Darren Rafferty, aged 40, was sentenced to three‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment on 5 June 2014 for setting fire to his former fiancée's house in Navan on 14 January 2013. The arson caused about €79,000 of damage to the conservatory, kitchen and house, and four units of the Navan fire brigade attended the scene. Rafferty was arrested at 3.20 a.m. the same day, was intoxicated and could not be interviewed, but later confirmed he started the fire, left the house and returned to the pub, citing frustration over the breakup. He pleaded guilty at Trim Circuit Criminal Court. On 10 July 2015 the Court of Appeal, hearing Mr Justice George Birmingham, upheld the sentence but suspended the balance from 31 July, allowing Rafferty to pursue a job offer in the UK. He was ordered not to contact his former fiancée again.
Edward Bryan, a former Christian Brother aged 61, was returned to prison after an appeal. He had been convicted in 2013 of indecently assaulting three boys at North Monastery secondary school in Cork between 1984 and 1990, on seven of ten counts. He had been sentenced to five years imprisonment, but a 2013 bail allowed him to challenge the conviction and sentence. In May 2015, one count was quashed, the others upheld, and the appeal dismissed. During the sentence appeal, Bryan cited a Court of Appeal ruling that the maximum sentence for indecently assaulting a male at that time was two years, not ten. The Court of Appeal, however, imposed three consecutive 10‑month sentences, totaling two‑and‑a‑half years in prison. The judge noted Bryan's role as a teacher, his involvement in basketball, the nature of the abuse, and his otherwise good character. He was taken to custody and returned to prison. Edward Bryan pleaded not guilty.
Patrick McDonagh, 27, of Clondalkin, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a stun gun on 28 November 2014. The device, disguised as a mobile phone, was found by Gardaí during a search unrelated to him. McDonagh had bought it "for a bit of fun" while on holidays in Cyprus and had never used it. He received a one‑year suspended sentence, with no mention of a license requirement. The case was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and the judge accepted the lack of prior convictions.
Vasilica Stan, a 21‑year‑old Romanian who had lived in Dublin since age 14, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting Haseeb Ghous and Majid Khan on 7 December 2013 at the Alchemy nightclub. He claimed he had been motivated by a text that the men had harassed a female friend, describing his actions as "misguided chivalry". The court found no physical provocation and accepted that Stan was remorseful. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended sentence and ordered Stan to pay €2,000 to Ghous and €1,000 to Khan within a year. The assault occurred at 2:10 am; Ghous was knocked unconscious, suffered dental and facial injuries, and was treated at Mater Hospital, while Khan was hit twice, later experiencing dizziness and neck pain. Stan admitted the assault but denied kicking Khan when he was on the ground. The court received reference letters from his employer, girlfriend and landlord.
James Farmer, a former soccer player aged 36, had his seven‑year prison sentence for possession of over €400,000 worth of cannabis reduced on appeal. The original conviction stemmed from a January 2011 incident at Newland's Cross and Phibblestown House where Gardaí seized €122,000 in cannabis and later found an additional €312,000 at Farmer's home. Farmer pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan on 27 February 2012. On appeal, Judge Alan Mahon noted Farmer's serious medical conditions, including kidney failure requiring dialysis and a severe bowel disorder, and that these would pose significant difficulties in prison. Consequently, the Court of Appeal suspended the final 18 months of the sentence, requiring Farmer to post a €100 bond and maintain good behaviour for 18 months and two years after release. The appeal was granted by Judges Mahon, Garrett Sheehan and John Edwards.
Patrick Murphy, aged 69, a retired publican and farmer, was sentenced to ten months in prison for failing to file a €107,048 VAT return after selling four apartments in Navan for €871,532 in 2007. The unpaid VAT, plus interest, amounted to €194,000. Murphy had used the money to invest in another property in Navan for €375,000. He pleaded guilty to the non‑remittance of the VAT. The court noted his previous convictions for non‑filing of income tax in 2005 and 2009, both of which were later filed. Judge Martin Nolan described Murphy as a hard‑working, blameless family man but stressed the seriousness of tax fraud. An 18‑month sentence was considered, but the judge imposed a 10‑month term, citing Murphy's age, medical conditions and mitigating factors. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Paula Reid, a 51‑year‑old mother of two from Drogheda, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 12 counts of theft between June 2010 and September 2012, having taken €4,790.97 from her former employer, Hugh Burrows & Sons Ltd. She had worked for the company for 30 years and was recently in charge of accounts and payroll. Reid had paid herself a double weekly wage on 12 occasions, a practice described by the Garda as "double‑dip payments." She was suspended from her job in January 2013 and subsequently dismissed. The court, hearing that she had paid back the money by bank draft, sentenced her to 200 hours of community service for six counts and imposed a two‑year suspended sentence in full for the remaining six counts. The judge noted her distressing personal circumstances, including a divorce and her son's serious injury, as mitigating factors.
Clive Keogh, a 40‑year‑old former businessman and graphic designer, was arrested on 7 November 2013 after a Garda stopped him on Parnell Street. The officer noticed Keogh moving a plastic card from his front to his back pocket and discovered a free travel card in his own name that appeared to be fake. Keogh was handed a USB key containing several other false travel passes, which he claimed he had created in an internet shop. He pleaded guilty to one count of possessing a false travel pass with intent to deceive, and admitted possession of four additional passes in the names of Stephen Lyons, Anthony Keegan, David Doyle and Brad Pitt. Keogh said he made the cards to visit his son in Navan and had produced between five and ten such cards for others.
Jaroslaw Lasota, a 43‑year‑old Polish man, was arrested after Gardaí searched his Clonee home and found 700 cannabis plants, dried cannabis, growing equipment and printed instructions. He claimed the plants were for oil and seed production, which he believed were legal because they could be bought online. Lasota pleaded guilty to cultivation and possession for sale or supply on 31 May 2012. He had no prior convictions and had lived in Ireland since 2010. The court estimated the plants' value at nearly €13,000 and seized €4,050 from a safe. Judge Catherine Murphy refused a fully suspended sentence, imposed an 18‑month prison term, suspended the final 18 months, and ordered the destruction of the plants. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
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.
In a murder trial in Drogheda, Judge Margaret Heneghan decided to continue the case with only one defendant, 52‑year‑old Marius Gaizutis, after initially having two. Gaizutis admitted killing 44‑year‑old Audrius Butkus, whose body was found on a Louth beach in 2013. He pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter at arraignment. The co‑accused, 53‑year‑old Aivers Sonders, was charged with assisting an offender by moving the body, cleaning the scene and disposing of evidence, and pleaded not guilty to all three counts. The judge told the jury that they would no longer consider Sonders. The trial continues with further evidence, including CCTV footage of the night of the murder. The case remains at the Central Criminal Court.
Duane Brady, 36, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of assault causing harm to his former partner on the number 39 Dublin Bus and on a public street near Blanchardstown Shopping Centre on 13 May 2011. The victim fled the bus, was punched by Brady, lost consciousness and suffered a fractured hand, swelling, bruising and rib abrasion. Brady had 43 previous convictions, including robbery and assault, and a long history of drug and alcohol addiction. On 10 March 2014, Justice Carmel Stewart imposed a wholly suspended two‑year sentence, which the Director of Public Prosecutions described as "unduly lenient." The DPP appealed, arguing the judge erred in imposing a non‑custodial sentence and that the suspension should have been longer. The Court of Appeal, led by Justice George Birmingham, dismissed the appeal, stating that the suspended sentence was appropriate and that incarceration was not warranted at this stage. The case remains at the appellate decision stage.
The Special Criminal Court has fixed a trial date for April 2017, the earliest available slot, amid significant backlog delays. The court currently has 32 people before it and has scheduled 19 trials extending into early 2017. Among these is the trial of Donal Billings, a Co Longford man charged with possession of an improvised explosive device, scheduled for October 2016. Billings has been on bail for several years awaiting this trial, which is set to begin over five and a half years after the alleged offences. The Supreme Court previously criticised delays in the case of Thomas "Slab" Murphy, who faces alleged tax offences dating back to 1996, noting that much of the delay was caused by his repeated challenges. Recent high-profile proceedings have also contributed to the schedule's congestion. In July 2014, Wayne Dundon and Nathan Killeen were convicted of the murder of Limerick businessman Roy Collins and jailed for life following a 29-day trial. Additionally, the trial of three men accused of the murder of Peter Butterly collapsed in January after 55 days due to a disclosure issue; their retrial is ordered for January 2017, and they have been released on bail. A separate legal issue regarding IRA membership arrests is pending before the Court of Appeal, with the State set to hear an appeal next June against a ruling that gardai cannot arrest suspects for IRA membership without a warrant if previously arrested for the same offence.
Keith Sullivan, a Meath resident, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment after he deliberately knocked over a post mistress, Ms Vivienne Griffin, and reversed his vehicle over her. The incident occurred on the night of a First Communion when Sullivan, who had a history of violent and threatening behaviour, drove his car at the Griffin family home in a threatening manner. Ms Griffin sustained multiple bruises and a cut to her lip, was unable to return home that night and later stayed with her mother. Sullivan pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and failing to provide a blood or urine specimen. The judge noted that Sullivan had reflected on his actions and appeared remorseful, but the seriousness of the crime warranted the custodial sentence. The case was heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Brian Reilly, 18, of Boyne View, Navan, was sentenced to nine years in prison for reckless endangerment and theft of a post van after he stole the vehicle and drove over the foot of postman Gerard Devlin. Reilly, who has more than 100 prior convictions including 22 for car theft, was already serving a sentence for burglary. At the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Patrick McCartan imposed consecutive sentences of five years for theft and four years for reckless endangerment, suspending the last three years to discourage further offences. The incident occurred on 22 August 2013 at Rosscourt Grove, Lucan, when Reilly entered the van, started the engine, and reversed sharply, striking Devlin's foot and dragging him along the ground. Devlin, an independent contractor for An Post, was left in fear for his life. The van was later recovered in Dunshaughlin using a tracking device, and Reilly was arrested nearby. Brian Reilly pleaded guilty.
Four Dublin men—Graham Farrell (32), Christopher Waldron (33), David Waldron (38) and Mark Buckley (33)—were jailed for two years each after pleading guilty to violent disorder at Cabra House on 16 August 2013. The incident involved the men arriving in two cars, armed with a wheel brace and a hand saw, and attacking a victim inside the pub. CCTV footage showed them beating the victim, using a pint glass, a bar stool and the wheel brace, and continuing the assault outside after forcing the victim out. The victim sustained serious injuries but did not cooperate with Gardaí. Judge Martin Nolan described the attack as intentional, pre‑meditated and organised. The prosecution relied on the CCTV evidence, and the men's guilty pleas secured the sentences. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Lateef Bello, 42, from Clonee, was found not guilty by reason of insanity for attempted murder of Adejoke Opesusi and other offences. He was committed to the Central Mental Hospital. Dr Helen O'Neill reported that Bello, diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, had limited insight into his illness and was non‑compliant with medication. She noted that his symptoms could lead to immediate harm and that treatment at the hospital was necessary. Mrs Elizabeth Bello confirmed that her husband's condition improves with medication. Judge Paul McDermott ruled that Bello should receive extensive treatment at the designated centre, citing the severity of his actions and the risk posed by his lack of insight. The court emphasized the need for psycho‑education and compliance to prevent further harm.
In March 2015, a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that 20‑year‑old Jason Flaherty, who was on bail for an earlier robbery and firearm charge, committed six additional armed robberies in a single month. The robberies, all in west Dublin between 21 August and 19 September 2013, involved threatening shop staff with a knife or an imitation gun. Flaherty pleaded guilty to three counts of robbery of cash from shops. Judge Mary Ellen Ring had previously sentenced him to four years with 18 months suspended for the earlier offence. At the hearing she imposed a new four‑year sentence, suspending the final two years on the condition that he engage in drug treatment and education programmes. The suspended portion is separate from the effective custodial term, which will run consecutively to his current sentence. The court considered other robbery charges and his seven prior convictions, including five for road traffic offences.
Paula Reid, a 51‑year‑old mother from Drogheda, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 12 counts of theft totalling €4,790.97, having stolen nearly €5,000 from her former employer, Hugh Burrows & Sons Ltd, over a period from June 2010 to September 2012. Reid, who had worked for the company for 30 years and was recently in charge of accounts and payroll, paid herself a double weekly wage on 12 occasions, a practice described by Garda Vincent Healy as "double‑dip payments" or "bonus payments of an extra week's wages." She was suspended from her job in January 2013 and subsequently dismissed. Reid initially denied the thefts, attributing the discrepancies to a bank error, but later admitted the wrongdoing and repaid the money via a bank draft. The court noted that the thefts were not well hidden, as the double payments were clearly visible on bank statements.
Judge Mary Ellen Ring said that the Director of Public Prosecutions failed to inform the court that Mark Moran, 37, had committed a new crime while his previous suspended sentence was still active. Moran, who had been convicted in 2010 of possession of cannabis worth over €250,000 and sentenced to seven years with four years suspended, was released in October 2011. In December 2012 he pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine and cannabis for sale or supply in Clontarf, with an estimated drug value of €5,000. The DPP did not mention the active suspended sentence at the time of the new offence. Ring noted that under Section 99 of the 2006 Criminal Justice Act any new sentence must run consecutively to the suspended sentence, but she would not address the prosecutorial failure. Moran is currently in drug rehabilitation, remains free on bail, and will appear again in July for sentencing.
Enda Farrell, a former National Asset Management Agency official, is set to stand trial in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 13 charges of disclosing confidential information in May, June and July 2012, contrary to the 2009 NAMA Act. The case was forwarded from the District Court where Farrell appeared last year. His defence, led by Michael Bowman SC, requested a trial date, noting that the disclosure was largely completed. Judge Martin Nolan scheduled the trial for January 18, 2016, and the prosecution, represented by Kerida Naidoo BL, sought witness and exhibit orders for that date.
In Swords District Court, Mark Sheehan (25) pleaded guilty to driving without insurance and had his case adjourned until April 13th following a request from the Probation Service for further assessment. Sheehan has 15 previous convictions and was previously given a six-month suspended sentence and a six-year driving disqualification. Michael Reilly (21) pleaded guilty to stealing a remote controlled car and was convicted in his absence. As he did not appear to pay the €250 compensation, Judge Dempsey imposed a default order and fined him €250. Helen McDonnell (25) pleaded guilty to using a false driving licence and stealing groceries. Her case was adjourned until March 30th for a repayment meeting with the furniture store and to provide proof of arrangements. Adrian O'Reilly (50) pleaded guilty to being intoxicated and using threatening and abusive behaviour. Judge Dempsey ordered him to make a charitable donation of €250 to Pieta House and applied Section 1.1 of the Probation Act.
Three Lithuanian men—Darius Adamonis (46), his son Darvydas Adamonis (27) and Linas Butrinovicius (29)—were sentenced in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for false imprisonment of student Richard Nagle (25) on 16 October 2013. The men, acting on instructions from landlord Peter Downey, forcibly evicted Nagle from a bedsit in Cabra Park, Dublin. They blocked his exit, demanded his belongings, and led him to his room, where Butrinovicius brandished an air pistol. Nagle, who had paid a €500 deposit for the room, fled with his possessions and reported the incident. The court found the men unaware of the illegality of their actions. Butrinovicius received a two‑year sentence, Darius Adamonis an 18‑month term, and Darvydas Adamonis a two‑year suspended sentence. The case highlighted the unlawful nature of the forced eviction. Darius Adamonis pleaded guilty. Darvydas Adamonis pleaded guilty. Linas Butrinovicius pleaded guilty.
Stephen Kiely, 45, of Thomastown, Enfield, Kildare, pleaded guilty to criminal damage at his shared home in Oldbridge Park, Lucan, on 9 June 2013. The offence followed an argument at a birthday party when he discovered his girlfriend was texting a man she had met a week earlier. After retrieving her phone, he saw what he described as 'very graphic confirmation' of an affair. He smashed the phone, broke two televisions, a microwave, a bathtub, shower doors, a chest of drawers, mirrors, bannisters, the legs of two dining chairs, slashed two couches and cut cables from a barbecue, hair straightener and hoover. Lorcan Staines BL argued that Kiely was enraged, humiliated, in despair and angry, citing a recent Prozac prescription. Judge Martin Nolan ordered a €5,000 payment to the injured party and imposed a two‑year suspended sentence. The judge noted that the relationship's abrupt end had caused Kiely's world to fall apart.
Carl Feighery, 32, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to dangerous driving causing death after killing 77-year-old Rose Douglas in Finglas, Dublin 11, in January 2013. Judge Martin Nolan adjourned the sentencing until May 5 to allow for a Probation Service report to determine Feighery's suitability for community service. The judge indicated that the driving did not justify a custodial sentence, describing the loss of focus as a human frailty rather than an aggravating circumstance like drink driving or excessive speed. Feighery was remanded on bail and disqualified from driving for five years. The court heard that Feighery had zero alcohol in his blood and was not speeding. The Douglas family, represented by Dermot Douglas, described the devastating impact of their mother's death, noting she was a community volunteer and church minister. Feighery, an electrician from Ashbourne, County Meath, expressed remorse and accepted full responsibility. He has one minor previous conviction and a 2007 drink-driving offense. The matter remains adjourned pending the probation report.
In a tragic incident on 9 January 2013, 77‑year‑old Rose Douglas was struck by a silver Peugeot while crossing the North Road in Finglas, Dublin. The driver, 32‑year‑old electrician Carl Feighery, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death. He was found sober, not speeding, and had a prior drink‑driving conviction. The court heard a victim impact statement from Douglas's son Dermot, detailing her roles as wife, mother, grandmother, great‑grandmother, church minister, and hospice volunteer. Feighery remained at the scene, offered a voluntary statement, and expressed remorse. The sentencing hearing was postponed to allow the judge to consider the case overnight. The family expressed relief that Douglas was not at fault and hoped Feighery might engage in charity work in her memory. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In Swords District Court on 2 March 2015, several cases were heard. Dean Whelan, 27, pleaded guilty to stealing €85 from a Polish shop's cash register to pay a drug debt. He was sentenced to two months' imprisonment, a term that will run concurrently with a three‑year sentence he is already serving. Brendan Donovan, 61, admitted possession of a stolen van that had been listed on Done Deal. He was adjourned until 27 April to arrange €500 compensation for the van owner's tools. Kevin Carroll, 27, failed to appear after pleading guilty to damaging a restaurant window, leading to a bench warrant. Patrick Joyce, 22, was convicted of stealing soft drinks worth €5, fined €100, and warned that a further offence could result in custodial time. Each case was addressed with the specific charges, pleas, and court orders as stated in the article.
A former National Asset Management Agency official, Enda Farrell, aged 38, was charged with 13 offences for disclosing confidential information in 2012. He failed to appear in court to enter a plea. Farrell, now residing in France, had been granted a three‑week adjournment by the prosecution, citing his wife's two‑week commitment in Germany and his need to care for two young children. Judge Martin Nolan set a new hearing for 16 March 2015 and warned that a bench warrant would be issued if Farrell did not attend.
Wesley Brennan, 28, was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment for stealing a Honda Accord belonging to Leoney Dunphy during their first date. The theft occurred after Brennan, who met Dunphy on the Plenty of Fish dating site, began shouting at her over her driving and demanded she exit the car so he could drive away. He subsequently sold the vehicle to scrap dealers in Ashbourne. Brennan pleaded guilty to theft of a vehicle worth €5,500. The court noted no violence was used and that Dunphy was not put in fear, though she was flustered. Brennan, who had grown up in Tallaght and was experiencing homelessness and drug debt, apologized to the victim. Judge Martin Nolan imposed the sentence, backdating it to September when Brennan entered custody after bail was revoked.
Stephen Mulvaney, 39, and his father Paul Mulvaney, 62, were sentenced in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for running a cannabis growhouse in an industrial unit. Stephen admitted responsibility for 94 cannabis plants and was jailed for four years. Paul, who had been in prison two or three times before, received a three‑year suspended sentence after admitting he may have unknowingly assisted his son. The court noted that stolen vehicles—a Hyundai Santa Fe jeep and a Volkswagen Jetta—were found in the unit, along with parts from other dismantled cars. Stephen claimed he knew the jeep was stolen and hid it to avoid detection, and he admitted debt of €22,000 from loans and gambling, which he said motivated the operation. He pleaded guilty to possession of the stolen jeep and possession of cannabis for sale or supply. Paul pleaded guilty to cultivation of cannabis.
A man with a 43-conviction record has been sentenced to three years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following guilty pleas to six counts of burglary. Dermot Carter, aged 46, of O'Rourke Park, Sallynoggin, Dublin, targeted three businesses in Dun Laoghaire on 16 April 2012 and two residential properties and a sports facility in Sandycove and Glenageary on 15 July 2014. During one incident, Carter stole a trilby hat from a home he entered while occupants were present, then wore it whilst attempting further break-ins nearby. The distinctive headwear proved instrumental in his identification through CCTV footage and photographic evidence. He was also linked to the scene via blood samples matching his DNA. The court heard Carter was on methadone maintenance at the time. Judge Martin Nolan described him as "an ineffective burglar, but a burglar nonetheless" and imposed consecutive sentences of 15 months for the 2012 offences and 21 months for those in 2014.
Sean Brady, 34, of Clonliffe Road, Drumcondra, was sentenced at Swords District Court for the burglary of Kinsealy Pet Store in North Dublin on October 24, 2013. Brady pleaded guilty to the offence, which resulted in over €600 worth of birds dying due to shock and cold. Garda Killian Layden testified that the store owner, Aidan O'Connor, discovered an intruder in the aviary area around 10:30 pm and saw a male fleeing toward a red BMW. O'Connor struck the vehicle with a hatchet, causing him to jump out of the way. Brady was arrested after his blood was found at the scene. Defence counsel Patrick Jackson noted that Brady has ten previous convictions and a drug habit, and that he had recently had a one-year portion of a three-year suspended sentence re-activated at Trim Circuit Court for unlawful possession of drugs for sale or supply. Judge Denis McLoughlin stated that committing an offence under a suspended sentence carries consequences. Consequently, Brady was sentenced to three months in prison, to run consecutively to the sentence he is currently serving. The judge also fixed recognisance in the event of an appeal.
Swords District Court heard several matters presided over by Judge Denis McLoughlin. Jandean Hyland, who pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, had his case struck out after paying €750 compensation. Anthony Lambe, convicted of causing criminal damage, was fined €200 and remanded on continuing bail until May 18th to pay the fine. Patrick McDonagh was convicted and fined €250 for theft, while his brother Eddie McDonagh, also convicted of theft, was given the benefit of the Probation & Offenders Act. Karl McQuillian, who pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of cannabis, had his case adjourned until May 18th for a Probation & Welfare report to assess suitability for 200 hours of community service in lieu of a five-month prison sentence. Algars Putnins, who pleaded guilty to intoxication, obstruction, and threatening behaviour, was remanded on continuing bail to reappear in May to make a €200 charitable contribution, with the Probation Act to be applied if the donation is made. Martin Maughan, who pleaded guilty to careless driving and failing to give a specimen, was disqualified from driving for four years and fined €300.
In February 2015 the Court of Appeal dismissed James Mansfield Junior's appeal against a €6.32 million summary judgment issued by the Commercial Court. The judgment arose from loans AIB advanced between 2003 and 2009 for the purchase of land in Duleek, Co Meath, and the development of apartment blocks, an underground car park and commercial units. Mansfield, together with three other parties, formed the "Duleek Partnership" to acquire the land. The Commercial Court found none of the four parties had an arguable defence and granted summary judgment. Mansfield appealed, arguing he was dyslexic and had signed the loan agreement by mistake (non‑est‑factum). The Court of Appeal, sitting with Justices Mary Finlay Geoghegan, Michael Peart and Alan Mahon, rejected the appeal, holding that Mansfield knew he was signing a legal document that created obligations and that no evidence showed he had asked questions about the liability he was undertaking.
In February 2015, a Dublin court heard the case of Rafal Wojciechowski, a 47‑year‑old Polish man, who pleaded guilty to possessing an imitation firearm. The incident began when a bus driver, believing the plastic orange and black gun to be real, restrained Wojciechowski and called emergency services. Garda Christopher Kelly testified that the driver had followed Wojciechowski on Cavendish Road and that the gun, which had an orange bit protruding from the barrel, was clearly a toy. Wojciechowski, who had no prior convictions, claimed he had bought the gun for his nephew and was intoxicated at the time. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Wojciechowski's "idiotic" behaviour, imposed a six‑month suspended sentence. The case had reached the Circuit Court after a District Court judge had declined jurisdiction. The defendant had lived in Ireland for about eight years and worked as a gardener, with limited English.
Two Dublin men, Dean Evans (24) and Edward McGrath (33), were charged with the murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly and with firearm offences on 6 March 2013 in the car park of the Huntsman Inn, Gormanston, Co Meath. A 55‑day trial at the Special Criminal Court collapsed after a failure in evidence disclosure. A third man, Sharif Kelly (44), was also charged with the murder but had remained on bail throughout the trial. At a High Court bail hearing, Mr Justice Michael Moriarty granted bail to Evans and McGrath, despite objections from senior Gardaí, citing the need for justice and the presumption of innocence. The retrial of all three men was fixed for the Special Criminal Court in January 2017. The judge set bail conditions including a curfew, daily Garda sign‑ins, provision of mobile phone numbers and keeping devices switched on, and warned that any breach would bring the matter back before him.
A murder trial at the Central Criminal Court heard that archaeologist Emmett Connolly sustained 17 stab wounds during an incident at a house in Cootehill, County Cavan on September 28, 2013. Kevin Moran, aged 30, of Lodgeview, Cootehill, is charged with Mr Connolly's murder. He pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea the Director of Public Prosecutions did not accept. Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis gave evidence describing the fatal injuries, predominantly to the deceased's left shoulder, arm and upper back. Several wounds penetrated deeply, with one reaching 12 centimetres and damaging the left lung. Dr Curtis stated the cause of death was multiple stab wounds. The court heard Mr Connolly, aged 32, an archaeologist who had recently returned from Australia, had high levels of alcohol in his system. The prosecution argued the evidence pointed to murder, while the defence submitted circumstances surrounding Mr Moran's personal loss were relevant to the case. The trial was continuing.
Dermot Molloy, 36, of Dunshaughlin, pleaded guilty to robbery and attempted robbery on Capel Street in July 2012. He had 57 prior convictions, 15 for robbery. In Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Martin Nolan accepted his plea but, citing his apparent rehabilitation, imposed a three‑year suspended sentence rather than imprisonment. Molloy was captured on CCTV during the raids: on July 7 he entered a hair salon, shouted for money, brandished a knife, and fled after a customer resisted; the next day he and another man stole €420 from a salon using a syringe. He was arrested in November 2012 while on remand for other offences. The case was defended by Willie Hughes BL, who presented evidence from the TV3 documentary "Prison Families" and a producer, but the judge declined to consider it. The prosecution, led by Fiona McGowan BL, highlighted the CCTV evidence and the victim's account of Molloy's threat with a knife.
In February 2015 the Special Criminal Court announced that a retrial of three Dublin men—Dean Evans (24), Edward McGrath (33) and Sharif Kelly (44)—would take place on 12 January 2017. The men were originally charged with the murder of 35‑year‑old dissident republican Peter Butterly, who was shot dead in the car park of the Huntsman Inn, Gormanston, County Meath, on 6 March 2013. Evans and McGrath also faced firearm offences. The first trial, which lasted 55 days, collapsed after a failure in evidence disclosure. The retrial was ordered following the disclosure of privileged material from a statement given by chief prosecution witness David Cullen to Gardaí in July 2013. Cullen, who had previously been a co‑accused, had turned State's witness and was already serving a three‑and‑half‑year sentence for lesser offences.
Jonathan Crilly, 29, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Martin Rooney, 42, in a van crash on 24 April 2013. Crilly was over twice the legal alcohol limit and was driving between 120 and 140 km/h. He was sentenced by Judge Patrick McCartan to three years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended on the condition of good behaviour for two years after release. He was also disqualified from driving for ten years. The incident involved Crilly, Rooney and a third passenger, all from Northern Ireland, who were on a construction job in Dublin. Rooney died at Beaumont Hospital after the van collided with a wall following a red‑light violation. Crilly's prior dangerous driving conviction in Northern Ireland was noted by the court.
In the Swords District Court, several cases were heard. Keith McNamara, 22, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of €1,100 worth of cannabis and to its sale. Judge Dermot Dempsey offered him a chance to avoid conviction if he donates €500 to charity, provides drug‑free urine tests, and submits an updated probation report, with the case adjourned to 8 September. Michael Gibbons, 32, was fined €400 and given a three‑year driving ban after being caught driving erratically while heavily intoxicated; he had a blood alcohol level of 210 mg/100 ml. Christopher Kane, 30, pleaded guilty to intoxication and was fined €250. Michael Reilly, 21, stole a remote‑controlled car worth €34.99; he may avoid conviction if he donates €250 to charity, with the case adjourned to 9 March. Fergal Reilly, 33, was convicted and fined €100 for intoxication that made him a danger to himself and others. All decisions were made by Judge Dermot Dempsey.
Two Lithuanian men have been sentenced to four years in prison with the final two years suspended at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following their conviction on extortion and threatening-to-kill charges. Deividas Sutkevicius, aged 29, of Fox Lodge, Ratoath, County Meath, and Arturas Jankus, aged 52, of Cortolvin View, Monaghan, were found guilty of demanding €3,500 and €2,500 with menaces from a Monaghan-based fitter on separate dates in March and April 2011. They were also convicted of threatening to kill or cause serious harm to the same man on those occasions. The offences occurred at a garage between Carrickmacross and Ardee. Both men have been ordered to remain away from the injured party and his family for twenty years. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed the sentence on each count. Both defendants have no previous convictions.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Lateef Bello, a 42‑year‑old man from Clonee who was originally from the Ivory Coast, was found not guilty by reason of insanity for attempting to murder Adejoke Opesusi. Bello, who had lived in Ireland for nine years, claimed he believed his wife was having an affair and that Opesusi had convinced her to do so. On 19 February 2012, after returning from work as a taxi driver, Bello entered Opesusi's home at 4.30 am, stabbed her repeatedly with two knives and tried to choke her. He fled through a first‑floor bedroom window but was soon apprehended by Gardaí. Prior to the incident, he had threatened his wife Elizabeth that he would stab himself. After a two‑month stay at the Central Mental Hospital in Dundrum, he was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia.
The jury has begun deliberating in the trial of Lateef Bello, a 42‑year‑old Dublin man from Clonee, who has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to attempted murder of Adejoke Opesusi, burglary, criminal damage, endangerment and assault causing harm. The prosecution, represented by Paul O'Higgins SC, presented evidence that Bello, a former taxi driver, believed his wife was having an affair and that he was hearing voices and experiencing religious delusions. He allegedly broke into Mr. Oroleye's house, smashed property, drove his car at Mr. Carrick, and then approached Mrs. Opesusi at Littleplace Close, stabbing and choking her. The defence, led by Michael Bowman SC, described Bello's behaviour on 19 February 2012 as terrifying and mentally unwell, citing a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia and a two‑month stay at Central Medical Hospital. Mr. Justice Paul McDermott instructed the jury of seven men and five women to return a unanimous decision.
During the trial of William O'Leary and Noel Hayes for forging a will, a retired nurse, Marian Argue, testified that she had advised a caller that the elderly farmer Matthew Hayes might not have been medically capable of making a will. Argue, who worked on St Aidan's Ward at Wexford General Hospital in 1998, described Hayes as thin, emaciated, incontinent, and bruised on his right hip. She noted that he was receiving IV fluids and was nursed on alternative sides, and that he responded very little, making it difficult to understand him. Argue could not confirm whether Noel Hayes visited each day or was present at Matthew's death. The trial, held in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, continues with Judge Patricia Ryan presiding and a jury of eight men and four women. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty. Noel Hayes pleaded not guilty.
Lateef Bello, 42, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to attempted murder of Adejoke Opesusi and related offences. Bello, originally from Africa and a taxi driver, claimed he believed his wife was being poisoned by a neighbour and that a separate neighbour had influenced her. On 18‑19 February 2012, he used a fire extinguisher to break car windshields, smashed a house front window, and entered Opesusi's home with two knives. He stabbed her, choked her, and also stabbed her daughter. He fled through a bedroom window when police approached but was apprehended. Prior to the incident, Bello had threatened self‑harm and accused his wife of infidelity. Garda investigation and a psychiatric assessment diagnosed him with schizophrenia. The trial is set before Mr Justice Paul McDermott with a jury of twelve.
A 22‑year‑old Meath man, Graham McGuinness, was sentenced to four years in prison for driving a stolen car into a crowded viewing area at Dublin Airport. He pleaded guilty to unlawful use of a car and a second charge of dangerous driving. McGuinness, who had been disqualified from driving for ten years, drove recklessly up an embankment, jumped out of the moving car, and caused a large crowd of plane‑spotters to scatter. The judge, Martin Nolan, noted that McGuinness had "put the fear of God" into bystanders and suspended the final year of the sentence, citing his youth and potential for rehabilitation. McGuinness had 41 prior convictions, including criminal damage, theft, burglary, drug offences and threats to kill, and had struggled with alcohol and drugs. The court heard he had been in care from age 12 to 17 and had a very difficult, unsettled life with little stability.
Swords District Court heard several matters involving defendants Emmet Fitzsimons, Antons Marchinkevics, and Gillian O'Donnell. Fitzsimons, 21, pleaded guilty to being intoxicated and using threatening and abusive behaviour in Swords. Judge Dermot Dempsey struck out the case after Fitzsimons paid €250 to the Garda Benevolent Fund, noting the defendant had apologised and completed a security course. In a separate matter, Antons Marchinkevics, 33, pleaded guilty to drink driving and driving without insurance following a crash in Rush. He was disqualified for three years for drink driving and two years for lack of insurance, and fined €400 for each offence. Marchinkevics provided a breath sample of 72mg/100ml. Regarding Gillian O'Donnell, 38, the court issued a bench warrant for her arrest after she failed to appear. She is alleged to have stolen footwear from Tesco Express in Balbriggan and to be in unlawful possession of cannabis. The matter remains at the pre-trial stage with no plea entered or finalisation recorded. Additionally, Caroline Joyce was granted a hearing date of March 23rd for alleged criminal damage and breach of a protection order, though she is not a validated subject in this summary.
The 55‑day Special Criminal Court trial of Dean Evans (24), Edward McGrath (33) and Sharif Kelly (44) for the murder of 35‑year‑old Peter Butterly collapsed after a failure in evidence disclosure. Judge Deirdre Murphy ruled the court must discharge itself as a jury and order a retrial. The collapse followed the revelation that privileged material from witness David Cullen's 2013 statement had been inadequately disclosed. Cullen, who had testified that he was part of the murder plan and had turned State's witness, had been given a partially redacted statement to the defence, breaching cross‑examination rights. The judge cited the unexplained failure of disclosure as undermining the integrity of the process, leading to the decision to remand Evans and McGrath in custody and Kelly on bail pending a new trial. The original case involved the shooting of Butterly in the car park of the Huntsman Inn, Gormanston, on 6 March 2013. Sharif Kelly pleaded not guilty. Dean Evans pleaded not guilty. Edward McGrath pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court has been asked to direct a finding of not guilty for three men charged with murdering Peter Butterly after privileged information was disclosed in the trial. The men—Dean Evans (24), Edward McGrath (33) and Sharif Kelly (44)—were charged with the murder of the 35‑year‑old father of two, who was shot dead in the car park of the Huntsman Inn, Gormanston, on 6 March 2013. Evans and McGrath also pleaded not guilty to firearm offences. A fourth man, David Cullen (30), who had previously testified against the trio, was already serving a three‑and‑half‑year sentence for lesser offences. The court had ruled that Evans and McGrath were lawfully before the court, but the defence amended their application after a previously redacted portion of Cullen's statement was disclosed. The statement, made to Gardaí in July, indicated that Cullen had distanced himself from McGrath and had never really liked him.