A 61-year-old woman from Virginia, County Cavan pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to stealing approximately €14,000 from Ballyfermot Resource Centre in Dublin during 2011 and 2012. Elizabeth Ingram worked as a bookkeeper at the resource centre for eight years prior to the offences. During a routine audit, financial discrepancies were identified. When confronted by management in June 2012, Ingram admitted taking the money and subsequently provided a bank draft for full repayment. She told gardaí in interviews that she had always intended to repay the funds, which she had taken to cover personal bills by withdrawing small amounts from creche payments over several weeks. She also admitted to stealing €800 from the centre's restaurant. Ingram, who has no previous convictions, has since lost her employment. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned sentencing to October 20th pending a probation report.
In a 2017 appeal, Declan Tynan, aged 27, was found guilty of violent disorder at a Ladbrokes bookmakers in Tallaght on 13 December 2012. He had pleaded not guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where a jury convicted him and sentenced him to four years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended. The conviction was upheld on the basis that Tynan was identified from CCTV footage by Garda Sergeant Ciarán Loughrey and Garda Patrick McAvinue. The court rejected arguments that the identification evidence was inadmissible, noting that the footage showed the crime and the identification was made by a witness who had seen the event. The appeal was dismissed, confirming the original conviction and sentence. The case highlighted the court's view that video evidence of the crime itself is treated differently from post‑crime identification parades.
Stephen O'Shaughnessy, aged 27, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, for setting fire to an empty house being refurbished for the charity Prosper Fingal. The fire, which occurred on 14 June 2016, caused smoke, fire and water damage to a building that was two weeks from completion and cost the contractor €170,000 to gut and refit. O'Shaughnessy, who was intoxicated when he set fire to cardboard inside the house, was arrested at 2.50 a.m. after a member of the public identified him. He pleaded guilty to damaging by fire a house at Prosper Fingal, Drogheda Street, Balbriggan. The judge noted that 17 people were due to use the facility and that the charity had to rethink its security strategy following the incident.
In a 2017 Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 69‑year‑old John Farrell was found not guilty by reason of insanity on all 14 counts of criminal damage, endangerment, dangerous driving and failing to stop after a collision. The case stemmed from an April 2014 incident in which Farrell's Mercedes smashed through Trinity College's 18th‑century wooden gates, causing over €33,000 in damage. He drove through the gates, struck security guards, a college van and a student, and then drove aggressively through Grafton Street, Nassau Street and Dawson Street, forcing Gardaí to restrain him. Dr Paul O'Connor testified that Farrell suffered from hyper‑mania and bipolar disorder, lacking moral awareness and the capacity to understand the consequences of his actions. The jury, after 42 minutes, returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. The judge noted Farrell's history of aggression and hospitalisations, and the court committed him to a psychiatric unit.
In the violent disorder trial of Republic of Ireland footballer Jeff Hendrick, the jury was instructed to disregard his football career. Hendrick, 25, denies committing violent disorder at Harcourt Street on 12 October 2013, as does co‑accused Jonathan Doran, 26. Doran also denies assaulting Darren McDermott, who testified that Hendrick dragged him from a taxi after a verbal row at Krystle nightclub, resulting in kicks to his head, face, chest and back. In closing, Hendrick's solicitor Sean Gillane urged the jury to set aside any bias from his football background, noting that Hendrick's success stems from application and diligence rather than talent. Judge Martin Nolan also asked the jury to apply common sense and ensure a fair trial. Witnesses, including Shannon Farrell, described seeing McDermott beaten and bleeding, while Doran's statements about the incident were heard by the court. The judge will resume his charge the following morning before the jury deliberates. Jonathan Doran pleaded not guilty.
Gary Culhane, 40, from Limerick, pleaded guilty to burglary at The Good Shepherd Church and Parochial House in Churchtown, Dublin, on 15 October 2016. He forced entry through the front door while the priest was away saying mass, ransacking the house and stealing €650, a mix of the priest's own money, collections and the poor box. The neighbouring church office was also broken into but nothing was taken. Garda Aine Bolton, who had received CCTV footage, identified Culhane and arrested him the next day. He admitted to being "stuck for cash," having debts and a chronic drug addiction, and claimed he had found money in the office and in envelopes. He has 97 prior convictions, including burglary, robbery and theft, and has spent 20 years in prison. The court adjourned sentencing to October to allow a probation report to be prepared. The plea in mitigation will be heard on that date.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Shannon Farrell, a bystander, was praised by Judge Martin Nolan for her bravery after she and a friend witnessed a violent assault on Darren McDermott on Harcourt Street on 12 October 2013. Farrell described seeing McDermott on the ground, heavily bloodied, and helped him up before speaking to Gardaí. The alleged assault involved professional footballer Jeff Hendrick (25) and co-accused Jonathan Doran (26), both of whom pleaded not guilty to violent disorder. McDermott testified that Hendrick dragged him from a taxi outside a nightclub, after a verbal altercation, and that he was subsequently kicked and punched. Doran denied striking McDermott but admitted to chasing him and sitting on him. The trial is ongoing before Judge Nolan and a jury of twelve.
A 69‑year‑old man, John Farrell, was charged with criminal damage and road traffic offences after driving a Mercedes through Trinity College's front gates on 2 April 2014, causing damage worth over €33,000. He pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. The court heard that Farrell had a history of bipolar disorder and hyper‑mania, and a psychiatrist at the Central Mental Hospital confirmed that his behaviour on the day met the legal definition of insanity. Farrell denied the five counts of criminal damage, four counts of endangerment, three counts of dangerous driving and two counts of failing to stop after a collision. He was arrested shortly after the incident, was taken to Pearse Street Garda Station, and later committed to a psychiatric unit. The trial was scheduled to continue with a jury hearing.
Stefan Boyle, 28, was arrested after a knife‑wounding burglary at Ali Hussain House in Milltown Bridge, Dundrum, on 2 November 2016. He was caught when a caretaker, Ali Yassine, saw him hiding under a mosque table and later confronted him. Boyle admitted the burglary and pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He has 110 prior convictions, 63 of which are burglary. Judge Karen O'Connor, after assessing Boyle as suitable for residential drug treatment, adjourned sentencing to January to allow him to enter a program at Coolmine Therapeutic Centre. The court noted Boyle's willingness to apologise, his homelessness, and his desire to recover stolen phones, and gave him a final chance to present himself favourably before sentencing. The case remains pending until the sentencing hearing.
During an interview about a robbery he had committed, Dubliner Jason Kennedy (45) stole two USB keys from Shankill Garda station. He was captured on footage putting the keys in his pocket when a Garda stepped out of the interview room. Kennedy pleaded guilty to robbery at Park Pharmacy, Cabinteely, and the theft of the USB keys on 18 August 2016. He has 43 prior convictions and had been drug‑free for years before a "slip" led to these offences. Judge Karen O'Connor granted him bail, ordering him to attend a residential treatment programme at Coolmine and a step‑down and after‑care programme, with a staff member accompanying him. The court will finalise sentencing in January after a progress report. Kennedy was also charged with threatening pharmacy staff, stealing €500 and prescription drugs, and was arrested after a car search recovered medication and the hammer used in the robbery.
Daniel Weldon, a 31‑year‑old heroin addict, was jailed for four years after pleading guilty to two attempted robberies in Swords on 1 July 2016 and a successful robbery on the same day in a second pharmacy on Main Street, where he stole €230. He also pleaded guilty to a robbery at a Spar shop on Upper O'Connell Street on 7 April 2015, during which he threatened staff with a blood‑filled syringe, stole €80, and left the syringe and blood‑stained notes behind. The judge imposed consecutive sentences totalling five and a half years, suspending the final 18 months on strict conditions, backdating the sentence to July 2016 and ordering 18 months of post‑release supervision. Weldon had 52 prior convictions and had written apology letters to the victims. He had been drug‑free for a year and had completed several courses while in custody, hoping to work in health and fitness after release.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 5 July 2017, Jeff Hendrick (25) and Jonathan Doran (26) denied charges of violent disorder at Harcourt Street on 12 October 2013. Darren McDermott testified that Hendrick dragged him from a taxi outside Krystal nightclub, where he was kicked and struck. McDermott could not recall any "slagging" of Hendrick's teammates or family, and denied shouting threats. He said Hendrick had asked him to leave the group and that he had been aggressive. McDermott also denied any intent to harm Hendrick's career, though he admitted sending hostile messages online a month later. The court heard that bouncers had tackled Hendrick and escorted him out, and that McDermott left the club after further verbal altercations outside. No verdict was reached in the article.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, Niall Fitzpatrick, aged 50, was acquitted of firearms offences and attempted aggravated burglary at Patrick Glavin's home. Fitzpatrick denied possession of a Remington 12‑ga pump‑action shotgun and ammunition, and pleaded not guilty to the burglary charges. The jury delivered not‑guilty verdicts on the firearms and aggravated burglary charges, but could not reach a verdict on the attempted burglary charge. The case stemmed from an incident on 11 August 2013 at Glavin's residence in Rougrane, Glanmire.
Jonathan Duggan, 27, pleaded guilty to one count of theft at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He entered Tom Stanley's Newsagents in Blanchardstown Shopping Centre to buy a drink, saw €6,500 in notes on the counter, grabbed them and fled. The shop assistant chased him, alerted security, and he was apprehended and returned to the centre. Duggan later handed the money back. He claimed he had seen the cash and "took a chance", and said he had not threatened anyone. He was living in Cork, visiting his partner and their young daughter in Dublin. Duggan has a long history of heroin addiction, having started at 15, and 91 prior convictions, many linked to his drug use. His partner, a former heroin user, has been clean for four years. The court noted his remorse and the support he has. Judge Gerard Griffin sentenced him to three years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended, backdated to 9 February 2017.
Anthony Goodman, 72, a convicted sex offender with a history of sacrilege and buggery of an animal, breached a court order by travelling on public transport without notifying Gardaí. In 2012, a Cork Circuit Criminal Court order prohibited him from attending certain locations and from using public transport except one local bus route unless he gave two hours' notice. In 2015, Goodman failed to give notice before boarding buses on Westmoreland Street and to Enniskerry, leading to his arrest on 3 September 2015. He has remained in custody since. Judge Elma Sheahan backdated a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence to September 2015, suspended the final eight months, and structured the sentence so the suspended portion benefits him. Goodman has over 200 prior convictions, including sexual assault, electrical diversion, animal buggery, sacrilege, and previous transport violations. He was removed from the sex offenders register on 29 June after five years on it. Anthony Goodman pleaded guilty.
Marcus Gantley, 23, was sentenced to a three‑year term with the final 18 months suspended after pleading guilty to obstructing a peace officer, assaulting a Garda, and two separate possession of controlled drug offences. The Court of Appeal upheld the sentence, describing it as "very lenient" but not "unduly lenient." Gantley was found in possession of €700 worth of heroin after a violent struggle in a Spar shop and €17,000 worth of cocaine at Dublin Airport, where customs officers confronted him over a black bag. He was on bail for the earlier charges at the time of the cocaine offence. The judge noted Gantley's history of drug addiction, chaotic lifestyle, and high risk of reoffending, and highlighted that the offences were committed over a short period, showing a disregard for bail conditions. The Court of Appeal dismissed the Director of Public Prosecutions' application for a review, leaving the original sentence intact.
Jonathan Dunne, a 27‑year‑old father of four, was convicted of stealing two bicycles and three wheels from a locked bike shed at Gasworks Apartments in Ringsend. CCTV footage showed him carrying bolt cutters and cutting a large hole in the wire cage that secured the shed. The stolen bikes were worth €3,450 and the damage to the shed €1,608. Dunne pleaded guilty to two charges of theft and criminal damage on 28 July 2016. He had 76 prior convictions, including burglary and handling stolen property. Judge Karen O'Connor, noting his pre‑meditated plan and drug addiction, sentenced him to two years' imprisonment, taking into account his cooperation and guilty plea. The case was prosecuted by Elva Duffy BL and defended by Karl Monahan BL. The incident occurred on the night of 28 July 2016.
A Dublin man, Darren McDermott, told a jury that he suffered three fractures to his jaw and several broken teeth after an assault by a group of men led by professional footballer Jeff Hendrick. The incident occurred on 12 October 2013 at Harcourt Street, when McDermott was in a nightclub and later in a taxi that stopped at traffic lights. McDermott claimed Hendrick and his associates forced him out of the taxi, threatened him, and then attacked him, delivering kicks to his head, face, chest and back. McDermott fled, was struck by the attackers, and was later rescued by bystanders. He received emergency surgery at James's Hospital and remains under medical care. Hendrick pleaded not guilty to violent disorder and assault causing harm, while co‑accused Jonathan Doran also pleaded not guilty to the same charges. The trial is ongoing before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
In December 2015, Joseph McKeon, aged 41, entered Partners at Law Solicitors in Dublin and, after being denied a refund cheque, became angry, kicked a door, damaged a security lock and threatened a female staff member that he would break her jaw and blow her head off. He also shouted about money he claimed belonged to him. McKeon was arrested and has since been in custody. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to making a threat to kill or cause serious harm and damaging a door. He has eight prior convictions. Judge Karen O'Connor sentenced him to three and a half years, suspended the final year on strict conditions, and ordered that he be given credit for time already spent in custody. The judge also ordered that he stay away from the victim and the firm's offices. The case was prosecuted by Lorcan Staines BL and defended by Brian Storan BL.
Carol Cullen, a 47‑year‑old nursing home care assistant, was jailed after stealing €19,900 from the bank account of an 86‑year‑old resident. Cullen had received two cheques from the resident, forged additional cheques, and used the money for household expenses. She pleaded guilty to four counts of theft and four counts of forgery between August 2014 and 2015. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court noted Cullen had no prior convictions, had cooperated with Gardaí, and expressed remorse. Judge Karen O'Connor highlighted the breach of trust and personal gain, and considered Cullen's young family and lack of a lavish lifestyle. She imposed a two‑year custodial sentence, suspended the final 15 months on strict conditions, and ordered 12 months of probation supervision upon release. The sentence was given without reference to any future outcomes.
Patrick McClean, a 72‑year‑old retired seaman, sent six threatening "poison pen" letters to Garda Claire McGuigan after she issued him a fixed fine notice for a driving offence. The letters, described by the judge as "obscene, vile and rambling," were sent to Raheny Garda Station between 4 August and 29 September 2016. McClean pleaded guilty to harassing the garda and admitted he was unlikely to re‑offend. In a victim impact statement, McGuigan expressed confusion and fear, noting the letters had affected her work and personal life. Judge Martin Nolan, recognising McClean's age and lack of prior convictions, imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, suspended in full, thereby avoiding a jail term. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In July 2016, Derek Cooling, 29, and another man robbed a More For Less shop in Bawnogue Shopping Centre, Dublin 22, using an air gun. They threatened a female employee, forced her to open the till, and then entered a rear office where the shop manager was watching on CCTV. The manager was struck on the head with the air gun and ordered to empty the safe into a bag. Both employees feared for their lives. Garda Barry O'Shea followed a blood trail left by one of the raiders, discovered smoke from a nearby house's chimney, and entered the house to find Cooling and the other man burning clothing and money. Cooling pleaded guilty to robbery at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The case was adjourned until October, with a psychiatric report ordered by Judge Patricia Ryan. The cashier could not return to work and suffered ongoing fear and medication use, while the manager experienced paranoia and anxiety after the incident.
Patricia Sweeney, 60, a cleaner at a primary school, was found to have defrauded the State of €31,700.70 by claiming job‑seeker's allowance while working 12 hours a week on a casual basis, and by forging "declaration of unemployment" forms signed with the principal's name and the school stamp. She had been employed at the school for 19 years and had always received a weekly wage of €112. Sweeney admitted to using the stamp without permission and to signing the principal's name on the dockets. She pleaded guilty to 21 counts of theft and forgery between February 2011 and February 2015. The court imposed 240 hours of community service in lieu of a 12‑month prison sentence on the first count and two‑year suspended sentences on the remaining counts. She remains on job‑seeker's allowance, with weekly deductions of €27.90 until the debt is cleared.
A man from County Mayo pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two robberies committed in the greater Dublin area in 2015. Craig Dempsey, now residing in Achill, admitted robbing Apache Pizza in Tallaght Shopping Centre on 6 September 2015 in company with an accomplice who carried an electric chainsaw. The court heard that approximately €2,535 was taken. Dempsey also pleaded guilty to robbing a Spar store in Ballycullen on 20 July 2015, during which he produced a broken bottle. The court was informed Dempsey committed the offences to settle a drug debt and that he had since relocated to Mayo away from negative influences. Following a positive probation report, Judge Melanie Greally imposed a probation bond for one year with strict conditions and adjourned finalisation until July 2018.
A Kildare man, now 24, is appealing against a custodial sentence imposed for offences committed when he was 15. The appellant pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault in a shed at his home in Co. Kildare in October and December 2008, as well as oral rape at his home in April 2009 and in a woodland near his home in May 2009. On November 28, 2016, Mr Justice Tony Hunt sentenced him to four years imprisonment, with the final two years suspended. Counsel Hugh Hartnett SC argued that the appellant should have been spared jail, citing his age at the time and characterizing the acts as reckless experimentation. He submitted that under the 2001 Children's Act, detention for a legal juvenile must be a last resort. The appeal was heard by Mr Justice George Birmingham, sitting with Mr Justice Alan Mahon and Mr Justice John Hedigan. The court reserved judgment on the appeal against the severity of the sentence, with the decision scheduled to be delivered on Friday next. The matter remains adjourned pending this ruling.
Thomas Joyce, aged 37, faces sentencing later this year for two additional robberies of taxi drivers in Finglas on 7 and 8 November 2016. He has 32 prior convictions, including five robberies and three attempted robberies against taxi drivers. At the time of the offences, Joyce flagged down the drivers and directed them to a lane on Rathoath Road, threatening the first driver with a cut and the second with blades that would slash his face. He fled after taking phones and cash from each driver. CCTV identified him in the first case and fingerprints in the second. He was arrested on 9 November 2016 at a halting site on Dunsink Lane. The court has adjourned the case to October to allow a probation report to be prepared. The proceedings are ongoing and no final sentence has yet been imposed. Thomas Joyce pleaded guilty.
Tracey Deegan, 42, pleaded guilty to unlawfully possessing a 12‑gauge Winchester pump‑action shotgun and a 12‑gauge Reno double‑barrel shotgun. She admitted that she had allowed a former partner to store three shotguns and ammunition in her Cherrywood Park home after being threatened at gunpoint. Gardaí discovered the firearms in a wardrobe and found a shotgun shell in the kitchen, which Deegan claimed was her brother's. She also admitted to using cocaine every two weeks. Deegan said the partner threatened her and her brother, who allegedly owed €12,000 in drugs, and that he would collect the guns after dark. She had no prior convictions and cooperated fully when arrested. The case was adjourned to 7 July for the Director of Public Prosecution to decide the seriousness of the offence.
Glen Conroy, 27, was found guilty by a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury of assaulting a prison officer at Mountjoy Prison on 20 March 2013. Conroy claimed the officer, Paul Brady, had moved him to a new cell without a television and that he had been attacked unprovoked. Conroy said he head‑butted Brady and punched him, but Brady testified that Conroy was the aggressor. Conroy also alleged that officer Patrick Laverty had grabbed his testicles and forced him to the ground, a claim Laverty denied. Conroy admitted no complaint had been made about the alleged assault. Assistant‑Governor Malcolm O'Sullivan reported a disciplinary hearing on 23 March 2013, after which Conroy signed a report and lost privileges for 56 days. The hearing was later disputed by Conroy, who said it never occurred. Judge Martin Nolan adjourned the case for sentencing on 26 July and remanded Conroy in custody.
A 19‑year‑old homeless teen, Kelly McAuley, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of assault causing harm after an unprovoked attack on sisters Kathleen (66) and Eileen (59) on South Anne's Street on 13 May 2016. McAuley struck Kathleen in the face and head, causing her to fall, and punched Eileen in the nose, drawing blood. The sisters were treated for facial fractures. McAuley was arrested later that day, was intoxicated and initially unfit for interview, but later accepted full responsibility and expressed remorse. She had 42 prior convictions, including theft, assault, criminal damage and drug misuse, and had been homeless since age 10. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced her to three years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, describing her as a danger to society. The sentence was imposed on 29 June 2017.
Nine weeks after the Jobstown protest trial opened, a jury returned a unanimous not‑guilty verdict after just over three hours. The prosecution had alleged that six men had "plainly involved in the restriction of liberty" of Joan Burton and Karen O'Connell, who were trapped in Garda cars for three hours after a graduation ceremony. The men were said to have surrounded the cars, preventing the women from leaving the church yard, and to have moved the cars "inch by inch" along Fortunestown Road. Defence counsel argued that the women were kept in the vehicle because of a fear of violence, not because of the men's actions, and criticised Garda testimony as unreliable. Video footage was repeatedly shown, and the judge instructed the jury to treat it as the primary evidence.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing that lasted 40 days, a jury of seven men and four women found six men – Solidarity TD Paul Murphy, South Dublin County Councillors Michael Murphy and Kieran Mahon, and co‑accused Scott Masterson, Frank Donaghy and Michael Banks – not guilty of all charges of falsely imprisoning Joan Burton and her adviser Karen O'Connell. The defendants had been accused of restricting the women's liberty without consent at Fortunestown Road, Jobstown, Tallaght, during an anti‑water charges protest on 15 November 2014. The jury deliberated for three hours and ten minutes before returning unanimous verdicts. Judge Melanie Greally, after the verdicts, thanked the jury for their service and exempted them from future duty. The trial had focused on whether the defendants' actions amounted to total restraint, a point the jury found was not proven. The case was described by the defence as a politically motivated attempt to criminalise peaceful protest.
In the trial of six men accused of falsely imprisoning former Tánaiste Joan Burton, the jury requested to view garda air support footage from the Jobstown protest. The jury, consisting of seven men and four women, had deliberated for 1 hour 53 minutes the previous day. Judge Melanie Greally had defined false imprisonment as requiring "total restraint" and asked the jury to consider whether Burton and her adviser Karen O'Connell had any means of escape. Two escape possibilities were raised: leaving the car and walking off Fortunestown Road, or the jeep reversing as advised by the Garda Air Support Unit. A third possibility was whether the women could have "egressed down Fortunestown Road" amid commotion. The jury will watch the footage in court while continuing deliberations. The accused, including Solidarity TD Paul Murphy, have pleaded not guilty to the charge of falsely imprisoning Burton and O'Connell on 15 November 2014.
In a daylight incident on 22 August 2016, Darren Gallagher, 46, was seen by Garda Dominic Dowling cutting the cheek of an acquaintance with a Stanley blade outside a supermarket on Neilstown Road, Clondalkin. Gallagher was stopped minutes later, a knife found in his tracksuit, and he later claimed the victim had threatened him and his family. The victim, known to Gardaí, had no statement and was unwilling to engage with the investigation. Gallagher pleaded guilty to assault causing harm at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He has three prior convictions for minor offences. Judge Karen O'Connor adjourned sentencing to 17 October, remanded him on continuing bail, and ordered a probation report. Gallagher has not prepared a victim impact statement and has not sought medical assistance, though the cut has healed with a scar. The case remains pending sentencing.
James Barry, aged 33, robbed a McDonald's on Lower Rathmines Road on 2 February, demanding €330 from the till while threatening a woman with a 10‑cm knife. The victim, who was working at the time, initially resisted but eventually complied. Barry fled the scene, first into a taxi, then into the Dodder River after the taxi driver was contacted by Gardaí. He claimed he believed the water would mask his body temperature from a pursuing helicopter, though no aerial pursuit was underway. Barry also pleaded guilty to a 2015 robbery of €460 from a chemist. He has five prior convictions, including attempted robbery and possession of articles, and has a history of drug addiction and a troubled childhood. The court adjourned sentencing to 5 July, noting the victim was left traumatised but no impact statement was given.
The jury in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial of six men accused of falsely imprisoning former Tánaiste Joan Burton and her adviser Karen O'Connell has been adjourned to continue deliberations. Judge Melanie Greally sent the jurors home after they failed to reach a verdict following one hour and 53 minutes of deliberation. The accused—Paul Murphy, Kieran Mahon, Michael Murphy, Michael Banks, Scott Masterson, and Frank Donaghy—have all pleaded not guilty to the charges, which allege they restricted the women's liberty without consent on November 15, 2014. The prosecution claims the men engaged in a joint enterprise to restrain the victims, while the defence argues the men were exercising their right to peaceful assembly and that any obstruction was merely a nuisance. In her charge, Judge Greally instructed the jury to treat video footage as the primary evidence and to consider the actions of gardaí, including potential mishandling of the protest. She also highlighted specific defence arguments, such as Paul Murphy taking steps to end the restraint and Scott Masterson's actions being inconsistent with intent to imprison. The judge noted that the absence of statements from attendees might be relevant to suggestions of a Garda agenda. The matter was adjourned, with the jury instructed to resume deliberations tomorrow.
Stephen Bollard, aged 35, was jailed for a series of thefts committed in 2016, described by the court as a "one man crime wave." He pleaded guilty to two burglaries, one attempted burglary, three thefts and one act of criminal damage across Dublin. The offences, all non‑violent, caused financial loss to businesses and increased security costs. Bollard had 118 prior convictions, including 27 for theft, 33 for burglary and nine for attempted burglary. The judge noted his lack of violent history and his reduced methadone intake while in custody. A consecutive sentence of four years and four months was imposed, with the final 18 months suspended. The case highlighted the impact of repeated non‑violent thefts on victims and the broader community.
Alan Daly, 39, was sentenced to three years for attempted robbery at Dunnes Stores, Ongar Village, on 13 March 2016. He pleaded guilty to possession of an imitation firearm with intent to commit robbery, unlawful taking of a car and driving without insurance on the same date. The court backdated the sentence to the day he entered custody and suspended the remaining portion. Daly, who had 13 prior convictions, was armed with a "BB gun" while his co‑accused carried a knife. They entered the store, kept the door open, and attempted to force staff to open the tills, but fled empty‑handed after staff alerted security. Gardaí pursued them, intercepted the getaway car, and recovered the imitation firearm, a knife and balaclava. Daly had been in custody since the offence and had used his time productively, according to the judge. The suspended sentence allows him to continue rehabilitation and move on from addiction.
A 57‑year‑old Dublin man was convicted by a jury of 41 counts of indecent assault against a young relative who was between six and nine years old when abused between 1983 and 1986. The man, aged 24 to 26 at the time, was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, by Judge Gerard O'Brien on 8 February 2016. He appealed both his conviction and the severity of the sentence, but the Court of Appeal dismissed both appeals. In the appeal, Mr Justice George Birmingham, sitting with Mr Justice Alan Mahon and Mr Justice John Hedigan, confirmed that the man had no prior convictions and that the sentence was a severe one, reflecting the prolonged, systemic nature of the abuse and the psychological harm inflicted on the victim, who is a second cousin of the accused. The Court of Appeal upheld the original eight‑year sentence with one year suspended.
Eoin Giles, a 21‑year‑old former PC World employee, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to stealing a quantity of Apple MacBook laptops, Apple watches and iPads from the Blanchardstown store on 15 April 2016. The judge, Karen O'Connor, described the offence as a great breach of trust and noted an element of greed. A probation report assessed him as low risk of re‑offending and suitable for community service. Giles was ordered to carry out 240 hours of community service instead of a two‑year prison term and paid €1,000 to the court as a token of remorse. He had sold the stolen goods to a man later identified as Muhammed Amjad, who received a suspended 18‑month sentence for handling stolen goods. Giles had no prior convictions and expressed deep regret for his actions.
The jury in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial of six men accused of falsely imprisoning former Tanaiste Joan Burton and her adviser Karen O'Connell has retired to consider its verdicts. On day 37, Judge Melanie Greally urged the jury to be "fearless" and set aside political sympathies or views regarding the water charges context. The defendants—Paul Murphy, Kieran Mahon, Michael Murphy, Michael Banks, Scott Masterson, and Frank Donaghy—all pleaded not guilty to restricting the women's liberty without consent on November 15, 2014. The prosecution alleged the men intentionally and totally restrained the women by obstructing their vehicles during a protest. The defence argued the men were exercising their constitutional right to peaceful assembly and that the obstruction was merely an inconvenience, not total restraint. Judge Greally instructed the jury that false imprisonment requires total restraint with no reasonable means of escape. She highlighted that if a safe egress existed, such as leaving on foot or reversing the vehicle, the charge could not stand. The judge also directed the jury to determine whether the protest was peaceful, noting that this finding would influence how they viewed the actions of both the accused and the gardaí. Although the maximum penalty for false imprisonment is life imprisonment, the judge stated that sentencing is a matter for the court alone and urged the jury to focus solely on guilt or innocence. The jury was sent home for the day, with deliberations to resume the following afternoon.
Tom Humphries, a 54‑year‑old former Irish Times journalist from Corr Castle, Sutton, Dublin, is set to be sentenced next month for sexual exploitation and defilement of a child. In March he pleaded guilty to six sexual offences against a girl under 17, including two counts of defilement between December 2010 and February 2011 and four counts of inviting a child to participate in a sexually explicit, obscene or indecent act between January 2010 and March 2011. The Director of Public Prosecutions has dropped three further charges involving a separate girl, a nolle prosequi. Humphries was present at the short hearing in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Prosecuting counsel Shane Costelloe SC informed Judge Karen O'Connor that the State was not proceeding with those charges. Defending counsel Hugh Harnett SC requested more time to prepare for the sentencing hearing, which Judge O'Connor scheduled for July 26th, though she could not guarantee that date.
The jury in the trial of six men accused of falsely imprisoning former Tánaiste Joan Burton and her adviser Karen O'Connell is due to begin deliberations on Monday. On day 36 at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Melanie Greally confirmed she will deliver her charge on Monday morning before the jury retires. The defendants, Michael Banks, Paul Murphy, Kieran Mahon, Michael Murphy, Frank Donaghy, and Scott Masterson, have all pleaded not guilty to the charge of falsely imprisoning the women by restricting their personal liberty without consent on November 15, 2014, at Fortunestown Road, Jobstown, Tallaght. The prosecution alleged the accused surrounded the victims' cars, with Sean Gillane SC citing video footage of Banks making gestures and yelling at the women. Defence counsel Ciaran O'Loughlin SC argued in closing submissions that the State failed to prove the specific offence of false imprisonment, suggesting the incident was caused by the large crowd size rather than deliberate intent. He urged the jury to disregard evidence of Banks' vulgar language towards a garda, stating such conduct is not a crime. The matter is now at the sentencing stage, with the jury set to determine the verdict following the judge's instructions.
Melvin Rattigan, 18 at the time of the incident, caused a collision with cyclist Ms Laura Briggs on Lower Dominick Street, Dublin, on 13 May 2015. Rattigan, who lacked a full driving licence and vehicle insurance, left the scene after the crash, claiming he had panicked. Briggs, cycling home from work, sustained serious injuries, including a hairline skull fracture, and reported ongoing physical and mental effects. Rattigan pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm. The court adjourned sentencing to allow him to raise €3,000 for compensation, with a finalisation date set for 1 November. Judge Karen O'Connor noted the offence's serious impact on Briggs and considered Rattigan's youth and lack of prior convictions in deciding to keep him in the community. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
The trial of six men accused of falsely imprisoning former Tánaiste Joan Burton and her adviser Karen O'Connell at Fortunestown Road, Jobstown, Tallaght, on November 15, 2014, has heard closing arguments. Solidarity TD Paul Murphy, Kieran Mahon, Michael Murphy, Frank Donaghy, Michael Banks, and Scott Masterson all pleaded not guilty to the charges. Defence counsel for Frank Donaghy argued that his client was a peaceful protestor who merely held a banner, contending that the charge of false imprisonment, which carries a potential life sentence, was unfair and disproportionate. Counsel for Scott Masterson similarly argued that his client's presence and leading of non-abusive chants did not constitute false imprisonment, highlighting that the women were able to exit the vehicle. The defence characterised the incident as a spontaneous political protest rather than a criminal conspiracy. The matter is currently at the sentencing stage, with the trial continuing before the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Mark Bissett, 31, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to making a threat to damage Michael Maher's house. The incident occurred on May 27, 2016, at Central Bank Plaza, Dame Street, where Bissett allegedly threatened to burn down Maher's home. Bissett, who previously served a six-year sentence for manslaughter, was reportedly angry that Maher's charity, "You're not alone," was assisting a relative with whom he had fallen out. Judge Karen O'Connor imposed a two-year sentence, which she suspended on strict conditions. The judge described the behavior as disgraceful and warned Bissett that he faced two years in prison if he reoffended. She ordered him to stay away from the charity, Mr. Maher, and his home. Bissett has 60 previous convictions, including assault and public order offences. Defense counsel submitted that Bissett had significantly turned his life around and addressed risk factors related to substance misuse. The court noted Bissett remains at high risk of re-offending and ordered him to be brought back before the judge if further trouble arises.
A 40‑year‑old Lithuanian man, Vytautas Tarasevicius, was found in possession of "card trapping" equipment and images of ATM machines on his iPhone, which Gardaí believed were intended for use in ATM thefts. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of the equipment with the intention of using it in a theft that occurred in Howth on 1 March 2016. Tarasevicius has seven prior convictions. The judge, Karen O'Connor, noted his voluntary community work and a medical report of health difficulties, and decided to impose 240 hours of community service in lieu of an 18‑month prison sentence, to be completed within one year. The case was adjourned to October to assess his suitability for community service before the order is affirmed. The court also heard that a co‑accused, Deividas Sevcenko, had received a similar sentence for his role in the same incident.
Dubliner Jason Kennedy (45) pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbery at Park Pharmacy, Cabinteely, and stealing two USB keys at Shankill Garda station on August 18, 2016. Kennedy, of Butlers Place, Benson Street, has 43 previous convictions. The court heard that Kennedy had been clean of drugs for a number of years but had suffered a 'slip' at the time of these offences. Garda Desmond Molloy stated that Kennedy, armed with a hammer, threatened staff at the pharmacy before making off with €500 in cash and a large quantity of prescription drugs. He was arrested after being spotted in an Audi with a large dent in the door, and Garda recovered a large amount of medication in the car, as well as the clothes worn in the robbery and the hammer. Kennedy was taken to Shankill Garda Station for questioning, where footage revealed that he stole the USB keys while the garda was out of the room. Kennedy returned the USB keys and told gardaí 'it was only a joke.' Olan Callanan BL, defending, said that Kennedy had been assessed as suitable for a place in Coolmine residential treatment centre and asked the court to allow him the opportunity to attend. Judge Karen O'Connor adjourned sentencing until next week to hear further detail in relation to the drug rehabilitation course.
The trial of six men accused of falsely imprisoning former Tánaiste Joan Burton and her adviser Karen O'Connell at Fortunestown Road, Jobstown, Tallaght, on November 15, 2014, has heard closing arguments. Solidarity TD Paul Murphy, Councillor Michael Murphy, Councillor Kieran Mahon, Frank Donaghy, Michael Banks, and Scott Masterson have all pleaded not guilty to the charges. Defence counsel for Councillor Michael Murphy argued that gardaí decisions were "unwise and inappropriate," claiming police failed to negotiate early and that video footage disproved prosecution evidence. He stated his client attempted to de-escalate the situation. Counsel for Councillor Kieran Mahon described his client as a political activist who did not use force or threaten violence, arguing that fear caused by violent disorder from others, not his actions, prevented the women from leaving. He criticized the arrest of his client as an abuse of power. The prosecution countered that Councillor Murphy interfered with gardaí and acknowledged the women were not free, while Councillor Mahon returned to the scene and participated in the sit-down protest. The trial continues before Judge Melanie Greally.
David Ryan, a 59‑year‑old taxi driver, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving that caused serious bodily harm to Eoin Daly on 7 April 2011. In July 2014 Judge Patricia Ryan sentenced him to three years' imprisonment, suspended, and imposed a four‑year driving ban. Ryan's lawyers argued that the ban prevented him from working as a rural publican in Cappaghwhite, Co. Tipperary, where public transport is limited. The judge lifted the ban after noting Ryan had not attracted further Garda attention since the conviction and that he needed the vehicle for his occupation. The court also considered that Ryan had been under severe financial and family stress, had paid €5,000 as a token of remorse, and had expressed remorse and apology. The decision was made without altering the original sentence or the suspended portion. The case remains at the criminal court stage.
Gillian Philip, 36, of Mac Uilliam Green, Tallaght, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to damaging a neighbour's property with fire on 21 October 2015. The incident involved Philip pushing a flaming laminated piece of paper through the neighbour's letterbox, an act witnessed by two children who later helped extinguish the fire. The children, who were staying with a friend of their mother, heard a voice shouting "fire, fire" and recognised it as Philip's. They were able to quench the blaze, though the carpet in the hall was scorched. Philip initially denied involvement but admitted to the act. The case was motivated by a dispute over bins, with Philip's defence citing limited cognitive function and paranoia. She has a history of alcohol and drug abuse and five children. Judge Karen O'Connor remanded her in custody and adjourned sentencing to 31 July.