In a sophisticated operation, Andrew Lawlor (38) was caught with €1.2 million of cocaine hidden in a modified compartment of his van. He had originally pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply and was sentenced by Trim Circuit Court to four and a half years' imprisonment, with the final two and a half years suspended. The Court of Appeal, finding the headline sentence of six and a half years unduly lenient, quashed the original sentence and re‑sentenced Lawlor to seven and a half years, of which three and a half years were suspended. The final imposed term is four years' imprisonment. Lawlor, a father of two, had pleaded guilty, expressed remorse, and had been drug‑free and training to become a drug counsellor at the time of sentencing. The appeal was brought by the State, arguing the value and sophisticated concealment of the drugs warranted a higher headline sentence.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, Gerry Daly, 57, was found not guilty of dangerous driving causing the death of Jacqueline Griffin, 39, in a fatal M50 collision on 24 January 2019. The jury, after six hours and fifty minutes of deliberation, accepted the defence's argument that Daly's type‑one diabetes had severely impaired his judgment, preventing a conscious decision to drive. Expert testimony from a consultant endocrinologist who had supervised Daly for over a decade confirmed that his blood glucose was well below normal, likely causing confusion and a loss of consciousness. Evidence indicated Daly's vehicle was travelling between 138 and 151 km/h at the time of the crash, which involved a high‑speed collision with a truck and a subsequent roll‑over of Griffin's car, resulting in catastrophic head injuries and her instant death.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, Gerry Daly, 57, pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing the instantaneous death of Jacqueline Griffin, 39, on the M50 on 24 January 2019. Witnesses described Daly's vehicle as travelling at high speed, weaving in and out of traffic, and veering across the hard shoulder before colliding with Griffin's car. The prosecution argued that the collision was ferocious, causing Griffin's vehicle to roll over and her immediate death. Daly was also reported to have been a type‑one diabetic with a related medical condition that impaired his control of the vehicle. CCTV footage and multiple motorists' testimonies were presented, all indicating that Daly's driving was dangerous and that the accident caused Griffin's death. The case remains before Judge Elma Sheahan and a jury.
Michael McGrane, 47, was given a suspended sentence of two years and three months after a judge found he had run two dodgy box companies that sold illegal access to premium TV content, including Sky Sports. McGrane pleaded guilty to two counts of selling a protection‑defeating device and one count of possessing such a device, as well as to unlawful use of a computer. He admitted that the scheme ran from September 2017 to September 2018, generating just over €29,000 in profit, which he had paid tax on. The judge noted that McGrane appeared naive or reckless, had no prior convictions, and had cooperated with Gardaí. A forfeiture order of €27,665 was made, the seized items were ordered destroyed, and McGrane was prohibited from engaging in electronic streaming devices. The sentence was fully suspended, with no custodial time imposed.
A County Meath man, Michael McGrane, 47, was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for running two dodgy box companies that sold illegal access to premium TV content, including Sky Sports. McGrane pleaded guilty to two counts of selling a protection‑defeating device and one count of possessing such a device between September 2017 and September 2018, and to unlawful use of a computer between March and September 2018. The scheme involved selling altered set‑top boxes through JarvisBox and streaming services via StreamSupreme, with customers paying into Irish PayPal accounts. Gardaí launched Operation Fleming after a UK brand protection company flagged copyright infringement. McGrane's home was searched in June 2018, seizing laptops, phones, illicit boxes and financial documents. He reportedly earned just over €29,000 from the scheme, a 40 per cent share of the €145,795 turnover, and the case was adjourned for sentencing to 13 October 2023.
Anthony Byrne, 40, used a fake name and doctored a letting contract to defraud four victims, each paying €3,000 for a rental deposit that never existed. He advertised the property on daft.ie, claiming to be a letting agent named Stephen Cummings, and demanded cash payments. Gardaí traced the scheme after a woman reported the fraud; they found the doctored contract and evidence linking Byrne to the false persona. Byrne pleaded guilty to four charges of deception and use of a false instrument at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He repaid the €12,000 to the victims and, after early guilty pleas and expressions of remorse, was sentenced to a two‑year term suspended in full for two years. The judge noted the financial loss was made good and considered Byrne's difficult family and financial circumstances. The victims suffered significant hardship and emotional distress.
Michael Collins, 49, was convicted in 2019 of dangerous driving causing the death of 20‑year‑old Jillian Thornton, who was thrown from his car when it split in two during a crash near Ballymagarvey on the N2. Collins had been driving under the influence of cannabis and had fired his legal team at the start of the trial, choosing to represent himself. The Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal, ruling that the right to self‑representation is a constitutional right that can only be overridden in extreme circumstances. The court found Collins fit to plead, medically assessed as capable of defending himself, and that no breach of EU law occurred. The appeal was rejected, affirming that Collins' decision to defend himself was a voluntary, informed choice. The case remains at the trial stage with the 14‑year sentence upheld.
Michael Collins (49) appealed his conviction at the Court of Appeal, arguing he should not have been permitted to represent himself during his 2019 trial. Collins was found guilty of dangerous driving causing the death of Jillian Thornton on May 27, 2016, in Duleek, Co Meath, and was jailed for 14 years by Trim Circuit Court. He was also convicted of two charges of endangerment, 12 charges of dangerous driving, and driving under the influence. Collins, of Drogheda, Co Louth, had dismissed his legal team before the trial began. His counsel, Michael Lynn SC, submitted that Collins was incapable of running a coherent defence due to paranoia and that forcing legal representation would have ensured a fair trial. The State's counsel, Carl Hanahoe BL, countered that Collins had the fundamental right to self-representation and was found fit to be tried. The court described the argument as a "very radical proposition" without precedent in Irish courts. The appeal was adjourned, with the court reserving its judgement.
In a 2023 equality hearing, the Workplace Relations Commission upheld a claim by Alison Walsh, a disabled mother of two, that Emerald Park discriminated against her under the Equal Status Act. Walsh, who suffers from spina bifida and neurosarcoidosis, was denied a queue‑skip pass for rides because the park required a doctor's letter proving an "inability to queue." She presented her disabled driver's badge, adapted car licence and Public Services Card but could not provide medical correspondence. The park's barrister argued that documentation was needed to prevent abuse of the system, while the managing director cited a 15‑20 minute queue for assistance passes and a policy allowing managers discretion after reopening. The WRC found the park's approach unreasonable and ordered Emerald Park to pay Walsh €3,000 in compensation. No appeal mechanism existed for those lacking the requested documentation. The decision highlighted the park's failure to accommodate a disabled visitor in line with the Act.
A former League of Ireland footballer, Edward Fitzpatrick, 39, and two other men were jailed for moving almost €200,000 in crime cash. Fitzpatrick pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering, while Jonathon Barton, 42, and Gary O'Neill, 40, pleaded guilty to counts of money laundering. Garda surveillance showed Barton driving a van to Fitzpatrick's home, where they entered the property together. Barton later left with a heavy blue shopping bag, which was found in O'Neill's car containing €199,505 in cash and an additional €2,250. The court noted the men's remorse, guilty pleas, and family responsibilities. Justice Melanie Greally imposed four‑year, 42‑month and 30‑month sentences on Barton, Fitzpatrick and O'Neill respectively, suspending the final year of each sentence. The men had no prior convictions for serious offences, and the court considered their rehabilitation efforts. The case highlighted the role of drug debt and addiction in the operation.
Karina Cully, 36, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment after stealing €629,000 from a small office supplies company over seven years. She transferred the money to her personal account and spent it on holidays and eating out. Cully pleaded guilty to theft, forgery, deception in a mortgage application and money laundering between 2014 and 2021. She admitted the theft was a compulsive habit she could not stop. The court noted her early guilty plea, full admissions and cooperation, and her strong work record. She had no prior convictions. The judge highlighted the persistent nature of the theft from a small enterprise where she was known daily. The prosecution had evidence of unauthorised transfers and forged mortgage documents. Cully's apology and remorse were considered, but the sentence reflected the seriousness of the repeated theft.
A man has received a fully suspended one-year sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for careless driving causing the death of a cyclist. Mariusz Karpinski, aged 32 and from Ashbourne in County Meath, pleaded guilty to careless driving causing the death of a cyclist on a local access road near Kilshane Cross in north County Dublin on 4 May 2021. Judge Martin Nolan imposed the suspended sentence, finding the case tragic but noting that Karpinski had been driving into strong sunlight that obscured his vision. The judge stated that while Karpinski was driving reasonably carefully, he failed to take appropriate steps to address the weather conditions. Evidence indicated the cyclist had been visible for approximately two seconds before impact. Karpinski, who has since relocated to Cavan and works in factory employment, was not disqualified from driving. The deceased's mother submitted a victim impact statement and was noted by the judge as displaying forgiveness toward the accused.
In a High Court hearing on 27 February 2023, the court ordered that Stewart Alexander and Bill Henry, directors of the insolvent Boxer Logistics Ltd, be personally liable for the company's €12.4 million debt. The judgment was granted on a joint and severable basis after liquidators Tom Murray and Tom Musiol presented evidence that the directors deliberately under‑reported the firm's income and under‑paid taxes, including corporation tax, PRSI and VAT. The company had transferred large sums out of its main account, including €1 million to Alexander's personal accounts, €250 000 to a former employee and Ms Paula Loredana Hutu (Alexander's alleged lover), and smaller amounts to a Paddy Power account. Boxer Logistics also unlawfully received €1.9 million in Covid‑support schemes. The liquidators claimed that Alexander and Henry owe the company over €6 million, but received no payment.
A high‑ranking member of a West African organised crime gang, Junior Boboye, aged 28, was sentenced to six years in prison, with the final year suspended, for his role in an €800,000 money‑laundering and fraud operation. The operation involved the theft of €792,000 from eight businesses through invoice‑redirect fraud, of which €319,000 was recovered. Boboye pleaded guilty to multiple offences for the benefit of a criminal organisation between August 2017 and May 2018, and to 13 counts of money laundering and using false instruments. He was described by the judge as an active lieutenant and recruiting sergeant within the gang. The case also involved other defendants: Emmanuel Olanyian, who received a four‑year sentence with the final year suspended; Taiwo Ajike, who received a suspended one‑year sentence; and Onyebuchi Aduba, who was dealt with under the Probation Act and will not receive a conviction.
Seven managers and assistant managers at Paddy Power betting shops have lost their pay claims against the company, following a decision by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). The workers, represented by trade union Mandate, had lodged complaints under the Payment of Wages Act 1991 against Flutter Entertainment PLC, alleging that they were blocked from working overtime hours after the pandemic lockdown. The staff, who have between 14 and 22 years of service with the company, claimed they had routinely worked overtime before the lockdown and lost out on this when they returned to work in June 2020, being rostered for a 40-hour week. The company continued to pay its staff based on their contracted hours during the lockdown. One of the workers, Marie McKenna, stated that she was initially told to roster her staff for their normal hours, but her district manager later took her off the roster and filled her overtime hours with a more junior staff member.
The Special Criminal Court has sentenced Jonathan Dowdall to four years' imprisonment for facilitating the Hutch gang in the murder of Kinahan Cartel member David Byrne. Dowdall, a former Sinn Fein councillor, pleaded guilty to the charge. The court also heard evidence in the ongoing trial of co-accused Gerard Hutch, who pleaded not guilty to the same murder. The trial featured audio recordings of conversations between Hutch and Dowdall, allegedly captured while travelling to the North. In these recordings, Hutch stated that Daniel Kinahan looked "in a fuckin heap" following the Regency Hotel attack and claimed police were "going around like headless chickens." The prosecution presented these tapes as core evidence, while the defence argued for their exclusion, claiming the vehicle was outside the State's jurisdiction for most of the recording. Other defendants Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney also pleaded not guilty. The court proceedings focused on the admissibility of the bugged conversations, with the defence contending the evidence was illicit. The sentencing of Dowdall marks a significant development in the case, while the trial for Hutch and others continues.
A former League of Ireland footballer, Edward Fitzpatrick, 39, and two other men, Jonathon Barton, 42, and Gary O'Neill, 40, pleaded guilty to money‑laundering offences involving almost €200,000 in criminal cash. The case was adjourned to February 23, 2023 for finalisation. Garda surveillance showed Barton driving a van to Fitzpatrick's home, where the men entered and later left with a heavy blue shopping bag. Barton then took the bag to a Circle K service station, handing it to O'Neill, who was arrested and found with the bag containing €199,505 in three packages and an additional €2,250. Searches recovered a vacuum packing machine, a mobile phone, and a phone from Barton. The three men admitted their roles; Fitzpatrick admitted packaging the cash, Barton said he moved the money to repay a drug debt, and O'Neill acted as a courier.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced Patrick Lawlor (56) and Ross Hanway (32) for their roles in an organised crime gang's money laundering operation. Both pleaded guilty to possessing €412,000 in proceeds of crime on May 26, 2020. Lawlor, of Collins Avenue West, also pleaded guilty to possessing €477,370 in cash, foreign currency, and an encrypted mobile phone. Hanway, of Ashbourne, Co Meath, was found to have acted as a courier. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a sentence of eight years on Lawlor, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions. Hanway received a four-year sentence, with the final two years suspended on strict conditions. The court noted the gang had an income of nearly €12 million in 2019. Ian Lawlor (24), also of Collins Avenue West, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine, ketamine, MDMA, and €12,000 in cash found in his bedroom. Judge Greally stated his offending was a separate enterprise. He was sentenced to three years, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions. All three defendants had no previous convictions and entered early guilty pleas.
William O'Donnell, 24, of Ashbourne, Co Meath, was sentenced to five years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to falsely imprisoning and threatening to kill his former wife, Brigid Reilly, on September 20, 2021. Judge Martin Nolan described the offence as very serious, noting that O'Donnell forced Ms Reilly into his car against her will and deprived her of her liberty for 24 hours. The court heard that O'Donnell drove Ms Reilly from Naas, Co Kildare, to Enniskillen, threatening to kill them both and ruin her reputation within the Travelling community. He recorded a video taunting her father and claimed police could not reach him once he crossed into the North. Ms Reilly, who was terrified, eventually escaped briefly but was forced back into the vehicle. O'Donnell was arrested at a garda checkpoint after driving back into the jurisdiction. He has 66 previous convictions and was on bail for other offences at the time. His defence counsel described the act as immature and attributed it to impulse control issues. O'Donnell has been in custody since last September and is on an enhanced prisoner régime. The matter was finalised with the imposition of the custodial sentence.
In June 2022, the Court of Appeal struck out an appeal against the conviction and sentence of Declan Byrne, a 35‑year‑old former resident of Spencer Dock, Sheriff Street, Dublin. Byrne had been jailed for eight years for his role in a series of "vicious and savage assaults" outside a nightclub in Ashbourne, Co. Meath, on 1 August 2016. He pleaded not guilty to one count of violent disorder, one count of causing serious harm, and three counts of causing harm, but a jury at Trim Circuit Criminal Court found him guilty in March 2020. He received a nine‑year sentence with 12 months suspended. Byrne, now in Midlands Prison, had previously sought appeals that were adjourned when he changed counsel. The latest appeal hearing was scheduled for that day, but his new barrister, Keith Spencer BL, requested another adjournment to review CCTV footage and notes from Byrne's former legal team.
Two men, Stephen Coyle (34) and Leroy Howard (30), appealed against the 10‑year headline sentences imposed for violent disorder and assault in a 2016 incident in Ashbourne. The Court of Appeal, led by Justice Séamus Woulfe, dismissed both appeals, finding no error in the judge's decision to set the maximum term because the violence was a highly aggravating factor. Coyle's 7½‑year sentence had the final two years suspended, while Howard's 7½‑year sentence had the final 12 months suspended and was to run concurrently with a 4‑year drug‑offence term. The court noted each man's personal circumstances, guilty pleas and remorse, and upheld the sentences as appropriate for the offences. The appeal hearing concluded that the judge had taken sufficient account of mitigating factors and that the sentences were not excessive. The case remains at the appellate level with no further intervention.
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Ross Hanway and Patrick Lawlor pleaded guilty to possessing €412,000 on May 26, 2020, which was alleged to be the proceeds of crime. Detective Garda Ronan Dillon testified that ledgers seized from an international crime gang showed the group generated over €12 million in 2019 and paid Hanway an average of €4,000 monthly to move cash. Gardaí arrested both men after observing Lawlor enter a taxi driven by Hanway; the rucksack contained the seized cash. Lawlor, who also faces a separate drug possession charge, is scheduled for sentencing on May 9. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned Hanway's sentencing to October 6 and ordered a probation report. Defence counsel highlighted Hanway's lack of prior convictions, his subsequent departure from the taxi trade, and his current drug-free status. The court noted that Hanway's involvement was limited to money-laundering, distinct from the gang's drug operations. The matter was adjourned, and no final sentence was imposed at this stage.
Daniel Joyce, a 29‑year‑old former League of Ireland footballer, was arrested after Gardaí stopped him for erratic driving on the M50. A search of his car revealed over €27,000 worth of cocaine in the boot and about €5,400 in cash. Joyce, who had a history of drug use after his playing career ended, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply. He also admitted to a drug debt of a few hundred euros and a loan of €5,000. The court found he had used his address for cutting up and distributing cannabis. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to three years' imprisonment, noting Joyce's mature status but gross error of judgment. The sentence reflects the drug offence and the associated financial debts.
Anthony Byrne, aged 40, was remanded on bail pending sentencing for a rental scam that cost victims €12,000. Byrne, who worked as a contractor, advertised a property on daft.ie under the fictitious name Stephen Cummings and used a doctored lease agreement from a real letting agency. He persuaded at least four women to pay €3,000 each in cash for rent and deposit, claiming it secured the property. Gardaí discovered the fraud after a victim reported the scheme; a search of Byrne's home uncovered the forged contract and other evidence linking him to the false persona. Byrne pleaded guilty to four charges of deception and false instrument use at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He has no prior convictions, has resigned from his job, and has expressed remorse. Judge Melanie Greally remanded him on continuing bail, adjourned the case to 28 February, and ordered a probation report, noting the victims' financial and psychological harm.
The Court of Appeal reserved judgment on appeals by Leroy Howard and Stephen Coyle against their sentences for violent disorder arising from an August 2016 attack in Ashbourne, Co Meath. Both men were sentenced to seven and a half years in prison by Judge Martina Baxter in July 2020. Howard, who pleaded guilty to violent disorder and assault causing harm, had the final 12 months of his sentence suspended. Coyle, who was also sentenced for the same offences, had the final two years suspended. Counsel for both appellants argued that the judge erred in law by setting a headline sentence of 10 years, the maximum term for the offence, citing the lack of premeditation, absence of weapons, and short duration of the attack. The DPP opposed the appeals, arguing the violence was not spontaneous and warranted a sentence in the highest range. A separate appeal by Declan Byrne, who was convicted of violent disorder following a trial and sentenced to nine years with the final 12 months suspended, did not proceed due to his last-minute wish to change his legal team. The matter regarding Howard and Coyle remains pending as the court reserved its judgment.
In 2017, accountant Sidney Sutton, aged 43, was convicted at the Circuit Court of four counts of assault, one of assault causing harm and one count of producing a knife capable of inflicting serious injury, for incidents alleged to have occurred on 6 February 2016 after a wedding in Slane. He received a two‑year sentence with the final 12 months suspended, later increased by the Court of Appeal to 16 additional months. On 26 April 2021, the Court of Appeal quashed the conviction, citing an error in the trial judge's allowance of the prosecution to edit interview memos. The appeal was based on a ground presented by a former legal team, and the court found that the editing had prejudiced the defendant's case. Sutton will appear again on 10 May to determine whether the Director of Public Prosecutions will seek a retrial, and he retains the right to oppose any such application.
In a High Court case, Integrated Environmental Solutions Ltd (IES) and its subsidiary IES R&D Ltd have sued four former Irish employees—John Gleeson, Stephen Earle, Darren Jordan, and Sean O'Riordan—alongside the company Building Performance Consulting Engineers (BPCE). IES alleges that the defendants, all senior staff at its Irish branch, resigned between December and January of the previous year and, while still employed, diverted business to BPCE, a rival firm they are said to have set up. The claim further states that the ex‑employees took IES's proprietary "Virtual Environment" software and created models for BPCE's benefit. IES seeks injunctions to prevent the use of its software and to recover any revenue earned by the defendants from solicited business during their employment. Justice Leonie Reynolds granted IES permission to serve short notice of the proceedings, with the case scheduled to return next week.
In a 2017 Circuit Court trial, 43‑year‑old accountant Sidney Sutton of Ashbourne was convicted of four counts of assault, one count of assault causing harm and one count of producing a knife capable of inflicting serious injury. The offences occurred on the early hours of 6 February 2016 when Sutton, after a wedding in Slane, returned home with his partner Edele Aherne. He allegedly pushed her into a taxi, then punched and kicked her in their home, dragged her to the floor, stamped on her legs and finally stabbed her in the leg and shoulder with a knife. Sutton pleaded not guilty, claiming Aherne had assaulted him and self‑harmed. The Court of Appeal heard that he had fallen out with several solicitors and granted an adjournment to 26 April, warning that failure to proceed would result in the appeal being disposed of as abandoned.
James McShane, 55, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to multiple thefts from the addiction charity LifeRing Ireland, of which he was a co‑founder, and to six false‑accounting charges and one deception charge. The thefts, occurring between 18 February 2013 and 21 September 2017, amounted to almost €36,000, which McShane has fully repaid by borrowing money from his brother and wife. He also repaid the money taken in the false‑accounting cases. McShane, who has no prior convictions, described the offences as "shameful" and offered a heartfelt apology. Judge Elma Sheahan, noting his status as a reformed alcoholic, imposed 200 hours of community service in lieu of a two‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended sentence, recognising that the debt had been repaid in full. The case remains at the sentencing stage, with no further convictions or appeals reported.
The Court of Appeal has ordered Sidney Sutton, an accountant and father of two, to return to prison for a further 16 months after ruling his original sentence unduly lenient. Sutton, who pleaded not guilty to all charges, was convicted in 2019 at Trim Circuit Criminal Court on four counts of assault, one count of assault causing harm, and one count of producing a knife capable of inflicting serious injury. He had previously served a one-year jail term after being sentenced to two years, with the final 12 months suspended. The offences, alleged to have occurred in February 2016, involved Sutton allegedly assaulting his then-partner, Edele Aherne, and stabbing her in the leg and shoulder. Sutton had accused Ms Aherne of assaulting him and inflicting her own injuries through self-harm. Mr Justice Edwards, presiding with Ms Justice Donnelly and Mr Justice McCarthy, allowed the DPP's appeal on grounds of undue leniency. The court determined the appropriate headline sentence was four years, reduced by 20 months to account for Sutton's lack of previous convictions and good work record. The judges rejected arguments that alcohol consumption reduced culpability, describing the incident as extreme domestic violence. Sutton was ordered to present himself at Ballymun Garda station on October 16. The court also refused an application to adjourn the hearing pending Sutton's separate appeal against his conviction, citing exceptional circumstances and concerns about the abuse of court processes.
Graeme Burke, aged 34, was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment after he was found storing over €1.3 million worth of cocaine in a rented storage unit. He had leased the unit in his own name and used his personal documents to secure the lease. Two encrypted mobile phones were discovered in his possession; Garda Redmond O'Leary explained that such devices are costly to run and are typically used by organised crime gangs, making the information on them inaccessible to law enforcement. Burke pleaded guilty to possession of 19 kg of cocaine, valued at €1.336 million, at a storage facility on the N2 in Ashbourne. He had three prior convictions, including a four‑year suspended sentence for robbery in 2005. The judge noted that Burke's role involved storing, transporting and distributing the drugs and that he had been equipped with the encrypted phones. He was jailed for eight years.
Brian Reilly, aged 23, was denied bail by the High Court on 24 March 2020 after being charged with three counts of criminal damage, three counts of dangerous driving, endangerment, driving without a licence and failure to remain at the scene. The charges stem from a collision on 29 January that allegedly caused a woman's finger to be amputated and left her with a broken collar bone and a suspected broken pelvis. Reilly was observed driving a Honda in suspicious fashion, breaking a red light, driving through traffic, mounting a roundabout, travelling in the wrong direction and colliding with a van and a Peugeot. The Peugeot's occupants suffered injuries, with the female passenger requiring amputation. Reilly fled on foot towards Ashbourne, was later arrested in a field, and the court found no bail conditions that would satisfy the prosecution. He may apply for bail again in four months if the prosecution's case cannot be progressed.
In a High Court ruling, Ms Justice Teresa Pilkington granted a permanent injunction to Fun2see Learning & Activity Centre Limited, preventing landlord Pargo Properties One Limited from re‑entering or taking possession of Unit 21, Ashbourne Retail Park, Co Meath. The injunction, originally granted in September, remains in force until the full hearing of the landlord‑tenant dispute. Fun2see, which employs 32 people, disputes a €1.48 million rent arrears claim issued by the landlord after a notice of forfeiture. Fun2see argues it has always paid a reduced rent of €1,500 per week, a figure it claims was agreed orally in May 2012 and has not increased since. The court noted that no agreement was reached on the arrears and that the injunction is appropriate pending the full hearing, which is scheduled for March. The injunction also bars the landlord from interfering with Fun2see's business operations.
A man charged in connection with the 2013 murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly was observed on multiple occasions with slain Real IRA leader Alan Ryan, the Special Criminal Court heard. Laurence Murphy, aged 62, of Bettystown, Co Meath and Ray Kennedy, aged 40, of Blanchardstown, Dublin have pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the IRA on 6 March 2013. Mr Kennedy faces an additional charge of perverting the course of justice. Detective gardaí gave evidence they saw Mr Ryan and Mr Kennedy together in Donaghmede, Dublin on separate occasions in 2011 and 2012. The court heard garda interviews wherein Mr Kennedy stated he and Mr Butterly had arranged to meet at the Huntsman Inn, Gormanston, Co Meath at 2.30pm on the day of the shooting. Mr Murphy was interviewed and denied IRA membership. Four men have already received life sentences following convictions for Mr Butterly's murder, with two others imprisoned for roles in the killing. The trial before Ms Justice Tara Burns continues.
In the Special Criminal Court, the prosecution presented evidence regarding the March 6, 2013, shooting death of Peter Butterly at the Huntsman Inn, Gormanston, Co Meath. Laurence Murphy and Ray Kennedy, both accused of IRA membership on that date, have pleaded not guilty. Mr Kennedy is additionally charged with perverting the course of justice by destroying a SIM card. Prosecutors read witness statements from Mr Kennedy, who alleged he met Mr Butterly to discuss false car logbooks and claimed he destroyed his phone's SIM card in panic when a garda requested the device. Mr Kennedy denied IRA membership, stating he attended marches with slain Real IRA leader Alan Ryan because he was "nosy." He also denied luring Mr Butterly to the scene. The court heard that Mr Kennedy knew David Dodrill, who was convicted of IRA membership in April 2010, and acknowledged knowing Dermot Gannon, jailed for IRA membership in 2001. The matter is at the sentence stage, with the accused maintaining their not guilty pleas to the alleged offences.
Gerard Ryan, a 44‑year‑old butcher, was sentenced to eight years in prison after being found with more than €2.5 million worth of drugs hidden in packets of men's boxer shorts. Ryan admitted to possessing ketamine, MDMA and cannabis for sale or supply at his Kilbarrack home on 17 July last year. He claimed he was pressured to collect the drugs from a warehouse in Ashbourne to satisfy a €1,500 debt and deliver them to unknown parties, fearing harm to his family if he identified the dealers. Gardaí seized €1.73 million of MDMA, €840,000 of ketamine and €16,000 of cannabis during a search of his van and garden shed.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Alan Barrett, 42, was sentenced to nine months in custody for diverting trust money held for event organisers into his personal account to keep the ticketing company Event Elephant LTD afloat. Barrett, who had previously served a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for tax offences in 2017, pleaded guilty to theft between December 2010 and August 2013. The judge described the offence as an "unusual theft" arising from Barrett's stewardship of company funds, noting that a substantial portion was spent on company expenses. Barrett had already served part of his earlier sentence and was disqualified from being a company director. The court imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, suspending all but nine months, reflecting Barrett's cooperation, remorse, and the impact of his actions on the company's financial difficulties.
James Smith, 38, of Huntstown Wood, Dublin, was caught in possession of €76,800 worth of cannabis resin during a covert Garda operation in early 2017. He was observed visiting a property in Ashbourne, Co. Meath, and leaving it with a plastic Tesco bag containing five bars of cannabis resin. Smith claimed he had collected the blocks to pay a €10,000 cocaine debt. At the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Martina Baxter sentenced him to five years in prison but suspended the sentence in full, ordering him to keep the peace for five years and attend probation services for two years. The court noted that Smith had additional drugs in the house he visited, with 15 more bars recovered, and that he had multiple prior convictions but none for drug offences. Judge Baxter highlighted Smith's early guilty plea, family focus, rehabilitation efforts, and negative drug tests as mitigating factors, concluding that imprisonment would be unfair and unjust.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Jadesola Agbalade, 51, pleaded guilty to knowingly distributing a child pornography clip that showed an infant being raped. The clip, depicting a child aged between two and five, was forwarded by Agbalade to a friend and later discovered during a Garda investigation into credit card fraud. Agbalade admitted to sending the clip and claimed she did not understand the seriousness of the offence. Judge Karen O'Connor wholly suspended a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, citing the case as a one‑off instance of poor judgement and noting a psychological report found no sinister motive. The judge ordered Agbalade to remain on the sex offenders register for five years, but she avoided custodial jail time. The court highlighted her cooperation, remorse, and lack of prior convictions. The case was presented as an unusual, non‑profit‑based distribution of a single clip.
Jace Pelivani, aged 49, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment in Dublin for his role in a €680,000 drug operation. He was arrested on 18 May 2017 in Clondalkin after driving a van that carried pallets of cannabis. Gardaí had received confidential information about a suspicious drug arrival at Dublin Port the previous day, discovered the drugs on a pallet, and re‑wrapped them for a controlled delivery. Surveillance followed the truck to Ashbourne, Co. Meath, where the contents were unloaded before Pelivani transported them to Clondalkin. Officers seized 34 kilos of cannabis, each wrapped separately. Pelivani pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply. The court noted that in November 2000 an Albanian court had convicted him in absentia of murder and possession of a firearm related to a pub fight in 1997. He denied prior knowledge of the drugs, claiming he had never been to Ireland, a statement the court found false.
Two men, Darren Watters (21) and Michael Joyce (28), pleaded guilty to stealing an Adria camper van worth €27,000 on 13 June 2016. At a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Karen O'Connor imposed suspended sentences: Joyce received a two‑and‑a‑half‑year prison term fully suspended, and Watters a two‑year suspended sentence for this offence and a separate offence involving a stolen car. The judge urged both to learn from their mistakes and warned that failure to do so could lead to future incarceration. Both were ordered to keep the peace, complete victim focus work, engage with probation services for 12 months and comply with all professional directions. The case was adjourned for mention on 13 October to decide the disposition of Joyce's €500 gesture of remorse.
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.
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.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Tautvydas Tamulis, a 30‑year‑old Lithuanian resident of Ashbourne, pleaded guilty to assaulting Garda Patrick O'Rourke in Finglas on 30 June 2015. Tamulis admitted he had consumed a bottle and a half of spirits before the incident and that his memory of the event was "sketchy at best." He was charged with gouging the Garda's eyes and punching him, actions that left the officer unfit for work for several days but caused no long‑term damage. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, suspended in full on strict conditions, warning Tamulis that failure to abstain from alcohol would result in imprisonment. Tamulis promised to quit drinking and entered a bond to keep the peace. The case highlighted his 25 prior district court convictions, including dangerous driving causing serious harm.
In a High Court decision on 19 July 2016, the court dismissed a damages claim brought by John Cash, represented by his mother Mary, against Fingal County Council. The claim alleged that the council was negligent because it failed to cover an uncovered manhole on Old Ashbourne Road, Co. Dublin, where a five‑year‑old boy, John, had fallen on 20 April 2010, sustaining serious injuries including a fractured left arm that required surgery. The council denied negligence, arguing that medical accounts of the incident varied and that evidence was inconsistent. The judge, Mr Justice Paul McDermott, found that while the boy had indeed suffered serious injuries, the claim of council negligence was not proven on the balance of probabilities. The court dismissed the appeal, awarded the council its costs, and made no orders regarding the Circuit Court's costs. The case was previously dismissed by the Dublin Circuit Civil Court.
In a brief appearance before the High Court on 11 July 2016, bankrupt developer John McCabe Snr and his wife Mary were processed through the statutory sitting phase of their bankruptcy. Judge Caroline Costello confirmed that the court‑appointed bankruptcy officer, Mr Chris Lehane, now formally owned the couple's assets and would administer their estate. The judge also issued a Section 85 order directing the couple to pay €680 per month to the official assignee until September 2018, with the proceeds going to creditors. The McCabes, who were not represented, consented to the payment order. Their son, John McCabe Junior, was absent but was expected to attend the statutory sitting later that month. The hearing was part of a broader group of 16 individuals, many self‑represented, who made similar brief appearances, with payment orders ranging from €278 to €2,900 per month for 14 to 18 months.
In a case heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Tautvydas Tamulis, aged 30, pleaded guilty to assaulting Garda Patrick O'Rourke in Finglas on 30 June 2015. Tamulis had consumed a bottle and a half of spirits before the incident and his recollection of the events was described as "sketchy at best." He had previously been convicted 25 times in district courts, including for dangerous driving that caused serious harm. The court adjourned sentencing to 20 October to allow a probation report to be prepared, noting a significant background of alcohol abuse. Tamulis had pretended to be a Garda, flashing an ID card to a shop assistant who then called the police. He was arrested, but during the arrest he jumped out of the patrol car, pursued by Garda O'Rourke, and a struggle ensued. O'Rourke was punched several times and had a finger of Tamulis inserted into his eye, though he suffered no long‑term damage.
A man has been sentenced to three years imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for his role in two violent car-jackings committed on the same night in April 2014. David Thomas, aged 32, of Glenties Avenue, Finglas, Dublin, pleaded guilty to unlawful seizure of a vehicle at Shankill, Dublin. The court heard that Thomas and another man pulled the driver from his car, assaulted him, and threatened to shoot him after he witnessed their faces. The stolen vehicle was subsequently abandoned on the N11 near Wicklow. Thomas went on to forcibly remove a second driver from a van in the vicinity. Judge John Aylmer imposed a concurrent sentence, stating the Shankill incident was the more serious offence. The victim reported experiencing significant fear and psychological distress following the attack. The defence argued the incidents constituted a chaotic, alcohol-fuelled episode, with no actual firearm involved.
In a 2016 trial, a 30‑year‑old man from Skerries, Dragos Nica, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity for stabbing a 55‑year‑old neighbour, Michael Gannon, to death on 14 November 2013. The jury heard that Nica had previously considered killing Gannon's young grandchildren and that he had a history of chronic paranoid schizophrenia, with delusions and hallucinations. He had been admitted to psychiatric facilities on several occasions, often involuntarily, and had a long record of drug use, including cannabis, heroin and ecstasy. On the night of the murder, Nica claimed he believed he had been poisoned by Gannon's daughter and that he was in an agitated state, grabbing a larger knife after a smaller one. He called emergency services after the stabbing, claiming he had stabbed someone. The trial was set to continue with closing speeches before a judge and jury.
In a 2015 Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Carl Feighery, 32, was sentenced to 240 hours of community service within 12 months in lieu of a two‑year jail term for dangerous driving that caused the death of 77‑year‑old Rose Douglas. Feighery, an electrician, had already been disqualified from driving for five years. The judge, Martin Nolan, found no aggravating factors such as drink driving or excessive speed, describing the offence as a loss of focus. Feighery pleaded guilty and expressed remorse, having made a voluntary statement at the scene and taken a jumper over Douglas's legs. The Douglas family, who lost a wife, mother, grandmother and great‑grandmother, received the sentence as a form of closure, with the judge noting the tragedy's impact on them. The case concluded with the community service order and no custodial sentence.