Court archive
Court reports mentioning Lanesborough, Longford
2026-02-24 · Dublin
A man has been sentenced to seven years in prison at the Central Criminal Court after pleading guilty to conspiracy to murder. Joseph Richards, aged 35 and from Lanesborough Square in Finglas, was convicted in connection with the death of Robert Sheridan, 45, who was shot at his front door in Ballymun on 5 October 2018. Mr Justice Paul McDermott found the killing was meticulously planned and involved considerable coordination to lure the victim to answer the door. Richards, who initially faced a murder charge, will serve the seven-and-a-half-year sentence, with six months suspended, after completing his current prison term, resulting in an effective sentence exceeding twelve years. The judge noted Richards has ninety-nine previous convictions and acknowledged his guilty plea and efforts to address drug addiction while imprisoned. The victim's family delivered impact statements describing the lasting trauma caused by his death.
2026-02-16 · Dublin
Joseph Richards, 35, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to conspiring to murder Robert Sheridan, a 45-year-old father-of-two who was fatally shot at his Ballymun home in October 2018. Prosecutors alleged that Richards, who has 99 previous convictions, was "crack crazy" and acted for payment, enlisting someone known to the victim to lure him to the door. Sheridan, who had received a Garda Information Message warning of threats to his life, sustained fatal gunshot wounds to the face. The court heard that Richards is currently serving a prison sentence of six years and five months. In mitigation, his counsel cited a traumatic upbringing, chronic drug addiction, and recent bereavement. Victim impact statements described the killing as a "cold-blooded execution" and detailed the lasting psychological trauma suffered by Sheridan's children. Mr Justice Paul McDermott adjourned the case to February 24 for finalisation.
2026-01-16 · Dublin
A 34-year-old man from Finglas has admitted to conspiring to murder a Dublin father-of-two who was fatally shot at his home in 2018. Joseph Richards, with an address at Lanesborough Square, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to conspiracy to murder Robert Sheridan, aged 45, who died following a shooting at Poppintree Crescent, Ballymun, on October 5, 2018. Richards was charged with the offence in 2024. Mr Justice Paul McDermott adjourned the case to February 16 for sentencing.
2022-11-22 · Dublin
A Dublin man has been jailed for two and a half years following his conviction for supplying untaxed tobacco products. Eamonn Lynch, 44, of Lanesborough Avenue, St Margarets, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to delivering unstamped tobacco and evading excise duty totalling €175,151 on cigarettes and loose tobacco. Revenue officers discovered cigarettes and tobacco with a retail value of €217,000 at a storage yard in north Dublin during October 2020. The court heard that Lynch, who operated a flower-selling pitch at Sutton graveyard, had been observed transporting large quantities of contraband tobacco to private residences and retail premises. He admitted being paid €100 daily to make deliveries but declined to name his supplier. A subsequent search of his home recovered €28,000 in cash. Judge Martin Nolan acknowledged Lynch's charitable work and employment history but stated that depriving the State of such revenue constituted serious criminality warranting imprisonment.
2022-02-28 · Dublin
A 26-year-old postal worker from Dublin has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison following his conviction on drug trafficking charges. Darren Cumberton was arrested in April 2021 after gardaí observed him transferring cannabis from a van to a car at a Dublin location. The total quantity recovered amounted to approximately €79,000 worth of cannabis herb. He pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of drugs for sale or supply. The court heard that Cumberton had incurred substantial gambling debts and borrowed money from an unlicensed lender, leading him to become involved in drug trafficking. At the time of his arrest, his partner had recently given birth. His defence counsel highlighted his previously unblemished record, stable employment history, cooperation with gardaí, and engagement with treatment services. However, Judge Martin Nolan determined that whilst departing from the mandatory minimum ten-year sentence, the case did not warrant a non-custodial outcome.
2022-02-25 · Longford
A man from Finglas has been jailed for purchasing two vehicles that were used in an arson attack on a property seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau. Joseph Richards, aged 30, of Lanesborough Square, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of money laundering between August 6 and August 12, 2020. Gardaí identified Richards as a suspect through analysis of mobile phone records and CCTV footage. During interview, he stated he was unaware the cars would be used for arson and had simply purchased them for payment without enquiring about their intended use. Richards has 83 previous convictions, including robbery and drug-related offences. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a sentence of three years, suspending the final 18 months on strict conditions. The judge noted Richards played an important but subordinate role in what she described as an enterprise orchestrated by more significant criminal elements. She observed that whilst in custody and abstinent from drugs, he demonstrates capacity for prosocial living and remains motivated to overcome his addiction.
2021-10-26 · Longford
A High Court judge has granted An Bord Pleanála permission to appeal a decision quashing planning permission for a 24-turbine wind farm near Lanesborough, County Longford. Mr Justice Richard Humphreys had upheld a challenge by environmentalist Peter Sweetman against the proposed development at Mountdillon Peat Production Bog, finding that the application lacked sufficient detail to justify the granting of permission. The turbines, which would reach a tip height of 185 metres, would constitute one of Ireland's tallest structures if constructed to maximum dimensions. In his ruling on the appeal application, the judge rejected An Bord Pleanála's contention that his judgment carried extremely wide-ranging implications, describing such concerns as "overblown". He stated that certain questions arising from the case would benefit from clarification by the Court of Appeal or potentially the Supreme Court. Mr Sweetman was afforded opportunity to consider a cross-appeal before the order is finalised.
2021-06-16 · Longford
The High Court has quashed An Bord Pleanála's decision to grant planning permission for a large-scale wind farm proposed near Lanesborough, County Longford. The development, which was to be built on bogland at Mountdillion Peat Production Bog by a Bord na Móna subsidiary, comprised 24 turbines with a maximum tip height of 185 metres. Mr Justice Richard Humphreys upheld a judicial review challenge brought by environmentalist Peter Sweetman, finding that the application lacked sufficient detail regarding the turbines' design contrary to planning regulations. The judge noted that turbine heights and blade lengths had been specified only as maximum dimensions rather than actual proposed measurements. He rejected the board's defence that a worst-case scenario assessment was adequate, stating that applicants cannot seek permission for open-ended projects. The court dismissed several other grounds of Mr Sweetman's challenge, including arguments regarding common sense and constitutionality.
2017-03-21 · Dublin
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced Dubliner Patrick Anderson, a former Ireland ice hockey player, to two years' imprisonment for assaulting his cousins, Graham Dunne and Paul Dunne. Anderson pleaded guilty to assault causing harm at the Wright Venue nightclub in Swords on February 15, 2015. The court heard that Anderson punched and kicked both victims inside the venue and continued the assault outside after security ejected them. Graham Dunne suffered a broken kneecap, which affected his equestrian career and left him at risk of arthritis, while Paul Dunne sustained a broken jaw and psychological trauma. Judge Melanie Greally noted Anderson was a first-time offender with an excellent employment record and sporting history. However, she emphasized the seriousness of the two offences committed in one night and the lasting effects on Graham Dunne. The judge imposed a three-year sentence but suspended the final year on conditions, resulting in an effective custody period of two years. Prosecution counsel Maurice Coffey BL presented evidence that Anderson initiated the violence by punching Graham Dunne after a perceived bump. Defense counsel Ray Boland BL highlighted Anderson's intoxication and lack of prior convictions. An offer of compensation by Anderson was reportedly refused by the victims.
2017-01-24 · Dublin
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Dubliner Patrick Anderson, 22, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to cousins Graham and Paul Dunne at the Wright venue in Swords on February 15, 2015. Prosecution evidence alleged that Anderson punched Graham Dunne in the mouth and head, then struck Paul Dunne multiple times in the head inside the nightclub. Security staff reportedly restrained and ejected all three men, describing them as aggressive. Outside the venue, Anderson allegedly continued the attack, kicking Graham Dunne to the ground and punching Paul Dunne, who suffered a fractured jaw. Graham Dunne sustained a broken knee cap from his fall and requires further treatment. The court heard that all three men had consumed alcohol, and security staff noted Graham Dunne was highly aggressive towards Anderson. Defence counsel Ray Boland BL stated Anderson has no previous convictions and that an offer of compensation was refused by the victims. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned the case to March, when she will hear a plea of mitigation on behalf of Anderson. The matter was adjourned and not concluded.
2016-10-11 · Dublin
A man from Lanesborough has been convicted of possession of child sexual abuse material at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Paul Devine, aged 45, pleaded guilty to the offence relating to material found at his home in April 2011. An investigation by the Garda Computer Crime Investigation unit discovered 80 photographs and 25 videos of child sexual abuse on his laptop. Gardaí also established that Devine had accessed an image-sharing website more than 10,000 times. Judge Pauline Codd imposed an 18-month suspended sentence, suspended for two years on strict conditions. The court heard that a significant delay in processing evidence by the garda unit meant Devine was not arrested and charged until November 2014, some three and a half years after the initial search warrant was executed. The defence noted Devine had no previous convictions and had undertaken psychological counselling since the conviction.