A Brazilian brothel-keeper, Ilamar Rodrigues Ribeiro, has had his appeal to reduce his prison sentence dismissed by the court. Ribeiro, who operated a brothel network across rural Ireland and laundered €800,000, was arrested at Dublin Airport in 2023 with child abuse material on his phone. He pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including brothel-keeping, money laundering, and possession of child pornography. The child abuse material, which included images and videos of pre-pubescent children, was described as the most serious category. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a 10-and-a-half-year sentence in 2025, which included consecutive terms. Ribeiro's lawyers argued that the court should have suspended the sentence for the child abuse material due to his lack of prior convictions. However, Mr Justice Paul Burns ruled that the child pornography charge was of a different nature and required a separate sentence. He stated that the court could not ignore the severity of the offence. The investigation into Ribeiro began after two women came forward with trafficking allegations, leading to the identification of multiple properties used as brothels across Ireland.
The Court of Appeal has set a date in December to hear an application by a Polish cage fighter who is seeking to have his conviction for the murder of a 23-year-old man who was beaten unconscious and left to drown in the River Shannon declared a miscarriage of justice. Leszek Sychulec's legal team told the court today that they had written to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) seeking disclosure regarding an article published about a garda allegedly involved in organised crime who is connected to the case. Sychulec, now in his 40s, and his co-accused, Andrzej Gruchacz, had pleaded not guilty to murdering Patryk Krupa at Bogganfin, Athlone, Co Roscommon on June 20th, 2014. Mr Krupa drowned in the Shannon outside Athlone while incapacitated with a head injury from a violent assault. A Central Criminal Court jury deliberated for five hours before reaching unanimous guilty verdicts. The defendants were accordingly given mandatory life sentences by Mr Justice Tony Hunt on June 13, 2016.
The High Court has quashed the assault conviction of Kevin Taylor, a former Garda from Longford, following a judicial review appeal. Taylor was originally convicted in Strokestown District Court in August 2021 of assaulting security staff member Ian Gordon during the execution of a possession order at Falsk, Strokestown, Co Roscommon, on December 11, 2018. The initial conviction resulted in a €200 fine. In March 2024, Taylor appealed to the Circuit Court, where he received a two-month custodial sentence. He subsequently sought a judicial review against the Director of Public Prosecutions, arguing that the prosecution failed to specify the precise factual basis of the alleged assault, violating fair procedure principles. Mr Justice Garrett Simons accepted that CCTV footage did not show Taylor grabbing Gordon's genitals, as alleged, though it did show him laying hands on him. The High Court judge found that the Circuit Court judge had undermined the effectiveness of cross-examination by taking over questioning, depriving Taylor of a fair opportunity to test the complainant's account. Furthermore, the trial judge failed to assess the reasonableness of the force used based on Taylor's asserted belief that he was protecting a disabled man. Mr Justice Simons quashed the conviction and determined it was not in the public interest to remit the matter, noting that Taylor had already served a two-month sentence for contempt in the same proceedings.
A Circuit Court Judge has refused to remand a woman on bail for her role in facilitating a criminal organisation, despite noting that there are currently 53 mattresses on the prison floor. Judge Brian O'Callaghan stated that the defendant, Tamara Olaye, has had poor compliance with bail conditions in the past. Olaye, from Galway, pleaded guilty to money laundering offences between 2022 and 2024. Gardai obtained warrants to access her bank accounts and found over €20,000 transferred to a third party. Olaye claimed the money came from her work in beauty and fast food, but gardai linked it to organised crime. The court heard that Olaye had failed to sign on 41 times and was not residing at her address on eight occasions. Her defence counsel requested a Probation Report, which the judge agreed to. Olaye was remanded into custody until July 23, with the judge emphasizing the need to protect the public despite the prison conditions.
A Polish cage fighter serving a life sentence for the 2014 murder of a 23-year-old man in Co Roscommon has brought proceedings before the Court of Appeal seeking to have his conviction declared a miscarriage of justice. Leszek Sychulec, now in his 40s and previously resident in Ballymahon, Co Longford, was convicted alongside co-accused Andrzej Gruchacz in June 2016 of murdering Patryk Krupa at Athlone. The victim drowned in the River Shannon after suffering a head injury sustained during a violent assault. A jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts following five hours of deliberation, and mandatory life sentences were imposed. An earlier appeal in 2018 upheld both convictions. At a case management hearing before Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy on 15 May, Sychulec's legal representatives submitted that a miscarriage of justice arose from undisclosed material relevant to State witnesses. The court adjourned the matter to 3 July to allow the prosecution and defence to resolve disclosure issues, with an affidavit containing new evidence to be filed by 15 June. Andrzej Gruchacz pleaded not guilty.
A Ukrainian national has been sentenced to six and a half years' imprisonment following a serious assault at a refugee accommodation centre in Dublin. The attack occurred on 31 March 2023 at Ballyogan Regional Temporary Rest Centre, when Vasyl Bolotnykov (57) struck another Ukrainian man in the face with a fire extinguisher in an unprovoked incident. The victim, in his late 50s, lost consciousness from the impact. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that medical assessment was delayed significantly, with a brain scan not conducted until nine days after the assault, revealing multiple brain bleeds and a skull fracture. The victim subsequently required surgery and spent eight weeks in intensive care. Judge Martina Baxter described the assault as ferocious and noted the victim has sustained permanent neurological effects, including memory difficulties and balance problems, preventing independent work. Bolotnykov pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm and production of an article capable of inflicting serious injury. The victim was later relocated to accommodation in County Roscommon during his recovery period.
Supt O'Reilly, the applicant, appealed a November Dublin Circuit Civil Court decision to the High Court, where he alleged he was penalised by the Garda Commissioner's office after making protected disclosures regarding unsafe leather holsters. He claimed these defective holsters, supplied by a Kildare saddlery, allowed a pistol to be removed even when the retention strap was closed, potentially contributing to the accidental self-wounding of a Garda at the Israeli ambassador's residence in June 2020. Six days later, Stephen Silver murdered Gda Colm Horkan using the garda's own gun in Castlerea, Co Roscommon. Silver was sentenced in April 2023 to life imprisonment with a minimum time to be served of 40 years for murdering a Garda acting in the course of his duties. During the current High Court hearing, counsel for Supt O'Reilly raised a separate allegation that Supt Liam White shared a prohibited photograph taken inside a courtroom of Supt O'Reilly and three accompanying individuals. Mr Justice Micheál O'Higgins asked parties with knowledge to write to the court and stated he would review the relevant prohibitions. The matter was adjourned to May 19 for further submissions.
Two psychiatrists told the Central Criminal Court that Derek Mulligan was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia when he caused fatal injuries to his grandfather Derek Burns. Mulligan has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to murder, while the court also heard evidence that the release of Michael Ferry had caused him to 'spiral'; the trial continues.
Ethan Casey received a fully suspended four-year sentence after pleading guilty to possessing cannabis and cocaine for sale or supply at his Ballinasloe home. The judge cited Casey's addiction, early plea and cooperation while warning about the harm of dealing and noting prison overcrowding. Ethan Casey was convicted.
Stephen Silver, a 49-year-old motorbike mechanic from Aughaward, Foxford, Co Mayo, appealed his conviction for the murder of Garda Colm Horkan. Silver, who pleaded not guilty to killing the garda knowing or being reckless as to whether he was acting in the course of his duty, argued that the State's psychiatric evidence contradicted the legal test for insanity under the Criminal Law (Insanity Act 2006). His counsel contended that the prosecution expert's testimony regarding Silver's capacity to form intent improperly excluded the possibility of diminished responsibility. The prosecution rebutted this, stating the expert merely identified purposeful actions as one factor in assessing mental capacity and that the trial judge's direction was appropriate. The appeal hearing was presided over by Mr Justice John Edwards, with Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy. The court reserved judgment, meaning the matter was adjourned and not concluded. Silver was originally sentenced in April 2023 by Ms Justice Tara Burns to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 40 years. The trial evidence included conflicting psychiatric opinions on whether Silver's bipolar disorder contributed to his actions when he shot Garda Horkan eleven times in Castlerea, Co Roscommon, on June 17, 2020.
A High Court judge has emphasised the importance of media access after the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) excluded reporters from a hearing involving Detective Superintendent Brian O'Reilly. Mr Justice Garrett Simons stated that any departure from public hearings must be strictly justified, questioning the WRC's decision to hear O'Reilly's case behind closed doors. O'Reilly, the acting head of the Garda National Technical Bureau, is seeking to quash a WRC ruling that accepted Garda submissions regarding the 'sensitivities' of his disclosures. He alleges he suffered workplace detriment and pay reductions after raising concerns about defective leather pistol holsters, which he claims endangered armed gardaí and the public. O'Reilly submitted that these holsters may have contributed to the accidental self-wounding of a Garda at the Israeli ambassador's residence in June 2020. The report notes that six days after that incident, Stephen Silver murdered Detective Garda Colm Horkan in Castlerea, Co Roscommon. Silver, of Foxford, Co Mayo, was sentenced in April 2023 to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 40 years for murdering a Garda acting in the course of his duties. O'Reilly stated that Silver told gardaí in custody that he had been able to pull Horkan's pistol from the holster. The Commissioner of An Garda Síochána is named as a notice party in the proceedings.
Det Supt Brian O'Reilly, acting head of the Garda National Technical Bureau, is challenging a Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) decision to exclude the media from his hearing. At the High Court, counsel successfully applied for an expedited leave application to be heard tomorrow, seeking to quash a ruling that the case contains "sensitivities" warranting closed doors. O'Reilly claims he suffered workplace detriment and pay reductions after making protected disclosures regarding unsafe leather pistol holsters. He alleges these defective holsters endangered armed gardaí and the public, potentially contributing to an accidental self-wounding incident in 2020. O'Reilly stated that a pistol could be removed even when the retention strap was closed. He referenced the murder of Detective Garda Colm Horkan by Stephen Silver in Castlerea, noting that Silver allegedly told gardaí in custody he had pulled Horkan's pistol from the holster. Silver was sentenced in April 2023 to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 40 years for murdering a garda acting in the course of his duties. O'Reilly, who has a 30-year career, claims he suffered work-related stress certified by his GP in April 2023. The High Court will hear the application for judicial review over the proposed press coverage ban tomorrow.
Owen Maughan, a 40-year-old appellant from Castlerea, Co Roscommon, has withdrawn his appeal against the severity of his sentence following a hearing in the District Court Appeals Court. Maughan was previously convicted in the District Court of 12 charges of theft, contrary to section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act, 2001, for stealing over €1,498 worth of alcohol, groceries, and meat products. The offences occurred between July 8, 2024, and April 15, 2025, with seven incidents specifically at an Aldi store in Terenure, Dublin. He was sentenced to consecutive terms totalling 18 months, with the final three months suspended. During the appeal, a garda sergeant detailed Maughan's 54 previous convictions and his pattern of repeat offending at the same location. The defence argued that Maughan struggled with alcohol and drug addictions and had been clean in custody. Judge Martina Baxter initially described the offending as "prolific" and adjourned the matter to await a urine analysis report. However, the case was subsequently recalled, and Maughan's solicitor informed the court that the appeal was being withdrawn. Judge Baxter vacated her order for the urine analysis and affirmed the original District Court order.
Twin brothers Sean Farrell and Eric Farrell, aged 21, appeared before the Central Criminal Court on a charge of murder relating to the death of Ionel Nicolae Diaconu in Tallaght, Dublin 24, on December 11, 2023. Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the murder charge but guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter. The Director of Public Prosecutions accepted that the manslaughter pleas met the case. Defence counsel noted that the brothers were 19 at the time of the incident and have no significant previous convictions, requesting the court to consider probation reports. The defendants are currently held in custody at Castlerea Prison. Mr Justice Paul McDermott adjourned the matter to May 18 for a sentence hearing and ordered the preparation of two probation reports. The judge remanded the Farrell twins in custody until that date. Regarding the victim's family, prosecution counsel stated that Mr Diaconu's relatives do not live in Ireland and have previously attended proceedings remotely. The court did not record a final conviction or sentence at this stage, as the case remains adjourned for sentencing.
The High Court has refused the State's application for leave to appeal a decision declining to extradite a convicted sex offender to Northern Ireland. Mr Justice Patrick McGrath ruled that the case was exceptional, finding it would be disproportionate to order the surrender of Paul Lomas, aged 41, with an address in County Donegal, given the age of the matters in question and the type of sentence involved. The Northern Irish authorities sought Lomas's surrender for six offences dating back approximately 15 years, including five conviction matters and one charge of driving whilst disqualified from January 2011. The convictions stemmed from assaults on police officers and breaches of a Risk of an Interim Sexual Harm Order imposed following a 2009 conviction. Mr Justice McGrath noted that Lomas had served his custodial sentence for the serious offences and subsequently developed family connections in the State. The judge concluded the case had reached the threshold where refusal of surrender was warranted. The unnamed respondent pleaded guilty.
The High Court has formally censured suspended Roscommon solicitor Declan O'Callaghan following an application by the Law Society. The decision stems from an upheld finding of misconduct regarding a 2006 Mayo land deal involving Nirvanna Property Holdings Ltd, a company run by Tom Fleming. While O'Callaghan successfully appealed three other allegations of misconduct, the court upheld one count concerning a conflict of interest. A disciplinary tribunal had previously recommended striking O'Callaghan off the roll of solicitors, a recommendation put on hold pending this appeal. The case involved a land transfer where the vendor claimed they were owed €250,000, a figure O'Callaghan argued referred to the land's valuation rather than a debt. Mr Justice Micheal O'Higgins stated that acting for both the vendor and the purchaser in the same transaction brought the profession into disrepute and represented a serious falling short of professional standards. The judge noted that O'Callaghan should have advised Nirvanna and Fleming to seek independent legal advice. Although O'Callaghan denied impropriety, citing security requirements for a Bank of Ireland loan for a joint venture with the late Fred Preston, the court found his conduct unacceptable. The Law Society nominated a censure and did not seek costs. The court ordered the censure but made no order as to the costs of the appeal.
Two Slovak nationals have been convicted and sentenced at the Central Criminal Court following a sexual assault on two teenage girls on a disused railway line in County Mayo in March 2023. Rudolf Makula, aged 30, of Gleann Ard, Ballaghderreen, Roscommon, pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting one girl. Marian Peci, aged 29, of no fixed abode, was convicted following trial of sexually assaulting and falsely imprisoning a second girl. Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed a sentence of three and a half years on Makula and three years on Peci, with two years post-release supervision for both. The court heard the men had separated the girls from their friends after plying them with alcohol. The judge noted the girls had been entitled to feel safe when socialising and commended friends who intervened to assist them. Both men remain in custody since August 2025.
The High Court has upheld a disciplinary tribunal finding against suspended Roscommon solicitor Declan O'Callaghan regarding professional misconduct over a 2006 land transfer in Mayo. Mr Justice Micheál O'Higgins dismissed three of the four complaints brought by Nirvanna Property Holdings Ltd, run by Tom Fleming, but upheld the finding that O'Callaghan acted for both the vendor and purchaser in a conflict of interest. The judge stated that acting for both sides in this transaction represented a serious falling short of professional standards, though he was not minded to conclude O'Callaghan was guilty of dishonesty. The court found it was not proven beyond reasonable doubt that the vendor was owed €250,000, nor that O'Callaghan provided inadequate services or improperly continued acting for the purchaser. O'Callaghan, who has been suspended since 2018 over a separate matter involving alleged client account deficits, had argued he was not given a fair hearing. The tribunal's original recommendation to strike him off the roll remains on hold. The matter was adjourned to the New Year for submissions on costs and the appropriate sanction.
Ellysom Ojba, 25, of Fana Glas, Ballybane, Galway, was found guilty of possession of drugs for sale or supply and money laundering after a Garda investigation in Eyre Square and his home. He was discovered with two socks hidden in his underwear, each containing sixteen deal bags of suspected cocaine and ketamine, a weighing scale, and €1,030 in cash. A search of his bedroom revealed additional drugs and €525. Ojba, a first‑time offender with no prior convictions, pleaded guilty and expressed remorse. Judge Brian O'Callaghan described his conduct as "blatant greed" and, considering mitigating factors such as his signed plea, positive probation report, and lack of prior criminal history, sentenced him to two years' imprisonment suspended in full for three years. He was ordered to pay €1,500 each to Jigsaw and Cluine Mhuire within a month, with €500 to each within four weeks.
A Mayo man received a suspended sentence at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court on 17 October for harassment spanning over a year. Brendan Rowland, aged 30, pleaded guilty to sending 14 malicious greeting cards to a couple in Swinford between December 2018 and December 2019. Judge Eoin Garavan noted that whilst 40 sinister cards were received in total, forensic evidence attributed only 14 to Rowland, suggesting an orchestrated campaign involving others. The cards included Mothers' Day and Christmas greetings, alongside messages signed "Joey" referencing the murder of Joe Deacy, aged 21, whose body was discovered at the recipients' home in August 2017. Judge Garavan imposed an 18-month sentence, suspended in full for two years, citing Rowland's guilty plea, apology, and rehabilitation efforts. Rowland was prohibited from approaching the Byrnes' residence or either individual within 500 metres for ten years. The judge expressed hope the matter would end the distress following Deacy's death.
An intensive care nurse at Mayo General Hospital has received a fully suspended sentence at Castlebar Circuit Court for forging prescriptions to obtain painkillers. Sinéad Donohoe, aged 42, of Scrigg, Ballyhaunis, pleaded guilty to two counts of theft and four counts of forgery, representing 112 charges overall. Between September 2019 and February 2021, she stole three prescription pads and used forged prescriptions across pharmacies in Ballyhaunis, Ballaghdereen, Claremorris, Castlebar, Castlerea, Knock, and Kiltimagh to obtain Solpadol. Judge Eoin Garavan imposed a headline sentence of two years, suspended in full for 16 months, citing mitigating factors including her low reconviction risk and positive employment history. The judge noted Donohoe's struggle with endometriosis and workplace stress during the Covid-19 pandemic, describing her as dealing with addiction whilst employed in challenging frontline conditions. Her nursing registration has been suspended and she is currently not working. She has no previous convictions and is a married mother of two.
A man from Castlerea in County Roscommon has received a fully suspended sentence at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court following what the judge described as a remarkable turnaround in his life. Ernest Ashman, aged 39, pleaded guilty to possession of almost one kilogramme of cannabis, valued at approximately €20,000, for sale or supply at Rathcluain, Kiltimagh, County Mayo on 3 October 2023. He was arrested following a traffic stop after gardaí observed his vehicle being driven erratically through a housing estate. Ashman was handed a two-year suspended sentence and disqualified from driving for six years. Judge Eoin Garavan imposed a headline sentence of three years but reduced it to two years in light of mitigating factors, including Ashman's rehabilitation efforts. The court heard that Ashman has since trained in addiction counselling to Level 7 qualification standard, now works in a community centre, and remains drug-free. He has been instructed to comply with probation supervision for one year and continue mental health counselling.
A 72‑year‑old man from Ardrahan, Pat Howley, was sentenced by the Galway Circuit Criminal Court to four and a half years in prison, with the final 18 months suspended for three years. He pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual assault committed against a teenage girl aged 13‑14 between February and December 2006. The court noted a 40‑year age gap, the breach of trust, the nature of the conduct and the trauma inflicted. Howley's guilty plea, long working life, voluntary Civil Defence work and health issues were considered mitigating factors. He has no prior convictions and is deemed low risk of re‑offending. He will be supervised by the Probation Service for 12 months after release and must comply with all directions given by them. The sentence was imposed by Judge Brian O'Callaghan.
The Court of Appeal has adjourned proceedings in the appeal against the conviction of Stephen Silver, who is serving a life sentence with a 40-year minimum term for the capital murder of Detective Garda Colm Horkan. Silver, a 48-year-old motorbike mechanic from Foxford, Co Mayo, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Det Gda Horkan, alleging he was reckless as to whether the victim was a garda acting in the course of his duty. He had previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter at Castlerea, Co Roscommon, on June 17, 2020. The jury found him guilty of murder, rejecting defences of self-defence and diminished responsibility. During the current appeal hearing, counsel for Silver stated that the legal team is unable to advance the appeal due to an impasse in obtaining crucial psychiatric disclosure from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP). Counsel described the situation as a "brick wall" and argued that the psychiatric evidence is a critical issue, particularly regarding Silver's bipolar affective disorder. Mr Justice John Edwards noted that the coroner for County Roscommon cannot complete the inquest into Garda Horkan's death until the appeal is determined. The judge described the delay as "intolerable" for the victim's family and stated that the matter "cannot drag on." Proceedings were adjourned to a case management list on June 20, with the judge indicating that a motion could be brought if the logjam persists.
PJ Sweeney has lost his appeal against a 15-year prison sentence for his role in a violent attack on security workers at a repossessed farmhouse in Strokestown, Co Roscommon. In the Court of Appeal, Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, speaking for the three-judge court, dismissed the appeal, finding no error in principle in the original sentence imposed by Judge Martina Baxter. Sweeney, of High Cairn, Ramelton, Co Donegal, was convicted in June 2023 of 15 charges, including aggravated burglary, violent disorder, criminal damage, false imprisonment, assault, arson, and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. Defence counsel Michael Bowman SC argued the sentence was excessive and disproportionate, citing Sweeney's good character and lack of prior convictions, and requested a suspended element. However, the Appeal Court rejected these arguments, noting there was no evidence of insight, remorse, or apology from Sweeney. The court emphasized the brutal nature of the attack, which aimed to inflict fear and terror, and upheld the maximum penalty for several offences. Sweeney's co-accused, Martin O'Toole and Paul Beirne, had previously dismissed their legal teams ahead of their own appeals. The Appeal Court confirmed that the trial judge was entitled to impose a custodial sentence without suspension given the circumstances.
A 54-year-old Brazilian man has been sentenced to nine years imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following his conviction on multiple charges related to operating a brothel network across rural Ireland. Ilamar Rodrigues Ribeiro pleaded guilty to 19 sample counts, including brothel-keeping, using false instruments, and possession of proceeds of crime totalling €788,982 across multiple bank accounts. He also admitted possessing child sexual abuse material on his mobile phone when arrested at Dublin Airport in November 2023. The investigation, led by the Garda Human Trafficking and Co-ordination Unit, identified ten rental properties used as brothels in locations including Longford town, Ballyconnell, Ballymahon, Carrick-on-Shannon, and Ballaghadereen. Judge Patricia Ryan noted the offences involved elaborate planning and premeditation. She imposed a global sentence of ten and a half years, suspending the final eighteen months on strict conditions, with the term backdated to his arrest date.
In a Dublin City Centre robbery attempt on 9 November 2020, Samantha Osbourne (33) and Adam Casey (22) were jailed for their roles. Osbourne pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and was sentenced to 16 months in prison, backdated to her custody date. Casey pleaded guilty to one count of attempted robbery and one count of assault causing harm, receiving a four‑year prison term with the final year suspended and probation supervision for one year after release. The victim, who was walking to the city centre, was attacked by all three men, suffered a concussion, facial injuries and a minor brain bleed, and was taken to St James' Hospital. Andrew Cash (32) had already been sentenced to five years for the same attack. The court noted the victim's injuries and the defendants' histories, including Osbourne's 90 prior convictions and Casey's 15 prior convictions. The judge emphasised the seriousness of attacking a defenseless man.
A Brazilian man has pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to operating a network of brothels across rural Ireland using falsified documents and landlord deception. Ilamar Rodrigues Ribeiro, aged 54, rented ten properties under a false Italian identity, with two located in Roscommon Town and others in Longford, Cavan, Leitrim, Carlow, Wexford and Kildare between 2018 and 2023. When arrested at Dublin Airport in November 2023, gardaí from the Human Trafficking and Co-ordination Unit recovered approximately €788,000 in proceeds of crime across multiple bank accounts. He also pleaded guilty to possessing child sexual abuse material on his phone comprising nine images and sixteen videos. Ribeiro entered guilty pleas to nineteen sample counts including fraud, inducing landlords to rent properties under false pretences, and possession of criminal proceeds. The investigation began following trafficking allegations from two women who identified properties being misused as brothels. Ribeiro has remained in custody since his arrest. Sentencing proceedings are scheduled for 21 March.
Three men who were convicted of a vigilante attack on security personnel at a repossessed farmhouse in Roscommon appeared before the Court of Appeal on 4 February to challenge the severity of their sentences. Martin O'Toole, aged 60, from Claremorris, County Mayo, discharged his legal representation and walked out of court after being refused permission to read a statement into the record, effectively withdrawing his appeal. Paul Beirne, aged 58, from Boyle, County Roscommon, subsequently indicated he would not continue with his appeal. PJ Sweeney, aged 59, from Ramelton, County Donegal, proceeded with his appeal, with counsel arguing the 15-year sentence was excessive and disproportionate, citing mitigating factors and good character. The Director of Public Prosecutions contended the sentence was appropriate given the serious and violent nature of the December 2018 attack at Strokestown. The court reserved judgement.
Gerard Harrington of Marian Road, Boyle, Co Roscommon, has been unsuccessful in his application to the Supreme Court seeking to appeal his conviction for making a false report to gardaí. Harrington was convicted in July 2021 at Tullamore Circuit Criminal Court of making a false statement to gardaí regarding missing cattle and was fined €6,500 in October 2021. The cattle were subsequently discovered in a neighbour's shed at Breedogue, Co Roscommon, with six animals bearing tag numbers matching those he had reported as missing in October 2015. Harrington's appeal to the Court of Appeal last May, which raised 34 grounds including claims the trial judge erred in admitting a Garda interview, was dismissed. The Supreme Court last week rejected his application to hear a further appeal, finding he had not met the constitutional threshold required. The court noted Harrington had not made admissions during his voluntary interview at the garda station and had been informed he was not under arrest and not obliged to answer questions.
Thomas Collins, 59, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for the sexual abuse of his three cousins, Gretta Conlon, Catherine Conlon, and Gerard Conlon. Collins pleaded guilty to 21 sample counts of indecent assault, attempted rape, and rape committed between 1978 and 1992. Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring handed down a sentence of 12 and a half years, suspending the final year on conditions. The sentence was backdated to Collins' guilty pleas in October this year. He is currently serving a separate nine-and-a-half year sentence for abusing another person decades later. The court noted that Collins made "wholesale admissions" to gardaí in 1997 and 2002, yet was not charged until 2023. Ms Justice Ring stated the case should have been dealt with decades ago and highlighted that a garda's conduct in discouraging the victims from proceeding in 1997 had "all the hallmarks of misconduct in public office." The judge praised the victims' determination after waiting 27 years for justice. Collins' barrister argued he was a juvenile for much of the offending and that his early cooperation spared the complainants further re-traumatisation. The victims, who attended the sentencing, described the long struggle for justice and the lasting impact of the abuse.
Peter Sheeran, aged 33, was convicted of robbery after he used a bread‑knife to steal €1,000 from Murphy's Gala store in Kilanerin on 17 June 2023. He left his two‑year‑old and seven‑year‑old children in a car while he carried out the robbery and was apprehended shortly after by passers‑by. Sheeran pleaded guilty at Wexford Circuit Court in December 2023, where Judge Cormac Quinn imposed a five‑year sentence with the final year suspended. In November 2024 he appealed, arguing that the sentence was too harsh because he had no prior convictions, was acting under duress and the offence was not pre‑meditated. The Court of Appeal, hearing the case on 16 December 2024, found that the original judge had erred by setting an eight‑year headline sentence. The appeal was granted, and the Court of Appeal quashed the original sentence.
Geunter Lohse, aged 63, has been sentenced to twelve years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for unlawfully killing his mother Ruth by arson. The offence occurred on April 12, 2022, at their shared residence in Coolvoy, Doochary, County Donegal. Lohse pleaded guilty to manslaughter after the State accepted his plea on a charge of murder. Ms Justice Melanie Greally imposed a headline sentence of eighteen years, reduced to thirteen years with the final twelve months suspended, taking into account mitigating factors including his early guilty plea and lack of previous convictions. The court heard that Ruth Lohse, aged 88, died from smoke inhalation after Lohse set three fires in the house using matches. The judge noted the victim, who had dedicated her life to caring for her son, was elderly, vulnerable, and had no opportunity to escape. Lohse claimed he intended only to destroy the property, not to harm his mother, but evidence indicated he made no credible effort to assist her.
A 43-year-old cabinet maker from Boyle, Co Roscommon, has been sentenced to eight years imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following his guilty plea to drug offences. Justin McCormack pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis worth €3.9 million for sale or supply at a business unit in Fairview and in a white transit van on 11 and 12 October 2023. Gardaí stopped McCormack while driving the van on the evening of 11 October and discovered a substantial quantity of cannabis. A subsequent search of the business unit, which McCormack had been using for his kitchen manufacturing trade, uncovered a further 1,174 kilograms of cannabis. Judge Orla Crowe imposed concurrent sentences of nine years on each count, suspending the final twelve months. The judge acknowledged McCormack's financial difficulties but stated that financial hardship alone does not justify criminal involvement. She noted his active role in transporting and storing the drugs constituted significant aggravating factors. The sentence was backdated to October 2023 when McCormack entered custody.
Peter Sheeran, 33, of Carraig Mor, Kilcoole, County Wicklow, was convicted of robbery after he armed himself with a bread‑knife and stole €1,000 from Murphy's Gala store in Kilanerin on 17 June 2023. He left a two‑year‑old and a seven‑year‑old in a car while he carried out the robbery and was subsequently caught by passers‑by. Sheeran pleaded guilty at Wexford Circuit Court in December 2023, where Judge Cormac Quinn imposed a five‑year sentence, with the final year suspended. On appeal, Sheeran's counsel argued that he had no prior convictions, was acting under duress, and the offence was not premeditated. The Director of Public Prosecutions countered that the planning was minimal and the knife was more akin to a machete. Judge Patrick McCarthy acknowledged the duress but noted premeditation in Sheeran's preparation and disguise.
A 43-year-old Dublin man has pleaded guilty to possessing approximately €3.9 million worth of cannabis for sale or supply at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Justin McCormack, originally from Boyle, Co Roscommon, was arrested on October 11th last year after gardaí stopped a white transit van and discovered a large quantity of drugs wrapped in plastic bags. A further 1,174 kg of cannabis was subsequently recovered from a business unit on Esmond Avenue in Fairview. Defence counsel described McCormack, a cabinet maker of over twenty years, as an "ordinary, hard-working man" who transported the drugs due to financial desperation and impaired judgement arising from substance misuse. The court heard McCormack had accumulated significant legitimate business and personal debts at the time of his arrest. Judge Orla Crowe adjourned the case until November 14th to allow time for consideration of extensive documentation, including psychological and prison governor reports. McCormack has remained in custody since his arrest.
The EU Courts have been asked to decide whether the human rights of Seán Walsh, a 57‑year‑old alleged IRA member wanted in the UK for directing terrorism, would be violated by changes to sentencing law introduced in Northern Ireland three years ago. Walsh faces four charges – membership of the IRA, directing terrorist activities, conspiracy to direct terrorist activities and preparing to commit acts of terrorism – each carrying a maximum life sentence. He denies the allegations. The offences are alleged to have been committed in July 2020 in Omagh, Co. Tyrone. The High Court in Ireland ordered his surrender to UK authorities in October 2022, and he was granted leave to appeal. Walsh's lawyers argued that the new UK law would impose a heavier penalty than that applicable at the time of the alleged offence.
A man has been sentenced to nine years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for the rape of his then 15-year-old niece in County Roscommon in November 2017. The 50-year-old defendant, who immigrated to Ireland from Central Europe in 2015, was convicted following trial earlier this month. He does not accept the verdict. Gardaí became suspicious after observing the man's car parked in an unlit location and subsequently discovered the assault had occurred. The victim did not initially disclose the incident but made a formal complaint in early 2019 after confiding in a family friend. Mr Justice Tony Hunt imposed a pre-mitigation sentence of 12 years, suspended the final three years, and ordered the defendant to leave the jurisdiction upon release and not return for ten years. He is also prohibited from all contact with the victim and her family. The sentence was backdated to his custody date in May 2023. Breach of these conditions or commission of any future sexual offence will result in activation of the suspended sentence.
Three men have had their convictions upheld by the Court of Appeal following a vigilante attack on security personnel at a repossessed farmhouse near Strokestown, County Roscommon, in December 2018. Martin O'Toole, aged 60, of Claremorris, County Mayo; PJ Sweeney, aged 59, of Ramelton, County Donegal; and Paul Beirne, aged 58, of Boyle, County Roscommon, were each sentenced to fifteen years imprisonment after being convicted of fifteen charges including aggravated burglary, violent disorder, false imprisonment and assault causing harm. Mr Justice Peter Charleton described the offences as "the most barbaric violations of human rights", rejecting arguments regarding evidence admissibility and identification procedures. The judge noted that approximately thirty to forty people participated in the incident, during which armed assailants beat security staff, set vehicles alight, and fatally injured a dog. The court dismissed all appeals and affirmed the convictions.
Three men have appealed their convictions for involvement in a vigilante attack on security personnel at a repossessed farmhouse near Strokestown, County Roscommon, in December 2018. Martin O'Toole, PJ Sweeney, and Paul Beirne were convicted in June 2023 of fifteen charges including aggravated burglary, violent disorder, and animal cruelty. During the incident, a group of armed men forced entry to the property at Falsk, attacking security guards with weapons including a baseball bat, meat cleaver, and chainsaw. The guards were beaten, restrained with cable ties, and a dog was beaten unconscious and subsequently euthanised. At the Court of Appeal, the appellants' counsel challenged the admissibility of video evidence and questioned whether guilt could be established given the number of people present. They also contested identification procedures and the lawfulness of certain detentions. The State's counsel argued that video footage clearly identified the appellants and demonstrated a common design among those involved. Mr Justice Peter Charleton reserved judgement.
A woman from County Roscommon has received a four-year prison sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for money laundering offences connected to proceeds of prostitution. Ivanilce Vailones, aged 47, pleaded guilty to five counts of money laundering between 2018 and 2021, with ten additional counts taken into consideration. The court heard that gardaí investigations revealed two bank accounts linked to Vailones containing approximately €126,000. Evidence included CCTV footage showing her withdrawing funds using a card belonging to a former sex worker. Justice Patricia Ryan imposed a sentence of four years with the final 28 months suspended for two years. Vailones has already served an equivalent period on remand, meaning she will serve no additional custodial time. The judge noted mitigating factors including her guilty plea, remorse, and employment since release. A co-accused in related proceedings received a four-year sentence with two years suspended.
A Roscommon farmer's appeal against his conviction for making a false statement to gardaí has been dismissed by the Court of Appeal. Gerard Harrington, of Marian Road, Boyle, was convicted in July 2021 at Tullamore Circuit Criminal Court of reporting ten cattle missing when they were located in a neighbouring farmer's shed. He had been fined €6,500 in October 2021. The Court of Appeal heard 34 grounds of appeal, including claims that oppressive trial conditions and jury seating arrangements during Covid restrictions warranted a retrial. Mr Justice John Edwards rejected these submissions, finding the prosecution case had been sufficiently strong for jury consideration and that the trial judge had appropriately managed evidentiary issues. The court concluded the trial was satisfactory and the verdict was safe, upholding Harrington's conviction.
A man has been sentenced to five and a half years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court following his conviction for the rape of a teenager in Roscommon. Nicolas Horvath, aged 28 and formerly of Stonecourt, Roscommon, pleaded guilty to one count of rape on 11 December 2020. The court heard that Horvath and an associate engaged the victim, then aged 16, while she socialised with friends in a park. He plied her with alcohol, made sexual remarks including the phrase "age is just a number," and subsequently brought her to a secluded area where the rape occurred. The victim resisted and a friend intervened. Horvath fled the jurisdiction to Slovakia in 2022 and was extradited to Ireland in December of that year. Ms Justice Melanie Greally imposed a sentence of six and a half years with the final year suspended, subject to conditions including that Horvath depart the jurisdiction within seven days of release and remain absent for fifteen years.
A man from Strokestown, County Roscommon, has been sentenced to eleven and a half years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court following his conviction on twenty-six counts of sexually abusing his daughter between 2011 and 2016. Cyril Mullane, aged 51, was found guilty of eleven counts of oral rape, fourteen counts of sexual assault, and one count of attempted rape committed at properties in County Sligo and Norfolk in the United Kingdom. The victim, who waived her anonymity, was between six and twelve years old during the offences. Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo imposed a thirteen-year sentence with the final eighteen months suspended. The judge noted that the complainant's childhood had been "poisoned" by sustained abuse constituting a serious breach of paternal trust over a five-year period. Mullane had denied all charges and was not afforded mitigation for guilty pleas.
A Roscommon man convicted of repeatedly sexually assaulting a teenage girl employed as a babysitter has had his sentence reduced on appeal. Michael King, aged 53 and resident of Warren View, Boyle, was originally sentenced to five and a half years imprisonment by Roscommon Circuit Criminal Court in May 2023 following his conviction on twelve counts of sexual assault. The Court of Appeal has now reduced his term by fifteen months. King had pleaded not guilty but was unanimously convicted by jury of all charges relating to offences against a girl aged 16, committed over a nine-month period ending in September 2005. The Court of Appeal found the trial judge erred in imposing consecutive sentences, determining the cumulative headline sentence of ten and a half years was excessive. The court re-sentenced King to five years imprisonment with the final nine months suspended. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy cited mitigating factors including the passage of time since the offences and King's subsequent pro-social conduct, though noting the absence of a guilty plea.
A man with over 60 previous convictions has been sentenced to 18 months in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for making a series of hoax phone calls containing serious threats. Thomas McDonagh, aged 41 and of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to three emergency calls made on 15 August 2019 and a further false report on 26 August that year. The calls included threats to visit the home of a former State Pathologist armed with an AK-47 rifle, claims of explosives at Castlerea Prison and threats against a Ballaghadereen coroner's residence. Judge Martin Nolan stated that whilst the threats may have been implausible, emergency services were obliged to take precautions, which appeared to be McDonagh's intention. The judge noted McDonagh harboured a grievance against the State following his brother's death in custody four years prior. McDonagh made full admissions when interviewed in May 2021, attributing his actions to intoxication and distress around the anniversary of his brother's death. The defence submitted that McDonagh has since secured accommodation and undertaken rehabilitation steps.
Michael King, 53, of Warren View, Boyle, Co Roscommon, appealed to the Court of Appeal against his five-and-a-half-year sentence for 12 counts of sexual assault. In May 2023, Judge Kenneth Connolly at Roscommon Circuit Court jailed King after a jury unanimously convicted him on all counts, despite his not guilty pleas. The offences, committed over nine months ending in September 2005, involved the sexual abuse of a 16-year-old babysitter. King was sentenced to five-and-a-half years on two consecutive counts of sexual assault, with the other ten charges taken into account. The trial judge reduced a headline sentence of two-and-a-half years on one count to 18 months, suspending the final 12 months, and reduced an eight-year headline on another count to five years. Counsel for King argued the sentence was excessive and that consecutive sentencing was inappropriate. Counsel for the State contended the sentence reflected the gravity of the escalating abuse and breach of trust. The Court of Appeal, comprising Mr Justice Edwards, Mr Justice Birmingham, and Mr Justice McCarthy, noted the lack of guilty pleas and the significant age disparity. The court reserved its judgement in the matter.
At the Central Criminal Court, a consultant forensic psychiatrist testified that James Kilroy was suffering from a substance-induced psychotic episode when he killed his wife at their rural home near Westport, Co Mayo. Dr Ronan Mullaney told the jury that the accused's mental disorder meant he did not know his actions were wrong and could not refrain from committing the act. Kilroy, aged 50, has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of his wife between June 13 and 14, 2019. The psychiatrist described paranoid delusions and erratic behaviour in the weeks preceding the death, including beliefs about surveillance and conspiracy. He stated the accused met criteria for the insanity defence under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006. In cross-examination, the State's counsel disputed the evidence, suggesting the accused had minimised his long-standing cannabis use and had motivation to provide a self-serving account. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and jury.
The Central Criminal Court trial of James Kilroy, 50, accused of murdering his wife, Valerie French Kilroy, 41, at their Co Mayo home in June 2019, continued with the prosecution case closing. Mr Kilroy has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. The jury heard evidence from gardai interviews in which the accused described waiting in the long grass for his wife before slitting her throat and choking her with his bare hands. He stated he used a black serrated knife and smashed her head, describing the event as a frenzy. The prosecution noted that Ms French Kilroy died from strangulation, blunt force trauma, and a stab wound. Defence counsel called consultant forensic psychiatrist Dr Ronan Mullaney, who testified that the accused had a long history of cannabis use, including therapeutic consumption of high-THC 'AK-47' strain in the three years prior to the death. Dr Mullaney stated that THC can induce substance-induced psychosis in predisposed individuals and that the accused slightly increased his use in the week before the incident. The accused also reported feeling watched and paranoid in the days leading up to the event. The trial is ongoing, with no final verdict or sentence recorded at this stage.
In the victim impact statements presented at the court, the family of Aidan Moffitt described the murder as a brutal and senseless act that shattered their lives. They highlighted Aidan's gentle nature and success as a businessman, noting that the violence inflicted upon him was "even harder to understand." The family expressed deep grief, feeling that the media's coverage was intrusive and overstepped boundaries, focusing more on the victim's image than on the perpetrator. They described their lives as a "living nightmare," with unanswered questions about why Aidan was targeted. The statements also included remarks from Aidan's brother, Christy Moffitt, who spoke of the shock of learning Aidan had been murdered in his own home, and from a friend, Blaine Gaffney, who lamented the loss of a man full of life. The family's overarching message was that the murder was an attack on the nation's freedoms and compassion, and they hoped the accused would never again harm another person.