David Hunter, a 41‑year‑old UK national, faces trial in the Special Criminal Court for the murder of Michael Barr, a 35‑year‑old Dublin bar manager. Barr, a father of five from County Tyrone, was shot seven times at the Sunset House pub on Summerhill Parade on 25 April 2016. Hunter was arrested at Baldonnel Aerodrome, charged at Dublin District Court, and appeared before Judge John Hughes. On 16 October, State solicitor Ciara Vibien requested that he be tried in the Special Criminal Court, a request that Judge Paul Coffey granted.
Keegan Davidson, 25, was sentenced to three years in prison, with the final two years suspended, for laundering €104,107 obtained through an "invoice redirection" fraud. He supplied his bank account details to a criminal gang that used them to receive payments from a bogus email sent to an engineering company. Davidson withdrew about €43,759 from various bureaux de change and post offices in Dublin, converting portions to British pounds and US dollars. He pleaded guilty to four offences under the 2010 Money Laundering Act for transferring or converting money knowing it was the proceeds of crime. The court noted he had no evidence of involvement in the fraud beyond laundering, and that the bank recovered roughly €46,000 from his account. Davidson's prior convictions include possession of knives, public order, theft, trespass, and a suspended sentence for possession of a sawn‑off shotgun. The judge acknowledged his efforts at rehabilitation and imposed the suspended sentence on conditions.
Gary Kinlan, 42, with 129 prior convictions, was sentenced to three years after robbing a cash‑in‑transit driver of €25,000 on 3 December 2018. The robbery occurred after Kinlan left Dublin District Court, where he had just received an eight‑month suspended sentence for another offence. While the driver was returning a cash box to his van, Kinlan, carrying nail clippers, threatened him with a metal object he claimed was a knife. The driver, fearing for his safety, dropped the box; Kinlan seized it and fled. Witnesses photographed him carrying the cash, and Gardaí were alerted by members of the public. Kinlan was arrested after attempting to evade officers, and a set of keys and nail clippers were seized. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, and the judge, noting his drug and alcohol issues and the opportunistic nature of the crime, imposed a three‑year sentence back‑dated to December 2018.
David Dunne, 35, was sentenced to nine years for 13 robberies in Dublin between July and September 2017. He admitted the robberies were driven by a need to fund his crack cocaine and heroin addiction, saying he was "off my head on crack" and that he had sold his car for €300 to buy drugs. Dunne pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The judge noted his 92 prior convictions and the seriousness of the 13 victims involved, but also his expressed wish to rehabilitate. Consecutive sentences totalling nine years were imposed, with the final year suspended on strict conditions, including victim‑focused work and residential drug treatment if directed. The robberies involved threats with knives, theft of over €2,640 in cash and cigarettes, and the use of CCTV footage to identify and prosecute him. The case highlighted the impact of drug addiction on criminal behaviour.
Keegan Davidson, 25, appeared before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court where he pleaded guilty to four offences under the 2010 Money Laundering Act. The charges relate to engaging in the transfer or conversion of monies knowing they were proceeds of crime, or being reckless as to whether they were, on September 30, 2017. Prosecution evidence indicated that Davidson provided his bank account details to a criminal gang involved in an "invoice redirect" fraud scam. A bogus email directed an engineering company to pay €104,107 into Davidson's account. He subsequently withdrew approximately €43,759 across various bureaux de change and post offices in Dublin, using his Irish passport for identification. Detective Garda Thomas Burke stated there was no evidence Davidson was involved in the initial fraud, only the laundering of proceeds. Around €46,000 was later retrieved by the bank. Davidson's previous convictions include possession of knives, public order, theft, and trespass; in 2011, he received a suspended sentence for possession of a sawn-off shotgun. Defence counsel Luigi Rea BL noted Davidson's history of psychosis exacerbated by drug abuse. Judge Pauline Codd adjourned the case to July 1 for sentencing and remanded Davidson on continuing bail. The matter was adjourned and not concluded at this stage.
A farmer from near Strokestown in County Roscommon has initiated High Court proceedings against KBC Bank and several related parties following an attempted eviction of his family home in December 2018. David McGann, represented by solicitor and counsel, is seeking various declarations and orders, including preventing any party from taking possession of the property. The eviction attempt attracted significant national attention after security operatives were forced from the property by masked individuals. That incident, which resulted in alleged assault on security personnel, vehicle fires, and the death of a dog, remains under Garda investigation. The McGanns subsequently regained access to their home. Mr McGann's action names KBC Bank, Trinity Asset Managerial Services Ltd, GS Agencies Ltd, Local Authority Services Ltd, and Aidan Devlin, whom he alleges are bank agents, alongside the County Registrar of Roscommon. He seeks declarations that the defendants acted unlawfully and breached his constitutional rights and European Convention protections during the December execution attempt, and claims damages for trespass and defamation.
Ex-wrestler Imre Arakas, a former Estonian separatist who was 'scarred deeply' by imprisonment in Russia, was remanded in custody until December 12 for sentencing. Arakas admitted to conspiring with others not before the court to murder James Gately in Northern Ireland between April 3rd and April 4th last year, contrary to Section 71 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006. The court heard that Arakas purchased a wig in Dublin and used an encrypted Blackberry phone to receive information about Gately's movements. Gardai began an intelligence-led investigation after receiving confidential information about the targeting of Gately by individuals involved in organised crime. Arakas was placed under surveillance upon his arrival in Dublin on April 3, 2017, and was followed to Blakestown Cottages in Dublin 15, where he was arrested the following day. A Blackberry phone, a piece of paper with Estonian writing and the name 'James Gately…in Newry' in English, a mirror, and cash were found at the scene. The Blackberry phone was encrypted and password protected, and messages were found on it that detailed plans to target Gately. The messages were almost instantly deleted after Arakas' arrest, but a garda managed to photograph the open messages before they were removed. The court heard that Arakas had four previous convictions, including causing deliberate bodily harm, escaping from prison, and unlawful handling of firearms. The matter was adjourned and will be sentenced on December 12.
Jason Keating (27), of Rush, Co Dublin, pleaded guilty in the Special Criminal Court to facilitating a criminal organisation in the murder of Noel 'Duck Egg' Kirwan. Keating had previously pleaded not guilty to the murder charge, which has been the subject of a trial since October 2. The State Solicitor informed the court that the DPP directed a new charge under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, which Keating admitted. Prosecutors requested a nolle prosequi be entered on the original murder count at the sentencing stage. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding with Judges Sinead Ni Chualachain and Cormac Dunne, remanded Keating in custody until November 22 for sentencing. The judge noted the court would require details on Keating's assistance and state of mind. He referenced the recent sentencing of Martin Aylmer (31) to three years and nine months for a similar offence involving the murder of Michael Barr. Mr Justice Hunt described the new charge as useful for providing sentencing flexibility in cases where defendants do not directly commit the act. The matter was adjourned until November 22.
Martin Aylmer, 31, of Dublin 3, was sentenced to three years and nine months imprisonment by the Special Criminal Court for participating in activity intended to facilitate the murder of Michael Barr. Aylmer pleaded guilty in July to assisting a criminal organisation in the April 2016 shooting of Barr, the manager of the Sunset House pub. The court found that Aylmer purchased mobile phones used in the crime and visited a lock-up premises, though it could not be established that he knew a murder was planned. Presiding Judge Tony Hunt, sitting with Judges Sinead Ni Chulachain and Cormac Dunne, noted Aylmer's assistance was not at the higher end of the scale and applied a 25% discount for his early guilty plea. The final sentence includes one year suspended, with the judge stating it is appropriate for Aylmer to serve the last portion of his sentence in the community. This follows the January sentencing of Eamonn Cumberton, who was jailed for life after being found guilty of Barr's murder. Chief Superintendent Sean Ward stated the investigation remains live, with two individuals yet to be spoken to, while highlighting the significance of prosecuting those who facilitate organised crime.
Gerard Kelly, of Ballybough Road, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to the production of an article capable of inflicting serious injury on March 27, 2015. The court heard that Kelly allegedly held a large kitchen knife to the throat of a man drinking at Lowry's pub on Summerhill Parade. Although another patron was reportedly stabbed in the leg, no assault charges were before the court. Kelly was arrested nearby while in a state of alcohol delirium. His defence counsel, Luigi Rea BL, stated that Kelly did not know the victims and has since taken steps to address his alcoholism. Detective Garda Michael O'Brien described Kelly's rehabilitation as a "remarkable turnaround," noting he is a different person than when first met in 2015. Judge Martin Nolan acknowledged the seriousness of the offence, rejecting intoxication as an excuse. However, noting Kelly's remorse and efforts to reform, the judge suspended a sentence of two and a half years. Judge Nolan warned that if Kelly re-offends, he will go to prison. The record noted that Kelly has 48 previous convictions, all for District Court offences including theft and possession of knives.
Blaine Coakley, a 31‑year‑old chronic heroin addict with 100 prior convictions, pleaded with Judge Karen O'Connor in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to be readmitted to the Coolmine drug rehabilitation centre after robbing a Gala shop in August 2017. He claimed he had changed since the robbery and that prison had not helped him, describing how he had been with another drug user upon release and struggled to cope. Judge O'Connor noted that Coakley had absconded from Coolmine, which limited her options, but she accepted his remorse and desire to address his drug problems. She imposed a four‑year sentence with the final 18 months suspended, ordered 18 months of post‑release supervision, and required him to complete a Coolmine residential treatment programme when a bed becomes available. The robbery involved €780 taken with a bread knife while he was on a suspended sentence for theft. Blaine Coakley pleaded guilty.
In a High Court hearing on 2 October 2018, MJH Property Management, owners of 41 Belvedere Place, Dublin 1, reported that protestors had not vacated the building despite a court‑issued injunction. The injunction, granted last month, required unknown persons to leave the premises immediately and cease unlawful trespass. The owners said the occupation began on 8 September when members of the "Take Back the City" campaign forcibly entered the vacant Georgian building, which they plan to develop into apartments. They argued the building is unsafe and unsuitable for the occupation, and that continued trespass would breach fire safety regulations and jeopardise insurance. No representation was made on behalf of the occupants at the hearing. The judge adjourned the matter for two weeks, noting the owners were taking steps to resolve the situation. The case follows similar High Court actions at other north inner‑city properties occupied by protestors.
Martin Aylmer, 31, was convicted in July for aiding a criminal organisation in the murder of Michael Barr, the manager of the Sunset House pub, on 25 April 2016. A mobile phone he had purchased two days earlier was found dropped beside the getaway Audi A6, linking him to the crime. CCTV showed Aylmer buying three prepaid phones at Ilac Shopping Centre and another three at a shop on Moore Street, all unregistered. The phone was used for calls after the shooting. Aylmer's fingerprints were found on a bleach bottle at a lock‑up premises visited by him on 24 April, where firearms and cleaning products were seized. He was arrested on 17 June, exercised his right to silence, and was remanded in custody until 15 October for sentencing. The case was the first prosecution under the 2006 organised crime legislation for this offence. Eamonn Cumberton, 30, had already been jailed for life for the same murder. Martin Aylmer pleaded guilty.
Martin Aylmer, 31, of Casino Park, Marino, Dublin 3, pleaded guilty today to facilitating the murder of Michael Barr, 35, the manager of the Sunset House pub in Dublin 1, which occurred on 25 April 2016. Aylmer admitted that between 23 and 25 April 2016 he participated in or contributed to activities that could facilitate the commission of the murder by a criminal organisation or its members. He also admitted reckless conduct that could facilitate the murder. The prosecution, led by Dominic McGinn SC, presented the first count to the Special Criminal Court, where Aylmer was arraigned and pleaded guilty. Judge Tony Hunt remanded him on continuing bail until his sentencing hearing on 1 October, noting that his guilty plea would be treated as an early plea with significant credit. The case is the first prosecution under the 2006 organised‑crime legislation. Eamonn Cumberton, 30, was jailed for life in January for the same murder.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence in the ongoing trial of Thomas Fox, Jonathan Keogh, and Regina Keogh, who have all pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Gareth Hutch. The prosecution alleges the killing was premeditated, with Mr. Keogh and an uncharged man, Mr. AB, acting as shooters, while Mr. Fox and Ms. Keogh are accused of planning the crime. Evidence presented includes a text message sent from a UK number to a phone associated with Mr. Fox hours after the shooting, stating, "your scot free pal" and "there all poxy blaming me." Senior crime analyst Paul Hibbitts confirmed that this UK number also contacted Denise King, Mr. Keogh's former partner, and Ms. Keogh. The court previously viewed CCTV footage of Mr. Keogh in Belfast on the night of the shooting and at the Stenaline Port Terminal the following day. Testimony indicated that Ms. Keogh arranged for money to be brought to Mr. Keogh before he traveled to Scotland. Additionally, analysis of SIM cards found in a car linked to Mr. Keogh revealed significant interaction with numbers associated with Mr. Fox and Mr. AB on the morning of the incident. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, sitting with Judges Patricia Ryan and Michael Walsh.
During the Special Criminal Court trial of three Dubliners accused of murdering 36‑year‑old Gareth Hutch, it was reported that Gardaí executed a search warrant at Facebook Ireland and received armed support from the Emergency Response Unit during a high‑risk entry at a suspect's home. Hutch, nephew of Gerry "the Monk" Hutch, was shot dead on 24 May 2016 outside Avondale House flats on North Cumberland Street, Dublin, after four gunshot wounds from a single weapon. The accused—Thomas Fox (31), Regina Keogh (41), and Jonathan Keogh (32)—have pleaded not guilty. Garda Gareth Norton testified that he entered Fox's home on 24 May, seized clothing, ashtrays, glasses, memory cards, SIM packs, USB sticks, a Samsung tablet, and an iPhone 5. He also reported a high‑risk entry at a fourth suspect's house on 11 June, where the suspect was arrested and handcuffed.
During the trial, a witness testified that Jonathan Keogh, one of three Dubliners accused of murdering 36‑year‑old Gareth Hutch, appeared "panicked" as he ran up a street on the morning of May 24, 2016. Keogh, aged 32, is alleged to have been involved in the shooting that killed Hutch outside Avondale House flats on North Cumberland Street. The witness, Colette Geoghegan, said she saw Keogh running fast enough to look panicked and that he might have been wearing dark shorts. She left her home at 9.50 am with her partner, Maurice Farrell, and later that day heard about the shooting. The court also heard from other witnesses and Garda officers who described the scene at Avondale House, noting large crowds and the presence of Hutch's relatives. All three accused—Thomas Fox, Regina Keogh, and Jonathan Keogh—have pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. The trial continues with the prosecution presenting evidence of the alleged crime.
The Northern Irish authorities have assured a High Court judge that Raymond O'Neill, 38, will be properly assessed and cared for at Maghaberry Prison if surrendered. O'Neill faces murder and arson charges over the death of Jennifer Dornan, 30, who was stabbed and burned in her Hazel View house in August 2015. He was arrested in Dublin on February 3, 2016 under a European Arrest Warrant issued by Northern Ireland. His barrister, Caroline Cummings, opposed surrender, arguing a real risk of inhuman and degrading treatment and citing his vulnerability and threats to his life. Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly sought information on conditions at Maghaberry; the State's counsel, Elva Duffy, provided documents on prisoner assessment and care for vulnerable inmates. Cummings noted a 2017 report highlighted serious deficiencies in care. Donnelly said she would consider the matter further, noting the impact of Brexit, and remanded O'Neill in custody until June 11 for related cases.
Michael Taylor, 37, of Summerhill, Dublin, was convicted of murdering Paul Kelly, 26, at Winston Ville apartments on 6 April 2007. He was found guilty by a majority jury at the Central Criminal Court and sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment on 28 November 2011. Taylor's defence argued that the evidence was insufficient, describing it as "mere suspicion" and "short of proof." The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice George Birmingham, dismissed the appeal, upholding the conviction. The prosecution's case rested on three circumstantial elements: DNA of Taylor on a glove found 80 m from the scene, phone activity linked to Taylor near the crime, and a family feud that could have provided motive. The court found these elements sufficiently significant to support the jury's verdict, despite acknowledging the case was "finely balanced." No further appeal was granted. Michael Taylor pleaded not guilty.
In March 2018 the Special Criminal Court granted bail to Martin Aylmer, 31, of Casino Park, Marino, Dublin 3, who faces charges related to the murder of Michael Barr at the Sunset House pub in Dublin 1 on 25 April 2016. Aylmer is charged with participating in or contributing to activity intended to facilitate the commission of the murder by a criminal organisation or its members, and with reckless participation or contribution that could facilitate the murder. The alleged offences occurred between 23 and 25 April 2016. While the court acknowledged concerns about Aylmer being a flight risk, it decided to grant bail, noting that he would remain in custody until the judges review the financial history of the independent surety. The case was adjourned to 13 March 2018.
A 31‑year‑old Dublin man, Martin Aylmer of Casino Park, Marino, was charged at the Special Criminal Court with aiding or contributing to the murder of Michael Barr at the Sunset House pub on 25 April 2016. He faced charges of participating in or contributing to activity intended to facilitate the commission of the murder, and of reckless participation that could facilitate the murder. The alleged offences occurred between 23 and 25 April 2016. Garda David Chapman arrested Aylmer at his home, conveyed him to Bridewell Garda Station, and the court remanded him in custody pending a bail application.
A 21‑year‑old woman, Nikita Murtagh, pleaded guilty to unlawfully possessing a loaded CZ model 70 semi‑automatic pistol at Dublin's Connolly train station on 19 July last year. She had handed a shoebox containing the gun to a man, Ciaran Ryan, who was about to board the Dublin‑to‑Belfast train. Ryan was later jailed for three years for possession of the firearm. Murtagh was arrested at a bus stop outside Dublin airport at 6 pm, carrying a handbag with a change of clothes and a passport. At the Special Criminal Court, she was sentenced to three years in jail, backdated to 17 July, with the balance of the sentence suspended. The judge noted her guilty plea, her role as a courier, her "misplaced sense of family loyalty", and her status as a mother of a three‑year‑old child as mitigating factors. She walked free after the suspension was granted.
Ciaran Ryan, 24, of Summerhill, Dublin, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to three years in prison, with four months suspended, for unlawful possession of a CZ model 70 semi‑automatic pistol and two rounds of 7.65 Browning ammunition. The gun and ammunition were recovered by Gardaí at Connolly Station on 19 July last year. Ryan had pleaded guilty in December to the offence. He was acting as a "courier" for the weapon, and there was no evidence he intended to use it. On the day in question, a surveillance operation had been in place around Connolly station. Ryan entered the station at 3:05 pm, bought a ticket, met a woman who handed him a white bag, and boarded the Belfast train at 3:30 pm. Gardaí followed him onto the train, arrested him, and found the gun in a shoebox inside the bag.
Ciaran Ryan, 24, from Summerhill, Dublin 1, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a CZ model 70 semi‑automatic pistol and two rounds of 7.65 Browning calibre ammunition. The items were recovered by Gardaí at Connolly Station on 19 July. During the sentencing hearing, Detective Garda Gary Dunne described how a surveillance operation had been set up around Connolly station. At 3:05 pm Ryan entered the station, bought a ticket and went to the waiting area for the Belfast train due to depart at 3:30 pm. He met a woman who handed him a white bag; she was pushing a buggy with a child. After she left, Ryan boarded the train. Gardaí followed him onboard and arrested him.
Christopher Keeley, aged 53, was sentenced to five and a half years in prison by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for his role in a car chop‑shop operation and drug offences. He pleaded guilty to possession of stolen cars and to possession for sale or supply of cannabis. Gardaí seized six stolen vehicles, €70,000 worth of cannabis, and additional drugs including cocaine, as well as fake bank drafts, from a series of searches at an industrial unit in Summerhill, Meath, Keeley's home in Rossfield Court, Tallaght, and a lock‑up in Blessington, Co. Wicklow. The court noted that the stolen cars had been taken during burglaries across the country. Judge Martin Nolan, taking into account Keeley's serious medical problems, accepted his remorse and imposed the sentence, stating Keeley would not appear again for similar offences. The sentence reflects the profit motive behind the drug dealing. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
The High Court in Dublin adjourned the extradition case of Raymond O'Neill, 38, who is wanted by the PSNI for murder and arson in the 2015 killing of Jennifer Dornan, 30, in Belfast. O'Neill was arrested in Dublin in February 2016 under a European Arrest Warrant and is also sought for another unrelated matter. His barrister, Caroline Cummings, argued that surrender would expose him to inhuman and degrading treatment in Maghaberry prison, citing his medical vulnerability and threats to his life. Justice Aileen Donnelly sought further information on prison conditions and expressed concern over specific deficiencies affecting vulnerable prisoners. The court noted that the 2017 prison report did not adequately address these risks. The case, also touching on Brexit implications, will be mentioned again on 22 January after O'Neill remains in custody.
In a 2017 Court of Appeal hearing, Brendan Grehan SC argued that Michael Taylor, 37, lacked sufficient evidence linking him to the 2007 murder of Paul Kelly, 26, at Winston Ville apartments. Grehan highlighted three main points: a glove found 80 m from the scene with a DNA profile matching Taylor, phone evidence showing a device linked to Taylor pinging a mast near the crime scene, and a feud between Taylor and the victim. He contended the glove's DNA was a minor profile and that a single firearm residue particle was insufficient to prove use in the shooting, arguing the evidence should have been excluded. The prosecution, represented by Denis Vaughan Buckley SC, maintained the evidence was strong and warranted a jury verdict, which had been reached after five hours. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Justice Seán Ryan, decided to reserve judgment on the appeal. Michael Taylor pleaded not guilty and was found guilty.
Ciaran Ryan, 23, of Summerhill, Dublin 1, pleaded guilty at the non-jury Special Criminal Court to possessing a semi-automatic pistol at Connolly Station in Dublin on July 19th. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding with Judge Patricia Ryan and Judge James Faughnan, accepted the plea. The court remanded Ryan in custody until December 20th, when he will be sentenced. The matter was adjourned for sentencing and is not yet concluded.
Ciaran Ryan, aged 23, was charged in July at Dublin District Court with three firearms offences: possession of a CZ semi‑automatic pistol with two rounds of 7.65 Browning ammunition and one shotgun cartridge, allegedly committed at Connolly Station on 19 July. The Special Criminal Court, a three‑judge non‑jury court, was instructed by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin and Judge James Faughnan to try Ryan after the State applied for a non‑jury trial. His co‑accused, Nikita Murtagh, 20, faces the same charges and will also be tried before the Special Criminal Court.
In a High Court hearing on 2 November 2017, Justice Aileen Donnelly examined whether to extradite Raymond O'Neill, a 38‑year‑old Belfast man, to Northern Ireland for murder and arson charges linked to the 2015 killing of Jennifer Dornan. O'Neill was arrested in Dublin under a European Arrest Warrant issued by Northern Ireland authorities. He raised three objections: the impact of Brexit, insufficient linkage to the offences, and a real risk of inhuman treatment in Maghaberry prison due to his vulnerability. The judge rejected the Brexit and linkage objections, citing prior decisions and sufficient detail in the warrants. She expressed concern over Maghaberry's safety, citing a 2016 report that highlighted high violence levels and deficiencies for vulnerable prisoners. A 2017 report was deemed inadequate. A further hearing is scheduled for 12 December, with O'Neill remanded in custody until then.
During a murder trial, witness Gary Kinlan testified that he saw his friend David Sheridan being stabbed to bits by Donal Colgan outside Luigi's chip shop on North Strand Road, Dublin 1, on 17/18 August 2014. Kinlan, who was drinking with Sheridan in the Summerhill area, claimed that Colgan emerged from the shop, confronted him, and then returned a few minutes later with a large blade. Kinlan said he ran to a nearby car, saw Colgan holding Sheridan against a window and stabbing him, and tried to stop him, but Colgan walked away as if nothing had happened. Kinlan denied any role in the events leading up to the stabbing, and the prosecution's cross‑examination questioned his account. The trial is proceeding before Justice Tony Hunt and a jury. Donal Colgan pleaded guilty.
In a trial at the Central Criminal Court, the prosecution presented evidence that Donal Colgan, 66, of Killarney Court, Dublin, murdered 45‑year‑old David Sheridan outside Luigi's chip shop on the North Strand Road on 17/18 August 2014. Colgan had pleaded guilty to manslaughter but not to murder, and the State rejected his plea. The prosecution alleged that on the evening in question, Sheridan and Gary Kinlan had purchased drinks from an off‑licence and then went to Luigi's. An altercation between Kinlan and Colgan outside the shop led Colgan to leave, return with a knife, and stab Sheridan multiple times. Sheridan was taken to hospital but died the next day. The prosecution said a post‑mortem would confirm death from stab wounds. Gardaí had reviewed CCTV, interviewed witnesses, and arrested Colgan.
Mary O'Driscoll, 61, pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing cigarettes and tobacco for sale after being caught with nearly 14,000 cigarettes in her Summerhill home. She had bought the cigarettes in Newry, Northern Ireland, and intended to sell them on North Earl Street, Dublin. The court noted she has 119 prior convictions, 108 of which are casual trading offences, and that she has severe kidney problems requiring dialysis. Judge Melanie Greally, citing her age and ill‑health, imposed a two‑year suspended jail sentence, warning that continued street trading would lead to incarceration. The court also heard that customs officers seized the cigarettes in a child's buggy and that O'Driscoll had admitted plans to sell them at €4 per pack and €10 per packet of tobacco. The judge emphasised the need to stop her trading activities.
In the trial of 33‑year‑old Seán Ducque, charged with the 2014 murder of Kieran Farrelly, former partner Laura Dempsey testified that she was in a relationship with Ducque at the time and that they had a child. She said she had been selling heroin with Farrelly's partner that evening and that they later met Ducque and Farrelly, walking toward Summerhill. Dempsey claimed she heard a shot immediately after Farrelly crossed railings and that Ducque fired twice, once in the chest or head. She said she shouted "stop" after the first shot and that Ducque handed her a bag containing a gun after the second. Dempsey described being crying, the gun being disposed of in a bin on Mabbot Lane, and the Gardaí arriving to arrest them. She also admitted to being a heroin addict and taking methadone, valium and alcohol that night, but insisted she was not heavily intoxicated. Seán Ducque pleaded guilty.
Joseph Hickey, aged 42, was jailed for five years after pleading guilty to possessing drugs worth over €13,000 for sale or supply at Tallaght on 28 October 2015. The court found he was a "small fish" in a larger drug operation and had no knowledge of the drugs' full value, which was €2.85 million. Hickey's involvement was motivated by a drug debt, and he had a history of chronic alcohol and cocaine addiction. He had four prior convictions, including one for child cruelty, and had received residential treatment for his addiction. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a seven‑year sentence with the final two years suspended, resulting in a five‑year custodial term. The case was part of an undercover operation that seized 28 bags of cocaine (27.9 kg) and 13 bags of heroin (6.4 kg) from Hickey's vehicle. The co‑accused was also charged with drug and firearm offences and received a similar suspended sentence.
In a court hearing on 28 November 2016, Justice Aileen Donnelly was informed that Raymond O'Neill, 37, who is wanted in Northern Ireland for the murder and arson connected with the death of Jennifer Dornan, 30, remains in critical condition in prison. Dornan was found stabbed to death in her burning house in Hazel View, west Belfast, in August 2015. O'Neill was arrested in Dublin in February on a European Arrest Warrant and had previously been held in a Midlands prison where he overdosed on drugs, leading to an adjournment of an extradition hearing at the High Court. The court was told that O'Neill could not attend in person due to health reasons, and his solicitor, Caroline Cummings BL, confirmed his critical state but had not received any medical evidence. Judge Donnelly expressed frustration at the lack of a medical report, which she had ordered to assess O'Neill's capacity to give instructions.
Joseph Hickey, 42, was found with more than €2.8 million worth of cocaine and heroin in his possession. He pleaded guilty to possessing drugs valued over €13,000 for sale or supply at Tallaght on 28 October 2015. Garda Stephen Connor explained that undercover officers were surveilling a carpark on Greenhills Road when Hickey arrived in a grey Fiat. He parked beside a co‑accused, and the two men exchanged bags that were later seized. The seized drugs included 28 bags of cocaine (27.9 kg, €1,957,000) and 13 bags of heroin (6.4 kg, €896,000), totalling €2.85 million. Hickey's co‑accused was charged with drug and firearm offences and received a seven‑year sentence with two years suspended. Hickey had four prior convictions, including one for child cruelty, and was described by his defence as a "small fish" who did not know the drugs' value. He has since undergone residential treatment for addiction.
In the Central Criminal Court, Donal Colgan, aged 65, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 39‑year‑old David Sheridan outside Luigi's chip shop on North Strand Road on 17/18 August 2014. Prosecutor Paul Burns SC presented evidence that Colgan had left the chip shop after an altercation, returned minutes later armed with a knife, and stabbed Sheridan multiple times, leading to Sheridan's death the following day. CCTV footage from the Sunset House pub, Luigi's chip shop and a nearby Centra was shown to the jury. The footage showed Colgan drinking heavily at the pub, arriving at the chip shop, engaging with other customers, leaving the shop, walking back to his home, and then returning to the shop with a knife. He was seen walking away from the scene carrying the knife, without attempting to conceal it. The trial continued the next day before Justice Carmel Stewart and the jury.
In a High Court hearing in Dublin, Raymond O'Neill, 37, was remanded in custody pending an extradition case to the PSNI concerning the murder of Jennifer Dornan. O'Neill faces charges of murder and arson for the stabbing and burning of Dornan's house in Hazel View, west Belfast, last August. The court adjourned the case to next month, requiring O'Neill's lawyers to file objections by March 7th, with the case to be reconsidered on March 14th.
Gavin Kinsella, 27, pleaded guilty to unlawfully keeping prescription‑only medication for supply at his home in Summerhill Parade. He was found with 15,908 Zopiclone tablets and a small amount of cannabis during a Garda surveillance operation from 14 to 20 December 2013. The tablets, worth €1 each, were not available in Irish pharmacies and are prescribed for short‑term insomnia and anxiety. Kinsella claimed he was holding the drugs for someone else to pay a cocaine debt. He has 12 prior convictions, all dealt with in the District Court. Judge Martin Nolan revoked his bail, remanded him pending sentencing, and on 21 December 2013 sentenced him to a three‑year prison term suspended on strict conditions, citing his admissions, cooperation with Gardaí and prospects for rehabilitation. The sentence was imposed at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The case was prosecuted by Tony McGillicuddy BL.
Gavin Kinsella, 27, was arrested after a Garda surveillance operation uncovered 15,908 Zopiclone tablets and a small amount of cannabis in his Summerhill Parade home. The drugs, a prescription‑only medication used for insomnia and anxiety, were found in blister strips and were not available in Irish pharmacies. Kinsella pleaded guilty to unlawfully keeping the prescription‑only product for supply. He claimed he was holding the drugs for someone else to pay off a cocaine debt, but the prosecution argued he was not involved with the same peer group as at the time of his arrest. He has 12 prior convictions, all dealt with in the District Court. Judge Martin Nolan remanded him in custody, revoking his bail, and scheduled his sentencing for the following week. The court urged him to consider the consequences of his actions while remanded.
Archili Mindadze, a 40‑year‑old Georgian restaurateur, was sentenced to three years in prison for assaulting Romanian dentist Iurii Borta in Borta's surgery on 1 October 2012. Mindadze and a co‑accused demanded protection money from Borta, asking "Who is your roof?" and threatened to leave Ireland or pay if the police were called. During the attack Mindadze sliced Borta's hand and struck him in the face. Borta suffered scarring, numbness and anxiety. Mindadze admitted presence at the surgery but denied using the knife, claiming the co‑accused supplied it. He has 14 prior convictions, including dangerous driving and theft. The judge suspended the final six months of a 3½‑year sentence, leaving an effective custodial term of three years. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with prosecution by Fiona Murphy BL and defence by Marc Thompson BL. The sentencing hearing took place in October 2015. Archili Mindadze pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Archili Mindadze, a 40‑year‑old Georgian business owner, was found guilty of assaulting Romanian dentist Iurii Borta on 1 October 2012. Mindadze and a co‑accused entered Borta's surgery at Griffith Hall, Griffith Avenue, and threatened the dentist with a knife, demanding he pay protection money or leave Ireland within ten days. Mindadze sliced the dentist's hand and struck him in the face. He was arrested on 12 October 2012 after the co‑accused fled. A knife recovered from Mindadze's kitchen matched the DNA of the injured party. Mindadze pleaded guilty, denied using the knife or force, and claimed PTSD from his past. The court ordered a Probation and Welfare Services Report and remanded him in custody pending sentencing. The dentist suffered scarring and numbness on his left hand, and reported nervousness and anxiety following the attack. The case was prosecuted by Fiona Murphy BL and defended by Marc Thompson BL.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Owen Comerford, 27, of Dublin 1, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for multiple theft and robbery offences committed between April 2, 2012, and January 9, 2013. He pleaded guilty to charges including robbing Slovak Point on Arran Quay twice in April 2012 and stealing from Decobake on Bachelor's Walk. Judge Mary Ellen Ring noted that six offences occurred while he was on temporary release from Mountjoy Prison. Comerford also admitted to robbing €200 from The Butler's Pantry in Sandycove on May 8, 2012, alongside co-accused Shane Pollard, 41. Pollard, who has 29 previous convictions, received a three-year sentence with the final two years suspended, consecutive to a four-year term he is serving for another robbery. Comerford, who has 131 previous convictions, was also charged with escaping from lawful custody at Donnybrook Garda Station in July 2012 and was rearrested on August 9, 2012. His final offence involved robbing a pharmacy at Summerhill Parade on January 9, 2013, where he brandished a knife. Judge Ring imposed a seven-year sentence on Comerford, with one year suspended. Defence counsel Michael Bowman SC highlighted Comerford's severe drug addiction and requested an adjournment to secure a treatment bed at Tiglin Residential Treatment Centre, but the court proceeded to sentence him.
In a High Court case, Jarlath and Lorraine Sweeney argue that National Assets Management Agency (NAMA) demands for additional security to keep their loan facilities operational would force them to commit a criminal offence under Irish company law. The couple, shareholders in several property‑related companies and owners of hotels such as the Esplanade and Wilton Hotels in Bray, secured loans of about €25 million from Anglo Irish Bank in 2009, later acquired by NAMA. They have provided assets of their companies as security but refuse to offer the unencumbered Summerhill House Hotel in Enniskerry, owned by companies where Mrs Sweeney is principal shareholder, as additional collateral. They claim NAMA's demand is unlawful, disproportionate and unreasonable, and that complying would breach company law because a statutory declaration and independent report are required, which they cannot obtain.
Swords District Court heard several matters. Alex Mooney and Rory Kirwan pleaded guilty to intoxication and threatening behaviour at the Malahide Festival. Judge Dermot Dempsey agreed to strike out charges against both defendants after they each made a €300 charitable donation. Patrick Mongen was convicted of driving without a licence and fined €75. Aslam Khan, alleged to have assaulted a woman, breached a barring order, and committed careless driving and criminal damage, was remanded on continuing bail to reappear on September 2nd. Adam Meehan pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of cocaine and methoxyphenamine tablets. The matter was adjourned to October 20th, with the judge indicating a specific course of action if Meehan proves completion of voluntary work and makes a €400 donation. Kadesh Tracey, charged with unlawful possession of benzodiazepine, obstructing and assaulting a Garda, criminal damage, and failing to stop for gardai, failed to appear, resulting in a bench warrant for his arrest.