Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard testimony on 13 March 2023 in the trial of four men charged in connection with an attack on a repossessed farm near Strokestown, County Roscommon. The managing director of Trinity Asset Management Services described executing a repossession order at Falsk on 11 December 2018, following which he met a large group at Strokestown church before driving in convoy to the property. The State alleges that five days later, approximately 30 people, some masked and carrying weapons, attacked the rural premises, assaulted four security personnel, damaged vehicles, and injured a guard dog. The defence barrister characterised the convoy operation as resembling frontier justice. Patrick Sweeney, Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne, and David Lawlor, all pleaded not guilty to 53 charges in total, including aggravated burglary, assault causing harm, arson, false imprisonment, criminal damage, and violent disorder. The trial before Judge Martina Baxter and a jury continues.
The trial of Patrick Sweeney, Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne, and David Lawlor continues at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Martina Baxter. The four men, who have pleaded not guilty to a total of 53 charges, are accused of participating in an attack during the Strokestown repossession case. The State alleges that on December 16, 2018, a group armed with various weapons assaulted four security guards, caused criminal damage, committed aggravated burglary, false imprisonment, arson, robbery, and animal cruelty. Each defendant is separately charged with 17 of these offences. During cross-examination, witness Ian Gordon, who testified to being forced to eat dog faeces, identified himself in bodycam footage from an eviction five days prior to the alleged assaults. Gordon stated his unlicensed security company was hired to execute a court order at the McGann family property. He described lifting a resident out of a seat to escort him out, denying any use of reinforced knuckle gloves or physical abuse beyond necessary restraint. The jury viewed this footage, which showed the resident being moved while his sister protested. The trial is ongoing and will resume on Monday.
The trial of David Lawlor, Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne, and Patrick Sweeney continues before Judge Martina Baxter and a jury. The four defendants, who have pleaded not guilty to 53 charges including aggravated burglary, false imprisonment, arson, robbery, and animal cruelty, face allegations of a violent attack on security guards at a property in Falsk, Co Roscommon, in December 2018. Witness Ian Gordon testified that he was forced at gunpoint to eat dog faeces and identified Lawlor's voice during the incident. Under cross-examination, Gordon acknowledged his former service with the Ulster Defence Regiment and admitted his security company, GS Agencies Ltd, operated without a company licence, for which he previously entered a guilty plea. Defense counsel suggested Gordon was mistaken in identifying Lawlor, but Gordon maintained he was 100% certain of the identification. The State alleges a group of approximately 30 armed men assaulted four guards, set fire to vehicles, and beat a guard dog unconscious. The defendants are charged with criminal damage, assault causing harm, and violent disorder. The matter is currently at the trial stage, with proceedings ongoing.
Four men are standing trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 53 charges arising from an alleged attack on security personnel during a property repossession at Strokestown, County Roscommon, in December 2018. Patrick Sweeney of Ramelton, County Donegal, Martin O'Toole of Claremorris, County Mayo, Paul Beirne of Boyle, County Roscommon, and David Lawlor of County Meath have each pleaded not guilty to charges including aggravated burglary, false imprisonment, assault causing harm, arson, criminal damage, violent disorder, robbery and animal cruelty. A security guard testified that approximately 30 masked individuals arrived at the property armed with weapons, assaulted four security staff, set vehicles alight and fatally injured a guard dog. The witness further told the court of previous hostile encounters with one of the defendants at other eviction sites. The trial is ongoing.
A security guard has given evidence to Dublin Circuit Criminal Court regarding an alleged assault at a rural property in Roscommon on 16 December 2018. The witness, who owns a security company, described the moment a dog in his care was struck with a baseball bat during the incident. He told the court that a group of approximately 30 to 40 men arrived at the farmhouse in the early morning, some wearing balaclavas and high-visibility clothing, and that he feared for his life as the assault unfolded. Four men have pleaded not guilty to 53 charges in relation to the incident, including aggravated burglary, false imprisonment, assault causing harm, arson, violent disorder, robbery and animal cruelty. The defendants are Patrick Sweeney from Ramelton, County Donegal; Martin O'Toole from Claremorris, County Mayo; Paul Beirne from Boyle, County Roscommon; and David Lawlor from County Meath. The trial before Judge Martin Baxter continues.
Four men have gone on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court accused of involvement in a sustained and brutal attack on security personnel at a repossessed property near Strokestown, County Roscommon in December 2018. Patrick Sweeney, Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne and David Lawlor each face 17 charges including false imprisonment, assault causing harm, aggravated burglary and arson. The prosecution alleges that approximately 20 to 30 people arrived at the rural house around 5am on 16 December 2018, armed with various weapons, and attacked four security guards who were guarding the property. The court heard that the guards were seriously assaulted, had their hands tied with cable ties and their shoes removed. A German Shepherd dog at the property was beaten and subsequently had to be put down. All four defendants have pleaded not guilty. The prosecution intends to rely on the legal principle of joint enterprise to establish liability. The trial, before Judge Martin Baxter, is scheduled to run for five weeks.
Ciara Kelleher, 51, of Dublin 7, pleaded not guilty to one count of conspiring to defraud investors in Custom House Capital Ltd. She told Gardaí that she was not part of the company's "inner circle" and had no role in buying shares or in any alleged conspiracy. Kelleher's duties were to support John Whyte, head of private clients, by checking valuation reports and sending them to clients. She said she had no knowledge of wrongdoing and that she had never suspected any criminal activity. Kelleher also described an incident in which Harry Cassidy, then CEO, shouted at her over a client funds transfer request. The trial, heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, continues before Judge Orla Crowe and a jury. The case involves alleged offences committed between October 2008 and July 2011.
In a 2021 trial, a jury examined CCTV footage of Bray Boxing Club on the morning of June 5 2018, when Robert Messett was shot dead and two others injured. Detective Garda Alan Thompson described a grey or silver long‑wheelbase van with a 'DFZ' registration, slide rails, tinted rear windows, and a driver in a cap, dark trousers and a yellow high‑visibility vest. The van was seen outside the club at 6:50 am, and the driver entered the club. Thompson guided prosecution counsel Paul Murray SC through a montage of footage from Bray, Shankill, Cabinteely, Deansgrange, Blackrock and Merrion Road up to 7:19 am. Gerard Cervi pleaded not guilty to Messett's murder and the attempted murders of trainer Peter Taylor and Ian Britton. The case is before the Central Criminal Court with Mr Justice Michael White and a jury of seven men and three women.
In the Bray Boxing Club murder trial, witnesses described a grey or silver Caddy van seen on the morning of the shooting. A Dublin Bus driver reported the van nearly colliding with his bus at speed, while a milkman noted a silver Volkswagen Caddy passing his truck and later returning with yellow registration plates. A witness from Willow Grove observed a silver van approaching her estate, noting the driver's high‑vis jacket and sunglasses. Garda reports linked a van with non‑Irish plates parked on Pigeon House Road, where a man and a bicycle were seen. The prosecution alleges the van was used in the fatal attack on Bobby Messett, with Gerard Cervi (34) pleading not guilty to murder and attempted murder charges. The trial continues with the judge noting a period of absence for the jury until late July.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced Dubliner Dean McAuley to two years' imprisonment for assault causing harm, with the final 18 months suspended on strict conditions. McAuley, 28, pleaded guilty to fracturing the nose of his then-partner, Rachel Williams, at Kingswood LUAS Stop in Tallaght on September 13, 2019. Prosecution evidence alleged that after an argument over a broken wine bottle, McAuley punched Williams in the face, struck her with his knee while she was on the ground, and punched her again, leaving her bleeding heavily. Although McAuley initially denied the assault to gardaí, he later apologized to the victim. Judge Martin Nolan noted McAuley's five previous convictions, including violent behavior in a garda station, and described the incident as a serious offense driven by alcohol. However, the judge acknowledged McAuley's potential for reform and his current homelessness. The effective custody period is six months, as the remaining 18 months are suspended. Judge Nolan stated that a more substantial criminal record would have resulted in a lesser deduction from the sentence. The matter was finalized with this sentencing.
Wayne Fitzgerald, 47, was given a suspended sentence after using his ill father to withdraw more than €9,000 from a deceased man's bank account. Fitzgerald learned of the account when the deceased's bank statements were mistakenly sent to his father, who shared the same name as the account holder. The account holder had lived in the same building a decade earlier, and their names differed only by the initial of their middle name. Sergeant Brian Hunt explained that Fitzgerald's father, suffering from dementia, brought him to the bank to withdraw the funds, which Fitzgerald then transferred to his own account. Fitzgerald pleaded guilty to eight charges of handling stolen property, totalling €9,250, for transactions in Dublin between June and November 2016. He had no prior convictions. The bank refunded the withdrawn amount. Judge Martin Nolan accepted that Fitzgerald had seen an opportunity and, "to his shame," took it.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Bernard Fogarty, 32, was sentenced to five years and three months imprisonment for possession of a RAK PM‑63 submachine gun. The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, noted the weapon was not in immediate use but was intended for future use, and that Fogarty's conduct was linked to organised crime. Fogarty pleaded guilty, which led to a 25 % reduction from the headline seven‑year sentence, resulting in the final term of five years and three months, with the last three months suspended and backdated to his time in custody. He must keep the peace, be of good behaviour and undergo one year of probation supervision after release. The case was based on DNA evidence linking Fogarty to the gun recovered from a vehicle in the Shankill area. The judge emphasised that the damage caused by gun crime cannot be ignored.
Bernard Fogarty, 32, known to Gardaí as heavily involved in organised crime, will be sentenced at the Special Criminal Court for possession of a RAK PM‑63 submachine gun. The weapon was found in the passenger footwell of a white Nissan Pulsar that was intercepted in the Shankill area of County Dublin. Fogarty was a passenger in a second vehicle, a silver Hyundai jeep, and was not involved in the hand‑over of the gun. DNA from Fogarty matched DNA on the gun, and a red baseball cap he wore on 7 March was recovered at his Donaghmede address. The gun was not loaded, was in poor condition, and had been heavily gummed. Fogarty pleaded guilty at a non‑jury court and has 40 prior convictions, including criminal damage, assault and burglary. He has been remanded in custody until his sentencing next Monday. The court will consider mitigating factors such as his drug difficulties and cooperation with the investigation.
Two men, David Duffy, 33, and Douglas Glynn, 35, were charged at the Special Criminal Court for their involvement in the attempted murder of James 'Mago' Gately, a target of the Kinahan cartel. Gately was shot multiple times on May 10, 2017, while seated in his car at the Topaz filling station on Clonashaugh Road, Dublin 17. The charges, under Section 72(1) of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, allege that between December 7, 2016, and April 6, 2017, both men, aware of a criminal organisation's existence and intending to aid its members, participated in or contributed to activities connected with the murder. Duffy was arrested at his home on July 16 and taken to Irishtown Garda Station, while Glynn was arrested at Alfie Byrne House and also taken to Irishtown. Both were remanded in custody and will reappear on July 31, with bail and free legal aid applications to be made.
Dean Howe, 34, of Dublin 8, pleaded guilty to conspiring with others to murder Gary Hanley between September 15 and November 6, 2017. At a sentence hearing in the Special Criminal Court, the prosecution detailed Howe's alleged role in surveillance, supervising vehicles, collecting fuel, and instructing co-accused. Evidence included secret recordings where Howe scolded Joseph Kelly for "fucking up" and instructions to cover his face while buying petrol. The court heard that tracking devices were moved to Phoenix Park on September 15, 2017, where Howe was observed with others. On November 6, 2017, Kelly and Luke Wilson were arrested near Hanley's home with a loaded pistol and silencer. Luke Wilson, 24, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and unlawful possession of a Beretta, receiving an 11-year sentence. Alan Wilson, 39, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and was jailed for six years. Joseph Kelly, 35, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and a weapons charge, receiving a 12-year sentence. Howe, who has 37 previous convictions, has been in custody since May 2019. Mr Justice Tony Hunt adjourned Howe's sentencing to March 3 at 10.30am.
Two Dublin men, Paul Casey (49) and Robert O'Leary (41), were charged with membership of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) before the Special Criminal Court. Both were arrested on Tuesday morning by the Special Detective Unit (SDU) as part of a cross‑border investigation linked to a car bomb discovered under a police officer's car in Belfast in June. The charges, brought on 20 August 2019, fall under section 21 of the Offences against the State Act 1939, amended by the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005. Casey was arrested at Londonbridge Road, Dublin 4, and O'Leary at the same location later that day. Both men were taken to Irishtown Garda Station, presented with the charge sheets, and cautioned. They appeared before a three‑judge panel—Justice Tony Hunt, Judge Gerard Griffin, and Judge Sinead Ni Chulachain—where they were remanded in custody pending bail applications due on Monday.
Conor Metcalfe, 28, of Clondalkin, Dublin 22, is standing trial in the Special Criminal Court on a charge of membership of the IRA on November 24, 2015. As the accused made no reply when the charge was put, the court entered a not guilty plea on his behalf. Detective Chief Superintendent Anthony Howard, head of the Special Detective Unit, gave belief evidence that Metcalfe was an IRA member on that date, claiming privilege over the underlying material to protect state security. He stated he relied on no material regarding Metcalfe's arrest or detention. Fingerprint evidence linked Metcalfe to a document found in the home of David Murray, who was convicted of IRA membership in 2017 and jailed for four and a half years. Metcalfe denied IRA membership, surveillance activities, and knowledge of convicted IRA member Kenneth Donohue during interviews where he invoked Section 2 of the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act, 1998. The prosecution will formally close its case on Thursday morning before closing speeches commence. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, sitting with Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin and Judge Cormac Dunne.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence in the trial of Conor Metcalfe, 28, of Clondalkin, Dublin 22, who is charged with membership of the IRA on November 24, 2015. As the accused made no reply to the charge, the court entered a not guilty plea on his behalf. Detective Garda Colm Finnerty testified that he was present when Detective Sergeant Padraig Boyce forced entry into Metcalfe's home with a search warrant. Metcalfe was arrested after failing to comply with directions to show his hands. During the search, Gardaí found items including books with an IRA connection, an IRA keyring, a signed proclamation, and an Alan Ryan memorial society invitation. The prosecution also referenced confidential information regarding a document found in the bedroom of David Murray, who was convicted of IRA membership in 2017 and jailed for four and a half years. Additionally, Det Sgt Boyce observed Patrick Brennan, who was jailed for four years for IRA membership in 2005, leaving the property. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, sitting with Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin and Judge Cormac Dunne.
The Court of Appeal has upheld the prison sentence of Dylan Cahill, a 24-year-old from Lower Irishtown, Clonmel, Co Tipperary, who pleaded guilty to serious firearms and explosives offences. Cahill admitted to possessing a .380 calibre Colt semi-automatic pistol and four rounds of ammunition, as well as two improvised explosive devices, or pipe-bombs, at Sradrine, Glefarne, Co Leitrim, on May 13, 2015. These admissions were made at the non-jury Special Criminal Court, where Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, presiding with Judges Sinead Ni Chulachain and James Faughnan, sentenced him to six years in prison, with the final year suspended. The appeal, heard by President Mr Justice George Birmingham alongside Ms Justice Máire Whelan and Ms Justice Marie Baker, was dismissed. Mr Justice Birmingham stated there was no basis to suggest the mandatory minimum sentence for firearm possession constituted an error in principle. He characterized the carrying of a semi-automatic pistol, ammunition, and a pipe bomb in furtherance of the activities of the IRA as a very serious offence. Consequently, the Court of Appeal confirmed the original disposal, maintaining the effective custody period and suspended portion as originally imposed by the Special Criminal Court.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence in the ongoing trial of David Nooney, 53, of Ballymun, Dublin, who is pleading not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation, namely the IRA, on August 8, 2015. Prosecution counsel Tara Burns SC presented testimony from Detective Garda Ronan Judge, who stated that Nooney failed to answer questions during an interview at Irishtown Garda Station on August 9, 2015. The detectives invoked Section 2 of the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act, 1998, allowing the court to draw inferences from his refusal to respond to allegations regarding a trusted role with senior IRA members and securing a safe-house in Blanchardstown. In a subsequent interview, Nooney stated he was not an IRA member. The prosecution alleges gardai used surveillance devices to record interviews at Riverwood Park, Castleknock, conducted to further an unlawful objective. Four co-accused are also arraigned: Kevin Hannaway, 69, and Eva Shannon, 60, both of Belfast, plead not guilty to knowingly rendering assistance to the IRA on August 7 and 8, 2015. Edward O'Brien, 42, of Finglas, and Seán Hannaway, 48, of Belfast, plead not guilty to IRA membership on August 8, 2015. The trial continues before Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, sitting with Judges Gerard Griffin and Gerard Haughton.
Dylan Cahill, aged 24, of Lower Irishtown, Clonmel, County Tipperary, received a six-year sentence at the Special Criminal Court following guilty pleas to weapons and explosives charges. On 13 May 2015, gardaí conducting traffic enforcement stopped a vehicle near Glefarne, County Leitrim after reports of fuel theft. A search of the maroon Volkswagen Passat uncovered a plastic shopping bag containing a .380 calibre semi-automatic pistol, four rounds of matching ammunition, and two improvised explosive devices. Cahill, the driver, pleaded guilty to possession of the firearm and ammunition, and to possession of the pipe-bombs at the same location. During interview, he stated he was unaware of the weapon's intended purpose. Gardaí assessed the items were being transported in connection with IRA activities. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, presiding with two colleagues, imposed concurrent sentences of six years, with the final year suspended, on each count.
A 24-year-old man from County Tipperary pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to possessing two pipe-bombs, a pistol, and ammunition discovered during a traffic stop in County Leitrim in May 2015. Dylan Cahill of Clonmel admitted charges relating to a .380 calibre semi-automatic pistol, four rounds of ammunition, and two improvised explosive devices found at Sradrine, Glefarne. Gardaí conducting traffic duties stopped the vehicle after reports it had left a filling station without paying for fuel. A search of the car revealed the weapons and explosives in a shopping bag on the front passenger seat. Detective Garda Derek Bonar told the court that gardaí believed the items were being transported in connection with IRA activities. Cahill's co-accused, John Burke, previously pleaded guilty in the Circuit Criminal Court and received a three-and-a-half-year sentence with six months suspended. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, sitting with two other judges, remanded Cahill in custody pending sentencing on 26 June.
A 24-year-old man from Clonmel in County Tipperary has pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to possessing a firearm and explosive devices. Dylan Cahill admitted to having a .380 calibre Colt semi-automatic pistol and four rounds of ammunition at a location in Glefarne, County Leitrim on 13 May 2015. He also pleaded guilty to possession of two improvised explosive devices at the same address on that date. The non-jury court, presided over by Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy alongside two other judges, remanded Cahill in custody pending sentencing scheduled for 15 May 2017.
Michael Fagan (25) of Sperrin Road, Drimnagh, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two years' imprisonment for handling stolen property. Judge Elma Sheahan reduced a recommended three-year term to two years following mitigation. Fagan pleaded guilty to possessing a safe stolen from the Co. Meath home of Mark Guildea on May 5, 2014. Detective Garda Brian McCarthy testified that Fagan dropped the safe from a third-floor balcony at Rathmines flats complex on the night of the burglary, scattering items including shotgun cartridges. Fagan, who has 51 previous convictions, was not charged with the burglary itself. Separately, Dean Fagan (28) of Kildare Park, Crumlin, Dublin, and Daryl Smith (25) of Shancastle Lawns, Clondalkin, Dublin, were jailed at Trim Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to carrying out the aggravated burglary at Irishtown, Ashbourne, on the same date. The court noted that the original burglary involved the victim's wife and child being tied up. Michael Fagan's defence counsel highlighted his desire to live a sober life, while the judge acknowledged his mitigation.
Thomas Murray, aged 34, was sentenced to six years in prison for a series of robberies in Dublin between December 2015 and February 2016. He used a knife to threaten victims and cut the straps of handbags, and he also used stolen bank cards for small "tap" purchases. The court noted that he had 37 prior convictions and that his most recent offences were committed while on bail. Murray was apprehended after being "rugby tackled" by two Dublin Bus drivers who pursued him following a robbery at a bus stop. He pleaded guilty to eight robberies, one attempted robbery and one threat to kill, and he admitted that his crimes were driven by a heroin addiction and the need to fund his drug habit and provide for his children. The judge imposed a consecutive sentence of eight years, with the final two years suspended, and ordered 18 months of post‑release supervision.
Michael Fagan (25) of Sperrin Rd, Drimnagh, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to possession of stolen property. The offence involved a safe stolen from the Co. Meath home of Mark Guildea on May 5, 2014, which Fagan dropped from a third-floor balcony at Rathmines flats complex on the same night. Detective Garda Brian McCarthy testified that items, including shotgun cartridges, scattered after the drop. Fagan, who has 51 previous convictions, was jailed for the handling offence. Separately, at Trim Circuit Criminal Court, Dean Fagan (28) of Kildare Park, Crumlin, Dublin, and Daryl Smith (25) of Shancastle Lawns, Clondalkin, Dublin, were jailed after pleading guilty to carrying out the aggravated burglary at Irishtown, Ashbourne, on May 5, 2014. The court heard that the victims, including Guildea's wife and child, were tied up during the incident. Michael Fagan was not charged with the burglary itself. Judge Elma Sheehan presided over the sentencing in Dublin, while the Trim court handed down the sentences for Dean Fagan and Smith. All three individuals received custodial sentences for their respective convictions.
Two men, Paul Reilly (36) and Ray Donnelly (49), were convicted of robbery and possession of an imitation firearm after breaking into Clanna Gael GAA club in Irishtown, Dublin, on the night of the semi‑finals on 2 September 2012. They used a fake gun to threaten the bar manager, Paul Lynch, and a patron, Paul McDonald, tying them with duct tape and leaving them face‑down on the floor. The intruders ransacked the club's safe and stole €7,569, which has not been recovered. Donnelly was also found guilty of handling stolen property for attempting to sell a stolen Volkswagen Golf on DoneDeal. Both men pleaded guilty to robbery, false imprisonment and possession of an imitation firearm. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced them to five‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment; Donnelly received an additional four months for the stolen‑property charge.
During a sentencing hearing in the Special Criminal Court, Donal O Coisdealbha, a 25‑year‑old Dublin man, pleaded guilty to membership in the Irish Republican Army (IRA). He was arrested on 13 May 2015 after a Garda investigation that had followed him for months. The investigation uncovered explosive device components in his Maynooth University locker and in a house at Harbour Court, Courtown, Wexford. Items seized included improvised rockets, semtex, detonators, a time‑power unit, a broken circuit board, and a PIC chip. DNA evidence linked O Coisdealbha to the devices. Garda audio surveillance revealed discussions about building an artillery rocket and a planned event around the time of Prince Charles's visit. O Coisdealbha denied IRA membership during detention. He has no prior convictions and was remanded in custody until 6 December for sentencing. The maximum sentence for belonging to a dissident republican terrorist organisation is eight years.
Three Dublin men were brought before the Special Criminal Court on 16 September 2016, charged with membership of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). Jonathan Hawthorn, aged 44, of Ballintyre Downs, Ballinteer, was arrested on Irishtown Road the previous evening; Detective Garda Rory Geelon testified that he was informed by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) that he would be charged with IRA membership and that Hawthorn made no reply to caution. Donal O Ceallaigh, aged 32, of Beach Road, Sandymount, was similarly arrested on Irishtown Road; Detective Sergeant Eamon Hoey gave evidence that he was informed of the DPP's direction and also made no reply to caution. James Geraghty, aged 60, of Dolphin House, Dolphin's Barn, was arrested on Kevin Street; Detective Sergeant Alan McDevitt testified that Geraghty replied, "I'm not a member of any group," when informed of the DPP's direction.
Patrick Brennan, 52, was arrested on Thursday morning as part of an operation targeting dissident republican activity. He was charged at the Special Criminal Court with knowingly possessing over a kilogram of explosives, specifically four 400‑gram blocks of TNT and three electric explosive detonators. The possession was alleged to have occurred at Store Street, Dublin 1, on 16 June. Detective Garda Graham Dunne arrested Brennan on Irishtown Road, Dublin 4, at 12:18 pm, informed him of the charges, and detained him at Irishtown Garda station. Brennan was transported to the Special Criminal Court, shown the charge sheet, and made no reply to the court's questions. He sat in a light blue, striped T‑shirt, arms folded, and only confirmed his identity when asked. The court, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Butler with Judges Margaret Heneghan and Ann Ryan, remanded Brennan in custody until Friday, 24 June, with a bail application to be made on that day.
Kenneth Cummins, aged 28, was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Central Criminal Court for the murder of Thomas Horan, a 63‑year‑old man described as mentally challenged. Cummins initially pleaded not guilty but changed to guilty after four weeks of trial. The prosecution presented evidence that Horan was strangled and suffocated, with injuries consistent with a severe beating, and that Cummins and his sister Sabrina were involved in the assault. Cummins had 77 prior convictions, including 46 for public order offences, and a history of alcohol dependency and psychiatric treatment. The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, imposed a life sentence backdated to 8 January 2014, noting Cummins' guilty plea and the violent nature of the killing. No further legal actions were mentioned in the article.
A 30‑year‑old man named Damien Metcalfe appeared at an out‑of‑hours sitting of the Special Criminal Court in Dublin on 26 November 2015. He was charged with membership of an unlawful organisation, the Irish Republican Army (IRA). Metcalfe was arrested the previous day by the Special Detective Unit during investigations into dissident republican activity. He was taken to Irishtown Garda Station and then to the court, where he was cautioned and informed of the charge. The judge remanded him in custody until the following Tuesday.
Kenneth Cummins (28) and Sabrina Cummins (37), both of Ringsend Park, Dublin 4, are on trial at the Central Criminal Court, having pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Thomas Horan (63) at Cambridge Court, Ringsend, on January 6, 2014. The matter is currently at the trial stage before Mr Justice Tony Hunt. Prosecution counsel Mr Remy Farrell SC called Detective Sergeant Barry Walsh to testify regarding a recorded prison call made by Kenneth Cummins from Cloverhill prison on January 22, 2014. The call, intercepted by prison officer Pat Murphy, was obtained via search warrant. In the transcript read to the jury, Cummins allegedly told his friend, Carl Cullen, that he beat, strangled, and smothered the victim to death. Cummins allegedly stated he acted after the victim admitted to past abuse of his sister, Breda, and claimed he only intended to hospitalize the victim. When asked about the possibility of a manslaughter charge, Cummins allegedly replied it did not look likely, noting he could be 36 when released. He denied his sister's involvement. The prosecution concluded its evidence for Kenneth Cummins, and the trial continues.
Kenneth Cummins (28) and Sabrina Cummins (37), both of Ringsend Park, Dublin 4, are on trial at the Central Criminal Court, having pleaded not guilty to the murder of Thomas Horan (63) at Cambridge Court, Ringsend, on January 6th last year. During cross-examination of Detective Garda Brian Hunt, the court heard from statements given by Kenneth Cummins at Irishtown garda station in January 2014. The accused alleged that he and Sabrina Cummins intended to rob Mr Horan of €2,000. When asked if he was prepared to kill for the money, Cummins stated he was not, claiming his intention was simply to take the cash and leave. However, he admitted he was prepared to use violence to secure the funds. Cummins told gardai that he returned to the property a second time determined to get the money, stating, "you weren't leaving without it?" He confirmed his sole intention was to rob Mr Horan. When he could not find the money, Cummins said he became angry and asked if giving Mr Horan "a bit of a hiding" would reveal its location, to which he replied, "Yes." The trial continues.
Kenneth Cummins (28) and Sabrina Cummins (37) pleaded not guilty to the murder of Thomas Horan (63) at Cambridge Court, Ringsend, on 6 January. In court, Dr Alan McGee confirmed the Cummins were identified as suspects. Witness Jim Muldoon, Horan's brother‑in‑law, described Horan as mentally challenged and noted his past residence in Ranelagh. A social worker, Ms Sarah O'Carroll, confirmed that neither Sabrina nor her sister Breda were fostered by Horan. The prosecution read statements from Kenneth Cummins to Garda Brian Hunt, detailing the robbery of €2,000 and the subsequent violence: he struck Horan with a stick, stabbed him with a fork, strangled him with a belt, and forced him to drink white spirits, toilet cleaner and washing‑up liquid. Cummins also admitted that Sabrina kicked Horan's face and that they struck his head on a shelf. The trial is ongoing.
A Dublin man, Robert Day, aged 54, was charged at an out‑of‑hours sitting of the Special Criminal Court with membership of an unlawful organisation, namely the Irish Republican Army (IRA). The charge was brought under section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act on 9 October 2015. Detective Garda Leanna Cruise arrested Day at 2.15 pm that afternoon on Londonbridge Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, and transported him to Irishtown Garda Station before presenting him to the Special Criminal Court. In court, Day was shown the original charge sheet and gave no comment. He wore an orange Glasgow Celtic jersey and did not react when asked to stand. The court, presided over by Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan, Judge Ann Ryan and Judge Flann Brennan, remanded Day in custody until Thursday, when a bail application is expected. Barrister Mark Lynam, representing Day, consented to the remand and reserved his position regarding the lawfulness of the arrest.
Craig Boothman, 23, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a total of three years for a series of offences. He pleaded guilty to robbery at Shay's Pharmacy, a robbery of a Spar shop, criminal damage and burglary of an off‑license in Irishtown, and assault causing harm and criminal damage to a taxi. Each offence was committed while he was on bail for the previous one. Boothman had 27 prior convictions, including burglary, theft, assault and drug possession, dealt with at District Court level. The judge noted Boothman's violent behaviour when intoxicated but also his prospects if he remained clean. Boothman was arrested less than a week after the pharmacy robbery, where he used a knife to threaten a cashier and fled with the tills. He has been clean of drink and drugs since entering prison in March and has a job waiting for him in his grandfather's pub upon release.
A young Wicklow man has been jailed for his part in two armed robberies of school children. During one robbery, Aaron Doyle punched a schoolboy in the face before taking his smart mobile phone. Doyle (19) of Cois Cairn, Old Connaught Avenue, Bray, Co Wicklow pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbery and attempted robbery at the Dodder Walkway, Irishtown on May 19, 2014. He also admitted robbery at Marlborough Road, Glenageary, Dublin on the same date. Judge Martin Nolan said Doyle had 'picked on young boys'. He suspended the last 15 months of a three year prison sentence on condition he keeps the peace for that period. Doyle's eleven previous convictions include an offence of handling stolen property for which he is already serving a ten month sentence. The matter was adjourned.
A 22-year-old man from Clonmel, County Tipperary, has been granted bail by the Special Criminal Court ahead of trial scheduled for October. Dylan Cahill faces charges of membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, alleged to have occurred on 13 May 2015. He is also charged with possession of a .380 calibre semi-automatic pistol and four rounds of matching ammunition at Sradrine, Glefame, County Leitrim on the same date, in circumstances giving rise to reasonable inference the items were not lawfully held. Additionally, Mr Cahill is charged with possession of two improvised explosive devices at the same location. Detective Garda Mark Benson told the court that Mr Cahill was arrested at Manorhamilton, County Leitrim, on 15 May and made no reply to the charges. An independent surety of €20,000 was frozen in a bank account. Trial is set for 16 October 2015.
Three men appeared before the Special Criminal Court at trial, facing alleged IRA-related charges arising from an ongoing investigation into dissident republican activities. Séamus McGrane, 60, of Co Louth, was charged with directing the activities of an unlawful organisation styling itself the IRA and membership of that organisation between December 2009 and May 2015. He made no reply to the charges and was remanded in custody until May 20. Donal O Coisdealbha, 23, of Dublin 15, was charged with IRA membership and possession of a time and power unit, a component of an improvised explosive device, found in a storage locker at NUI Maynooth. He also made no reply and was remanded in custody until May 20, with his solicitor indicating a bail application would be made. Dylan Cahill, 22, of Co Tipperary, was charged with IRA membership, possession of a .380 calibre Colt semi-automatic pistol, four rounds of ammunition, and two pipe bombs in Co Leitrim. He made no reply to the charges. A proposed bail application for the following Tuesday was opposed by the DPP due to Garda operational constraints. The court remanded Mr Cahill in custody until June 9, granting him liberty to apply for bail before that date. All three accused were identified in the dock by detective sergeants, and no pleas or findings were recorded at this procedural stage.
Karl Donohoe, 33, of Bealing Village, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of British national Raymond Bates, 49, after a road‑rage incident on 30 September 2010. Donohoe beat Bates with a hurley stick, striking him on the head and repeatedly hitting him while he was on the ground. Bates, a construction worker from Durham, was later pronounced dead after a four‑day hospital stay. In April 2012, Mr Justice Paul Carney sentenced Donohoe to 12 years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, citing the savagery of the assault and Donohoe's self‑appointment as "sheriff and enforcer" in response to Bates' drunken driving. Donohoe appealed the sentence, arguing the judge had erred by referencing a separate case and the hate mail he had received. The Court of Appeal reserved judgment for 19 January, while counsel for the DPP maintained that the sentence was proportionate to the aggravating and mitigating factors presented. The case remains pending appeal.
In a High Court decision on 9 May 2014, Mr Justice Iarfhlaith Ó Neill dismissed the appeal of 70‑year‑old Edward Lattimore, who had sought to remain in the council‑owned house at 21 Ennis Grove, Irishtown, Dublin 4. Lattimore had lived there since 1956, paid rent, and believed he was a joint tenant. After his sister's death in 2012 he discovered he was not a tenant and applied for succession to the tenancy. Dublin City Council (DCC) had refused, citing that a three‑bedroom dwelling was not suitable for a single person and offering a one‑bedroom accommodation nearby. Lattimore claimed the refusal breached his constitutional rights and the European Convention on Human Rights, citing medical evidence that leaving would seriously affect his health. The court found no breach of rights, upheld DCC's decision, and noted that DCC had met its statutory obligations by providing suitable housing close to his former home.
Corey Mulhall, 43, was arrested in September 2012 after detectives observed suspicious activity at the Harcourt Hotel near the Garda complex. He booked a room under the false name "Jason Egan" and admitted taking photographs of the Dublin headquarters of several specialist Garda units. Mulhall denied being a member of the IRA and repeatedly denied any IRA membership during Garda interviews. He claimed he was at the hotel to "meet a bird" and that the woman he mentioned never appeared. Mulhall admitted he had a Sony Cybershot camera and that a man had offered him money to take photos of a specified Garda on behalf of an unnamed client. The trial continues, with Mulhall pleading not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation under the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act 1998. The court heard evidence of his denial of IRA membership and his admission of photographing the Garda complex. The case remains ongoing.
Kenneth Cummins, 27, and Sabrina Cummins, 36, were charged with the murder of 63‑year‑old Thomas Horan, who was found dead in his Cambridge Court flat in Dublin. The body was discovered at 4 a.m. on Monday, and a post‑mortem by Dr Marie Cassidy confirmed death from internal injuries. The siblings were detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 and appeared before Dublin District Court, where they made no reply to the charges. The court, unable to grant bail in a murder case, remanded them in custody to appear again next Thursday. Both defendants were granted legal aid and orders for medical attention while remanded. The case remains at the district court stage, with any bail application to be brought to the High Court.