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.
Denis Nolan, 71, a former priest, was sentenced to an additional five years for a 1994‑2000 oral rape and 36 sexual assaults of a schoolboy aged 11‑17. He had already been serving 19 years for similar offences against three other victims. The Central Criminal Court had set a headline sentence of eight years for the rape, reduced to five years to run consecutively with his other sentences, and added three years for the assault charges with five years of post‑release supervision. The Court of Appeal quashed the five‑year term and resentenced Nolan to two and a half years imprisonment, bringing his total sentence to 21½ years. The additional term is to commence after the existing 19‑year term, with the offender expected to be released in March 2032. The court described the offending as egregious and highly destructive to the victim's life. Denis Nolan pleaded guilty.
In 2024, a 76‑year‑old former Dublin man appealed a conviction for raping a 15‑year‑old babysitter in the 1980s. The trial, held at the Central Criminal Court, found him guilty of two counts of rape and three counts of indecent assault. He was sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment, with the final three years suspended. The appeal argued that the judge should have warned the jury about the lack of corroborating evidence, citing inconsistencies between the victim's statements and those of her mother. The Director of Public Prosecutions maintained that such inconsistencies were for the jury to resolve. The case highlighted the victim's testimony of being forced into sexual acts, her fear during the assaults, and her subsequent pursuit of a career as a counsellor. The judge praised her bravery and determination in reporting the crimes and giving evidence.
The court heard that a 15‑year‑old driver of a stolen car caused a garda's hand to break while she tried to remove him from the vehicle during a pursuit. The teenager, now 16, pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment, assault, unlawful use of a car, dangerous driving and damaging an official garda vehicle at locations along the M50 on 24 August 2023. Detective Garda Kate Gilligan described how the boy drove on the wrong side of the motorway, rammed a patrol car and repeatedly changed lanes, creating danger for himself and other road users. She said she would take a broken hand any day over the potential consequences. Judge Orla Crowe noted the boy's significant improvement and adjourned the case for six months to allow continued work, requesting an updated probation report. The boy apologized, cooperated with investigators, and has not reoffended since his release.
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.
David Williams, 68, and co-accused Crystal Talia, 46, pleaded guilty to multiple charges at the pretrial stage. Williams admitted to multiple sample counts of deception between January 2019 and June 2020, as well as defrauding a Galway woman in her 80s by dishonestly inducing her to buy a Kuboto U27 mini-digger for €7,841. Talia pleaded guilty to impeding an investigation by allowing Williams to use her bank accounts. The court heard allegations that Williams, who is not a qualified barrister, operated bogus legal firms to scam approximately 1,200 people. In the separate mini-digger case, Williams allegedly directed the victim to a vendor and provided his own bank account details, though Gardaí traced the machine to a third party and fully refunded the victim. Judge Orla Crowe refused a request for a probation report but granted time for Williams to gather character references. The matter was adjourned, with both defendants remanded on continuing bail for finalisation on December 13.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, the accused, law professor Diarmuid Phelan, 56, is charged with the killing of Keith Conlon, 36, at Hazelgrove Farm in Tallaght on 24 February 2022. Phelan, a barrister and farmer, pleaded not guilty. The jury heard that Conlon had previously been arrested for burglary in 2010, during which he became "extremely violent", kicked a Garda and tried to jump from a patrol car. Conlon had pleaded guilty to burglary and assault in Dun Laoghaire District Court and received a 12‑month probation order. The prosecution alleged that on the day of the shooting, three men, including Conlon, trespassed on Phelan's land while hunting, and that Phelan fired a Smith & Wesson revolver in self‑defence, unintentionally killing Conlon in the back of the head. The trial continues tomorrow before Justice Siobhan Lankford and a jury of nine men and three women.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Mark Moran, 44, received a suspended 21‑month prison sentence for possession of 782 images and 20 films of child sexual abuse material seized from his home in 2015. The court noted that no aggravating factors such as distribution were present, and that Moran had no prior convictions. He pleaded guilty, expressed remorse, and acknowledged that the material was not downloaded intentionally. Judge Martin Nolan applied a non‑custodial option in line with Court of Appeal precedent, imposing a fully suspended sentence on strict conditions. Moran's admission of guilt, lack of previous offences, and mitigating circumstances were considered, and the judge warned that any repeat offence would be treated differently. The sentence reflects the seriousness of possession of child sexual abuse material while recognising the absence of aggravating conduct.
A 40‑year‑old Wicklow man was sentenced to seven years in prison, with the final 12 months suspended, for raping his wife after a child entered the room. The offence occurred while the couple were still living together for their children, despite a broken relationship. The victim was preparing for a bath when the man offered a back rub, refused, and then forced her to strip and raped her. A child witnessed part of the assault. The man denied the rape, claiming it was consensual, and later sent messages acknowledging the act but also demanding the charges be dropped. He maintains his innocence. The judge noted the man's acquired brain injury but found no diminished responsibility. The sentence considered the victim's severe harm, the child's witness, and the man's lack of prior convictions, imposing strict probation conditions upon release.
Michael Lynn, a former solicitor aged 55, faces a potential release from prison next month if his appeal against a five‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for stealing over €18 million from six financial institutions succeeds. Lynn was jailed eight months ago and his appeal is scheduled for November 4, the same day his legal team believes he could be released if the appeal is successful. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice John Edwards, clarified that grounds of appeal cannot be heard piecemeal and that the sentence appeal will be heard before the conviction appeal, an exception to usual practice. Lynn's legal team must submit their arguments by the end of next week, after which the State will reply. The judge noted that failure to comply with the timetable would halt the case. Lynn's original sentence, imposed by Judge Martin Nolan, was 13 years, reduced to 5½ years after credit for time served in Brazil.
An abuse survivor, aged 14 at the time, testified that Fergus Delaney, 61, groomed and sexually assaulted her between 2000 and 2001. She described how Delaney, seen as a community pillar, used text messages and gifts to gain her trust, leading her to skip school and develop an eating disorder. The survivor said Delaney's actions had a devastating impact on her life, causing her to leave school and feel controlled. She noted that Delaney had suggested she seduced him in an interview with Gardaí. Delaney pleaded guilty to four charges of sexual assault and was sentenced to five and a half years' imprisonment, with the final six months suspended on strict conditions. The court acknowledged the long‑lasting effects of the grooming and assault on the victim's well‑being.
A woman has been sentenced to eight years imprisonment for the manslaughter of a man during a stabbing incident in Ballyconnell, County Wicklow in February 2022. Nicola Brennan (33) pleaded guilty to manslaughter following a jury deadlock on a murder charge at the Central Criminal Court. Mr Justice Paul McDermott noted that Brennan and the deceased had previously been involved and that evidence suggested positive relations between them. The court heard the incident occurred during an evening of heavy alcohol consumption. Brennan introduced a knife into a situation where she faced no threat or provocation, striking the victim in the chest with a downward motion. The judge imposed a headline sentence of twelve years, reduced to nine years following consideration of her guilty plea, remorse and rehabilitation efforts. The final twelve months were suspended for two years conditional on good behaviour and engagement with probation services. The sentence was backdated to July 2022.
A 33-year-old woman convicted of manslaughter appeared before the Central Criminal Court on Monday seeking to demonstrate her capacity for rehabilitation following her guilty plea to killing a former partner. The defendant, from Ballyconnell, County Cavan, fatally stabbed the 36-year-old man at a shared residence in February 2022. Her barrister submitted that she has achieved qualifications and engaged in prison programmes since her conviction, and expressed genuine remorse to the victim's family. The prosecution contended the offence warranted a headline sentence of ten to fifteen years, noting the use of a knife as a significant aggravating factor. The court heard the incident occurred during a period marked by heavy alcohol use among household members. The defendant carries 49 prior convictions, predominantly traffic-related, with no history of violent offences. Mr Justice Paul McDermott adjourned sentencing to the following Monday to allow further consideration of the matter.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Garda William Ryan (41) was found guilty of three counts of sexual assault and one count of false imprisonment after a jury deliberated for about three and a half hours. The case centred on an incident at Aughrim Garda Station on 29 September 2020, when a woman sought help to retrieve her son's car. Ryan allegedly prevented her from leaving the station, slapped her bottom, groped her breasts, and sexually assaulted her again by digitally penetrating her vagina. He claimed the encounters were consensual, citing a prior phone conversation and the woman's Snapchat photos. The prosecution described his testimony as implausible and "badly‑written erotica." Ryan was remanded in custody until a sentencing date of 7 October, with the judge noting his status as a serving Garda and his family responsibilities. The trial concluded with the jury issuing a unanimous guilty verdict. William Ryan pleaded not guilty.
The trial of Garda William Ryan, 41, has entered its final stages. Ryan has pleaded not guilty to three sexual assault charges and to one false imprisonment charge relating to a woman held at Aughrim Garda Station on 29 September 2020. Judge Elma Sheahan delivered her charge to the jury, who deliberated for two and a half hours before returning home, with deliberations to resume tomorrow morning.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, Garda William Ryan, 41, pleaded not guilty to three counts of sexual assault and one count of false imprisonment. He claimed the complainant, who had come to the Aughrim Garda Station to retrieve her son's car, had masturbated him in a shower room while facing away, asserting the encounter was fully consensual. Ryan described the woman's behaviour as "sexually‑charged" and said he was "hot under the collar" and "fully aroused." The State's counsel, Maurice Coffey SC, described Ryan's account as "badly‑written erotica," arguing the woman's actions were implausible and that Ryan had prevented her from leaving the station and assaulted her three times. Defence counsel Breffni Gordon BL argued no crime was committed, noting the woman left the station the same day and later told her husband about the incident. The judge will deliver her charge on Thursday.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, a jury was informed that the alleged sexual assault of a woman by Garda William Ryan at Aughrim Garda Station was described by the defence as "consensual activity between two adults." Defence counsel argued that the woman had cupped her own bottom, pressed herself against Ryan, and showed him her breast before they went upstairs together for consensual sexual activity. The woman repeatedly denied these claims, stating "definitely did not happen." Ryan, aged 38, pleaded not guilty to three counts of sexual assault and one count of false imprisonment. The State alleged that Ryan prevented the woman from leaving the station and sexually assaulted her three times. The trial, presided over by Judge Elma Sheahan, continues with the jury hearing evidence from both sides.
A woman who says she was locked into Aughrim Garda Station and sexually assaulted by Garda William Ryan (38) has told a jury that Ryan told her to "wear something tight" before the alleged attack. She claims Ryan prevented her from leaving the station and sexually assaulted her three times. The woman, who had gone to the station for advice about her son's impounded car, says Ryan insisted she come to the station, invited her inside, and after a brief conversation he allegedly slapped her buttocks, grabbed her breasts, and sexually assaulted her in a shower room. She says the incident lasted about seven or eight minutes. Ryan denies the allegations. The case is before Judge Elma Sheahan and a jury. The trial continues. William Ryan pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a serving Garda, William Ryan, aged 38, pleaded not guilty to three counts of sexual assault and one count of false imprisonment. The case concerns an incident at Aughrim Garda Station on 29 September 2020, where a woman sought assistance with her son's case. According to the prosecution, Ryan invited her into the station, made lewd comments, and after a brief conversation, allegedly forced her to stand, slapped her buttocks, and locked the side door to prevent her escape. The woman is said to have tried to leave but was prevented by the lock. She reportedly showed Ryan a bikini photo, after which he allegedly grabbed her breast, propositioned her, and forced her into a shower room. In that room, he is alleged to have placed his hand on her, forced her to pull away, and then digitally penetrated her vagina.
A jury has been empanelled for the trial of William Ryan, a 38‑year‑old Garda of Aughrim Station, who is charged with three counts of sexual assault and one count of false imprisonment of a woman at the station on 29 September 2020. Ryan appeared before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, pleaded not guilty to all charges, and was informed that he is a serving member of An Garda Síochána. The trial, expected to last eight to nine days, will hear witnesses including Gardaí and senior detectives, and is scheduled to open tomorrow before Judge Elma Sheahan.
In a south Dublin incident, 51‑year‑old Guillermo Salazar drove a Peugeot through a red light and struck a 12‑year‑old girl crossing the road. The child sustained a swollen temple, a cut eyebrow and required hospital treatment, but has since fully recovered. Salazar, who initially faced a dangerous driving charge, pleaded guilty to careless driving causing serious bodily harm. At the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, he received a nine‑month suspended sentence, with no driving disqualification imposed. The court noted Salazar's "momentary lapse in concentration," his cooperation with Gardaí, and the absence of alcohol or prior convictions. The judge highlighted the child's injuries as not severe and accepted mitigating factors, concluding that the suspended sentence was appropriate under strict conditions. The case remains at the sentencing stage, with no further legal actions reported.
The High Court appointed Nicholas O'Dwyer and John Boland of Grant Thornton as provisional liquidators for GNC Well Ireland Unlimited Company and THSD Unlimited Company, operators of 11 health‑food stores under the GNC brand. The companies, employing 86 staff, had been loss‑making for years, with sales falling 12% in 2021 and 5% in 2022, and faced rising costs such as business rates, wages, VAT on previously zero‑VAT items and import duties. Their parent, the US‑based GNC group, had provided intracompany loans but withdrew support after a strategic review that found the Irish operations unlikely to become profitable. The parent had also sought a buyer but could not complete a sale. The court said the liquidators would secure stock, liaise with potential buyers, and manage landlords and employees to maximise creditor returns. The case will return to the court later this month.
Michael Lynn, a 55‑year‑old former solicitor from Millbrook Court, Redcross, Co Wicklow, has been granted legal aid to appeal both his conviction and sentence for stealing over €18 million from six financial institutions. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham, agreed to provide aid on the same terms as the trial court after Lynn presented a statement declaring he had no means. The judge noted that should new information arise making legal aid inappropriate, the State could return the matter to the Court of Appeal. Lynn, found guilty of 10 of 21 theft counts in a second Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial after a hung jury in 2022, is currently serving a five‑and‑a‑half‑year prison term. He intends to appeal the conviction and the sentence, with the appeal focusing on the construction of the sentence and release date issues. Michael Lynn pleaded not guilty.
Wade O'Brien, 32, of Wicklow, was sentenced to three years in prison for his central role in a savage attack on a homeless man at Rathsallagh Park, Shankill, on 5 April 2021. O'Brien pleaded guilty to affray, and the court accepted the plea based on full facts. CCTV footage showed O'Brien entering the victim's house, beating him with a baseball bat, and then bundling him into the boot of a car that had been pre‑arranged with the boot open. The victim was later found bleeding heavily and required medical treatment for a fractured wrist and severe bruising. O'Brien's 172 prior convictions, including 42 for road traffic offences, were noted. The judge set a headline sentence of five years, reduced to four, with the final year suspended on strict conditions, including remaining drug and alcohol‑free for the term. The case highlighted the victim's lack of cooperation and the strong evidence presented by the prosecution.
A man from Wicklow has been sentenced to six and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to drug trafficking offences at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Ryon Fitzpatrick, aged 34 and with an address in Enniskelly, was arrested in October 2020 as he accompanied a van containing approximately 304 kilograms of cannabis concealed in shoeboxes near Swords, County Dublin. The drugs, imported from Spain, had an estimated street value of €6.08 million. Fitzpatrick, who was driving a lookout vehicle, fled to Spain following his initial arrest and questioning but was apprehended there last year and extradited to Ireland in December. Judge Pauline Codd imposed a headline sentence of eleven and a half years, reduced to nine years following mitigation, with the final two and a half years suspended on conditions. Two co-accused, Anthony Kinghorn and Mark Nesbitt, both from England, were separately convicted and received eight-year sentences in 2021 and 2022 respectively.
Nicola Brennan, aged 33, has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Juris Viktorovs at their shared home in Shillelagh, Ballyconnell, County Wicklow on 10 February 2022. The Central Criminal Court accepted her plea, with the Director of Public Prosecutions withdrawing the murder charge. Brennan had previously pleaded not guilty to murder in December 2023, but a month-long trial resulted in jury disagreement. Mr Justice Paul McDermott adjourned the case for sentencing on 7 October pending probation and prison governor reports. Brennan has remained in custody at the Dochas women's prison since June 2022. The trial heard evidence from a witness who identified Brennan as responsible for the fatal stabbing, though the defence contended the witness account was unreliable given the circumstances.
Mark McMorrow, a 27‑year‑old law graduate and former religious youth leader, was sentenced to two‑and‑a‑half years in prison, with the final six months suspended, for defiling and sexually exploiting a 16‑year‑old girl, Sophia Doyle, in Dublin between September and December 2020. McMorrow pleaded guilty to defilement, sexual exploitation and communicating with a child for exploitation. Doyle, now 19, waived anonymity to name him. The court noted McMorrow was 22 when the offences began and that he had been a leader in a faith‑based youth group where Doyle was a member. He had communicated with her via social media and Discord, and had invited her to his home and other locations. Doyle's victim impact statement highlighted McMorrow's position of power and betrayal of trust. The judge imposed conditions preventing McMorrow from contacting Doyle or the Community of Nazareth, and barred him from using Discord. No prior convictions were recorded.
Conor Carty, 23, was jailed for three and a half years after pleading guilty to three counts of sexual assault on a friend in her bedroom in July 2020. The victim, who wished to remain anonymous, said Carty had been highly intoxicated and had sexually assaulted her three times over 20 minutes while she pretended to be asleep. She later reported the assault to her sister and to a sexual assault treatment unit, where swabs showed male DNA but no full profile. Carty voluntarily contacted Gardaí the next day and was interviewed, claiming he could not remember the assault. He had no prior convictions. The court noted the breach of trust and the victim's ongoing trauma, and imposed a sentence of four years and six months, suspending the final year on strict conditions, including probation supervision and no contact with the victim. The probation officer expressed concern about Carty's lack of memory of the night.
Michael Lynn, a former solicitor now serving a five‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for €17.9 million fraud, has filed a High Court judicial review against the Department of Justice. The department refused to pay for his lawyers' review of the thousands of pages of documents disclosed during his retrial, arguing that, as a qualified solicitor, Lynn could review the material himself. Lynn's counsel, Mark Lynam SC, argues that the refusal breaches his constitutional right to a fair trial and the European Convention on Human Rights. He seeks an order quashing the refusal, a remittance for fresh consideration, and declarations that the department acted irrationally and in error. The case was granted ex‑parte permission by Justice Niamh Hyland and will return next month. The review involved roughly 150,000 hours of work and included over 9,000 additional pages not seen in the first trial. Michael Lynn was found guilty.
Sean Boland (41) of Dundalk, Co Louth, and co-accused Jeffrey Reynolds (34) of Bray, Co Wicklow, were sentenced at the procedural stage of sentence following their convictions for possessing cannabis. Boland admitted possessing approximately 12kg of cannabis valued at €240,000 across three locations on October 17, 2022, and was sentenced to five years in prison. Reynolds pleaded guilty to possessing about €88,000 worth of cannabis herb on the same day and was sentenced to three years in prison. Prosecution evidence indicated gardaí acted on confidential information regarding a suspected transaction, leading to the search of a van driven by Reynolds, which contained 4.4kg of cannabis. Further searches of Boland's apartment in Dundalk and another unit in the same complex revealed over 7kg of cannabis, along with a vacuum sealer, scales, and a tick list. Boland made full admissions upon arrest, stating he had handed a box of cannabis to Reynolds to settle a debt. Reynolds' defense counsel noted his client operated at street level and worked on a farm to become drug-free. Judge Nolan accepted both men had good work histories and mitigation, finding them unlikely to reoffend, before imposing the respective custodial sentences.
Victor Titov, 48, of Bray, pleaded guilty to 14 fraud charges linked to false insurance policies sold by the jailed 'ghost broker' Egidijus Aleliunas. Titov acted as an intermediary, referring seven Moldovan community members to Aleliunas and earning €50 per referral. The court found Titov responsible for losses of almost €7,000 to those policy holders. He received a two‑year suspended sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The judge noted Titov's community standing, work history and family responsibilities, but held that he should have known Aleliunas was engaged in fraud. Titov had been in Ireland for nearly 20 years and had a long career as a car mechanic. The scheme, valued at €4 million, had previously seen three relatives of Aleliunas receive suspended sentences. The court emphasised that Titov did not act as a broker himself but facilitated the fraud by referring customers. The sentencing reflected the seriousness of the fraud while recognising Titov's personal circumstances.
Robert Redmond (35), a convicted murderer currently serving a life sentence for the killing of Barry Wolverson, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to conspiring to murder Jordan Davis. The 22-year-old victim was shot dead in 2019 while pushing his infant son in a pram. Prosecution counsel Bernard Condon SC stated the plea was acceptable to the DPP, and a nolle prosequi will be entered on the original murder charge after sentencing. Mr Justice Paul McDermott remanded Redmond in custody until May 13 for a sentence hearing, where a victim impact report is expected. Redmond is the second person dealt with regarding this offence; in 2022, Wayne Cooney (33) was jailed for life for the murder after a jury found he fired eight shots at Davis. Separately, Redmond and co-accused Jamie Gray (27) previously pleaded guilty to possessing a RAK PM-63 submachine gun in 2020. Redmond was jailed for six years in 2023 for that offence. Bernard Fogarty (34) was also sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Wolverson in December 2022. The matter was adjourned for sentencing.
In a High Court hearing on 26 April 2024, Mr Justice Michael Twomey dismissed the latest claim by brothers Brian and Maurice McDonagh against Fane Investments Ltd, Quanta Capital Investments Ltd and director Mel Sutcliffe over an 82‑acre site at Mount Kennedy, Kilpedder, Co Wicklow. The brothers alleged a 2017 agreement to form a 50‑50 partnership with Quanta to develop a data centre, but the judge held that the agreement was conditional and never became legally binding, having been terminated in March 2018. The McDonaghs had bought the land in 2007, failed to repay a mortgage to Ulster Bank, and the bank appointed a receiver in 2014. Fane purchased the land from the receiver in 2021 for €3 million plus a deferred 25 % profit share. The brothers also sued Ulster Bank for an alleged inadequate sale price, but the judge found no expert evidence and upheld the bank's Isaac Wunder orders.
Saira Mooneeswamy, 53, of Blessington Street, Dublin 7, pleaded guilty to stealing €13,360 from Hyde and Seek Childcare, Shaw Street, Dublin 2, between 1 April 2018 and 15 July 2019. The money was handed to her by parents who wanted to stop paying monthly fees by direct debit while applying for a mortgage. Mooneeswamy, who was the crèche manager at the time, never transferred the funds to the crèche's bank account. She has since repaid the full amount and cooperated with Gardaí. At a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, she was given a fully‑suspended sentence of one year. The court noted her lack of prior convictions, her long employment history, and her quick repayment of the money. The judge described her as unlikely to reoffend and having "succumbed to temptation" over a persistent pattern of behaviour. The case arose after an RTÉ Prime Time investigation into breaches of regulations at several Dublin childcare facilities.
Daniel Murtagh, aged 34 when sentenced, withdrew his appeal against a murder conviction for the death of his former partner Nadine Lott, who was 30. The Court of Appeal heard the withdrawal request and granted it without any submissions. Murtagh was found guilty of murder after a two‑day trial at the Central Criminal Court, where the jury rejected his intoxication defence and accepted the prosecution's case that he had formed the intent to kill. He received a mandatory life sentence in October 2021. The trial described how Murtagh beat Lott to the point of being "completely unrecognisable", leaving her with "extreme and grotesque" injuries that caused her death on 17 December 2019. No further appeal was pursued. Daniel Murtagh pleaded not guilty.
A 54‑year‑old man, Dainius Sakevicius, pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm on 26 December 2022 after drinking for five days. He assaulted his partner, punching her multiple times, causing bruising, swelling, a loose tooth and arm soreness. The victim was treated at St Vincent's and St James's Hospitals. Gardaí found Sakevicius intoxicated at his Bray home and later charged him. The woman withdrew her statement and declined a victim impact statement. Judge Orla Crowe imposed a suspended sentence of 1 year 9 months, suspended in full on strict conditions, including 18 months of Probation Service engagement, participation in Men Overcoming Violence and alcohol treatment programmes. The court noted Sakevicius had no prior convictions, had paid over €4,000 for the victim's medical costs, and had no previous Garda attention. The sentence was given on the day of the hearing.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that the Director of Public Prosecutions is investigating whether assets linked to Michael Lynn are benefits of crime. The DPP alleges Lynn stole just over €18 million from six financial institutions in 2006 and 2007. He was convicted of 10 of 21 theft counts and jailed in February for five-and-a-half years. The investigation targets three bank accounts containing €2.8 million, a house in Brittas Bay purchased by a corporation strongly linked to Lynn, and €3 million confiscated by Portuguese authorities. Prosecution counsel Joe Mulrean BL stated the DPP is engaged in enquiry under sections 9, 10, and 11 of the Criminal Justice Act 1994. Defense counsel Paul Comiskey O'Keeffe BL required proof of service before adjournment. Judge Martin Nolan adjourned the matter, noting it is likely to be contested. The case returns to court on July 8. Separately, the Court of Appeal recently required Lynn to provide a statement of financial means before legal aid could be granted for his appeal against conviction. Lynn has recently changed solicitors and intends to apply for further legal aid.
The High Court formally wound up Clonmannon House Retirement Village Limited, a Dublin-registered company that received millions from Chinese investors to develop a Co Wicklow care facility. Mr Justice Brian Cregan confirmed the appointment of insolvency practitioner Declan De Lacy as liquidator, following a provisional appointment after the court held the firm insolvent. The order was sought by Beijing-based Ms Yi Yuan, who claims to have lent €1m under the Immigrant Investor Programme. Counsel for the liquidator noted that the company's sole director, Ms Candance La Fleur, agreed to cooperate, and that the company intended to complete the purchase of Clonmannon House by month-end, with €1.9m already paid. The judge directed Ms La Fleur to provide a statement of affairs, and the matter was adjourned to return before the court later this month. Separately, proceedings brought last January by Clontarf-based Ms Li Sun, who invested in 2019, secured a temporary freezing order to prevent the disposal of assets. Ms Sun fears she will not recover €1.3m she says she is entitled to. All claims of wrongdoing in those proceedings have been denied by the company, and that action also returns before the court later this month.
Matthew O'Connell (20) and Evan Vella (19) pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm and violent disorder, respectively, for a mob attack on a 16‑year‑old Italian student in Blackrock Park on 27 November 2021. The attack began after a bottle was mistakenly blamed on the victim's group, leading to a confrontation that escalated into a group assault by up to ten young men. O'Connell was described as a main antagonist and Vella admitted punching the student once. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a three‑year suspended sentence on O'Connell, ordering him to pay €5,000 and raise an additional €5,000 within a year, and a 16‑month suspended sentence on Vella, ordering him to pay €1,500 to the victim within six months or donate it to charity. Both sentences were suspended, with no custodial terms imposed. The judge highlighted the defendants' young age, lack of prior convictions, and potential for rehabilitation.
In a Court of Appeal hearing on 12 April 2024, former solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 55, was granted a change of legal representation to John P O'Donohoe but the court reserved its decision on legal aid pending a statement of his financial means to the Director of Public Prosecutions. Lynn, who is serving a five‑and‑a‑half‑year prison sentence for stealing just over €18 million from six financial institutions during the Celtic Tiger era, must provide this statement before legal aid for his appeal can be granted. The court noted that if any issue arises, it should be notified. Lynn was found guilty of 10 of 21 counts of theft in a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial last year; the remaining 11 counts were dropped after the jury could not agree. Michael Lynn pleaded not guilty.
In a High Court case, a provisional liquidator has been appointed for Clonmannon House Retirement Village Limited, a Dublin‑registered company that acquired a property in Ashford, Co Wicklow, for a care facility. Beijing‑based Ms Yi Yuan, who invested €1 million in 2020 under Ireland's Immigrant Investor Programme, claims the company owes her €1.17 million, which has not been repaid. She alleges that the company's director, Candance La Fleur, made false statements in an affidavit, including that €100 000 had been paid to an investor and that the company had agreed to sell its asset, write down debt, and delay repayment—claims Ms Yuan says she never consented to. Ms Yuan also contends the property was purchased for €1.9 million instead of the €2.15 million contract price and was not transferred to the company. The company has failed to file annual returns, maintain a company secretary, and keep a director resident in the EEA.
Declan Service, 63, was convicted of insider trading for selling shares in Open Orphan before the company's discounted share offering was publicly announced. He used confidential information from a Zoom briefing on 18 May 2020 to instruct his broker to sell his 3.89 million shares, then bought back a smaller amount at the discounted price on 22 May 2020, making a profit of about £11,500. Service pleaded guilty and was fined £60,000. Judge Elma Sheahan, after considering mitigating factors such as his cooperation, lack of prior convictions, and mental health issues, suspended the 18‑month custodial sentence in full. The case was brought by the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau following a report from Goodbody stockbrokers and the Central Bank. Service is a former multinational employee now working as a carer and has a history of charitable work.
A judge in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court found that David Moorehouse, 44, of Bray, had acted in a "moment of madness" when he drove his Toyota HiAce van toward a Garda on Old Connaught Avenue. The incident occurred after the officer had signalled the driver to stop. Moorehouse, who had 10 prior minor traffic convictions, was observed speeding, swerving, and nearly colliding with the Garda before stopping near the patrol car. He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving for the July 2020 offence. The judge, Martin Nolan, accepted that Moorehouse may have been "acting the blaggard" and imposed a four‑month suspended prison sentence, directed him to offer €3,000 as a token of remorse to the Garda within three months, and disqualified him from driving for four years. The Garda was given the option to accept the money or have it donated to a charity of his choice. The case was heard on 12 March 2024.
The High Court has granted Ditch Media Limited permission to pursue judicial review proceedings against Donegal and Wicklow County Councils over their maintenance of public staff ethics registers. The media company claims both councils have failed to comply with obligations under the 2001 Local Government Act by declining to provide electronic copies of employee interest registers without significant charges. Donegal County Council offered to supply copies for €375, whilst Wicklow County Council quoted €152.94 excluding postage. Ditch Media contends that other local authorities, including Mayo and Clare County Councils, have provided comparable registers electronically at no cost. The applicant company argues the councils have unlawfully withheld information of public interest and that the charges are unreasonable and disproportionate. Ms Justice Niamh Hyland granted permission for the proceedings on an ex-parte basis on Monday. The company seeks declarations that the councils have misinterpreted what constitutes a register and have erred in their construction of the 2001 Act. Both cases will return to court next month.
A 76‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment for raping a 15‑year‑old girl in the late 1980s. The victim, who was babysitting for a woman with whom the defendant was having an affair, was lured to the Wicklow mountains under the pretext of a job interview and raped there. In a separate incident he took her to the babysitter's home, where he raped her while she was cleaning the house. The victim also reported that the defendant forced her to perform oral sex on him and that he held her by her hair. He pleaded not guilty to the charges of rape and indecent assault. A jury convicted him on two rape charges and three indecent assault charges.
Kevin Murphy, 28, of Bray, pleaded guilty to multiple counts of harassment and one count of making a threat to kill between July 2021 and July 2022. He sent 200 abusive, violent and distressing messages to a family, including graphic sexual texts, threats to kill, and insults. The victim was a 16‑year‑old girl who had been his surfing student; her mother also received harassing messages. Murphy's communications included threats to "clip their car" and to kill the boyfriend of a family member. He was initially detained in February 2022, later arrested again, and admitted to some of the messages. Garda Rachel Corcoran and counsel noted that his behaviour occurred during an episode of psychosis and that he had voluntarily committed himself to hospital for four weeks in March 2022. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to two and a half years in prison, suspended in full, and imposed a 15‑year no‑contact order with the injured parties.
Darren Foster, 44, pleaded guilty to burglary and criminal damage after breaking into a warehouse in the Dublin Industrial Estate on the night of 9 July 2023. He used a forklift to lift security doors and caused extensive damage to the interior, including cutting telecom lines and damaging tools stored in a secure area. The warehouse, operated by St Micheal's House for the HSE, suffered about €4,400 in damage. Foster was found in a van near the site, covered by a blanket, and was arrested while on bail. He claimed he had no intention to steal but wanted to draw attention to an alleged debt. The court, noting his prior convictions and current sentence, imposed an additional 10‑month sentence consecutive to his existing term, extending his custody until July 2025. No victim impact statement was presented. The case highlighted Foster's addiction issues and his recent detox and volunteer work in custody.
Dan Horan, a 32‑year‑old panto performer from Wicklow, pleaded guilty in July 2023 to sexually assaulting a 26‑year‑old man at a house party in Naas in July 2020. The victim had fallen asleep after receiving cannabis from Horan. Horan was found to be rubbing the victim's penis while the victim's girlfriend discovered the assault at about 6 am, leading to the victim's distress. In February 2024 Judge Mary O'Malley Costello sentenced Horan to four‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended for two years. Horan appealed, arguing the headline sentence of six‑and‑a‑half years was too high. The Court of Appeal quashed the original sentence, re‑sentencing Horan to a headline of four‑and‑a‑half years, discounting 18 months, and suspending an additional 18 months to encourage rehabilitation.
In the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Brian Lucey (44) was sentenced for illegally possessing a submachine gun at the M11 Shankill roundabout on March 7, 2020. Lucey, of Ashford, Co Wicklow, initially took a trial date but later pleaded guilty. Judge Martin Nolan accepted that Lucey, a 'gilly' expecting to collect cannabis, was 'completely taken by surprise' when an unknown individual threw the firearm into his car. The judge noted Lucey's low culpability and 'agony of the moment,' resulting in a four-year fully-suspended sentence. The court heard that Lucey was used by co-accused to move the weapon. In related proceedings, Robert Redmond and Jamie Gray pleaded guilty to possessing the firearm for an unlawful purpose and were jailed in July 2023. Redmond, who denied the charge of murdering Barry Wolverson in January 2020, was sentenced to life imprisonment in December 2022. His co-accused, Bernard Fogarty, was also sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Mr Wolverson. Separately, Fogarty pleaded guilty to possession of the submachine gun in 2020 and was jailed for five years by the Special Criminal Court.
David Hackman, 24, was jailed for four and a half years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to purchase a firearm in suspicious circumstances between 31 March and 28 May 2019. Gardaí observed a silver Ford Focus near a Spar in Waterville, Dublin 15, where Hackman and three other occupants, including his mother, were found. A search revealed a 9mm firearm, orange latex gloves, and evidence of a €4,000 cash transaction between Hackman and his mother. Hackman's mother was charged but the case against her was dropped following his guilty plea. Hackman has prior convictions for assault and drug possession. The court noted his youth, addiction issues, and the mitigating circumstances of his background, and rejected a post‑release drug treatment condition. The sentence reflects the offence's mid‑range sentencing guidelines of seven to ten years.