Myles Connors, 37, was jailed for a year for defrauding an elderly woman of over €50,000 for poor-quality garden work. Connors charged the 82-year-old woman €48,000 for slabbing, weed removal, and cementing her garden, and an additional €5,000 for power washing and painting her tarmac. The work was assessed as being worth no more than €20,000, with materials costing less than €3,000. The woman, who lives alone and has mobility issues, was left with uneven and unsecured slabs and felt unsafe in her home. Connors pleaded guilty to two counts of deception. Judge Orla Crowe described the offense as a "sustained, controlled, and pre-meditated campaign" against the woman, a "gross breach of trust." She ordered the release of frozen funds, fully restituting the woman. Connors received a two-year sentence, suspended for 12 months, and was ordered not to contact the victim. Gardai had previously recommended Connors to the woman based on his work for a neighbor.
Larry Connors (32) and Michael Connors (34), both of Newbridge, Co Kildare, were sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to assault causing harm at Fleet Street, Temple Bar, Dublin, on December 21, 2024. The incident occurred in a pub restroom following a Tyson Fury boxing match, where the victim was assaulted after shouting "up Usyk." The victim sustained a chipped tooth, bruising, swelling, and cuts to his face. Both defendants were already serving sentences for affray imposed by Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court in February and had been due for release in November. Judge Martin Nolan noted that while Michael Connors initiated the incident by pushing the victim, Larry Connors used the greatest force. Both men brought €1,500 each to court. The judge imposed a sentence of 20 months on each defendant, with the final year suspended on conditions. These conditions require them to hand over the total €3,000 to the garda to be offered to the victim or, if not accepted, donated to charity. The court acknowledged their apologies and good work histories, noting they would return to stable situations upon release.
Lidl has been ordered to pay €28,000 to a warehouse employee who was denied light duties after suffering a hernia. Lukasz Swiercz, a stock picker, was told there was no work for him after he returned to work with a medical note restricting him to light duties. Lidl did not adjust his role and sent him home, claiming there was no available position. He was referred to occupational health after a letter from his solicitor. Lidl later stated that light duties were too restrictive and offered a phased return. Swiercz returned to work in September 2025, lifting lighter items before resuming his usual duties. The adjudication officer ruled that Lidl failed to provide reasonable accommodation and that its actions amounted to disability discrimination. Compensation was awarded for six months' financial loss and to act as a deterrent. Lidl's refusal to engage with Swiercz and its disciplinary approach were also factors in the award.
A fraudster, Myles Connors, conned an elderly woman out of over €50,000 for substandard garden work, including €5,000 for power washing, according to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Connors charged the 82-year-old woman €48,000 for slabbing, weed removal, and cementing part of her back garden, with materials costing less than €3,000. Gardai assessed the work and found it should have cost no more than €20,000. The woman, who lives alone and has mobility issues, was left with uneven and unsecured slabs. Connors, who pleaded guilty to two counts of deception, had previously purchased the slabs for €1,200 and used them in the woman's garden. He also purchased a vehicle with a €1,000 deposit and later asked the woman to write a €35,000 cheque. The woman later complained about the work and was left feeling unsafe and vulnerable in her home. Connors was arrested and has one previous conviction for criminal damage.
Ejike Francis Ogubefi and Steven Silvester were sentenced after convictions for directing a criminal organisation and laundering or attempting to launder money through multiple accounts. The court described a sophisticated international operation and imposed nine years on Ogubefi and seven and a half years on Silvester.
The Court of Appeal has reduced the prison sentence of Ebenezer Oduntan, a former pastor of the City of David Church in County Kildare, from seven years to six years, with the final six months suspended. Oduntan was convicted of 87 theft and fraud-related offences following a three-week trial at Naas Circuit Criminal Court in March 2024. He had initially denied 54 charges but pleaded guilty midway through the trial to 19 counts of theft, five counts of deception, and nine charges of providing false information to the Companies Registration Office. The offences, spanning 2010 to 2020, involved embezzling approximately €125,000 from the church and inflating donation levels to claim larger tax rebates. Mr Justice Alexander Owens quashed the original sentence, describing the trial judge's headline sentence as "somewhat too high" but noting the offending was "particularly serious" due to a gross breach of trust. The judge highlighted that Oduntan made no restitution to the congregation or Revenue. While acknowledging limited mitigation, the Court of Appeal substituted the sentence with six years' imprisonment, suspending the final six months to encourage rehabilitation. The appeal was heard after Oduntan's legal team argued the original sentence was excessive given the total amount involved and his lack of previous convictions.
The sister of Valeriu Melnic, accused of murdering Ion Daghi, testified that her evidence to the jury last week was the opposite of what she had said in her Garda statement. In the statement, she described her brother as the aggressor who had a knife and threatened to kill her husband. In court, she denied that she was trying to protect him and said she had not seen the earlier part of the fight. She admitted that she had described her husband as the one armed and that her brother had wanted to leave the house. She also said she had only seen the leg of a chair in his hand and did not see them fighting. The trial continues tomorrow before Mr Justice David Keane and a jury of eight men and four women. Valeriu Melnic pleaded not guilty.
A shop worker, Artur Czopek, who claimed he faced racial discrimination after being excluded from workplace gift collections for birthdays and significant events, has lost his case. The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) rejected his complaint under the Employment Equality Act 1998 against TJX Ireland Unlimited, which operates as TK Maxx. Czopek, a Polish part-time sales assistant in Newbridge, Co Kildare, alleged that an assistant manager only selected Irish employees for the collections, excluding non-Irish workers. He stated that after complaining to the store manager, Scott Cooper, in 2024, the practice continued. The tribunal heard that the collections were for milestone birthdays and work anniversaries, and that non-Irish employees, including a Latvian, Polish, and Russian worker, had received gifts. Adjudicator Bríd Deering found that the evidence did not support claims of racial discrimination, noting that beneficiaries included various nationalities and that Czopek's complaints lacked sufficient evidence.
Brian Early, a 54‑year‑old from Newbridge, pleaded guilty to theft, possession of stolen property and possession of certain articles in two incidents in February 2024. He stole 17 bottles of spirits worth about €700 from Dunnes Stores, removing security tags with wire cutters and making a small purchase to appear legitimate. Two bottles of Bombay Sapphire gin were recovered. Early admitted the theft was to repay a drug debt, citing a serious crack cocaine addiction that worsened after a five‑year cancer battle and his father's death. He has been clean for 10 months, has not attended a formal drug programme but has sought support from Pieta House following a mental‑health crisis, and receives a disability allowance. Judge Conor Fottrell, considering the guilty plea, personal circumstances and support engagement, imposed a 12‑month probation bond requiring Early to keep the peace and continue engaging with Pieta House and any further counselling.
A 24‑year‑old man, Brian Ibe, was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of 65‑year‑old Peter Kennedy, a retired probation officer who had taken Ibe and his mother into his home after learning of their homelessness. The Central Criminal Court jury rejected Ibe's defence of not guilty by reason of insanity and convicted him of both the murder and an assault on Garda Brendan O'Donnell. Ibe was found to have schizophrenia by two psychiatrists, though a prosecution psychiatrist disagreed. The jury deliberated for just under seven hours and returned a unanimous guilty verdict. Justice Melanie Greally imposed a mandatory life sentence for the murder, back‑dated to Ibe's custody on 29 April 2020, and a 12‑month prison term for the assault on the Garda. The victim's sister delivered a moving impact statement describing Kennedy as a thoughtful, charitable and generous man who suffered a cruel and terrifying end.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court convicted 23‑year‑old Brian Ibe of murdering 65‑year‑old Peter Kennedy and assaulting Garda Brendan O'Donnell. Ibe had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to both charges. The jury found him guilty after deliberating for just under seven hours. The trial described how Kennedy had taken Ibe and his mother into his home after learning of their homelessness, and how Ibe had allegedly stabbed Kennedy with a knife while Kennedy was in his bedroom. Ibe's defence presented psychiatric evidence that he suffered from schizophrenia and was psychotic at the time of the assault, while the prosecution argued he had a dissocial personality disorder and that his actions were goal‑directed. The judge, Justice Melanie Greally, instructed the jury to apply healthy skepticism to expert testimony. Ibe remains remanded in custody awaiting sentencing, where he faces a mandatory life sentence.
A jury has begun deliberating on the case of Brian Ibe, 23, who was accused of murdering 65‑year‑old Mr Kennedy after the victim had taken Ibe's mother into his home. Ibe pleaded not guilty to murder by reason of insanity. Two defence psychiatrists, Dr Stephen Monks and Dr Gaurav Malhan, diagnosed him with schizophrenia, stating he could not control his actions and did not understand their nature. The prosecution's psychiatrist, Dr Mary Davoren, disagreed, diagnosing a dis‑social personality disorder and asserting Ibe met the criteria for the special verdict. The trial also covered Ibe's assault on Garda Brendan O'Donnell, for which he pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. Justice Melanie Greally instructed the jury to apply a "healthy skepticism" to the conflicting expert evidence and to consider diminished responsibility if the schizophrenia diagnosis is accepted but the disorder did not fully impair his control.
The trial of Brian Ibe, 23, accused of murdering Peter Kennedy, a 65-year-old 'Good Samaritan', is ongoing before Ms Justice Melanie Greally. Ibe has pleaded not guilty to murder by reason of insanity and not guilty by reason of insanity to a charge of assault causing harm to Garda Brendan O'Donnell. The defence, led by Conor Devally SC, argued that Ibe was suffering from schizophrenic psychosis at the time of the alleged offence, citing evidence from two psychiatrists. Conversely, the prosecution, represented by Paul Carroll SC, presented Dr Mary Davoren, who diagnosed Ibe with a dis-social personality disorder and contended he understood the nature of his actions. The jury heard conflicting expert opinions regarding Ibe's mental state, with the defence highlighting prior behavioural evidence of psychosis and the prosecution pointing to deliberate, complex actions such as taking a taxi to the scene. The matter remains at the trial stage, with the judge set to begin her charge to the jury on Monday. No verdict, sentence, or finalisation has been recorded; the case is currently awaiting the jury's decision.
In the Central Criminal Court, Dr Mary Davoren testified that Brian Ibe, 23, who is charged with the murder of 65‑year‑old Peter Kennedy, displayed goal‑directed, logical thinking rather than schizophrenia when he threatened and demanded money from Kennedy before fatally assaulting him. Davoren, called by the prosecution, disagreed with the defence psychiatrists who claimed Ibe was in a schizophrenic psychosis at the time of the offence. She noted that Ibe's first disclosure of hearing voices occurred a year and 13 days after remand in Cloverhill Prison and that no evidence of psychosis was present during the murder. Davoren described Ibe's threats as "instrumental" and linked his anger to being asked to leave Kennedy's house in 2019, to loss of social welfare money, and to disgust over the state of the house. She also mentioned that Ibe's aggression may have been reduced by taking Olanzapine, an antipsychotic with a sedative effect. Brian Ibe pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, consultant psychiatrist Dr Mary Davoren testified that the murder accused, Brian Ibe, first reported hearing voices more than a year after being remanded, on the same day his awareness of a possible not‑guilty‑by‑reason‑of‑insanity verdict was documented. Dr Davoren argued that Ibe's dis‑social personality disorder, not schizophrenia, explained his behaviour. She noted no evidence of hallucinations or psychosis at the time of the offence, only regular cannabis use. Ibe, 23, had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity for the murder of 65‑year‑old Peter Kennedy and for assaulting Garda Brendan O'Donnell. Dr Davoren said Ibe's deliberate actions—traveling to Kildare, breaking in, stabbing Kennedy—showed intent and knowledge of wrongdoing, undermining a special verdict. The trial will continue before Justice Melanie Greally and a jury.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Dr Stephen Monks, a consultant psychiatrist, testified that Brian Ibe, aged 23, suffered from schizophrenia and was in an acute psychotic state when he fatally assaulted 65‑year‑old Peter Kennedy. Monks argued that Ibe's psychosis, triggered by homelessness and cannabis use beginning in June 2018, contributed significantly to the assault and that Ibe may not have understood the nature of his actions. He suggested the court consider a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act. Ibe has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder charge and to assault causing harm to Garda Brendan O'Donnell, who was punched during Ibe's detention. The trial is proceeding before Justice Melanie Greally and a jury of twelve.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, Dr Marie English, a clinical psychologist, testified that she found no evidence that Brian Ibe, aged 23, was feigning or exaggerating schizophrenia symptoms during the murder of Peter Kennedy, a 65‑year‑old man, on 28 April 2020. Ibe, who pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, was admitted to the Central Mental Hospital in 2023 after being on the waiting list since 2020. Dr English defined feigning as fabrication or gross exaggeration of symptoms and, after conducting various tests, concluded there was no evidence of such fabrication. The prosecution maintains that Ibe does not meet the legal criteria for a not‑guilty‑by‑reason‑of‑insanity verdict under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act. Ibe also pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity for assaulting Garda Brendan O'Donnell at Newbridge Garda Station on or about 29 April 2020, where the Garda was left with a bloody nose and a bruise under his eye.
In a murder trial, Garda Brendan O'Donnell testified that on 29 April 2020 he was punched by Brian Ibe, 23, after detectives attempted to take fingerprints and DNA samples. O'Donnell, who was in charge at Newbridge Garda Station, said Ibe tried to leave the interview room and, when restrained, struck him just below the left eye and on the side of the nose, causing immediate pain, bleeding and bruising. O'Donnell was taken to Naas Hospital, suffered no fractures, and later reported headaches and pain that have since healed. Ibe, who has no fixed abode, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of 65‑year‑old Peter Kennedy and to assaulting O'Donnell. The trial, before Justice Melanie Greally and a jury, continues tomorrow. The prosecution maintains that Ibe was not within the special insanity or diminished responsibility criteria. The case remains at the evidence‑gathering stage.
Brian Ibe, 23, was arrested on suspicion of assaulting Garda Brendan O'Donnell and later charged with the murder of Peter Kennedy, a 65‑year‑old retired probation officer, who died from head injuries on 12 May 2020. Ibe, who has no fixed abode and was formerly of Moore Park, Newbridge, claims he only met Kennedy once and did not want anything to do with him, describing him as a "weird, strange old man". He pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to both the murder and the assault. The prosecution argues that Ibe was not within the "ingredients" for a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity or diminished responsibility. The jury has been told it is not contested that Ibe carried out the fatal attack. The trial is set to continue before Ms Justice Melanie Greally and a jury of twelve.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 65‑year‑old man named Peter Kennedy testified that he was terrified of a teenager, Brian Ibe, who had moved into his home. Kennedy said Ibe demanded money, threatened to kill him, and said he would "slit his throat." Witnesses, including Rita Swords, described Ibe as homeless and mentally unstable, and said he had repeatedly demanded money from Kennedy. Kennedy also alleged that Ibe threatened to stab him on at least one occasion. Ibe has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of Kennedy and to assaulting a Garda. The trial, presided over by Justice Melanie Greally, continues next Tuesday with a jury of twelve.
A murder trial at the Central Criminal Court heard that a 65-year-old man, described as 'a kind person who would help people,' died from traumatic head injuries after being attacked by a then 19-year-old man who had been living with him. Brian Ibe (24), of no fixed abode and formerly of Moore Park, Newbridge, Co Kildare, is on trial for the murder of Peter Kennedy in Co Kildare five years ago. There is no contest that Ibe carried out an attack on Mr Kennedy, who died as a result. Ibe has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of Mr Kennedy between April 28 and May 12, 2020, and also pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to assault causing harm to Garda Brendan O'Donnell at Newbridge Garda Station on or about April 29, 2020. Counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions, Paul J Carroll SC, outlined the proposed evidence and factual matters of the case, stating that the burden of proof rests on the defence to convince the jury that the special verdicts of not guilty by reason of insanity are open to them. The trial continues tomorrow before Ms Justice Melanie Greally and the jury of six men and six women.
A jury of twelve was sworn in on 18 March 2025 to hear the trial of Brian Ibe, a 24‑year‑old from Newbridge, who has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of 65‑year‑old Peter Kennedy, which took place between 28 April and 12 May 2020. Ibe was also charged with assault causing harm to Garda Brendan O'Donnell on 29 April 2020, to which he likewise pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. The trial will last about two weeks, with a possibility of a slight extension. The prosecution will present witnesses including consultant psychiatrist Dr Mary Davoren and clinical psychologist Dr Kevin Lambe, while the defence will call consultant psychiatrists Dr Conor O'Neill, Dr Stephen Monks, Dr Patrick McLoughlin, Dr Gauruv Malhan and psychologist Dr Marie English. A large number of Garda witnesses from Newbridge, Kildare, Athy, Rathangan, Portlaoise, Tallaght and Naas will also testify.
Roy Oti, aged 22, was found guilty of stealing €13,974 from a catering company that operated at Aviva Stadium, using a Sumup card‑reader system. He was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment, with a headline term of four years from which a final year was suspended. Oti's co‑accused included his sister Nikkel Oti (21) and Chidera Anago (22), who each pleaded guilty to thefts of €2,371 and €4,888 respectively. Both were dealt with under Section 100 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 and will be discharged if they donate €750 to The Simon Community before the finalisation date in July. A further co‑accused, Sean Atowo (23), pleaded guilty and his case was adjourned to allow a probation report. The court noted the pre‑planned nature of the fraud and the breach of trust involved. The total amount stolen was €32,489, with €9,334 recovered, leaving the catering company a loss of €23,154.
Damian Szatkowski, 38, of Peachville, Kilshane, Dublin 11, pleaded guilty in October to the manslaughter of Marcel Kusenda, 48, in Newbridge, Co Kildare, on 8 March 2023. Szatkowski had moved into Kusenda's house shortly before the fatal incident and had previously assaulted the victim twice. He prevented a witness, Marytn Najder, from calling an ambulance and threatened her not to do so. The court heard that Szatkowski struck Kusenda twice in the nose and then kicked him three more times, leaving him unconscious in the bedroom for hours. Kusenda was later found with a large subdural hematoma and died on 10 March. The judge, Ms Justice Eileen Creedon, set a headline sentence of ten years, reduced to six and a half years after mitigation, including Szatkowski's guilty plea and apology. The sentence was backdated to his first custody in April 2023. The hearing included victim impact statements from Kusenda's son and sisters.
A 38‑year‑old Defence Forces member, Alan O'Connor of Acorn Downes, Newbridge, was found guilty of raping a friend of his partner, Siobhan Murphy, at a property in Portarlington on 17 June 2020. The victim, who had known the attacker for 15 years, testified that she was fully clothed when O'Connor entered her bed and forced himself upon her, pulling down her trousers and underwear. O'Connor denied wrongdoing and maintained his innocence. He had no prior convictions and had served in the Defence Forces for nearly 19 years. The Central Criminal Court, after hearing victim impact statements and a letter from a priest describing the offence as "totally out of character," sentenced him to five and a half years' imprisonment, with a six‑month suspended portion to be served over two years. The judge noted his medical needs and family support as mitigating factors. The sentence was imposed by Justice Kerida Naidoo.
In a Central Criminal Court case, two men, Sean Kavanagh (26) and Calvin Dunne (24), charged with the murder of Dylan McCarthy (29) in Monasterevin on 22 August 2022, claim they acted in self‑defence. The prosecution contends McCarthy died after receiving punches from Kavanagh and a kick to the head from Dunne while he was on the ground. McCarthy was taken to hospital the next day and pronounced dead. The State presented CCTV footage and testimony that Kavanagh and Dunne were present at the pub, that McCarthy was involved in a fight, and that Dunne delivered a "running kick" to McCarthy's exposed head. The jury heard that McCarthy suffered a subdural haemorrhage, and the prosecution must prove beyond reasonable doubt that the accused intended to kill or cause serious injury. The trial continues before Justice Caroline Biggs and a jury of ten men and two women. Sean Kavanagh pleaded not guilty. Calvin Dunne pleaded not guilty.
The Central Criminal Court heard on 9 December 2024 that Damian Szatkowski (38) pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Marcel Kusenda (48) on 8 March 2023. Kusenda, a Slovakian man who had lived in Ireland for 20 years, was found in his Newbridge home with severe head injuries after being repeatedly kicked and punched by Szatkowski, who had recently moved in. A post‑mortem revealed a displaced nasal fracture and a 15 mm subdural hematoma, with death caused by complications of blunt‑force head injury. Szatkowski, with 61 prior convictions, was arrested and denied intent to kill, claiming he had only punched once. The court adjourned sentencing to 17 February, noting the offence's high culpability and the defendant's remorse. The case remains pending.
A 38‑year‑old man from Peachville, Kilshane, Dublin 11 pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Marcel Kusenda, a 47‑year‑old Slovakian, who was unlawfully killed in Newbridge, Co Kildare on about 8 March 2023. The plea was accepted by the Director of Public Prosecutions. The case was adjourned to 9 December, with a governor's report from Midlands Prison ordered, and the victim's son in Slovakia is to give a statement before sentencing.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Brian Ibe, aged 23, collapsed after the judge ruled that the defence could not call additional witnesses who were not classified as experts. Ibe, who had no fixed abode and was formerly of Moore Park, Newbridge, was accused of murdering retired Peter Kennedy, 65, who had offered him and his mother a place to stay. Ibe denied murder but admitted causing Kennedy's death, and pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. He also faced a separate assault charge against Garda Brendan O'Donnell. The judge explained that the court could not accommodate the defence's request for non‑expert witnesses and that it would be unfair to keep the jury empanelled for an extended period. Consequently, the jury was excused for five years and the case was postponed. The trial, which had been scheduled to last up to two weeks, was therefore abandoned.
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 murder trial, the jury heard that Brian Ibe, aged 23, allegedly killed Peter Kennedy in Newbridge between 28 April and 12 May 2020. Ibe, who had previously lived in Moore Park, Newbridge, and was associated with the Peter McVerry Trust, Dublin 12, had allowed Kennedy to stay in his home and also permitted Kennedy's mother to stay there until they found other accommodation. The State argued that Kennedy had become unhappy with Ibe's behaviour, leading to verbal disputes that prompted Gardaí to visit the house in December 2019. On the night of the killing, Ibe allegedly travelled from Dublin, smashed a window to enter the house, and attacked Kennedy, who sustained serious head injuries and died at Beaumont Hospital. Ibe has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder and to an assault charge against Garda Brendan O'Donnell. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Burns, is expected to last up to two weeks.
A jury was sworn in for the trial of Brian Ibe, 23, who pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of 65‑year‑old Peter Kennedy in Newbridge, County Kildare, between 28 April and 12 May 2020. Ibe also pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to an assault charge against Garda Brendan O'Donnell at Newbridge Garda Station on 29 April 2020. The trial, expected to last up to two weeks, will commence tomorrow before Mr Justice Paul Burns with a jury of seven women and five men.
Mark Doyle, a former Garda and soldier, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for a series of assaults on his wife, Meav McLoughlin‑Doyle, and their two stepsons over a 12‑year period. The court heard that Doyle repeatedly punched, choked, and kicked his wife, threw a chair at her while she was pregnant, and used an airsoft gun against a stepson. He also verbally abused the children, calling them names such as "fat cunt" and "retard." Doyle admitted five counts of assault causing harm to his wife and two counts of assault causing harm to the children. He had been suspended and later resigned from the Gardaí before pleading guilty. The judge noted the pattern of violence and the impact on the victims, describing the home as oppressive and a place of fear. Doyle's sentence was back‑dated to the day he entered custody.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, former Garda and soldier Mark Doyle, aged 38, admitted five counts of assault causing harm to his ex‑wife Meav Doyle and two counts of assault causing harm to her sons, covering incidents from September 2007 to August 2019. The court heard that Doyle repeatedly punched, choked, and kicked his wife, threw a chair at her while she was pregnant, and pulled her by the hair. He also shot a stepson with an airsoft gun and verbally abused both stepsons. Doyle had been suspended and later resigned from the Gardaí before pleading guilty in October. He was remanded in custody overnight pending a finalisation of his sentence hearing on Friday. The hearing focused on the 12‑year period of violence and the impact on the family.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 33‑year‑old Daragh Houlihan pleaded guilty to robbery for an incident on 4 May 2021 in which he attacked his pregnant girlfriend, wrestled with her over a knife, pushed and kicked her, and stole her phone. The judge described his conduct as "utterly reprehensible" and noted the victim's pregnancy and the relationship's end. Houlihan's addiction to cocaine and heroin was cited as a mitigating factor. The court imposed a headline sentence of three years, reduced to two years and three months, and suspended the entire term for three years on strict conditions, including no contact with the victim and notification of any new intimate relationship. Houlihan agreed to participate in programs addressing intimate partner violence, anger management, and offence‑focused intervention. The victim's impact statement highlighted her fear and emotional distress following the assault. The case concluded with a fully suspended sentence and no custodial time.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced four men for money laundering offences linked to €121,000 stolen from a Dublin solicitors' firm via invoice redirect fraud. Judge Martin Nolan warned that the court is "totally fed up" with young money mules using "stupidity as a shield" and stated that those providing bank details after January 2022 face potential custody. Cameron Fanning, 25, pleaded guilty to two counts of money laundering and one count of giving false information to gardaí. He was sentenced to three and a half years in prison, suspended in full on strict conditions. The judge noted the court would not use Fanning as a "sacrificial lamb" given his reckless but believable explanation. Mubarak Salawu, 22, pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering and possessing €600 Balenciaga runners bought with proceeds of crime; he received a suspended two-year prison sentence. Olumide Lawal, 27, admitted to two counts of money laundering and possession of an iPhone bought with proceeds of crime; he was also given a suspended two-year prison sentence. Aaron Clancy, 21, pleaded guilty to possessing €3,020 in proceeds of money laundering and a further unrelated count of possessing €4,650 in proceeds of crime; he received a suspended two-year prison sentence. The judge noted that for Salawu, Lawal, and Clancy, the amounts involved were lower and all three were young men with their "futures in front of them".
Niall Kennedy, a former soldier from Newbridge, Co Kildare, has lost his appeal against his conviction for rape and harassment. In December 2021, a jury at the Central Criminal Court convicted Kennedy of 12 counts of rape on eleven occasions in August 2017, as well as multiple counts of harassment and threats to kill or cause serious harm. The trial judge described the conduct as a "cynical and cold campaign of rape and harassment" and imposed a sentence of 12 years, with the final two years suspended for five years on strict conditions. Kennedy, who denied the charges, argued on appeal that the trial judge should have issued a corroboration warning to the jury regarding the complainant's evidence, citing alleged inconsistencies in her testimony. He also contended that the concept of recklessness regarding consent was not adequately explained. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice George Birmingham, dismissed both grounds. The court found that the trial judge was fully aware of the relevant authorities and that the decision to decline a corroboration warning was open to him. The appeal was rejected, with the court stating it was not persuaded that the trial was unfair or the verdict unsafe. The matter was adjourned for the finalisation of the appeal process, though the conviction and sentence stand.
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.
Niall Kennedy, a former soldier, was convicted in December 2021 on twelve counts of rape and additional charges of harassment and threats. He was sentenced to twelve years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended for five years on strict conditions. Kennedy, aged 32, denied the charges. His appeal argues that the trial judge failed to issue a corroboration warning to the jury about the uncorroborated evidence of the complainant, who admitted to lying about her relationship with Kennedy and about a male friend's drug use. The appeal also contends that the judge should have warned the jury about Kennedy's state of mind and the alleged consensual nature of the intercourse. The Court of Appeal will consider whether the absence of such a warning affected the jury's deliberations. The case remains at the appeal stage.
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.
Derek Kavanagh, 48, turned himself in after RTÉ's Crimecall aired CCTV of him assaulting a homeless woman on James Street, Dublin 8, on 7 May 2022. He claimed he was approached, panicked, and thought he was being mugged, leading him to punch and choke the victim, who was living in hostel accommodation. Kavanagh admitted the woman was not threatening and had kept a reasonable distance. He pleaded guilty to assault and causing harm, and was given a three‑year fully suspended sentence. He paid €2,000 in compensation and was ordered to pay an additional €3,000 within six months, to be given to the victim or a local charity if she declined. The court noted his remorse, lack of prior convictions, and his efforts at anger‑management and alcohol‑abuse courses. The judge considered his mitigating circumstances and deemed him unlikely to reoffend.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, 33‑year‑old Daragh Houlihan pleaded guilty to robbery after assaulting his pregnant girlfriend at her home. The incident began while she was cooking; Houlihan entered the kitchen, demanded a knife she was holding, and a one‑minute struggle ensued. He then seized her phone, demanding the unlock code, and pushed her onto the ground. He left the apartment, later pursued her to retrieve the phone, during which he struck her with his leg and threw her phone over a wall before fleeing. The victim, distressed, reported the assault to Gardaí and was later taken to Mater Hospital. Houlihan admitted stealing the phone but denied violent conduct, citing a belief the victim might stab him. He is scheduled for sentencing later this year, with a probation report and urine analysis ordered for the next court date on 19 June.
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.
An ex‑soldier, Niall Kennedy, aged 31, was convicted by a jury of 12 counts of rape on eleven occasions in August 2017 and of harassment and threats between February and August 2017. He denied the charges and did not accept the verdicts. Mr Justice Paul Burns sentenced him to 13 years, with 12 years of concurrent sentences and a final two years suspended for five years on strict conditions. Kennedy was ordered to never contact the victim or approach within 200 metres of her location. The court noted Kennedy's lack of remorse, his emotionally illiterate character and above‑average risk of reoffending. The victim, in her early 20s, described a controlling and violent relationship that culminated in repeated rapes and threats, and she expressed fear and trauma following the ordeal. The sentencing hearing highlighted the prolonged cross‑examination of the victim and the complexity of the case.
A woman, aged in her early 20s, described a violent relationship with former soldier Niall Kennedy (31). She met him on Tinder in December 2016 and they began a relationship that involved constant harassment, unwanted contact, and repeated threats to kill her or her friends. Kennedy was convicted in December 2021 of 12 counts of rape on eleven occasions in August 2017, plus multiple counts of harassment and threats. He denied the charges and refused to accept the verdicts. After his conviction, the state objected to his remand on bail, but he was released under strict conditions, including no contact with the victim, sobriety, and a daily curfew. The victim, who was "on high alert" and feared retaliation, gave a victim impact statement describing the abuse, her fear, and her recovery. The court adjourned his sentence hearing to February 21, 2024, and ordered him to be taken into custody.
Seamus Morgan, aged 53, seeks to overturn his 2016 murder conviction for killing Laurence 'Bomber' Keane, a 56‑year‑old former bomb‑maker. Morgan was jailed for life after a jury found him guilty of murdering Keane in a dark laneway near Greenhills, Athy, on 18 July 2013. He had previously served eight years for the manslaughter of 29‑year‑old James Hand in 2002. In the Court of Appeal hearing, Morgan's lawyer argued that the trial judge erred by allowing the prosecution to introduce evidence of Morgan's earlier manslaughter conviction and by failing to properly warn the jury about the reliability of witness identification. The appeal judges reserved judgment. The case remains at the appeal stage, with no outcome yet announced. Seamus Morgan pleaded not guilty and was acquitted.
Brian Ibe, 19, of no fixed abode and formerly of Moore Park, Newbridge, Co Kildare, is charged with the murder of Peter Kennedy, 65, at Kennedy's Kildare home on 28 April 2020. Kennedy suffered injuries on that day and died on 12 May. Ibe's trial is scheduled for 7 February 2022 in the Central Criminal Court and is expected to last three weeks. He appeared by video‑link and was remanded in custody at Cloverhill Prison. The assault‑causing‑harm and trespassing charges that were originally brought against Ibe have been withdrawn.
Thomas Stokes, aged 30, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment for a high‑speed pursuit that left Garda Thomas Bialkowski seriously injured. Stokes pleaded guilty to two counts of endangerment, one count of assaulting Garda Bialkowski, one count of dangerous driving, and a separate count of criminal damage. The judge imposed four‑and‑a‑half years for endangerment and two‑and‑a‑half years for criminal damage, to run consecutively, giving an effective term of seven years. The final two years were suspended on strict conditions. The pursuit began when Gardaí approached Stokes' car at Dublin Port; after a brief attempt to stop him, Stokes fled, driving at up to 180 km/h, swerving across lanes, and eventually crashing into a wall on Cookstown Way, Tallaght. The crash caused the Garda's firearm butt to strike him, injuring his teeth, eye, arm and shoulder.
In a Dublin court hearing, Thomas Stokes, aged 30 and with 171 prior convictions, was charged after a high‑speed chase that ended with a Garda car crashing into a wall. Stokes, who drove at speeds up to 180 km/h and swerved aggressively, was attempting to flee from Gardaí who had approached his vehicle at Dublin Port. The pursuit resumed on the M50, where Stokes braked hard and crashed, causing the Garda car to swerve into a wall. The impact forced the Garda's firearm butt into his face, resulting in severe eye and facial injuries, soft‑tissue damage to his arm and shoulder, and damage to his teeth. Stokes was arrested nearby and has remained in custody, except for a brief compassionate bail in March. He pleaded guilty to two counts of endangerment, one count of assaulting a Garda, one count of dangerous driving, and one count of criminal damage. He will be sentenced on Wednesday.
Gareth Prior, 36, of Ramblers Court, Newbridge, Co. Kildare, was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment for his role in a heroin transaction worth an estimated €560,000. He had pleaded guilty in December 2015 to possession of cocaine and heroin for sale or supply. The Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal against the severity of the sentence, citing the need to protect society from drug trafficking. Prior was observed by Gardaí travelling to an Aldi supermarket on Fonthill Road, Clondalkin, where he was seen placing a rucksack in a car. Gardaí seized four packages containing four kilograms of heroin, and a search of his Newbridge address uncovered 2.5 kg of cocaine, 487 g of cannabis and 56 g of ketamine. He had 17 prior convictions, including seven for drug offences, and was found in possession of drug paraphernalia.