The trial of Stephen Tynan and Raymond Fitzgerald for the alleged murder of Andrew Guerrine is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court. Both defendants, who are from Tallaght, have pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Guerrine at an unknown location between May 22 and May 23, 2015. In his closing address, prosecutor Brendan Grehan SC acknowledged the absence of fingerprints, DNA, a murder weapon, or eyewitness testimony. However, he argued that circumstantial evidence strongly links the accused to the crime. Key evidence includes a child's jacket entangled in the victim's legs when the body was dumped on Steelstown Lane in Rathcoole. The prosecution contends this jacket was connected to a car later found burnt out, which the accused had pushed into a petrol station. Mr Grehan highlighted phone records showing Tynan's phone was inactive during the critical period and Fitzgerald's phone ceased activity shortly before 1am on May 23. He also cited CCTV footage of the car on Steelstown Lane and alleged lies in Fitzgerald's statement to gardai. The prosecution asserts the murder was premeditated, citing efforts to procure a vehicle before the victim arrived in Tallaght. The defense barristers are scheduled to deliver their closing speeches on Friday morning.
In the Central Criminal Court, a jury heard CCTV footage of a dark‑coloured hatchback with one headlight and one taillight out of service, moving through Tallaght on the night Andrew Guerrine was stabbed. The car was first seen at 11.51pm in Killinarden, then tracked along Blessington Road until just before 1am. At about 5am it was captured outside a pharmacy, then moved to a garage where it stalled, after which the driver and passenger pushed it to a petrol pump. The vehicle was later seen on Cushlawn Way, last at 5.28am, and again leaving the same spot at 2.42am the following night. Stephen Tynan (41) and Raymond Fitzgerald (37) pleaded not guilty to Guerrine's murder, which involved 20 stab wounds, two penetrating the skull and cervical spine. The trial continues before Justice Michael McDermott with a jury of seven men and five women.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence that the 62‑year‑old Noel 'Duck Egg' Kirwan was murdered on 22 December 2016 after trading his BMW X5 for a Ford Mondeo, which was later sold at Merlin Car Auctions. Garda Stephen Hughes identified Jason Keating (27) in CCTV from the auction on 20 December, showing Keating and a woman in a green Renault Megane. Keating, who lives on Lower Main Street, Rush, pleaded not guilty to Kirwan's murder. The court also considered evidence that a 'Gotek 7' tracking device was placed under Kirwan's Ford Mondeo on 23 December, having previously tracked his BMW from 8 November. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, continues tomorrow.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence in the ongoing trial of Thomas Fox, Jonathan Keogh, and Regina Keogh, who have all pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Gareth Hutch. The prosecution alleges the killing was premeditated, with Mr. Keogh and an uncharged man, Mr. AB, acting as shooters, while Mr. Fox and Ms. Keogh are accused of planning the crime. Evidence presented includes a text message sent from a UK number to a phone associated with Mr. Fox hours after the shooting, stating, "your scot free pal" and "there all poxy blaming me." Senior crime analyst Paul Hibbitts confirmed that this UK number also contacted Denise King, Mr. Keogh's former partner, and Ms. Keogh. The court previously viewed CCTV footage of Mr. Keogh in Belfast on the night of the shooting and at the Stenaline Port Terminal the following day. Testimony indicated that Ms. Keogh arranged for money to be brought to Mr. Keogh before he traveled to Scotland. Additionally, analysis of SIM cards found in a car linked to Mr. Keogh revealed significant interaction with numbers associated with Mr. Fox and Mr. AB on the morning of the incident. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, sitting with Judges Patricia Ryan and Michael Walsh.
Steven McDonnell, 52, was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to possessing over €13,000 worth of cocaine for sale or supply at his Blessington Street address. The court also considered counts of possession of cannabis, cannabis resin and ketamine. A search warrant, executed after days of surveillance, uncovered a large slab of cocaine, cannabis, cannabis resin and a chocolate Kinder Egg containing ketamine, with the total drug value at €94,166. McDonnell admitted he had accrued about €5,000 in gambling debts and was coerced into holding the drugs, receiving €500 each time he delivered them to a dealer. He also admitted smoking about €50 of cannabis every few days. McDonnell had no prior convictions. The judge noted he had been coerced but ultimately chose to accept the drugs, describing him as a "pitiful" and isolated man who had suffered severe depression and attempted suicide. The sentence was imposed by Judge Martin Nolan.
Joseph O'Shaughnessy, 30, pleaded guilty to three counts of theft and criminal damage after breaking into a Mr Price shop, a Westpark Fitness Gym and a Metro Café Bar in Tallaght on 4‑5 December 2015. He kicked the Mr Price door, threw a rock at the gym door and smashed the bar door, stealing €1,000 from the till. Blood samples and CCTV identified him at all scenes. O'Shaughnessy has a lifelong intellectual disability diagnosed after the offences, and two psychologists described him as a vulnerable adult with very low cognitive skills and a high susceptibility to influence. He has 20 prior convictions, mainly minor traffic offences, none resulting in jail. The court, considering his disability and a supportive regime, imposed a 12‑month sentence suspended in full for 18 months. He was ordered to complete offence‑focused work, victim‑awareness work, a structured educational programme, keep the peace and obey Probation Services for 18 months.
Christopher Keeley, aged 53, was sentenced to five and a half years in prison by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for his role in a car chop‑shop operation and drug offences. He pleaded guilty to possession of stolen cars and to possession for sale or supply of cannabis. Gardaí seized six stolen vehicles, €70,000 worth of cannabis, and additional drugs including cocaine, as well as fake bank drafts, from a series of searches at an industrial unit in Summerhill, Meath, Keeley's home in Rossfield Court, Tallaght, and a lock‑up in Blessington, Co. Wicklow. The court noted that the stolen cars had been taken during burglaries across the country. Judge Martin Nolan, taking into account Keeley's serious medical problems, accepted his remorse and imposed the sentence, stating Keeley would not appear again for similar offences. The sentence reflects the profit motive behind the drug dealing. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
Charles Schlaubitz, 45, was jailed for 18 months after producing an imitation firearm in the beer garden of the Pygmalion Public House and a second replica at a pharmacy on Berkeley Road. He pleaded guilty to possession of imitation firearms with intent to cause injury or intimidate. Schlaubitz, who is bipolar with manic depression, admitted to having a "bad run of things" and that he had gone too far. He was intoxicated and unfit to be interviewed after his arrest. Judge Melanie Greally noted that no major harm had been caused and that people could not circulate in public places producing what appeared to be a firearm. She handed down a three‑year sentence but suspended the final 18 months on a number of conditions. The article reports that Schlaubitz had 91 previous convictions, mainly for public order and theft offences. The case was heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
A high court challenge has been launched by local resident Brian Kingham and Blessington Sailing Club against Wicklow County Council's decision to allow a pedestrian and cycle track around Blessington Lakes. The challenge argues that the council's approval on 3 July 2017 breaches EU requirements for an Appropriate Assessment and fails to meet obligations under the 2000 Planning and Development Act and the EU Habitats Directive. The proposed track, made of crushed stone, would follow the lakeshore and include about 100 new culverts, 18 bridges over larger streams, fencing and minor landscaping. It would also upgrade existing tracks, involving excavation, geotextile membrane installation and a crushed limestone surface layer. The applicants, represented by Michael O'Donnell Bl, seek declarations that the council did not comply with the required assessments and that the development materially contravenes the Wicklow Development Plan. Permission to bring the challenge was granted ex‑parte by Mr Justice Seamus Noonan, who set a return date for December.
On 2 October 2015, Charles Schlaubitz, aged 45, produced an imitation firearm in the beer garden of the Pygmalion Public House on Coppinger Row. He was wearing army gear, had a can of beer, and pulled a replica gun from his pocket. Garda John Clancy was alerted and found Schlaubitz intoxicated, slurring, and unsteady. He did not conceal the gun, which was in his bag, and was restrained. Schlaubitz was arrested and bailed for a public order offence that did not proceed. Later that day he returned to a pharmacy on Berkeley Road to retrieve toiletries he had purchased for his children. He produced the same imitation handgun, was aggressive, and was asked to leave. The pharmacy staff called Gardaí, who found him semi‑naked in a corridor at his hostel. He was arrested again. Charles Schlaubitz pleaded guilty.
Brandon Cumberton, 19, was sentenced to 18 months in prison, with nine months suspended for one year, after pleading guilty to four phone thefts in Dublin. The court heard he cycled around the city, snatching phones from women while intoxicated, and later apologized to some victims. He had eight prior convictions for minor theft. Judge Karen O'Connor noted the premeditated nature of the offences and the fact all victims were women. Cumberton cooperated with Gardaí, claimed no violence was used, and was described by his defence as a "talented underage footballer" who had played for Belvedere College and Hardwick FC. The judge warned him he could either move past his offending or face significant time in custody. No phones were recovered.
Kassem Hamdam, 30, was sentenced to three and a half years' imprisonment with the final nine months suspended for assault causing harm and production of a weapon after he repeatedly stabbed his ex‑wife in front of their four‑year‑old daughter. The incident occurred on Blessington Street, Dublin 7, on 23 August 2015. Hamdam pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He claimed he had wanted the woman to be left with a permanent scar and said he could not leave his child "with this bitch". He told Gardaí that the woman had "fucked my life" and that the relationship had ended because she was jealous and did not like him drinking. The court noted that Hamdam had been brought to a Lebanese refugee camp as a six‑year‑old, witnessed daily shootings and detonations, and had been diagnosed with post‑traumatic stress disorder after arriving in Ireland in 2006 to seek asylum.
Naila Zaffer, a 38‑year‑old former senior claims official at IPB Insurance, was sentenced to eight months' imprisonment after a Court of Appeal found her earlier two‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended sentence too lenient. Between April 2007 and August 2012, Zaffer defrauded her employer of €220,000 by forging insurance claims, adding an extra claim to policies paid out by IPB. She had pleaded guilty to ten counts of using a false instrument, theft and attempted theft. The original Circuit Court judge noted the money was not recovered and questioned the need for imprisonment. The appellate court, led by Mr Justice Alan Mahon, upheld the headline sentence but suspended all but eight months, citing her cooperation, guilty plea, remorse, lack of prior convictions, psychological vulnerability and efforts to address addiction. She was required to enter a good‑behaviour bond for the suspended period.
Naila Zaffer, 38, a former senior insurance claims official, was found guilty of defrauding her employer, IPB Insurance, of €220,000 over six years. She pleaded guilty to ten counts of using a false instrument, theft and attempted theft between April 2007 and August 2012. In May 2015, Judge Terence O'Sullivan imposed a wholly suspended two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence. The Court of Appeal, hearing an application from the Director of Public Prosecutions, ruled that the sentence was "unduly lenient" and ordered a fresh hearing in December. The appeal judge noted that Zaffer had no prior convictions, had lost her job, and that the fraud was pre‑meditated and prolonged. The case was remitted for the probation service to prepare reports before the new sentencing hearing.
A woman with 234 previous convictions, Winne Cash (46) of Blessington Road, Tallaght Dublin, has been sentenced to four years in prison for stealing a handbag from a 73-year-old woman and trespassing on the curtilage of a house at Main Street, Baldoyle on November 23, 2015. Cash pleaded guilty to the charges at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Melanie Greally noted that Cash had previously received a three-year sentence for burglary in 2013 and surmised that she would not have been out of prison for long at the time of this offence. The judge described the offence as particularly nasty with some degree of premeditation and imposed a four-year sentence, suspending the final year. The matter was adjourned for the purposes of the court's consideration of the suspended portion of the sentence. The case-subject, Tallaght Dublin, also admitted to the same charges and pleaded guilty, but no sentence was imposed at this procedural stage.
Naila Zaffer, 38, a former senior claims manager, was given a two‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended sentence after pleading guilty to ten charges of forgery, using a false instrument and theft from IPB Insurance between April 2007 and August 2012. She stole €221,685 in 18 transactions by forging documents, adding fictitious claimants, and directing cheques to accounts she controlled. The fraud was uncovered when a colleague noticed anomalies, leading to an internal investigation, her suspension and eventual dismissal in February 2014. Zaffer claimed the theft was driven by a "physical compulsion" to pay a spiralling drug debt, admitting she spent about €250 a day on cocaine. She has no prior convictions, is currently on social welfare, and the judge suspended the sentence on the condition she attend residential treatment and remain under probation supervision for the full period.
Two men were sentenced to four years imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following their guilty pleas to car-jacking. Francis Stokes, aged 29, of Ballyconnell, County Cavan, and Martin Stokes, aged 24, of Celbridge, County Kildare, hijacked a vehicle at Blessington Road, Tallaght, on 10 November 2013. Judge Melanie Greally suspended the final two years of Francis Stokes's sentence and the last three years of Martin Stokes's sentence, having regard to their differing criminal histories. The victim described the incident as life-altering, stating it had severely restricted her confidence and ability to engage in activities she previously enjoyed. The court heard evidence that the complainant had become fearful of driving and was unable to maintain her former independence. The accused had claimed to gardaí that they commandeered the vehicle following an attack by another party, though the victim impact statements presented a substantially different account of events.
Kenneth Cummins (28) and Sabrina Cummins (37), both of Ringsend Park, Dublin 4, are on trial at the Central Criminal Court, having pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Thomas Horan (63) at Cambridge Court, Ringsend, on January 6th last year. During the trial, Sabrina Cummins gave evidence for the defence, describing the deceased as a "very nice man" who was "like a Dad" to her. She detailed her childhood background, including her father's alcoholism and domestic violence, which led to her placement in foster care. Ms Cummins also recounted a violent relationship with an Albanian man that resulted in a near-fatal injury. She stated she met Mr Horan through her sister, Breda, and maintained a long friendship with him. The court heard that Breda was murdered by her ex-partner in May 2013. Two weeks after Breda's burial, Sabrina Cummins alleged that five detectives held her and her partner at gunpoint, claiming Kenneth Cummins had reported they possessed a firearm intended to kill Breda's murderer. She denied these claims, stating her vehicle and home were searched. The trial continues.
Chico Makamda, an Angolan refugee aged 32, was sentenced by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three years in jail, with the final year suspended, for false imprisonment of Melita Cahill on 7 August 2013. The incident occurred around 2 a.m. on Blessington Street when Makamda grabbed Cahill's right wrist, shouted "you drank too much bitch," and attempted to drag her into a laneway. Cahill fought back, punched and kicked him, and escaped after a male passerby intervened. Makamda was arrested shortly thereafter at a nearby bus stop. Cahill's victim impact statement noted that the event left her with lasting anxiety and panic attacks, preventing her from walking alone at night. The judge acknowledged Makamda's limited English and hardship as a foreign national in custody. The sentence was delayed due to a prior conviction in Tralee District Court for indecent exposure, for which Makamda was fined €50. Chico Makamda pleaded guilty.
In a High Court judgment, Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns ordered the demolition of Gregory Kinsella's wooden chalet on the N81 in Tinode, Blessington, after finding it breached planning laws. The chalet, built without permission, was owned by Kinsella and his sister Gillian. Wicklow County Council had sought demolition under Section 160 of the 2000 Planning and Development Act. Kinsella agreed to have the chalet demolished by 31 January 2016, and the judge welcomed the agreement, noting it brought the matter to an end. The judge declined to make a costs order, citing the special circumstances of the case, including a prior High Court decision on a similar chalet near Lough Dan. The judgment emphasized the importance of planning control to prevent unlawful development. The chalet was located on the busy N81 between Tallaght and Blessington. The court's order was made in 2015, with demolition to occur in early 2016.
Jamie O'Hara, 20, of Killinarden Estate, Tallaght, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to multiple offences. He admitted to the robbery of a phone at Sean Walsh Park, Tallaght, on September 9, 2014, as well as stealing a mobile phone and a purse on the same date. Additionally, he pleaded guilty to the attempted robbery of a mobile phone on May 13 and to unlawfully producing a knife to intimidate on June 30, both at Sean Walsh Park. The court heard that O'Hara was on bail for the earlier offences when he committed the September robbery, during which he threatened a mother walking her children. Judge Mary Ellen Ring imposed a four-year sentence on all counts. She suspended the final year of the term on the condition that O'Hara go under the supervision of the Probation Services for that period. The judge noted that the local park is now a safer place with O'Hara in custody. Defence counsel highlighted the defendant's remorse and his different behavior when not under the influence of drugs. The sentencing concluded the proceedings for these specific charges.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 32‑year‑old Chico Makamda pleaded guilty to false imprisonment of Melita Cahill on 7 August 2013. The incident occurred around 2 a.m. on Blessington Street when Makamda, a Limerick resident originally from Angola, grabbed Cahill's right wrist and attempted to drag her into a laneway while shouting "you drank too much bitch." Cahill resisted, punching and kicking him, and managed to escape after about a minute and a half of restraint. A passer‑by heard her screams and helped her. Cahill's victim impact statement described lasting anxiety and panic attacks, noting she could not walk alone at night. The judge adjourned sentencing to the following month, with the case pending further proceedings.
Wicklow County Council has asked the High Court to order the demolition of a wooden chalet at Tinode, Blessington, which the council says was built without planning permission on land owned by Gregory and Gillian Kinsella. The chalet sits on a site that already had an old cottage and is located on the busy N‑81 road. The council seeks orders under Section 160 of the 2000 Planning and Development Act to remove the concrete base and timber structure. The Kinsellas argue they had a right to build the chalet as a replacement for the earlier cottage and that they would use only one dwelling on the site. The council cites a prior warning letter and a refusal of a retention application, and argues the chalet poses a traffic hazard. The case is pending, with the judge reserving his decision until after Easter.
Raymond Quinn, 46, a Kildare businessman, was convicted in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for stealing his elderly mother's credit card and using it to make unauthorised purchases, including hotel stays and flights, totalling €14,153. He pleaded guilty to six charges of theft at AIB and Ulster Bank branches and one charge at Brittas. Quinn had no prior convictions. The judge noted the breach of trust and the fact that his mother, now in a nursing home with dementia, had been defrauded. A three‑year suspended sentence was imposed, and Quinn was ordered to pay €8 a week for three years to repay the debt. He receives a weekly social welfare payment of €188 and has been urged to begin repaying the money to his mother. The case highlighted his financial difficulties and the impact of his actions on his family.
Ibrahim Moradi (23) of Birchwood Heights and Adnan Mohamadzadeh (24) of Belgard Square, both in Tallaght, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to falsely imprisoning Roman Bobowicz on June 25, 2012. Both admitted to the charge and pleaded guilty. Judge Mary Ellen Ring ordered Moradi and Mohamadzadeh to perform 220 hours of community service in lieu of a two and a half year sentence. Both men handed over compensation in court, with Moradi contributing €1,500 and Mohamadzadeh €2,000. They also offered an apology to the victim. Jalal Moradi (24) of Pinelawn, Old Bawn, was previously sentenced last July and ordered to perform 220 hours of community service in lieu of a two and a half year sentence. He had handed over €1,000 compensation on that date and was given 12 months to gather a further €1,000. The case is at the sentence stage, with no suspended portions, effective custody, or adjournments mentioned.
Eoin Maughan, 37, a Westmeath member of the Travelling Community, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to endangerment, dangerous driving and criminal damage after a high‑speed chase that began in Dublin and ended in Wicklow. The chase started when Maughan's grey Renault Laguna failed to stop at a roundabout in Tallaght, then drove the wrong way around a roundabout, overtook cars on a blind bend and on the wrong side of the road, and entered Brittas village where he attempted to ram a garda patrol car. He drove through the village, was pursued by a garda helicopter, and tried to escape by crashing through a stone wall near the waterworks at Bohernabreena. The pursuit ended when gardai arrested him. During questioning he became aggressive, was pepper‑sprayed, broke an interview table, and punched a garda. The court found the damage to garda vehicles cost €10,874, and that gardai suffered whiplash, facial injuries and one required surgery.
Charges were dropped against arcade night manager Calin Cucura, 31, who had been tried for allegedly taking care assistant Sean Cummins, father of nine, into a car, transporting him to an unknown location and threatening to cut off his fingers until his family paid money. The prosecution admitted insufficient evidence to proceed. Cucura pleaded not guilty to false imprisonment and a threat to kill. The Director of Public Prosecutions instructed a nolle prosequi on both counts, and Judge Patricia Ryan announced the trial would not continue.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Arcade manager Calin Cucura, aged 31, pleaded not guilty to charges of false imprisonment and a threat to kill Sean Cummins on 12 January 2010. Cummins, a full‑time care assistant, was allegedly taken from a family newsagent in Coolock by four men, including Cucura, and held in a container where they demanded money from his family. Cummins later claimed the captors released him after his family complied with the gang's cash demand. Dean Cummins, the victim's son, testified that his father was abducted because he was the first to approach the gang when they entered the shop, and that his father had intended to protect other family members. The trial, presided over by Judge Patricia Ryan with a jury of four women and eight men, will resume tomorrow for further evidence.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, 31‑year‑old Calin Cucura of Derrynane Square, Dublin, pleaded not guilty to charges of false imprisonment and making a threat to kill. He is accused of being one of four men who abducted care assistant and father of nine, Sean Cummins, on 12 January 2010. Cummins testified that the men, dressed in black, forced him into a jeep, drove him to an unknown location, and threatened to cut off his fingers daily until his family paid money. Cummins was later released at a housing estate after the captors claimed his family had complied. The trial, presided over by Judge Patricia Ryan, continues before a jury of four women and eight men. The case focuses on the alleged abduction and threat, with no further convictions or sentencing reported in the article.
Mark Griffin, 26, of North Strand Road, was part of a violent protest during Queen Elizabeth's visit to the Garden of Remembrance in Parnell Square. He threw rocks, glass bottles, a bike and pushed a burning bin at riot police and a riot van. Griffin pleaded guilty to violent disorder on Dorset Street Upper on 17 May 2011 and had 71 prior convictions. Judge Mary Ellen Ring suspended a two‑and‑a‑half‑year prison sentence on the condition that he keeps the peace for that period. The court noted that a crowd of up to 150 people had gathered at the Spire on O'Connell Street, moved to Moore Street and then to Parnell Square, where they threw missiles at gardaí. Three riot vans were called in to control the crowd. Griffin admitted taking part in the riot "because everyone else was" and claimed he had also thrown a bike at a van.
In the murder trial of 30‑year‑old Eugene Cullen, the State Pathologist Marie Cassidy testified that the deceased, Seamus O'Byrne, suffered five gunshot wounds, including one to the head, three to the back and one in the hip. She noted injuries to the brain, heart and lungs and stated the cause of death was the chest wounds, with head and leg wounds contributing. The prosecution alleged Cullen was not the gunman but part of a four‑man plot. Witnesses described a silver car and a Volkswagen Passat seen near the scene, and a silver Nissan Primera with a flat tyre. Garda investigations involved house‑to‑house enquiries, CCTV footage from an Applegreen station, and the discovery of a left‑handed black glove in a drain. The trial is proceeding before Mr Justice Barry White with a jury of five men and seven women. Eugene Cullen pleaded not guilty.