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.
Edco denies discrimination after Mary Tracy, a sales rep with lupus SLE, was told she could not stay in her role because medical advice limited her to lifting no more than 3 kg. Tracy claims the company's sales model required her to carry multiple textbooks—some up to 2.7 kg—into schools, causing flare‑ups. She alleges the employer failed to disclose the manual handling demands during her interview and that she was "managed out" after management adopted the 3 kg restriction. Edco argues the restriction made the job impossible and that any workaround, such as a trolley, would disadvantage the company. The WRC heard evidence from both sides, including a proposed role change that Tracy rejected, and noted her dismissal on 22 August 2023. The tribunal will conclude the hearing on Thursday.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, witnesses described Peter Kennedy, aged 65, as a kind, "absolute gentleman" who had taken in Brian Ibe's mother and offered his home to the homeless. Ibe, 23, denied murdering Kennedy but admitted causing his death. He claimed Kennedy demanded money from him and threatened to kill him. Ibe's mother, Martha, testified that her son had threatened Kennedy, used a knife, and stabbed him in the back of the neck. Garda Shane Lehane found Kennedy flat on his back, saturated in blood, and the victim was taken to Naas and Beaumont hospitals before dying on 12 May 2020. A pathology report cited multiple contusions, fractures, and brain injury as the cause of death. The trial will determine whether Ibe's defence of not guilty by reason of insanity applies.
In a case that began with an unprovoked street attack on April 17, 2022, Stefan Bornac, aged 21, assaulted Thomas Oliver and James Lightly on D'Olier Street, Dublin 2. Bornac struck Oliver with a forceful right‑hand blow to the temple, then repeatedly punched Lightly, knocking him to the ground before kicking him in the head. Oliver, a 25‑year‑old college student, was rendered unconscious, transported to St James' Hospital, intubated, and later transferred to Beaumont Hospital where he remained in a coma for three weeks. Lightly sustained injuries but survived. Bornac pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm to Oliver and assault causing harm to Lightly, and was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four and a half years' imprisonment, with nine months suspended. He appealed the sentence, but after the Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice George Birmingham, highlighted the "very serious violence" involved, Bornac withdrew his appeal, accepting the original sentence.
Several High Court challenges have been filed by organisations that claim their applications for the now-defunct Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) were wrongly rejected by the Minister for Justice. The IIP, abolished in 2023, had allowed non‑EU nationals to invest large sums in Irish projects in exchange for residency visas. The applicants, who submitted their applications before the programme's discontinuation, were not included in the scheme. On Monday, lawyers for 'The Church on the Main Street CLG' and Naas Rugby Football Club presented separate judicial review actions. The church had secured an investor to purchase and renovate the Dara Cinema, now a food bank and drop‑in centre, while the rugby club had an investor to upgrade facilities and build a new pitch. Both investors were prepared to commit at least €400,000 as philanthropic donations to endowment projects benefiting arts, sports or education.
Dominik Kaczmarek, 32, of Naas, Co Kildare, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to one count of possessing cocaine for sale or supply at his then home address in Tallaght on April 24, 2023. The court heard that gardaí seized two kilos of cocaine from his car during a raid, but one kilo was allegedly 'inadvertently destroyed' by officers before analysis, resulting in charges based on the remaining one kilo. Judge Martin Nolan noted Kaczmarek's long history of addiction and that third parties had exploited this to use him for drug transport. The judge handed down a five and a half-year sentence, suspending the final year on a number of conditions. Kaczmarek has previous convictions, including a prior two-year sentence for a drug offence. His defence counsel highlighted his dysfunctional family life, drug addiction, and lack of financial benefit from the offence. The matter was finalised with this sentencing.
Keith Tiswell, 39, of Woodavens, Clondalkin, was sentenced to eight years in prison for possessing €3.3 million worth of cannabis. On 8 September last year, he was caught transporting the drugs at an industrial estate in Dublin 12. Gardaí had been surveilling two vans; after intercepting one, Tiswell handed over the keys to the other, which was searched and found with 168 kg of vacuum‑packed cannabis. He admitted to the offence, citing debts from a long‑standing drug and gambling addiction and claiming he was under pressure to keep the drugs. He had 75 prior convictions, including drug possession. The judge acknowledged the coercion but imposed the sentence, back‑dating it for time already served. The case was heard by Judge Martin Nolan, with prosecution by David Staunton BL and defence by Anne‑Marie Lawlor SC.
A former employee of Yeomanstown Stud, Gillian Keane, is before the Workplace Relations Commission alleging unfair dismissal and workplace bullying. Keane claims she was treated aggressively by an office manager and that the work environment was hostile, citing a "dreadful atmosphere" that forced her to wear headphones. She also says she was denied access to online banking after her return from sick leave, and that a ledger was "out by €11 million." The stud's owners, Rolline and David O'Callaghan, deny the allegations, stating Keane was aggressive on 1 November and that she had a history of material mistakes. They argue she was offered a severance package of two months' wages, which Keane disputes, saying she only received a written agreement on 17 November. The case will be heard by adjudicator Conor Stokes on a future date.
During a High Court hearing on 14 March 2024, the plaintiff company, Total Experience Limited trading as Pastures New Accommodation, presented evidence that a protest at its Newhall site in Naas, Co. Kildare, had ended after a temporary injunction was granted. The company, contracted by the State to provide 985 beds in 387 cabins for Ukrainian refugees, claimed that up to 50 protesters had blocked entrances for 24 hours, creating a nuisance and safety risk. The injunction, obtained ex‑parte, restrained the protesters from obstructing the site. The plaintiff sought to adjourn the proceedings and was granted permission to return if necessary. A concerned citizen, Mr Chris McCormack, addressed the court, voicing local residents' worries that the development would become a "village of 1,000 people" and that a similar facility had been used for "100 people from the third world" without documents.
The High Court heard that a protest at a new Ukrainian refugee accommodation site in Newhall, Naas, Co Kildare, has "de‑escalated". Total Experience Limited, trading as Pastures New Accommodation, was building emergency accommodation for hundreds of Ukrainian refugees and had obtained a temporary injunction to stop protesters from blocking the site's entrances. The plaintiff's lawyers said that, despite the injunction, a campsite had been erected by protesters, which they alleged was trespassing. Counsel for the plaintiff reported that the campsite had been removed overnight, reducing the urgency of the matter. The court agreed to adjourn the case to the following Thursday, keeping the injunction in place. No protesters attended the adjourned hearing, and the plaintiff's application to amend the proceedings was postponed. The injunction remains in force while the case is pending.
The High Court heard that protesters continue to obstruct entrances to a refugee accommodation site in Naas, Co Kildare, despite a temporary injunction granted last week. Gary McCarthy SC, with Barry Mansfield BL, representing the applicant, Total Experience Limited trading as Pastures New Accommodation, told Mr Justice Oisin Quinn that the protest remains ongoing. Counsel alleged that while some protesters left, others erected a campsite at the entrance, preventing larger articulated lorries from accessing the site. The applicant claims the protesters are trespassing and requested to amend proceedings to address this alleged trespass, extend the previous order, and add the names of several identified individuals. The court heard the facility, contracted by the State to provide 985 beds, was scheduled to open this week but remains delayed. No defendants appeared or made representations. Mr Justice Quinn accepted the matter remained urgent and adjourned it to later this week. The applicant also alleged that protesters previously used tactics including human shields and parked cars to block access, constituting a nuisance. The company expressed concern over aggressive social media posts alleging threats of fire and sabotage, noting fears of escalation given previous incidents involving refugee accommodation.
Dan Horan, a 32‑year‑old panto performer from Wicklow, pleaded guilty in July 2023 to sexually assaulting a 26‑year‑old man at a house party in Naas in July 2020. The victim had fallen asleep after receiving cannabis from Horan. Horan was found to be rubbing the victim's penis while the victim's girlfriend discovered the assault at about 6 am, leading to the victim's distress. In February 2024 Judge Mary O'Malley Costello sentenced Horan to four‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended for two years. Horan appealed, arguing the headline sentence of six‑and‑a‑half years was too high. The Court of Appeal quashed the original sentence, re‑sentencing Horan to a headline of four‑and‑a‑half years, discounting 18 months, and suspending an additional 18 months to encourage rehabilitation.
A company building emergency accommodation for Ukrainian refugees in Newhall, Naas, Co Kildare, has obtained a temporary High Court injunction to stop protesters from blocking the site's entrances. Total Experience Limited, trading as Pastures New Accommodation, claims that up to 50 protesters have been preventing people and vehicles from entering or leaving the site by forming a "human shield" and parking cars in front of the entrances. The company says these actions amount to nuisance and unreasonable interference, and that the blockade could delay the completion of the facility, which is 90% finished and expected to be ready by early March. Mr Justice Mark Sanfey granted the injunction on an ex‑parte basis, restraining two identified protesters, Noreen O'Shea and Jessica McLoughlin, and against unknown persons who are also alleged to be obstructing the entrances. The injunction is temporary and the case is set to return to court next week.
Mamadou Alpha Bah, 27, was sentenced to six years in prison by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for a violent sexual assault that occurred on 2 September 2020. The offence involved Bah chasing a 43‑year‑old woman through a hotel corridor after she had gone to his room, where he pinned her to a bed, threatened her, punched her, forced her to remove her clothes and sexually assaulted her through her clothing. He also attempted to force her legs open and followed her to the bathroom, where she escaped. CCTV footage captured the chase. Bah pleaded guilty on the morning of his trial and was found remorseful. He had no prior convictions at the time of the offence but had been convicted of sexual assault and false imprisonment in August 2021, receiving a five‑year sentence with one year suspended in October 2023.
A man named Michael Crotty, aged 41, admitted to facilitating the Kinahan Cartel by buying a mobile top‑up for Sean McGovern, a leading figure in the cartel, during a Special Criminal Court hearing. Crotty had previously pleaded not guilty to a charge related to the 2016 murder of Noel 'Duck Egg' Kirwan, an innocent man mistakenly targeted by the cartel. In the hearing, Crotty pleaded guilty to a new charge of recklessness under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act, stating he had no intention for the top‑up to be used in endangering anyone. The court noted that Kirwan was shot dead after the Regency Hotel attack, which had involved the cartel. The judge extended Crotty's bail and adjourned sentencing to April 22. The trial had been scheduled for up to five weeks and included testimony on the cartel's structure and activities.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Elva Duffy heard that Lee Byrne (23) and Sam Garvey (25) pleaded guilty to robbery on Phibsborough Road on 1 October 2022. The robbery involved a mobile phone taken from a cyclist who was then punched, threatened and struck with a bottle. The victim suffered bruising and swelling to the back of his head and reported lasting emotional distress. Byrne and Garvey were arrested after a search that recovered the stolen phone. Both men have prior convictions and have been in residential treatment for addiction. The judge noted their rehabilitation efforts but emphasised the robbery's profound effect on the victim. She adjourned the case to 20 January 2025, remanded them on bail, and said further positive steps would influence future sentencing. The hearing included the victim's impact statement and letters of remorse from the accused.
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.
Tadhg Keely, 19, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for stealing a Toyota Aqua from Belview Court, Blackrock, Co Dublin, and endangerment on the N81 Tallaght bypass. He pleaded guilty to these charges and further admitted to dangerous driving on the N7 in Naas, Co Kildare. Judge Martin Nolan described the incident as extremely dangerous, noting Keely's "disgraceful behaviour" when he drove through traffic cones, forcing a workman to "jump for his life." The court heard Keely led ten garda patrol cars on a 40-minute chase at speeds exceeding 160km/h, blowing two tyres and driving on the wrong side of the road. He was sentenced to three and a half years in prison, with the final year suspended due to his young age, guilty plea, and difficult background. Judge Nolan disqualified Keely from driving for three years and ordered one year of probation supervision upon release. Keely, who has 36 previous convictions, was in State care at the time. The matter was finalised with this sentence.
In a High Court hearing on 25 January 2024, Mr Justice Mark Sanfey set aside a subpoena that had been issued by Paul Coyle to compel Gabriel Makhlouf, Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland, to give evidence in a property dispute brought by Ken Fennell, James Anderson and Start Mortgages. The judge found the subpoena to be flawed, lacking a clear statement of the party requesting the evidence and the documents to be produced, and concluded it was an abuse of process. The Central Bank is not a party to the case, which seeks an injunction to vacate a property in Mullingar. The subpoena was described as a "fishing expedition" and a nullity. The application to set it aside was made by Shelly Horan BL for the bank, and Mr Coyle was not present at the hearing, being in the United States. The defendants did not object to the application.
Sean McGovern, injured in the 2016 Regency Hotel attack, is named in the Special Criminal Court as a senior leader of the Kinahan organised crime group. The court heard sworn testimony on the Kinahan cartel's command structure and activities, and evidence that 33 people linked to the organisation, who were "going to be involved in violence and murder," have been arrested by Gardaí. Detective Superintendent David Gallagher testified that the Kinahan group is driven by monetary gain, primarily through drug trafficking, and enforces control by violence, firearms and murder. He described the organisation as hierarchical, with a core in Dubai and cells in Europe and South America, noting a dramatic fall in violence since 2018. Gallagher confirmed McGovern's leadership role and that he is currently based in Dubai. The hearing also covered the murder of Noel Kirwan, mistakenly targeted by the Kinahans, and the prosecution of Michael Crotty for facilitating that murder. Michael Crotty pleaded not guilty.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan presented evidence that Christopher 'Noel' Kirwan, an innocent man with no criminal involvement, was shot six times and died from multiple gunshot wounds to his head, chest, arm and abdomen. The pathologist identified eight separate injuries caused by six bullets, including a bullet that entered Kirwan's chest, damaging the aorta and the lower lobe of the left lung, leading to heart and lung failure. Additional wounds to the chest, abdomen and right arm caused blood loss. A bullet entered Kirwan's head below the right eye, fracturing his upper jaw and lodging beneath the lower jaw. Toxicology tests were negative for drugs or alcohol. Michael Crotty, 40, is on trial for allegedly facilitating Kirwan's murder by topping up a mobile phone for Sean McGovern; Crotty pleaded not guilty to the single charge.
A 40‑year‑old man with no prior convictions, Michael Crotty, is on trial before the Special Criminal Court for allegedly topping up a prepaid mobile phone that was used in the murder of Christopher 'Noel' Kirwan, who was mistakenly linked to the Regency Hotel shooting. Crotty pleaded not guilty. The prosecution alleges he purchased a top‑up for the third phone at a Spar shop in Naas on 21 December 2016, the day before Kirwan's murder. They claim he knew or was reckless about the phone's potential use in a serious crime. Crotty was arrested in March 2021 and questioned by Gardaí. He is charged under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act for participating or contributing to the murder of Kirwan. The court will consider a media application regarding a party named only as AB in evidence. The trial is ongoing.
In a High Court ruling, Smullen Logistic Solutions Ltd lost its application for an injunction against Goldstein Property ICAV regarding a disputed right of access to its Newhall, Co Kildare site. Mr Justice David Nolan refused the request, stating that damages would be an adequate remedy for the neighbourly dispute, which must be resolved at a full hearing. The judge characterised the application as tactical, noting it followed cease-and-desist letters sent by the defendant. Costs were awarded against the plaintiff, with no stay on the order. The court noted the decision may be appealed to the Court of Appeal. Smullen alleged that Goldstein locked a gate essential for its 250 trucks and containers, causing ongoing losses, while claiming exclusive use of the roadway until November 27. Goldstein denied wrongdoing, arguing no such roadway existed and presenting Ordnance Survey maps to support its position. The defendant contended the action was launched after Smullen began bulldozing works on disputed land and that alternative access routes were available. The matter remains subject to potential appeal, with the underlying ownership dispute pending a full hearing.
In the trial of Gerry Daly, 57, who pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Jacqueline Griffin on the M50, Dr Kevin Moore, a consultant endocrinologist, testified that Daly did not make a conscious decision to drive that day. Dr Moore explained that Daly, who has Type 1 diabetes, had been managing his condition for over ten years and had self‑funded a continuous glucose monitor. He argued that Daly's blood glucose levels were severely low, leading to hypoglycaemic symptoms such as confusion and disorientation. According to Dr Moore, this severe cognitive impairment meant Daly could not understand or control his actions, including driving. He further noted that Daly's recollection of the morning would be unreliable and that his behaviour after the crash was abnormal, reflecting his impaired state. The trial continues before Judge Elma Sheahan and the jury.
Jordan Keogh, a 27‑year‑old from Clondalkin, was on bail when he repeatedly moved cash, a handgun and ammunition for an organised gang. In February 2020 he was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for possession of €172,950 in crime cash, a semi‑automatic pistol, ammunition and drugs for sale. The original sentence comprised 3.5 years for two money‑laundering offences (concurrent), 2 years for cannabis possession (consecutive), and 1.5 years for the firearm offence with one year suspended, totalling seven years with 12 months suspended. The State appealed, arguing the judge had been too lenient, especially for the firearms offence. The Court of Appeal quashed the original sentences and re‑sentenced Keogh to nine years: 2 years for drugs, 3 years for the first money‑laundering offence (concurrent), 3 years for the second money‑laundering offence with 2 years suspended (consecutive), and 5 years for the firearms offences (consecutive). Jordan Keogh pleaded guilty.
Artur Bromirski, 45, pleaded guilty to cultivating 32 cannabis plants in a rented house in Moyville estate, Rathfarnham, worth €25,600. He originally faced a more serious charge of possessing drugs for sale or supply, but that charge was dropped, leaving only the cultivation count. Gardaí found no drug‑dealing paraphernalia, only growing tents, lighting and irrigation equipment. Bromirski claimed the plants were for personal use and that he had been a long‑term user. He had previously lived in Naas, Kildare, and now works as a cleaner at a zoo in Poland. He had no prior convictions and had been subletting the property. The court noted his back injury, his wife's death in 2015, and his receipt of medical marijuana in Poland. Judge Orla Crowe set a headline sentence of three years, reduced to two years, fully suspended, acknowledging his mitigating circumstances and contribution to society.
John O'Sullivan, a mobile tyre fitter who had worked for Tysoucha Ltd (trading as Tyresource) since 2000, was dismissed in 2022 after 22 years and nine months of service. The company, which claimed it was not liable for redundancy, argued that O'Sullivan was not made redundant because he found new work almost immediately. The tribunal found that the company had stopped the mobile tyre‑fitting service, effectively removing O'Sullivan's work vehicle, and that the alternative work offered was unsuitable due to transport issues. Consequently, the tribunal ordered the company to pay statutory redundancy based on his long service, amounting to €27,000, and noted that he was not entitled to notice pay because he left without completing his notice period.
Derek Brady, 59, pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary, threat to kill, and false imprisonment on 12 June 2022. He was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan on 26 January 2023 to five years' imprisonment with the final 15 months suspended. The State appealed, arguing the sentence was unduly lenient. The Court of Appeal, led by Justice George Birmingham, found the original sentence too light and quashed it. A headline sentence of ten years was set, with a one‑third discount applied, resulting in a net sentence of six years and eight months. Brady's suspended portion was removed, and the court ordered that the suspended year of his two‑year robbery and attempted robbery sentence be suspended to encourage rehabilitation. The revised sentence is consecutive to the robbery convictions, with no further changes to those terms.
An education support worker with Addison's disease, a rare hormonal disorder that can cause life‑threatening attacks, was awarded €33,500 after the Workplace Relations Commission found her employer discriminated against her under the Employment Equality Act 1998. The worker had learned in spring 2020 that her office in Blessington, Co. Wicklow would close and was offered relocation to Carlow, Naas, Kildare or Tallaght. She rejected Carlow because it lacked a hospital and requested the option to hot‑desk from Naas, but no accommodation was offered. She resigned and entered early retirement. The employer's counsel denied discrimination, claiming reasonable steps were taken, but the tribunal noted the employer knew of her serious medical conditions and failed to assess a suitable workplace. The compensation equated to six months' salary for the worker.
In a High Court decision on 12 June 2023, the eight‑month prison sentence imposed on 25‑year‑old Manuela Lacatus for stealing €233 worth of groceries from a Lidl store in Naas was quashed. Lacatus, who was pregnant with her fifth child at the time of the offence, had admitted the theft and had three prior convictions for theft and handling stolen goods. The sentence had been upheld by the Circuit Court in November 2021, with a three‑month stay due to the age of her unborn child and a further stay pending the High Court action. Lawyers argued that the sentence was extreme, based on a "fixed policy" that treated all repeat shoplifters the same, and that it failed to consider individual circumstances. Justice Niamh Hyland ruled that the Circuit Court's approach was impermissible, rejected the claim of a constitutional breach, and ordered the sentence to be set aside.
Tony Dean, 70, former owner of Dean Waste Management Ltd, was jailed for two years after a judge found him guilty of three breaches of a waste management licence and of holding or recovering waste in a manner likely to cause environmental pollution at a 25‑acre site at Kerdiffstown, Naas, Co. Kildare, between October 2003 and November 2008. The breaches were said to have had a significant environmental impact, with the landfill accepting more waste than it could manage, driven by financial motivation. Judge Melanie Greally noted that €61.5 million of public money was spent to remediate the site and that large profits had been generated and prioritized over compliance. The judge imposed a headline sentence of four years on each charge, reduced to three years with the final 12 months suspended, all to run concurrently. Tony Dean pleaded not guilty.
In a sentencing hearing on 22 May 2023, the Special Criminal Court heard that Michael Carroll, aged 43, had "indiscriminately" fired a revolver at John Hutch, a 63‑year‑old former Dublin resident, outside Hutch's home on Drumalee Avenue on 2 September 2016. CCTV showed Carroll approaching the rear of the house in a stolen Opel Astra, carrying two firearms – one with seven rounds and the other with six – and firing all rounds into the garden where Hutch's wife, Vera Hutch, was present. Vera Hutch gave a victim impact statement describing the lasting trauma of the incident. Carroll had previously been charged with attempted murder of Hutch and had pleaded guilty to a firearms offence. He was also charged with two attempted murders of Edward Staunton in March 2017; he pleaded guilty to one of those charges. The court noted Carroll's extensive criminal record and the alleged motive of repaying a drug debt to the Kinahan/Byrne faction.
A pharmacist, Fiona Rabbitte, has received a redundancy payment of over €22,000 after the Workplace Relations Commission ruled in her favour. The commission rejected Lloyds Pharmacy Ireland's claim that offering her a transfer from Newbridge to Naas was a reasonable alternative to redundancy. Ms Rabbitte had worked at the Newbridge branch since 2003 and was asked to move to the Naas branch in January 2022, which she refused. She argued that the closure of the Newbridge branch triggered her redundancy entitlement, while the firm claimed her employment had not been terminated. Ms Rabbitte explained that the Newbridge location was advantageous to her domestic life and that the Naas position would significantly increase her commuting time due to traffic congestion and the need to attend to her children's school runs. The firm's representative argued that the commute would only be extended by ten minutes and that a once-off compensation sum was offered.
Anthony Hatton, 36, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a smash‑and‑grab burglary at the Eir building, Heuston South Quarter, on 6 February 2018. A black Opel Corsa, driven by a co‑accused, was used to smash the building's windows; Hatton entered, removed a podium of laptops and phones, and placed it in the car. Gardaí arrived while he was still inside; he was arrested and taken to a garda station where he was initially deemed unfit for interview. The car was later found in Naas, Co. Kildare, and the driver was arrested the same day, found with two smartphones. The burglary caused €10,000 of damage, requiring replacement of two glass panes. Hatton, who has 150 prior convictions including five for burglary, was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment, back‑dated to 7 July 2022. The co‑accused received a three‑year sentence with 18 months suspended.
A 28‑year‑old man, Robert Broughan of St Patrick's Park, Rathangan, Co Kildare, has been charged with the murder of Roy Hopkins, 34, who died on 31 July 2020 after an assault with a blunt instrument believed to be a baseball bat. Broughan was charged at Naas District Court on 2 August 2020. The trial, originally scheduled for last July, was postponed pending a report. Justice Mary Ellen Ring set a new trial date for 5 February 2024, with a case‑management adjournment to 21 July, and the trial is expected to last no more than two weeks.
A 25‑year‑old English tourist, Thomas Oliver, was attacked in Dublin on 17 April 2022 and spent five and a half weeks in hospital, including three weeks in a coma at Beaumont Hospital. He suffered severe head injuries, loss of muscle mass, headaches, loss of smell and taste, and ongoing post‑traumatic stress. Oliver described waking as a "shell of a human" and expressed that the psychological damage would never leave him or his family. He thanked Irish emergency services and noted the financial cost of his care. The assailant, 19‑year‑old Stefan Bornac, pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm to Oliver and assault causing harm to Oliver's friend James Lightly. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Bornac to four and a half years in prison, with nine months suspended, after reducing a headline sentence of six and a half to seven years because of his age, good character, lack of record, guilty plea and cooperation.
Samy Taib, aged 21, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, coercive control, endangerment, driving without licence and insurance, and dangerous driving. He had previously been convicted of 22 road traffic offences. The court found the victim endured significant trauma and physical injury, including permanent foot damage. Taib's mental health, diagnosed as paranoid schizophrenia, was cited as a mitigating factor. Judge Elma Sheahan imposed a five‑year prison sentence, crediting time served in Scotland and any time already spent in custody. The final 12 months were suspended for two years, with strict conditions: probation supervision, no contact with the victim, and avoidance of her home and workplace. Taib was also disqualified from driving for six years. The case highlighted the severity of his offences and the impact on the victim's life.
Jamie Walsh, 18, was sentenced to 20 months in prison for assault causing harm after he and a co‑accused attacked a man on Naas Road, Dublin, on 18 November 2021. The incident began when the victim and his partner were kissing on a Luas stop; a boy shouted "It's so gay" and the two teenagers then punched and kicked the victim, leaving him unconscious with bruises, a swollen lip and a broken eye. CCTV identified Walsh and he was arrested a month later. Walsh had 48 prior convictions, including theft, robbery and assault. The court noted his upbringing in state care and his parents' criminal history. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a three‑year sentence, suspended the final 16 months, and ordered good behaviour and probation supervision for one year upon release. The victim's impact report was filed but not read aloud. The co‑accused, aged 14, had already been dealt with by the courts. The unnamed teenager pleaded guilty.
In December 2022, retired MMA fighter Artem Lobov filed High Court proceedings against Conor McGregor, alleging a series of harassing, intimidating and defamatory posts on McGregor's Twitter account. Lobov claims that McGregor repeatedly referred to him as a "rat" in a song and other tweets, and that a picture of Lobov was superimposed on a packet of raw sausages. He also alleges that McGregor's father sent him pictures of rats and a snake as part of the campaign. Lobov's lawyers sought an undertaking to cease and desist from such posts and an order to remove them. The court granted permission to serve short notice of the injunction but declined a temporary injunction pending McGregor's response. The application is set to return to the court by Thursday of that week. The case is part of a broader legal dispute between the two former friends, including a commercial disagreement over a whiskey brand sale.
The appeal of Tony Dean (70) of Woodhaven, Milltown, Dublin, who was found guilty of three charges relating to breaches of a waste management licence and environmental pollution at a site in Kerdiffstown, Naas, Co Kildare, between October 2003 and November 2008, is ongoing. Dean, who previously pleaded not guilty to the charges, was convicted by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The charges include two counts of disposing of or recovering waste at the facility in Kerdiffstown otherwise than in accordance with the waste licence, and a third charge of holding or recovering waste in a manner likely to cause environmental pollution. The prosecution case was that Dean was negligent rather than that he had connived or consented to commit the offences, which are contrary to the Waste Management Act, 1996. Dean has a previous conviction for recovery of waste without a licence relating to a site near Baltinglass, Co Wicklow, in 1998. The matter was adjourned by Judge Melanie Greally to January 30 next, pending further evidence regarding Dean's health and any scheduled heart surgery.
Deirdre Brady, aged 55 and wife of Kinahan Cartel member Declan Brady, was given a three‑year wholly suspended sentence in July 2023 for laundering almost €800,000 of crime cash. The Court of Appeal quashed that sentence on 1 December 2022, finding it too lenient, and ordered her to serve one year in jail from January 2023. Brady had pleaded guilty to two offences under Section 7 of the Criminal Justice Act. The laundering involved €770,499 transferred through four bank accounts, a Spanish holiday property mortgage, a wedding at Druid's Glen, and other gang members. The appeal was brought by the Director of Public Prosecutions, who argued the gravity of the case warranted custodial terms. The Court of Appeal noted Brady's active role in managing the Spanish property and her benefit from the illicit proceeds.
Samy Taib, 21, pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm, one count of coercive control, endangerment, driving without a licence and insurance, and dangerous driving. The offences occurred between May 2018 and October 2019, involving repeated physical abuse of his former partner, including choking, punching, and driving over her leg. He admitted to running her over with his car on 9 May 2019, causing permanent injury to her foot. Gardaí pursued him after a high‑speed chase on 13 October 2019, seized his black Volvo, and arrested him in July 2019. Taib has 22 prior convictions, mainly traffic offences, and was diagnosed with schizophrenia in early 2020. The case was adjourned to 20 January 2023 for finalisation. The court heard the victim's impact statement describing lasting physical and psychological harm. Taib had moved to Scotland in 2020 and returned to Ireland in April 2022.
The High Court has appointed an interim examiner to Blacklough Construction Limited following an application on grounds of cash-flow insolvency. The company, which has 48 employees and engages subcontractors, is currently constructing over 360 social housing units across five sites for Respond Housing Association, including developments in Charlestown, County Mayo, and locations in Dublin, Meath, Westmeath and Louth. An independent expert's report indicated the company has reasonable prospects of survival if certain steps are taken. Counsel attributed the firm's difficulties primarily to a 33 per cent rise in building material costs since 2020, alongside a potential planning permission issue at the Carrickmines site in Dublin. Trade creditors are owed over €3 million. Chartered accountant Joe Walsh was appointed as interim examiner by Mr Justice Michael Quinn on Thursday. The court was satisfied that creditors would fare better under an examinership than in liquidation. Proceedings were adjourned to later in the month, with creditors to be notified of the application.
Tony Dean, aged 70, former director of Nephin Trading Ltd, was found guilty by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of three counts of operating an illegal landfill at Kerdiffstown, Naas, between 2003 and 2008. The charges concerned disposing of or recovering waste in breach of the Waste Management Act 1996, using a facility without the proper licence, and handling waste likely to cause environmental pollution. Dean pleaded not guilty to the first two charges and denied the third. The jury deliberated for 58 minutes before returning guilty verdicts on all counts. The case was adjourned to 12 December for sentencing. The trial lasted four weeks, with the Director of Public Prosecutions arguing that a "mountain of waste" had been deposited on a 25‑acre site, breaching two licences issued by the EPA, and that the site functioned as an active landfill producing significant leachate.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Declan Brady, aged 56, and Michael Crotty, aged 40, face charges of aiding a criminal gang in the murder of Noel 'Duck Egg' Kirwan, a father of four, who was shot six times on December 22, 2016, in Clondalkin, Dublin. The trial is scheduled for January 11, 2024, and is expected to last five weeks. Both men are charged under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act for their alleged participation or contribution to the murder, either within or outside the State, with knowledge of a criminal organisation's existence. Brady was remanded in custody by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, while Crotty remains on continuing bail. The case was listed for mention on October 9, 2023. The trial will determine the extent of each defendant's involvement in the fatal shooting of Christopher Kirwan, aged 62.
Keith Malone, 40, of Barnashrone, Mountmellick, was charged with assault causing harm and production of an article after stabbing his partner four times on 6 January 2019, causing a damaged liver, collapsed lung, broken rib and elbow gash. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced at Naas Circuit Court on 19 January 2022 to three years' imprisonment with the last three months suspended for 12 months. The State argued the sentence was unduly lenient; the Court of Appeal quashed the 33‑month term and re‑sentenced Malone to four years, with the final three months suspended. The appeal judge noted aggravating factors including breach of trust, weapon use and high intoxication, and that the victim should not have to fear her own home. The new sentence reflects the offence's highest gravity and the judge's assessment of mitigation.
In a case heard by the Court of Appeal, the State argued that the 33‑month jail sentence imposed on Keith Malone, 40, for repeatedly stabbing his partner was too lenient and should be set aside. Malone had stabbed his partner four times on 6 January 2019, causing a damaged liver, collapsed lung, broken rib and a gash to her elbow, which required three weeks in hospital. He was originally sentenced at Naas Circuit Court on 19 January 2022 to three years' imprisonment, with the last three months suspended for 12 months. The State contended that the headline sentence of five years was justified but the final sentence was unduly lenient, citing the gravity of the offence and the lack of mitigating factors. The Court of Appeal reserved judgment for a later date.
Michal Luczak (41) was arrested in the same Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau operation that seized €8.4M worth of cocaine at Abbeyshrule aerodrome. He appeared at a special sitting of Mullingar District Court on Sunday where he was denied bail and remanded in custody.
Michal Luczak was arrested following a Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau operation at Abbeyshrule Aerodrome, Longford on August 4, 2022. He was charged with possession of cocaine and possession with intent to supply. His solicitor applied for bail citing presumption of innocence and trial delays, but the application was refused by Judge Cronin.
In July 2022 the Court of Appeal issued a bench warrant for 21‑year‑old Jason Byrne of Newbridge, after the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions appealed a six‑month jail sentence imposed in June 2021 for threatening a social worker with a knife. Byrne had been convicted in October 2020 at Naas Circuit Criminal Court for producing an article capable of inflicting serious injury at a Tusla facility in September 2018, when he was 17. He pleaded guilty to an offence contrary to Section 11 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990. Judge Mary O'Malley Costello sentenced him to 12 months' imprisonment, with the final six months suspended for nine months, during which he was to engage with probation services. The DPP argued the sentence did not adequately reflect the nature of the charge, the victim's effect, or Byrne's subsequent offending history, and that he was assessed as a high risk of reoffending.