Gerald McCormick (39) of Clonee, Dublin 15, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for the false imprisonment of a victim at an address in Ongar, Dublin 15, on July 21, 2023. Judge Ronan Munro at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court found McCormick guilty of false imprisonment and a separate offence committed at the direction of, for the benefit of, or in association with a criminal organisation. The judge described the incident as designed to instil terror and assert dominance, noting McCormick's role involved supervision and reporting from a second car. No portion of the sentence was suspended, and it was backdated to when McCormick entered custody. The court acknowledged McCormick's previous convictions and his status as being on the run prior to the offence. In a related matter, co-accused Jamie Geoghegan (28) of Clondalkin, Dublin, received a custodial sentence of six and a half years in March 2024. Geoghegan pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm and one count of false imprisonment. The victim suffered multiple stab wounds, fractures to his tibia and wrists, and cuts to his leg during the incident. The judge commended Gardaí for their rapid detection and professional investigation of the complex case.
Mary Hand (49), mother of murdered gunman Tristan Sherry, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and possession of an article in the course of a dispute on February 3, 2024. She received a three-and-a-half year suspended sentence, conditional on engaging with the Probation Service for 18 months. The incident occurred weeks after her son's funeral, following his murder in a Dublin steakhouse. During the incident, Hand was involved in a dispute with a bar manager at a pub on Fleet Street. The manager asked the intoxicated Hand and another woman to leave, leading to an altercation. Hand lunged at the manager, who ducked and felt something on his torso. A knife was later found on the ground, and the manager sustained cuts to his abdomen and chest. Hand was arrested and initially claimed she had no memory of the incident, attributing it to alcohol abuse. She has a history of previous convictions, including threats to kill and public order offences. The court heard that Hand had made genuine efforts at rehabilitation, including staying away from alcohol.
A man who acted as a 'money herder' in a cash laundering scheme has been jailed for 18 months. Duke Amaechi (28) pleaded guilty to nine counts of possessing the proceeds of crime by withdrawing €18,000 from various accounts between June 2020 and May 2021. He was sentenced to three years, with the final 18 months suspended on strict conditions. Detective Garda Michael Harney described Amaechi as slightly above money mules in the chain and noted that he was not part of an organised crime group. The investigation into money laundering and smishing fraud revealed that Amaechi withdrew money from multiple accounts and moved it between banks. His home was searched in 2022, and items such as phones and a BMW were seized, but no money was found. Amaechi has previous convictions, including one for robbery. His defence highlighted his early guilty plea, lack of wealth, and good family background. The judge noted his role as a courier and the seriousness of his actions, but acknowledged mitigating factors, leading to the suspended sentence.
A worker at a primary school in Dublin was told not to discuss an oven fire that led to the evacuation of hundreds of pupils, a tribunal heard. The incident occurred in 2024 when the fire alarm was triggered by newly-installed ovens, prompting the school to be evacuated twice in one week. The worker, Ashley Staunton, reported the fire to the principal and vice-principal, but was later told by the regional manager not to discuss the incident. The company, The Lunch Bag Ltd, argued that the principals did not want the fire to deter parents from using the hot meals service. Staunton, who has claustrophobia, was reassigned to a smaller space, which she found distressing. She was eventually dismissed, and her legal team argued that her condition was exacerbated by the lack of fire safety training. The tribunal heard that the fire was caused by incorrect loading of the oven, but no performance issues were documented against Staunton.
Eamonn Gray, a 38-year-old mechanic from Clonee, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to possession of cannabis with a street value of €118,760 on September 26, 2024. Judge Martin Nolan jailed Gray for two and a half years. Prosecution evidence indicated that Gray accepted a controlled delivery of nearly six kilogrammes of cannabis from a garda disguised as a delivery man. Although the package was addressed to another name, a warrant was secured to search Gray's home, where the drugs and a custom receipt were found. Analysis of Gray's seized phone revealed tracking information for the package. Gray admitted to owing a drug debt and stated he was coerced into accepting the delivery under threat. Defence counsel Mark Lynam SC argued that Gray was a vulnerable individual with a cocaine addiction who was effectively a "sitting duck" for those who threatened his family. Judge Nolan accepted that Gray was immediately cooperative and had been exploited due to his debt and vulnerability. The judge acknowledged Gray's strong work record and low risk of re-offending but imposed the custodial sentence.
The Court of Appeal has adjourned the appeal proceedings of Boy A, one of two boys convicted of the 2018 murder of Ana Kriegel, to July 10 for mention. Boy A, who was 13 at the time of the crime, was sentenced in 2019 to life imprisonment with a review after 12 years for the murder, alongside a concurrent 12-year sentence for aggravated sexual assault. His legal team, represented by Niall Nolan BL, requested additional time to assemble necessary records, describing the upcoming hearing as requiring "document-heavy analysis." Counsel stated that custody progress records were "crucial" to the appeal, noting limited responses to requests for hard data and reports previously directed by the trial judge. The appeal follows a March 2025 Supreme Court ruling by Ms Justice Iseult O'Malley, which established that life sentences for child murder convictions should only be imposed in exceptional cases where the child's actions were akin to those of an adult. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy granted the request for more time and approved the appointment of documentary junior counsel. She adjourned the matter to July 10, indicating an expectation that a hearing date will be fixed at that point. The case involves the conviction of Boy A and Boy B, who lured the teenager to an abandoned house in Lucan, where she was assaulted and killed.
James O'Connor admitted obtaining €2,000 from a woman in Ontario, Canada, after telling her he needed money for child support and then failing to repay it. Judge Orla Crowe described the conduct as a mean-spirited and manipulative romance fraud and suspended an 18-month prison term for four years. The unnamed woman pleaded guilty.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced three defendants connected to a 'jugging' theft scheme. Margarita Maughan nee McDonald, 35, pleaded guilty to four money laundering offences and possession of proceeds of crime. The court heard that approximately €192,000 passed through accounts in her name between 2013 and 2020 while she claimed jobseekers allowance. Judge Orla Crowe described the activity as a 'family enterprise' where female relatives played a vital role in surveillance and transport. Acknowledging that Maughan was not the primary target of the investigation and accepting her sincere regrets, the judge imposed concurrent sentences of 18 months on each count, suspended in full on the condition that she keep the peace and be of good behaviour for three years. Separately, Michael McDonald, 24, pleaded guilty to possession of proceeds of crime, including a Ford Focus and designer goods. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a two-year suspended sentence. Additionally, Patrick McDonald was jailed in October 2024 after pleading guilty to possessing cash that was the proceeds of crime. The prosecution alleged that male relatives carried out the thefts while female relatives assisted with surveillance and logistics. None of the stolen money has been recovered.
Ronaldo Lupo, 24, of Clonsilla, Dublin 15, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for two counts of assault causing harm. He pleaded guilty to the charges, which relate to incidents on December 30, 2023, where he allegedly assaulted Abby Tierney and Lauren Boyle-Hanney. The court heard that Lupo was intoxicated and his detention was suspended as he was initially unfit for interview. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a sentence of two years and nine months, backdated to February 1 last, when Lupo went into custody. The judge noted Lupo's history of similar offending and his lack of self-control, while acknowledging mitigation factors including his guilty pleas, remorse, and medical issues. Lupo has 52 previous convictions, including three for assault causing harm. The victims described feeling terrified and suffering physical and psychological trauma. The matter was finalized with this custodial sentence.
Reagan Chang, 53, of Clonee, Co Meath, pleaded guilty at Dún Laoghaire District Court to possessing a hammer and crowbar in a GO rental car in Dundrum on January 30, 2023. The case was brought under Section 9(4) of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act, 1990. Garda Brenda O'Brien testified that she found Chang asleep in the vehicle and that he initially claimed the items were for his own protection. In court, Chang denied making such a statement and offered no mitigation. Defence counsel Michael O'Brien BL suggested Chang had been looking for discarded wooden pallets, a claim Judge Anne Watkin described as arriving "out of the blue" and inconsistent with the Garda's account. Judge Watkin stated she did not believe Chang's evidence, noting the explanation for needing a crowbar and hammer for pallets made no sense. She remarked that Chang had provided no legitimate reason for possessing the items and suggested he may have been lying to either the Gardaí or the court. The judge indicated there was no evidence Chang felt threatened or in need of protection. The matter was adjourned for a full probation report, with Chang due back before the court on November 17.
Thomasz Pysz, 46, of Clonee, Dublin, was found guilty of four counts of theft from the Department of Social Welfare between 2019 and 2021. He used the PPS number of a relative who had left Ireland in 2016 to claim benefits while working under a different PPS number. Pysz received €9,235.50 in Disability Allowance and €16,303 in Pandemic Unemployment Payments through this scheme. Garda Stephen Byrne reported that the relative's bank account was used for wages and that the relative was not charged with any offence. Pysz repaid part of the money and has an outstanding debt of €21,814. He pleaded guilty, citing mental health issues and marital breakdown. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a 20‑month suspended sentence, requiring the freezing and transfer of €10,917 from Pysz's account to the Department of Social Welfare and noting a separate payment agreement with the Department.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a 19‑year‑old named Nikita Dvoynin pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography after Gardaí discovered over 1,800 images on his devices. The material, uploaded via the Discord app, included 1,141 very explicit images of children as young as two years old. Garda Brendan Cafferkey explained that a warrant was obtained following the discovery of the material, leading to a search of Dvoynin's home where he voluntarily surrendered several digital devices. Dvoynin admitted the devices contained child pornography and later provided a statement detailing how he obtained the material. He had no prior convictions and was cooperative throughout the investigation. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Dvoynin's cooperation, remorse, and lack of previous convictions, imposed a two‑year sentence fully suspended on strict conditions, including 12 months of engagement with the Probation Service. The sentence was delivered with the understanding that Dvoynin would not be imprisoned.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentencing hearing, Victoria Quinn, 46, pleaded guilty to careless driving causing serious harm after colliding with an elderly couple's car at a crossroads on the R125 in Swords on 4 June 2022. The collision left the 72‑year‑old woman with a fractured back and other injuries, and the couple's husband died 19 days later from unrelated pneumonia. Quinn received a suspended two‑year sentence, a €8,000 fine payable in six months, and no custodial term. The court noted Quinn's earlier statement to Gardaí that she had approached the junction slowly, which witnesses contradicted by describing her driving at speed and failing to see the stop sign. Quinn's cooperation and remorse were acknowledged, but the judge found her statement inconsistent with the evidence. The case ended with the court's full condolences to the victim's family.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Victoria Quinn, 46, pleaded guilty to careless driving causing serious harm after she ran through a crossroads on the R125 in Swords on 4 June 2022, colliding with a car carrying an elderly couple. The collision fractured the 72‑year‑old woman's back and left her with bruising and pain to her wrist, elbow and chest. Quinn's car was written off, and the victim remained in hospital for five weeks, during which she contracted Covid‑19. The victim's husband, who was driving the other car, died 19 days later from pneumonia, an illness unrelated to the crash. Quinn, who had no prior convictions, was told by the court that her driving fell below the required standard and that her statement to Gardaí was inconsistent with the evidence. The case was adjourned for finalisation on 20 January next year.
Former 2FM presenter Nikki Hayes (real name Eimear Black O'Keeffe), aged 44, avoided a criminal conviction after pleading guilty to possessing €15,000 as proceeds of crime in a Permanent TSB bank account. The money, comprising €10,000, €2,600 and €2,400, was withdrawn from an injured party's account and deposited into O'Keeffe's account. She had six prior convictions for minor road‑traffic offences and had her sentencing hearing adjourned twice, once after a fall and once to seek treatment for alcohol addiction. O'Keeffe has since completed residential treatment, is drug‑ and alcohol‑free, and has repaid the full amount to the victim. Judge Martina Baxter discharged her under Section 100 of the Criminal Justice Act, meaning she will not incur a criminal conviction. The court noted her vulnerability, mental‑health diagnoses, and rehabilitation efforts as mitigating factors. O'Keeffe is no longer employed in radio and is pursuing further training and an accountancy course.
A 19-year-old, John Mulrooney Sugrue of Manorfield Green, Clonee Dublin, has initiated a High Court challenge against the mandatory life sentence law, which would prevent a judge from imposing any sentence other than life in prison if he is found guilty of the murder of Aaron Keating on Main Street, Ongar, Dublin 15 on June 13, 2023. Represented by Seamus Clarke SC, Sugrue argues that the law prevents the sentencing judge from considering that the alleged offence occurred when he was a minor. He claims this breaches his constitutional rights and rights under the European Convention of Human Rights. Sugrue seeks various orders, including an order to prevent further prosecution until sentencing provisions account for his age at the time of the alleged offence, and a declaration that the State has breached his rights by failing to have a sentencing regime that allows for such considerations. The matter was heard by Ms Justice Niamh Hyland, who granted permission for the challenge. The case, along with related matters, will be mentioned before the court later this month. Two other similar challenges have been brought by Noah Musueni and David Amah, who are also charged with murder and are awaiting trial in the Special Criminal Court.
Former 2FM presenter Nikki Hayes, aged 44 and real name Eimear Black O'Keeffe, has asked a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to defer sentencing so she may avoid a conviction under Section 100 of the Criminal Justice Act. Hayes admitted possession of €15,000 as proceeds of crime in a Permanent TSB account on 5 and 6 November 2020, comprising €10,000, €2,600 and €2,400. The money was withdrawn from the victim's account and deposited into Hayes' account, then moved to Revolut and withdrawn via ATMs in Liffey Valley. The court heard that the remaining €2,000 was blocked and returned to the victim, leaving the bank with a loss of about €2,000. Hayes has six prior convictions for minor traffic offences, has been diagnosed with bipolar and borderline personality disorder, and has been in alcohol‑free treatment.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court adjourned the sentencing of Eimear Black O'Keeffe, known professionally as Nikki Hayes, until April 11, 2024. The defendant, 44, pleaded guilty to possessing €10,000 as proceeds of crime in a Permanent TSB account on November 5, 2020. Two further counts involving €2,600 and €2,400 on November 6, 2020, were taken into consideration. Judge Martina Baxter ordered an updated probation report and urine analysis. Defence counsel stated O'Keeffe now accepts she has an alcohol problem and is seeking support from Tiglin. He noted she intends to repay the bank's outstanding €2,000 loss when her financial situation improves. The judge expressed concern that rehabilitation efforts began only after the previous sentencing date but agreed to the adjournment. Prosecution evidence indicated €15,000 was withdrawn from an injured party's account via a scam and deposited into O'Keeffe's account. Gardaí observed a blonde woman making ATM withdrawals in Liffey Valley but could not confirm it was O'Keeffe. The remainder of the funds was returned to the victim. O'Keeffe, who has six previous minor road traffic convictions, was remanded on continuing bail.
Former 2FM DJ Nikki Hayes, aged 44 and known as Eimear Black O'Keeffe, had her sentencing hearing adjourned after a fall that left her with a concussion. She pleaded guilty to possessing €10,000, €2,600 and €2,400 as proceeds of crime in a Permanent TSB account on 5 and 6 November 2020. The €15,000 was withdrawn from a victim's account and deposited into hers, then withdrawn via Revolut and ATMs in Liffey Valley. Gardaí said the money was later blocked and returned, leaving the bank a loss of about €2,000. Hayes had six prior minor traffic convictions and was in debt of €53,000 at the time. She has been diagnosed with bipolar and borderline personality disorder, and her defence argued she was vulnerable and pressured into the transactions. Judge Martina Baxter adjourned the case to 10 November and remanded Hayes on continuing bail.
Former 2FM DJ Nikki Hayes, aged 44 and real name Eimear Black O'Keeffe, was found guilty of possessing €15,000 as proceeds of crime in a Permanent TSB account on 5 November 2020, with two further counts of €2,600 and €2,400 on 6 November 2020. The money was transferred to her account after a victim received a text from a fraudulent source and followed a link, leading to withdrawals of €15,000 that were later moved to Revolut and via ATMs in Liffey Valley. The remaining funds were blocked and returned to the victim, leaving the bank a loss of about €2,000. O'Keeffe was in debt of €53,000, had six prior minor traffic convictions, and had struggled with mental health, including bipolar and borderline personality disorder, which her defence cited as vulnerability.
In a High Court decision on 21 July 2023, the challenge by Mannix Coyne and his daughter Amy Coyne to the approval of a 180‑megawatt data centre near their home in Bracetown, Clonee, Co. Meath, was dismissed. The Coynes alleged that the centre would produce about 1% of Ireland's annual CO₂ emissions and that the planning permission granted in July 2021 breached their constitutional rights to a healthy environment and other rights under the European Convention on Human Rights. They also claimed the decision violated planning regulations, the 2000 Planning and Development Act, the EU Directive on Environmental Impact Assessments and Habitats, and the 2015 Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act, and that it would harm their equine business. The State, An Bord Pleanala and EngineNode Ltd rejected all claims, arguing that a right to a healthy environment is not recognised under the Constitution or the ECHR.
Joshua Bennet, 21, was given a suspended three‑year prison sentence after a high‑speed chase in which he drove up to 140 km/h on suburban streets around Blanchardstown and Dublin 15. He refused to stop when ordered by Gardaí, drove the wrong way around roundabouts, ran a red light, and drove onto footpaths, forcing pedestrians to flee. The chase lasted about 15–20 minutes and ended when Bennet skidded after a sharp left. He pleaded guilty to five endangerment charges and one dangerous driving charge. At sentencing, Judge Martin Nolan described his conduct as "appalling" and "extraordinarily reckless", noting he had not hit or injured anyone. Bennet was ordered to keep the peace, be of good behaviour for three years, and was disqualified from driving for six years. He tested negative for drugs and alcohol. The court considered his youth and lack of prior convictions in suspending the sentence.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Alexandru Petica, 39, pleaded guilty to possessing €408,820, the proceeds of crime, after being involved in moving the money for an organised crime group. Petica, who drove a Toyota carrying the cash, was given a headline sentence of four years, but the judge suspended the sentence in full for three years on strict conditions. The case also involved Ion Nostas, 42, who arranged Petica's participation and was jailed for four years. Petica's defence highlighted his early plea, remorse, good character and employment record, while the judge noted his role was limited and that an immediate custodial sentence was unnecessary. The court's decision reflected mitigating factors and the absence of a broader criminal role for Petica.
In a High Court hearing, Mannix Coyne and his daughter Amy Coyne argue that the planning permission granted to EngineNode Ltd for a data centre near their Bracetown, Clonee home breaches their constitutional rights to a healthy environment and other EU human rights. They claim the centre will consume 180 megawatts annually and produce about 1% of Ireland's carbon dioxide emissions, contributing to the climate crisis. The Coynes seek to invalidate the permission and the board's approval of a substation and grid connection at Bracetown and Gunnock. The State, An Bord Pleanala, and the Attorney General oppose the claims, arguing that the right to a healthy environment is not recognised under the Constitution or the ECHR and that the decision was proportionate. The case is ongoing and expected to last several days.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Laimonas Baltrusis, aged 31, was sentenced to five years and three months in prison for unlawfully possessing €280,000 worth of cocaine and a semi‑automatic pistol. Gardaí discovered the drugs and firearm in hidden compartments of two cars, accessed by a button under the steering wheel when the engine ran and lights were on. Baltrusis admitted possession of cocaine at two addresses on 19 and 20 September 2020 and possession of the pistol on 20 September 2020. He cooperated with investigators, pointing to a kitchen shelf where 22 g of cocaine and €3,250 in cash were found. The court noted his prior minor convictions, his completion of a rehabilitation programme, and his apology to the court. Judge Martin Nolan emphasised that Baltrusis had created the problems for himself by becoming involved in the drug trade. Laimonas Baltrusis pleaded guilty.
Ion Nostas, 42, pleaded guilty to money‑laundering for moving €408,820 in cash for an organised crime group. He was arrested after Gardaí observed him and two others transporting large bags of cash between a BMW and a Toyota in Rosemount Business Park, where the money was recovered. Nostas claimed he was paid €1,000 for the job, kept €800, paid €200 to a co‑accused, and had no role beyond moving the cash. He admitted the mistake and apologized. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, hearing the case on 25 October 2022, imposed a four‑year prison sentence, back‑dated to 13 January 2022, after considering mitigating factors such as his lack of prior convictions and cooperation with Gardaí. The sentence reflects the seriousness of assisting in the relocation of criminal proceeds.
Michael Lawrence, 55, filmed his daughter Jessica Maughan, 28, viciously beating his mother‑in‑law Mary Maughan, 65, as she left a doctor's appointment, and also recorded his other daughter Marie Stokes, 31, attacking Mary's daughter Rosie while Rosie waited in her car. The video was shared on social media and viewed 3,500 times. The court heard that the victims, though physically recovered, suffered psychological harm from the humiliation. Lawrence and the two daughters pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced each to a two‑year suspended sentence, ordered them to pay €1,000 to the Garda, and remanded Stokes and Lawrence in custody pending sentence while allowing Jessica Maughan to remain on bail. The judge described the assaults as disgraceful and vicious, noting the humiliation was aggravated by the footage's online presence. The court did not impose any custodial term on the father or the daughters.
Richard McAleer, aged 22, was sentenced to 20 months in prison for stealing a bicycle from a woman who was waiting outside a shop with her sleeping children. The theft occurred on Lower Liffey Street, Dublin, on 10 November 2019. McAleer pleaded guilty to the theft. The victim, who was waiting with her children, saw McAleer mount her bike and claimed it was hers, but he insisted it was his. When she tried to take the handlebars, he pulled back his arm, made a closed fist, and fled after dropping the bike. He was arrested shortly thereafter while highly intoxicated. McAleer expressed remorse and apologized to the victim. He has prior convictions for theft and criminal damage and is currently serving a separate three‑month sentence. The judge noted his long history of offending, his difficult family background, mental health and addiction issues, and imposed a 20‑month sentence, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions.
A 15‑year‑old student, Ethan Boone, and his mother, Cathy Ho, have filed a High Court challenge in Ireland alleging that the Chinese Embassy is drafting the Mandarin Chinese curriculum and that the Minister for Education unlawfully consulted with the Chinese Ministry of Education. The case centres on the requirement that Leaving Certificate Mandarin Chinese exam answers be written in simplified characters, which the student claims is unlawful and illogical, especially since his mother teaches him traditional characters used in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau. The applicants argue that the Minister's refusal to accept traditional characters is unlawful, under‑inclusive, and contrary to the 1998 Education Act, EU law, and the European Convention on Human Rights. They seek orders to allow traditional characters in marking, declarations of unconstitutionality, and a declaration that a memorandum of understanding with China is impermissible.
Iheanyichukwu Banna, 35, of Clonee, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to possessing over €63,000 derived from an invoice redirection fraud. Judge Martin Nolan stated that the offence could not have been carried out without Banna's complicity, inferring he was "up to his neck in it," despite defence counsel arguing the plea was based on recklessness. The court heard that a Kilkenny-based company was defrauded in July 2018 when a bogus email directed a €63,043 payment to a Permanent TSB account. Records showed the funds were transferred to Banna's account, with €5,000 sent to his brother in the UK and €25,000 moved to his savings account within an hour. Banna initially claimed ignorance, alleging a man named Kelvin used his account, but could not explain the transactions. Gardaí recovered €42,000, leaving the victim with a €21,000 loss. Judge Nolan noted Banna's good employment record and lack of prior convictions, describing his conduct as bordering on "wilful blindness." He sentenced Banna to three years' imprisonment, fully suspended on the condition that he be of good behaviour for the duration of the sentence.
In May 2022 the Court of Appeal moved the hearing of a motion to introduce fresh evidence in the appeal of Boy B, the 13‑year‑old convicted of murdering 14‑year‑old Ana Kriegel in 2018. The original date of 17 June was postponed to 22 June because a judge was unavailable. Boy B, who was sentenced to 15 years' detention with review after eight years, was not present at the hearing. The motion seeks to amend the grounds of appeal and add new evidence, including a clinical psychologist's report that Boy B suffered post‑traumatic stress disorder after witnessing the assault and that his statements to Gardaí did not prove guilt. The Court noted that the appeal will focus solely on the conviction, not the sentence. Boy B and his co‑accused Boy A remain detained at Oberstown Children Detention Campus. The case was originally tried in the Central Criminal Court using Children's Court procedures.
Janet Agbontaen, 55, a Nigerian woman who arrived in Dublin in 2001 under a false identity claiming to be from Sierra Leone, was jailed for two years after fraudulently claiming more than €100,000 in child welfare and single parent benefits. She used a fake name to obtain about €55,000 in child benefit, €3,000 in early childcare allowance, and €83,700 in one parent family payments. In 2002 she challenged a deportation order and her sworn statements led to charges of perjury and perverting the course of justice. Agbontaen pleaded guilty to nine counts of theft from the Minister of Social Protection, giving false information to a births registrar, and fraudulently obtaining a driving licence. She was described as a victim of domestic violence and coercion by her husband, and the court noted her lack of prior offending when imposing the sentence.
Anita Gallagher, 54, worked as a receptionist for Dr John Peters' practice in Clonee, Dublin 15, from 2001 until September 2019. In 2019 Dr Peters noticed irregularities and, after an internal investigation, discovered that Gallagher had been diverting the €60 fee paid by private patients into her own pocket. Between 2013 and 2019 she had taken an average of €8,000 a year, totalling over €55,000. Gallagher resigned after admitting the thefts, pleaded guilty to eight charges, and was sentenced by Judge Melanie Greally to 15 months' imprisonment, suspended on the condition of keeping the peace for that period. She was ordered to engage with the Probation Service, attend a mental‑health review, and receive therapeutic and budgeting support. Gallagher's father later repaid the full amount stolen. The case was remanded on continuing bail for further consideration.
Anita Gallagher, 54, worked as a receptionist at Dr John Peters' practice in Clonee from 2001 until her resignation in September 2019. In 2019 the doctor noticed irregularities in the practice's income and discovered that Gallagher had been diverting the €60 fee paid by private patients into her own pocket. Between 2013 and 2019 she had taken an average of €8,000 a year, totalling over €55,000. Gallagher admitted the thefts, resigned, and apologized, but requested that her family remain unaware of the matter. She was arrested in June 2020 after the doctor reported the thefts. She pleaded guilty to eight counts of stealing from the clinic. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned the sentencing to 17 November, remanded her on continuing bail, and noted that Gallagher was under no financial pressure and that the crime was one of opportunism over a sustained period. The case remains pending.
John O'Sullivan, a 59‑year‑old father of six, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to knowingly filing an incorrect 2007 tax return and evading €100,000 in tax, as well as to failing to file returns for 2009, 2010 and 2011. He admitted nine prior convictions for failing to file returns. The total tax liability, including back taxes and capital gains tax, was €299,658, which he has fully repaid. Judge John Aylmer, after considering mitigating factors such as the economic downturn of 2008, the guilty plea and repayment, sentenced O'Sullivan to 18 months imprisonment, but suspended the sentence entirely on strict conditions, requiring him to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for 12 months. The case was prosecuted by Diarmuid Collins BL on behalf of Revenue, and defended by John Fitzgerald SC.
The Central Criminal Court is set to resume with several high-profile matters, including the appeal of Aaron Brady. Brady, 30, was convicted by an 11-to-1 majority jury verdict for the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe in January 2013. He was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 40 years, plus a concurrent 14-year sentence for robbery. His appeal is expected in 2022. Other upcoming trials include that of Sameer Syed, 37, accused of murdering his wife Seema Banu and their two children in Rathfarnham in October 2021; his trial is scheduled for June 15, 2022. Michael Scott, 55, faces trial on January 11, 2022, for the alleged murder of Chrissie Treacy in Portumna in 2018. Stephen Silver, 44, is charged with the murder of Garda Colm Horkan in Castlerea in June 2020; his trial is also set for June 15, 2022. Additionally, an appeal by Boy B regarding the 2018 murder of Ana Kriegel is expected before the Court of Appeal. Boy B and Boy A were found guilty in 2019; both were 13 at the time, denied the offences, and were remanded to Oberstown Detention Centre.
In June 2017, Jabulani Haltshwayo, aged 23, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of the proceeds of criminal conduct for receiving €29,945 that had been transferred to his Cork bank account from a UK broker who had mistakenly believed he was acting on a client's instructions. The broker had transferred €696,466 to the account, but only a small portion was used by Haltshwayo. He had previously been convicted of false imprisonment and robbery and was serving a three‑year sentence. The court noted his early guilty plea, cooperation, and his desire to serve his time and become a productive member of society. Judge Melanie Greally imposed an 18‑month sentence, which she suspended in full on strict conditions.
In a cash‑box robbery at Aldi in Clonee on 6 January 2020, Graham Doyle, 34, served as the getaway driver. He drove a Toyota Auris that later contained a "tool kit" with hacksaws, a hammer, a chisel, bleach bottles, rags and gloves, all designed to breach the security box and destroy evidence. Doyle pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to the robbery of €27,800. He received a four‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, with the final two‑and‑a‑half years suspended under strict conditions. The court noted Doyle's 23 prior convictions, including theft, public‑order and traffic offences. His co‑accused, James Tracey, 32, was already serving a seven‑year term with the last two years suspended. The robbery involved an imitation firearm aimed at security guard Nicholas Murphy, who was forced to drop the cash box, which Tracey then seized before fleeing.
James Tracey, 32, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for pointing a realistic imitation firearm at a cash‑in‑transit van driver during a robbery on 6 January 2020. The incident occurred near an Aldi branch in Clonee, Co. Meath, where Tracey forced the driver to drop a cash box containing €27,000. Tracey pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm with intent to commit robbery and robbery of a cash box. He fled the scene, was apprehended by Garda Emergency Response Unit members, and the cash was recovered in full. The court noted the victim's severe shock and ongoing anxiety. Tracey's defence cited financial hardship and alleged drug debt, but the judge found no evidence of a drug problem. The judge accepted Tracey's remorse, assessed him as moderately likely to reoffend, and suspended the final two years of a seven‑year sentence on the condition of post‑release supervision for two years.
Leo Fitzpatrick, 21, was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment for his role as the getaway driver in an attempted armed robbery of Paddocks Pub in Clonee on 11 June 2018. He pleaded guilty to the offence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and admitted driving the vehicle used to flee the scene, though he claimed he was unaware that his accomplice, Robert Cullen, possessed a sawn‑off shotgun. Cullen, 29, had already been sentenced to seven and a half years for the robbery, possession of the firearm and discharging it. Fitzpatrick's sentence was imposed by Judge Pauline Codd, who noted his apparent fright at the shots fired but found it difficult to believe he did not know about the weapon. The sentence was five years, with the final three and a half years suspended on strict conditions.
Cillian Cullen, 24, received a fully suspended five‑year prison sentence after pleading guilty to impeding the apprehension of a person in a failed gun‑point robbery that took place on 11 June 2018. Cullen joined his older brother Robert Cullen, 29, after the robbery, was present when the getaway car was set on fire, and then left with his brother in a car he had left nearby the night before. The court heard that Cullen's family had been threatened with violence and that they were under pressure due to Robert Cullen's drug debts. Judge Pauline Codd suspended the entire sentence on the basis of Cullen's lack of prior convictions, the exceptional pressures that led him to assist the perpetrators, and his low risk of reoffending as assessed by the Probation Service. The sentence was suspended on the condition that Cullen keep the peace and be of good behaviour for five years.
James Tracey, 31, a former painter who lost his job in December, held up a cash‑in‑transit van on 6 January 2020 using an imitation firearm. He pointed the realistic pistol at the driver, shouted "drop the box", and the driver froze, then fled. Tracey escaped in a getaway car parked near the M3 motorway, where Garda Emergency Response Unit officers arrested him and a co‑accused. The €27,000 cash box was recovered intact. In court, Tracey pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm with intent to commit robbery and to robbery of a cash box. He claimed he had a drug debt and needed money, but the detective superintendent found no evidence of a drug problem. The judge adjourned finalisation to 8 February 2021. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Jamie Nulty, aged 22, pleaded guilty to burglary at Sarah Kearney's home in Clonee on 15 July 2017, when he was 19. He broke in through a downstairs window, armed with a screwdriver, demanded money, and held Kearney at gunpoint, throwing her onto the bed and threatening her. The court heard he also pleaded guilty to dangerous driving in February 2017. Judge Karen O'Connor sentenced him to five years and nine months, back‑dating four years and seven months to credit time already spent in custody, and suspended the final 14 months on conditions. The sentence reflected mitigating factors such as his youth, homelessness and drug addiction. Kearney suffered post‑traumatic stress, loss of €1,000 in earnings and therapy costs, and remains fearful of being alone in the house. Nulty has 23 prior convictions and has not been in contact with Gardaí since the offence.
Robert Cullen, aged 28, was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison for attempting to rob Paddocks Pub in Clonee on 11 June 2018. He entered the pub with a sawn‑off shotgun, threatened two workers with the gun, and fired four shots while they were hiding in an office. Cullen also threw a heater through a window to "draw attention to their plight." He fled in a car that was later found burnt out. Cullen pleaded guilty to attempted robbery, possession of a double‑barrelled sawn‑off shotgun and discharging a firearm. He has 44 prior convictions, including robbery and obstruction, and was already serving sentences for other offences with a release date of 30 November 2023. The judge described the weapon as "vile" and the act of threatening the workers as "very heinous.".
Jamie Nulty, aged 22, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to burglary at Castaheany, Clonee on 15 July 2017, when he was 19. He broke into the home of Sarah Kearney while she was in bed, armed with a screwdriver that he had entered through a downstairs window. Nulty demanded money, took her bank card and PIN, and searched the house while holding the screwdriver. He attempted to take a computer and later tried to stop Kearney from calling 999, grabbing her arm and throwing her onto the bed. The ordeal ended when he left, putting a tea towel on his head and riding a bike. Kearney suffered post‑traumatic stress disorder and claimed €1,000 in losses. Nulty also pleaded guilty to dangerous driving on 17 February 2017; he was remanded in custody and will be sentenced on 29 July. The court heard he had 23 previous convictions and was on bail for the earlier offence.
The Court of Appeal has increased the prison sentences of four men convicted of robbing the Cleaboy Post Office in Waterford on May 3, 2018. Alan Wall, Michael Tynan, Conor O'Connor, and Barry Walsh each pleaded guilty to robbery and possession of a sawn-off shotgun. The original sentences, deemed unduly lenient by the Director of Public Prosecutions, were five years for Wall and Tynan (with 18 months suspended) and six years for Walsh and O'Connor (with 12 months suspended). The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice John Edwards, re-sentenced the defendants to longer terms: Wall to seven years, Tynan to seven years and three months, Walsh to seven-and-a-half years, and O'Connor to eight years. Additionally, concurrent five-year sentences were imposed for the firearms offences. The court found the initial headline sentences too low and noted that too much credit was given for mitigating factors. The robbery involved the use of a firearm and hammers, resulting in the theft of approximately €45,000. The appeal was successful, leading to these increased custodial terms.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 19‑year‑old Jabari Crichlow was given a four‑year suspended sentence for violently attacking and robbing a 66‑year‑old retired delivery man on Deerhaven Avenue, Clonee, in November 2017. The victim suffered a broken nose, concussion, chipped teeth, and ongoing headaches and fear of further attacks. Crichlow pleaded guilty to robbery and was previously placed on a 12‑month probation bond. After a favourable probation report showing no significant attention and re‑establishment of a good relationship with his mother, Judge Melanie Greally suspended the sentence on strict conditions: cessation of association with negative peers and 240 hours of community service within 12 months. The court noted the victim's loss of over €1,000 in income and the physical and psychological impact of the assault. The case was adjourned twice before the final suspended sentence was imposed.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Mr Justice Paul McDermott sentenced two 15‑year‑old boys to life with a review after 12 years and 15 years with a review after eight years, respectively, for the murder and sexual assault of 14‑year‑old Ana Kriegel. The boys will be detained in a young offenders centre until 18, then transferred to an adult prison. The judge noted the boys' ages as a mitigating factor, but emphasised their responsibility for Ana's death. He described the crime as calculated, violent and shocking, and highlighted the boys' lack of remorse and the severity of the assault. The sentences were back‑dated to the June convictions, and the judge ordered reports for the review periods. The hearing included statements from Ana's parents and Garda officials, who praised the investigation and expressed gratitude for the justice delivered.
In November 2019 the Central Criminal Court struck out contempt of court proceedings against Facebook Ireland Limited and Twitter International Company that had been brought over the sharing of the identities of the two 15‑year‑old boys who murdered schoolgirl Ana Kriegel. The injunction, originally imposed by Mr Justice Michael White on 19 June 2019 and extended by Mr Justice Paul McDermott on 26 July 2019, required the platforms to remove any photographs or material identifying the boys. The court noted that the injunction had been discharged and the proceedings struck out after the boys' sentencing on 5 November 2019, with the platforms having cooperated in removing offending material and halting its proliferation online. The court also confirmed that any breach of the injunction would constitute contempt of court and a criminal offence under the Children Act 2001.
In a hearing before Mr Justice Paul McDermott, the Central Criminal Court set the earliest possible release dates for two teenage boys convicted of murdering and sexually assaulting 14‑year‑old Ana Kriegel. Boy A, now 15, faces a life sentence with a review after 12 years and an additional eight‑year term for aggravated sexual assault; his earliest release from the custodial portion is June 18, 2031. Boy B, also 15, received a 15‑year detention sentence with a review after eight years; his earliest release is June 18, 2027. Both boys will be detained at a young offenders centre until age 18, then transferred to an adult prison. Mr Justice McDermott ordered bi‑annual probation, governor and education reports to be prepared for the reviewing court, beginning after their release from Oberstown detention centre. The reports aim to inform the court of the boys' development and progress, not to micro‑manage their sentences.