Court archive
Court reports mentioning Rathnew, Wicklow
2026-02-06 · Dublin
A 45-year-old man with a long criminal record has been jailed for six and a half years for hijacking a car and threatening a woman with violence. Joseph Rafferty, identified by a port-wine birthmark, was sentenced by Judge Orla Crowe after pleading guilty to multiple offences, including stealing a woman's iPhone and dental veneers during the hijacking. He also admitted to robbing a service station and attempting another robbery later that evening. The judge described the incidents as a series of violent crimes by a repeat offender. She noted the terror inflicted on the victim, who was cleaning her car when Rafferty threatened her with death. The woman was forced to jump from the moving vehicle, and her personal items were not recovered. Rafferty, who has 61 previous convictions, including lengthy prison sentences, was also found to have a history of drug addiction and a difficult upbringing. His defence highlighted his remorse and intention to rehabilitate. The judge imposed a seven-and-a-half-year sentence, with the final year suspended.
2026-01-12 · Dublin
A 15-year-old driver, now 18, broke a garda's hand during a struggle as he was being removed from a stolen car during a high-speed chase on the M50. The incident occurred on August 24, 2023, when the teenager drove dangerously, including on the wrong side of the motorway and ramming a patrol car. The garda, Detective Garda Kate Gilligan, described the danger posed to road users and herself during the pursuit. The defendant pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including reckless endangerment, assault, and damaging a garda vehicle. Judge Orla Crowe noted the danger of the driving and commended the gardai for their evidence. The judge imposed suspended custodial sentences of 18 months and required the defendant to engage with the Probation Service. The garda sustained two broken bones in her hand and was out of work for 11 weeks. The defendant expressed remorse and cooperated with gardai, though he claimed he did not steal the car. His legal team highlighted his maturity and cooperation with the investigation.
2025-05-21 · Dublin
In a case heard in November, a 15‑year‑old boy who drove on the wrong side of the M50 and rammed a Garda patrol car was remanded on continuing bail until January. He pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment, assault, unlawful use of a car, dangerous driving and damaging a Garda vehicle. Detective Garda Kate Gilligan's victim impact statement described the danger he posed to himself and other road users, noting her hand was broken when the car door closed on her. Judge Orla Crowe, acknowledging the boy's significant improvement over the past year, adjourned the case to January 12 to allow him to continue his work with the Probation Service. The teenager expressed remorse, thanked the judge, and confirmed his willingness to cooperate with the court and probation. The court noted his cooperation, early guilty plea, and genuine remorse, and that he had not reoffended since his release.
2025-04-28 · Wicklow
Joseph Rafferty, 45, was remanded in custody after appearing in Tallaght District Court on charges related to a car hijacking in Dublin and two robberies in Wicklow over the weekend. He was arrested at 6.15pm on Sunday at Tallaght Garda Station and formally charged by Sergeant Michael Martin. Rafferty was cautioned and made no reply to the charges. The incidents occurred on Saturday, 26 April. At about 7.45pm, a woman was allegedly threatened and forced out of her black Nissan Qashqai at a commercial premises on St Peter's Road in Walkinstown, Dublin 12; Rafferty is charged with hijacking under Section 10 of the Criminal Law Act 1997 and unlawful use of a vehicle under Section 112 of the Road Traffic Act 1961. Later that evening, he allegedly attempted to rob a store on the Dublin Road in Bray, threatening cashiers as he left, and is charged with attempted robbery.
2024-12-10 · Wicklow
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.
2024-11-08 · Dublin
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.
2023-11-13 · Wicklow
Former priest Denis Nolan, 71, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court following his guilty plea to one count of oral rape and 36 counts of sexual assault committed between 1994 and 2000. The court found that Nolan abused a victim aged 11 to 17 in Dublin and Wicklow. Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed a five-year sentence for the rape, to run consecutively to Nolan's existing terms, alongside concurrent three-year sentences for the sexual assault counts. Nolan is currently serving a 19-year aggregate sentence for previous convictions, including a 2022 case where the Court of Appeal quashed a suspended portion and substituted a consecutive six-year term. The judge noted Nolan's "predatory" conduct and "egregious betrayal" of trust, while acknowledging his guilty plea and remorse as mitigating factors. Nolan, in custody since 2014, was also directed to undergo five years of post-release supervision. The matter was finalised with the imposition of these additional custodial terms.
2023-06-08 · Wicklow
Defrocked priest Denis Nolan, aged 71, had his prison term quadrupled by the Court of Appeal. He had previously been jailed for seven years in 2014 for sexually abusing a boy over five years, and for six years in 2017 for rape and abuse of another boy. In December 2023 he pleaded guilty to three counts of anal rape, one of oral rape and five of sexual assault of a third boy, with offences dated 2001‑2005. The trial judge imposed a nine‑year sentence, suspending seven‑and‑a‑half years, but the Court of Appeal quashed that and imposed a new six‑year term to run consecutively with his existing sentence, which expires in December. The appeal was based on the claim that the suspended portion was unduly excessive and that the original sentence did not reflect the overall gravity of the offences.
2022-12-02 · Wicklow
Defrocked priest Denis Nolan, aged 70, had his 13‑year prison term extended by 18 months after the Central Criminal Court found he had repeatedly raped two boys between 2001 and 2005. Nolan pleaded guilty to three counts of anal rape, one of oral rape and five counts of sexual assault of a third boy. The court noted the abuse was described as violent, aggressive and prolonged, and that Nolan had groomed the victim by offering money for gardening work, alcohol and sexual acts. He had previously been jailed for seven years in 2014 and for six years in 2017 for similar offences. Justice Karen O'Connor imposed a nine‑year sentence, suspended seven and a half years, and ordered Nolan to remain under probation supervision for five years after release. The victim reported severe physical and mental harm, and Nolan has engaged in a sex‑offender treatment programme while in custody. The court emphasised the massive breach of trust involved.
2022-11-15 · Wicklow
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, the defrocked priest Denis Nolan, aged 70, pleaded guilty to multiple sexual offences against a schoolboy between 2001 and 2005. Nolan, who served as curate in Rathnew from 1998 to 2012, had been on the school's management board. He lured the 12‑year‑old boy to do gardening work, offering €15‑€100, then began asking about sex and molesting him. Nolan raped the boy on several occasions, including face‑down on a bed, in a car, and at the presbytery, sometimes after giving him beer. He also performed oral sex on the boy more than 15 times between 2005 and 2006. The victim's impact report described the abuse as "horrendous" and said it had caused lasting mental health problems. Nolan had previously been jailed for seven years in 2014 for a similar abuse in Wicklow and for six years in 2017 for another case.
2021-07-23 · Dublin
Wojciech Kazmierczak, 43, was sentenced to eleven years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended on strict conditions, for a violent robbery that took place on 24 August 2020 at Corn Exchange Place, Dublin. During the incident, he choked one escort until she was unconscious, then punched her again, and later punched a second escort who had been choked by the other accomplice. Both women were rendered unconscious, one was bound with duct tape and wrapped in a rug, and both sustained significant facial injuries. The robbery involved the theft of cash, handbags, phones and the removal of the women's phones by the accomplice. Kazmierczak was also found in possession of just under €400,000 of cannabis when arrested in September 2020, and he pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, two counts of robbery and possession of cannabis for sale or supply.
2018-07-31 · Wicklow
Denis Nolan, a former priest aged 64, was convicted by a jury at the Central Criminal Court of six counts of oral rape, defilement and sexual assault of a boy aged 10‑11 between 2005 and 2006. The boy was paid €10‑€15 for gardening work at Nolan's home and the presbytery, a sum that rose when the abuse began. Nolan, who had previously been defrocked and was serving an eight‑year sentence for a separate sexual abuse case, denied the charges. The court heard that Nolan made inappropriate remarks about puberty, encouraged the boy to view sexual material online, and progressed to fondling, oral rape and assault in the priest's bedroom, the presbytery and a car. The final rape in the presbytery caused injury requiring surgery and ongoing health problems. Nolan's appeal was dismissed by Mr Justice John Hedigan, who upheld the conviction, noting that alleged inconsistencies in the victim's evidence were within normal limits for such cases.
2018-01-11 · Wicklow
Michael Williams, 45, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to falsely representing land for sale in Rathnew, County Wicklow, to Ms Eibhlin Butler. He convinced her to re‑mortgage her property and give him €22,500, claiming the land existed and would be purchased. The land was fictional; Williams gambled the money. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to two and a half years' imprisonment with 21 months suspended, citing the generosity of Williams' sister who offered €10,000 compensation to Butler. Butler suffered financial loss, mental distress, and ongoing disability pension payments. The court heard that Williams had no prior convictions and was now working as a delivery man in the UK. The case highlighted a breach of trust and financial deception.
2017-05-15 · Wicklow
Denis Nolan, a former priest aged 64, was sentenced to eight years in prison for six counts of oral rape, defilement and sexual assault of a boy aged 10‑11 between 2005 and 2006. He had previously been convicted of sexually abusing another child in 2006 and was defrocked. The court found Nolan had groomed the victim by offering garden work and paying him €10‑€15, later increasing the amount after abuse began. He made inappropriate remarks about puberty, encouraged online sexual content, and progressed to fondling, oral rape and assault in his home, the presbytery and a car. The final rape in the presbytery caused injury requiring surgery. The victim, now 24, suffered PTSD, anxiety, depression and ongoing health problems. Nolan will serve his sentence concurrently with a four‑year post‑release supervision order. The case was prosecuted by Conor Devally SC and defended by Conor McKenna BL. The sentence was imposed by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy.