her entitlement to a decision or a time frame. The matter was heard by Mr Justice Charles Meenan in an ex-parte application and was adjourned for further proceedings later this week.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal against the severity of the sentence imposed on Donal Billings, a 70-year-old pensioner from County Longford. Billings was found guilty by the Special Criminal Court in 2016 of possessing an explosive substance at Longford railway station car park on May 16, 2011, during Queen Elizabeth's state visit. He was also convicted of making false reports that bombs had been placed at Busáras, Sinn Féin's headquarters, Cork airport, and Dublin Castle. The court upheld his eight-and-a-half-year sentence, describing it as "very lenient." Presiding Judge George Birmingham, sitting with Justices Marie Baker and Patrick McCarthy, stated there was no merit in the appeal and declined to increase the term. Billings, who attended remotely from Portlaoise Prison, had previously lost an appeal against his conviction regarding Irish language rights. His barrister, Gerard Humphreys SC, cited his client's age, health difficulties, and cooperation during the trial. The court noted that the explosive device, comprising gunpowder and petrol, was placed on a public transport vehicle, recklessly exposing passengers to significant risk. The judges concluded that while the sentence was lenient, they would not intervene to increase it. The matter was not adjourned; the appeal was dismissed.
John Lawrence, 29, was spared a prison sentence after pleading guilty to possession of a stolen caravan and driving dangerously in a high‑speed pursuit. The court heard that he had completed an addiction studies programme and was volunteering as a mentor in a prison after‑care programme, a role described as "inspiring" by professionals. Lawrence, from Drogheda, drove a Jeep towing a €12,000 caravan stolen from Hertfordshire, England, at speeds over 140 km/h in a 100 km/h zone, forcing gardaí and the public to avoid collisions. He had prior convictions for theft, deception and traffic offences. Judge Karen O'Connor, after hearing mitigation, suspended a two‑year prison term on the condition that Lawrence continue his studies and voluntary work with prisoners.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.".
A 75‑year‑old man, Christopher Redmond of Finglas, had his 2018 conviction for raping his granddaughter quashed after a new medical report found he suffered from a severe form of dementia with no prospect of recovery. The Court of Appeal considered that the earlier report, which had only noted a mild cognitive impairment, did not raise any doubt about his fitness to stand trial at the time of the original trial. Redmond had pleaded not guilty to four counts of rape and five counts of sexual assault between 2002 and 2004. He was sentenced to five years' imprisonment by Ms Justice Úna Ní Raifeartaigh, who had reduced the headline sentence because of his progressive cognitive impairments. The appeal was allowed, and no further order was made. The victim, Leanne Murphy, aged seven to nine when abused, expressed her shock and disappointment with the outcome.
Donal Billings, a 67-year-old pensioner from County Longford, has lost his appeal against convictions obtained at the Special Criminal Court. The appeal, heard by the Court of Appeal, focused on two primary issues: the sufficiency of evidence and alleged violations of his Irish language rights. Billings was found guilty of possessing an explosive substance at Longford railway station car park on May 16, 2011, and making false bomb reports on May 16, 18, and 20, 2011, targeting Busáras, Sinn Féin headquarters, Dublin Castle, and Cork airport during Queen Elizabeth's state visit. He was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years' imprisonment by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, who described the acts as outrageous and dangerous. In the appeal, counsel Martin Giblin SC argued that Billings' Irish language rights were destroyed, citing the lack of an Irish-language transcript and the unavailability of the Explosive Substances Act 1883 in Irish. President of the Court of Appeal, Mr Justice George Birmingham, dismissed these arguments, stating the evidence was sufficient and that the trial arrangements, including the use of interpreters, were reasonable. The court found no disadvantage to Billings and ruled that the State was not compelled to provide an Irish transcript or translate pre-1922 statutes. The appeal was dismissed, upholding the original conviction and sentence.
In a Court of Appeal hearing, letters sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on behalf of struck‑off solicitor Michael Lynn (50) alleged that the State was trying to "nail" him, calling him an "innocent man" and accusing the DPP of "robust bloodlust." Lynn, who has been extradited from Brazil after spending four‑and‑a‑half years in a Brazilian prison, faces 21 counts of theft totalling almost €30 million from seven financial institutions, including €4.1 million from Irish Nationwide and €3.6 million from Ulster Bank. His lawyers challenged assurances that time served in Brazil would be deducted from any Irish sentence, arguing the DPP's statements could impinge on the separation of powers. The Court of Appeal reserved judgment, noting the letters were "intemperate" and that the case was "moot" or "un‑stateable" according to the DPP's counsel. The appeal may affect Lynn's upcoming trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Evan Dunne, 20, of Ballyfermot, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply. The offence occurred on February 15, 2018, at a car park in Dowdstown, Maynooth, Co Kildare. Gardaí seized seven packages of cocaine from a van Dunne had purchased the previous day, with an estimated street value of just over €492,400. Judge Pauline Codd identified the high value of the drugs and the planning involved in purchasing the vehicle as serious aggravating factors. However, she noted mitigating circumstances, including Dunne's guilty plea, his insight into the crime, his low risk of re-offending, and his employment history. The court heard that Dunne claimed he committed the offence to raise funds for a garage business and had developed a cocaine addiction from age 17. Judge Codd imposed a seven-year sentence, with the final four years suspended for that period. She ordered four years of Probation Service supervision, requiring Dunne to follow all directions, including victim empathy work and therapeutic supports. The sentence was backdated to November last year, when Dunne first went into custody, resulting in an effective custody period of three years.
Paul Connolly, 37, with 14 dangerous‑driving convictions and 3 hit‑and‑run convictions, drove under the influence of cocaine and benzodiazepine on Coolmine Road on 1 May 2018. While driving his child to school, he mounted a footpath, first striking Michael Igoe, 54, and then student Francis Dhala, 19. Igoe suffered a fractured ankle, bruising, torn shoulder muscles and a concussion; Dhala sustained a severe head injury, requiring multiple surgeries and a prolonged hospital stay. Connolly left the scene calmly, later claiming he thought he had hit a bush. He was intercepted by a driving instructor and Gardaí, admitted to drug use, and pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm, driving under the influence, possession of cannabis, failing to remain at the scene, failing to offer assistance, failing to alert Gardaí, and driving without insurance or a licence.
In March 2019, Gamiya Muftau, aged 24, was sentenced to two years in prison for his role in a €360,000 money‑laundering scheme that stole funds from Maynooth University. The fraud began in summer 2015 when university staff paid a contractor, Rhatigans, into a fraudulent account after a phone call from someone claiming to be from the firm. The money was then transferred through 15 transactions to several accounts, one belonging to Muftau. He pleaded guilty to possessing €18,100 as proceeds of crime and was arrested in December 2016. Judge Melanie Greally accepted his guilty plea and cooperation, noting his poor judgment and low‑level involvement. She imposed a two‑year sentence, suspended for 18 months, and ordered 12 months of post‑release supervision focused on accommodation and education. Muftau has been in custody since November 2018.
A man from Drumlish, County Longford, has appealed his conviction for possessing an explosive substance and making hoax bomb threats during a state visit in 2011. Dónal Billings, aged 67, was found guilty by the Special Criminal Court of placing a device on a Dublin-bound bus at Longford railway station car park on 16 May 2011, and of making false reports of bombs at multiple locations including Dublin Castle and Cork Airport. He received a sentence of eight-and-a-half years imprisonment. His appeal, heard before the Court of Appeal, is being conducted in Irish, marking the first such case since the court's establishment in 2014. Counsel for Billings argued that the State failed to protect his client's Irish language rights, citing the unavailability of transcripts in Irish and the non-translation of relevant legislation. The hearing continues.
A 24‑year‑old man, Gamiya Muftau, will be sentenced later for his role in a €350,000 fraud that stole money from Maynooth University. In summer 2015, university staff paid a contractor, Rhatigans, into a fraudulent account after a phone call from someone claiming to be from the firm. The university transferred €362,810 to the fake account, which was then moved through 15 transactions to several accounts, one belonging to Muftau. He pleaded guilty to possessing €18,100 as proceeds of crime at AIB, Capel Street, on 25 August 2015. Muftau was arrested in December 2016, gave false addresses, and later admitted he was squatting. He claimed he was unaware the money was stolen and had no access to it. He has seven prior convictions, mainly traffic offences. Judge Melanie Greally ordered a probation report and adjourned sentencing to 14 March.
A Dublin man has been sentenced to two and a half years imprisonment following his assault on a garda with a glass bottle. Christopher Reilly (28) pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting Garda Daniel Sweeney, causing him harm, on Ratoath Road, Cabra, on 10 November 2015. During the incident, Reilly swung a glass bottle at the garda, causing a serious leg wound that required thirteen stitches and resulted in permanent sensory loss. The victim, in a statement read to the court, described losing considerable blood and being unable to walk for a month following the attack. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a three and a half year sentence with the final twelve months suspended, noting the assault fell within the upper range of seriousness. She ordered Reilly to complete any violent offender programme directed by the Probation Service and to address his drug use. Reilly has sixty-seven previous convictions.