A 48-year-old man from Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, has been jailed for 11-and-a-half years for the rape of a 16-year-old girl. Richard Murphy was found guilty of rape and oral rape in October 2022 after a trial in Waterford. The victim was in a consensual relationship with Murphy's son when they were in the garden of a house. Murphy arrived and asked the girl for her parents' details, which she fabricated. He then orally and vaginally raped her before telling her not to tell anyone. The victim later informed her friends, who helped her report the crime. Murphy was on bail at the time for other sexual offences involving young girls. The judge described him as a danger to young girls and noted the aggravating factor of his being on bail. The victim's impact statement highlighted the lasting trauma she experienced. The judge imposed a consecutive sentence of 11 years and six months to Murphy's current sentence. The court also extended legal aid in the event of an appeal.
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.
Christopher Judge was sentenced to life in prison for murdering 27-year-old Steven Ring, whose body was tied up and dumped in Carrigfoyle Quarry, Wexford. The Central Criminal Court heard that Judge had taken Ring's phone and offered it for sale while the search was under way. Judge pleaded guilty, while co-accused Jane Corcoran was jailed for six years after admitting she helped move the body. Linda Ring told the court her family would never forgive the murderer.
Dylan Reilly received four years in prison, with the final year suspended, after pleading guilty to possessing cannabis and cannabis resin for sale or supply. Gardaí found more than €334,000 worth of drugs at a Wexford house after a traffic stop, and the court ordered the drugs destroyed and the car forfeited.
Gardaí who stopped Dylan Reilly for holding a mobile phone while driving found cannabis in his car and more than €334,000 worth of cannabis herb and resin at a rented Wexford home. Reilly pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply and was remanded on continuing bail while the case was adjourned for finalisation.
A jury has found that Detective Superintendent Rory Sheriff used reasonable force when striking a former Garda, John Bowe, with a baton during an 'extreme' high-speed car chase in rural Wexford in 2014. The civil trial jury agreed that Sheriff's actions were proportionate and justified following what he described as the most 'extreme and dangerous driving' he had ever witnessed. Bowe was arrested after a 20-minute chase that hit speeds in excess of 140kph. Sheriff testified that Bowe turned back with a 'metallic object' in his hand and lunged at him, prompting him to strike Bowe over the head with a baton. Bowe claimed he sustained injuries and was diagnosed with 'functional neurological disorder', but the claim was denied. Sheriff's legal team argued that it was 'miraculous' that no one was killed during the chase. The court awarded costs to Sheriff's legal team for both trials, pending any appeal.
A former garda, John Bowe, has sought damages from a civil court jury after being struck on the head with a baton by Det Supt Rory Sheriff during a high-speed chase in Wexford in 2014. Bowe was arrested following the incident and later convicted of dangerous driving. He claims that the use of force by Sheriff was excessive and that he suffered injuries leading to a diagnosis of functional neurological disorder. His legal representative, Mark Harty SC, argued that Bowe was being unfairly portrayed as a liar and that the defence was attempting to gaslight the jury. On the other hand, Det Supt Sheriff's legal team, led by Richard Lyons SC, defended the use of force, stating that Bowe's actions were extremely dangerous and that no one was harmed due to the detective's intervention. The court is considering whether Sheriff used reasonable force during the arrest. If not, the jury must determine the award of damages and potential loss of earnings for Bowe.
A jury deadlocked in a High Court case brought by former Garda John Bowe, aged 41, who alleged he was wrongfully struck by a 6'8″ Garda with a baton after a high‑speed pursuit outside Bunclody, Co. Wexford, on 5 December 2014. Bowe, who had been convicted of dangerous driving following the chase, claimed the baton strike by Superintendent Rory Sheriff caused injuries and a diagnosis of functional neurological disorder. Sheriff maintained the strike was proportionate and justified, citing a 25‑minute chase at speeds over 140 kph and an alleged attempt by Bowe to attack him with a metallic object that turned out to be keys with bottle openers. The case also named the Garda Commissioner, the Attorney General and Ireland.
In a High Court hearing on 13 November 2025, former Garda John Bowe (41) alleged that he was wrongfully and violently struck by Superintendent Rory Sheriff, a 6'8″ former rugby player, during a high‑speed chase that took place outside Bunclody, County Wexford, on 5 December 2014. Bowe, who had been driving at speeds over 140 kph for 25 minutes, was pursued through a field and, according to Bowe, turned back at Sheriff with a metallic object that turned out to be keys with bottle openers. Sheriff claimed he used his baton in proportionate force after Bowe lunged at him. Bowe was later convicted of dangerous driving offences arising from the chase. He now seeks compensation for alleged injuries, claiming a functional neurological disorder, and has denied that the baton strike was justified. The case is pending jury deliberation.
In a High Court hearing on 12 November 2025, Garda Superintendent Rory Sheriff, 6'8", defended his use of a retractable baton against former Garda John Bowe, 41, during a 25‑minute, high‑speed chase outside Bunclody, Co. Wexford. Sheriff claimed the chase involved speeds over 140 kph and that Bowe, who was driving an Audi, had a metallic object that turned out to be keys with bottle openers. Sheriff said Bowe lunged at him with the object, prompting the superintendent to strike Bowe's head with full force, aiming for the torso, after being informed by a colleague that Bowe had a knife. Bowe was arrested, later diagnosed with a functional neurological disorder, and sued Sheriff, the Garda Commissioner, the Attorney General and Ireland for alleged injuries. Sheriff maintains his actions were proportionate and justified, and he has no regrets. The case is set for jury deliberation before Mr Justice Micheál O'Higgins.
Gintaras Jankevicius, 53, was sentenced to 12 years in prison, with the final year suspended, for raping and sexually assaulting a woman over several hours. He threatened to keep her in his home until she became pregnant and gave her a knife, telling her to use it if she wanted him to stop. The victim, who was terrified, did not stab him and later reported the assault to gardaí. Jankevicius pleaded guilty to rape, sexual assault and false imprisonment. He is already serving a three‑year sentence for drug possession and has been in custody since March 2025. The judge imposed strict conditions on the suspended year, including no contact with the victim, abstinence from alcohol and drugs, and offence‑focused work, and ordered five years of post‑release supervision. The court noted Jankevicius showed little remorse and was considered a high risk of reoffending. The victim's impact statement described lasting trauma, nightmares and anxiety.
The High Court trial of a civil action brought by John Bowe against Supt Rory Sheriff, the Garda Commissioner, the Attorney General, and Ireland continues before Mr Justice Micheál Ó Higgins. Sgt Mick Dee, an applicant in the proceedings, testified regarding an incident outside Bunclody, Co Wexford, on December 5, 2014, following a high-speed pursuit. Sgt Dee stated he believed Mr Bowe was carrying a knife and behaving in a threatening manner, prompting him to alert Supt Sheriff. Supt Sheriff subsequently struck Mr Bowe on the head with a baton. Under cross-examination, Sgt Dee accepted that Mr Bowe did not have a knife, attributing his initial belief to a gut reaction. Mr Bowe claims wrongful and violent assault, alleging he was diagnosed with functional neurological disorder, claims which are denied by the defendants. Witness Det Sgt Noel McSweeney testified that he observed the officers and Mr Bowe walking together without dragging, and noted a cut on Mr Bowe's head. Mr Bowe was previously convicted of dangerous driving arising from the chase but acquitted of a cannabis possession charge. The matter is at the trial stage and has not been finalised; the proceedings continue.
Amy McAuley, 35, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to using a false instrument by submitting a false death notification form to Wexford County Council on January 19, 2023. She also admitted attempting to pervert the course of justice on January 23, 2023, and forging a medical report on November 23, 2022. The court heard that McAuley faked her death to avoid attending trial for prior theft and fraud offences. Judge Orla Crowe described the matter as complex and directed Probation Services to prepare a risk assessment report. The case was adjourned to October for finalisation. Defence counsel Rebecca Smith BL noted McAuley is now living in Dublin and successfully applied to change the Garda station where she must sign on twice weekly. Judge Crowe granted this application and remanded McAuley on continuing bail. The court also noted that the Director of Public Prosecutions had previously appealed a 2015 sentence of two years, suspended for ten years, for theft of nearly €111,000, citing undue leniency. The Court of Appeal declined to alter that sentence but extended the repayment period to seven-and-a-half years, with the balance still outstanding.
Amy McAuley, 35, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to one count of using a false instrument by submitting a false death notification form to Wexford County Council on January 19, 2023. She also admitted attempting to pervert the course of justice on January 23, 2023, and forging a medical report on November 23, 2022. Additionally, McAuley entered guilty pleas to five counts of theft and one count of possession of the proceeds of crime on separate dates between November 2015 and May 2023. The court heard that the Director of Public Prosecutions appealed her 2015 sentence of two years, suspended for 10 years, for stealing nearly €111,000 from a former employer, citing undue leniency. The Court of Appeal declined to alter the sentence but extended the repayment period to seven-and-a-half years. Judge Orla Crowe adjourned the case for finalisation next week.
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.
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.
Christopher Connaughton, a 45‑year‑old painter and decorator from Enniscorthy, was sentenced to four years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for his role as the 'warehouse man' in a €726,000 cannabis shipment. He pleaded guilty on 18 July 2023 to possession of cannabis herb and resin after Customs and Gardaí seized two pallets at a Greenhills Industrial Estate warehouse. Connaughton signed for the delivery under a false name, unloaded the drugs, and took the pallets to a Tallaght warehouse where further searches uncovered the full value of the drugs. He admitted his involvement, claiming he acted to pay a drug debt, and stated he had no financial interest in the shipment. His only prior conviction was for drink driving. The judge noted his low‑to‑middle level involvement and imposed the four‑year sentence, citing mitigation but also the substantial drug amount.
A 70‑year‑old man, John Sheridan, was given a fully suspended sentence for assaulting his wife, Ann Sheridan, over a ten‑year marriage. Sheridan pleaded not guilty to four counts of assault occasioning bodily harm and three counts of assault causing harm, committed between 1994 and 2002. The court found that the abuse began with verbal insults from the first day of marriage and escalated to physical violence, including repeated hits with an open hand, a closed fist, and kicks with a steel‑capped boot. Sheridan admitted to hitting his wife but denied kicking her. He had no prior convictions. The judge, citing Sheridan's transfer of his interest in the family home to the victim, imposed a headline sentence of three years, reduced to 18 months, and suspended it entirely. Sheridan was also ordered to stay away from the victim and his children and to hand over his interest in the family home.
The Workplace Relations Commission awarded €10,000 to Wexford County Council employee Patrick O'Connor, finding he continued to suffer penalisation and ostracisation for making a safety complaint. This follows a previous €20,000 award for similar treatment, which is currently under appeal to the Labour Court. In this second complaint under the Health, Safety and Welfare at Work Act 2005, O'Connor alleged ongoing ostracisation, denial of overtime, and an incident where a foreman allegedly shoved him from a pickup truck in October 2022. The council disputed the assault allegation but admitted its investigator fell ill, preventing the conclusion of the investigation. Adjudicator Roger McGrath ruled that the council's failure to conclude the investigation and produce the foreman as a witness amounted to penalisation, noting there was nothing to contradict O'Connor's testimony. The adjudicator described the council's inaction as "unacceptable" and found that O'Connor continued to suffer ostracisation, with colleagues dispersing when he entered the yard. While acknowledging the overtime issue was addressed to some degree, the tribunal noted the council failed to provide documentation proving O'Connor was not out of pocket. Consequently, the tribunal upheld the finding of penalisation and awarded the additional €10,000 compensation. The original decision remains subject to appeal, while this new award addresses the continuing nature of the alleged misconduct.
In a landmark High Court ruling, Justice Emily Egan held that the noise from the Ballyduff Windfarm at Kilcomb, near Enniscorthy, constitutes an unreasonable interference and therefore a nuisance to neighbouring residents. The decision, the first private nuisance claim against wind turbine noise in Ireland or the UK, found that the sustained periods of high‑level noise, especially in the evenings, weekends and early mornings, substantially interfered with the plaintiffs' enjoyment of their homes. The plaintiffs, Margret Webster and Keith Rollo, and Ross Shorten and Joan Carty, sued Meenacloghspar (Wind) Limited for damages, alleging the noise had damaged their lives, health and property values. The court rejected the defendant's claims of negligence and of non‑breach of planning conditions, and directed the parties to re‑engage in mediation to seek proportionate mitigation measures. The case will proceed to a second module to determine damages and possible injunctions. The hearing lasted 51 days and the costs are estimated above €1 million.
Tony Hudson, 61, of Ballymurray, Enniscorthy, was found guilty by a Central Criminal Court jury of 70 charges of sexual offences against four children aged 12 to 17 between 2000 and 2009. The offences included oral rape, sexual assault, buggery, gross indecency and defilement. Hudson had befriended the children, invited them to his house for chores, paid them modest sums and gave them cigarettes and alcohol. He began touching them sexually, forced them to masturbate, and in some cases forced them to have sex with each other. One victim was recorded having anal sex with Hudson and the video was shown to another victim. Hudson denied the allegations. Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford sentenced him to 13 years in prison, with the final two years suspended, back‑dated to his custody entry on 27 October. The sentence was imposed on 21 December 2023.
A 45‑year‑old man, David Bolger, was sentenced to nine years in prison for the manslaughter of his friend Przemyslaw Klimczuk, who was 43, in a house on Greenville Lane, Enniscorthy, on 1 May 2020. The incident occurred during a Covid lockdown when the defendants were drinking heavily. Bolger denied a murder charge but was found guilty of manslaughter, with the judge noting that his intoxication removed the intent required for murder. The judge reduced the headline sentence of 14 years to ten years and six months, suspending the final 18 months on the condition of good behaviour and peace‑keeping. Bolger will serve 12 months under probation supervision after release and must comply with probation conditions or serve the suspended portion. The sentence was back‑dated to 6 July to account for time already served. The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court, where victim impact statements from Klimczuk's children were read.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, the children of Przemyslaw Klimczuk, aged ten and thirteen, said their father's death by a kitchen knife stabbing had forced them to confront a harsh reality of society. The court had earlier found David Bolger, 45, not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter for the May 1, 2020 incident at a shared house in Enniscorthy. Bolger, who had been drinking since 4 pm, stabbed Klimczuk after a fight with housemates. He denied the murder charge and claimed he was provoked. The children's statement, read by James B Dwyer SC, expressed that good memories of their father were fading and that they had learned to accept this terrible side of society. Bolger's defence presented an apology letter, acknowledging his remorse and the pain caused to the family. The case was scheduled for sentencing on October 31.
Patrick O'Connor, a Wexford County Council worker, was awarded €20,000 by the Workplace Relations Commission for penalisation under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005. O'Connor alleged that a colleague, identified as Mr F, strangled him with a seatbelt in November 2019 and later threatened to "sort [him] out" during a July 2021 confrontation at the 1798 Rebellion centre in Enniscorthy. Following a formal complaint, O'Connor claimed he suffered diminished duties, isolation, and blocked overtime. The council's HR officer, Ciara O'Reilly, stated the complaint was investigated and not upheld, denying that O'Connor was ostracised or lost overtime. However, adjudicating officer Niamh O'Carroll found O'Connor to be a credible witness and noted the council lacked supporting documentation for its position. The tribunal ruled that the council's failure to investigate and the resulting detriments were "at the most serious end of the scale." The decision, published this morning, upheld the complaint and awarded compensation, rejecting the council's defense that no procedural breaches occurred.
A 51‑year‑old woman, Julie Flood, who suffers from paranoid schizophrenia, was committed to the Central Mental Hospital (CMH) in Portrane after a Central Criminal Court judge ordered her placement following a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. Flood had pleaded not guilty to the murder of her 94‑year‑old father, Patrick Flood, on his birthday in 2019. A jury, after 48 minutes of deliberation, accepted evidence from two forensic psychiatrists that she was in a psychotic state and did not understand that her actions were wrong. The psychiatrists agreed she believed a voice of God told her her father was an imposter. Flood's father died two days after being stabbed, with a post‑mortem attributing death to congestive cardiac failure and a recent stab wound. The judge directed that Flood be treated at CMH in accordance with the relevant legislation.
In a case heard at the Central Criminal Court, 51‑year‑old Julie Flood was found not guilty of murdering her 94‑year‑old father, Patrick Flood, by reason of insanity. The trial, which lasted 48 minutes of deliberation, focused on Flood's paranoid schizophrenia and psychotic state at the time of the stabbing. She claimed a voice of God told her her father was an imposter, and she had a history of persecutory delusions, including a belief that U2's voices accused her of rape. The jury accepted psychiatric evidence that she met the criteria for a not‑guilty‑by‑reason‑of‑insanity verdict. Judge Paul McDermott remanded Flood to the Central Mental Hospital in Portrane, with a new court appearance scheduled for 4 May. The court thanked counsel and nursing staff for their assistance during the proceedings. Julie Flood was found not guilty by reason of insanity.
A 51‑year‑old woman, Julie Flood, was found not guilty by reason of insanity for stabbing her 94‑year‑old father, Patrick Flood, on his birthday. The Central Criminal Court jury deliberated 48 minutes before delivering a unanimous verdict. Flood, diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, claimed she heard God instructing her to stab her father, whom she believed was an imposter. Two psychiatrists testified that she did not understand the nature or wrongness of her actions at the time of the stabbing. Witness Alan Somers described seeing Flood in a hysterical state before the incident. Patrick Flood died two days later from a combination of a stab wound and underlying heart disease. The judge thanked the jury and adjourned the case for arrangements concerning Flood's care.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 51‑year‑old woman, Julie Flood, was tried for murdering her 94‑year‑old father on his birthday. Two psychiatrists testified that Flood suffered from persecutory delusions and auditory hallucinations, including voices of U2 and God, which led her to believe her father had been replaced and that she must stab him to rid him of evil. They argued she did not understand the wrongfulness of her act and therefore met the criteria for a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. The prosecution urged the jury to accept this expert evidence, while the defence prepared to argue otherwise. The trial was set to continue with the jury's deliberation the following day.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Julie Flood, 51, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity for fatally stabbing her 94‑year‑old father, Patrick Flood, on his birthday in April 2019. The prosecution alleged that Flood was in a psychotic state, claiming God instructed her that her father was an intruder and that she must stab him. She stabbed him with a kitchen knife, left the house, and later flagged down a driver, stating she was after stabbing her daddy. Gardaí arrested and detained her under the Mental Health Act. Patrick Flood was taken to hospital, underwent surgery, but died two days later from a stab wound to the abdomen compounded by severe heart disease. The trial focuses on whether Flood was insane at the time of the act, with expert testimony from both sides expected. The case continues before a jury.
A woman giving evidence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has described being moved between rural towns weekly while allegedly trafficked for sexual exploitation. The complainant, who cannot be named, told the trial she was relocated from locations including Portarlington, Enniscorthy and Tralee, and kept a knife for protection following violent incidents with clients. She said she received instructions via phone and messaging apps from two women regarding services to be provided and payment collection, with no option to refuse work or relocation. Natalia Nogueira Da Silva, aged 32, of Drumlish, County Longford, has pleaded not guilty to human trafficking between March and May 2019, but guilty to organising prostitution, facilitating illegal entry to the State, and money laundering charges. Ivanilce Vailones Fidelis, aged 46, of Roscommon, denies all eighteen counts against her, including two counts of human trafficking and fourteen counts of money laundering. The prosecution alleges both defendants exploited vulnerable Brazilian women through debt bondage. The trial continues at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Two women have gone on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on charges relating to the alleged trafficking of Brazilian nationals for sexual exploitation across rural Irish towns. Natalia Nogueira Da Silva, aged 32, of Drumlish, Co Longford, has pleaded not guilty to human trafficking but guilty to organising prostitution, facilitating illegal entry, and money laundering offences. Her co-accused, Ivanilce Vailones Fidelis, aged 46, of Roscommon, has pleaded not guilty to all charges against her, including two counts of human trafficking, organising prostitution, and money laundering. The prosecution alleges the two women trafficked vulnerable women between December 2018 and May 2019, moving them between towns including Portarlington, Thurles, and Tralee for sexual work. The State contends the women were controlled through debt bondage and threats. The trial, before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury, is expected to last six weeks.
Two couples, Margaret Webster and Keith Rollo, and Ross Shorten and Joan Carty, have filed High Court damages actions against Meenacloghspar (Wind) Limited, the operator of the Ballyduff Windfarm near Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford. They allege that since the windfarm began operating in 2017, the turbines have produced constant noise, vibration and shadow flicker that has disrupted their sleep, increased anxiety and harmed their mental health. The plaintiffs claim the noise has devalued their homes, which are 369 metres and 359 metres from the turbines, and that the windfarm is operating in breach of its planning permission. They seek orders to cease operation, decommission the windfarm, and restrain future operation until noise and vibration are reduced, as well as damages for nuisance, negligence, breach of duty and constitutional rights. The defendant denies all allegations and argues the windfarm is compliant with its planning permission. The case is scheduled to be heard over several weeks before Ms Justice Emily Egan.
Conor Kirwan, 27, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, after pleading guilty to multiple offences including robbery, impersonation of a Garda, and producing a syringe. He stole 11 pieces of corned beef from Supervalu in June 2020, three legs of lamb from Dunnes Stores in January 2021, and €30 from a student on Eden Quay in September 2020. In each incident he used threats or a syringe to intimidate victims. Kirwan's crimes were linked to his drug addiction, and he was homeless at the time. The judge noted his positive steps since custody. He has 52 prior convictions, including theft, assault and drug offences. The court emphasised that the suspended portion of the sentence was imposed on strict conditions. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Conor Kirwan, aged 27, pleaded guilty to several offences in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He admitted to stealing three legs of lamb from a Dunnes Stores supermarket in January 2021, intending to sell them on the street to raise money for drugs, and to threatening a security guard with an uncapped syringe while pointing it at the guard. He also pleaded guilty to a robbery at Supervalu in June 2020, where he stole 11 pieces of corned beef, and to impersonating a garda at Eden Quay in September 2020, during which he forced a student to remove shoes and socks, demanded identification, and stole €30 from the student's wallet. Kirwan has 52 prior convictions, including theft, assault and drug offences, and is currently in custody. The court adjourned the case for finalisation on 14 February.
Janet Agbontaen, 55, a Nigerian woman who arrived in Dublin in 2001 under a false identity claiming to be from Sierra Leone, was jailed for two years after fraudulently claiming more than €100,000 in child welfare and single parent benefits. She used a fake name to obtain about €55,000 in child benefit, €3,000 in early childcare allowance, and €83,700 in one parent family payments. In 2002 she challenged a deportation order and her sworn statements led to charges of perjury and perverting the course of justice. Agbontaen pleaded guilty to nine counts of theft from the Minister of Social Protection, giving false information to a births registrar, and fraudulently obtaining a driving licence. She was described as a victim of domestic violence and coercion by her husband, and the court noted her lack of prior offending when imposing the sentence.
A Dublin man, Mr Ryan Byrne of St Teresa's Road Crumlin, has filed a High Court judicial review against the Garda Commissioner and the Superintendent of Enniscorthy Garda Station. The challenge concerns the seizure and continued retention of his car following his arrest on 16 April for an alleged false imprisonment charge. Byrne was released from Crumlin Station on 17 April, but his vehicle was seized as part of the investigation, which the court says is being conducted by Gardai in Co Wexford. He was told he could retrieve the car on 18 April, but upon returning he was informed that release required a Garda Sergeant from Gorey, Co Wexford. Byrne's solicitor, Mr Tony Collier, has requested the car's return, but it remains in Dublin. Byrne, who is unemployed, argues the car is essential for family reasons, particularly to obtain medicine for his asthmatic son amid the Covid‑19 pandemic.
Michael Malone, aged 50, was convicted of indecent assault and sexual assault of two boys in Wexford between 1989 and 1992. He pleaded guilty to sample counts of sexual assault of each child. The court noted the systematic nature of the abuse, the grooming of the boys, and the breach of trust. Malone's guilty plea, remorse, and the fact that he was a young man at the time were considered mitigating factors. He was sentenced to two years imprisonment on each of the two sample counts, with one year suspended from each sentence. The suspended years are conditional on Malone remaining under Probation Service supervision for two years after release. All sentences run consecutively, giving an operating sentence of eight years imprisonment, with the final four years suspended. The court praised the courage of the two complainants and highlighted the serious impact on the victims. The case also referenced Malone's earlier convictions for indecent assault in the 1980s.
Receiver Mr Ken Fennell brought proceedings in the High Court against Mr Arthur O'Neill, alleging contempt of an injunction granted last March that restrained O'Neill from entering or interfering with a property in Askinvillar Upper, Kiltealy, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford. Fennell claimed O'Neill re-entered the property, prevented the receiver from taking possession, and listed the premises for rent on various websites without consent. The receiver, appointed by Promontoria (Finn) Ltd in 2017 following an alleged failure to repay a €2m loan, sought O'Neill's attachment and committal to prison. Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds had previously warned O'Neill that non-compliance would result in jail. The matter had been adjourned to Tuesday's sitting of the High Court, to allow Mr O'Neill to consider his position and obtain legal advice. On Tuesday, O'Neill gave a sworn undertaking before the judge to comply with the orders, though he raised concerns regarding tenants with leases. Ms Justice Reynolds stated that any issues concerning purported leases were for another day, as the court was solely concerned with the contempt issue. The judge adjourned the matter to Friday to verify if the orders were complied with. O'Neill avoided immediate imprisonment by agreeing to abide by the court orders.
In a High Court case in Co Wexford, Judge Leonie Reynolds gave Arthur O'Neill a week to decide whether he would comply with an injunction that prohibits him from entering or interfering with a property in receivership at Askinvillar Upper, Kiltealy, Enniscorthy. The injunction, issued by Mr Justice Senan Allen in March, was described by the judge as "crystal clear" and "written in plain language." O'Neill, who represented himself, argued that the order did not reflect Justice Allen's statements and raised questions about alleged leases on the property. John Kennedy BL, counsel for receiver Mr Ken Fennell, said no valid leases existed. Reynolds rejected O'Neill's arguments, stating there were no errors in the order, and warned that failure to comply could result in jail. She granted an adjournment to allow O'Neill to arrange his affairs and urged him to seek legal advice before the matter returns to court.
A Co Wexford man, identified as Arthur O'Neill of Marshallstown, Enniscorthy, faces potential imprisonment for alleged contempt of a High Court order. The matter, currently at the sentence stage, involves a claim by receiver Ken Fennell that O'Neill breached an injunction granted by Mr Justice Senan Allen last March. The order restrained O'Neill from entering or interfering with a property in receivership at Askinvillar Upper, Kiltealy, Enniscorthy. Fennell alleges O'Neill has advertised the property for rent on various websites, re-entered the premises after agents secured it, and maintained control with supporters, including Yellow Vest movement members. It is claimed O'Neill wrote to Fennell refusing to hand over possession and posted a video acknowledging the breach. Although O'Neill has appealed the injunction, no stay was granted. Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds granted permission on an ex-parte basis for a motion seeking O'Neill's attachment and committal. The court heard that Fennell's agents have been unable to regain possession and have faced threatening comments online. The matter was adjourned, with the judge making it returnable to next week.
Michael Collins, who had a recent bail address at Mellows Park in Finglas, pleaded guilty to handling stolen property in Enniscorthy on 1 February 2015. He was found guilty of three counts involving stolen power tools worth almost €7,000 and two high‑quality bicycles worth just under €2,000. The owner had reported a burglary a few days earlier and Collins recognised the tools by their distinctive yellow cables. He was sentenced to 10 months' imprisonment, with the final four months suspended for five years, by Judge Barry Hickson. Collins' lawyers sought a judicial review, arguing the five‑year suspension was disproportionate, but the High Court rejected the appeal and the Court of Appeal upheld that decision. Justice Isobel Kennedy confirmed there is no statutory limit on the length of a suspended sentence and that the judge's decision was proportionate and evidence‑based.
Patrick Wheelock, an engineer and businessman, has taken the High Court to challenge the appointment of Stephen Tennant of Grant Thornton as receiver over his Monvoy lands in County Waterford. Wheelock alleges that the signatures on deeds of mortgage, purportedly charging his property to the now-defunct Anglo Irish Bank, are forgeries. He claims he never agreed to any mortgage or charge and was unaware of the purported deeds until 2014, when he sued his former accountant for alleged fraud and misappropriation of €7.9 million. The accountant had allegedly falsified Wheelock's signature on documents dated 2003 and 2008, creating security interests in favour of Anglo. NAMA acquired the mortgages, sold them to Promontoria in 2017, and Promontoria appointed a receiver to bypass commercial court proceedings. Wheelock seeks orders preventing the receiver from selling or advertising the Monvoy lands, which he intends to develop. The case is currently before the Commercial Court, with the matter returned to Friday's sitting.
In a High Court case in Co. Wexford, a dispute between John B. Dockrell Ltd and farmer Mr. John Kinsella over 150 acres at Lodgewood was resolved. The company had obtained an injunction after alleging that Kinsella had trespassed, blocked access with concrete blocks and vehicles, and illegally ploughed the land. Kinsella, who represented himself, contested the allegations and was later imprisoned for contempt of court. After a brief stay at Mountjoy Prison, he complied with the injunction. The parties reached a settlement, and the court granted orders preventing Kinsella and those acting with him from trespassing or obstructing the property, while allowing costs orders to be adjourned with permission to re‑enter if the orders were breached. The judge approved the settlement and the orders were granted.
A man from County Wexford, John Kinsella, was released from custody at the Four Courts after agreeing to comply with High Court orders that prohibit him from trespassing on or approaching within 100 metres of lands in County Wexford. The orders, issued against him by the plaintiff John B. Dockrell Ltd, also restrain him from interfering with the plaintiff's quiet enjoyment of the property, blocking entrances, or impeding access. Kinsella, who was not represented at the hearing, was granted a two‑week adjournment of attachment and committal proceedings by Justice Caroline Costello after he gave a sworn undertaking to comply with the orders until the matter returns before the Court. The adjournment was set for 10 August, and Kinsella was released on the condition that he adhere to the orders until that date. The case remains pending before the Court.
Jason Byrne, a 38-year-old from Clondalkin, Dublin 22, has lost his appeal against his conviction. Byrne had pleaded not guilty at Wexford Circuit Criminal Court to a series of offences, including three counts of burglary, one count of aggravated burglary, assault causing harm, and unauthorised use of a vehicle, allegedly committed in the south-east in 2008 and 2009. Following a lengthy trial, a jury found him guilty, and Judge Barry Hickson sentenced him to six years imprisonment on April 15, 2016. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham with Mr Justice Alan Mahon and Mr Justice John Hedigan, dismissed the appeal, holding that the trial was satisfactory and the conviction safe. The prosecution alleged Byrne was part of a gang targeted by An Garda Síochána's Operation Slope. Key evidence came from Des Kavanagh, an accomplice in the Witness Protection Programme, who implicated Byrne in incidents including a burglary at Bunclody and an assault at an Esso filling station. Byrne's lawyers argued Kavanagh's evidence lacked credibility and transparency. However, the Court of Appeal noted the trial judge had issued clear warnings to the jury regarding the dangers of relying on such evidence. The court concluded that the matter was quintessentially for the jury to decide, and they were content to convict based on the evidence presented.
In a High Court hearing, John B. Dockrell Ltd, a vegetable grower, alleged that Mr John Kinsella had trespassed on approximately 150 acres of land purchased in June 2017 in Ferns, Co. Wexford. Dockrell claimed Kinsella entered the property without permission, ploughed the fields, chained gates, placed large concrete blocks, and used vehicles to block the entrance. A vehicle used to block the entrance was impounded by the Gardai, later retrieved after a fine, and repositioned in front of the entrance, causing financial loss to the company. Dockrell secured an ex‑parte temporary injunction preventing Kinsella from coming within 100 metres of the land at Lodgewood and restraining him from interfering with the plaintiff's quiet enjoyment. The injunction remains pending while the case returns to court later in the month. Ms Justice Carmel Stewart upheld the injunction and deemed service on Kinsella effective. The matter is set to return before the courts later this month.
In February 2018, a trademark dispute between Allied Imports Ltd, the owner of the Tipperary Crystal brand, and Kavanagh Giftware Ltd was resolved. Allied Imports had sued Kavanagh Giftware for alleged passing off of Tipperary Crystal marks on packaging of mugs and cups sold by the giftware company. The case, admitted to the fast‑track Commercial Court, was brought before Mr Justice Brian McGovern, who was informed that the parties had reached a settlement and the case could be struck out. Allied Imports and its director, Mr Robert Scanlan, argued that Kavanagh Giftware's use of a grey and white graphical representation on the inside and outside of packaging infringed their copyright and caused public confusion. Kavanagh Giftware had sold the products in its Enniscorthy outlet and online, and was also distributing them wholesale to other retailers in Ireland. The settlement ended the litigation without further orders or injunctions.
Mr Justice Brian McGovern admitted a claim by former minister Ivan Yates and his wife, Deirdre Yates, to the Commercial Court list. The couple alleges that the sale of lands at Blackstoops, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, to AIB by bankruptcy trustees Mark Wilson and George Maloney is void. They contend the property includes their family home and that Deirdre Yates holds a beneficial interest, arguing the trustees breached EU insolvency regulations by failing to seek Irish court permission before disposal. AIB, which acquired the lands in 2015, opposes the claim, stating its ability to recover debts would be adversely affected. While AIB and the trustees supported admission to the fast-track list, counsel for the couple, Jerry Healy SC, opposed it, citing insufficient valuation evidence and resource constraints. The judge determined the threshold for admission was met. He suggested the parties consider mediation to resolve the dispute and adjourned the case for one month to allow for potential mediation. The matter was adjourned and not concluded.
In a 23 January 2018 High Court decision, Justice Carmel Stewart ruled that €875,000 held in Irish bank accounts belonging to Mr Adam Shina Muhammed, a man in his early forties, were proceeds of crime. The accounts, controlled by Mr Muhammed and located at several Irish financial institutions, had been frozen after a Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) application. Mr Muhammed had not formally opposed the application and had previously denied involvement in money laundering, claiming the funds were business loans for his company Eirclean. No evidence supported this claim; CAB presented evidence of large sums deposited between May 2014 and November 2015 from Hong Kong, China, the USA and Nigeria, totaling about €1.5 million, with €875,000 remaining after some dissipation. CAB found no records of Eirclean's trading activity, premises, employees or tax returns. Justice Stewart therefore ordered the accounts under Section 3 of the 1996 Proceeds of Crime Act and appointed a receiver over the monies.
Joseph Berry, aged 30, was jailed for his part in the theft of an ATM from a Maxol/Mace service station in Enniscorthy on 24 July 2009. The ATM, owned by Ulster Bank, contained €205,100 at the time of removal. Berry had pleaded guilty to theft and related offences and was originally sentenced to four years' imprisonment by Judge Barry Hickson on 28 June 2016. On appeal, the Court of Appeal found that the Circuit Court had not given enough weight to mitigating factors such as Berry's youth, guilty plea and clean record. The Court suspended the final nine months of a new four‑year term, re‑sentencing Berry to four years with the suspended portion, and backdated the sentence to 9 December 2015 to account for time spent in German custody awaiting extradition. The decision was made by Judges Alan Mahon, Michael Peart and George Birmingham. The appeal was granted on 13 November 2017.