Conor O'Brien (29), of Kilpatrick, Ardee, Co Louth, pleaded guilty in the Special Criminal Court to facilitating a criminal organisation's importation of restricted weapons between February 2023 and July 2024, and to five counts of possessing firearms components in suspicious circumstances. The court heard evidence that O'Brien and co-accused Mark McCourt procured military-grade firearms and ammunition in America, which were smuggled into Ireland in component parts for reassembly and distribution to criminal gangs in Derry, Armagh, Dublin, and Limerish. Detective Inspector Shane McCartan stated that O'Brien was vital to the organisation's operations. Defence counsel argued O'Brien acted under pressure and fear. Ms Justice Karen O'Connor, presiding over the non-jury court, adjourned the matter to March 16 for sentence, with O'Brien remanded in custody until then. His co-accused, Mark McCourt (34), of Edenreive, Newry, Co Down, was previously jailed for 12 years by the Special Criminal Court after pleading guilty to facilitating the organisation's efforts to import restricted weapons and possessing firearms components during the same period.
Conor O'Brien, 29, of Ardee, Co Louth, pleaded guilty in the Special Criminal Court to facilitating a criminal organisation's importation of restricted weapons between February 2023 and July 2024, and to five counts of possessing firearms components in suspicious circumstances. The court heard evidence that O'Brien and co-accused Mark McCourt procured military-grade firearms and ammunition in America, which were smuggled into Ireland in component parts for reassembly and distribution to criminal gangs. Detective Inspector Shane McCartan stated that O'Brien was central to the organisation, describing a "symbiotic relationship" with McCourt, who was directing operations. While defence counsel argued O'Brien acted under pressure, the prosecution highlighted communications referencing sales to "Ireland's top criminals" and the discovery of working firearms in a shed rented by O'Brien. O'Brien has no previous convictions. Ms Justice Karen O'Connor, presiding over the non-jury court, adjourned the matter to March 16 for sentence, with O'Brien remanded in custody until that date. His co-accused, Mark McCourt, 34, of Newry, Co Down, was previously sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment after pleading guilty to similar charges of facilitating the importation of restricted weapons and possessing firearms components.
A jury is deliberating in the trial of Stephen O'Sullivan, a Limerick car dealer accused of giving €20,000 to a garda detective in exchange for information about a Criminal Assets Bureau investigation into his business. O'Sullivan has pleaded not guilty to the charge of corruption. The trial has reached its final stages, with both prosecution and defense having made closing speeches. Surveillance footage showed O'Sullivan giving the money to Detective Garda David Bourke. O'Sullivan also claimed that senior gardai were involved in extorting money from him. Chief Superintendent Michael McNulty testified that warrants were sought for phone records and that a cash safe was found during searches. The jury has gone home to deliberate and will resume on Monday.
The HSE has admitted negligence and a breach of duty of care in the death of John Tuohy, who died after medics failed to perform a CT scan that could have saved his life. Tuohy fell at home and suffered a head injury, but the hospital did not conduct a CT scan as it was deemed not to be within NICE guidelines. He was discharged but later fell ill and was taken back to the hospital, where a CT scan revealed a large subdural haemorrhage. Tuohy died two days later. The HSE issued an apology, acknowledging that a CT scan should have been completed and that the failure to do so led to his death. The court ordered the family to receive €35,000 and their costs in the proceedings. The family expressed profound stress and anguish over the loss of their loved one and the substandard care provided.
A man who claims he was extorted into giving a detective garda €20,000 in exchange for a tip-off about a raid on his car dealership told officers that he did not inform the Garda ombudsman. Stephen O'Sullivan (43) is accused of giving or agreeing to give to Detective Garda David Bourke a monetary gain as an inducement to reveal confidential information concerning an investigation being carried out by (CAB) in relation to Stephen O'Sullivan, trading as Stephen Bawn Motors. Mr O'Sullivan, of Farrehy, Broadford, Co Limerick, is a director of the business and has pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a single count of corruption at Bruree, Co Limerick on December 22, 2018. Mr O'Sullivan was arrested on January 23, 2019, by the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (NCBI). The court has already heard an audio recording of Stephen O'Sullivan giving €20,000 to Detective Garda David Bourke.
A Limerick car dealer on trial for alleged corruption has claimed that senior gardai were involved in extorting money from him, a trial has heard. Stephen O'Sullivan (43) is accused of giving or agreeing to give Detective Garda David Bourke a monetary gain as an inducement to reveal confidential information concerning an investigation by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) into his business. He has pleaded not guilty to the single count of corruption at Bruree, Co Limerick, on December 22, 2018. During the trial, David Gilmore, a former detective sergeant, testified that he arrested O'Sullivan in January 2019. O'Sullivan claimed he was being set up and that gardai were trying to extort €120,000 from him. He alleged that Detective Garda Bourke and a superintendent were involved in the CAB investigation and could influence its outcome. O'Sullivan said he felt under extreme pressure and feared reprisals if he made a formal complaint. He also claimed that gardai followed and harassed him, and that the superintendent appeared at his regular eateries.
A judge has sentenced Dean Hayes, a prolific offender with 129 previous convictions, to ten years in prison for a violent home invasion where he stabbed a doctor multiple times. Mr Justice David Keane noted the extreme violence used and the victim's survival as a matter of luck. Hayes, who spent 90% of his life in custody, burgled a neighboring bungalow in 2009, which the judge called an aggravating factor. The victim, Waleed Mustafa, described the attack as a miracle he survived and suffered severe psychological harm. Hayes was armed with a knife and attacked the doctor in his bedroom while he was watching YouTube. The judge imposed concurrent sentences of 12 years, with the final two years suspended, on the conditions that Hayes engage in a residential drug treatment and a victim empathy programme. Hayes had a chronic drug addiction and a history of recidivism, which the judge highlighted as significant factors in the sentencing. Dean Hayes pleaded guilty.
The corruption trial of Stephen O'Sullivan, a Limerick car dealer, has heard covert recordings of conversations between O'Sullivan and Detective Garda David Bourke. O'Sullivan is accused of giving Bourke €20,000 in exchange for information about an ongoing investigation by the Criminal Assets Bureau into Bawn Motors. The trial revealed that the investigation, codenamed 'Operation Glacier,' was highly sensitive and confidential. Audio surveillance recorded in December 2018 showed O'Sullivan and Bourke discussing the investigation, with Bourke warning O'Sullivan that authorities were planning searches. Bourke also mentioned that the investigation was still ongoing and that there were concerns about a garda leaking information. The court heard that Bourke was not part of the investigation and that the two business partners had supplied cars to the company. The trial continues with further evidence being presented to the jury. Stephen O'Sullivan pleaded not guilty.
A jury will hear evidence that a secret recording captured a Limerick businessman accused of corruption giving a detective garda €20,000 in exchange for information relating to a Criminal Assets Bureau investigation. Stephen O'Sullivan, 43, has pleaded not guilty to one count of corruption at Bruree, Co Limerick, on December 22, 2018. The prosecution alleges that O'Sullivan met with Detective Garda David Bourke in a Citroen Berlingo van and made the payment. The court heard that Bourke, who was transferred to Limerick in 1998, was involved in the CAB investigation called 'Operation Glacier'. The jury was told that O'Sullivan met with Gardai in 2022 and claimed he was intimidated or extorted into paying the money. The trial, expected to last up to three weeks, will resume with Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin presiding.
A doctor, Waleed Mustafa, described the home invasion by Dean Hayes, 37, as a "miracle" he wasn't killed. Hayes, with 129 previous convictions, broke into Mustafa's home and stabbed him multiple times. Mustafa, who is originally from Sudan and works as a doctor in University Hospital Limerick, was attacked in his bedroom while watching YouTube. Hayes was armed with a knife and told Mustafa, "you ripped someone," before attacking him. Mustafa managed to escape through the back door but was stabbed in the head and abdomen. The victim described feeling "sheer terror" and said he was "extremely lucky" to be alive. Hayes was arrested the following day and had a history of burglary, theft, and drug-related offences. The court heard that Hayes had previously burgled the victim's neighbour's house. Mustafa has since experienced anxiety, hypertension, and sleep disturbances due to the attack.
A 42-year-old man originally from Limerick City has pleaded guilty to participation in an organised criminal group and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life in connection with the fatal shooting of Noel Campion on April 26, 2007. Darragh Quinlivan, with an address in Manchester, did not plead guilty to murder. The Central Criminal Court heard that Campion, aged 35, was shot multiple times while travelling as a passenger on a motorcycle near Thomondgate in Limerick City. Quinlivan later fled to the United States, where he made incriminating statements to police and others whilst intoxicated, statements he subsequently characterised as "talk" and sarcasm. He was deported to Ireland in 2008. The case was reviewed as a cold case in 2022. Quinlivan has 24 previous convictions. Justice Paul McDermott remanded him in custody for sentencing on February 9. Victim impact statements were heard from Campion's daughter and widow.
A man jailed for a hit-and-run that killed a 21-year-old apprentice electrician had his sentence increased by two months after a mobile phone was found in his prison cell. Cameron Cooper, 24, was originally sentenced to five years and three months for the incident, with the final year suspended. He was later found in possession of a mobile phone in prison, leading to a prosecution application. Cooper pleaded guilty to the offence and was fined €300. The court heard that he was driving at twice the speed limit when he struck the victim, killed him instantly, and fled the scene. Cooper falsely reported his car had been stolen to avoid blame. His defence argued that he had been punished sufficiently and was doing well in custody. Judge Ronan Munro reactivated two months of the suspended sentence, emphasizing the need to ensure compliance with conditions. Cameron Cooper was convicted.
A 32-year-old woman, Tegan McGhee, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of four-year-old Mason O'Connell Conway in Limerick City in 2021. The court lifted a press ban, allowing her identity to be revealed. McGhee was also sentenced to four years and six months for child cruelty, which will run concurrently with her life sentence. The child was found with serious injuries and died three days later. The judge described the abuse as an 'appalling breach of trust' and commended the child's mother for her courage in delivering a victim impact statement. The child's father, John Paul O'Connell, was previously sentenced to seven years for endangerment and obstructing McGhee's prosecution. The court heard that the child was deliberately isolated and subjected to disproportionate punishment by both parents. The mother described her son as a loving and caring child who brought joy to their lives. She expressed deep sorrow and anger at the loss of her son and the betrayal by those who were supposed to protect him.
Lawyers for Jeremiah O'Brien, a Limerick man wanted in Greece for human trafficking, have raised concerns about Greek prison conditions in the High Court. O'Brien is accused of facilitating the smuggling of 66 Middle Eastern people to Italy by speedboat in 2017. His legal team argued that Greek prisons are overcrowded, unsafe, and controlled by prisoners, violating human dignity. They cited a 2022 report highlighting poor healthcare, lack of medical confidentiality, and inadequate government funding. The court was asked to delay O'Brien's extradition to allow Greek authorities to address these concerns. The State's legal representative noted the Greek government's response was aspirational but did not contradict the report. The case was adjourned to January 26, with both sides agreeing to request further information from Greek authorities.
A 42-year-old man, Darragh Quinlivan, has pleaded guilty to shooting Noel Campion in Limerick City in 2007 as part of the Dundon McCarthy organised crime group. Quinlivan was charged with murder but pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and participating in the criminal organisation to commit murder. The victim was shot while riding as a back passenger on a motorbike near St Munchin's Church. Quinlivan, who has lived in the UK, was remanded on bail until January 23 for his sentence hearing. The prosecution counsel indicated that the sentence hearing would take an hour. The court heard that Quinlivan had complied with bail conditions and was living in Ireland. The judge agreed to the bail conditions and remanded him until the hearing date.
The WRC reported on two distinct employment matters involving applicants Ali Izzy and Fernando Oliveira. In September, Ali Izzy, a former software salesman at Solar Winds Software Europe DAC, alleged he was dismissed for insubordination after his ex-boss approved a €500,000 discount in a side deal with a supplier described as having a history of corruption. Izzy claimed he was left without work and resorted to food delivery. The WRC is currently considering his case. In October, Ryanair lawyers challenged the filings of flight attendant Fernando Oliveira, pointing to phantom legal rulings potentially generated by AI. Oliveira initially denied this but later acknowledged he may have used AI. The tribunal deemed the phantom citations egregious and an abuse of process. Following this, the WRC published guidelines stating parties must take full responsibility for submissions and that AI tools should not be relied upon as legal advice. In a separate October case, a chef who admitted using ChatGPT to draft a statement was found to have made a misrepresentation regarding a sexual harassment complaint, which was rejected. These rulings highlight the tribunal's scrutiny of AI-assisted legal submissions and the ongoing adjudication of complex employment disputes.
A Limerick man, Jeremiah O'Brien (55), who is wanted in Europe on a human trafficking charge, has been remanded in custody with consent to bail. He is alleged to have facilitated the transportation of 66 people from an unknown desert place near Nafplio, Greece, to Italy without life jackets. The boat was found stranded on a rocky shore near Gyalia beach. The State opposed his bail application at the High Court, citing concerns that he might abscond. O'Brien's defence counsel, Simon Matthews BL, stated that his client is a member of the travelling community who sells tools and generators across Europe and that the addresses provided were those of family and friends. Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring noted the seriousness of the allegations but emphasized O'Brien's right to be presumed innocent. She granted bail on his own bond of €500 and an independent surety of €15,000, with conditions including surrendering travel documents, living at his Rathkeale address, and maintaining a curfew. O'Brien must also attend all court dates and not apply for travel documents.
A family of five living in a caravan on the side of a busy road in Limerick has been granted High Court leave to challenge a decision by Limerick County Council that they are not homeless. The family, who have no running water or a toilet, were told they were not homeless because they have a roof over their head. They previously refused offers of temporary accommodation due to safety concerns and criminal threats against the father. The family is seeking a court declaration that they are in need of emergency accommodation and a quashing of the council's decision. The court heard that the family has a history of housing applications and has faced discrimination and anti-social behaviour in previous accommodations. The case was adjourned to January for further proceedings.
A bride who fell from a second-storey hotel window on her wedding night, suffering serious injuries, has resolved her personal injury claim at the High Court. Jackie Sexton (nee Tyrrell) brought a case against Deebert House Hotel Ltd, Kilmallock, Co Limerick, following the incident that occurred in the early hours after her February 29, 2020, wedding. The hotel denied liability, claiming that windows had been properly fitted with restrictors in 2014 and were in compliance with building standards. Ms Sexton alleged negligence and breach of duty, arguing that the hotel failed to ensure her safety. She told the court that she and her husband returned to the hotel around 3:30am and went to room 217. She said she was smoking a cigarette at the window when she fell, and the next thing she remembered was waking up in hospital the following day. Her husband found her missing from the bedroom and heard her moaning from below the window. Ms Sexton suffered multiple fractures, a collapsed lung, and other injuries, which significantly impacted her life and career.
A Limerick man is wanted in Europe for allegedly attempting to traffic 66 people from Greece to Italy by speedboat. Jeremiah O'Brien (55) was arrested on an SIS alert related to a European warrant. Detective Garda Tony Keane testified that O'Brien, along with two others, rented a car and a 12m speedboat to transport the individuals, who paid between $4,000 and $6,000 each. The boat was discovered stranded on a rocky shore near Gylalia beach, with the 66 people including 30 adult men, 14 adult women, and 22 children from Iraq, Syria, and Iran. O'Brien denied being in Greece and claimed he had no knowledge of the incident. The court remanded him in custody to appear again on December 9.
George Hackett, a 39-year-old man with over 200 previous convictions, had his six-year jail sentence reduced to four years and six months on appeal. Hackett was found guilty of burglary and two attempted theft charges after breaking into a house and stealing a Revolut card. During the burglary, he threatened to use a knife when restrained by a neighbor. The Court of Appeal noted that the original sentence was too harsh and that Hackett's rehabilitation efforts should have been considered. The court acknowledged the aggravating factors, including the burglary at a dwelling and the threat of violence, but also recognized Hackett's willingness to engage in rehabilitation. The new sentence includes six months suspended, and Hackett is encouraged to seek help to break the cycle of criminality.
A 43-year-old man has been sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering his only brother during a family funeral in Co Kerry. Fergus O'Connor was found guilty of murder by a jury in October, rejecting his claim of self-defence. The court heard that O'Connor had multiple grievances with his 42-year-old brother Paudie, including disputes over money, land, and relationships. Despite the defence's extensive argument for self-defence, the court rejected it. Paudie died from a 17cm stab wound to the chest, which penetrated vital organs. The trial revealed that the men had attended their cousin's funeral and were drinking in Castleisland. A toxicology report showed Paudie's alcohol level was far above the legal limit. O'Connor claimed his brother made remarks about a woman and had acted improperly with his ID. Paudie's partner, Liz O'Donovan, described the impact of his death on her and their children, highlighting his warmth and generosity. The court noted O'Connor's 15 previous convictions, including drink driving.
Joseph Cahill, a father of four, has been jailed for seven and a half years for beating a man to death with a shovel. Cahill pleaded guilty to the unlawful killing of Gerard Curtin, who had previously threatened him and his family. The court heard that Cahill used excessive force, despite believing he was acting in self-defense. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon noted that the killing had a profound impact on Curtin's family. Cahill's sentence was reduced from ten years due to his family circumstances, mental health issues, and lack of prior convictions. Conditions of the suspended six months include good behavior, engagement with mental health services, and attending anger management programs. Cahill expressed remorse in a letter to Curtin's family and has a history of mental illness and substance abuse. His defense highlighted his long-term mental health struggles and the impact of childhood trauma on his behavior.
The full cost of the damage to James 'Mago' Gately's Dublin home, which was seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB), has yet to be calculated, the High Court has been told. Gately's house, which he renovated at a cost of €440K, was sold at auction for €308K. The court heard that the property was severely damaged after the CAB seized it, and repairs were made before the sale. David Dodd BL, for CAB, requested an adjournment to calculate the repair costs. The court previously ruled that Gately and his former partner, Charlene Lam, had funded their lavish lifestyle with proceeds of crime. Lam, who vacated the property before the damage occurred, is entitled to €11K from the sale. The case continues with the matter adjourned for mention next month. Gately, who has never been convicted of serious offenses, has been linked to organized crime but has survived multiple attempts on his life.
The Court of Appeal has reduced the jail term for a Limerick man, who was 16 at the time of offending, regarding two separate violent disorder offences. The appellant, who cannot be named due to his age when first appearing in court, had previously been sentenced by Judge Colin Daly to three and a half years for an August 2021 home invasion in Limerick, with the final six months suspended. At that same sitting, he received a consecutive two-year sentence for an August 2023 attack at a filling station, where he pleaded guilty to using a slash hook. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, ruled that the appellant's status as a minor was a salient mitigating factor. Mr Justice McCarthy found that the sentencing judge erred by setting a headline sentence of seven years. He determined an appropriate headline sentence of three years for both offences, reduced to two years after mitigation. The two-year sentence for the filling station offence was ordered to run consecutively to the other sentence but was suspended for two years, conditional on the applicant entering a bond to keep the peace and be of good behaviour. Consequently, the court ordered the defendant to serve two years in prison.
Dominik Biber, a 28‑year‑old Polish national, was convicted of attempting to murder his flatmate Tomasz Grosser, falsely imprisoning him and burglarising a neighbouring apartment. The Central Criminal Court sentenced him to 13 years, with the last two years suspended for the attempted murder, after a judge described the attack as a "ferocious and spontaneous eruption of terrible violence". Biber's appeal to reduce the 11‑year sentence was dismissed by the Court of Appeal. The appeal argued that the offences occurred under "very unusual circumstances" and that Biber's drug‑induced psychosis and prior rehabilitation should have led to a lighter sentence. The Director of Public Prosecutions countered that Biber had persisted in drug use despite previous psychosis. The judge upheld the sentence, noting no extraordinary life‑altering injuries to Grosser and that the 35% reduction was appropriate. The case remains at the appellate stage. Dominik Biber pleaded guilty.
Christopher Oshodin, 48, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to theft and dishonestly inducing a Department of Social Protection employee to act for a gain. He had claimed over €145,000 in social welfare payments while pretending for 21 years to be Zimbabwean, using the alias "Christopher Umar." The offence spanned from 2001 to 2022. Oshodin, the sole carer of three children, admitted the fraud and sought to regularise his status. Judge Martin Nolan, noting the seriousness of the theft and the impact on the children, imposed a four‑year sentence fully suspended. He acknowledged Oshodin's cooperation, admissions, lack of prior convictions and the fact that he was paying back small amounts weekly. The court considered the effect on the children and the need to avoid depriving them of their guardian, leading to the non‑custodial outcome. The case was heard on 7 November 2025.
The trial of five school bus operators accused of anti-competition practices is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court. Andrew Walsh, Raymond Heney, Noel Browne, Larry Hickey, and Anthony Flynn, all from County Tipperary, have pleaded not guilty to a single charge under the Competition Act 2002. The prosecution alleges that between November 1, 2014, and December 31, 2016, the defendants engaged in a concerted practice to prevent, restrict, or distort competition in school transport services across Limerick, Tipperary, Clare, South Galway, and Waterford. Prosecution counsel Dominic McGinn told the jury that the accused allegedly coordinated their bidding behavior, including holding meetings to discuss route allocation and pricing, and submitting non-genuine bids to elevate tender prices. He stated that this alleged collusion removed true competitiveness from the process, which affects the public. The case is being brought by the Competition Authority, with evidence including documents, text messages, and expert testimony expected. The jury must determine if a concerted practice occurred and if each defendant was involved. The trial is presided over by Mr Justice David Keane and is expected to last up to six weeks. The matter continues before the court.
Kieran Fogarty, aged 21, was resentenced by the Court of Appeal to a total of 14 years in prison, with the final year suspended, after the original eight‑year sentence was deemed unduly lenient. The appeal concerned his role in the fatal hit‑and‑run that killed 21‑year‑old student Joe Drennan on Dublin Road, Limerick, on 13 October 2023. CCTV showed Fogarty driving at 100–122 km/h in a 50 km/h zone, colliding with Drennan's car, then wiping the steering wheel for 14 seconds before fleeing. The Court of Appeal also addressed his other offences: a drive‑by shooting and a drugs‑for‑sale charge. Sentences for the firearms offence and the drugs charge were reduced to eight and four years respectively, while the dangerous‑driving‑causing‑death sentence was set at eight years, to run concurrently with the firearms sentence. Fogarty was disqualified from driving for 20 years. Kieran Fogarty pleaded guilty.
Five bus and taxi operators from Limerick, Tipperary, Clare, South Galway and Waterford have gone on trial at the Central Criminal Court. They pleaded not guilty to a single charge under the Competition Act 2002, alleging that between 1 November 2014 and 31 December 2016 they engaged in a concerted practice that prevented, restricted or distorted competition in school transport services. The prosecution is by the Competition Authority. Mr Justice David Keane empanelled a jury of seven men and five women; the trial is expected to last up to six weeks.
A 52‑year‑old man, Kasonga Mbuyi, was given a fully suspended sentence of two‑and‑a‑half years for repeatedly stabbing a German passenger at Dublin Airport. The attack was described as unprovoked and random, with the victim sustaining eight superficial wounds that required 12 stitches. Mbuyi, who was barefoot and behaving erratically, had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and had a history of cannabis misuse. He pleaded guilty after being deemed fit to plead following almost two years in custody. The judge noted his mental illness and cooperation with the investigation, and imposed strict conditions including 18 months of probation supervision, attendance at offence‑related interventions, and engagement with health and vocational services. The sentence was suspended to encourage continued rehabilitation. The victim's impact statement highlighted the profound effect on his life and family.
In October 2025, Johnson & Johnson appealed a €944,000 award granted to former Limerick hurler Mark Keane by the High Court for injuries sustained in a 2018 workplace incident. Keane, who was injured while freeing a colleague trapped in a machine at the company's Plassey plant, claimed nerve damage to his right hand and injury to his right shoulder. The High Court had awarded compensation for the hand injury and accepted the shoulder injury as caused by the incident. Johnson & Johnson accepted responsibility for the hand injury but denied the shoulder injury, arguing no substantial complaint was made during treatment and that the first mention of the shoulder problem appeared six years later. The company also challenged the pension, health insurance and future earnings awards as excessive. Keane's counsel maintained that the trial judge's findings were based on cogent evidence and were not reviewable.
A 37‑year‑old convicted killer, Richard Treacy, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to two years and eight months in prison after he spent €100,000 of crime proceeds on extensive renovations to his family home in Limerick. The judge, Ms Justice Karen O'Connor, noted that the offence, committed between 1 January 2014 and 12 January 2021, involved disguising the source of the money used for the work, contravening the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010. Treacy pleaded guilty, which the court considered a mitigating factor, and he cooperated during the investigation. The judge also ordered that money seized by Gardaí from the house be forfeited to the State, including £3,900 sterling and €4,000, while smaller sums identified as welfare payments were not forfeited. Treacy has ten prior convictions, including manslaughter, violent disorder and dangerous driving, and had no employment history.
James 'Mago' Gately, a Hutch gang member, will have his Coolock house auctioned by the Criminal Assets Bureau after he spent €440,000 on refurbishments while not working since 2015. The High Court, with counsel David Dodd BL for the CAB, confirmed the sale on November 12, with a guide price of €295,000, and the case will return to court on November 19. Gately's former partner, Charlene Lam, a self‑employed beautician, is also a respondent; both denied wrongdoing. The property was seized in April, repaired after a court order, and the High Court found the home's equity largely derived from crime proceeds. Gately purchased the house in 2013 for €125,000, and the CAB alleges links to armed robberies, gangland murders and drug dealing, though he has never been convicted of serious offences. The sale will determine the distribution of the property's proceeds.
Alex Masuku, 34, was sentenced at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to assault causing harm and possession of a weapon. The offences occurred at Cloonishlawn, Ballina, Co Mayo, on November 21, 2023. Judge Eoin Garavan noted that Masuku assaulted his friend in front of the victim's two-year-old daughter, causing facial injuries that required stitching, and threatened him with a hammer. Although Masuku claimed the attack was provoked by a video, the judge found no evidence such a video existed, describing the behaviour as baseless. Judge Garavan set a headline sentence of three years but reduced this to two years, fully suspended, citing mitigating factors including Masuku's 22-year crime-free record in Ireland and a probation report indicating low risk of re-offending. Masuku was ordered to pay €3,000 to the victim within six months and complete a MOVE course. He must also keep the peace for three years, undergo Probation Service supervision for one year, and undertake any advised mental health treatment. The court acknowledged the victim's ongoing stress and anxiety, as well as the trauma experienced by the child witness.
Aaron Barwell, 30, of Coldcut Park, Dublin, pleaded guilty to one count of oral rape, one of rape and one of attempted rape against three escort victims between January and August 2021. He lured each victim to his home, used violence and threats, and in the first case forced oral sex and used a hammer. In the second case he threatened with a screwdriver and forced oral, vaginal and anal sex. In the third case he threatened to kill her and used a screwdriver, but the victim resisted and escaped. Gardaí seized a knife, cable ties and a silver hammer during a search of his apartment. Barwell was sentenced to 20 years in prison, with the final two years suspended. The Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal, upholding the 20‑year term and the suspended portion. The case remains at the appellate stage.
During a sentence hearing in March, Chloe Loran, aged 16 when the relationship began, delivered a victim impact statement describing the emotional trauma of being raped twice by Martin Harte, 33, in 2019 and 2022. She said the assaults left her feeling as if she had been murdered and that her body remained while her life was destroyed. Harte, of Marian Hill, pleaded guilty to defilement in 2013 and to the two rapes. The court imposed a nine‑year prison term, with the final year suspended indefinitely under strict conditions, and a four‑year post‑release supervision order. Harte was also directed to avoid any contact with Loran and to comply with all probation directions. The judge noted the aggravating factors of the offences occurring in Loran's home and the breach of trust. The sentence reflected Harte's global offending and the mitigating factors presented by his defence.
A 61‑year‑old Limerick man failed to overturn a conviction for sexually abusing his partner's daughter over a two‑year period when she was 12 to 14. The Court of Appeal rejected his appeal, upholding the jury's finding of guilt on 31 counts of sexual assault, oral rape, attempted rape and attempted anal rape at various Limerick locations between 1994 and 1997. The man had pleaded not guilty but was found guilty after a one‑week trial in the Central Criminal Court in November 2022, and was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment by Mr Justice Paul McDermott in February 2023. His appeal argued that a statement by the victim's mother, in which he allegedly said "I'm sorry for what I did to the kids", was inadmissible and that a change of dress after remand had prejudiced the jury.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Joseph Cahill, 46, pleaded guilty to the unlawful killing of 43‑year‑old Gerard Curtin. Cahill admitted striking Curtin four times with a shovel after the victim had repeatedly smashed a window of Cahill's house, threatened to burn it, and demanded money. Cahill claimed he believed he was protecting himself, his property and his children, but the force used was excessive. He called emergency services after the blows, then waited over eight minutes before requesting an ambulance, stating he thought Curtin was dead. The court noted Cahill's history of mental illness, substance abuse and gambling, and that he had no prior convictions. The sentencing hearing was adjourned to 24 November. The article does not disclose the final sentence.
Matthew O'Connell, aged 75, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for 42 counts of rape committed between July 1979 and June 1987. The victim, who was 13 when the first assault occurred, described how O'Connell groomed her from age ten and raped her repeatedly, often twice a week, in various locations including his home, a mobile home and a vehicle. She kept the abuse secret for decades, only disclosing it to family in the 1990s and to Gardaí in 2021. O'Connell denied the charges and was remanded after conviction. The judge noted the serious impact on the victim, the breach of trust, and the age disparity, setting a headline sentence of 15 years but ultimately imposing a 12‑year term. The case highlighted the prolonged nature of the abuse and the victim's struggle to come forward.
Samantha Otto, a 63-year-old applicant, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after being found guilty by a jury of sexually assaulting an 18-year-old male in a Rathmines laneway on October 26, 2022. The court heard that Otto, who identifies as female but is biologically male and has not received a gender recognition certificate, has one previous conviction for assault causing harm dated April 27, 2019, for which a suspended sentence was imposed on October 20, 2020. Judge Pauline Codd noted the difficulty in sentencing individuals whose gender identity does not align with their biological sex, particularly given the lack of a formal model for housing transgender prisoners. The judge highlighted that the victim, who was 18 at the time, described the incident as a gross violation of his bodily integrity. In mitigation, counsel cited Otto's difficult background and acceptance of the jury's verdict, though the judge noted the absence of a guilty plea and the egregious nature of the accused's attempt to blame the victim. The court imposed a three-year jail term, noting that Otto was on a suspended sentence at the time of the offence. Additionally, the judge ordered that Otto be placed on the Sexual Offenders' Register.
Murilo Dos Santos, 36, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material between November 2020 and January 2021. Gardaí seized his phone during a separate investigation, finding 66 videos that contravened the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act. Dos Santos shared these videos with six others via a sharing app and WhatsApp, including a 5‑minute clip of a child aged 6‑12 months strapped down, and other footage of children aged 8‑12 and 10‑14 years in sexual activity. He also sent a MEGA folder link and a photograph of himself, claiming he was acting as a vigilante. Judge Orla Crowe revoked his bail and remanded him in custody until 1 December 2025 pending sentencing. No other participants were prosecuted. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
During a sentencing hearing on 21 July 2025, the court considered the case of Richard Treacy, 36, who had previously been convicted of manslaughter, dangerous driving, violent disorder and other offences. Treacy pleaded guilty to a money‑laundering offence under the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010, admitting that between 1 January 2014 and 12 January 2021 he concealed the true source of funds used to pay for renovations at his family home in Limerick. The court heard that €100,000 had been spent on the property, which had been purchased by another party in 2014, and that the renovations were carried out over several years. Garda Ronan O'Reilly presented evidence that cash, including £3,900 and €4,000, was found in the house, and that Treacy had no employment record.
A 42‑year‑old man was sentenced to 11 years and six months in prison, with the final six months suspended for one year on strict conditions, after being convicted of two counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault against his goddaughter, who was aged six to nine when the offences occurred between 2009 and 2012 in County Clare. The man, who was in his late twenties at the time, was also married to the victim's aunt and had acted as her godfather. He maintains his innocence. The victim, whose identity is protected, gave a victim impact statement describing the abuse as having stolen her childhood, left her with fear, pain, depression and anxiety, and said she may "never be able to be normal." The judge noted the seriousness of the offences, the victim's age and the multiple incidents, and reduced a headline sentence of 13 years to 11½ years after considering mitigating factors and testimonials about the.
In a tribunal hearing, the University Hospital Limerick (UHL) was found to have taken more than 18 months to apologise to Michael O'Dowd, a disabled patient who alleged that staff laughed at him and made jokes during personal care. O'Dowd, who used a lightwriter to speak, claimed that a nurse and two healthcare assistants made jokes about him on 7 June 2022, that staff failed to listen to his requests, and that he was almost dropped from a wheelchair after 12 days of bed rest. He first complained on 7 July 2022, and the hospital's Patient Advocacy Liaison Service was involved, but he did not receive an investigation report or apology until 16 January 2024. The Workplace Relations Commission ruled that O'Dowd was out of time to pursue a discrimination complaint and that there was no breach of the act regarding the delay.
The High Court ordered the extradition of former priest Oliver O'Grady, aged 80, to Portugal to serve a one‑year prison sentence for possession of more than 9,000 images and 29 videos of child sexual abuse. O'Grady was arrested on 21 January 2025 under a European Arrest Warrant issued by a Faro court, which had convicted him in absentia on 7 May 2024 for possession of "pornography of minors." He contested the extradition, claiming his fair‑trial rights were not protected, that he could not contact a lawyer, and that he faced a risk of inhuman or degrading treatment in Portuguese prisons. The judge found his claims to be disingenuous and self‑serving, noting that O'Grady had tried to control proceedings and had failed to attend his trial. The judge also rejected concerns about prison conditions, stating assurances from Portuguese authorities that no such risk existed.
In a case heard in May 2024, Judge Sarah Berkeley sentenced 26‑year‑old Martin Awoke to a two‑year suspended sentence after he fully repaid students who were defrauded of €9,820 for accommodation in Limerick. Awoke, who had no prior convictions, had allowed his bank account to be used in the scheme but did not participate in its planning. He pleaded guilty to handling the proceeds of crime on 12 August 2022. The court noted that Awoke had previously saved €10,000, spent €3,000 on bills, and had been directed to pay €7,000 to the investigating Garda. After a job interview and a commitment to raise the remaining balance, Awoke repaid the full amount, submitted apologies, and requested time to arrange compensation with family support. Judge Berkeley declined to remove the conviction, citing the impact on the victims, and imposed the suspended sentence under strict conditions.
The High Court heard that Ryan Casey, partner of murdered teacher Ashling Murphy, has settled a defamation claim against the BBC over comments made about his victim impact statement during a 2023 live broadcast. Casey said he was "finally free" to speak again and to honour Ashling, while the BBC clarified it does not view him as a criminal or hateful figure. The settlement, reportedly a six‑figure sum, was reached without any court order. Casey's statement at the sentencing of Ashling's murderer, Josef Puska, had highlighted the victim's contributions and the perceived failure of the state to protect people. The case was struck out by Mr Justice Alexander Owens, ending the legal dispute. The settlement resolves the dispute between Casey and the broadcaster.
Melissa Whelan's appeal against her sentence was dismissed by Mr Justice John Edwards, who ruled the four-year term was proportionate for the May 15, 2023, offences. Whelan, who pleaded guilty at Limerick Circuit Court in April 2024, was convicted of producing an article capable of inflicting serious injury, two counts of Section 2 assault, and two counts of criminal damage. The court found she punched one man and slashed another with a knife while under a partially suspended sentence for a prior 2015 assault. Judge Dermot Sheahan originally sentenced her to four years, with the final two years suspended, and re-activated two years of her previous suspended term to run consecutively, resulting in an effective custody period of four years. The appellate court rejected arguments regarding mental health mitigation, noting the sentencing judge had adequately considered these factors. The appeal was not adjourned; the decision was final, upholding the original disposal and the re-activation of the suspended portion.
The Court of Appeal has refused an application to extend time for an appeal against the sentence of a 53-year-old man convicted of sexual exploitation, sexual assault, and child cruelty. The appellant, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the injured parties, was found guilty by a jury in the north west on May 19, 2022. He was subsequently sentenced by Judge John Aylmer on November 2, 2022, to nine years and six months in prison, with the final 12 months suspended. The offences, which occurred between June 2011 and September 2015, involved the appellant's daughters, who were in their early to mid-teens at the time. Defence counsel Dara Foynes SC submitted an enlargement of time application, arguing the appellant believed his notice of appeal was on record, though his solicitor stated it was never received. Mr Justice John Edwards noted the appellant had made no engagement with the sentencing judge's remarks and raised no error of principle. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, delivering the ruling for the three-judge court, stated that victims have a legitimate expectation of closure and that courts must not permit cases to be elongated. He emphasized that reopening the case would cause revictimization to the injured parties. The court found no basis to justify ventilating the case afresh and refused the application to extend time, denying the defence an adjournment to file further affidavits.