Paul Connolly, 37, of Cregg Court, Kilmeague, was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison for dangerous driving that caused serious bodily harm to Michael Igoe (54) and Francis Dhala (19) on Coolmine Road, Coolmine, on 1 May 2018. Connolly, who was under the influence of cocaine and tablets the night before, drove his young child to school, mounted the footpath, hit Igoe and then Dhala, and left the scene calmly with a smashed windscreen. He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving under the influence of drugs, possession of cannabis, failing to remain at the scene, failing to offer assistance, failing to alert Gardaí, and driving without insurance or a licence. Judge Melanie Greally suspended the final 18 months of the sentence, citing Connolly's guilty plea, remorse, limited cooperation and long‑standing addiction issues. The sentence was back‑dated to 1 May 2018.
In a trial at the Central Criminal Court, two fourteen‑year‑old boys are charged with murdering Kildare schoolgirl Anastasia Kriegel and, for one, with aggravated sexual assault. Both pleaded not guilty. Judge Paul McDermott, presiding over the case, ordered that no media reporting of evidence be allowed until the trial concludes. He reminded the jury that they must base their verdict solely on what they hear in court, ignoring any external coverage. The judge also announced that the restriction on reporting would remain in force until the trial ends or a further order is made. The proceedings continue with Mr Justice McDermott and a jury of eight men and four women. The accused cannot be named due to their minor status. The trial is ongoing.
The trial of two 14-year-old boys, referred to as Boy A and Boy B, charged with the murder of Anastasia Kriegel at Glenwood House in Lucan on 14 May last year, is ongoing before the Central Criminal Court. Both accused have pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. Boy A additionally faces a charge of aggravated sexual assault involving serious violence, to which he also pleaded not guilty. Gardai testified that the boys provided conflicting accounts of their last meeting with the victim. Boy A alleged he declined Ana's romantic interest and was subsequently assaulted by two unidentified males, claiming injuries to his right hand and leg. Boy B stated he had 'no clue' what happened to her after she appeared upset following her interaction with Boy A. Detective Sergeant John O'Keefe noted discrepancies between the boys' statements, while Sergeant Aonghus Hussey described observing confusion and inconsistent movements during a re-enactment at St Catherine's Park. The court heard that Boy A used his left hand to initial his statement due to a right-hand injury. The matter was adjourned and is scheduled to continue on Friday morning before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury.
Anastasia Kriegel, 14, vanished on 14 May after leaving home with a boy she had known. Her father, Patric Kriegel, says he saw her walk away with the boy, now identified as Boy B, at about 5 pm, before her phone last connected to her mother's office at 5:32 pm. The State claims she was dead by that time. The trial, held at the Central Criminal Court, is the second day of proceedings against two 14‑year‑olds charged with her murder. Both accused, who cannot be named, pleaded not guilty. Boy A is also charged with aggravated sexual assault. The prosecution alleges the boys lured Ana to a derelict farmhouse where she was murdered. The case remains at the trial stage, with no verdict yet.
In a Court of Appeal hearing, letters sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on behalf of struck‑off solicitor Michael Lynn (50) alleged that the State was trying to "nail" him, calling him an "innocent man" and accusing the DPP of "robust bloodlust." Lynn, who has been extradited from Brazil after spending four‑and‑a‑half years in a Brazilian prison, faces 21 counts of theft totalling almost €30 million from seven financial institutions, including €4.1 million from Irish Nationwide and €3.6 million from Ulster Bank. His lawyers challenged assurances that time served in Brazil would be deducted from any Irish sentence, arguing the DPP's statements could impinge on the separation of powers. The Court of Appeal reserved judgment, noting the letters were "intemperate" and that the case was "moot" or "un‑stateable" according to the DPP's counsel. The appeal may affect Lynn's upcoming trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Two 14‑year‑old boys are on trial in Dublin for the murder of 14‑year‑old Ana Kriegel. Prosecutor Brendan Grehan told the jury that one boy lured Ana from her home to a derelict farmhouse, where he watched the other boy sexually assault and kill her. The accused boy is also charged with aggravated sexual assault. Evidence presented included a zombie‑type mask in his backpack, male DNA on Ana's neck and semen in the murder scene, and a ligature tape matching the one found on her neck. The prosecution argued that the boy had planned the murder, lured Ana to the farmhouse, and then watched the assault and killing. Ana's body was found on 17 May, naked except for socks, with severe head and neck injuries. The trial is ongoing and the boys have pleaded not guilty.
Two fourteen‑year‑old boys, whose names are withheld because they are minors, are set to go on trial for the murder of Kildare schoolgirl Anastasia Kriegel. The boys pleaded not guilty to the murder charge and one also pleaded not guilty to a separate charge of sexually assaulting the victim with serious violence. The body of Ms Kriegel was found at a derelict house in County Dublin on 17 May, three days after she was reported missing. The alleged killings took place at Glenwood House, Laraghcon, Clonee Road, Lucan on 14 May. Judge Paul McDermott swore in a jury of eight men and four women, stressing the need for an independent assessment and warning that the evidence could be upsetting. The trial is expected to last about six weeks.
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.
John Langfield, 35, was jailed after deliberately reversing his car into a Garda patrol car on the M7 motorway at 200 km/h on a wet March night. The high‑speed chase began in a housing estate in Kill, Co. Kildare, and ended when Langfield performed a handbrake turn on Nangor Road, Clondalkin, struck the patrol car a second time and mounted a traffic island. He was arrested at the scene and later pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of dangerous driving, criminal damage to a patrol car and having no insurance. Judge Karen O'Connor accepted his remorse, suspended the final 18 months of a three‑year sentence and imposed a custodial term of 18 months. The patrol car suffered €1,400 in damage and was out of service for five days. Langfield had 23 prior convictions, including a suspended sentence for drug possession in 2009.
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.
Paddy Harty, 45, of Ennis, was on the run when he sexually assaulted a 53‑year‑old woman he met in a pub in Kildare on 23 April 2015. He pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court and was sentenced to four years imprisonment, consecutive to a four‑year sentence for theft and fraud that he had received two months earlier. Harty's appeal against the severity of the sentence was dismissed by the Court of Appeal, which found the total sentence "appropriate". The Court noted that Harty had met the woman in a bar, they had drinks, kissed, and then he drove her to a secluded area known as 'Braveheart Hill'. There he removed her bottom clothing and forcibly held her by the arms. She fled, hid in a thorny bush and called the Gardaí. Harty was identified from CCTV footage and initially denied having met the woman.
Evan Dunne, 20, of Ballyfermot, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply. The offence occurred on February 15, 2018, at a car park in Dowdstown, Maynooth, Co Kildare. Gardaí seized seven packages of cocaine from a van Dunne had purchased the previous day, with an estimated street value of just over €492,400. Judge Pauline Codd identified the high value of the drugs and the planning involved in purchasing the vehicle as serious aggravating factors. However, she noted mitigating circumstances, including Dunne's guilty plea, his insight into the crime, his low risk of re-offending, and his employment history. The court heard that Dunne claimed he committed the offence to raise funds for a garage business and had developed a cocaine addiction from age 17. Judge Codd imposed a seven-year sentence, with the final four years suspended for that period. She ordered four years of Probation Service supervision, requiring Dunne to follow all directions, including victim empathy work and therapeutic supports. The sentence was backdated to November last year, when Dunne first went into custody, resulting in an effective custody period of three years.
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.
Paul Connolly, 37, with 14 dangerous‑driving convictions and 3 hit‑and‑run convictions, drove under the influence of cocaine and benzodiazepine on Coolmine Road on 1 May 2018. While driving his child to school, he mounted a footpath, first striking Michael Igoe, 54, and then student Francis Dhala, 19. Igoe suffered a fractured ankle, bruising, torn shoulder muscles and a concussion; Dhala sustained a severe head injury, requiring multiple surgeries and a prolonged hospital stay. Connolly left the scene calmly, later claiming he thought he had hit a bush. He was intercepted by a driving instructor and Gardaí, admitted to drug use, and pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm, driving under the influence, possession of cannabis, failing to remain at the scene, failing to offer assistance, failing to alert Gardaí, and driving without insurance or a licence.
In 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 the Special Criminal Court, Michael Brady, 54, of Blackrock, Co Dublin, was directed to be found not guilty of possessing an assault rifle by Mr Justice Paul Coffey. The judge ruled there was no evidence beyond reasonable doubt linking Brady to the rifle, which was found concealed in a bed base at Sallins Bridge, Co Kildare, on January 24, 2017. Although DNA from skin cells matching Brady was found on socks containing ammunition, an expert noted this did not exclude the possibility that another person placed the rounds in socks Brady had worn. The judge further stated there was no evidence establishing when Brady accessed the bed or when the rifle was placed there. The State also withdrew a separate charge regarding the possession of three ammunition magazines. Brady had pleaded not guilty to all nine counts on his indictment, which included allegations of possessing €1.5 million worth of cocaine and €1.26 million worth of heroin. Separately, his brother, Declan Brady, 52, pleaded guilty last month to possessing 15 firearms and more than 4,000 rounds of ammunition at Greenogue Business Park, Rathcoole, Co Dublin, on the same date. Declan Brady is currently awaiting sentence. The trial for Michael Brady continues on Monday.
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.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 20 March 2019, the landlord of a house at Sallins Bridge, Sallins, Co Kildare, testified that his nephew discovered an assault rifle, more than 180 rounds of ammunition, and large amounts of cocaine and heroin in the base of a bed while "clearing out" the property. The landlord, who entered a tenancy agreement with Declan Brady in February 2015, said he had no key to the house and had gained access through a neighbour. He described how the nephew found a cardboard box containing the rifle, magazines, and drug packets wrapped in brown tape. The landlord also reported that Gardaí had searched the premises on 28 January 2017. Michael Brady, 54, is charged with nine counts of possession of firearms, ammunition and drugs, and has pleaded not guilty. The court heard evidence to determine the lawfulness of the Gardaí search. The judge will rule tomorrow.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence in the ongoing trial of Michael Brady, 54, who has pleaded not guilty to all nine counts on the indictment. He is charged with possessing €1.5 million worth of cocaine, €1.26 million worth of heroin, an assault rifle, and more than 180 rounds of ammunition at a property in Sallins, Co Kildare, on January 24, 2017. Prosecution counsel stated that forensic evidence links the accused to the items and the address. During interviews, Brady told gardai that he and his brother, Declan Brady, lived separate lives and were like "chalk and cheese." Brady denied possessing the ammunition found in the house and stated he did not know about firearms found at a separate location. His brother, Declan Brady, 52, previously pleaded guilty to possessing 15 firearms and more than 4,000 rounds of ammunition at the same address on the day in question. Declan Brady is currently awaiting sentence. The court heard that gardai conducted a search of the property, finding drugs and a firearm under a bed. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Coffey, sitting with Judge Gerard Griffin and Judge David McHugh.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence regarding a search at Sallins Bridge, Sallins, Co Kildare, on January 24, 2017. Michael Brady, 54, of Blackrock, Co Dublin, pleaded not guilty to nine counts, including alleged possession of €1.5 million worth of cocaine, €1.26 million worth of heroin, an assault rifle, and ammunition. Prosecution counsel Fiona Murphy SC alleged that gardaí failed to find these items during the initial search, which she described as a "very fast-moving operation." She stated that the property owner later discovered drugs and a firearm under a bed. The State's case is that forensic evidence links Mr Brady to the items. Earlier, the court ruled that Mr Brady's arrest and detention were lawful. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Coffey, sitting with Judges Gerard Griffin and David McHugh. Separately, Declan Brady, 52, of Celbridge, Co Kildare, pleaded guilty to possessing 15 firearms and over 4,000 rounds of ammunition at Greenogue Business Park on the same day. He is awaiting sentence. Jonathan Harding and James Walsh were previously sentenced to ten and nine years' imprisonment, respectively, for possessing a "lethal arsenal" of weapons at the same location.
In March 2019, Gamiya Muftau, aged 24, was sentenced to two years in prison for his role in a €360,000 money‑laundering scheme that stole funds from Maynooth University. The fraud began in summer 2015 when university staff paid a contractor, Rhatigans, into a fraudulent account after a phone call from someone claiming to be from the firm. The money was then transferred through 15 transactions to several accounts, one belonging to Muftau. He pleaded guilty to possessing €18,100 as proceeds of crime and was arrested in December 2016. Judge Melanie Greally accepted his guilty plea and cooperation, noting his poor judgment and low‑level involvement. She imposed a two‑year sentence, suspended for 18 months, and ordered 12 months of post‑release supervision focused on accommodation and education. Muftau has been in custody since November 2018.
The Special Criminal Court has heard that Michael Brady, 54, is the brother of Declan Brady, who was previously caught with 15 firearms and over 4,000 rounds of ammunition. Michael Brady, of Blackrock, Co Dublin, is currently on trial for allegedly possessing €1.5 million worth of cocaine, €1.26 million worth of heroin, an assault rifle, and more than 180 rounds of ammunition at a property in Sallins, Co Kildare, on January 24, 2017. He has pleaded not guilty to all nine counts on the indictment, including charges under Section 15A of the Misuse of Drugs Act and unlawful possession of a 7.62 x 39mm VZ 58 assault rifle and various ammunition. Prosecutors stated the Sallins property was under surveillance as part of a wider operation targeting Greenogue Business Park, where Declan Brady, Jonathan Harding, and James Walsh were arrested earlier that morning. Declan Brady pleaded guilty to possessing the firearms and ammunition at Greenogue and is awaiting sentence. Harding and Walsh were sentenced in January to ten and nine years' imprisonment, respectively, for possessing a "lethal arsenal." The trial has entered legal argument regarding the lawfulness of Michael Brady's arrest in Naas, where he allegedly provided a false name. The court is expected to rule on these issues on Friday before resuming the case.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing in Dublin, Michael Brady, aged 54, was charged with nine counts including possession of an assault rifle, ammunition and nearly €3 million worth of drugs. The indictment alleges that on 24 January 2017 Brady was found at Sallins Bridge, Co Kildare, with €1.5 million of cocaine, €1.26 million of heroin, a 7.62 × 39 mm VZ 58 assault rifle and over 180 rounds of ammunition. Brady was arrested after a traffic stop in Naas where he gave a false name, and was later rearrested under the Offences Against the State Act. He pleaded not guilty to all charges, including possession of the rifle, ammunition and the drugs for sale or supply. The case is being heard by Judges Paul Coffey, Gerard Griffin and David McHugh.
John Doyle, 38, was arrested after looting a Centra shop in Tallaght during Storm Emma. He entered the shop for only one minute and 30 seconds before Gardaí arrived, carrying three packets of cigarettes. Doyle pleaded guilty to trespassing with intent to commit theft. While Gardaí pursued him, he threw trolleys to obstruct them and was found crouched in a store room. Two other men were present, one with a sledgehammer. Doyle has 111 prior convictions, including robbery, burglary, possession of stolen property, road traffic offences and criminal damage. A co‑accused, David Berney, already received an 18‑month suspended sentence. The court adjourned sentencing to July to allow a probation report. The incident involved a mechanical saw breach of the shop's front shutter and Gardaí arriving by jeep and on foot. Doyle's defence highlighted his panic, shame and claim of being lured into the chaos. The case remains at the pleading stage.
Aaron Gilsenan, 38, a crack cocaine addict, was jailed for four years after a spree of robberies and attempted robberies in Dublin between December 2017 and March 2018. He used a knife to threaten staff at five convenience stores and filling stations, robbed a taxi driver of €40, and stole a total of €760. Gilsenan was identified on CCTV and used his own car to escape each time. He pleaded guilty to four robberies and two attempted robberies, admitting the crimes were driven by his addiction and the death of his daughter. He had 87 prior convictions, including 51 for road traffic offences. The court noted he was drug‑free at sentencing and had expressed genuine regret. The sentence was imposed by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with a suspended portion of 18 months, and he was also due for sentencing in Trim and Naas Circuit Courts for other pending cases.
A jury of six men and six women was sworn in by Mr Justice Michael White for the trial of Laura Kenna, 37, who is accused of attempting to murder Fionnuala Burke on Lower Drumcondra Road in Dublin on 3 January 2017. Kenna pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to both the attempted murder charge and an assault charge with intent to cause serious harm. The jury was told the trial would last about six days, and it will begin tomorrow before Ms Justice Tara Burns.
A 46‑year‑old man, Yusuf Ali Abdi of Charleville Road, Phibsboro, Dublin 7, has been charged with murdering his 20‑month‑old son, Nathan Baraka Andrew Ali, who was killed at The Elms, College Road, Clane, Co Kildare on 17 April 2001. Mr Justice Michael White set the trial for 27 May 2019, with the case expected to last one week.
Bayo Olanrewaju, 48, was jailed for four and a half years after he was caught carrying nearly €200,000 worth of heroin into Dublin Airport. He had swallowed most of the drugs in pellets and claimed he would meet someone in Dublin and hand them over at a hotel. Olanrewaju said he had agreed to transport the drugs because he needed money to travel to Mozambique for his grandmother's funeral. He had previously borrowed money from people who took advantage of his financial situation. Garda Aoife Cusask reported that customs officials stopped him after his flight from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and found a plastic bag with heroin pellets taped to his inside groin area. He admitted swallowing more drugs and that he would be paid €1,000 once he delivered them. The pellets contained 1,305 g of heroin, valued at €182,700. Bayo Olanrewaju pleaded guilty.
In 2003, Yusuf Ali Abdi was convicted of murdering his infant son, Nathan Baraka Andrew Ali, and sentenced to life imprisonment. The conviction was based on a jury verdict that rejected his insanity defence, despite medical witnesses for the defence claiming he was a zombie and acted under voices. The prosecution's witnesses, including Dr Damien Mohan, stated Abdi was not psychotic. In 2019, the Court of Appeal quashed the conviction after a 2013 diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia, made by a psychiatrist at the Central Mental Hospital, was deemed new evidence that could have affected the trial outcome. The appeal judge, citing the change in diagnosis and Abdi's ongoing mental illness, ruled the conviction unsafe and remanded him for a retrial. The case remains pending before the Central Criminal Court.
A 52‑year‑old man from Co Kildare, Declan Brady, pleaded guilty to possessing fifteen lethal firearms and over 3,000 rounds of ammunition at a Dublin business park in 2017. The firearms included nine revolvers, four semi‑automatic pistols, a sub‑machine gun and an assault rifle. Brady admitted to holding a .357 Magnum Zastava M83/02, two .38 Smith & Wesson Model 37s, a Rossi revolver, an Ingram M11 sub‑machine gun, a 9mm Smith & Wesson semi‑automatic pistol, a Ruger revolver, a Taurus revolver, a Remington Taurus, a Beretta Model 70, a VZ 58 assault rifle, an Amadeo Rossi revolver, a Glock Model 26, a Colt semi‑automatic pistol and a Kaleshnikov pattern magazine.
Sean Ruth, 29, of Rathangan, Co Kildare, was sentenced at the Special Criminal Court for possession of a .38 Special Rossi revolver and a 9mm round. He pleaded guilty to charges under the Firearms Act, 1925. Presiding Judge Paul Coffey, sitting with Judges Gerard Griffin and David McHugh, accepted that these items were unconnected to the larger arsenal recovered from Greenogue Business Park on January 24, 2017. The court noted the firearm and ammunition were incompatible and unused. Considering Ruth's 29 previous convictions as an aggravating factor, the headline sentence was set at four and a half years. This was reduced to three and a half years due to his guilty plea. The final six months of the sentence were suspended on the condition that Ruth enter a peace bond. The sentence was backdated to May 17, 2017, when he entered custody. The court also referenced the convictions of Jonathan Harding and James Walsh, who pleaded guilty to possessing nine revolvers, four pistols, a sub-machine gun, an assault rifle, and ammunition magazines at the same location. In January 2018, Harding was sentenced to ten years with one year suspended, while Walsh received nine years with one year suspended.
Alan McDonagh, 33, was jailed for four years after stealing a rental car fitted with a tracking device. He pleaded guilty to burglary and unauthorised taking of a car on September 8, 2017, and was tracked by gardaí to the N7. McDonagh, who has 173 previous convictions including 31 for burglary, has spent more than half his life in custody and became addicted to heroin at 16. The court accepted his desire to become drug‑free and suspended the last year of a five‑year term on the condition he keep the peace, engage with the Probation Service for 12 months and remain drug‑ and alcohol‑free. He also admitted robbing a woman at St Stephen's Green on November 3, 2017, for which a concurrent sentence was imposed. All sentences are back‑dated to July 18, the day he entered custody.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, 33‑year‑old Eric Hogan pleaded guilty to criminal damage after crashing a grey Peugeot into the outer gates of the British Embassy in Ballsbridge on 9 June 2018. Garda Declan Dunne, who was on duty outside the embassy that night, observed Hogan's vehicle collide with the gates, which were knocked off their rails. Hogan was shouting but his speech was incoherent, leading the Garda to suspect intoxication. However, the defence counsel, Pieter Le Vert, argued that Hogan was "off his medication" and dealing with psychiatric issues, and that he had no knowledge of drinking. Hogan had five prior convictions for public order offences and is the sole carer of his eight‑year‑old son. The judge, Pauline Codd, ordered a psychiatric report and adjourned sentencing to 12 April 2019. The repair cost for the gates was €33,500 plus VAT.
A 23-year-old man has been sentenced to three and a half years imprisonment, with the final twelve months suspended, following a high-speed car chase across Kildare and Dublin last May. Christopher Prentice, of Tallaght, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to unlawfully using a stolen vehicle and three counts of dangerous driving. The court heard that gardaí observed Prentice driving a jeep reported stolen on the Naas Road and pursued him as he drove at speeds exceeding 180 kilometres per hour, broke red lights, crossed lanes, and forced oncoming traffic to swerve. The chase ended when Prentice lost control, mounted a kerb, and came to a stop on Raphoe Road. Judge Melanie Greally described it as miraculous that no injuries or damage occurred. Prentice was also disqualified from driving for five years. He has thirty-three previous convictions. The sentence was backdated to May.
Sean Ruth, 29, of Rathangan, Co Kildare, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to possessing a .38 Special Rossi revolver and a 9mm round of ammunition. The court heard that DNA evidence linked Ruth to the revolver found in a blood-stained bag at Greenogue Business Park, Rathcoole, Co Dublin, on January 24, 2017. Prosecution counsel Paul Burns SC stated the maximum sentence for each count is seven years. In mitigation, defense counsel Dominic McGinn SC highlighted Ruth's early guilty plea, which saved the court significant time, and noted that the weapon was not loaded. Mr McGinn also cited support from Ruth's family and courses completed in custody. Mr Justice Paul Coffey, presiding with Judges Gerard Griffin and David McHugh, remanded Ruth in custody until February 8, when he will be sentenced. The matter was adjourned. Jonathan Harding, 45, of Sallins, Co Kildare, and James Walsh, 33, of Clondalkin, Dublin 22, previously pleaded guilty to possessing nine revolvers, four pistols, a sub-machine gun, an assault rifle, and ammunition magazines at the same location. In January 2018, Harding was sentenced to ten years in prison with one year suspended, and Walsh was sentenced to nine years in prison with one year suspended.
Sean Ruth, a 29‑year‑old Kildare resident, pleaded guilty in the Special Criminal Court to possessing a .38 Special Calibre "Rossi" revolver and a 9mm round of ammunition between 1 January 2016 and 24 January 2017. The offences contravene Section 2 of the Firearms Act 1925 and Section 27 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006. Ruth had initially pleaded not guilty to unlawful possession of the firearm and ammunition. The court, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Coffey with Judges Gerard Griffin and David McHugh, received the charges under Section 49 of the Offences Against the State Act. After the court was informed of the charges by Detective Garda Brian Johnson and a book of evidence was served, Ruth answered "Guilty" to both counts. He was remanded in custody until Thursday, when sentencing will occur.
Sean Ruth, 29, of Rathangan, Co Kildare, pleaded not guilty at the Special Criminal Court to charges of unlawful possession of a .38 Special Rossi revolver and a 9mm round of ammunition. Prosecutors allege these items were linked to a search at Greenogue Business Park on January 24, 2017, where Jonathan Harding and James Walsh were found. Harding and Walsh previously pleaded guilty to possessing nine revolvers, four pistols, a sub-machine gun, an assault rifle, and ammunition at the site. In January 2018, Harding was sentenced to ten years in prison with one year suspended, while Walsh received nine years with one year suspended. The prosecution contends that DNA evidence recovered from a blood-stained bag containing the revolver, a glove with a 9mm round, and a Ford Focus with a secret ammunition compartment matches Ruth. Counsel stated that Ruth's DNA also matched bloodstains on the car and a radio transmitter. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Coffey, Judge Gerard Griffin, and Judge David McHugh, is ongoing and was adjourned to resume the following day.
A man from Drumlish, County Longford, has appealed his conviction for possessing an explosive substance and making hoax bomb threats during a state visit in 2011. Dónal Billings, aged 67, was found guilty by the Special Criminal Court of placing a device on a Dublin-bound bus at Longford railway station car park on 16 May 2011, and of making false reports of bombs at multiple locations including Dublin Castle and Cork Airport. He received a sentence of eight-and-a-half years imprisonment. His appeal, heard before the Court of Appeal, is being conducted in Irish, marking the first such case since the court's establishment in 2014. Counsel for Billings argued that the State failed to protect his client's Irish language rights, citing the unavailability of transcripts in Irish and the non-translation of relevant legislation. The hearing continues.
Patrick Lynch, 38, was found guilty of assaulting his partner and abducting her two‑year‑old son on 7 November 2016. He was originally sentenced to two years' imprisonment with six months suspended. The Director of Public Prosecutions applied for a review, arguing the sentence was unduly lenient. The Court of Appeal, in a three‑judge panel, increased the sentence to three years' imprisonment with nine months suspended. Lynch had spent much of the day drinking outside a dwelling while his partner and the infant were inside. He attacked the partner with a brush handle, punched her in the face, rammed a toilet door with his shoulder and assaulted her while she sat on the toilet. He later drove away with the infant, who was handed over to Gardaí at or near Naas Courthouse. Lynch has 148 previous convictions, including violent disorder, burglary and robbery, and more than 100 road‑traffic convictions. Patrick Lynch pleaded not guilty.
A 24‑year‑old man, Gamiya Muftau, will be sentenced later for his role in a €350,000 fraud that stole money from Maynooth University. In summer 2015, university staff paid a contractor, Rhatigans, into a fraudulent account after a phone call from someone claiming to be from the firm. The university transferred €362,810 to the fake account, which was then moved through 15 transactions to several accounts, one belonging to Muftau. He pleaded guilty to possessing €18,100 as proceeds of crime at AIB, Capel Street, on 25 August 2015. Muftau was arrested in December 2016, gave false addresses, and later admitted he was squatting. He claimed he was unaware the money was stolen and had no access to it. He has seven prior convictions, mainly traffic offences. Judge Melanie Greally ordered a probation report and adjourned sentencing to 14 March.
Alan McDonagh, 33, was caught driving a stolen Europcar that had a tracking device. He pleaded guilty to burglary and unauthorised taking of a car on Camden Street Upper on 8 September 2017 and to robbing a young woman of her purse at Stephen's Green East on 3 November 2017. The court noted he became addicted to heroin at 16, has spent over half his life in custody, and has 173 previous convictions, 13 for Circuit Court offences. He is on bail for other offences. The court adjourned sentencing to 7 February to allow him to finish methadone treatment. He has requested to serve his sentence at Midlands prison to stay near family and avoid influences at Mountjoy. He has written apology letters to both victims. The sentencing will occur on 7 February.
In a High Court hearing on 18 December 2018, Tom Morrin agreed to comply with orders to vacate 50 acres of land at Caragh, Naas, Co Kildare. He will surrender vacant possession, remove all machinery and livestock, and will not interfere with the receiver's agents, Mr Tom Kavanagh of Deloitte Ireland. The court had previously found that Morrin was in breach of orders issued in July 2017 and dismissed his applications to have the receiver's case dismissed as frivolous, vexatious and an abuse of process. Morrin also agreed not to appeal the 2017 decision and to withdraw his appeal against the orders. A stay on the orders will remain until February, when the matter will return to court. The receiver, appointed in 2013 by Bank of Scotland Ireland, had brought proceedings for Morrin's alleged contempt of the 2017 orders. The case involves ongoing disputes over possession and the use of the land.
Paul Wells Junior, aged 33, has been charged with impeding the apprehension or prosecution of his father, Paul Wells Senior, by disposing of the chainsaw used in the 2016 dismemberment of Kenneth O'Brien. Wells Senior was convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment in 2017. Wells Junior was brought before the Central Criminal Court on 17 December 2018, where a trial date was set for 4 November 2019. His barrister, Damien Colgan SC, noted that this would be the fourth attempt to set a trial date, with the case having been postponed on three previous occasions over a span of three years. The court acknowledged the ongoing pressure on Wells Junior and indicated that the case would remain on the docket until a suitable date could be secured, with the possibility of an additional judge in the new year. The proceedings remain at the impeding charge stage.