Court archive
Dublin Circuit Court
2026-06-29 · Dublin
Michael Geoghegan, a man with a long history of criminal convictions, was jailed for five years after attempting to rob a bookies and two supermarkets. He dropped his phone and €200 at the scenes of the crimes. Geoghegan pleaded guilty to attempted robbery at Boyle Sports and two counts of robbery at Lidl. He had a debt of €7,000 and committed the offences to pay it off. His defence argued that he did not intend to hurt anyone and that the weapon used was an airsoft gun. The court heard that the offences were terrifying for the victims, who believed the weapon was real. Geoghegan's mother wrote a letter stating that he has changed since being in custody and is on a methadone reduction programme. Judge Orla Crowe imposed a headline sentence of eight years, but suspended the final year with conditions, including probation and addiction services.
2025-10-23 · Dublin
In a Dublin Circuit Court hearing, a 31‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and contravening a protection order after an incident in May 2022. The victim, a 31‑year‑old woman, had a protection order against him and described the assault as a "blessing in disguise" that led him to address his addiction and mental health issues. Judge Jonathan Dunphy imposed a suspended prison sentence of two years and six months, suspended for four years under strict conditions, citing the woman's plea for leniency and the potential impact on their family. The court noted the man's remorse, his engagement with addiction and mental health services, and his low risk of re‑offending. The couple are now engaged and the man remains under probation supervision for 18 months.
2025-10-20 · Dublin
In a Dublin Circuit Court hearing on 20 October 2025, a 34‑year‑old man was sentenced to 20 months in prison for assaulting his former partner in May 2023. The victim, a new mother, described the attack as a "nightmare" that left her with a permanent facial scar, a lost front tooth, and lasting mental trauma. She said the man had no remorse and had threatened her and her sister, and that he had previously pleaded guilty to a threat to kill and assault. The judge noted the man's 26 prior convictions, including domestic‑violence breaches, and the intimate‑relationship context, and imposed a custodial sentence that was reduced from two years to 20 months for time already served. The victim's impact statement highlighted her loss of confidence, ongoing flashbacks, and the need to move into emergency accommodation for safety.
2025-03-12 · Dublin
Jack Manning, an 88‑year‑old former Christian Brother and teacher, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for repeatedly sexually abusing eight boys at a primary school in the 1970s. The court heard that Manning would call each boy to the top of the class, have them read a book from his desk, then approach them closely and touch their genitals, both inside and outside their clothing. He pleaded guilty to 14 charges of indecent assault, which were part of 74 charges in total. The judge noted that Manning had abused the boys on at least 100 occasions, that the victims were not protected, and that his behaviour had a profound impact on their lives. Despite his age and infirmities, the judge imposed two consecutive two‑year terms, citing the seriousness of the offences and the need for punishment. The victims, who wished to remain anonymous, were allowed to read their own impact statements in court.
2024-01-18 · Dublin
Craig Ryan, 35, of Killarney Court, Dublin, pleaded guilty to five separate burglary offences dating from 2014 to 2023. He was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan at Dublin Circuit Court to five years' imprisonment. The offences involved ransacking offices and stealing expensive equipment from businesses in Dublin, including a florist in Monkstown, a photographer's office on Burgh Quay, a car on Strand Street, a building on Arran Quay, and a convenience store on Cabra Road. Ryan's 235 previous convictions include theft and criminal damage. He cooperated with Gardaí, and no violence was involved. The judge noted his long history of offending and addiction challenges, but also his cooperation and lack of violence. Ryan is currently in custody and has shown remorse and engagement with treatment services.
2024-01-17 · Dublin
Jemima Tambo Bebi, a 19‑year‑old British teenager, was arrested at Dublin Airport after a suitcase she had picked up in Amsterdam was x‑rayed and found to contain about seven kilos of ketamine, a horse tranquilliser, valued at €445,452. The ketamine was intended for sale or supply at Terminal 2, Dublin Airport on 2 September. Bebi pleaded guilty and cooperated fully with the investigation. Judge Martin Nolan described the case as a "particularly stupid escapade" and, citing her young age and lack of prior convictions, departed from the mandatory ten‑year minimum, sentencing her to three years in prison. The sentence was back‑dated to the day she was remanded in custody on 2 September. Bebi had been planning to start training as a prison officer and had applied for third‑level courses at the time of the offence.
2023-11-16 · Dublin
A 17‑year‑old, Ogaga Ogheneyoma, was fined €500 and ordered to be of good behaviour in lieu of a 12‑month sentence for allowing his AIB bank account to hold €31,842 of laundered money in an invoice redirect fraud. He pleaded guilty on the day of his trial at Dublin Circuit Court on 19 November 2018. Ogheneyoma, now 22, is a fourth‑year accounting and finance student at TU Dublin, lives with his parents in Lucan, and has worked part‑time throughout college. The court noted he had no previous convictions, no evidence of involvement in the fraud, and had a pro‑social life since the offence. Judge Orla Crowe invoked Section 100 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, imposed the fine, and deferred the sentence, ordering him to pay the fine before a mention in May 2024, after which he will be discharged.
2023-02-28 · Westmeath
Aaron Gilsenan, 42, with 93 prior convictions, was jailed for four years after a series of offences in Clondalkin. He first attempted to rob a shop while intoxicated, fled without taking anything, and then stole a car that had been left by its owner with the keys in the ignition and two children, aged four and six, sitting in the back. The owner had left the car for a few minutes to buy groceries; when Gilsenan realised the car was missing, he returned to the shop, where the sales assistant called the Gardaí. The car was stopped 2 km away, and the children were unharmed and reunited with their father after about ten minutes. Gilsenan then tried to rob a nail salon, pulling the cash register and causing damage, but left the children in the car and used the vehicle to escape. Aaron Gilsenan pleaded guilty.
2022-06-29 · Dublin
In a Dublin Circuit Court hearing, Buti Sashi, aged 26, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for a series of offences. He was found guilty of assaulting two women, one of whom he choked and threatened with a knife, and of theft involving €35,000 obtained through an invoice‑redirection fraud. The court heard that Sashi had supplied a prostitute with his bank account details, which was used to transfer the money. He pleaded guilty to the theft and the assaults. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a three‑year sentence for each assault, to run concurrently, and a two‑year sentence for the theft, back‑dated for time already served and consecutive to the assault sentences. The total custodial term was five years. The case highlighted the use of a mobile phone and CCTV evidence in linking Sashi to the crimes. The court noted his drug addiction and expressed regret for his actions. The sentences were delivered in November 2021.
2022-06-22 · Wicklow
Gary O'Brien, 24, of Old Connaught View, Bray, was sentenced to 14 months' imprisonment for threatening to kill Gardaí and their families and for damaging a Garda car. The offences occurred on 21 September 2021 at Shanganagh Park and Shankill. Garda Matthew Firran reported that O'Brien was seen behind a car, threw an object over a wall, and later became abusive, threatening to follow Gardaí home and kill them and their families. He also threw an object at a Garda car, damaging a window. O'Brien was taken to Dun Laoghaire Garda Station, deemed intoxicated, and later claimed he was playing hurling. He pleaded guilty to two charges of threatening to kill or cause serious harm and to criminal damage. Judge Martin Nolan, noting O'Brien's 74 prior convictions and his "reprehensible" behaviour, imposed the 14‑month term, back‑dated to his entry into custody, taking the criminal damage charge into account.
2022-05-25 · Dublin
A UCD student, Quentin Guillemot, recounted witnessing the fatal collision of 19‑year‑old Harry Boland with a construction truck driven by David Morrisey on the N11 at Greenfield Park on 18 April 2018. Guillemot described the scene: the lights turned green, Boland's bike was to the left of the truck, and the truck turned left into Greenfield Park. He said the truck's left side first touched Boland's handlebars, destabilising the cyclist, who then fell beneath the truck as it continued turning. Another witness, Jason McMahon, noted the truck's front corner struck the bike first, while Grainne Butler observed the cyclist fall as the truck turned. The incident led to Boland's death at St Vincent's Hospital. Morrisey is on trial in the Dublin Circuit Court, pleading not guilty to driving without due care and attention, which caused Boland's death. The trial is ongoing.
2022-04-26 · Galway
Three former workers at an egg production facility in County Galway have secured redundancy payments following a Workplace Relations Commission ruling, two years after their initial claims were rejected due to the company's dissolution. Ronan McGrath, Brendan Eifert and Mark Hughes had sought redundancy entitlements from Galway Free Range Eggs Ltd after losing employment in early 2020. Their original complaints could not proceed when the company was struck from the register. The men subsequently obtained a Dublin Circuit Court order in April 2021 to restore the company, enabling their claims to progress. Adjudicating officer Catherine Byrne upheld their complaints under the Redundancy Payments Act this week, finding their employment had been genuinely redundant. Mr McGrath, who managed the egg packing plant in Cregmore, had over nineteen years' service, while Mr Hughes and Mr Eifert had served approximately seventeen and twelve years respectively. The largest lump sum is understood to exceed €20,000. Their solicitor noted the case raised wider concerns about employees unable to afford similar legal action.
2022-01-31 · Dublin
In a Dublin Circuit Court hearing on 31 January 2022, Michael Stokes (35), Richard Stokes (26) and Simon Stokes (28) were sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment each for a violent armed home invasion that took place on 3 June 2015. The three men, all from the same family and living at Kishogue Park, Lucan, entered the home of Michael Ward at Palmer Court, Rush, while Ward was in an upstairs bedroom and his pregnant partner Rachel Tennant was bathing their one‑year‑old child. The attackers shouted "Where is he?" and then assaulted Ward with Stanley knives and a hatchet, striking him with blows and punches. Ward suffered injuries to his arms, face, head and an open tibia fracture, was hospitalised for 12 days and is currently serving time for a separate offence. Michael Stokes pleaded guilty. Richard Stokes pleaded guilty. Simon Stokes pleaded guilty.
2021-07-30 · Dublin
Dermot O'Callaghan, 55, was sentenced to an additional eight years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, for the armed robbery of Ulster Bank in Stillorgan on 26 September 2017. He pleaded guilty under Section 27B of the Firearms Act to possession of an imitation firearm with intent to rob. The robbery involved a gun pressed into a bank worker's chest, forcing staff to drop to the floor and comply with demands for €13,200 in cash and £800 sterling. O'Callaghan was already serving an eight‑year sentence for robbery and firearms possession, set to expire in February 2024, and the new term is to run consecutively. The court noted his guilty plea, addiction to heroin, and personal circumstances as mitigating factors, but also his aggressive conduct during the robbery. The sentence was imposed by Judge Pauline Codd.
2021-06-28 · Dublin
A retired senior Garda detective, Kevin Dolan, denied that his team was "waiting for more calls" before arresting Michael Murray, a convicted rapist, for questioning. Murray, aged 50, is on trial at Dublin Circuit Court for making death threats in late 2014 and early 2015 against the barristers who prosecuted him for rape, Dominic McGinn SC and Tony McGillicuddy BL, and for harassing the woman he raped by advertising her online as a prostitute in early 2015, as well as harassing his defence solicitor and Mr McGinn. He denies these charges but pleaded guilty to possessing a mobile phone that fell out of his rectum during a strip‑search on 11 February 2015. Dolan said he applied to Portlaoise District Court for an arrest warrant in May 2015 after learning of the threat on Mr McGinn in mid‑November 2014.
2021-04-16 · Westmeath
Simon Gold, a 54-year-old man from Aughavas, County Leitrim, received an additional one-year sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court today following guilty pleas to possession of false instruments. Gold admitted having three fraudulent UK driving licences at an address in Delvin, County Westmeath, in October 2012, and four sheets containing 360 counterfeit AIB holograms at the same location in February 2014. He is currently serving a seven-and-a-half-year sentence imposed in 2019 after conviction on money laundering, theft, deception and control of false instruments charges. Judge Martin Nolan determined the offences were connected to the earlier convictions and declined to extend Gold's imprisonment, instead imposing the sentence to run concurrently from today. Gold, who has 46 previous convictions, is due for release in 2024.
2020-11-30 · Dublin
In November 2020, the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal of a 41‑year‑old Laois truck driver who had been convicted of possession of cocaine for sale or supply. The driver, who had transported almost €300,000 worth of cocaine into Dublin, had denied saying, "So you found the drugs, then?" to the officer who discovered the drugs. The alleged admission was allowed into evidence at his trial. The drugs were found stashed in a fire extinguisher in the cab of his truck after it was seized at Dublin Port more than five years earlier. Judge Patricia Ryan had sentenced him to eight and a half years' imprisonment in 2018, describing him as a facilitator in the importation of the drugs. The appeal focused on the alleged verbal admission, but the Court of Appeal ruled that it was not unfair for the State to rely on the admission, even though it was made before the driver was cautioned. The unnamed 41-year-old pleaded not guilty.
2020-10-14 · Dublin
Colm Roddy (78) of Bayside Walk, Dublin 13 and Dave Donnellan (60) of Reuben Street, Rialto, Dublin have both pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Court to criminal damage of the perimeter fence and runway at Shannon Airport in Co. Clare on May 5, 2016. During the trial, Sergeant Mark Brown, who has over 20 years of experience as part of the airport police, stated that he did not recall receiving any training in international law regarding the presence of the US military at the airport. He acknowledged that Shannon Airport is a legitimate military target under international law but said he had received training to deal with major incidents. Donnellan questioned whether the presence of the US military alongside civilians at the airport without restrictions posed any special security concerns. He noted that he and Roddy were not challenged during their time at the airport and were only stopped when they approached a US military Learjet.
2020-07-27 · Dublin
Paul Kelly, aged 34, was sentenced to three and a half years' imprisonment for false imprisonment and two counts of threatening to kill or cause serious harm. The court heard that Kelly held his dating partner against her will, threatened to kill her when she tried to leave, and sent her a video of a woman's head being cut off. He also threatened to stab her after she left the house and later texted a second woman that he would kill the victim and himself. Kelly was arrested outside the victim's home after the second woman alerted Gardaí. He had 16 prior convictions, including a previous seven‑year sentence with a suspended portion for a threat to kill and knife possession. The judge noted the seriousness of the offences and imposed the sentence, back‑dated to the time Kelly entered custody. The victim, who has since returned to Uganda, expressed fear and trauma but no hard feelings toward Kelly. The unnamed accused pleaded guilty.
2020-06-12 · Dublin
A Laois truck driver, 41, appealed his 2018 conviction for possession of cocaine for sale or supply. He was found with almost €300,000 worth of cocaine stashed in a fire extinguisher in his cab and in a bag on the trailer of his truck seized at Dublin Port. A jury acquitted him of the trailer drugs but convicted him of the cab drugs, for which Judge Patricia Ryan sentenced him to eight and a half years' imprisonment. The driver denied any knowledge of the drugs and denied making an alleged admission to a customs officer, who had approached him in custody and asked, "So you found the drugs, then?" The appeal argued that the alleged admission was inadmissible because the driver had not been cautioned and that no corroborative evidence supported the claim that he had made the admission. The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment. The unnamed 41-year-old pleaded not guilty.
2019-06-27 · Dublin
In a Dublin Circuit Court hearing, Charlotte Skovhaus, who had attempted to help a homeless woman named Cher Quinn, was held up at knifepoint during a drive back to her home. Quinn, who had claimed she had been robbed, pointed a knife at Skovhaus's chest, demanded money, and became verbally abusive while searching her handbag. CCTV identified Quinn, who was arrested and later pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and production of a knife on 29 August 2016. Skovhaus suffers from post‑traumatic stress disorder, experiencing flashbacks, nightmares, insomnia and headaches, and reports that the incident has altered her perception of homeless people. Quinn, who has mental health problems and was drug‑free at the time of the attack, expressed remorse. Judge Melanie Greally suspended the final two years of a five‑and‑a‑half‑year prison term, requiring Quinn to engage with the Probation Service on her mental health and substance abuse issues.
2019-04-09 · Dublin
Stephen Keane, 30, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Court to impersonating a Garda, unlawfully seizing a vehicle and robbery. On 25 August 2018, he entered BoyleSports in Firhouse, presented a badge and claimed to be an undercover Garda, demanding CCTV footage and access to the back of the bookmakers. After the manager refused, he left. Later that day he approached a car outside Firhouse Shopping Centre, told the driver to exit, claimed to have a gun, and then drove off with the vehicle. He then entered Dwan's Off‑Licence, pointed a gun at an employee, demanded money and stole €395 and three packs of cigarettes. Keane said the gun was a broken airsoft gun and that he had a drug debt. He has 68 prior convictions in Ireland and the UK. The judge remanded him in custody and adjourned sentencing for 8 July.
2019-02-21 · Dublin
A 21‑year‑old Dublin man, Dean Craig, caused pedestrians to run for cover when he sped through a village main street, hitting a speed ramp and launching his car into the air. He was pursued by Gardaí, abandoned the vehicle with two passengers, and fled on foot. Craig pleaded guilty to endangerment and to possession of stolen goods, including a PlayStation console, cash, an iPod, a safe, an imitation revolver, passports, a balaclava, a box cutter, a screwdriver and a torch. He also pleaded guilty to possessing a balaclava, a box cutter, a screwdriver and a torch with intent. Judge Melanie Greally imposed 240 hours of community service in lieu of two and a half years' imprisonment for the possession offences and adjourned his sentence for the endangerment and possession charges for 12 months, allowing him to engage with the Probation Service. He remains on bail until February next year.
2019-01-16 · Dublin
Susan Redmond, a 49‑year‑old mother from Kilbarrack, Dublin, who had worked at Larkhill and District Credit Union for 20 years, admitted to taking out false loans and cashing cheques from members' accounts between 3 July 2003 and 26 April 2013. She pleaded guilty to ten sample theft charges, representing 102 thefts, and the court heard that 40 account holders, all friends and family, were reimbursed by the credit union. The investigation revealed that Redmond's bank account showed money moving in and out, but no evidence of large purchases such as cars or holidays; she claimed the money was spent on day‑to‑day items. A psychologist described her as a vulnerable woman with compulsive buying disorder and severe depression. The judge adjourned the case for Probation Service assessment and remanded her on bail until April.
2018-07-31 · Dublin
In a Dublin Circuit Court trial, a 37‑year‑old man was convicted of sexually assaulting his 15‑year‑old daughter after he mistakenly believed she was his partner while groggy in bed. The case had previously gone to trial in July 2015, where the defendant pleaded not guilty. During the trial, the daughter recounted that she and her younger sister had slept in a double bed with the defendant and his partner, and that the defendant groped her while she slept. She described feeling dirty, unable to sleep, and distrusting others after the assault. The judge noted the defendant's remorse as self‑serving and remanded him in custody, ordering a probation report on his risk of re‑offending and future involvement with his daughters. The sentencing was adjourned to December 17. The defendant had no prior convictions.
2018-03-23 · Dublin
Peter Kernan, 57, a former Aer Lingus ground staff member, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment in Dublin Circuit Court for his role in a people‑trafficking operation at Dublin Airport between December 2016 and January 2017. He pleaded guilty to four counts of facilitating the entry of illegal immigrants and to three counts of handling proceeds of crime, amounting to €40,366. Kernan was paid €2,000–€3,000 per person trafficked and used Aer Lingus staff swipe cards to bypass passport control, escorting foreign nationals from the air bridge to the immigration hall via a catering truck and a staff turnstile gate. He had no prior convictions except a traffic offence. Kernan had undergone quadruple heart bypass surgery four months earlier and had other health issues, including a cancer gene. His co‑accused, Frederick Cham, also received a four‑year sentence.
2018-01-19 · Dublin
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.
2017-12-19 · Dublin
Cornelius Kaiser, a 40‑year‑old father of three from Collegefort, Castleknock, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Court to one count of deception for using falsified bank statements to obtain a €38,720 truck loan in March 2008. He was arrested in December 2008, fled the country, and was returned to Ireland in May 2024 on a European Arrest Warrant issued by the PSNI. Judge Martin Nolan described the offence as a "devious crime" and noted Kaiser's use of intellect and deviousness to secure the loan. The false statements were discovered during a Garda search of his sister's house in Blanchardstown, where a Hungarian passport in the name Emmanuel Martin was also found. Kaiser has seven prior convictions, including four concealment offences in Romania, for which he received a three‑year sentence. He was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment, back‑dated to 28 May 2024, when he entered custody.
2017-07-29 · Dublin
In a Dublin Circuit Court hearing, Judge Martin Nolan expressed surprise that possession of empty firearm cartridges was a criminal offence. He sentenced 26‑year‑old Paul Honer to a three‑month suspended sentence for unlawful possession of blank ammunition. Honer admitted keeping the cartridges in a red box under a fish tank in his bedroom; he claimed they were given to him by his father before the father's death ten years earlier. Garda Thomas Wafer discovered the shells during a search of Honer's house on 26 March 2016. Honer, who had previously pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of firearm ammunition, was arrested for the offence while already serving a four‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for a firearms offence. Judge Nolan noted that many people in rural areas possess spent shells and that he would not sentence someone to imprisonment unless the state proved sinister intent.
2017-01-12 · Dublin
William Gilsenan, aged 24, appeared for sentencing at the Central Criminal Court following his December conviction for manslaughter in the death of Edward Fitzgerald. The incident occurred on 17 October 2014 in a car park at The Green, Larch Hill, Oscar Traynor Road, Santry, Dublin. Mr Gilsenan was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter. A dispute over a €100 debt preceded the stabbing, during which Mr Gilsenan inflicted two knife wounds, one of which proved fatal. The defence counsel sought a sentence not exceeding four years, citing Mr Gilsenan's previously good character, lack of violence history, and evidence that the attack was provoked and reactionary rather than premeditated. A psychological report indicated depression and cannabis use for self-medication. The victim's family provided an impact statement describing ongoing trauma. Justice Paul Butler adjourned sentencing to 19 January, remanding Mr Gilsenan in custody pending that date.
2016-12-06 · Dublin
Ihab Abou Alfa, 45, was jailed for three months after he tried to withdraw his guilty plea for importing €4,000 worth of cigarettes into Dublin Airport on 21 November 2013. The court found his conduct "unfortunate" because he attempted to change his plea and refused to accept responsibility. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to six months imprisonment, with the final three months suspended, citing the offence as low‑level but the conduct serious. Alfa had been caught red‑handed when Customs and Excise officer John Sinclair observed him acting strangely in the blue channel. The bag contained about 8,200 cigarettes valued at €3,832, costing the exchequer €2,324. Alfa had previously lived in Ireland, ran a painting business, and suffered a road traffic accident and persistent pain. He denied guilt and showed no remorse. The judge noted a non‑custodial sentence would have been appropriate but was overridden by his conduct.
2016-11-14 · Cork
Businessmen Michael and John O'Flynn, along with O'Flynn Construction Ltd, have sued NAMA, NALM, and former employee Enda Farrell for damages over an alleged leak of confidential information. The Co Cork-based plaintiffs claim that the unlawful dissemination of commercially sensitive data materially impacted asset disposal prices between 2010 and 2014. They seek damages for breach of confidence, statutory duty, and misfeasance in public office, alongside orders compelling the defendants to produce documentation regarding the leak and identifying recipients. The plaintiffs state they cannot quantify their claim until further investigations are conducted, requiring discovery of specific documents from the defendants. NAMA has indicated it is seeking guidance from the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation before providing these materials. In a related criminal matter, Enda Farrell, who resides in Belgium, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Court last May to eight counts of unlawfully disclosing information and received a two-year suspended sentence. The civil proceedings were briefly mentioned before Mr Justice Brian McGovern at the Commercial Court on Monday. The judge agreed to adjourn the matter for one week, questioning whether the action is appropriate for the fast-track commercial court list. He directed the lawyers to consider this issue before the case returns to court next week.
2016-07-25 · Dublin
A man's sentence for attempted robbery of a cash-in-transit van has been reduced by the Court of Appeal. Joseph Warren, aged 32, was convicted by jury at Dublin Circuit Court in 2012 of conspiracy to steal cash from a Chubb Ireland van at a Cellbridge supermarket in November 2007. He had also pleaded guilty to possessing ammunition. The original sentence was 14 years with the final three suspended. On appeal, Mr Justice Alan Mahon found the sentencing judge had erred in principle by not adequately reflecting Warren's limited role in the attempted robbery. The court heard that Warren's involvement related primarily to his skill with cutting equipment rather than planning or leadership. Considering prison reports describing him as a model prisoner with strong rehabilitation prospects and family support, the court reduced his sentence to six-and-a-half years for the conspiracy conviction, with his other sentence remaining consecutive. Joseph Warren pleaded not guilty.
2016-07-04 · Dublin
The Court of Appeal has dismissed the appeal against conviction lodged by Joesph Warren, a 32-year-old man from Ballymun. Warren had pleaded not guilty to conspiring to steal cash from Chubb Ireland at a Tesco supermarket in Cellbridge on November 2, 2007. He had previously pleaded guilty to possessing ammunition in Ballymun in 2009. A jury at Dublin Circuit Court found him guilty of the conspiracy charge, and Judge Patrick McCartan sentenced him to 14 years' imprisonment, with the final three years suspended. Warren's legal team argued the trial was unfair because the Director of Public Prosecutions allegedly "cleansed" the jury by excluding potential jurors from Ballymun, Cabra, and Finglas. Mr Justice Alan Mahon, sitting with Mr Justice George Birmingham and Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan, rejected this contention. The judge noted that Warren was identified as a pall bearer at the funeral of the alleged gang leader, indicating a close relationship inconsistent with claims of involuntary involvement. The Court of Appeal determined that the exclusion of jurors from specific areas was a pragmatic exercise in case management to ensure impartiality, falling within the trial judge's discretion. The judges concluded that the Circuit Court judge acted appropriately and that Warren had been found guilty after a very fair trial.
2015-11-17 · Cavan
A Lithuanian woman pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to providing false information and using forged documents in connection with an attempted sham marriage in County Cavan. Rita Skvarcinskaite (42) was charged with offences committed in May and August 2015 at the Civil Registration Office in Cavan town. She had been recruited online to marry a Bangladeshi man to facilitate his visa application, with the expectation of receiving €1,500. Gardaí from the National Immigration Bureau objected to the marriage, preventing it from proceeding. Skvarcinskaite was arrested at Dublin airport on 26 August as she attempted to depart the country. Her legal representative submitted that she had undertaken the arrangement due to financial hardship and had cooperated fully with the investigation. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced her to time already served.
2015-07-30 · Dublin
On 3 July 2014, 83‑year‑old Maureen Burke of Malahide Road, Clontarf, was awakened at 11 pm by the sound of a window breaking and a man speaking to himself. She left her bed, went to the upstairs landing and saw David Mantle, 37, of Crumlin, who had entered her home through the same window. Mantle, smelling of alcohol, apologized and left, claiming he had no memory of the incident. Burke struck him with a belt of her walking stick as he exited. Garda Manus Keane investigated the next day, found fingerprints on the broken window, and identified Mantle as the suspect. He was arrested and charged in January 2015 with one count of attempted burglary. At trial, Mantle pleaded guilty; he has 43 prior convictions and was described as extremely remorseful. Judge Patricia Ryan remanded him in custody until 9 November for sentencing.
2015-07-27 · Dublin
Sean Beumer, 19, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Court to assault causing harm after a vicious, unprovoked attack on Mark Kelly, a father of two, at Grace Park Heights, Drumcondra on 15 March. The assault, witnessed by Kelly's wife and family, began when Beumer confronted Kelly outside his home while Kelly was watching a rugby match. Beumer punched Kelly, breaking his lower lip and repeatedly striking him to the head and body, causing Kelly to fall and suffer injuries. Kelly's wife was thrown to the ground and suffered back pain. Beumer, who had 14 prior convictions mainly for traffic offences and one for attempted theft, apologized and claimed self‑defence. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Beumer's remorse and cooperation, imposed a two‑year suspended sentence, ordered one year of Probation and Welfare Service supervision, and declined a custodial term. A co‑accused, Peter O'Reilly, was previously ordered to pay €5,000 to the victim and his wife.
2015-07-01 · Dublin
In a 2015 Dublin Circuit Court hearing, the State's sole mental health facility, the Central Mental Hospital (CMH), was found to have only one‑fifth of the inpatient capacity required for a 50‑year‑old man who had been acquitted of harassment by reason of insanity. Prosecutor Fergal Foley argued that the man, who had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to six counts of harassment between 2012 and 2014, should remain in the community because he had made every effort to cooperate and take his medication, and that his underlying delusional disorder was now under control. Defence counsel Feargal Kavanagh agreed that outpatient treatment was sensible given the lack of inpatient capacity. A consultant forensic psychiatrist, Dr Conor O'Neill, confirmed that the man posed no immediate risk to himself or others and should not be committed to the CMH if he could manage treatment in the community.
2015-06-23 · Dublin
A 50‑year‑old Dublin man was found not guilty by reason of insanity for harassing six people, including five relatives, between 2012 and 2014. He pleaded not guilty under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006, and both prosecution and defence agreed he was mentally ill. The jury deliberated about ten minutes and returned a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity on all counts. Judge Sarah Berkeley adjourned the case to allow an assessment at St Vincent's Hospital, released the man on bail, and ordered him to take an oath not to contact the victims, attend the hospital, and cooperate with a forensic psychiatrist. The psychiatrist diagnosed a delusional disorder related to schizophrenia, confirming the man's lack of mental responsibility. The case was set to continue with further treatment and monitoring.
2015-02-12 · Dublin
Luke O'Connor, 25, from Cherry Orchard, Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty to attempted robbery of Boyles Sports in Park West, Dublin, on 31 March 2014. He had earlier that day lost money at the bookies and, under pressure, attempted to rob the shop. The cashier initially thought the threat was a joke until O'Connor held a tea towel to his face and pointed a gun at him. The cashier fled to the staff toilets, pressed the panic alarm and called Gardaí. O'Connor was later arrested at his home after CCTV footage was reviewed. He claimed the gun was a pellet gun left by his nephew, but it was not recovered. O'Connor had no prior convictions. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to a four‑year suspended sentence, noting the unusual nature of the offence and his good standing in the community. The cashier remains traumatised and has since found other work.
2014-11-14 · Dublin
Luke Dunne, 21, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Court to assault causing serious harm after a random unprovoked attack on Joseph Nolan, 24, at Fortlawn Park, Blanchardstown on 9 June 2012. Nolan suffered a life‑threatening skull fracture, a brain clot, severe facial palsy, nerve damage, and hearing loss in one ear, preventing him from working as a DJ. He was left unconscious, choking on his own blood, with his left ear nearly torn. The court sentenced Dunne to five and a half years, suspending the final 12 months. Judge Mary Ellen Ring cited Dunne's admission at arrest and lack of prior convictions as reasons for the suspended portion, noting that his cooperation relieved Nolan of additional trauma. Nolan's victim impact statement highlighted the lasting effects on his health, work, and personal relationships. The case involved a gang of youths, a bottle‑throwing incident, and subsequent drug‑related admissions by Dunne.
2014-02-27 · Dublin
Sylvia Deehan, a 46‑year‑old mother of two, sued the Lough Inn Public House after claiming she was pushed by another woman during an Ann Summers lingerie party and fell against a loudspeaker, injuring her ribs. The incident occurred during a ladies' night before a stripper performance. Deehan alleged that a prize—a ring—was thrown in the air by an Ann Summers representative, and that she was shoved aside while reaching for it. She said she could not breathe properly and spent two weeks in bed recovering. The case was dismissed by Judge Jacqueline Linnane in the Dublin Circuit Court; Deehan appealed to the High Court. At the appeal hearing, she denied being asked to leave the pub, denied drinking jägerbombs, and denied any attempt to take a chicken curry meal. The case remains pending.