Daniel Daudet, a French music teacher, was jailed for three and a half years after using dual identities to fraudulently claim €175,000 in social welfare payments between 2002 and 2015. He obtained a PPS number as Alexander Daude in 2002 and later used his real name to claim benefits under both aliases. Daudet also rented a Dublin penthouse with a private pool for €3,000 a month, which he used to fund a lifestyle beyond his means. He was convicted of using a false instrument and a false French national identity card, plus 711 further fraud charges. The court noted his significant dishonesty over a long period and his use of taxpayers' money. Judge Melanie Greally imposed concurrent sentences totaling three and a half years, struck him off the music teachers' register, and acknowledged his repayment arrangements of €100 a week since 2016, with a remaining debt of €167,800.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Declan Garnett, a 46‑year‑old father of three, pleaded guilty to possessing 198 grammes of cocaine worth €13,923 found near his apartment complex bins. He claimed he discovered the drugs in a shopping bag, brought them home, and hid them in his wife's jacket, holding them for up to three days before deciding what to do. Garda Cathal Connolly reported that the police raided Garnett's home on a warrant, finding no wealth, paraphernalia, or cash. Garnett had no prior convictions. His defence highlighted his lack of secondary education, strong work ethic, and family support, submitting employment testimonials and letters from his wife and children. Judge Karen O'Connor, shocked by the children's letters, set a headline sentence of five years' imprisonment but adjourned sentencing to March 14 to assess suitability for community service, noting Garnett's apologetic nature and potential to give back to the community. The case remains pending.
In July 2016, Derek Cooling, aged 29, and another man robbed the 'More For Less' shop in Bawnogue Shopping Centre, Dublin 22. They used an air gun to threaten a female employee, demanding the till be opened. Cooling pleaded guilty to robbery. During the robbery, the cashier handed over €2,200 in cash, and the men forced the shop manager to empty the safe. After the robbery, the men entered a nearby house and were found burning the €2,200 and clothing. Gardaí discovered a bloody trail and smoke from the house's chimney. Cooling was sentenced to five years, with the final two and a half years suspended under conditions including rehabilitation. The cashier could not return to work, and the manager suffered anxiety and paranoia. Cooling's father presented a letter to the court, and the judge agreed he would need supervision upon release.
A 62‑year‑old man named Owen McKeever pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to fraudulently claiming over €40,000 of Jobseeker's Allowance in his brother Brendan McKeever's name between 2009 and 2013. He was charged with 50 counts of social welfare fraud, resulting in a total loss to the Exchequer of €41,871. McKeever was also making a legitimate claim in his own name at the time. Judge Karen O'Connor adjourned his sentence for six months to assess his eligibility for community service. She indicated a potential suspended three‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence if he can repay €3,000 to the State every six months, as he has proposed. The case was aided by facial imaging technology introduced in 2013, which matched a genuine photograph of McKeever with one purporting to be his brother. McKeever admitted full responsibility, has begun repaying €50 per week, and has repaid €2,350 to date. The sentence is adjourned until July.
Matthew Horan, aged 26, was sentenced to nine and a half years in prison for sexually exploiting children and distributing child pornography. He used platforms such as Skype, Snapchat, Instagram and the anonymous messaging app Kik to coerce girls as young as nine into sending graphic images and videos. Forensic examination of his computer revealed recorded Skype calls with two nine‑year‑old girls, including footage of them engaging in sexual acts, and text exchanges where he threatened to post an 11‑year‑old girl's nude images unless she sent more photos. Horan pleaded guilty to multiple counts of sexual exploitation, distribution of child porn and possession of child porn between 2014 and 2016. Judge Martin Nolan suspended the last two years of the sentence, noting Horan's "very unhealthy, insidious and debased" interest in children and ordered a probation service report on potential interventions.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Christopher Morgan, aged 33, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for a savage attack and robbery of homeless man Declan Foran, aged 45, on 23 September 2016. Morgan, who lived on Shangan Avenue, Ballymun, pleaded guilty to robbing Foran's HTC phone and using force. The court described the assault as merciless, noting that Foran was sleeping beside his brother when the attack began. A woman and a second man were also charged in connection with the offence. Morgan had 101 prior convictions, including violent and firearms offences, but had completed a 12‑week rehabilitation course and was engaged in parenting and education programmes. He wrote an apology letter and paid €300 to the court as a gesture of remorse. Judge Martin Nolan acknowledged Morgan's attempts to reform and granted him legal aid, emphasising the court's dual role of punishment and rehabilitation.
Wesley Preston, 40, of Tulla House, Clarehall, Dublin, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for carrying out three robberies and three attempted robberies at The Village Discount Store in Coolock between 3 and 8 December 2016. He stole a total of €450 in cash, using a knife and threatening employees with a steak knife or a Stanley blade. During one incident he fought with a customer and was involved in a scuffle. Preston also attempted to rob Martin's Pub in Clonshaugh, a KFC outlet at the Northside Shopping Centre, and a Spar shop on Tonlegee Road, but fled each time when staff raised the alarm. The judge, Martin Nolan, suspended the final year of the sentence, credited Preston for his efforts to reform, and noted that the robberies were not the most serious offences.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, four men—Mark Farrelly (46), Christopher Corcoran (70), David Byrne (45) and Niall Byrne (36)—are accused of falsely imprisoning four members of the Richardson family at their Raheny home on 13–14 March 2005 and of robbing Paul Richardson and Securicor of €2.28 million on 14 March 2005. The defendants pleaded not guilty to both the false imprisonment and robbery charges. The judge, Melanie Greally, warned jurors that the case had been tried before and that they must not consult any prior media coverage or internet material. A larger than usual jury of 15 members is being empanelled due to the case's length, which is expected to last over three months, with evidence set to begin on Tuesday. The trial is scheduled to continue until mid‑April.
Maria Redmond, a 61‑year‑old mother of four, was sentenced to ten months' imprisonment for fraudulently claiming about €100,000 in social welfare payments. She had been receiving an invalidity pension for 13 years while working part‑time as a cleaner at Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin. Redmond pleaded guilty to 14 counts of stealing property from the Department of Social Protection between November 2002 and September 2015. The court found she had used the money to pay her mortgage, keep a roof over her head and look after her children. She was caught after officials discovered she held two PPS numbers under different names and that she had not informed the department of her change in circumstances when she began working. Judge Martin Nolan accepted that Redmond was not wealthy, had no prior convictions, and was unlikely to re‑offend, but she had taken the criminal route and must serve her sentence.
An American financial consultant, Shawn Towner, aged 44, was arrested by US federal marshals in 2017 and extradited to Ireland to face charges of possessing child pornography. The charges stem from material found in 2006 when Gardaí raided his home and discovered five videos depicting children as young as ten using sex toys, masturbating adults, and involving binding and ropes. The material was downloaded via Limewire. Towner pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography at his Stillorgan home on 30 March 2006. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to two years' imprisonment, suspended on the condition that Towner leave Ireland within a week. He was also registered as a sex offender in Ireland and the US. The court noted Towner's lack of prior convictions, the delay in prosecution, and his cooperation with Gardaí. The case highlighted the harsh system for sex offenders in the US, including neighbour notification and online publicity.
Ryan Connolly, 25, of Ferryman's Crossing, Sheriff Street, was sentenced to five and a half years in prison for assaulting a 21‑year‑old Afghan asylum seeker during a riot at Cloverhill Prison on 29 July 2015. CCTV showed Connolly either punching or stabbing the victim with an object taken from his pocket, causing distress and injuries that required hospital treatment. He pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, false imprisonment, violent disorder and criminal damage at the prison, as well as to several robberies in Dublin in 2017, including the theft of a 12‑year‑old girl's mobile phone and cash from shops. Connolly had 72 prior convictions, including robbery and firearms offences. The court imposed consecutive sentences, backdating the term to April 2017 when he entered custody. The judge noted Connolly's expressed desire for rehabilitation but remained unconvinced by his past record. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the prison assault and the related crimes.
A Ballina man has received a three and a half year suspended sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following his guilty plea to assaulting his brother in May 2016. Gordon Rodgers attacked David Rodgers at Dunard Road, Blackhorse Avenue, Cabra, Dublin 7, causing a fractured skull, broken ribs and elbow, and internal bleeding. The victim spent time in a coma and took considerable time to recover. Garda evidence indicated Rodgers had been self-medicating with alcohol and cannabis at the time and was subsequently hospitalised for severe mental health difficulties. Judge Martin Nolan described the assault as vicious and prolonged, but noted Rodgers was mentally unstable when the incident occurred. The judge acknowledged Rodgers' engagement with psychiatric services, his medication compliance, and that his brother had forgiven him. No evidence suggested he would repeat such behaviour.
Three men – John Darcy (50), Patrick Riordan (63) and Thomas McAllister (63) – were sentenced in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for transporting €1.1 million worth of MDMA and heroin in 2016. Judge Martin Nolan described them as "kind and responsible" family men who made a "grave misjudgement" under pressure to settle drug debts. Darcy and Riordan received four‑year prison terms; McAllister received a three‑year term, a lesser sentence because he was not involved to pay his own debt but to help a relative. The court heard the drugs were seized from a van, a truck and a house, with street values of €420,000, €260,000 and €460,000 respectively. All three pleaded guilty to possessing drugs for sale or supply at locations in Dublin and Kildare on 30 November 2016. The judge noted each man's personal circumstances, including debts, duress, and health issues, but imposed the sentences as stated.
Two men, Dubliners Derek Naylor (46) and Paul Goddard (57), were sentenced at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following their guilty pleas to possession of cannabis resin at Clearwater Shopping Centre car park, Finglas on August 24, 2016. Both defendants admitted their charges and were found guilty. Judge Karen O'Connor sentenced both men to four years but suspended each of their sentences. Goddard also admitted possession of amphetamine and cannabis at his home on the same date. Naylor, a taxi driver with no previous convictions, and Goddard, who has four previous convictions for minor road traffic offences, were described by the judge as being at the lowest end of the ladder in the drugs industry. The judge noted that Goddard's involvement was an act of desperation due to threats to a family member, while Naylor became involved due to a drug debt. The court ordered that Naylor continue his mentorship role at the Coolmine therapeutic community programme, and that Goddard engage with the Probations Service on offence-focused work. The matter was adjourned following the sentence.
In January 2017 a six‑year‑old girl was found wandering a Dublin street in a distressed, wet and cold state. Gardaí located her home and discovered her 13‑month‑old sister strapped into a buggy, both children in a distressed condition with soiled nappies and clothes. The mother, a 35‑year‑old Dublin woman, was found on the couch beside the children, disorientated and highly intoxicated, having consumed one or two bottles of wine. She pleaded guilty to two counts of wilfully neglecting her children. The court noted her alcohol addiction and mental breakdown at the time of the offence, and her 17 previous convictions. The children were removed and placed with relatives. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced the mother to two years, suspended on conditions including engagement with Probation Services, and she now has supervised access to her children with the aim of regaining custody.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, William Harton (41) was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for falsely imprisoning his then‑wife, Amy Harton, at their Sandyford home on 16 February 2017. Harton also pleaded guilty to possession of an imitation firearm and possession of cocaine on the same date. The court heard that Harton had forced Amy back into the house after she tried to escape, threatened her with a knuckle‑duster, and produced a handgun he claimed was functional, though it was later found to be a fake. During a two‑hour stand‑off with the Garda emergency response unit, Harton swallowed pills and took cocaine. He eventually released Amy after she unlocked her phone for him and then surrendered to Gardaí. Harton has nine prior convictions, mainly for traffic offences, and has been relocated to County Wexford under bail conditions.
Maria Redmond, aged 60, was found guilty of stealing nearly €140,000 in fraudulent social welfare payments. She had claimed an invalidity pension for 13 years while working as a cleaner at Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children. Redmond used two PPS numbers under different names, including her maiden name Delaney, and registered the second number at her sister's address. She failed to inform the Department of Social Protection of her change in circumstances when she began working in 2002. Suspicious officials investigated, obtained her passport photograph, and arranged for her to have her Public Services Card photographed, confirming she was the same person. Redmond pleaded guilty to 14 counts of stealing property between November 2002 and September 2015. She admitted she only worked three hours a day and believed she was not doing anything wrong, but acknowledged the wrongdoing.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Matthew Horan, aged 26, pleaded guilty to multiple counts of sexually exploiting children and distributing child pornography. He used platforms such as Skype, Snapchat, Instagram, and Kik to coerce six identified Irish girls and nine unknown users worldwide into sending sexually graphic pictures and videos. Forensic examination of his computer revealed recorded Skype calls with two nine‑year‑old girls, including footage of them engaging in graphic sexual acts, and text conversations where he threatened to post an 11‑year‑old girl's nude images if she did not comply. Horan also threatened an 11‑year‑old girl with self‑harm, prompting her to repeat that she would kill herself. He pleaded guilty to 12 counts of sexual exploitation, one count of distributing child porn, and possession of child porn on multiple dates between 2014 and 2016. No prior convictions were recorded. The judge adjourned the case to Friday for sentencing.
A former Gaelic football coach from Cloonloo, County Sligo, has had his prison sentence reduced on appeal following convictions for indecent assaults on young boys. Ronan McCormack, aged 75, was found guilty by jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of 14 counts of indecently assaulting two boys aged between seven and 13 at various locations between June 1972 and March 1975. He had previously received a five-year-and-ten-month sentence in 2014 for separate offences committed in the 1980s. The Circuit Court judge imposed a seven-year consecutive sentence for the earlier offences. The Court of Appeal, sitting today, determined that the aggregate sentence across both sets of convictions was excessive and disproportionate. The three-judge court reduced the sentence for the present offences from seven to four years, finding this more compatible with sentencing principles and taking account of McCormack's age and health.
At a hearing_or_decision in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Jonathan Goulding (28) and Goulding AKA Farrell pleaded guilty to burglary at Mr Price, Coolock Retail Park, on March 27, 2017. Both defendants admitted the charges and entered pleas of guilty. The matter was adjourned, and no sentence was imposed. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned sentencing until October 8, 2018 and requested a report from Tiglin for that date. The court heard that Goulding, who was a chronic drug user at the time of the offence, is now drug free and progressing well in a residential treatment programme at Tiglin. The incident involved Goulding picking up a screwdriver in the shop and asking a staff member if he thought he would stab him. No one was physically injured during the incident. The court was informed that this was the first time Goulding had made an effort to address his issues, and his defence asked the court to allow him to complete the treatment programme prior to sentencing. The court heard that the burglary was committed to feed his drug habit at the time. Garda Kevin Hynes confirmed the details of the incident, and the defence agreed that the incident, while frightening, did not result in any physical harm. The matter was adjourned and not finalised.
Michael Maughan, 22, of Ballymun, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for theft, assault, and making threats to kill. He pleaded guilty to offences committed on October 29, 2016, at Silloge Golf Club, where he allegedly stole a golf buggy and equipment from three men. Prosecution evidence indicated that after one victim chased him, Maughan struck the man in the chest and threatened to kill him. Later, as a third victim attempted to leave in his vehicle, Maughan allegedly blocked the car with a van and assaulted the occupant. He was arrested at the scene, and all stolen property was recovered. Although the victims did not wish to proceed, the Director of Public Prosecutions instructed that the case continue. Judge Martin Nolan described the conduct as "shameless and arrogant" and "fairly craven," noting the aggravating nature of the threats and return assault. While acknowledging Maughan's guilty plea entered on a trial date and his personal circumstances, including a young child, the judge imposed a sentence of two and a half years' imprisonment. Maughan was ordered to receive credit for time already spent in custody.
Shane Percival, 24, of Rathangan, Co Kildare, was sentenced to two years in prison for possessing drugs for sale or supply. He pleaded guilty to one count of possessing drugs for sale or supply at the Aldi supermarket, Newlands Cross, Co Dublin, on December 9, 2015. Judge Martin Nolan in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court described the act as a "reprehensible error of judgement" but noted Percival's good character and lack of previous convictions. The judge acknowledged that a custodial sentence would cause hardship to Percival's family, as he helps care for his intellectually disabled sister, yet stated he had to mark the seriousness of the crime involving €560,000 worth of heroin. The sentence was imposed for deterrence and punishment. Percival had been paid €50 to drive his co-accused, Gareth Prior, to the location. Gardaí seized four kilos of heroin from the vehicle. Prior, 36, of Celbridge, Co Kildare, was previously jailed for 12 years with the final three years suspended. Michael White, 42, of Clondalkin, Dublin, was jailed for six years with the final three years suspended. The court heard that Percival believed he was driving his friend to pick up cannabis and was not a target of the surveillance operation.
A store manager from Finglas has been sentenced to two years imprisonment, with the final twelve months suspended, following his conviction for theft at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Artur Szymkowiak, aged 38, pleaded guilty to stealing over €26,000 from Maxi Zoo at Clearwater Retail Park between February 2015 and June 2016. Judge Karen O'Connor acknowledged Szymkowiak's previously unblemished record and personal financial difficulties, but noted that debt alone does not justify breaching an employer's trust. The court heard that Szymkowiak, who worked as store manager, initially took money from lodgements to address rent arrears and unexpected expenses. What began as an attempt to borrow funds escalated as he made increasingly irregular lodgement payments. When confronted by gardaí in July 2016, Szymkowiak immediately confessed and cooperated fully. The stolen money has not been recovered. Szymkowiak has since lost his employment at the retailer.
Clodagh Forde, aged 19, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for her role in a violent robbery that left victim Kevin Carthy with a broken eye socket and other injuries. The robbery took place on 17 May 2016 at Palace Place, Dublin, when a group attacked Carthy in a lane‑way, kicking and punching him while he lay on the ground. Forde, who had previously served a suspended sentence, pleaded guilty to the robbery. She was described by Judge Melanie Greally as an intelligent person with potential but prone to extreme violence, and she had eight prior robbery convictions, most committed as a juvenile. The assault caused Carthy severe physical harm, including a fractured eye socket, bruising, swelling, and lasting back pain. He suffered a financial loss of about €14,000, and his victim impact statement expressed fear, humiliation, and a sense that the robbery was motivated by sport rather than desperation.
A detective sergeant of An Garda Siochana, Eve Doherty, aged 50, was found guilty by a jury at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of harassing State solicitor Elizabeth Howlin between September 2011 and March 2013. The harassment consisted of abusive letters and emails sent to Howlin's home, workplace and GP, calling her a "corrupt bitch", an "incompetent useless hobbit" and a "two‑faced bitch". Doherty also distributed leaflets around Howlin's housing estate, falsely claiming Howlin was a political appointee who would "pull" files to protect those connected to her or the government. She was found not guilty of two counts of making false statements in March 2012. Doherty was sentenced to three years' imprisonment. The judge noted that Doherty maintained her innocence, showed no remorse, and was considered at low risk of re‑offending. She had no prior convictions and was suspended from the force but remained a serving member.
A 13‑year‑old boy was sentenced to ten months' detention after sexually assaulting a 16‑year‑old girl in a public park. The incident occurred while the boy was with his uncle and cousin, who were described by Garda Timothy McCaul as bad influences and who had bullied and intoxicated him. The victim, who was distressed, offered to help the boy get a taxi; he then pushed her to the ground, assaulted her and fled. CCTV identified the boy, who was arrested and later pleaded guilty to sexual assault. He had no prior convictions and was described by his defence counsel as a child with a chaotic background and low maturity. Judge Martin Nolan, considering the boy's need for "normality," imposed the detention and ordered ten months of probation supervision thereafter.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, judge Martin Nolan sentenced 23‑year‑old Eduard Boaca to seven years in prison for two separate offences. The first, committed on 18 December 2016, involved Boaca following a woman off a Nitelink bus, robbing her, threatening her with a knife and demanding oral sex. He was convicted of robbery and sexual assault and received a five‑year term. The second offence, on 4 May 2017, saw Boaca lock a woman in a McDonald's toilet cubicle, again threatening with a knife and demanding oral sex. He pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and was given a four‑year term, to run consecutively with the first. The judge suspended the final two years of the sentence, hoping for Boaca's rehabilitation. Boaca's prior convictions were for minor offences. The court heard that the victim's trust in men was severely affected, and she suffered financial loss and emotional distress following the attacks.
Kosmas Ompante, 29, was jailed for three and a half years after a drunken chase in a stolen Mercedes led to a multi‑vehicle collision at Cappagh Road, Finglas, on 3 August 2017. He admitted taking a litre of vodka, tablets, driving under the influence, without a licence or insurance, and causing three counts of criminal damage. Ompante had 17 prior convictions in the UK and one in Greece. The judge noted he was well over the drink‑driving limit and drove recklessly, endangering others. He was also disqualified from driving for six years. The incident caused injuries to the driver and passenger of the car he crashed into, including chipped teeth, a fractured shin and soft‑tissue injuries. Ompante expressed remorse and said he hoped he had not killed anyone. The case was prosecuted by Diarmuid Collins BL and defended by Luigi Rea BL. Kosmas Ompante pleaded guilty.
A 70-year-old man from Belfast has received a three-year suspended sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for his involvement in a nationwide credit card fraud scheme. Patrick Manning pleaded guilty to multiple counts of theft at various locations between October and December 2016. Gardaí established that fraudulent cards obtained through impersonation of Barclays Bank customers were used to purchase approximately €52,000 worth of goods, including laptops and foreign currency, across locations from Dublin to Donegal. Manning was identified through CCTV footage and apprehended in Drogheda in December 2016 whilst collecting an emergency card. He admitted acting as the "presentable face" of the operation for a daily wage of around €100, receiving between €1,500 and €2,000 in total. Manning declined to identify other participants. Judge Martin Nolan noted that gardaí did not believe Manning was the primary organiser. In imposing the suspended sentence, the judge considered Manning's age, poor health, and personal circumstances.
In 2014, Dylan Collins, then 19, threw a rock at the rear window of a Garda car during a water‑charges protest in Tallaght. He admitted the act, citing that he was "carried away" by the protest's heat and that he had no intention to harm anyone. Collins, a father of two from Bawnlea Green, had previously pleaded guilty to criminal damage to a marked Hyundai Garda car on 15 November 2014. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, hearing the incident at about 4 pm, noted that the rock was thrown roughly 20 metres from the moving vehicle, potentially endangering the Gardaí inside. Judge Martin Nolan, recognising Collins' remorse and the fact that he had never intended to injure, imposed a fully suspended sentence of two and a half years, deeming imprisonment unfair. The court also recorded that Collins had 39 prior convictions, all for road‑traffic offences following the 2014 incident.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, a 39‑year‑old man was jailed for ten months after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting a 15‑year‑old girl in August 2014. The victim, who was contacted by the man's friend, told Gardaí that he had pulled her into a shed on his property, touched her breasts and genital area under her clothes, and threatened her. She later agreed to go to the shed after receiving texts and was told she would be killed if she reported the assault. The man admitted to forcing her to masturbate him, a claim not part of the victim's allegation. The court considered his guilty plea, remorse and cooperation, and imposed a two‑year sentence with 14 months suspended, requiring him to keep the peace for the entire period. He will be registered as a sex offender and lose his occupation as a result of the offence.
Patrick McDonnell, 28, of New Line Close, Mountrath, was sentenced to five years in prison after a series of drug‑related offences and dangerous driving. He pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of cocaine for sale or supply, dangerous driving and reckless endangerment at Castlecomer on 27 January 2017, and to possession of cannabis and cocaine at Ballyroan on 16 January 2016. During a drug bust near the Kilkenny/Laois border, gardaí found 300 g of cocaine in a tupperware container. McDonnell fled, driving his car at speeds up to 100 km/h, crashing into a garda vehicle and injuring two officers. He also crashed into a car exiting a driveway. The court noted his history of drug offences and his statement to a garda that he had "not done anything". Judge Martin Nolan imposed the five‑year sentence, citing the reckless conduct and the injuries caused to the officers.
Daniel Daudet, a 40‑year‑old French music teacher, used two identities to claim €175,000 in social welfare while living in a Dublin penthouse that he rented for €3,000 a month. He obtained a PPS number as Alexander Daude in 2002 and used it to claim unemployment, Back to Education and rent allowances up to 2015. Between March 2011 and May 2012 he claimed welfare payments under both names. Garda Ian Abbey revealed that Daudet altered his ID card to create the Alexander Daude PPS number, using tippex, a printer and scanner. He was convicted of 720 counts of fraud for claims from August 2002 to August 2015, with the jury finding him guilty on 783 charges but disagreeing on 61. Daudet has no prior convictions and pleaded not guilty to all charges. He has been remanded in custody pending sentencing.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Yasmin Redmond, aged 20, received a four‑year suspended sentence for possessing €24,251 worth of cocaine. Redmond had agreed to hold the drugs in a shed at her home as a favour to a third party, with no payment. She pleaded guilty on 17 April 2017. Garda Nicola Gormon, with confidential information, obtained a search warrant and entered the empty premises. During the raid, officers found a school bag containing the cocaine block behind an artificial Christmas tree. Redmond admitted she had been minding the drugs for a week for someone else. She had no prior convictions and had cooperated with Gardaí. The judge, Martin Nolan, noted her young age, cooperation, and lack of involvement in higher‑level drug dealing, and therefore imposed a suspended sentence rather than the mandatory minimum of ten years.
In a Dublin burglary case, 27‑year‑old Margaret Cawley, with a co‑accused and a child, entered the home of an 84‑year‑old dementia sufferer by pretending to be an acquaintance. The elderly woman's 75‑year‑old sister opened the door after a visit. Cawley and her accomplice entered the sitting room, spoke to the resident as if they knew her, and offered tea. While in the kitchen, Cawley stole the resident's handbag from her rollator walker; the co‑accused took the sister's bag. They fled in a Nissan Almera, later found by Garda Stephen Broderick, who recovered the bags, a walking stick, disabled parking discs, prescriptions, bank, social welfare and medical cards, and €100 cash. Cawley pleaded guilty to trespass and theft at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, was already serving a 22‑month district court sentence for a previous burglary, and was sentenced to three years' imprisonment.
Trevor Brunton, 35, of Broombridge Road, Cabra, pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing cocaine over €13,000 for sale or supply at Blanchardstown shopping centre and at his home on 28 July 2016. He was found with over €380,000 worth of cocaine, including eight blocks weighing just over three kilos and an estimated street value of €245,000, and a further quantity seized from his home, bringing the total to just over €382,000. Brunton had a drug debt of €15,000 and was transporting drugs to pay it off. He has seven previous convictions, including four firearm convictions, and was previously jailed for eight years in 2008. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and ordered a review of the case in six years. His co‑accused, Jason Kearney, 37, also pleaded guilty to one count of possession over €13,000 and was jailed for 10 years.
Three new jurors were sworn in for the trial of former Anglo Irish Bank chief David Drumm after difficulties arose with three jurors from Monday. Drumm, aged 51 and residing in Skerries, Co. Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy charges with former bank officials Denis Casey, William McAteer, John Bowe and others, alleging they defrauded depositors and investors by falsely presenting Anglo's 2008 deposits as €7.2 billion larger than they actually were. He also pleaded not guilty to false accounting for the same claim. Judge Karen O'Connor discharged the initial jury due to the difficulties and thanked the members for their attendance at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. She then oversaw the swearing‑in of a fresh jury of eight men and seven women, after calling 159 potential jurors. The court noted that overnight three jurors had difficulties, leading to their excusal.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 24‑year‑old Sean Flood was given a suspended sentence for punching 18‑year‑old Leah Fay during a "rolling" football fight in the city centre. Flood had previously pleaded guilty to assaulting Ms Fay on D'Olier St on 16 May 2015, an offence that left her with a broken jaw in two places and required steel plates. The judge, Gerard Griffin, noted that Flood had four prior convictions for assault and public order offences, but also that he had undergone significant rehabilitation since the offence, including addressing alcohol abuse. Griffin imposed a headline sentence of three‑and‑a‑half years but reduced it to a two‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended sentence, subject to conditions. Ms Fay testified that the assault caused ongoing pain, depression and social anxiety, and that she had not been able to recover fully.
A jury has been discharged at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in the retrial of a Cavan childminder accused of causing serious harm to a baby. Sandra Higgins, aged 36, of Drumgola Wood, Cavan town, denies intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to a ten-month-old child at her home on 28 March 2012. The jury was empaneled on Monday morning for a trial scheduled to last two weeks, but a legal issue emerged that afternoon. Judge Cormac Quinn determined the trial could not proceed and discharged the jury on Tuesday morning. Ms Higgins was remanded on continuing bail. This marks the third trial in the case, with previous proceedings having attracted media attention. A new trial date has been set for 11 June. Evidence is expected from civilian and gardaí witnesses from County Cavan, with the defence potentially calling a paediatrician from Wales.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, David McFadden, aged 29, was sentenced to six‑and‑a‑half years for a one‑punch assault that caused severe brain injuries to 38‑year‑old solicitor Kevin Geraghty. The attack occurred outside the Back Door Pub on 25 June 2016, when McFadden, who claimed to be a boxer, struck Geraghty on the head without provocation. Geraghty suffered catastrophic brain damage, required two emergency surgeries, spent ten days in a coma, and has been unable to return to work or drive. McFadden had been assaulted minutes earlier by another man, a fact he cited in court. The judge noted the unprovoked nature of the attack and the high culpability of McFadden, who had 24 prior convictions. The prosecution's victim impact statement highlighted Geraghty's ongoing physical and psychological difficulties. McFadden's defence argued the assault was not pre‑meditated and that he was highly intoxicated at the time. David McFadden pleaded guilty.
A truck driver from Cavan has been sentenced to four years' imprisonment following his conviction for drug smuggling at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Maurice McCreesh, aged 38 and resident in Lisreagh, pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine for sale or supply. Gardaí discovered nearly 15 kilos of cocaine, valued at over €1 million, concealed in his truck at Dublin Port on 12 September 2015. The defendant initially claimed to be a customs informant but subsequently admitted transporting the drugs from Liverpool to Dublin on behalf of criminals to whom he owed money. The court heard McCreesh had been coerced into the arrangement following financial pressure and had spent time in hiding from the gang involved. Judge Martin Nolan imposed the sentence having regard to the seriousness of the offence, while acknowledging the defendant's co-operation with gardaí and absence of previous convictions.
In a January 2016 incident at Broadford Walk, Ballinteer, Dublin, 22‑year‑old Sam Mooney and 20‑year‑old Craig Mooney, both described as highly intoxicated, attacked a patrol car. They threatened the gardaí, undressed entirely, spat on the windscreen, and kicked and punched the vehicle for several minutes. The brothers shouted abusive language and threatened to "kick their heads in." They were arrested after the gardaí called for assistance. Sam Mooney pleaded guilty to criminal damage to a garda patrol car; Craig Mooney, already serving a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for arson, was also charged. At the hearing, Judge Karen O'Connor imposed a 14‑month prison sentence on Sam Mooney, suspended in full for 15 months, citing his "horrendous intoxication." Craig Mooney received a one‑year suspended sentence, suspended for 18 months, with probation supervision.
Karl Harrison, 27, received a two‑year suspended sentence after he poured boiling water over his partner's back in front of their four children, aged seven months to eight years, while they were living in a cramped hostel room. The incident occurred on 1 April 2017 at the Townhouse B&B, Lower Gardiner St, Dublin 1, after the couple had been drinking vodka and arguing. Garda Elise Moran was called to the B&B that evening and met Harrison in the lobby before interviewing his partner in their room. Harrison claimed he had thrown a kettle into the air and the water landed on his partner, but he later admitted the act looked "disgraceful" and that there was no excuse. He denied pouring the water on her back. He had no prior convictions. Marie Torrens BL defended him, noting the difficult living conditions and that both parents had been drinking. Karl Harrison pleaded guilty.
A jury has been empanelled at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for the second retrial of a Cavan childminder accused of causing serious harm to a baby. Sandra Higgins, aged 36, of The Beeches, Drumgola Wood, Cavan town, denies intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to a ten-month-old infant at her home on 28 March 2012. Judge Cormac Quinn instructed the jury panel that the case had previously proceeded to trial twice. The court heard allegations that the baby presented at hospital with non-accidental injuries on the date in question. Evidence is expected from civilian and garda witnesses from County Cavan, with the defence potentially calling a paediatrician from Wales. The jury was sworn in but sent home following a legal issue and was due to return the following day. The trial is expected to last approximately two weeks.
A new jury was empanelled for the trial of former Anglo Irish Bank chief executive David Drumm, who is 51 and resides in Skerries, Co Dublin. Drumm has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy charges with former bank officials to defraud depositors and investors by falsely claiming that 2008 deposits were €7.2 billion larger than they were, and to false accounting for the same claim. Judge Karen O'Connor discharged the previous jury due to a difficulty and informed the court that the trial was expected to last five months, warranting an expanded 15‑member jury under the Juries Act. The new jury, consisting of eight men and seven women, was sworn in over two hours, with four jurors discharged during the process. Judge O'Connor warned that jurors must not have worked for or held shares in Anglo or related entities, must not hold strong views on Anglo, and must not use the internet or communicate electronically about the case.
Martin O'Brien, 31, pleaded guilty to burglary at an 85‑year‑old man's home in Glenageary Woods on 5 August 2013. In January 2015 Judge Mary Ellen Ring imposed a wholly suspended four‑year sentence. Eighteen months later he pleaded guilty to another burglary in Dublin and received a three‑year sentence, two years of which were suspended, by Judge Pauline Codd on 20 February 2017. The Director of Public Prosecutions now seeks a review of his 12‑month jail term, arguing it is unduly lenient. The Court of Appeal will decide on Tuesday.
A 23‑year‑old man, Daryl McKeon, was on bail when he participated in a raid on Tansey's newsagents in Finglas on 18 March. McKeon and a second raider entered the shop with their heads and faces covered. The victim, Kevin Tansey, tried to leave but McKeon blocked the door and held him. The second raider struck Tansey's head three times with a hammer, causing severe brain injury and fractures. CCTV footage showed Tansey collapsing and bleeding, while McKeon attempted to open the cash register. The raiders fled in a car. McKeon's fingerprints linked him to the assault; the other raider remains under investigation. Tansey suffered a seizure, entered a comatose state, and his condition later deteriorated, affecting his mood and behaviour. McKeon, who had 12 prior convictions, pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and assault causing serious harm. He was remanded in custody pending sentencing on 5 February.
Lisa Lynch, 33, a former director of AGL Logistics, stole €460,660 from Bibby Financial Services over a three‑month period in 2013 by issuing 93 false invoices. She pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment on 12 December 2017. The sentence was deferred until the new year, and she remained on bail. On appeal, the Court of Appeal suspended the final six months of the term, reducing the custodial period to 12 months. Lynch had taken over the company after her husband's diagnosis of a rare mouth cancer and the subsequent withdrawal of his involvement. She had made early admissions, a guilty plea, and had been saving €50 a week for a compensation fund. The appeal was granted on the basis of mitigating factors, including her cooperation, lack of prior convictions, and the impact on her family. She was taken to prison to begin serving the 12‑month term.
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.
Four young men from Old Castle Park Green, Bawnogue, Clondalkin, Dublin, broke into a building site at Phoenix Park Racecourse Apartments, Navan Road, Dublin 7, on 7 October 2016 and stole €6,000 worth of power tools and equipment from Flynn and O'Flaherty Developers Ltd. The men – Martin Stokes (27), Joseph Stokes (19), Eddie Stokes (23) and Tom McDonagh (21) – were caught by Gardaí after an eye‑witness, a woman on a balcony, reported the crime as it unfolded. She saw a Hyundai people carrier arrive, the men exit, cut the gate bolt, break into steel containers, remove items and drive away. Gardaí later apprehended them on Navan Road and recovered all stolen goods, including drills, a lawnmower, a workbench and various accessories. All four pleaded guilty. Martin Stokes was sentenced to 21 months' imprisonment; the other three received 21‑month sentences suspended in full.