The Court of Appeal has reserved its judgment on the appeals against conviction lodged by Jason Bradley and Dean Bradley. The brothers were sentenced to life imprisonment in July 2018 after being found guilty of the murder of Neil Reilly in Lucan, Dublin, on January 18, 2017. Their co-accused, Ryan Bradley, was acquitted of murder by direction of the trial judge but pleaded guilty to impeding the investigation, receiving a fully suspended five-year sentence. Their father, Paul Bradley, was acquitted by the jury. Counsel for the appellants argued that the trial judge erred in refusing to discharge the jury after Ryan Bradley's counsel sought a directed verdict, leaving the appellants with a tactical dilemma regarding the testimony of witness Danielle Cusack. They further contended that the admission of Cusack's evidence, derived from enhanced cognitive interviewing, was flawed. The prosecution rebutted these claims, asserting the trial judge's rulings were impeccable. The court, comprising Mr Justice John Edwards, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, and Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, heard the arguments and indicated the matter is complex, with judgment to be reserved.
Declan Brady, Deirdre Brady, and Erika Lukacs appeared before the Special Criminal Court, where Brady pleaded guilty to concealing €268,940 in cash in the attic of a Naas property on January 24, 2017. Prosecutors indicated that additional pleas from all three accused are required. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding with Judges Sarah Berkeley and David McHugh, remanded Brady in custody for a sentence hearing scheduled for June 14. The matter was adjourned to that date. Previously, in July 2019, Brady was sentenced to 11.5 years for possessing an arsenal of firearms and ammunition at a Dublin business park. Deirdre Brady and Erika Lukacs, who were originally charged with 52 money laundering offences, each pleaded guilty to one count on April 13. Deirdre Brady admitted to concealing the source of funds in a Permanent TSB account between 2014, while Erika Lukacs admitted to similar offences regarding an Allied Irish Bank account in 2012. Both women were remanded in custody for the June 14 sentence hearing. The court proceedings remain at the sentencing stage, with final disposals pending the upcoming hearing.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 13 April 2021, Deirdre Brady (53) and Erika Lukacs (37) pleaded guilty to one count each of money‑laundering offences under Section 7 of the Criminal Justice Act 2010. Brady, wife of Declan Brady, admitted to concealing or disguising the true nature of money credited to a Permanent TSB account between 1 January and 31 December 2014, knowing or believing the funds were proceeds of crime. Lukacs admitted similar conduct with an Allied Irish Bank account between 1 January and 31 December 2012. Both were remanded on continuing bail until 14 June for a sentence hearing. Declan Brady, appearing by videolink, was granted legal aid and remanded in custody until 23 April. The court received evidence from the National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau and served books of evidence and USB keys to the defendants.
Sean Ruth, 32, of Portlaoise, Co Laois, was remanded on continuing bail until May 17 for sentencing after pleading guilty to two money laundering offences at the Special Criminal Court. Prosecutors alleged that Ruth, described as a mid-tier Kinahan Cartel member, allowed his bank accounts to be used to launder over €50,000 in crime proceeds between 2016 and 2017 while claiming State benefits and paying no tax. He has paid the Criminal Assets Bureau over €20,000, with his mother assisting to discharge the remaining €9,000 liability. Defending counsel argued that Ruth has reformed since his 2019 release from a previous three-year firearms sentence and requested the court consider whether imprisonment was necessary. The court heard that Ruth was previously linked via DNA evidence to a revolver found at a Greenogue business park, an arsenal that also contained weapons seized from James Walsh and Jonathan Harding. Walsh, 36, and Harding, 48, were previously sentenced to 10 years and nine years imprisonment respectively, with the final year of each sentence suspended, after pleading guilty to possessing nine revolvers, four pistols, a sub-machinegun, an assault rifle, and ammunition at the same location. Ruth's current matter remains adjourned for final sentencing.
In March 2021, John Roche, a 57‑year‑old barber from Bridgefoot Street, Dublin, lost an appeal against the severity of his seven‑year prison sentence for possessing 152 kg of homemade explosives. The appeal argued that Roche had no prior convictions, was well‑known for charitable work, and had not previously attracted Garda attention. The Court of Appeal upheld the Special Criminal Court's decision, noting that Roche's sentence had been reduced from a headline ten years to seven after considering mitigating factors such as his good record and community standing. The court found no rational basis for suspending any part of Roche's sentence, unlike co‑accused John Brock, whose 18‑month suspended portion was tied to a condition of dissociating from the IRA. John Brock pleaded not guilty.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Declan Brady (54), his wife Deirdre Brady (53), and Erika Lukacs (37) were charged with 68 cash‑laundering offences under Section 7 of the Criminal Justice Act 2010. The charges cover a five‑year period from 1 January 2012 to 24 January 2017 and involve amounts ranging from €2,000 to €269,000. Brady faces 16 non‑scheduled offences, Deirdre 36, and Lukacs 16. Allegations include concealing €2,000 and £10,000 in a breadbin and €268,940 in an attic at The Dairy, Naas, on 24 January 2017, and manipulating funds in Ulster Bank, Allied Irish Bank and Permanent TSB accounts between 2012 and 2016. Detectives from the National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau presented evidence of arrests, warrants and the charge sheets. All three accused were remanded in custody until 24 March, with bail conditions for Deirdre and Erika, and Brady also remanded until that date.
Noel Purcell, a 45‑year‑old truck driver from Tullyvoheen, Clifden, was sentenced to two years in prison after transporting €1.287 million in criminal cash. He admitted to gardaí that he had agreed to move the money to Holland after meeting a man on a boat, who offered him €4 000 to do so. Purcell, who was struggling with mortgage and credit‑card debt, claimed he was vulnerable and easily led. Gardaí had pulled him over on Naas Road, where they found two large bags of cash wrapped in duct tape. He pleaded guilty to possessing proceeds of crime. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a seven‑year term, suspending five years on the condition of good behaviour, and noted the need for general deterrence. Purcell had no prior convictions and was described as extremely remorseful.
Thomas Griffin, 26, of Croftwood Park, Ballyfermot, Dublin, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for his role in a high‑speed Garda chase that exposed multiple cars and a pedestrian to "very considerable danger." He pleaded guilty to two charges of endangerment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 17 June 2018. The judge, Melanie Greally, described the driving as "very extreme in nature" and noted that Griffin was intoxicated with drugs and alcohol during the incident. Griffin had 46 prior convictions, including assault, road traffic and public order offences. The judge suspended the final 12 months of a three‑and‑a‑half‑year term, citing his demonstrated potential and confrontation of his demons while on remand. The chase involved speeding over 140 km/h in a 100 km/h zone, running red lights, driving on the hard shoulder, and forcing other traffic to take evasive action.
The Special Criminal Court sentenced Jonathan Harding to five years and three months' imprisonment for laundering over €342,000 for a serious criminal organisation. Harding, 48, pleaded guilty to five offences under the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act 2010. Mr Justice Tony Hunt imposed a headline sentence of six years and nine months, suspending the final 18 months on all charges, with all sentences running concurrently. Harding signed a bond to be of good behaviour for three years post-release. The judge noted Harding's prior conviction for possessing nine revolvers, four pistols, a sub-machine gun, an assault rifle, and ammunition, for which he received a ten-year sentence in January 2018. Co-accused Carol Davis, 45, pleaded guilty to three offences under the same Act, admitting she was reckless in allowing Harding access to her accounts but denying involvement in underlying criminality. She received a three-year suspended sentence on all offences, signing a bond to be of good behaviour for that duration. The court found that accounts linked to both were used as a travel service for the organisation. Separately, Declan Brady, 54, was previously sentenced to 11-and-a-half years' imprisonment in July 2019 after pleading guilty to possessing the same weapons cache, having been tasked by senior criminal figures to supervise it.
A woman and her partner were involved in a money-laundering scheme linked to an organised crime group, following a raid that uncovered an arsenal of firearms capable of 'arming a small country', the Special Criminal Court has heard. Jonathan Harding (48) of Kerdiff Avenue, Naas, Co Kildare, pleaded guilty to five charges of converting, transferring or handling property, to wit money, between 1 January, 2012, and 31 December 2016, at EBS, Bank of Ireland and AIB accounts, the proceeds of criminal conduct. Co-accused Carol Davis (45) of Clonmacnoise Road, Crumlin, Dublin 12, pleaded guilty to three offences between 1 January, 2014, and 31 December, 2016, relating to accounts held in her own name also at EBS, AIB and Bank of Ireland. The pair had originally been charged with 50 offences but pleaded guilty to a total of eight offences. The charges come under the Criminal Justice Act 2010 (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing). Declan Brady (54), known as 'Mr Nobody', was sentenced to 11-and-a-half years imprisonment after pleading guilty to possession of the weapons. Tom Anderson, the defendant, was sentenced to ten years in prison with one year suspended in January 2018 for the possession of firearms. The matter was adjourned to December 15 for sentencing.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 44‑year‑old truck driver Noel Purcell was remanded in custody pending sentencing after being found with €1,287,700 in cash in his cab. Purcell admitted he had agreed to transport the money to Holland after meeting a man on a boat, who offered him €4,000 to do so. He claimed he was struggling with mortgage and credit card debt and was "vulnerable" and "easily‑led". Gardaí had pulled him over on Naas Road following a surveillance operation and discovered two large bags of cash wrapped in duct tape. Purcell pleaded guilty to one count of possessing cash that was the proceeds of a crime. He has no prior convictions and was described by his defence as anxious and financially stressed. Judge Melanie Greally noted the high amount and the need for a custodial sentence, remanding him to await a Probation Services report before sentencing on 19 January 2025.
At the Special Criminal Court, Carol Davis, 45, pleaded guilty to three counts of money laundering and terrorist financing for the period 2014‑2016. She admitted knowingly converting, using, transferring, taking possession of or handling money that was the proceeds of crime, via an EBS account in her own name. The plea covers the period from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2016. Davis is the second person to plead guilty in this case; the first was Jonathan Harding, 48, who pleaded guilty to five similar counts. Davis was remanded on bail until 9 November, while Harding was remanded in custody until the same date. The case involves 20 offences under Section 7 of the Criminal Justice Act 2010, of which three were accepted by the State for the specified period. The court will hear full facts in the case.
Jonathan Harding, 48, of Naas, pleaded guilty to five money‑laundering charges before the Special Criminal Court. He admitted to concealing the true nature of money in his own bank accounts at EBS and AIB, knowing it was criminal proceeds, and to doing the same in another person's accounts at AIB, Bank of Ireland and EBS. The offences cover 30 laundering incidents between 1 January 2012 and 31 December 2016. Harding will be sentenced on 9 November, while the other defendant is due before the court next Friday.
Ms Fiona Roche, a secondary school teacher from Kildare who has taught since 2002 and been registered with the Teaching Council since 2006, has brought a High Court judicial review against the council's refusal to recognise her as a qualified post‑primary teacher. The council, after a 2018 Department of Education instruction to vacate her position, declared in April 2019 that she was not to be accredited as a registered qualified teacher for religion and CSPE, citing insufficient subject‑matter qualifications and lack of experience in the sector. Ms Roche, who holds a Montessori teaching qualification, a degree in Behavioural Science‑Psychology, a Graduate Diploma in Guidance Counselling and higher diplomas in Further Education and Theological Studies, disputes the decision and has unsuccessfully appealed. In the High Court, counsel argued that the council's decision‑making process was flawed and that the decision was without legal basis, irrational and contrary to common sense.
In a non‑jury hearing at the Special Criminal Court, Jonathan Harding, aged 48, and Carol Davis, aged 45, were charged with a total of 50 money‑laundering offences under the Criminal Justice Act 2010. Harding faces 30 counts of converting, transferring or handling property, namely money, between 1 January 2012 and 31 December 2016, involving EBS, Bank of Ireland and AIB accounts that allegedly held proceeds of criminal conduct. Davis is charged with 20 counts of the same nature over the same period, with accounts in her own name at the same banks. The charges were read out to Harding by the registrar, and the court heard from the prosecuting solicitor that the offences relate to concealing or disguising the true nature, source, location, disposition, movement or ownership of the property.
A man from Castlebar, County Mayo, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for sexually exploiting children online. Mark Keogh pleaded guilty to 14 charges of child sexual exploitation and possession of child pornography. Between November 2013 and May 2014, he created a fake Facebook profile posing as a teenage girl named Nicole Doyle and contacted 14 boys aged 13 to 16, requesting naked photographs. Gardaí discovered over 700 sexually explicit images of children on his laptop during a search in February 2016, approximately 400 of which depicted the 12 victims. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a five-year sentence but suspended the final three and a half years. The judge noted Keogh's severe autism, psychiatric difficulties, and genuine need for specialist care, whilst acknowledging the seriousness of the offending and impact on the victims. Keogh has no previous convictions.
A 29‑year‑old former voluntary paramedic was found guilty of orally raping a 15‑year‑old boy and sexually assaulting another child after drugging them with Penthrox, a powerful pain‑relief agent. In the first incident, the accused used an oxygen mask to force the boy to inhale the drug, then sexually assaulted him. In the second, the boy was unconscious while the accused orally raped him and another man recorded the act on a mobile phone. The defendant pleaded guilty to oral rape, sexual exploitation, aiding and abetting child pornography, sexual assault and theft of Penthrox and a carbon dioxide chamber. He was suspended from the paramedic organisation and a nursing course. The court heard that the whistle device had been altered to increase potency, and that the defendant had searched online for ways to incapacitate victims. The case was adjourned to Wednesday for sentencing.
Mark Taylor, aged 30, was driving a stolen VW Golf at a fuel pump in Newcastle, Co. Dublin, on 22 February 2019 when Gardaí noticed he had not paid for fuel and was driving at high speed. He overtook two vehicles dangerously, then drove off without Gardaí being able to keep up. The next day he was again seen in the same car and, after a high‑speed chase, he reversed at speed, smashed into another car, mounted a traffic island, crossed the road, drove the wrong way down the carriageway, broke a red light, mounted a footpath and drove away at speed, losing Gardaí in pursuit. Later that day Gardaí in Naas were alerted to a VW Golf driving dangerously on the N7; the car pulled into a service station on the M7 where an armed unit arrived and approached Taylor. He became aggressive and abusive and was arrested. Mark Taylor pleaded guilty.
Owen Cummins, 41, of Cabra, Dublin 7, was sentenced to nine years and six months imprisonment by the Special Criminal Court for possessing a Beretta 92s handgun and silencer in suspicious circumstances. The offence occurred on September 6, 2017, in Inchicore, Dublin 8, during a confrontation with armed gardai. Cummins pleaded guilty to the charge. The court heard that Cummins drove a jeep towards Garda Stephen Gillespie, who was restraining co-accused Andrew O'Keeffe on the ground. Fearing for his life, the garda discharged his firearm, causing Cummins to swerve and collide with a parked vehicle. Mr Justice Hunt, sitting with Judges Griffin and Dempsey, reduced the headline sentence from 12 years to nine years and six months, citing mitigating factors including Cummins' guilty plea and the recent death of his 19-year-old child. A further 18 months of the sentence was suspended to encourage rehabilitation. The sentence was backdated to May 27, 2019. Cummins has 68 previous convictions. Separately, co-accused Andrew O'Keeffe, 30, of Cabra West, pleaded guilty in June 2018 to possessing a 9mm Beretta handgun and silencer in suspicious circumstances on the same date. He was sentenced in August 2018 to nine years imprisonment with one year suspended.
Clive Kavanagh, 37, was found guilty of possessing €829,265 in cash at Tougher's Garage, Naas, on 1 September 2017, believing it to be proceeds of crime. He was sentenced by Naas Circuit Criminal Court to three years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended, on 4 July 2019. The Court of Appeal upheld this sentence, rejecting the Director of Public Prosecutions' appeal that it was unduly lenient. The judge noted that Kavanagh was not the owner of the money and that the case involved theft. He had a history of self‑employment in construction and eight prior minor traffic convictions, plus a suspended sentence for drug possession. The suspended portion was justified to aid his family, who depend on him, and to encourage rehabilitation. The appeal was dismissed.
Owen Cummins, 41, of Cabra, Dublin 7, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to possessing a Beretta 92s handgun and silencer in suspicious circumstances on September 6, 2017. The court heard that gardai, acting on intelligence regarding a potential hit in Ballyfermot, pursued a Citroen Berlingo van driven by Cummins. After a collision, Cummins fled in a Hyundai Tucson jeep, driving directly at Garda Stephen Gillespie, who was restraining passenger Andrew O'Keeffe. The garda discharged his firearm to dissuade the vehicle, which subsequently struck a parked Volkswagen Passat. Cummins then abandoned the jeep. O'Keeffe, 30, previously pleaded guilty to possessing the firearm and was sentenced in August 2018 to nine years' imprisonment, with one year suspended. Cummins, who has 68 previous convictions, was represented by Michael O'Higgins SC, who described him as a former heroin addict acting as a driver under instructions. The matter was adjourned, with Mr Justice Tony Hunt scheduled to sentence Cummins on March 3.
John Fortune, 43, was sentenced to six‑and‑a‑half years in prison for his role in a €1.5 million cannabis trafficking scheme. He agreed to drive a van loaded with nearly 80 kg of cannabis from Carlow to Rathcoole. Fortune had no prior convictions and had built a €50,000 tax debt, defaulted on his mortgage, and was facing repossession of his home. He claimed financial desperation and a foot injury had prevented him from working. Garda surveillance stopped the van, revealing vacuum‑packed cannabis labelled "trip haze", "diesel haze" and "green poison". The drugs were valued at just under €1.5 million. The court noted his limited involvement, financial distress, and mental health issues, and imposed a headline sentence of 13 years, halved to 6.5 years. Fortune received no payment for his role, and he had no prior Garda record. John Fortune pleaded guilty.
A murder trial at the Central Criminal Court heard that 20-month-old Nathan Baraka Andrew Ali died from head injuries caused by forceful impacts against a hard surface, likely a wall or floor. Consultant Pathologist Professor Jack Crane testified that the toddler's injuries were not accidental and involved at least three or four impacts. Yusif Ali Abdi, 46, pleaded not guilty to the charge of murdering Nathan at The Elms, College Road, Clane, Co Kildare on April 17, 2001. The court heard that Abdi, who was granted refugee status in 2000 and married an Irish woman, had previously been found guilty in 2003 but had his conviction overturned in 2019 due to newly discovered evidence suggesting he may have been legally insane at the time. The trial is ongoing, with the matter currently in the appeal stage. Former Northern Ireland State and Consultant Pathologist Professor Jack are also named as accused, though their charges remain alleged or contested. The case has been adjourned and is not yet concluded.
A man has been sentenced to twenty months' imprisonment following a fatal collision on the Naas Road in Dublin on 31 January 2016. Anthony Corcoran, aged 39, of Lyons Street, Newcastle, County Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to failure to remain at the scene with intent to escape civil or criminal liability. A charge of dangerous driving causing death was withdrawn by the State. The court heard that Corcoran struck a pedestrian while returning to County Cavan after an evening out. He subsequently informed gardaí of his involvement the following morning. Judge Martin Nolan noted evidence suggesting the defendant was over the drink-driving limit and concluded he panicked at the scene. The judge acknowledged significant mitigation including an early guilty plea, immediate contact with gardaí, lack of previous convictions, and good work history. Corcoran was disqualified from driving for three years.
Anthony Corcoran, aged 39, of Newcastle, County Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to failure to remain at the scene with intent to escape civil or criminal liability following a collision on the Naas Road, Dublin on 31 January 2016. The court heard that Corcoran struck Peter Maunde, who was walking on the motorway in dark clothing during poor weather conditions. A charge of dangerous driving causing death was withdrawn by the State. Corcoran informed gardaí of his involvement the following morning after his father contacted local police in County Cavan. During interview, Corcoran admitted consuming alcohol that evening. Garda evidence indicated multiple witnesses observed a man crossing the motorway barrier near Red Cow Roundabout, while other motorists initially mistook the casualty for an animal. Judge Martin Nolan remanded Corcoran on continuing bail for sentencing, indicating he would consider the case overnight. A victim impact statement from the deceased's family was submitted to the court.
The High Court has ordered James Farrell, chief operations officer of a liquidated security firm, to repay €62,000 to Business Mobile Security Services Ltd. Mr Justice Tony O'Connor ruled on Friday that payments made to Mr Farrell in the weeks before the company entered liquidation last July constituted an unfair preference under the Companies Act 2014 and must be returned forthwith. The liquidator, Joe Walsh, discovered the transfers during investigations into the firm's affairs. Mr Farrell claimed the monies were loans from third parties used to support the company during financial difficulties, but Mr Walsh found insufficient documentary evidence to support this account. The judge was satisfied the payments were invalid. Senaca, the operating subsidiary, was wound up due to cash flow problems. The liquidator has identified a deficit of approximately €1.8 million in the client account, with significant sums owed to the Revenue Commissioners and various clients including charities. A criminal investigation into the company's affairs is also underway.
Eimear Dunne, aged 16 when she met Kenneth O'Brien, gave evidence at the Central Criminal Court that her partner's body was found in a canal. She described their relationship, noting they bought a house together in 2006 and that O'Brien worked in machinery in Australia before returning in December 2015. On 15 January 2016, Dunne received a text from a number she believed to be O'Brien, claiming he had lost his phone and was drinking. A second text at 7.49 am the next morning said he was heading to a ferry to move abroad with another woman. Dunne said she was shocked, dropped to her knees, and later found his laptops and toothbrush still at home. She reported him missing on 16 January and noted missing luggage and a monthly €5,000 transfer to Wells Sr. The trial will continue before Ms Justice Carmel Stewart and a jury.
Martin Guerin, 68, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to knowingly possessing 901 images and 146 video files of child pornography at his Portmarnock address on 17 September 2014. He was found to have held material depicting children, including girls under 15 and as young as two, in sexual activity, and images of children with exposed genitals. Gardaí traced the material to Guerin via an IP address and seized devices during a search. Guerin admitted responsibility and cooperated with investigators. Judge Martin Nolan, noting no aggravating factors and Guerin's guilty plea, good work history, and lack of prior convictions, imposed a fully suspended sentence of two and a half years, conditional on good behaviour for that period. The court considered a non‑custodial sentence appropriate given the circumstances. No mention of prior convictions or future sentencing was made. The case was presented as a single charge of possession of child pornography.
Edward Stokes, aged 25, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for endangerment and dangerous driving after a high‑speed chase in Clondalkin and Ballyfermot. On 3 October 2016, Stokes drove through a red light, over a Luas line, and attempted to ram a Garda patrol car, forcing the officers to take evasive action. He then drove into a traveller's site, crashed into a bollard, and fled into an attic where he was arrested. Stokes had 23 prior convictions, including violent disorder and driving offences, and was disqualified from driving at the time of the offence. The court noted his medical condition (necrotising pancreatitis) and his expressed remorse. Judge Cormac Quinn imposed a three‑year sentence, suspending the final 18 months on strict conditions. Edward Stokes pleaded guilty.
Jeffrey Morrow and Paul O'Beirne were sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for facilitating a serious offence in connection with the murder of Vincent Ryan. Both men initially pleaded not guilty to murder, but following legal argument, the murder charge was dropped, and they pleaded guilty to facilitating a serious offence contrary to Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2006. The court found that they provided and destroyed a stolen Volkswagen Golf used by gunmen in the drive-by shooting that killed Mr Ryan outside his partner's home in 2016. Mr Justice Michael White noted that while not sentencing for murder, the proximity to the callous crime was a serious aggravating factor. He highlighted Morrow's extensive criminal history, including conspiracy to rob a cash-in-transit van, and O'Beirne's prior convictions. Considering their guilty pleas as a mitigating factor, the judge reduced headline sentences of 14 years for Morrow and 11 years for O'Beirne to final sentences of 11 years and nine years, respectively. Both sentences were backdated to reflect time already spent in custody. The judge formally struck out the murder charges. Outside court, Mr Ryan's partner, Kelly Smyth, expressed relief that the matter was concluded, stating she wished to move forward with her life.
Michael Brady, aged 54, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to eight years and six months' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended, for possession of €1.25 million worth of heroin found in the base of a bed at an apartment in Sallins Bridge, Naas, on 24 January 2017. The judge noted that Brady was trusted by a criminal gang to look after the heroin, but was not involved in buying, selling or planning criminal activity. Brady was found not guilty of possessing cocaine, cannabis, an assault rifle and ammunition, and the charge of possessing three ammunition magazines was withdrawn. Brady denied all charges and claimed he only looked after dogs belonging to his brother, Declan Brady, who was jailed for 10 ½ years for supervising a firearms arsenal. The sentence was back‑dated to 12 April 2017, the date of Brady's initial custody. Michael Brady was found guilty.
At the Central Criminal Court, two men have pleaded guilty to facilitating the murder of Vinnie Ryan, whose shooting in Dublin on 19 February 2016 left his five-week-old daughter without a father. Paul O'Beirne of Ballyfermot and Jeffrey Morrow of Coolock admitted providing and destroying a stolen silver Volkswagen Golf used in the fatal attack, which involved at least thirteen shots fired at Mr Ryan's vehicle. Gardaí established the connection through CCTV footage, mobile phone evidence, and forensic analysis linking the men to the vehicle's movements before and after the killing. O'Beirne, with twenty-five previous convictions for road traffic offences, and Morrow, carrying one hundred and twenty prior convictions including conspiracy to rob cash-in-transit vans, both sought leniency from Mr Justice Michael White. The judge commended the gardaí investigation and expressed sympathy for the victim's family and partner. Sentencing is scheduled for 31 July 2019, with a maximum penalty of fifteen years for the offence under the Criminal Justice Act 2006.
A Dublin man, Michael Brady (54), will be sentenced at the Special Criminal Court later this month for possessing €1.25 million worth of heroin. Brady was found guilty in June of possessing the drugs at an apartment in Sallins Bridge, Sallins, Naas, Co Kildare, on January 24, 2017. The trial heard that heroin, cocaine, and cannabis were found at the premises, along with a 7.62 x 39mm calibre VZ 58 assault rifle and various ammunition. Brady was found not guilty of possessing the cocaine and cannabis, and had earlier been found not guilty of possessing the assault rifle by direction of the court. Another charge accusing him of possessing three ammunition magazines was withdrawn by the State. Brady had denied all charges. At a sentence hearing, Brady's barrister, Dominic McGinn SC, said his client was not significantly involved in 'this criminal organisation' and his involvement in looking after the consignment of drugs was at the 'lowest end'. Brady was remanded in custody until the sentencing date of July 29. Declan Brady (53), Michael Brady's brother, was jailed for 10-and-a-half years today for minding an 'arsenal' of firearms and ammunition at Unit 52, Block 503, Grants Drive, Greenogue Business Park, Rathcoole, Co Dublin. The court found that Declan Brady was tasked by senior criminal figures abroad to supervise the arsenal, which was assembled to 'support and sustain organised crime of the most serious nature'.
Martin Guerin, 68, brother of the late crime journalist Veronica Guerin, pleaded guilty on 17 September 2014 to knowingly possessing 901 images and 146 video files of child pornography at his Portmarnock home. He was arraigned at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where Judge Patricia Ryan adjourned sentencing to October and remanded him on continuing bail. Prosecutor John Berry noted the hearing would last about 30 minutes. Guerin had earlier been charged under Section 6(1) of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998 and had been granted bail on a €100 bond with no conditions.
In a murder case, Gardai collected DNA and hair samples from two dogs owned by Paul O'Beirne (36) and Jeffrey Morrow (37), whose car was stolen in October 2015. The defendants, who pleaded not guilty, were involved in the February 2016 shooting of Vincent Ryan (25) on McKee Road, Finglas. Joseph Cogan, the car owner, described how his silver Volkswagen Golf GTI was taken and how a grey canvas sheet in the boot, used to protect the car from dog hair, was likely covered in hair. He confirmed giving permission for DNA and hair sampling on April 14, 2016. Additional testimony included Gary Tai's observation of a burning car on Red Lane and John Shaughnessy's fire‑fighting efforts, with Garda Niall Geoghan photographing the scene. The trial proceeds before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury of eight men and four women.
A new jury was sworn in to hear the trial of Paul O'Beirne (36) and Jeffrey Morrow (37), two Dublin men charged with murdering Vincent Ryan, a 25‑year‑old father, on McKee Road in Finglas on 29 February 2016. The men had been arraigned before the Central Criminal Court and pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. Their trial had begun with a jury, but Justice Michael White called the panel in again after one juror was unable to continue, necessitating a new jury. The defendants were re‑arraigned, with O'Beirne of Colepark Drive, Ballyfermot, and Morrow of Burnell Court, Coolock, both stating "Not guilty, your honour." Justice White informed the jury that the trial was expected to last five or six weeks and described the circumstances of the shooting, noting that the shots were fired from a vehicle later found burnt‑out in the Naas area.
Two Dublin men, Paul O'Beirne (36) and Jeffrey Morrow (37), are on trial for the murder of 25‑year‑old Vincent Ryan on 29 February 2016. The prosecution relies on circumstantial evidence, including CCTV footage from O'Beirne's home and mobile phone traffic, to argue that the men planned and executed the shooting. Ryan was shot in broad daylight while seated in his car on McKee Road, Finglas, after dropping his partner and baby at her home. A silver Volkswagen Golf fired the fatal shots; the vehicle was later found burning near Naas. The court heard that the men attempted to conceal their involvement, including disposing of a car seat cover from the vehicle. The trial, heard by the Central Criminal Court, is expected to last five to six weeks. Paul O'Beirne pleaded not guilty. Jeffrey Morrow pleaded not guilty.
Michael Brady, 54, was found guilty of possessing cocaine and heroin at a property in Sallins, Co Kildare, on January 24, 2017. The court acquitted him of charges related to cocaine and cannabis found in the same location, as well as possession of an assault rifle and ammunition magazines, which were either withdrawn or dismissed by direction. Presiding Judge Paul Coffey stated that Brady's fingerprints on blocks of diamorphine provided compelling evidence of direct contact and knowledge of the drugs concealed under a bed. Brady had pleaded not guilty to all seven counts on the indictment. The judge noted that while Brady claimed he was looking after dogs at the address, the court rejected the defence argument that others had placed the drugs there during a four-day interval. Brady was remanded in custody until July 15, when he will be sentenced. Separately, his brother, Declan Brady, pleaded guilty in February to possessing 15 firearms and over 4,000 rounds of ammunition at Greenogue Business Park, Co Dublin, on the same date. Declan Brady is scheduled to be sentenced on June 24.
In April 2019, John Brock, aged 46, was sentenced to eight and a half years for possessing 167 kg of explosives in a black Skoda Fabia. The explosives, weighing 23–24 stone, could have caused significant death, injury and damage. Brock had previously been convicted in 2008 for firearms and ammunition. During sentencing, he agreed to an undertaking to dissociate from unlawful organisations and to refrain from further offences, and he posted a €100 bond. The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, suspended the last 18 months of the sentence for three years, back‑dated to the time Brock entered custody. The court found Brock and John Roche, aged 55, were in joint control of the explosives, though the judge could not be satisfied that their involvement extended beyond transportation. Brock's sentence was reduced by the agreed undertaking.
Larry Behan, 41, pleaded guilty to knowingly rendering assistance to the IRA in the possession of explosives at his father's quarry on 13 April 2016. He opened the gates to two men, John Roche and John Brock, who removed 57 kg of homemade explosives and 38 kg of Kemegel industrial explosives. Behan had no prior convictions, cooperated with Gardaí, and admitted his role immediately after arrest. The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, described the case as "unusual" with "exceptional circumstances" and imposed a headline sentence of two years' imprisonment, suspended for two years on a €100 bond. Behan must keep the peace and be of good behaviour during the suspension. The court noted his lack of political association and his genuine fear for himself and his family. The case remains an ongoing criminal proceeding, with no further verdicts announced.
Two men, John Brock (46) and John Roche (55), were found in joint control of 167 kg of explosives in a black Skoda Fabia on Naas Road. The explosives, weighing 23–24 stone, included ammonium nitrate fuel mix and 38 rolls of Kemegel industrial explosives, and were deemed capable of causing death, injury and damage. Both pleaded not guilty to possession of 57 kg of homemade explosives. The non‑jury Special Criminal Court convicted them and sentenced Roche to seven years' imprisonment and Brock to eight and a half years. Brock was offered an 18‑month reduction if he dissociated from dissident organisations. The court noted the men's involvement was limited to transportation and that Roche had no prior convictions, while Brock had a previous firearms conviction. No further charges were pursued.
In April 2016, Larry Behan, 41, owner's son of a quarry in Rathcoole, opened the quarry gates to IRA members John Roche and John Brock, allowing them to take 57 kg of homemade explosives and 38 kg of Kemegel industrial explosives. Behan had previously found the explosives while cleaning an old shed and believed they would be disposed of. He was arrested on 14 April for possession of an explosive substance but later pleaded guilty in March 2019 to knowingly rendering assistance to the IRA in the possession of explosives. The Special Criminal Court heard that Behan was naive, had no prior convictions, and was taken advantage of, fearing for his life. He was remanded on continuing bail until 29 April 2019. The case was heard by a three‑judge panel, including Mr Justice Tony Hunt.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, John Roche (55) and John Brock (46) were found guilty of possessing 167 kg of explosives in the boot of a car on Naas Road, Dublin 12, on 13 April 2016. The court noted the explosives included 57 kg of ANFO and thirty‑eight 2.5 kg rolls of Kemegel industrial explosives, amounting to roughly three‑quarters of the 227 kg of ANFO used in the Omagh bombing of 15 August 2008, which killed 29 people. Detective Sergeant Tom Power compared the Naas Road bomb to other large bombs, such as a 30 kg ANFO keg found in Finnstown House hotel and a 50 kg ANFO keg in Kilcurry Church, both in May 2014. The court also heard that 18 detonators were found under the front passenger seat. Mr Brock had a prior firearms conviction from 2008, while Mr Roche had no prior convictions. The sentencing was adjourned to Friday morning. John Brock pleaded not guilty.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, John Roche (55) and John Brock (46) were found guilty of possessing 167 kg of explosives in a black Skoda Fabia. Gardaí discovered four plastic bags of homemade explosives and 18 detonators under the front passenger seat on Naas Road. Roche claimed he had no knowledge of the explosives and denied being at Behans Quarry, but the judge deemed his denials "totally incredible" and concluded he had full control of the vehicle's contents. Brock, a front‑seat passenger, also denied knowledge but was found to have been aware of the bulky load. Both men were remanded pending sentencing, with the court noting they acted in concert to transport the explosives, contravening the Explosive Substances Act 1883. John Roche pleaded not guilty. John Brock pleaded not guilty.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, defence counsel Dominic McGinn SC argued that it was "inconceivable" that Gardaí would have missed an assault rifle and ammunition during a search of a Kildare house on 24 January 2017. He cited the fact that a landlord's nephew later found a rifle, ammunition and drugs in the base of a bed, four days after the Gardaí search. Michael Brady (54) is charged with possession of €1.5 million worth of cocaine, €1.26 million worth of heroin and over 180 rounds of ammunition at a property in Sallins, Co Kildare. He pleaded not guilty to all seven counts. The court found him not guilty of possessing an assault rifle and the State withdrew a charge of three ammunition magazines. Brady's brother, Declan Brady (52), pleaded guilty to possession of 15 firearms and over 4,000 rounds of ammunition at Greenogue Business Park, Rathcoole, Co Dublin. Michael Brady was acquitted.
In a case heard in Naas Circuit Criminal Court, Laurence Carthy, aged 43, was convicted of assault causing harm to his ex‑wife Joanne Carthy. The conviction was based largely on the victim's testimony that she recognised Carthy's voice during the assault. She identified him by the phrase "it's just because I miss you so much" and noted his breathing and grunting. No forced entry occurred, Carthy retained a key, and the family dog did not bark. A jury found him guilty and Judge Brian O'Callaghan sentenced him to three years' imprisonment, with 18 months suspended. Carthy appealed, arguing the voice‑recognition evidence was weak and that no other supporting evidence existed. The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, accepting the witness's familiarity with Carthy's voice as sufficient for conviction and rejecting further procedural objections. The appeal was dismissed by Justice Isobel Kennedy, Justice George Birmingham and Justice Patrick McCarthy. Laurence Carthy pleaded not guilty.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, two Dublin men, John Brock (46) and John Roche (55), were found to have acted in concert when they retrieved and transported 165 kg of explosives in a black Skoda Fabia. Gardaí had discovered four bags of explosives in the boot and 18 detonators under the front passenger seat on the Naas Road. The prosecution argued that the men possessed 57 kg of homemade ammonium nitrate fuel mix and thirty‑eight 2.5 kg rolls of Kemegel industrial explosives. Evidence from the National Surveillance Unit showed the car and its occupants were monitored from 5.55 pm on 13 April 2016, with the men stopping at Behans Quarry at 6.59 pm. Forensic analysis confirmed the items were explosives, and the court was instructed to infer the men's knowledge from their conduct and statements. Both men were remanded on continuing bail until 5 April, when judgment will be delivered. John Brock pleaded not guilty. John Roche pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence in the trial of John Brock, 46, and John Roche, 55, who have pleaded not guilty to the alleged possession of 57kg of homemade ammonium nitrate fuel mix explosives and thirty-eight 2.5kg rolls of Kemegel industrial explosives at Naas Road, Dublin 12, on April 13, 2016. Prosecution witnesses testified that armed gardai recovered four bags of explosives and 18 detonators from a black Skoda Fabia stopped on the Naas Road. Detective Sergeant Thomas Power stated that Army Disposal Unit Commandant Oisin Dawson subsequently detonated the Kemegel packets in the Glen of Imaal. Forensic scientist Dr John O'Shaughnessy confirmed the samples were explosives under the Explosive Substances Act 1883. Sergeant Raymond Tadhg of the Special Detective Unit testified that during an interview, Brock was asked to account for the explosives, detonators, and his presence at Behans Quarry. Brock gave no reply and declined to sign the interview memorandum. Prosecution counsel Anne-Marie Lawlor SC informed the court, presided over by Justice Tony Hunt with Judges Patricia Ryan and Ann Ryan, that the prosecution case had closed. The matter was adjourned and the trial continues.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, armed Gardaí seized four bags of explosives and 18 detonators from a black Skoda Fabia on Naas Road. The vehicle's driver, John Brock (46), and owner, John Roche (55), denied knowledge of the 150 kg of explosives found. They were charged with possession of 57 kg of homemade ammonium nitrate fuel mix and thirty‑eight 2.5 kg rolls of Kemegel industrial explosives. Gardaí, acting on intelligence that IRA members might possess explosives, stopped the car at 7 p.m. on 13 April 2016. Brock was handcuffed after being asked to exit the vehicle, while Roche was forced to lie face‑down and was also handcuffed. Both men were arrested under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act. John Brock pleaded not guilty. John Roche pleaded not guilty.
Two Dublin men, John Brock, 46, and John Roche, 55, were arrested on 13 April 2016 after a gardai stop of a black Skoda Fabia on Naas Road. The vehicle contained 18 detonators, 57 kg of homemade ammonium nitrate fuel mix and thirty‑eight 2.5 kg rolls of Kemegel industrial explosives. The Special Criminal Court heard the men's movements on that day, with evidence from the National Surveillance Unit showing them at Behans Quarry, Windmillhill, and the N7. The prosecution, led by Anne‑Marie Lawlor SC, presented ballistic evidence and observations of the men's failure to answer questions. Both pleaded not guilty. The court ruled that NSU members must remain anonymous, and the trial, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, is scheduled to continue for one week.