George Daly, an 81‑year‑old broker from Malahide, pleaded guilty to using a false instrument in mortgage applications between 2011 and 2017. He helped about 40 applicants inflate their income statements, claiming the banks were "fraudsters" and "greed merchants" after his son lost a home. Gardaí seized 800 documents, including payslips and P60s, which showed higher earnings than the applicants actually earned. The loans, totalling €3.5 million, were drawn down by the applicants and repaid as scheduled, with no repossessions or financial loss to the banks. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a six‑year prison sentence, fully suspended, noting the seriousness of the misconduct but deciding no custodial term was necessary. Daly received no custodial sentence, but the court highlighted the reprehensible nature of his actions.
A 52‑year‑old man, Kasonga Mbuyi, was given a fully suspended sentence of two‑and‑a‑half years for repeatedly stabbing a German passenger at Dublin Airport. The attack was described as unprovoked and random, with the victim sustaining eight superficial wounds that required 12 stitches. Mbuyi, who was barefoot and behaving erratically, had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and had a history of cannabis misuse. He pleaded guilty after being deemed fit to plead following almost two years in custody. The judge noted his mental illness and cooperation with the investigation, and imposed strict conditions including 18 months of probation supervision, attendance at offence‑related interventions, and engagement with health and vocational services. The sentence was suspended to encourage continued rehabilitation. The victim's impact statement highlighted the profound effect on his life and family.
A former garda has been remanded for sentencing assessment following his guilty plea to assaulting his then wife, also a member of An Garda Síochána, at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Trevor Bolger, aged 48, previously stationed at Ballymun, pleaded guilty to the assault on Margaret Loftus on 25 October 2012. The incident occurred during a family visit to Balla, County Mayo. Judge Martina Baxter adjourned sentencing to allow completion of an intervention program assessment referenced in a probation report, with proceedings to resume on 16 January 2026. Ms Loftus delivered a victim impact statement describing lasting effects of the assault and the subsequent stigma she experienced within the force. Bolger, who has no previous convictions, was represented by defence counsel who highlighted his mental health treatment, compensation of €6,000 offered to the court, and testimonials to his character. The maximum penalty under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act is six months imprisonment or a fine.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Noel Smullen, 58, of Silverdale, Clara, Co. Offaly, was sentenced to six and a half years' imprisonment for the unlawful importation of 40 kilos of cocaine, worth €2.8 million, hidden beneath a legitimate cargo of Lego toys. Smullen's role was described as lower than that of co‑accused Killian McNay, 40, who received a seven‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence earlier that month. Smullen pleaded guilty to the offence, which occurred at Dublin Port on 22 September 2024, after customs officers detected a concealed metal compartment in his lorry's trailer. He had nine prior convictions, including burglary and possession of stolen property. The judge, Martina Baxter, noted his cooperation, early guilty plea and lack of drug‑dealing convictions, and suspended the last 18 months of his sentence for two years on the condition of good behaviour and engagement with the Probation Service.
Amy McAuley (35) has been sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to one count of the use of a false instrument through submitting a false death notification form to Wexford County Council on January 19, 2023. She also pleaded guilty to attempting to pervert the course of justice on January 23, 2023, and to a count of forgery of a medical report on November 23, 2022, both at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court at the Criminal Courts of Justice, Parkgate Street. The case is currently at the appeal stage. Judge Orla Crowe imposed a global sentence of four years, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions for four years. McAuley was also directed to place herself under the supervision of the Probation Services for 12 months post-release. The judge noted that McAuley's actions were a deliberate scheme to pervert the course of justice and involved significant breaches of trust. McAuley has four previous convictions for theft and deception offences. The matter was adjourned for appeal.
Frank Kelly, 40, was jailed for two years and three months after a mess fight with his childhood friend Darren Sherlock escalated into violence. The pair had been socialising and drinking at Kelly's home when Kelly suggested a fight. Sherlock recorded the altercation on his phone. According to the prosecution, the fight began with grappling and shoving but turned darker when Kelly grabbed a bottle of whiskey and struck Sherlock. Garda Diane Byrne reported that Kelly then took a knife and threatened to stab Sherlock. Kelly stabbed Sherlock nine times, causing superficial wounds to the back and a suspected punctured lung. Sherlock later collapsed on the road, was treated in hospital, and has since recovered. Kelly pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan, who noted the escalation from a "mess fight" to a criminal act.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Kevin O'Riordan, 40, of Rathcoole, Moone, Co Kildare, was found guilty of failing to stop at the scene of a collision and of careless driving. The incident occurred on 21 September 2023 when O'Riordan, while turning left onto Meath Street, struck an elderly man who was crossing the road. O'Riordan stopped his car and remained for four minutes before driving away, later telling the gardai that he did not realise he had hit the victim. The court noted that the driver had ample time to see the pedestrian but did not. O'Riordan received a suspended prison sentence of 18 months, was banned from driving for two years, and was required to keep the peace. The victim, who suffered a fractured hip and now requires assistance to walk, has expressed that the incident has severely impacted his independence and mental health.
Anthony Locke, 48, of Ballyfermot, was sentenced to eight years in prison with the last two years suspended after pleading guilty to assaulting a woman and threatening to drown her. The incident occurred in a Dublin flat where Locke, experiencing a psychiatric episode, smashed objects, threatened the victim with "holy water," and dragged her by the wrists. He had previously been jailed for manslaughter in 1998 and had a conviction for impeding the apprehension of a murderer. The victim suffered bruises and bite marks. The judge noted Locke's mental health issues and lack of medication compliance, and warned that he remains a danger to society. The suspended portion of the sentence is conditional on good behaviour and compliance with probation for 18 months after release.
Daniel Ryan, 24, of Clondalkin, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for two offences. He pleaded guilty to assault causing harm on May 1 2023 after striking Garda Mark Walsh and Garda Grace Lumsden during a stop of a Kia Sportage in Clondalkin. He also pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply on January 8 2019, after fingerprints matched a discarded lunchbox containing 24.6 g of crack cocaine and heroin. Ryan was on bail at the time of the assault and had 36 prior convictions. Judge Pauline Codd imposed a one‑year term for the drug offence and a two‑and‑a‑half‑year term for the assault, to run consecutively, totalling three and a half years. The final 18 months were suspended on strict conditions, including engagement with the Probation Service. Ryan is currently serving five and a half years, with his sentence expiring in November 2028.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Jake Emmet, aged 23, was sentenced to five and a half years in prison for a series of violent offences. Emmet pleaded guilty to demanding money with menace on 15 September 2024, assault causing harm on 25 September 2024, and three counts of producing a knife in a manner likely to intimidate. He threatened a woman with a knife, sent her WhatsApp messages, and, with accomplices, attacked her partner with a knife while shouting "kill him, finish him." The court noted that Emmet's threats were ignored and that the victim had called Gardaí. Judge Nolan, citing the intent to seriously harm the victim and Emmet's prior blackmail conviction, imposed the custodial sentence, backdating it to January. The case involved no further appeals or subsequent proceedings as reported.
Romer Huarita, 31, of Dublin 4, was sentenced to 15 months in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to knowingly distributing child pornography material on January 7, 2022, and December 8, 2021. He also admitted to possessing child pornography. Prosecutors stated that 74 images and 45 videos, totaling over three hours, were found on his phone during a March 2022 search. Huarita sent two explicit videos via WhatsApp, later asking the recipient if the children were "too young." He expressed regret to gardai. Defense counsel Eanna Mulloy SC highlighted Huarita's lack of prior convictions, his employment history, and a psychological report indicating low reoffending risk. Judge Martin Nolan acknowledged the mitigating factors of his guilty pleas and work history but imposed the 15-month sentence, noting the maximum penalty for distribution is 14 years. The judge referenced a Court of Appeal ruling regarding non-custodial sentences in the absence of aggravating factors. The matter was concluded with this custodial sentence.
Alan Tighe, 38, was jailed for five and a half years after authorities seized €700,000 worth of cannabis and cocaine. The drugs were hidden in air compressors and a van. Tighe was arrested when Gardaí, alerted by customs, intercepted a delivery of air compressors and found the cannabis, then later discovered the cocaine in a van. He pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply at Centre Point Business Park on 17 October 2023 and at an underground car park in Tallaght on 18 October 2023. Tighe has prior convictions for road traffic offences. The judge noted his addiction and debt‑related duress, his early guilty plea and family background, and imposed concurrent sentences of five and a half years, deviating from the mandatory 10‑year term. The court heard that Tighe's role was not sophisticated and that he had no signs of wealth. The defence highlighted his addiction, debt, and cooperation.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 70‑year‑old man, William Butler, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for sexually assaulting a child aged between eight and nine between 2000 and 2002. Butler pleaded guilty to the offence, which involved touching the child's private area both inside and outside her clothing. The court noted that the child's family, who could not be identified, wished Butler to be named. Butler has 21 prior convictions, mainly for larceny and traffic offences, but none for sexual offences. He has suffered threats to burn down his house, assaults, and has spent time sleeping in his car and in cheap hotels. The judge, Martin Nolan, acknowledged Butler's remorse and the mitigating circumstances, but set a headline sentence of six years, reduced to four years after mitigation. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the offence and the impact on the victim.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Valdas Sakinis, aged 40, was sentenced to four years and five months in prison for possession of cannabis and zopiclone tablets for sale or supply. Gardai discovered over €680,000 worth of illegal drugs in a storage unit on Mount Seskin Road, Tallaght. The unit contained 33.4 kg of cannabis, valued at €668,000, and €12,600 of zopiclone tablets. Sakinis was found with €200 of cannabis for personal use, a small amount of ketamine in a hidden compartment, cling film, a key to the unit, and a van. He had no fixed abode, claimed to live in Lithuania, and refused to identify the key owner. He had three prior convictions for theft, criminal damage and trespass dating back to 2011. The court accepted his early guilty plea, cooperation, and a letter from his priest, and noted his lower‑to‑middle offending level and foreign‑national status.
Patrick O'Brien, 18, was sentenced to a suspended nine‑month term after he threw two airsoft grenades in the underground car park of the IBIS hotel in Clondalkin, Dublin, in February. The grenades produced a bang and a flash, and one was thrown toward a man who later reported the incident to Clondalkin Garda Station. The man, after picking up the grenade, wrapped it in tissue and brought it to the station, where the gardaí were instructed to place it on the floor, leading to the station's temporary evacuation and the closure of surrounding roads. Bomb disposal units later confirmed the device was a CO₂ airsoft grenade, safe and used in airsoft games. O'Brien pleaded guilty to possession of the grenade; he had no prior convictions. The judge noted his young age and described the act as "an act of stupidity," and imposed the suspended sentence on conditions set by the court.
Carley Hopkins, 35, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to endangerment, theft and production of an article for stealing €246 worth of clothing from Dundrum Town Centre on 12 February 2023. She fled with a security officer clinging to her car's bonnet, driving off while the officer held onto the bonnet until she reached the barrier. Hopkins admitted the offence at the scene and in a Garda interview, expressed remorse, and handed over her car keys. She is a part‑time cleaner, suffers mental health difficulties, and cares for her mother, cousin and teenage child. Judge Patricia Codd sentenced her to two and a half years for endangerment and 18 months for theft, both concurrent, and suspended the entire sentence for three years. The production of an article charge was also considered.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Karl Keogh, 38, admitted using forged documents—including a fake Virgin Media bill, counterfeit pay slips and a counterfeit Irish driving licence—to open an account at Ballygall Credit Union in Ballymun and borrow €19,000. The loan was never repaid, and the account fell into arrears. Keogh pleaded guilty to theft and fraud offences on 4 and 8 April 2021. The court, noting his severe gambling problem, imposed a 20‑month prison sentence.
Chesing Wan, 37, of Tallaght, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to handling €64,195 and £2,180 sterling, alleged to be proceeds of crime found at his home on July 16, 2023. Judge Orla Crowe noted that Wan was "clearly trusted" in storing the considerable amount of cash. Detective Garda Mark Berigan testified that a search warrant was executed following confidential information, revealing Wan had used WhatsApp to arrange meetings for collecting cash, verified by photographs of a €20 note. The court heard that Wan, a father of four with a history of drug addiction and depression, has four previous minor convictions. Judge Crowe acknowledged mitigating factors including his guilty plea, mental health difficulties, and character references. She determined the offence warranted a custodial sentence, noting the maximum available penalty was fourteen years. Wan was sentenced to eighteen months in prison, with the final nine months suspended for two years. He was also placed under the supervision of probation services for one year post-release. The probation report placed him at a "moderate" risk of re-offending.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 41‑year‑old serial burglar, Thomas Redmond, received a five‑year prison sentence for breaking into a house in Clonskeagh, Dublin 14, where a mother and her infant were present. Redmond, who had previously lived in Ard Donagh, Ennistymon, Co Clare, had been on bail for a 2022 trespass offence in Stillorgan, Co Dublin, when he committed the 2024 burglary. He admitted that his typical method involved cycling around estates, checking for unoccupied houses, and then entering to steal and leave. When he realised occupants were present, he fled. The victim, a mother asleep with her baby, heard a loud doorbell and noise, saw Redmond running up the stairs, and pursued him to protect her child. She later described the psychological impact of the intrusion. Judge Martin Nolan accepted that Redmond's intent was to target empty houses and, upon discovering people inside, he attempted to escape. Thomas Redmond pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Martin Nolan considered imprisoning 18‑year‑old Patrick O'Brien for throwing air‑soft grenades in the underground carpark of the IBIS hotel in Clondalkin. O'Brien admitted possession of the grenades and that he had thrown one at a man who investigated the first incident. The judge questioned whether O'Brien should be jailed "for stupidity" and subsequently revoked his bail, remanding him in custody until sentencing. O'Brien had no prior convictions and claimed the grenades were bought legally for use in air‑soft games. He acknowledged the act was foolish and potentially frightening to the man targeted. The court noted the evacuation of Clondalkin Garda Station and the safe disposal of the grenades by bomb‑disposal units. The case remains pending sentencing. Patrick O'Brien pleaded guilty.
John Hoey, a 24‑year‑old carpet fitter, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended for two years, after pleading guilty to assaulting his pregnant partner and threatening her with a Stanley knife. The court heard that Hoey repeatedly beat his partner, pushed her head under running water, struck her with a toilet brush, and threatened to kill her if she sent any more Snapchat messages. He also smashed their patio door and a mirror, and grabbed her by the throat, causing her to pass out. Hoey admitted the assault, expressed remorse, and has no prior convictions. The judge noted the sustained violent attack and ordered Hoey to engage with the Probation Service and attend intimate partner violence programmes for 12 months upon release. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the domestic violence but acknowledges his lack of previous convictions and his willingness to seek help.
Mihail Trofim, 27, was sentenced to six months' imprisonment after failing to attend his original sentencing hearing for careless driving causing serious bodily harm. The offence occurred on 8 June 2022 when his Mercedes struck a pedestrian on Old Navan Road, Blanchardstown, at 83–88 km/h in a 60 km/h zone. The victim, a 32‑year‑old musician, sustained catastrophic injuries, including brain damage, broken limbs and ribs, and now requires a wheelchair and constant care. Trofim pleaded guilty to the charge and to having no insurance, which he had purchased from a fraudulent broker. Judge Martin Nolan noted Trofim's lack of courage to appear, his failure to arrange a timely court appearance, and the aggravating impact on the victim's family. He was also disqualified from driving for five years. The court adjourned the case to allow for sentencing, which was carried out today.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Noel McCabe, aged 30, pleaded guilty to possession of a realistic‑looking airgun, common assault, criminal damage and producing an article capable of inflicting serious harm. The offences occurred on 24 September 2024. McCabe first forced entry into a house at Briarwood Lawn, Mulhuddart, then struck a man in a pub at the Westend Shopping Centre, producing a gas pistol from his tracksuit. He dropped gas canisters shaped like bullets, which were not ammunition. Later that evening, Gardaí found a black revolver near him at the same address; forensic analysis confirmed it was a realistic‑looking firearm. McCabe, intoxicated and argumentative, was arrested and later restrained during transport. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a five‑year sentence, back‑dated to September 2024, without part‑suspension, citing McCabe's extensive record of 41 convictions and his expressed remorse. The sentence aims to encourage behavioural change.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Lucas Andre Alves, a 26‑year‑old Brazilian from Rio de Janeiro, pleaded guilty to possession of 100 pellets of cocaine worth €57,342 for sale or supply at Dublin Airport on 8 September 2024. Alves, who had lost his job in Brazil, admitted ingesting the pellets before travelling to Ireland, describing the act as a "crime of desperation." He has no prior convictions and has been in custody since his arrest. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Alves' guilty plea, good work history and the circumstances of the offence, imposed a two‑year and nine‑month sentence, back‑dated to September 2024, and departed from the ten‑year mandatory minimum. Garda Peter Elliot reported that Alves was stopped at customs, admitted to ingesting the pellets, and that he had been pressured by others to pay for his travel and documents.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 17 October 2025, Kevin Cronin, 45, was ordered to pay €3,000 to an escort after he forced her to transfer money to his Revolut account. Cronin, who had no prior convictions, pleaded guilty to robbery on 7 February 2023. He claimed he was "high on drugs" and threatened the woman, who was described as vulnerable, to transfer €180. The judge noted Cronin's cooperation, guilty plea, and long work history, and imposed a two‑year suspended sentence, citing mitigation. He also directed Cronin to pay the victim the €3,000, or, if she declined, to donate it to a local charity. The case highlighted Cronin's drug use and the alleged threat that he was a gang member, which the prosecution denied. The court did not impose custodial time, citing the conviction's stigma and the victim's financial loss.
Paul Cullen, 45, of Crumlin, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to six years and nine months in prison, with the final 12 months suspended for two years, after pleading guilty to seven offences including assault, robbery, attempted robbery and theft. The judge highlighted a pattern of violent crime, drug use and the use of weapons such as a meat cleaver, screwdriver, claw hammer and an imitation firearm. Cullen's crimes included a violent robbery at a Luas stop where a victim suffered a broken ankle, an attempted robbery at a hotel where he brandished a cleaver, a robbery of Boyle Sports Bookmakers where he stole €7,400, and an attempted robbery at Paddy Power Bookmakers while wearing a white hazmat suit. He also robbed a beauty salon and an estate agency, and was found with a scorched hazmat suit at a mortuary.
An Indian national, Ayyappan Govindaraj, 41, was sentenced to 20 months' imprisonment for unlawfully assisting two other men to enter Ireland. The court heard that on 7 June 2024, an immigration officer at Dublin Airport was approached by the two men who claimed to have lost their passports. Govindaraj presented an Indian passport and a genuine seaman's book, claiming he was to join a vessel, but the officer found no evidence of such a ship and noted the men had no return flight. The men were initially denied entry but were later allowed to apply for international protection; however, they have not been seen since leaving the airport and did not apply for protection. The judge, Patricia Ryan, noted no financial gain or coercion and backdated the sentence to the arrest date. The case is one of the first prosecuted under the Immigration Act's section 4. Ayyappan Govindaraj pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 16 October 2025, 21‑year‑old Morgan Devlin of Tallaght pleaded guilty to one count of robbery and one count of assault causing harm for an incident on 8 May 2022 on Sean Whelan Road. Devlin, who has six prior convictions, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment. The court noted that the victim sustained a serious injury close to the femoral artery, suffered multiple blows, a knife stab from a co‑accused, and a bite wound. CCTV identified Devlin, who was the least culpable of the three assailants. The judge considered sentences of other co‑accused, including a minor who received five years with two and a half years suspended for a separate robbery. The case highlighted the victim's severe injuries and the defendants' varying culpability.
Dan Moorehouse, 26, of Richmond Park, Monkstown, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to two counts of assault causing harm and one count of burglary at an address on Monkstown Road, south Dublin. The court heard that Moorehouse, who has 60 previous convictions, allegedly broke into the home and attacked two sisters who confronted him. Prosecution evidence stated he punched one woman in the face, bursting her lip and cutting her cheekbone, and struck the other in the nose. Judge Martin Nolan described the incident as a traumatic ordeal, noting that Moorehouse allegedly burgled the house to fund a drug habit. While acknowledging the defendant's difficult background and mental health issues, the Judge stated that Moorehouse knew right from wrong. Moorehouse was sentenced to a six-year custodial term. The Judge suspended the final 18 months of this sentence, resulting in an effective custody period of four and a half years. The matter was finalised at the sentencing stage.
Jonathan Vieira, a 31‑year‑old Brazilian, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for importing cocaine into Ireland by swallowing 90 pellets of the drug. He pleaded guilty to possession for sale, possession of cocaine and importation of cocaine at Dublin Airport on 16 March 2025. Garda Avril Owens reported that Vieira was stopped by customs after flying from Brazil because he was deemed suspicious. He admitted swallowing 90 pellets, passing 71 while in custody, and that the pellets were worth an estimated €48,825 on the street. Vieira claimed he was an Uber driver who had borrowed €2,000 from a debt collector to buy a vehicle, and that he was forced to transport the cocaine to repay the debt within three days. He acknowledged that his actions were illegal but said he felt pressured.
Thomas Thompson, aged 59, was given a suspended two‑year sentence for burglary after entering a Dollymount house through an unlocked back door. He had rung the bell and asked to speak to the homeowner, but the teenage son, who was in a back room, told him the woman was asleep. A scuffle ensued when the son tried to remove Thompson from the house. Thompson claimed he had a knife, but no weapon was found, and the victim believed none existed. The homeowner's mother later confronted Thompson, who called her a "rat." Thompson had previously been reported for disturbances near the home. He pleaded guilty to burglary on 19 May 2024, has 28 prior convictions, and the court noted his PTSD diagnosis from the 1970s Dublin bombings. Judge Martin Nolan suspended the sentence on the condition that Thompson stay at least one kilometre from the victim's home.
Chloe Dunne, 29, of Finglas, was stopped by Gardaí for using her phone while driving in Clondalkin on 26 July 2023. Officers found a large carrier bag containing 973 grammes of cannabis in the front passenger seat, with an estimated street value of €19,750. Dunne admitted that someone had placed the drugs in her car and that her role was to deliver the bag to a specific address. She claimed she was unaware of the drugs' value and was seeking €300–€400 for her part. She had no prior convictions. At the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court she pleaded guilty to possessing drugs for sale or supply. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a two‑year sentence, suspended in full on strict conditions, citing her lack of experience and immediate admission of guilt.
Dean Teeling, 36, of Ballymun, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for violent disorder and assault causing harm arising from a Mountjoy prison incident on December 18, 2018, and a separate assault causing harm during a knife attack on Fownes Street in Temple Bar on January 8, 2022. Teeling pleaded guilty to all charges. Judge Martin Nolan described the prison assault as "pretty savage" and imposed three-year custodial sentences for each offence, ordered to run consecutively, resulting in a total of six years. The court noted Teeling's history of offending, including prior knife assaults. Brad Dempsey, 24, of Crumlin, Dublin, also pleaded guilty to affray at Mountjoy prison for his involvement in the 2018 melee, where he allegedly kicked the victim. Judge Nolan sentenced Dempsey to 18 months imprisonment for this offence. Dempsey is currently serving an eight-year term for firearms offences imposed in 2022. The sentences for both defendants were finalized at this procedural stage.
Kieran O'Dea, aged 40, was sentenced to four years and nine months in custody after pleading guilty to possession for sale or supply of cannabis at Dublin Airport on 18 August 2024. He travelled to Thailand to collect drugs to repay a debt of €8,000 and was told by creditors that failure to comply would have consequences. O'Dea claimed he believed the bag contained clothing and a small amount of cannabis, but customs officers found 24 kg of cannabis, worth an estimated €480,000. He had a history of drug addiction since 2017, had previously been convicted of drug dealing and possession, and had attempted rehabilitation. The judge noted his efforts to overcome addiction but highlighted the substantial quantity of drugs involved in this offence.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 24‑year‑old Jake Higgins pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of drugs for sale or supply. Garda Michael Brislane testified that Higgins was carrying a backpack with ketamine and MDMA, worth €3,642 and €1,260 respectively, and a weighing scale. Higgins claimed the drugs were for personal use but later admitted the charges. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Higgins' lack of prior convictions and employment, suspended a two‑year prison sentence on the condition of good behaviour and keeping the peace.
A suspended sentence was imposed on Gedas Bertulis (34) during an appeal stage at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Bertulis pleaded guilty to possessing 35 videos of child sexual abuse material at his home in Mulhuddart in March 2022. The videos involved children aged between five and 13 years old in various sexual activities, including five videos of children in sexually explicit poses. Bertulis admitted to the charges and expressed remorse, stating he was glad he was caught and that his behaviour made him feel sick. His defence, Karl Monahan BL, explained that during the lockdown, Bertulis began drinking heavily and downloaded the material from websites designed to obscure user identity. Bertulis, a Lithuanian national with no relevant previous convictions, has not come to adverse garda attention since the offence. Judge Martin Nolan referenced the 2006 'DPP v Loving' judgment, which advised that in the absence of aggravating factors such as distribution or prior offending, a non-custodial sentence should be considered. As such, the judge imposed a two and a half year suspended sentence, conditional on Bertulis keeping the peace and being of good behaviour for that period.
The Court of Appeal heard an appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions against the sentence imposed on Ian Doyle, who pleaded guilty to assaulting a woman causing her harm and threatening to kill or cause serious harm to her in February 2023. Doyle, who was on bail for assaulting a different partner at the time, was sentenced by Judge Orla Crowe to a headline term of five years, reduced to three years and six months with the final six months suspended. This sentence runs consecutive to a term expiring in April 2026. The State argued the sentence was too lenient, contending it represented a gross departure from the norm and that the sentencing judge erred by failing to adequately reflect aggravating factors, including Doyle's 74 previous convictions and the fact he committed the offences while on bail. Counsel for the DPP argued the threat to kill should have been the gauge offence rather than the assault, and that excessive weight was given to the late guilty plea. Doyle's counsel argued the sentence was within the available range and that the judge correctly treated the assault as the primary offence. The court reserved its judgment on the appeal.
In October 2025, a 27‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to 21 months' imprisonment for wilfully ill‑treating or neglecting a child. He failed to seek medical care for his girlfriend's nine‑month‑old baby after noticing injuries in March 2024. The baby suffered fractures, bruising and other non‑accidental injuries. The man pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He had prior convictions for knife possession, public order and criminal damage. Social workers had been involved with the mother and child, and a safety plan had been put in place. The man had been warned not to be alone with the child unsupervised. Gardaí found the home in disarray and the baby's mother had called emergency services on 19 March 2024. The judge noted the child's serious injuries and the man's failure to act, resulting in the 21‑month sentence.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Elva Duffy sentenced an 83‑year‑old former Christian Brothers teacher to four and a half years in prison for sexually assaulting nine primary school boys during a 30‑year teaching career. The offences, occurring between 1980 and 1995 in a Dublin city school, involved boys aged 8 to 13, with most between 11 and 13. The court heard that the teacher would call boys to the top of the class, place them on his knee, slap them—often with an implement—and then indecently assault them by rubbing their buttocks or groin. Victims recounted being slapped hard, being forced to lie on the teacher's knee, and being threatened with punishment if they reported the abuse. The teacher, previously convicted in the 1960s and 1970s, denied wrongdoing and did not accept jury verdicts. He is already serving a four‑year term for other offences.
Killian McNay, 40, of Ardilaun Green, Mullingar, Westmeath, was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison by Judge Martin Nolan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. McNay admitted to possessing 40 kilograms of cocaine for sale or supply at Dublin Port on 22 September 2024 and to having imported the drugs, valued at €2.8 million, concealed under a Lego shipment destined for Lidl stores. The cocaine was hidden in specialised containers in the base of a flat‑bed trailer that had been carrying legitimate Lego goods. McNay had hired a driver and travelled to Holland to ensure proper loading; the driver remains before the courts. McNay was under significant financial pressure and had a history of minor road‑traffic convictions. He was interviewed six times and admitted his presence during loading. The court noted his debt‑driven circumstances and his role in the haulage industry. Judge Nolan described his actions as a grievous misjudgement and sentenced him accordingly.
Dariusz Skowronski, 47, was given a 12‑month suspended sentence after he drove over a three‑year‑old girl while reversing into a driveway. The child, who was not visible above the rear window, sustained life‑changing injuries, including a severe brain injury and skull fractures. Skowronski stopped briefly after the first impact but continued reversing, causing the charge of careless driving causing serious bodily harm. He pleaded guilty on 17 May 2022 and had no prior convictions. Footage of the incident was shown to Judge Martin Nolan, who noted the lack of aggravating factors such as alcohol, drugs or phone use. The judge expressed sympathy for the family and, after considering the circumstances, imposed a one‑year sentence suspended in full. The child's parents were present, and victim impact statements were submitted but not read out in court.
Evan Moore, aged 20, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to rioting, setting fire to a Luas tram and damaging its windows on 23 November 2023. The incident followed a stabbing of a five‑year‑old in Parnell Square and led to a 24‑hour suspension of Luas services and an estimated €5 million in tram damage. Court hearings revealed CCTV footage of Moore's involvement from 7.05 pm to 7.40 pm, including moving burning material onto the tram. Moore, who had no prior convictions and was 18 at the time, was found to have been influenced by anti‑immigrant sentiment and social media. Judge Orla Crowe imposed a headline sentence of eight years, reduced to four years with the final year suspended, requiring good behaviour and probation supervision. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the riot and the damage caused.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 80‑year‑old Desmond Walsh was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for sexually abusing a child aged five to nine between 2011 and 2015. The judge, Martin Nolan, noted the repeated nature of the abuse and the victim's young age as aggravating factors, but also cited Walsh's guilty plea, remorse, lack of prior convictions, long work history and low likelihood of re‑offending as mitigating factors. Walsh had been extradited from Spain after leaving Ireland in 2018 and was returned to face the charges in November 2022. The victim, who remained unnamed, gave an impact statement expressing a desire to return to normal life. The judge urged Walsh to feel ashamed of his actions. The sentence was reduced from an initial headline of eight years to four years, with credit given for time already spent in custody.
Jonathan Byrne, 37, of Woodavens, Clondalkin, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for assault causing harm after he kicked and stamped his then‑partner over 15 times, causing bruising, swelling and vomiting. The attack occurred on 3 March at the victim's home, where she later described being punched, kicked, stamped and spat on. Byrne left the night before, warned her it was not over, and returned to collect belongings, shouting at a plant. He pleaded guilty, expressed remorse, and cited mental health and addiction issues. Judge Orla Crowe set a headline sentence of five years, imposed three years and six months, and suspended the final year on strict conditions. The victim suffered PTSD, hair loss and ongoing fear, as detailed in her impact statement.
Brian Comiskey, aged 46, was first arrested in 2013 after robbing a Texaco service station in Shankill, Co Dublin, on Valentine's Day. The robbery was televised on RTE's Crimecall, and an anonymous tip led to his arrest, but insufficient evidence prevented charges. In 2021, an off‑duty detective spotted Comiskey entering the same service station armed with a hammer, wearing a face covering and latex gloves. He was taken to a Garda station before he could steal anything and claimed he had robbed the station in 2013. That confession was inadmissible. Comiskey pleaded guilty to one count of robbery at the Texaco station and one count of burglary at Centra on the same day, February 14, 2013. He had 45 prior convictions, including robbery, burglary, knife possession and public order offences. Sergeant Bernard Dunne described how Comiskey entered Centra, stole a screwdriver, left, then demanded €700 from a worker at the Texaco station, taking the money and leaving.
A 22‑year‑old man, Martin McAleer, was sentenced to five years and four months in prison, with 18 months suspended, after pleading guilty to dangerous driving, endangerment, criminal damage and possession of false instruments in two separate incidents in 2023. The first incident on 4 January involved McAleer driving a car that struck a civilian vehicle, a Garda car and a parked car, causing €80,000‑90,000 in damage and soft‑tissue injuries to a passenger. The second incident on 31 May saw McAleer driving an Audi A5 in a high‑speed pursuit that resulted in a motorbike collision, injuries to a motorcyclist, damage to six Garda vehicles and two civilian cars, and a broken toe and hand to a Garda. He was on bail at the time of the offences and is already serving a four‑year sentence.
A 36‑year‑old man, Jasmin Nasic, was jailed for one year after a jury found him guilty of sexual assault and offensive conduct of a sexual nature for groping a 16‑year‑old girl in a Dublin supermarket. The victim, who was helping her mother shop, said the assault took place when Nasic put his hand on her buttocks and forcefully groped her as he walked past. She described the incident as "opportunistic and demeaning" and said the trial caused her stress, anxiety and sleepless nights. Judge Martina Baxter, after hearing the victim's impact statement and a Probation Service report that Nasic is at moderate risk of re‑offending, sentenced him to two years in prison, suspending the final year on conditions including one year of probation. Nasic has no prior convictions and has worked in Ireland since 2016. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Govonor Ogbonnaya, 27, pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply at a Tallaght address on 20 October 2020. He had 52 prior theft convictions. Gardaí obtained a search warrant for a Tallaght home, finding 26.6 g of cannabis in the house and 2,067 g in bags on adjacent bins, totaling €43,854 in seized cannabis. Ogbonnaya admitted to taking the drugs after seeing them stored under a bush, but claimed uncertainty about what to do with them. He presented himself to Gardaí when the house owner was arrested and took responsibility. Judge Martin Nolan, noting mitigation, departed from the ten‑year mandatory minimum and sentenced Ogbonnaya to two years in prison, back‑dated to his custody entry. The sentence reflects the court's view that the defendant deserves custodial punishment while acknowledging his desire to leave that life behind.
Jordan Domican, aged 24, of Collinstown Grove, Clondalkin, Dublin, has been sentenced to seven and a half years imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He pleaded guilty to two counts of facilitating a criminal organisation between May 9 and May 11, 2024. The court heard that Domican procured vehicles used in serious criminal incidents, including an arson attack on a Dublin house and a firearms discharge. Judge Martin Nolan described him as occupying a significant role within the organisation, describing him as "indispensable". Evidence included phone records, CCTV footage showing his vehicle in convoy with those used in the offences, and his involvement in purchasing vehicles under false identities. Domican, who has thirty previous convictions, was credited with a guilty plea and mitigating personal circumstances. He has been remanded in custody since February 2025. Several co-accused remain before the courts regarding the same offences.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Connor James McCabe, 29, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm and to driving a defective vehicle after a collision on Balbutcher Lane, Ballymun, on 20 February 2023. McCabe admitted that the front tyres of his car were bald and that he had traces of cannabis in his system, but he denied that intoxication contributed to the loss of control. The victim suffered fractures to the arm and leg, a broken nose and a brain bleed, with speech and memory affected. McCabe, who had no prior convictions and was fully insured, was found to have lost control of the vehicle, which was travelling under the speed limit. Judge Martin Nolan, after considering the evidence, imposed an 18‑month suspended sentence and a four‑year driving ban, citing McCabe's early guilty plea, remorse and lack of previous convictions as mitigating factors. The case was adjourned overnight for sentencing.