Christopher Keeley, aged 53, was sentenced to five and a half years in prison by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for his role in a car chop‑shop operation and drug offences. He pleaded guilty to possession of stolen cars and to possession for sale or supply of cannabis. Gardaí seized six stolen vehicles, €70,000 worth of cannabis, and additional drugs including cocaine, as well as fake bank drafts, from a series of searches at an industrial unit in Summerhill, Meath, Keeley's home in Rossfield Court, Tallaght, and a lock‑up in Blessington, Co. Wicklow. The court noted that the stolen cars had been taken during burglaries across the country. Judge Martin Nolan, taking into account Keeley's serious medical problems, accepted his remorse and imposed the sentence, stating Keeley would not appear again for similar offences. The sentence reflects the profit motive behind the drug dealing. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
Gregory McAuley, 43, was spared jail twice for assaulting a Garda during a domestic dispute. He pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to an on‑duty Garda at his former partner's home in Kilbarrack on 19 February 2016. Judge Martin Nolan originally imposed 200 hours of community service instead of a three‑year custodial sentence. The Court of Appeal, citing the Director of Public Prosecutions' appeal, found the sentence unduly lenient and re‑imposed a three‑year term, suspending it in its entirety for two years. The appeal argued that assaults on Gardaí should normally result in custodial sentences, especially when children are present. The court noted McAuley's prior convictions, his intoxication at the time of arrest, and his efforts to address alcohol problems, and it required him to keep the peace and behave well during the suspension period.
Charles Schlaubitz, 45, was jailed for 18 months after producing an imitation firearm in the beer garden of the Pygmalion Public House and a second replica at a pharmacy on Berkeley Road. He pleaded guilty to possession of imitation firearms with intent to cause injury or intimidate. Schlaubitz, who is bipolar with manic depression, admitted to having a "bad run of things" and that he had gone too far. He was intoxicated and unfit to be interviewed after his arrest. Judge Melanie Greally noted that no major harm had been caused and that people could not circulate in public places producing what appeared to be a firearm. She handed down a three‑year sentence but suspended the final 18 months on a number of conditions. The article reports that Schlaubitz had 91 previous convictions, mainly for public order and theft offences. The case was heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Lisa Lynch, 33, a former director of AGL Logistics, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to stealing €460,660 from Bibby Financial Services over a three‑month period in 2013. She created 93 false invoices in the names of eight of her companies, which Bibby treated as legitimate and advanced 80 % of the debt to AGL. The money was transferred to a personal account and partially repaid to Bibby, allowing AGL to maintain cash flow. Lynch admitted falsifying emails and invoices, claiming she acted to keep her company solvent and protect her employees. She was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment, with the court noting her low risk of re‑offending and her cooperation with the Garda investigation. AGL Logistics has since dissolved, and Lynch's family home faces repossession. The sentence was adjourned until after Christmas to allow her to inform her children of the offence.
Craig May, aged 19, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Daniel Kelly on Balbriggan beach on 27 May. May, 17 at the time, was part of a group that kicked Kelly repeatedly to the head, breaking his wrist and causing significant psychological injury. The attack occurred while Kelly and his girlfriend were returning from a graduation celebration. Kelly's girlfriend identified May, who later gave a statement. Kelly suffered facial abrasions, a broken wrist that required eight weeks in a cast, and was forced to abandon his defence forces cadet training. May had seven prior convictions and was described as having a low risk of re‑offending. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced him to two‑and‑a‑half years, suspended on conditions, and awarded Kelly €1,000 as a token of remorse. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Lisa Smith, 36, of Harelawn Park, Clondalkin, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of cocaine, heroin, MDMA and ketamine for sale or supply at her home on 1 April 2016. Gardaí found €210,000 worth of drugs and a cocaine press under a kick board in her kitchen after a search warrant. Men reportedly came to her kitchen to bag the drugs, paying her €50 each time. Smith admitted responsibility for the items, though she claimed they were not hers. Judge Greally described the case as borderline for custodial sentencing, noting Smith's vulnerability, early plea, cooperation with gardaí, troubled background and lack of prior convictions. She received a five‑year sentence suspended on conditions including keeping the peace, good behaviour, and 12 months of probation. The judge warned that any lapse would activate the full sentence.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Paul Gill, a 37‑year‑old construction worker, pleaded guilty to assaulting Patrick "Patsy" Kelly, 58, and Martin Curtis on 22 August 2015. Gill admitted punching Kelly up to five times, dragging him to the road and kicking him once in the head, and then attacking Curtis when he arrived. Emergency services performed CPR on Kelly, who later died. A post‑mortem found Kelly died of heart disease, with the assault's minor trauma contributing. Gill had eight prior convictions, including a 2000 assault. He was acquitted of manslaughter after a six‑day trial. The judge remanded him on bail and warned that a custodial element was inevitable, with sentencing scheduled for 18 December. The case was transferred to Dublin due to Kelly's prominence in Naas. The hearing included victim impact statements and defence mitigation arguments. The court did not yet impose a sentence.
Paul Gill, a 37‑year‑old construction worker from Naas, Kildare, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting Patrick "Patsy" Kelly, aged 58, and Martin Curtis on 22 August 2015. He had earlier pleaded not guilty to unlawfully killing Kelly and was acquitted of manslaughter after a six‑day trial. Witnesses said Gill confronted Kelly outside Curtis's house, punched him in the face, dragged him eight metres from the front door, and kicked him once in the head. Gill then attacked Curtis when he arrived. Emergency services performed CPR on Kelly, but he died. Post‑mortem showed heart disease as the cause of death, with the assault's minor trauma as a contributing factor. Gill has eight prior convictions, including a 2000 assault. The case is set for sentencing next Monday, with the judge warning of a likely custodial element.
Mark O'Brien, 21, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for violent disorder committed on November 21, 2015. O'Brien pleaded guilty to the charge, which involved kicking a stranger in the rear at Central Bank Plaza in Dublin city centre. The incident occurred while the victim was walking with his girlfriend, their three-week-old baby, and his brother. O'Brien remained at the scene and was arrested after the victim identified him to gardai. Prosecution evidence indicated O'Brien was highly intoxicated and homeless at the time, with CCTV showing him swaying before striking the victim. Defence counsel highlighted an "amazing transformation" in O'Brien, who is now attending a residential treatment programme called Team Challenge in Scotland. Detective Garda Shane Moriarty noted that O'Brien appeared as a "completely different person" compared to his appearance during the arrest. Judge Karen O'Connor acknowledged that such "gratuitous aggressive behaviour" would normally result in a custodial sentence. However, considering O'Brien's turbulent early life, history of substance abuse, and current motivation to rehabilitate, she imposed an 18-month sentence. This sentence was suspended in full. The conditions of the suspension require O'Brien to remain at his course at Team Challenge, abstain from drugs and alcohol, and undergo 18 months of Probation Supervision.
Thomas McCann, 43, of Morristown Estate, Newbridge, Co Kildare, was sentenced by Judge Patricia Ryan in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a total of six years' imprisonment, with two years suspended. He has spent 22 years in custody and has 150 prior convictions, mainly for burglary and theft. McCann pleaded guilty to smashing a glass panel on a house on Strand Road, Sandymount, and was found guilty of burglary at a house on Maretimo Place, Blackrock, on 30 September 2011. He was acquitted of a second burglary attempt at comedian Mario Rosenstock's home. Judge Ryan sentenced him to four years for the Maretimo burglary, with one year suspended, and to two years for the 2016 criminal damage, with one year suspended, to be served after the first sentence. McCann, who has been drug‑free for 27 years, expressed remorse, thanked the court, and pledged to dedicate the rest of his life to his wife and child.
Retired consultant surgeon Michael Shine, aged 85, is seeking bail pending an appeal after being jailed for indecent assault convictions. Shine was convicted in 2017 of indecently assaulting two 15‑year‑old patients in the mid‑1970s at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital and his private clinic in Drogheda, between 1964 and 1991. He faced eight charges but was acquitted on all but the two convictions. Judge Cormac Quinn described the breach of trust by a senior doctor as one of the most aggravating factors and imposed consecutive 10‑month sentences for each victim. Shine's lawyers applied for a week to manage his affairs and medication, but the judge rejected this. In the Court of Appeal, his barrister Hugh Hartnett SC requested an early bail application, citing Shine's perilous health. Judge George Birmingham set 21 December for the bail application, and Shine was not present for the procedural hearing. Michael Shine pleaded not guilty.
Aaron Murdiff, 20, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to three counts of robbery, three counts of attempted robbery, and one count relating to the production of a knife. The offences occurred at various locations in Shankill, Dublin, on October 21, 2015. Prosecution counsel Antonia Boyle BL detailed a three-hour crime spree during which victims were robbed of wallets, phones, and headphones, while others were threatened with knives or physical violence. Defence counsel Justin McQuaid BL highlighted that Murdiff, of Dargle Heights, Bray, Co Wicklow, had no previous convictions, was under the influence of drugs, and wished to enter the Aisling Centre for addiction treatment. Judge Patricia Ryan noted the serious nature of the charges but considered Murdiff's youth, his early guilty plea, his cooperation with gardaí, and his engagement with probation services, which assessed him as a low risk of re-offending. The judge also credited his desire to address substance abuse issues. Judge Ryan sentenced Murdiff to 18 months in prison, suspended for three years. She warned that if he came to garda attention during that period, she would not hesitate to jail him.
Two Vietnamese men, Ngog Toan Vu (54) and Thang Nguen Van (46), were smuggled into Ireland and pleaded guilty to cultivating cannabis without a licence at a warehouse in Ballymount Drive, Dublin 12, on 10 May. The court heard that the warehouse contained six grow rooms with 1,469 cannabis plants, a 31‑kg vat of harvested cannabis, and a small living area. Gardaí seized €1.795 million worth of drugs. Vu travelled in a shipping container, paid a Chinese man for the trip, and was told he would work on a farm; he spent $40,000 of his savings and lived in the warehouse for seven weeks. Van, who had lived illegally in the UK and had convictions there, thought he would work as a chef and was coughing in the grow house. Both men were remanded and their sentences adjourned to 9 April 2025 to allow investigations into whether they were victims of human trafficking.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 37‑year‑old Larry Connors was sentenced to two years and three months' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended. Connors, a father of six, pleaded guilty to assaulting his estranged wife, Margaret Connors, on 31 March 2016, after a two‑day period of violent conduct that included pulling a knife, threatening to kill her, slashing her car tyres and stealing her phone. He also breached two Safety Orders and damaged her property. Connors denied all charges but admitted the assault. The judge, citing the seriousness of the breaches and Connors' remorse, noted his completion of a 12‑week rehabilitation programme at Cuan Mhuire and his involvement in his children's lives. The sentence was back‑dated to 8 July 2017, and Connors was ordered to keep the peace and exhibit good behaviour for two years after release. The court refused to defer the sentence until after Christmas, despite Margaret's request.
A Mayo man convicted of assaulting a garda sergeant has maintained his innocence, claiming he was "set up" and "framed" by gardaí. Joseph Doocey, aged 51, from Knoxbarret in Ballina, was found guilty by jury verdict in October of eleven counts including assault causing harm to Sergeant Declan Casey, dangerous driving, and criminal damage following a hit-and-run incident on June 8, 2015 near Font Cross, Ballina. The incident involved Doocey's vehicle striking Sergeant Casey at a checkpoint, subsequently reversing over him, and driving dangerously before being abandoned near Killala. Doocey testified that gardaí had conducted a prolonged campaign against him and alleged witnesses were planted and evidence tampered with. His legal representative described him as fundamentally honest, though acknowledging his strong opinions. Sentence finalisation was adjourned at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court pending Doocey's agreement to cease any hostile conduct towards Sergeant Casey and his family. Doocey remained remanded in custody.
Denise O'Brien, 38, of Cedar House, Marlborough Street, Dublin, was sentenced to 16 months in jail for stealing €1,494 worth of No 7 and L'Oréal products from a Boots store in the Ilac Centre on 23 July 2017. She pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. CCTV footage captured O'Brien and an unknown male entering the store; she placed a large amount of cosmetics in a bag held by the male before they left without paying. O'Brien has 126 previous convictions, 87 of which are for theft. The prosecution, represented by Diane Stuart BL, described her as a "persistent shoplifter" whose life had been destroyed by long‑term drug abuse. Defence counsel, Luigi Rea BL, noted that O'Brien began using cannabis at 12, later used other drugs, completed a FÁS course after leaving school, and was working on film locations before her addiction made her unemployable.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Dayle Devoy, aged 22, was sentenced to 16 months in custody for possessing 84 rounds of firearm ammunition at his family home. Devoy claimed he had discovered the stash while walking in a park. Detective Garda David Charles reported that he and colleagues found the ammunition during a search of Devoy's home, uncovering 14 rounds of 9mm Luger, .38 Special Short and .22 long rifle ammunition. Devoy pleaded guilty on 18 February 2016 and has 12 prior convictions, all at district court level, for offences including drugs and arson. Judge Martin Nolan accepted that Devoy was holding the ammunition for third parties and that he was aware of its intended use in killing, injuring or threatening people. The judge imposed a three‑year sentence with the final 20 months suspended, ordering 20 months of post‑release supervision. The case was prosecuted by Antonia Boyle BL and defended by Bernard Condon SC.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Francis Leahy, aged 58, was sentenced to five and a half years in prison for robbing a Spar shop in Ringsend on 18 February 2017. He pleaded guilty to one count of robbery, stealing €360 in cash, and one count of possessing a firearm with 10 rounds of ammunition. Leahy entered the shop masked, pointed the gun at a shop worker, demanded money, and fled with the cash. Gardaí found him with the gun loaded with two rounds, eight additional rounds, and cash. He claimed he had gambling debts and had received threatening bullet cartridges in his letter box. Judge Karen O'Connor described the offence as very serious, imposed the sentence, and suspended the final 18 months on strict conditions, including drug treatment and a victim awareness programme. The victim's impact statement noted fear for his life during the robbery.
Alan Horan, 49, was jailed for one year after taking a SuperValu delivery van and driving it in a high‑speed five‑minute chase through Clondalkin. He had lifted the van keys from a counter while the delivery driver was on his rounds. Horan pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to dishonestly appropriating keys, endangerment, dangerous driving and driving without insurance. The chase took place around Moorefield Parade and Cappaghmore, where children were playing. Garda Vincent Daly described Horan's driving as reckless, noting he drove at 80 km/h in a 15 km/h zone and over 100 km/h at a roundabout. Horan was arrested after the chase and smelled strongly of alcohol. The judge, Martin Nolan, called the offence "very stupid, opportunistic" and imposed a one‑year sentence, disqualifying Horan from driving for five years. The court noted Horan's 84 previous convictions, including a hit‑and‑run, and his drug and alcohol dependency.
A 22‑year‑old university student, Hakim Mansour, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after striking a stranger with a bottle at Krystle nightclub on 21 February 2016. The victim suffered facial lacerations and nerve damage to his hand. Mansour, who had no prior convictions, was identified by the victim through Facebook photos. Judge Martin Nolan, noting the lack of provocation and Mansour's cooperation, imposed a two‑year custodial sentence suspended in full on the condition of good behaviour and payment of €12,500 to the victim within two years. The court considered Mansour's background, education, and employment prospects, and the financial penalty was intended to punish and compensate. Mansour's defence highlighted his early guilty plea and low risk of re‑offending, while the prosecution maintained the assault was a serious, unprovoked act. The case concluded with a suspended sentence and a financial penalty.
Gregory Kearns, 44, a grandfather who dresses as Santa to visit sick children, was sentenced to two‑and‑a‑half years in jail after a police raid uncovered equipment capable of producing fake driving licences, motor tax discs and car registration plates. Gardaí found false bank statements, a counterfeit €50 note, a fake drivers licence and a counterfeit motor tax disc in the attic of his home. Kearns pleaded guilty to 14 counts of illegally possessing false instruments and items that could be used to make false instruments. He also admitted to possessing a counterfeit €50 note, though it was not made by him. The judge, Karen O'Connor, noted his seven previous convictions, including handling stolen property, and his financial pressures. He was sentenced to four years with the final eighteen months suspended, meaning he will serve two and a half years in custody.
Jacqueline Walsh, a 33‑year‑old former civil servant, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four counts of stealing €6,736 from the Department of Social Protection between October 2011 and May 2012. The theft involved fake Jobseekers allowance claims made under her brother William Walsh's PPS number. Walsh accessed her brother's details and used the department's system to submit the claims, which were discovered when William attempted a Revenue claim. She had no prior convictions except minor traffic offences. The court, after considering her difficult upbringing, family responsibilities, and the premeditated nature of the offence, imposed a three‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended sentence. She was ordered to serve 18 months of probation supervision and complete victim‑focused work. No money was recovered, and the case highlighted security lapses in the Tallaght office where computers were often left unlocked.
Derek Shevlin, 24, was jailed for two years after a violent attack on his ex‑girlfriend Ciara McGrath's family home. He entered the house on 11 September 2015, brandishing a hurley stick and an imitation handgun, demanding €400 for an iPhone he had bought for her. Shevlin smashed the front door, windows, and a Dublin City Council van, then pointed the gun at David McGrath, her father, and threatened to shoot him. He pleaded guilty to making a threat to kill David McGrath and to damaging property. The court noted the attack was the culmination of his failure to cope with the breakup and that McGrath suffered anxiety and sleep disruption. Judge Karen O'Connor, acknowledging his early guilty plea and substance abuse, sentenced him to three and a half years with eighteen months suspended, resulting in a two‑year custodial term.
David McDonagh, 42, of St Margaret's Halting Site, Ballymun, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to handling stolen property on 6 April 2015 and possession of stolen property on 16 April 2015. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to two and a half years imprisonment, suspended for the same period on the condition of keeping the peace and good behaviour. He was ordered to pay €4,200 compensation to the victim and to engage with the probation service for 12 months. The judge also suspended his driving licence for two years because he had used a vehicle without insurance and failed to produce insurance. McDonagh was identified as the "front man" in a stolen car operation that involved Volkswagen Passat and Golf vehicles advertised on the Done Deal website, with false number plates, NCT and tax discs. He has 81 previous convictions, 59 of which are road traffic offences, and one theft conviction.
Jason Whelan, 28, of Woodhazel Terrace, Ballymun, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to trespass and theft offences at Clifton Court Hotel and The Gresham Hotel in 2017. He admitted stealing a receptionist's phone and seven bottles of spirits worth €225, and burglary of €257 worth of spirits at Clifton Court. Garda Michelle Fitzpatrick reported that Whelan also took €43 worth of spirits from The Grand Central pub after leaving ten bottles in a bag behind a function room door. Whelan has 28 prior burglary convictions, ten theft convictions and other handling‑stolen‑property offences. Judge Martin Nolan remarked that Whelan "cannot stop himself from committing burglaries" and sentenced him to two and a half years' imprisonment, crediting time already served. His brother, Stephen Whelan, 34, pleaded guilty to the same offences and received a 16‑month sentence. No violence was reported in any incident.
Steven Hennessy, 38, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for sexually assaulting a seriously drunk, almost unconscious woman at a Dublin festival in September 2016. The victim, who remains anonymous, only realised what had happened after waking in a medical hut and learning a man had been arrested. Hennessy, who was also severely intoxicated, was observed by a group of friends putting his hand inside the woman's trousers and digitally penetrating her. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and had no prior convictions. Judge Martin Nolan noted Hennessy's cooperation, admissions, guilty plea and expression of remorse, as well as his good work record and loss of employment. The judge imposed a custodial sentence but suspended the final 14 months on strict conditions, citing mitigation. No compensation or financial penalty was imposed, leaving that matter to civil courts. The victim did not submit a victim impact statement. The case was heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Darren Ward, 35, of Tallaght, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of 525 g of heroin worth €73,626, 881 g of cocaine worth €61,000, and 244 g of cannabis worth €5,000 in a car at Deerpark Square on 10 July 2015. Additional cocaine worth €10,600 was found in his Honda Accord and €8,000 was found on a male who had been observed in a transaction with Ward. Garda surveillance followed Ward from Deerpark Square to Walkinstown Green, where a male was stopped with €8,000 of cocaine. Ward's vehicle contained €1,100 cash, a weighing scale, and concealed compartments holding the drugs. Ward has 24 prior convictions, including drug‑related offences, and claimed a large drug debt and a threat on his life. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Ward's mid‑level role in the network, imposed a five‑year custodial sentence, describing it as reasonably severe given his serious involvement.
In a 2017 Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Julius Jakelaitis, a 26‑year‑old Lithuanian national, was sentenced to three and a half years' imprisonment for assault causing serious harm. The offence occurred on 1 January 2010 at a New Year's party on Bancroft Avenue, Tallaght, when Jakelaitis, then 19, kicked a 19‑year‑old man to the chest and head after a scuffle. The victim suffered multiple facial fractures, a coma, memory problems, seizures and was unable to resume boxing. Jakelaitis pleaded guilty, expressed remorse and had a good work history in insurance and military service. The judge, Martin Nolan, noted the victim's injuries and the provocation but found Jakelaitis had crossed into criminality. The sentence was back‑dated to June when Jakelaitis entered custody. The victim is believed to have returned to Romania. The case was prosecuted by Lisa Dempsey BL.
Darren Gallagher, 46, was caught by Garda Dominic Downing after slashing the cheek of an acquaintance with a Stanley blade outside a supermarket at 4 pm on 22 August 2016. The victim, known to Gardaí, was left with a cut that had since healed but left a scar. Gallagher was stopped minutes later, a knife found in his tracksuit, and he later claimed the victim had threatened him and his family. He pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. He has three prior convictions for minor offences and had not been in Garda attention since 1990. At the original hearing Judge Karen O'Connor had adjourned the case for a probation report. She noted a positive report and a letter from the Matt Talbot Community Trust. Considering his age, personal circumstances, rehabilitation efforts and the fact his prior convictions were non‑violent, she imposed a three‑year suspended sentence in very unusual circumstances. The sentence was suspended, with no custodial term imposed.
A 65‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to 16 months' imprisonment in February 2017 for indecently assaulting his 10‑year‑old niece on St Stephen's Night in 1980 or 1981. The offence involved the uncle kneeling over the child, touching her genitals, leaving, returning twenty minutes later and masturbating. The victim, who was crying and told him to leave, later described the incident as causing irreversible damage, loss of innocence, shame and family fracture. The man, a carpenter with no prior convictions, was married with children and grandchildren and was described by witnesses as of good character. On appeal, the Court of Appeal reduced the sentence to 13 months, citing the offence's single‑night nature, lack of systematic abuse, and the time elapsed since the crime. The maximum sentence at the time was two years. The appeal judge applied a discount for mitigation, concluding a 13‑month term was appropriate. The unnamed 65-year-old was found guilty.
Nathan Coakley, 24, of Buckingham Street Upper, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for unlawful use of a stolen motor vehicle and unlawful possession of a knife as a weapon. On 24 December 2015, Coakley and another male drove a stolen Hyundai i30 through the Ballsbridge area, breaking several red lights and narrowly avoiding a collision. The chase ended when the car flipped over and landed upright on four wheels. Coakley and the other man fled on foot, entered a house where a group of young males were gathered, and were not pursued by Gardaí. A knife, two petrol containers and a strip of paper were found in the vehicle; DNA on the knife matched Coakley. He was arrested, returned from the UK, pleaded guilty, and was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan, who also ordered a ten‑year driving disqualification.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Derek McGovern, 35, was acquitted of unlawful possession of a Glock 26 pistol, 14 rounds of 9mm Luger ammunition, and stolen car keys. Judge Melanie Greally directed the jury to return a verdict of not guilty on all charges after concluding that the Director of Public Prosecutions had insufficient evidence to prove McGovern's control over the items. The prosecution's case relied on demonstrating a common design to possess the items and suggested a joint enterprise with a co‑accused, but the judge found this evidence inadequate. McGovern had pleaded not guilty at the start of the trial. Judge Greally thanked the jury for their time and noted that the lack of evidence meant the jury could not convict on any of the charges.
Sean Jackson, aged 27, was convicted of biting off part of another man's ear in the smoking area of Ardlea Inn, Dublin 5, on 23 August 2014. The victim was using the outside smoking area when Jackson, who was highly intoxicated, bent down and bit a large part of the ear off. A witness saw the ear on the ground and alerted the Gardaí. Jackson had 24 previous convictions and was found guilty by a jury. Judge Martin Nolan described the assault as serious and reprehensible, noting the victim's impact statement that the top half of one ear was now missing. The judge imposed a five‑year prison sentence, citing moderate mitigation. Jackson's defence counsel argued the offence was out of character and due to extreme intoxication. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Verka Georgieva, 49, was convicted in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of stealing €10,000 from a businessman in 2008 and attempting to steal a similar amount from a medical student in 2017. She had previously been charged with the 2008 offence and taken a bench warrant, but returned to Ireland after a 2014 car accident that caused memory loss. Garda Alan O'Dowd described how Georgieva stole the businessman's cash from his pocket as he left Allied Irish Bank, and how she followed the student to Brown Thomas after watching her deposit the money into her bag. CCTV footage showed Georgieva in the bank's security hatch with the businessman, and she was arrested shortly after the student alerted security. Georgieva pleaded guilty to both thefts and was sentenced to 21 months' imprisonment, with the court noting the crimes were committed in "cold blood.".
Gerard Cleary, 33, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to possessing nearly two kilos of cocaine for sale or supply outside his residence at Shon Valley Apartments, Lucan, Co Dublin, on August 8, 2017. Judge Karen O'Connor handed down a three-year sentence but suspended the final 18 months, resulting in an effective custody period of 18 months. The court accepted that Cleary admitted to holding the drugs under pressure from a third party to repay a €9,000 debt accrued through his own cocaine use. Analysis confirmed the packages contained 1,976 grammes of cocaine with a street value of €138,837. During sentencing, the judge considered testimonials, including a letter from Cleary's mother detailing his troubled childhood and his role as a drug purchaser for her at age ten. Defense counsel Caroline Biggs SC argued that Cleary was a functioning addict who had been coerced into this transaction and had no prior history of drug dealing. The court noted Cleary's 14 previous convictions, nine of which were road traffic offences, and his current engagement with addiction services. The matter was concluded with this suspended sentence.
A retired surgeon, Michael Shine, aged 85, was convicted by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of indecent assault on two 15‑year‑old patients in the mid‑1970s. The court found that Shine had abused the trust of patients and the hospital by groping the boys during medical examinations. He was sentenced to 20 months' imprisonment, with consecutive 10‑month terms for each victim. Shine pleaded not guilty to eight charges of indecent assault at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital and his private clinic in Drogheda, covering incidents from 1964 to 1991, but was acquitted on the remaining charges. The judge noted Shine's advanced age, severe angina, and risk of dementia, yet rejected a request for a suspended sentence. The case highlighted the breach of trust by a senior medical professional and the lasting impact on the teenage victims.
A 21‑year‑old man, Eric Harcourt, was found guilty of endangerment and unlawful use of a vehicle after accelerating a car at a Garda in Darndale on 23 September 2014. He pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and was sentenced to four years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended, on 5 February 2016. Harcourt had been on bail when the offence occurred and the sentence was consecutive to a term already being served. He appealed the severity of the sentence, but the Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice Alan Mahon, found no error in principle. The judge noted Harcourt's "deplorable" record of 67 previous driving convictions, the earliest at age 13, and stated that a four‑year term was not unreasonable given the seriousness of the offence and his record. The appeal was dismissed.
Brian O'Neill, 47, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, with the final 20 months suspended, for stealing €32,460 from an 89‑year‑old woman over an 18‑month period beginning in October 2013. He posed as a handyman, calling the victim, Teresa Byrne, to her home to perform odd jobs and was paid in cash and cheques. He then stole her chequebook and wrote cheques in his own name. Byrne discovered the fraud when her bank manager noticed her account was severely depleted and numerous cheques were drawn in O'Neill's name. Garda Colleen Doherty witnessed O'Neill demanding €400 in cash from Byrne and became aggressive when she refused. O'Neill was arrested on 14 May 2015 after a search warrant was obtained. He pleaded guilty to 99 counts of theft. The court noted his early guilty plea, good employment record and remorse, but also a moderate risk of re‑offending according to a probation report.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Kastriot Boza, a 44‑year‑old Albanian national with no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to burglary at the home of Teresa (83) and Edward Keenan (86) on 28 June. The couple had withdrawn €9,600 for an inter‑generational holiday, but Boza knocked them to the ground, stole €3,000 from Teresa's wallet, €5,000 from her bag and €300 from her purse, and fled. Gardaí recovered the money and arrested Boza in Swords the next day. He was sentenced to five years' imprisonment, back‑dated to the date he entered custody. The court noted the victims' panic attacks, sleeplessness, anxiety and stress, and the impact on their confidence and family life. Boza had 33 prior convictions, including robbery, and the judge considered his apology and remorse in imposing the sentence.
In December 2017, a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court convicted 85‑year‑old retired surgeon Michael Shine of indecently assaulting two 15‑year‑old patients in the mid‑1970s. Shine had pleaded not guilty to eight charges of indecent assault at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital and his private clinic in Drogheda, covering incidents from 1964 to 1991. The court heard victim impact statements and medical records. One victim described being tied to a bed, restrained, and having his testicles massaged by Shine, leading to lasting anxiety, insomnia and depression. The second victim recounted being massaged at a follow‑up examination for undescended testes, feeling forced to ejaculate to end the assault. Shine denied wrongdoing during the trial but was found guilty of the two assaults; he was acquitted of four other charges. Lawyers argued that imprisonment would be fatal due to Shine's severe angina, heart stents and risk of dementia, and requested a suspended sentence.
Costel Tudor, 43, from Bucharest, was jailed for his role in an ATM scam that involved the theft of bank cards with "military precision." The scam took place at a Bank of Ireland ATM in Ranelagh, Dublin, on 17 October 2015. Tudor, together with two women, distracted a customer by placing a €20 note on the ground and tapping him on the shoulder. While the victim was momentarily distracted, Tudor switched the victim's card with another. Garda Joseph O'Callaghan presented CCTV footage to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, showing the group's actions and Tudor's subsequent attempt to withdraw cash, which failed. Tudor pleaded guilty to dishonestly taking the card and attempting to withdraw cash. He also admitted taking cash from a bank account on three occasions in May 2017, including a case where a woman's card was stolen from her purse on Harcourt Street, resulting in €845 fraudulently withdrawn.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, a man accused of sexually assaulting a female client during a massage on 24 January 2015 pleaded not guilty. The jury heard that the defendant allegedly removed the woman's underwear, touched her vagina, kissed her bare bottom and claimed he "just couldn't help himself." Prosecutor Maurice Coffey presented a text message from the defendant's phone dated 30 January 2015 that read, "hope you're not upset with me," and added that he would understand if she stopped seeing him. The defendant admitted sending the text but denied all other allegations, stating he had only hugged the woman. A friend of the victim testified that the woman called her on 24 January, described the assault, and reported it to Gardaí that night. The victim was cross‑examined by Tara Burns SC, who questioned why she did not react immediately. The trial was scheduled to continue the following day before Judge Karen O'Connor.
Peng Fei He, a 34‑year‑old Chinese national living on Little Mary Street, Dublin, pleaded guilty in November 2015 to possessing more than €140,000 worth of cannabis for sale or supply. He had ordered and accepted two DHL packages from Spain, each containing just over 7 kg of cannabis, and had placed one in the boot of his car before being stopped by Gardaí. He admitted ordering the parcels, knowing their contents, and cited gambling debts of €4,000–€5,000. He denied that money was being sent to China in his name, a claim unsupported by evidence. In October 2016, Judge Pauline Codd sentenced him to eight years' imprisonment, suspending the final two years. On appeal, the Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice John Hedigan, held that the headline sentence of 12 years was too severe and reduced it to nine years.
Karl Hennessy, a 23‑year‑old with no prior convictions, was found with a €250,000 drug stash in his Dublin flat. Gardaí were called after confidential tips and discovered Hennessy and another young man asleep in separate beds. When questioned, Hennessy directed officers to a wardrobe where they seized €141,106 worth of heroin, €100,506 of cocaine, €8,780 of cannabis resin and €6,570 of MDMA, totaling €256,962. Hennessy pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply. Judge Karen O'Connor described him as vulnerable, noting debt and predation, and imposed a three‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence with the final 18 months suspended. She urged continued engagement with Coolmine Therapeutic Centre, victim‑focus work, anger management and compliance with probation services. The case highlights the court's focus on Hennessy's background and the large drug value.
A jury convicted a 36‑year‑old Dublin man of sexually assaulting a 35‑year‑old woman during a Tinder‑arranged date. The woman said she believed the meeting was for coffee, but the man drove her to a secluded field on UCD campus where he allegedly became aggressive, attempted to kiss her, and then assaulted her. She reported feeling in fear of her life and that he tried to touch her and pull her dress up. The man denied the assault, claiming he was nervous after a failed kiss. The jury deliberated about 90 minutes and returned a unanimous guilty verdict on the single count. Judge Cormac Quinn declared the man a sex offender and remanded him in custody until December 15 for sentencing. No reaction was shown by either party when the verdict was delivered. The case is now pending sentencing. The unnamed 36-year-old pleaded not guilty.
Callum Rodgers, a 24‑year‑old electrician from Dublin, pleaded guilty to cultivating cannabis at a rented premises on Navan Road. He admitted learning cultivation from the internet and described his operation as "ham fisted" and unsophisticated. Gardaí recovered eight plants and cannabis herb worth €13,000, along with evidence of a drying tent, mason jars, and cannabis in a microwave. Rodgers claimed financial hardship and that he expected to earn about €9,000, though he also admitted to smoking some. He cooperated fully with investigators, provided details of seed acquisition, and expressed remorse, citing gambling addiction, anxiety, and depression. The court, noting mitigating circumstances, imposed a three‑year sentence suspended in full, and Rodgers was ordered to compensate the landlord for property damage. He stated he had stopped using cannabis and would not re‑offend.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, a 36‑year‑old man accused of sexually assaulting a 35‑year‑old foreign national on UCD campus was found not guilty by the jury. The defendant, who cannot be named, had met the woman on Tinder and arranged to meet after several weeks of communication. He drove her in a blue BMW to a field on campus, where she alleged he became aggressive and assaulted her. The defendant claimed he believed they were meeting for a hook‑up and that the woman was hysterical, stating he tried to kiss her and that she pushed him back. Gardaí interviews were presented, with the prosecution arguing the defendant's account was self‑serving and inconsistent. The defence argued the defendant's actions were reasonable given the woman's reaction and that she was not seeking sex. The jury heard closing speeches before being sent home for deliberation. The case remains at the trial stage.
In a Mountjoy prison cell, a 25‑year‑old convicted drug dealer, Dean Reynolds, was discovered hiding heroin, cannabis and a mobile phone behind a panel above the toilet bowl. The discovery followed a search by prison officers, who found a sock containing the phone, a spare battery, €40 worth of cannabis and €360 worth of heroin. Reynolds had pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of a mobile phone and heroin and cannabis for sale or supply. Judge Karen O'Connor sentenced him to two and a half years' imprisonment for the drug offences, with the final fifteen months suspended on the condition of good behaviour and engagement with probation services. He also received a one‑year sentence for possession of the mobile phone, with both sentences running concurrently. The case highlighted Reynolds' prior convictions for drug dealing, assault, criminal damage and firearms possession, and his history of domestic abuse and early drug use.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 36‑year‑old man accused of sexually assaulting a 35‑year‑old woman on UCD campus pleaded not guilty. The defendant claimed he and the complainant had arranged to meet via Tinder and WhatsApp, and that he believed they were meeting to "hook up" and have sex. He said he had told her he was a porn star and asked if she wanted to star in a film with him, to which she replied positively. He alleged that after driving her to a field on campus, he leaned over to kiss her, she pushed him away, and then "freaked out" and became hysterical, crying and saying she was lost. He said he tried to calm her and that she jumped out of the car. Gardaí questioned him about his behaviour, to which he denied anger and said he was nervous.
Daniel Polanksi, 33, of Charlestown Place, Finglas, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He pleaded guilty to one count of possessing three signal blockers used for breaking into cars on March 7 this year. He also pleaded guilty to one count of possessing crowbars, torches, binoculars, and pen-knives for use in a theft on the same date. Judge Karen O'Connor imposed a sentence of three years and three months. The court heard that gardaí recovered the items from a vehicle at St Margaret's Road, Finglas, along with a USB stick and an iPod allegedly stolen from other cars. Polanksi has 72 previous convictions, including 40 for theft. Two further counts relating to the theft of the USB stick and iPod were taken into account. Defence counsel Luigi Rea BL noted Polanksi is currently in custody for a previous offence, is an enhanced prisoner, and is attending addiction counselling. The matter was finalised with the imposition of the custodial sentence.