In February 2016, customs officials at Dublin airport seized €71,000 from Ramon Rodriguez, who was staying at the Maldron Hotel in San Isidor, Sabadell, Spain. The money was concealed in a biscuit tin and bed sheets. Rodriguez claimed the cash belonged to the "Moldovan mafia" and said he intended to hand it over to a Moldovan man in Spain. He had previously been convicted in the UK for importing 10 kilograms of cannabis. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Rodriguez feared for his life and would not return to Ireland. Counsel applied for forfeiture under section 39 of the Criminal Justice Act 1994, arguing the cash was proceeds of drug trafficking. Judge Karen O'Connor granted the forfeiture, ordering the €71,000 to be transferred to the State as proceeds of crime. The case highlighted the concealment method and Rodriguez's explanations as key factors in the court's decision.
Olga Leschen, aged 50, was found guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of stealing over €10,000 in rental deposits from eight prospective lodgers between September and October 2015. She advertised her house on Daft.ie, collected deposits ranging from €200 to €2,600, and then prevented the lodgers from moving in, citing health issues and surgery. None of the deposits were returned. Leschen pleaded guilty at her first court appearance, expressed remorse, and had written apology letters to the victims. She had already paid one victim €200 and entered court with €5,000. Judge Terence O'Sullivan, noting no sophistication in the theft, ordered the €5,000 to be divided evenly among the victims and adjourned sentencing to 25 October 2018, giving Leschen a 12‑month period to repay the full amount. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Sarah Hanson, 44, pleaded guilty to careless driving causing serious harm after her car struck 72‑year‑old Sandra Molloy in a Clondalkin retail park car park on 13 November 2015. Molloy suffered two broken legs, a pelvic fracture and a skull base fracture, requiring 32 days in Tallaght Hospital, nine in intensive care, and multiple surgeries. Hanson was sentenced by Judge Terence O'Sullivan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 120 hours of community service and a €1,000 fine, with no custodial sentence. The judge cited Hanson's guilty plea, lack of prior convictions, remorse, and character references from colleagues as mitigating factors. Hanson, a clinical psychologist with three children, had no intention to harm Molloy and accepted responsibility immediately after the incident. The judge emphasised that the judgment focused on the driving rather than the extent of Molloy's injuries.
A 37‑year‑old Kildare construction worker, Paul Gill, was found not guilty of manslaughter after a six‑day trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The case involved an altercation on Sarto Road, Naas, on 22 August 2015, where Gill attacked Patrick "Patsy" Kelly over noise and late‑night drinking. Gill admitted assaulting Kelly and pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Kelly's friend, Martin Curtis. The jury, after just under two hours of deliberation, returned a verdict of not guilty of manslaughter. Gill remains on continuing bail and will be sentenced on 20 November for the assault charges. The trial focused on medical evidence that Kelly's death was primarily due to heart disease, with alcohol and injuries as contributory factors. Victim impact statements were scheduled for the sentencing date.
A jury has begun deliberating in the trial of Paul Gill, a 37‑year‑old construction worker from Naas, who is accused of manslaughter in the death of Patrick "Patsy" Kelly on 22 August 2015. Gill denies killing Kelly but admits assaulting him and also pleading guilty to assaulting Kelly's friend Martin Curtis. The incident followed seven years of complaints about anti‑social behaviour, late‑night drinking and noise between the neighbours. Witnesses described Gill grabbing Kelly by the collar, dragging him seven metres, repeatedly punching him and kicking him. Medical evidence presented by State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy identified heart disease and high alcohol levels as the main cause of death, with injuries from the assault being contributory. Dr Mary Sheppard discussed the possibility of a fatal arrhythmia caused by stress.
The trial of Paul Gill, 37, a Kildare man charged with manslaughter, heard that Kildare County Council sought to exclude the deceased, Patrick "Patsy" Kelly, from a neighbour's home due to repeated late‑night drinking and noise. Gill denies killing Kelly on 22 August 2015 but admits assaulting him and pleading guilty to assault causing harm to Kelly's friend, Martin Curtis, during the same incident. The court heard that the council had drafted an exclusion order after two warning letters to Curtis and complaints from Gill's wife, Laura, spanning 2008‑2015. The prosecution presented medical evidence that Kelly's death was caused by an enlarged heart and blood vessel narrowing, with acute alcohol intoxication and minor trauma as contributory causes. Witnesses described Gill grabbing Kelly, punching him, and kicking him, while the defence argued the assault was not the substantial cause of death. Judge Melanie Greally will charge the jury tomorrow.
In Dublin City Centre, on 23 November 2016, Bernard McGrath, aged 27, punched pregnant Barbara O'Beirne, 23 weeks pregnant, in the stomach during an unprovoked attack. McGrath, who shouted at passing cars and then struck O'Beirne hard, also told her "Boo hoo, you're pregnant." O'Beirne was left in shock, unable to feel her baby, and later sought medical care at Holles Street hospital. She described the assault as a pregnant woman's worst nightmare and, despite the trauma, gave birth to a healthy baby girl a few months later. McGrath, a heroin addict with a troubled childhood and schizophrenia, had 21 prior convictions. At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, with the final nine months suspended, on the condition that he fully engage with probation services. The judge called the incident "deeply cowardly and bizarre.".
A builder's supplier company, Knauf GMBH, has been fined €40,000 for a safety breach that led to the death of Sergei Piller (33) in 2014. Piller was struck by a forklift at the company's site on Broomhill Road, Tallaght, Dublin. The company pleaded guilty to exposing a non-employee to a risk to their safety, health, or welfare, causing personal injury or death. The forklift driver had been loading pallets when he felt the forklift bearers pulling off the ground and found Piller underneath. Piller died from massive chest injuries. The court heard that there were no traffic management measures in place on the site, and regular visitors were not informed of safety procedures. The company has since implemented new safety measures and is now described as a 'model site.' The judge expressed her condolences to Piller's family and noted the company's cooperation with the Health and Safety Authority investigation.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 22‑year‑old Niky Sosso pleaded guilty to possessing over €27,000 worth of cocaine for sale or supply in his bedroom at Parslickstown Drive, Mulhuddart, on 28 January 2016. Garda Ronan Farrelly explained that a search warrant was executed after information that drugs were present in the home. Sosso answered the door, and while sniffer dogs searched, he immediately directed officers to the drugs, which were found in an iPhone box, a bag in his dresser and a shoebox, totaling 387 g with a street value of €27,115. He admitted the drugs were for other people and that he had taken orders to "make a bit of money." Sosso had no prior convictions and was described by his defence as naive and at the lowest end of the operation. He was a student with no significant assets.
Tom Humphries, a former sports journalist, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two and a half years in prison for grooming and sexually abusing a teenage girl. The court heard that Humphries exchanged over 16,000 text messages with the girl over a three‑month period ending March 2011, then met her and the abuse escalated to sexual acts over a 14‑month period. He pleaded guilty to four counts of inviting a child to a sexual act between January 2010 and March 2011 and to two counts of defilement between December 2010 and February 2011. The victim, aged about 16, was a 47‑year‑old Humphries' daughter. Judge Karen O'Connor noted the impact on the victim's childhood and mental health, and imposed the sentence with no post‑release supervision, backdating it to his entry into custody on 3 October 2017. The sentence was concurrent with a two‑year term for the exploitation charge.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 20‑year‑old Nicolae Carmen pleaded guilty to stealing €10,000 worth of jewellery from an elderly couple in Artane on 2 October 2015. Carmen, who had previously been convicted five times for theft and fraud, posed as a Spanish charity collector. She knocked on the door of an 84‑year‑old man, received €5, and asked to use the bathroom. While the man waited, she went upstairs, returned, thanked him and left. The couple's wife later found the jewellery missing from a bedroom box. The stolen items included a diamond engagement ring, charm bracelet, gold chains, an eternity ring, earrings and cuff links. A palm print from the box matched Carmen. None of the items were recovered. The judge adjourned sentencing to December to consider the couple's household income.
Jamie Shorthall, a 30‑year‑old plumber, carried out an armed raid on an Applegreen petrol station in Monkstown, Dublin, on 17 June 2015. He pointed an imitation Glock pistol at shop worker Phil Collins, demanded the cash tills be opened and took €1,100 before escaping on a bicycle. Shorthall pleaded guilty to robbery and possession of an offensive weapon. He has a history of 20 convictions, including burglary, criminal damage and theft. The court heard he has been attending residential treatment at Coolmine Therapeutic Community and is progressing well, with his programme ending in February 2018. Judge John Aylmer, impressed by his rehabilitation, imposed an 18‑month sentence, suspended in full on strict conditions, including completion of his treatment. The firearm was a realistic replica and the victim was unaware it was an imitation. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Thomas Joyce, 37, was sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison, with the final year suspended, for robbing two taxi drivers in Finglas on 7 and 8 November 2016. He had previously been convicted of five robberies and three attempted robberies against taxi drivers, bringing his total convictions to 32. Joyce told the first driver he would "cut him" and the second that he had "blades" and would "slash his face to bits." He fled after taking phones and cash. The court noted the crimes were linked to drug use, but that Joyce was now in rehabilitation, having attended a residential treatment course from March to August 2016. He pleaded guilty, showed remorse, and cooperated, factors that were considered in the sentencing. The judge highlighted the terror inflicted on the victims and the high risk of re‑offending identified in Joyce's probation report. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the offences while acknowledging his efforts at rehabilitation.
Michael Kinsella, aged 25 and formerly of Ardkeen, County Cavan, has been sentenced to three years' imprisonment for assaulting a fellow prisoner at Wheatfield Prison on 13 April 2012. At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Karen O'Connor heard that Kinsella slashed the victim's face with a weapon, causing injuries requiring nine stitches. Kinsella, who is currently serving a 15-year sentence for manslaughter in relation to the 2011 death of Adil Essahli in Dublin, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. The judge ordered the three-year sentence to run concurrently with his existing sentence, meaning no additional time will be served. The court was informed that Kinsella has engaged in educational and rehabilitative programmes while in custody and is not due for release until 2025. Michael Kinsella was convicted.
Adrianne Bradley, 53, was sentenced to 18 months in jail, with the final year suspended, after pleading guilty to possessing €68,154 worth of 3.5 kg of cannabis for sale or supply at her home on 11 August 2015. She admitted smoking cannabis occasionally but denied having a drug problem or debt. The judge noted she was a grandmother with four children, two under 18, and that she was vulnerable to manipulation by drug dealers, having a schizoid personality disorder. Bradley claimed she had been given the drugs about two weeks earlier and had not touched them, and that she was on social welfare at the time of arrest. Garda Alan Flaherty said the drugs were found after a warrant was issued following a tip‑off, and that Bradley's home had been invaded and destroyed in 2013, affecting her mental health. The sentencing court heard her daughters cry and hug her before she was taken into custody.
The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Patrick Kelly's death was mainly caused by severe heart disease, with an enlarged heart and narrowed vessels, while acute alcohol intoxication and minor trauma were contributory. Prof. Marie Cassidy noted Kelly's blood alcohol level was 213 mg/100 ml, a toxic range, and that his liver showed cirrhosis from chronic drinking. Minor injuries included a 5 cm forehead laceration, a skull bruise, an incomplete cervical spine fracture and rib fractures likely from resuscitation attempts. The court heard that the altercation over noise and late‑night drinking led to a fight in which Paul Gill punched Kelly and later kicked him, and that Gill also assaulted Martin Curtis. Gill denied intent to kill but admitted assault, and the trial will resume next Tuesday before Judge Melanie Greally and a jury. Paul Gill pleaded guilty.
Nassour Saleh, a 25‑year‑old Palestinian national, was given a suspended two‑year sentence for endangering Gardaí after a high‑speed chase on Navan Road in 2008. He had been 16 at the time and was not licensed to drive. In 2010 he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving without insurance and driving under the influence of cannabis, receiving a six‑month suspended detention and a four‑year driving disqualification. The case was adjourned for a probation report, but Saleh fled to Norway, where he lived and worked as a mechanic for six years. He returned to Ireland last year, was arrested during a random Garda check, and was sentenced by Judge Terence O'Sullivan, who noted the unusual circumstances and the fact that no one was injured. The sentence was suspended on conditions including two years of probation supervision. The court emphasised the protection of front‑line services and the seriousness of the offence.
During an investigation of a crashed van on a laneway, Gardaí discovered a cannabis growhouse at a rented house on Heronford Lane, Rathmichael. The house, which had been rented three months earlier, contained 917 plants under artificial lights, valued at €733,600, with 501 plants ready for harvest worth €400,800. Harvested cannabis bagged for street sale was worth €29,960. The operation's electricity supply had been spliced. Steven Hudson, 39, the van driver and a low‑level participant, was arrested after returning to the site at 11 pm. He pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply. The court sentenced him to four and a half years, suspending the final two years, and directed him to keep the peace for two years and engage with probation and addiction programmes. Hudson had 15 prior convictions and was described as not the mastermind or a man of means.
Paul Gill, 37, is on trial for manslaughter after the death of Patrick "Patsy" Kelly on 22 August 2015 at Sarto Road, Naas. Gill denies unlawful killing but admits assaulting Kelly and Martin Curtis. Prosecutor Orla Crowe SC described a dispute over late‑night drinking between the neighbours. Witness Noreen Doyle testified that Gill punched Kelly, kicked him, knocked Curtis out, then returned to kick Kelly again. Doyle also recalled hearing Gill warn Kelly that he would not be allowed into Curtis's house that night. The case is heard before Judge Melanie Greally and a jury of eight men and four women. The trial continues with the jury to decide on the manslaughter charge. The proceedings remain at the trial stage, with no verdict yet announced. Paul Gill pleaded not guilty.
Szymon Flizikowski, aged 20, faces sentencing for possession of drugs worth over €150,000 and for two other offences committed in 2015. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbery of 30 cans of beer, assault with a Stanley knife in a Londis supermarket, and a separate knife assault in Leixlip. Garda Eoin O'Flaherty reported that Flizikowski threatened a staff member with a knife and fled with the beer. He was later arrested and, during a search of his home, police found MDMA, cocaine and ecstasy. Flizikowski claimed he was holding the drugs for a debt and feared a "bullet" if he refused. He admitted to calling a man a racist slur and slashing him with a knife, apologising and presenting a victim impact statement. He is currently remanded for sentencing on December 21 and is due for release in 2020.
In Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, 36‑year‑old Ashley Lucas pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering for setting up a bank account at AIB Drogheda on 24 March 2015. The account was used to defraud Swiss student Marlene Lienau, who transferred €1,040 for a room that did not exist. Lucas admitted opening the account with a false utility bill and a passport, and he claimed he was instructed by a Nigerian man in the UK. Lienau suffered an economic loss of €1,346 and expressed distress at being scammed and the impact on her view of Ireland. Lucas has no prior convictions, has complied with bail, and has expressed remorse, offering to pay the outstanding sum. Judge Karen O'Connor warned Lucas that a custodial sentence will be imposed and postponed sentencing to 15 December to obtain an updated probation report. The co‑accused, who pleaded guilty to using a false instrument, received an 18‑month suspended sentence.
Siobhan Maguire, 47, of The Brambles, Skerries, Dublin, pleaded guilty to 32 theft and fraud offences for fraudulently lodging 660 cheques from her employers' accounts into her personal bank account between 2001 and 2015. The total amount stolen was €1,187,616. She used the money to pay her mortgage, take holidays and support her children. The fraud was discovered in January 2015 when a bank employee noticed suspicious cheques deposited into her account. Maguire was suspended, resigned, and cooperated fully with the Garda investigation, admitting all offences. She has no prior convictions. The employers have been partially reimbursed by banks; the remaining loss is about €325,000. Judge Patricia Ryan adjourned sentencing to 26 October and remanded Maguire on bail. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after her guilty pleas in the District Court. The article does not state any sentencing outcome.
A 62‑year‑old man named Owen McKeever was found guilty of fraudulently claiming more than €40,000 of jobseekers allowance in the name of his brother Brendan between 2009 and 2013. The fraud was uncovered through facial imaging technology introduced by the Department of Social and Family Affairs in 2013, which matched a genuine photograph of McKeever with one purporting to be his brother. McKeever had also been making a legitimate claim in his own name at the time. He pleaded guilty to 50 counts of social welfare fraud, with a total loss to the exchequer of €41,871. McKeever admitted the fraud immediately after being interviewed by Garda Ian Abbey and said, "I put my hands up." He has begun repaying €50 per week and the court has adjourned sentencing to 28 January to allow further repayment.
A 25‑year‑old Dublin man, Dean Comerford, was sentenced to one year in jail for providing false information in a passport application. The application, which contained his personal details, was submitted with a photograph that had been spliced to include a different person's image. Comerford had attended Tallaght Garda station in January 2015 to obtain a certification for the application, and the photo was stamped normally. The passport office's fraud department later discovered the splicing. Judge Karen O'Connor found the premeditated nature of the offence aggravating and imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, suspending the final 18 months on strict conditions, including 12 months of probation supervision. The case also involved co‑accused Derek Corr, who received a five‑year sentence with four years suspended, and a GP who was prosecuted for endorsing the identity form without meeting Comerford. The court noted Comerford's history of 14 convictions, including public order and road traffic offences. Dean Comerford pleaded guilty.
Stephen Bailey, aged 30, was sentenced to three years in prison after a high‑speed chase in torrential rain on the M50 led to a garda car aquaplaning and crashing. Bailey had pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine and heroin, intentionally or recklessly ramming a garda, endangerment of Garda Gary Dunne and two dangerous driving charges. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a four‑and‑a‑half‑year term, suspending the final 18 months, and banned Bailey from driving for ten years. The chase began when gardaí, following a surveillance operation on Old Glenamuck Road, spotted a red Audi A3 driven by Bailey. The gardaí pursued him, but the patrol car aquaplaned, causing injuries to Sgt Divian Rock and Garda Tara Byrne. Both officers suffered significant injuries and ongoing medical costs. Bailey's guilty pleas and steps toward drug treatment were noted by the judge.
David Radford, 21, was remanded in custody for one month after the court found he had breached bail conditions by refusing emergency accommodation and sleeping rough. Radford had been released in March after a 3½‑year sentence for sexual assault, with the final 12 months suspended on the condition of full compliance with the probation service. He has 15 prior convictions, including three for sexual assault of women. Probation Officer Rob Pickles reported that Radford had not followed directions, had begun using substances, and the situation was deemed unworkable. Radford's defence argued that he had been attacked and feared for his safety, but the judge said he would re‑activate the suspended sentence if he refused accommodation. Judge Martin Nolan remanded him for a month, stating it was Radford's decision where he wished to reside.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 65‑year‑old complainant testified that he received €70,000 from Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in a civil settlement, with no admission of liability, and that he had never received compensation from the accused, Dr Michael Shine. He described how, in 1964, while being treated for a chest cyst, Dr Shine allegedly massaged his testicles. The complainant also recounted that a campaign led by Bernadette Sullivan, called "Dignity For Patients," encouraged former patients to come forward. He said he met with the organisation, then with Gardaí, and that a solicitor arranged a civil claim. He denied being under any influence to approach the police and said his decision to report was voluntary. The trial, presided over by Judge Cormac Quinn, continues with a jury of four men and eight women and is expected to last two weeks.
A 30‑year‑old Somali man, Muhydine Adillahi, was captured on CCTV fishing through letterboxes at two Dublin apartment buildings in early July 2016. He was later charged with trespass and theft at The Poolbeg, The Gasworks, and Barrow Street between 1 and 3 July, and also with dishonestly appropriating keys and attempted theft at a post box on 1 July. Adillahi pleaded guilty to further trespass, theft, and key appropriation at The Jessop, Charlotte Quay Dock on 2 July, and to alcohol theft at Eurospar, Barrow Street on 1 and 2 July. He had 18 prior convictions. Garda Bryan Hunt noted that Adillahi's DNA matched that on a Heineken bottle left at the scene, and that he had left a bottle with his DNA as he and two accomplices fled with items worth €1,440. Adillahi's defence highlighted his background as a refugee who became homeless after turning 18.
Aaron Parrot, a 22‑year‑old from Dublin, received a two‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended sentence for unlawfully keeping 17,000 Zopiclone prescription sleeping tablets worth €35,000 and possessing €1,050 of cannabis. The court heard that Parrot had a €700 per weekend cocaine habit and had been storing and selling the sleeping tablets to pay off a drug debt. He pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Karen O'Connor warned him to use all available assistance to tackle his drug addiction and ordered strict conditions, including engagement with probation services, anger‑management and victim‑awareness treatments, disengagement from antisocial peers, and continued drug rehabilitation. The judge noted Parrot's willingness to re‑enter employment and his low risk of re‑offending. No custodial sentence was imposed.
During a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, retired surgeon Dr Michael Shine, aged 85, faced eight charges of indecent assault against six teenage boys at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital and his private clinic in Drogheda between 1964 and 1991. Shine denied each allegation, stating "I absolutely deny that allegation." The prosecution, led by Bernard Condon SC, presented testimony from six complainants. The first, now 65, claimed that in 1964, at age 13, he was examined for a chest cyst and that Shine touched his chest, stomach, and testicles, repeating "it all works together." Other witnesses alleged similar conduct: a finger injury case, a knee injury case, a broken ankle case, a 16‑year‑old case, and a hernia case where Shine allegedly massaged genitals to ejaculation. The trial, presided over by Judge Cormac Quinn, is expected to last two weeks.
Noel Reddington, aged 30, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for a series of armed robberies, some committed while he was on bail. He pleaded guilty to robbery of cash from a bookmakers in Rialto on 17 November 2016, possession of a semi‑automatic handgun during that robbery, robbery of a Spar on Errigal Road in March, and robbery of a Gala the day before. In the Spar incident he was armed with a large knife and shouted, "it's a robbery, give me the money"; the shopkeeper Mark Cahill sprayed an aerosol can at him, after which Reddington fled. Gardaí used Cahill's description to arrest him later that day. Reddington had previously served a sentence for robbery offences and was serving a suspended sentence at the time of the March incidents.
Vytautas Tarasevicius, 40, of Swords, Co Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for possession of card trapping equipment. He pleaded guilty to possessing such equipment with the intention that it be used in connection with a theft in Howth on March 1, 2016. Judge Karen O'Connor ordered him to perform 240 hours of community service in lieu of 18 months imprisonment. The judge had previously adjourned the case in June to assess Tarasevicius's suitability for community service, considering testimonials regarding his voluntary work and a medical report outlining his health difficulties. Tarasevicius, who has seven previous convictions, was stopped by gardaí with a friend, Deividas Sevcenko, 34, of Swords. Gardaí recovered metal implements from Sevcenko and further similar items from Tarasevicius's car, along with images of ATM machines on his iPhone. Sevcenko, the co-accused, had earlier received 240 hours of community service in lieu of twelve months imprisonment for his role in the matter. Defence counsel Leanora Frawley BL highlighted Tarasevicius's remorse, his status as a father of two, and his lack of garda attention for the last 12 years. The court accepted his plea and imposed the community service order as the final disposal.
Brian Bobey, 64, was sentenced to 18 months in jail at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for fraudulently claiming his late mother's pension for 17 years, from 1997 to 2013. He admitted stealing €158,726 from the State. Judge Patricia Ryan rejected a repayment plan of €50 a week, noting it would take over 63 years to repay. The court considered the long period of fraud serious enough for custodial punishment but excused repayment due to Bobey's medical conditions, including blindness in one eye from a tumour and osteoporosis, and his remorse. Bobey has 15 prior convictions, the latest in 2002 for drink driving. He remains living at his parents' former home in Walkinstown Parade with his partner and daughter, receiving €195 a week in social welfare and paying €35 a week in rent.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Theresa Chennaux, aged 49 and diagnosed with schizophrenia, was found not guilty by reason of insanity for attempting to remove a five‑year‑old child from a Luas tram and for restraining a 12‑year‑old and assaulting her 14‑year‑old sister on 20 November 2015. The court noted she had not been taking her medication and had been moved in and out of psychiatric facilities without meeting involuntary admission criteria. Consultant forensic psychiatrists for both sides agreed she suffered a severe, enduring mental disorder. Judge Melanie Greally ordered that her detention at the Central Mental Hospital be extended, citing progress but ongoing need for care. The case involved CCTV footage of Chennaux removing the children, shouting about paedophiles, and refusing to answer questions, leading to her remand and transfer to the hospital.
East Coast Kitchens Factory Ltd was fined €5,000 for health and safety breaches after an employee, Pawel Bodnar, lost three fingers on his right hand while cutting chipboard with a faulty Altendorf F45 sliding table saw on 23 July 2015. Bodnar, who was still employed by the company at the time of the hearing, was operating the saw with gloves on when the guard was broken and the blade's protective cover was mis‑positioned. He was taken to Beaumont Hospital where he underwent surgery but could not regain the fingers. The court found that the company had failed to provide a safe system of work, had not addressed the saw's defects, and had not informed management of the fault. East Coast Kitchens was also ordered to pay €4,731.49 in legal costs. The company has since implemented daily checks and a stricter safety policy. The case is also pending in civil court for restitution to Bodnar.
Catherine Simpson, a 72‑year‑old pensioner, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to ten counts of social welfare fraud committed between 1998 and 2016, totalling €206,696.09. She used two PPS numbers to claim Deserted Wives' Allowance and the non‑contributory State pension under her married name, while working under her maiden name, Maguire, and receiving additional benefits such as Job Seekers' Benefit, Illness Benefit and the Contributory State Pension. The fraud was uncovered in 2015 after facial image‑matching software was introduced by the Department of Social Protection. Simpson was sentenced to three years in prison, fully suspended, after expressing remorse and cooperation. She is required to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for three years, and her Contributory State Pension is being docked by €20 as repayment to the State. The court noted her long‑term alcoholism recovery, liver cirrhosis, and the support of her family.
Tiarnan O'Mahoney, 58, former Chief Operations Officer of Anglo Irish Bank, is on trial in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for conspiracy to destroy, mutilate or falsify records relating to eight bank accounts linked to former chief executive Sean FitzPatrick. He pleaded not guilty to both the record‑alteration charge and a separate conspiracy to defraud the Revenue Commissioners. The alleged offences, dated between 25 March 2003 and 31 December 2004, involved deleting six accounts from the bank's electronic system and disguising two others. The prosecution, led by Dominic McGinn SC, argues that the accounts were part of a scheme to conceal non‑resident accounts exceeding £100,000 from the Revenue during an audit. Witnesses included a former Revenue Principal Officer and a trust and pensions advisor. The trial, presided over by Judge Martin Nolan with a jury of twelve, is expected to last four to six weeks.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Declan Henry, a 37‑year‑old father of six, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply after a search of his Brookview Close home uncovered bags worth €39,900. Henry, who had no prior convictions, explained to the Gardaí that he had borrowed money at Christmas and was unable to repay the loan, so he held the drugs to settle the debt. He denied profiting from the cannabis and did not name anyone else involved. The prosecution, represented by Garret Baker BL, noted the Gardaí's search was based on information that cannabis was present. The defence, led by Sandra Frayne BL, highlighted Henry's family responsibilities and a "very difficult background." Judge Karen O'Connor adjourned sentencing to 25 October for finalisation.
In two separate cases, customs officers recovered cash at Dublin Airport and the amounts were forfeited to the State by order of Judge Karen O'Connor under section 39 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1994. In the first case, €9,200 was seized from Eddie O'Loughlin of St Finbars Terrace, Bohermore, Galway, on 13 May 2016. O'Loughlin was travelling to Amsterdam that day, had no known source of income, and was receiving job seekers allowance. He had a history of drug convictions and a six‑year and a half‑year sentence for assisting organised crime. He gave a "less than credible explanation" for the cash and did not engage with the process, leading to forfeiture. In the second case, US$10,000 was seized from Laimonas Baltrusis of Baileys Village, Johnstown, Navan, Co Meath, on 14 June 2015.
Rachel Harford, 47, pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 14 December 2015 to knowingly permitting or suffering the preparation of a controlled drug at her home. Gardaí, acting on a search warrant, found heroin and cannabis in her house and observed Harford placing a bag in the crotch of her leggings when officers arrived. She claimed the drugs were unrelated to her and that she had grabbed a bag in panic. Harford's former partner, Eamonn Kane, had already pleaded guilty to possession of the drugs and received a four‑year, nine‑month sentence with the final 18 months suspended. Judge Karen O'Connor noted Harford's past convictions and her recovery from heroin addiction, but also that she had not been the main actor in the activity. The judge imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, which was suspended in full, citing her low risk of re‑offending and her rehabilitation.
William Baker, 34, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of a stolen motorcycle on the basis of recklessness. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a fully suspended two‑year sentence, conditioned on good behaviour and payment of €2,200 to the owner within 15 months. The motorcycle was stolen on 1 April 2016 from a National College of Ireland car park and was later scrapped; its ignition had been damaged and the chassis number altered. Garda Adrien Buckley stopped Baker and a second man on 9 May 2016, noting the missing key and false registration plate. Baker was a passenger; the driver was found with a screwdriver and has a bench warrant. Baker has 77 prior convictions, including 56 road traffic offences, four public order offences, three thefts and two firearms offences. He has not been charged since 2009 except for a 2016 shop‑lifting conviction.
Richard Burbridge, 46, of Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to eleven sample counts of stealing from the Department of Social Protection between April 2009 and December 2014. The court heard that Burbridge, who operated a courier business with an annual turnover exceeding €100,000, collected disability allowance payments from the post office in Inchicore. Although the payments were conditional on his income remaining below a specific threshold, his business generated net profits ranging from €33,000 to €41,500 during the period. Garda Thomas Burke stated that Burbridge received €66,961 in overpayments without entitlement. Judge Karen O'Connor noted that the case differed from typical social welfare fraud involving social deprivation, as the offending was discovered when a former employee found no record of PRSI payments. Burbridge's defence, John Noonan BL, highlighted that the defendant had already repaid over €10,000 through monthly payments of €400 and no longer claimed benefits. Judge O'Connor suspended a three-year jail sentence for five years, conditional on Burbridge continuing his monthly repayments to the Department. She noted that the Department of Public Prosecutions could apply to the court if his circumstances changed, stating that repaying the debt was more beneficial to the excheurer than incarceration.
Vincent Maher, 45, was sentenced to seven years in prison for possession of a loaded Smith & Weston revolver found in a laneway beside a Dublin pub. He was arrested after a surveillance operation and pleaded guilty to the firearm offence on 6 December 2016. The revolver, fully loaded with six bullets and wrapped in a black scarf, was recovered in a plastic bag by workmen; Maher's DNA was found on the butt. He claimed he kept the gun for personal protection, citing threats to his life, but no Garda Information Message had been issued to him. Maher also pleaded guilty to possession of heroin for personal use (22 November 2015) and possession of heroin for sale or supply (15 March 2016). All three offences occurred while he was serving a suspended sentence for possession of €20,000 worth of heroin.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Derek Naylor, 46, and Paul Goddard, 57, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis resin and related drugs. Gardaí, acting on confidential information, tracked the men and discovered they had acted as mules for a drug operation, transporting almost €150,000 of cannabis resin. Naylor, a taxi driver with no prior convictions, admitted he was involved to repay a drug debt and was later found with three bags of resin worth €147,498. Goddard, who had four prior traffic convictions, admitted possession of amphetamine and cannabis at his home and claimed he was paid €1,000 for his role. Both men were described by the Garda as "just mules" who were "preyed upon" by others. Judge Karen O'Connor ordered probation reports and adjourned sentencing until December 8, 2017. The case highlighted the men's remorse, their lack of prior drug involvement, and the threat they faced from the drug network.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Derek Walsh, aged 29, pleaded guilty to producing a hatchet during a dispute over a broken laptop on St Anthony's Road on 10 June 2016. The incident began when neighbours reported men fighting with knives; Walsh, highly intoxicated, ran toward one man brandishing a large hatchet, which he later threw over a house roof before being apprehended. He has 71 prior convictions. Judge Karen O'Connor sentenced him to 18 months' imprisonment but allowed a conditional alternative of 200 hours of community service, pending a suitability report. The matter was adjourned to 1 December for a final decision. No injuries were reported, and no victim impact statements were filed. The judge noted Walsh's remorse and background, and remanded him on continuing bail while awaiting the community services report.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 33‑year‑old civil servant Jacqueline Walsh pleaded guilty to four counts of stealing €6,736 from the Department of Social Protection between October 2011 and May 2012. Walsh, who worked at the Tallaght branch, accessed her brother William Walsh's PPS number and used three different staff usernames to submit fake jobseeker allowance claims in his name. The court noted that computers were often left unlocked, allowing such access. Walsh resigned in 2015 and moved to a private company. She admitted receiving the money into her account, though her superior claimed she was competent at using the claims system. No stolen money was recovered. Walsh, with no prior convictions, is on bail and has four children, two of whom have health issues. Judge Karen O'Connor ordered a probation report and adjourned sentencing to December 6, citing a significant breach of trust.
Michael Power, aged 21, was convicted of two counts of assault, one count of causing serious harm and two counts of possession of a knife after stabbing Thomas Hanrahan and later slicing his face. Hanrahan suffered life‑threatening injuries, including a removed spleen and permanent facial scar, and will require lifelong medication. Power, who has 33 prior convictions, was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment with 18 months suspended, back‑dated to July 2015. The judge imposed the suspended portion to encourage rehabilitation and barred Power from contacting Hanrahan for five years after release. Power has completed various courses in custody, including the alternative to violence programme, and is now a facilitator. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 27 June 2015 and the sentence was delivered by Judge Elma Sheahan. The trial was conducted by a jury.
Ronald McMillan, 69, was jailed for importing 30 kg of the banned plant khat into Ireland. He was caught at Dublin Airport and had previously been linked to a stolen rental car that he had taken to Portugal. McMillan pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to theft of a Toyota Yaris on 10 March 2016 and to possession of khat for sale or supply and importation of the drug at Dublin Airport ten days later. Gardaí found the khat in wet form in a bag he claimed contained clothes, with an estimated street value of €15,000. McMillan has 28 prior convictions from 1971 to 2016, including offences in Gibraltar, Algeria, Austria, Australia, Monaco, France, Spain, Morocco and Yugoslavia. Judge Cormac Quinn sentenced him to two years, suspending the last 12 months on the condition that he keep the peace.
In a case heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, 21‑year‑old Dean Sutcliffe of Cushlawn Park, Tallaght, was found guilty of assault causing serious harm after striking 17‑year‑old Keith Fennelly on the head with a golf club on 3 November 2013. The incident followed an argument between the victim, his brother and Sutcliffe, who was sitting on a wall outside his home. Sutcliffe struck Fennelly from behind with such force that the club's head detached. Fennelly suffered a fractured skull, internal bleeding and required intensive care for several days. Sutcliffe had no prior convictions and was not known to the Gardaí. Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced him to three years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, and directed him to engage with Probation Services and undergo anger‑management treatment upon release. The judge noted Sutcliffe's youth, impending fatherhood and lack of previous offences as mitigating factors.
John Joyce Junior, aged 25, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to threatening to kill and possession of a firearm. He pointed a rifle at Bernard Joyce's head and fired a shot, after an altercation that began when a car with four men pulled up outside Joyce's house on 16 November 2014. The attackers shouted threats, broke kitchen windows, and Joyce produced the rifle, firing a bullet that passed over Joyce's head. He then left the garden and fired at the next‑door house, home of Joyce's brother. Patrick Joyce, 22, also pleaded guilty to the same charges. Judge Cormac Quinn sentenced Joyce Junior to eight years, suspending the last 18 months, with the sentence back‑dated to March 2016. Patrick Joyce received a four‑year sentence, also with an 18‑month suspension, back‑dated to June 2016. The court noted Joyce Junior's 92 prior convictions and his history of substance abuse.