In 2017 the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced a 39‑year‑old father to a one‑year term that was fully suspended after he pleaded guilty to wilful assault of his two‑year‑old son in 2013 and to two further assault counts in 2014. The father, who had no prior convictions, had been the child's main carer and had undergone anger‑management and psychological therapy. Playgroup staff had reported the boy's aggressive behaviour and bruising to social services, who had been working with the family and had provided therapeutic services for the child, who is autistic. The father admitted biting the child to demonstrate pain and had struck him and swung him by the arm in a later incident. The judge praised the staff for their handling of the matter, noted the father was "at the end of his tether", and imposed the suspended sentence on the basis of good behaviour.
John Freer, 43, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to knowingly permitting the preparation of controlled drugs at his home on August 10, 2015. The court heard that drug dealers used the residence of the intellectually disabled man to stash approximately €108,110 worth of ecstasy tablets and €3,500 worth of Diazepam. Prosecution counsel Karl Finnegan BL stated that gardaí believed Freer was approached by others to store the drugs, noting he was not paid for his role. Defence counsel Michael Bowman SC described Freer's "diabolic personal circumstances," highlighting his isolation and lack of social services support until the raid. Judge Martin Nolan, presiding, described the situation as a "sad case is an understatement." He found that Freer was taken advantage of due to his incapacities, resulting in little or no moral culpability. The judge suspended an 18-month prison sentence on strict conditions. Freer, who has no previous convictions, has since been moved into a more appropriate residential setting where his needs are met.
John Connors, 36, of Dundrum, pleaded guilty to theft of €2,250 from an 82‑year‑old woman with early dementia in Carpenterstown on 19 February 2016. He had previously been convicted of assault and public order. Connors claimed to have performed roofing, patio and hedge work, but evidence showed only about ten minutes of roof work and no other repairs. He had cashed the cheque in his own account and was arrested in May. Connors repaid the victim in full. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to three years' imprisonment, suspended in full on strict conditions, citing his remorse, repayment and lack of serious prior convictions. The court noted his role as sole breadwinner for a family of six, with his wife unable to work due to health issues. The case was prosecuted by Anne‑Marie Lawlor BL and defended by Kitty Perle BL.
Craig Buckley, 27, of Drimnagh, Dublin, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment after pleading guilty to possessing just under 3 kg of cocaine for sale or supply on Old Nangor Road, Clondalkin, on 11 June 2016. He had agreed to hold almost €210 000 worth of the drugs before transporting them. Gardaí stopped his car following a tip, finding the cocaine in four small packages and one larger package. Buckley claimed he had received the drugs two weeks earlier, was instructed to meet someone to hand them over, and had not been paid. He denied packaging or dividing the drugs, admitted to occasional social use, and said he was threatened and felt vulnerable. The judge noted his lack of prior convictions and his usefulness to society, but found him morally culpable for the misjudgement. The court imposed a three‑year custodial sentence.
The trial of former Anglo Irish Bank chairman Sean FitzPatrick, who is 68, is scheduled to continue into May. It began in September in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and was expected to finish by Christmas, but delays from legal arguments and the jury's absence pushed it back. The jury returned in December to hear evidence, and the trial is now on day 106. The prosecution alleges that FitzPatrick and his family artificially reduced multi‑million euro loans for two weeks around the bank's year‑end by taking short‑term loans from other sources, including Irish Nationwide Building Society, and failed to disclose these to auditors between 2002 and 2007. FitzPatrick denies all charges. He faces 27 offences under the 1990 Companies Act, including 22 for misleading auditors and five for furnishing false information.
Sean O'Dea, aged 29, was convicted of assault causing harm to two men in a Dublin hotel room on 21 September 2013 after his "on/off girlfriend" alleged she had been raped. He pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and was sentenced to three‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment on 21 April 2016. On appeal, the Court of Appeal reduced the sentence by suspending the final 18 months, provided O'Dea pays €10,000 to the Peter McVerry Trust within three months. The appeal argued that the original judge had over‑emphasised aggravating factors and under‑weighted mitigating ones such as O'Dea's guilty plea, lack of prior convictions, solid work record and provocation. The Court of Appeal accepted that O'Dea believed a rape had occurred, but found his physical attack unjustified. The suspended portion is conditional on the charitable payment and a bond to keep the peace and be of good behaviour.
During a trial in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, the State presented evidence that Jonathan Gill, 35, was part of a group that kidnapped a Drogheda postal worker, his partner and their ten‑week‑old daughter in August 2011. The family was held hostage in their home before being moved to a shed about 90 minutes away. Gill pleaded not guilty to false imprisonment. Gardaí had spotted a car linked to Gill on the N51 north of Drogheda at 6 pm on the day of the kidnapping. The car, a silver Renault Clio registration 06D10959, was recorded by the Automatic Number Plate Recognition system but did not trigger a warning. The ANPR system compares licence plates to databases and flags vehicles of interest. The trial continues before Judge Elma Sheahan and a jury of seven men and five women.
Dylan Murray, 21, pleaded guilty to violent disorder for a May 23, 2015 attack on D'Olier Street where he and three friends assaulted two men with a hammer and iron bar. The court, after considering a withdrawn assault plea, imposed a nine‑month sentence suspended on the condition of 200 hours community service. Murray, who was 19 at the time of the offence, had prior minor convictions for traffic offences and vehicle seizure. The attack, captured on a bus driver's mobile phone, saw the victims, Lee Whelan and Dylan Campbell, injured and taken to hospital. Murray's defence described him as a peripheral participant who had no weapons and had a stable job and family life. The judge's decision reflected the court's view that community service was an appropriate sanction for his conduct.
John McMahon, 59, director of the Dublin advertising firm Rain Communications, was sentenced in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended, for failing to pay between €57,000 and €58,000 in VAT to Revenue from 2006 to 2010. He pleaded guilty to five counts of failing to remit VAT and four counts of failing to file correct returns. McMahon had set up the company in 2005 with a co‑director, and the firm entered liquidation in 2012. During the period in question, McMahon's co‑director paid the VAT owed, while McMahon himself contributed €140,000 of personal capital to keep the company solvent. He had no prior convictions, was described as a hard‑working member of society, and had a wife and two adult children. The judge noted his financial pressure and the difficulty of detecting the fraud, but deemed an immediate custodial sentence necessary.
Richard Coghlan, a 37‑year‑old IT expert, was found to have downloaded 325 images of child pornography from the Darknet and other sites. After losing his job and spending nights on these sites, he voluntarily turned himself in and admitted the images were on his computers. Gardaí traced an IP address linked to Coghlan, seized his laptops, and after five years of forensic analysis he pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The images were classified into three seriousness categories, with 52 in the lowest, 175 in the second lowest, and 98 in the second highest. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Coghlan to two and a half years' imprisonment, which was fully suspended on strict conditions. The judge noted the relatively low number of images and Coghlan's lack of prior convictions, and highlighted that Coghlan had not re‑offended in the seven years since his arrest.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Gary Howard, a 29‑year‑old convicted double murderer serving two life sentences, to an additional four‑year term for stabbing a fellow inmate with a stainless steel spoon fashioned into a knife. The attack left the victim with neck stab wounds and a punctured lung. Howard's four‑year sentence will run concurrently with his life terms, so he will not serve extra time. Howard, who pleaded guilty to violent disorder in 2014, had previously been jailed for life in 2012 for the murders of Patrick Mooney and Brendan Molyneux. The court noted Howard's serious criminal record and described the assault as savage. The victim was taken to Tallaght Hospital and later to St James's Hospital for surgery. The case was prosecuted by Derek Cooney BL, with defence counsel Tony McGillicuddy BL representing Howard.
Kevin McCarthy, aged 23, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of 21‑year‑old Thomas Carroll on the N81 near Brittas on 29 May 2014. The sentencing hearing was delayed because the court may not have received a complete record of McCarthy's 73 prior convictions, including 14 for failing to produce insurance proof and 18 for failing to produce a licence. Prosecutor Diarmuid Collins requested time to obtain a full record, citing possible incomplete or inaccurate information. McCarthy, who was 20 at the time of the crash, drove the vehicle at an estimated 100‑120 km/h, although the speed limit was 60 km/h. The crash involved the car flipping twice and spinning about ten times before stopping on the wrong side of the road. McCarthy expressed remorse, stating he had no intention to harm anyone and that Thomas was a best friend.
Farid Kantoui, 33, a stateless asylum seeker from Western Sahara, was found guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of seven thefts and one attempted theft between 3 and 17 April 2016, plus possession of a false passport on 24 April 2016. He admitted watching victims enter their PINs while buying drinks at city‑centre bars, a practice known as "shoulder surfing," and then using the stolen cards to withdraw €1,360 from ATMs or attempt a purchase from Argos. Garda evidence included CCTV from the bars and ATMs, and a seized passport that was later confirmed fake. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to three years, suspending the final 18 months, back‑dating the term to his April 2016 arrest. The €425 compensation offered was to be divided pro‑rata between the victims and any financial institutions that suffered losses.
Robert Jones, 27, of Glenview Park, Tallaght, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm at Palace Night club, Camden Street, on 20 July 2014. He was sentenced on 24 February 2016 by Judge John Aylmer to a wholly suspended 18‑month term. The Director of Public Prosecutions has applied to the Court of Appeal to review the sentence, arguing it was "unduly lenient". The appeal was heard by a three‑judge panel, including Mr Justice George Birmingham, Mr Justice John Edwards and Mr Justice John Hedigan, who reserved judgment until 6 April. Fiona Murphy BL, representing the DPP, argued that custody and actual time served were necessary, citing the seriousness of the offence and the victim's loss of sight in one eye. Jones' counsel, Dominic McGinn SC, contended the attack was spontaneous, provoked, and that Jones had an impeccable character, and that a custodial sentence would have a devastating effect.
Alan Ellis, 24, was sentenced to three years in prison with the final year suspended for assault causing harm at Mountjoy Prison on 23 October 2014. He stabbed his treating psychiatrist, Dr Ronan Mullaney, with a makeshift weapon described as a paint roller with one metal end filed to a sharp point. Ellis claimed a "demon" had entered his head and compelled him to act, stating he had no control over the demon. He shouted threats during the attack and attempted to push the weapon into Dr Mullaney's neck, puncturing the area beside the Adam's apple. Prison officers restrained him, and the doctor was treated for a small puncture wound. Ellis had previously pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and assault causing harm to a 14‑year‑old in 2012, for which he was serving a nine‑year sentence with three years suspended.
Pierce Hilliard, a 32‑year‑old former resident of Ballyogan Green, Carrickmines, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for possessing 1.48 kg of heroin in Sandyford Road, Dublin, on 24 May 2016. He admitted that he had agreed to transport more than €200,000 worth of heroin to raise a deposit for a new flat, describing the act as one of desperation. Hilliard's daughter was in care and he claimed he was trying to secure a home to better look after her. He had 84 prior convictions, mainly for traffic offences, but no previous drug convictions or links to the drug trade. Gardaí had set up a surveillance operation that caught him placing the drugs in a shopping bag in a car park. He pleaded guilty, took full responsibility, and the court accepted his explanation that he had agreed to transport the drugs for monetary gain.
In the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Joseph Hillen, aged 23, received a suspended sentence of two and a half years for handling stolen property. Hillen admitted to transporting a €9,000 Atlas compressor, stolen from an Irish Rail depot near the border, from Northern Ireland to Dublin. He claimed he was paid €100 to drive the machine and that he feared for his safety, so he did not name the individuals he met. The compressor was found in a white van at a Topaz petrol station in Clondalkin on 29 April 2016, where Hillen and another man were arrested. Hillen, who has 12 prior convictions, pleaded guilty and acknowledged his wrongdoing. The judge noted his cooperation and early guilty plea, and the court imposed the suspended sentence. The co‑accused is expected to stand trial later. The compressor belonged to Laois Hire, which had rented it to Irish Rail a few weeks earlier.
Ionel Saisuc, aged 37, was sentenced to nine months in jail for stealing €6,000 in cash from his friend Georgina Valcu, who had let him stay in her Dublin home after his girlfriend had kicked him out. The theft occurred on 12 October 2015 when Valcu withdrew the money from her account to open a new one. Saisuc failed to return to work and Valcu discovered the money missing when she returned home. He later apologized and promised repayment, but never did. Judge Martin Nolan described the crime as "particularly underhand" and imposed a two‑year sentence, suspending the final 15 months on conditions including repayment. Saisuc had nine prior convictions, including theft and aggravated theft. He had €400 in court to offer to Valcu, but the judge refused to adjourn the sentencing. The case was prosecuted by Grainne O'Neill BL, with defence counsel Keith Spencer BL representing Saisuc. Ionel Saisuc pleaded guilty.
Michael O'Brien, aged 24, was jailed for three years after pleading guilty to four counts of deception for scamming an exceptionally vulnerable woman out of €90,000. The victim, who was receiving psychiatric treatment and caring for her 95‑year‑old mother, was left with only €93 after repeatedly handing over €5,000 installments to O'Brien. He claimed to work for a "boss man" and that he had collected the money to repay a debt of €4,000, but he received only €600. The court accepted his guilty pleas on the basis that his culpability was limited to €20,000, but imposed a custodial term without suspension, citing the aggravated nature of the deception and the severe impact on the victim. No other parties were investigated. O'Brien had no prior convictions and earned a living through odd jobs.
Paul Molloy, 44, a father of six, was found holding 56,000 tablets of the restricted drug Zopliclone, valued at €112,000, in a garden shed at his home in Hillcrest Park, Glasnevin, Dublin. He had previously been sentenced in 2014 to seven years for possession of over €30,000 of cannabis and was on bail for that offence when the tablets were discovered. Molloy pleaded guilty to possession of Zopliclone without a prescription on 5 November 2014. His defence counsel argued that he owed €8,000 in debt from the earlier cannabis seizure and that the tablets were intended to reduce that debt by €500. The court, considering his family status, late onset of crime, and prior convictions, imposed a 16‑month sentence consecutive to his existing seven‑year term. The judge applied the totality principle and noted the sentence would be consecutive to the current sentence. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Patrick Clarke, aged 31, was sentenced to three and a half years' imprisonment for making two menacing phone calls to Paul Gilmartin, demanding €60,000. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court found Clarke guilty of making an unwarranted demand with menace on 10 May 2012 and again on a later date. The judge, Gerard Griffin, suspended the final 18 months of the sentence for two years on strict conditions. Clarke was arrested after a call was traced to an anonymous SIM card he had bought. He denied that he intended to harm Gilmartin, claiming he had no intention of violence and received no payment for the calls. Gilmartin had been subjected to sustained nuisance calls and threatening texts before and after Clarke's calls. Clarke's defence argued that Gilmartin was an innocent victim of the abuse.
Thomas Garvan, aged 64, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for sexually abusing an 11‑ to 14‑year‑old boy between December 1996 and October 1999. Garvan, a trusted family friend, regularly stayed overnight at the boy's home and was described by the victim as a "monster". He pleaded guilty to seven charges of sexual abuse at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The victim, now 32, reported severe emotional damage, claiming the abuse ruined his life and destroyed his prospects for work and relationships. Garvan had previously received a two‑year suspended sentence for a different sexual offence, which was partly re‑activated after he failed to cooperate with the Probation Service. Judge Martin Nolan noted the maximum sentence was five years but gave credit for Garvan's guilty plea, reducing the term to four and a half years. The court also heard the victim's impact statement, describing the abuse as traumatic and life‑altering.
Kevin Healion, aged 48 and formerly of Cappincur, Tullamore, Offaly, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for possession of child pornography. He had previously been jailed for ten years in 2004 for abducting and sexually assaulting two young girls. In 2015 Gardaí searched his Dublin apartment and seized a laptop, memory cards, a memory stick and a printed booklet of child pornographic stories. He initially denied ownership but later admitted full possession. He pleaded guilty to possession and production of child pornography. The court found 127 images of naked children under 17 and 29 animated images depicting sexual acts. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a custodial sentence, suspending the final year on strict conditions. The case highlighted Healion's prior convictions and his low IQ, with counsel noting a moderate to high risk of re‑offending.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 22 March 2017, Judge Martin Nolan imposed a suspended five‑year sentence on 31‑year‑old Brian O'Grady, who pleaded guilty to possessing 20 kg of cannabis resin worth €122,000. O'Grady had delivered the drugs to two men travelling from Cork to Dublin in order to help his step‑brother pay a €2,000 drug debt. The judge noted O'Grady's "huge error of judgment" and low moral culpability, describing his motive as misguided. O'Grady's father, who had been abandoned as a baby and later reunited with him, broke down in tears. The judge said the suspended sentence was an "unusual step" and he would be unlikely to repeat it. The case highlighted the pressure drug dealers place on family members to carry out illicit acts. The other two men involved received seven‑year and two‑year sentences. The court found O'Grady a low risk of re‑offending.
Donncha O'Cearbhaill, 24, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of criminal damage to data on thesun.co.uk, a website owned by News International. The defendant admitted to inserting a "Trojan horse" into the site in July 2011, which redirected visitors to a hoax article alleging media mogul Rupert Murdoch had died, and later to the Lulzsec Twitter feed. Judge Martin Nolan handed down a nine-month sentence, which was suspended on a number of conditions. The court heard that the hacks caused the servers to be shut down for two hours and required a three-week rebuild. O'Cearbhaill stated he acted in retaliation for the phone hacking scandal and expressed regret for his reckless actions. Defense counsel Giollaíosa O'Lideadha SC requested disposal under the Probation Act to avoid a criminal record, highlighting the defendant's youth at the time of the offense and his current role as an online security advisor. A letter from Web Summit founder Paddy Cosgrave described O'Cearbhaill as possessing rare intelligence. The judge noted the defendant knowingly committed the damaging acts but accepted his young age. No incoming IP addresses were captured due to the use of the Tor browser, though forensic analysis of a Dell laptop and Samsung notebook found a saved image matching the hoax site. O'Cearbhaill was arrested in September 2011 and cooperated with gardaí, admitting to using the username "Palladium" in chat logs.
Colin Joyce, 36, an autistic medical‑school drop‑out, appeared before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 21 March 2017. He pleaded guilty to three counts of providing false information about bomb threats made between February and April 2015, and to reckless damage to the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) on 1 July 2015. The threats were directed at the Criminal Courts of Justice, St Patrick's Psychiatric Hospital and the Civic Offices at Wood Quay. Joyce had previously been given a three‑year suspended sentence in February 2015 for sending harassing letters to former supervisors at RCSI. Judge Martin Nolan, hearing the case, suspended a new three‑year sentence on strict conditions: Joyce must be supervised by the Probation Service, attend medical appointments, take prescribed medication, and abstain from alcohol. The court noted that Joyce had caused €2,861 of damage to RCSI when he threw paint over the front door and smashed several windows in July 2015.
Robert O'Neill, 26, of Thorndale Avenue, Artane, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to handling stolen property and to having no insurance for a stolen VW Passat that was listed on the Done Deal website. The car, whose registration had been cloned, was sold by O'Neill at a price below market value. Garda Detective Mark O'Regan, who had been monitoring suspicious ads, arranged a meeting with O'Neill, arrested him and the vehicle was returned to its rightful owner. O'Neill had 25 prior convictions, mainly for traffic offences, and admitted a gambling and cocaine addiction that had led to a €10,000 debt. He offered €1,000 in compensation. Judge Gerard Griffin, praising the Garda's work, imposed a two‑year suspended sentence and a seven‑year driving disqualification.
Damien Klasinski, 29, of The Oaks, Newbridge, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to dangerous driving that caused the death of Kildare councillor Willie Crowley, 56, on 15 December 2015. Crowley died a few days later at Naas Hospital. Klasinski was remanded in continuing custody until 3 May, when a summary of the evidence will be heard. Judge Martin Nolan ordered a victim impact report to be prepared by Crowley's widow.
Warren Nolan, 21, of Rowlagh Park, Clondalkin, was sentenced to five years imprisonment for pointing an unloaded shotgun at a garda from two feet away on 8 June 2015. He also pleaded guilty to drug possession and dangerous driving offences on 4 June 2015. The original sentence, imposed on 25 July 2016, carried an 18‑month suspension. Prosecutors appealed, arguing the sentence was unduly lenient. The three‑judge court, led by Mr Justice John Edwards, reviewed the case and re‑sentenced Nolan to five years, citing the seriousness of pointing a firearm at two gardaí and the lack of mitigating factors. The new sentence remains the same length as the original, with no change to the suspended portion. The court noted Nolan's age and guilty plea but found no exceptional circumstances to reduce the minimum.
Andrew Begley, a 25‑year‑old former Leinster champion boxer from Dublin, was sentenced to 16 months in prison after pleading guilty to possession of 581 g of cocaine found at his home on 10 April 2015. He also admitted to possessing €62 worth of cannabis. The court accepted that he was holding the drugs for someone else to settle a debt of about €5 000, but noted he was aware of his actions and had associations with drug‑trade contacts. Judge Martin Nolan suspended the final 32 months of a four‑year sentence, imposing strict conditions. Begley had eight prior convictions for minor traffic offences. Gardaí searched his house following a tip, discovering a large quantity of cocaine, a tick list and a mixing agent in a wardrobe and bedside locker. Begley claimed he had been instructed to hand over the drugs, but the police were not fully satisfied with his explanation.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced Dubliner Patrick Anderson, a former Ireland ice hockey player, to two years' imprisonment for assaulting his cousins, Graham Dunne and Paul Dunne. Anderson pleaded guilty to assault causing harm at the Wright Venue nightclub in Swords on February 15, 2015. The court heard that Anderson punched and kicked both victims inside the venue and continued the assault outside after security ejected them. Graham Dunne suffered a broken kneecap, which affected his equestrian career and left him at risk of arthritis, while Paul Dunne sustained a broken jaw and psychological trauma. Judge Melanie Greally noted Anderson was a first-time offender with an excellent employment record and sporting history. However, she emphasized the seriousness of the two offences committed in one night and the lasting effects on Graham Dunne. The judge imposed a three-year sentence but suspended the final year on conditions, resulting in an effective custody period of two years. Prosecution counsel Maurice Coffey BL presented evidence that Anderson initiated the violence by punching Graham Dunne after a perceived bump. Defense counsel Ray Boland BL highlighted Anderson's intoxication and lack of prior convictions. An offer of compensation by Anderson was reportedly refused by the victims.
Aer Lingus was fined €250,000 after a cargo driver, John Murray, aged 55, died from head injuries when he fell while climbing down a loading dock at Dublin Airport on 5 November 2014. The company admitted it had allowed non‑employees to access the loading bay by climbing onto a three‑foot high dock, a practice that had become routine. The court found Aer Lingus failed to implement written procedures to protect drivers from the risk of falling and to manage access to the loading bay. Judge Martin Nolan noted the death was devastating for the Murray family and that the company had a generally good safety record, but the offence carried a maximum fine of €3 million. The judge imposed the €250,000 fine, citing the company's early guilty plea and apology. The Murray family has lodged a claim for damages in the High Court.
Kevin McCarthy, aged 23, pleaded guilty to one count of dangerous driving causing the death of 21‑year‑old Thomas Carroll on the N81 near Brittas, Co Wicklow, on 29 May 2014. McCarthy, who had 73 prior convictions including 14 for failing to produce proof of insurance and 18 for failing to produce a licence, was driving at an estimated 100‑120 km/h, well above the 60 km/h speed limit signposted 300 metres before the crash. The vehicle, carrying McCarthy and Carroll, spun out, flipped twice and rolled about ten times before stopping on the wrong side of the road. Carroll, a father‑of‑one, suffered massive head injuries and died shortly after the crash. McCarthy has been sentenced on 28 March, wearing a necklace with a picture of Carroll to remind him of the loss.
Paul Cullen, 38, of Cashel Road, Crumlin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for robbery. He pleaded guilty to robbing a taxi driver at an unknown location on October 31, 2015. The court heard that Cullen threatened the victim, who noticed blood on Cullen's hand and a weapon in his waistband, before taking €25 in cash. The driver drove to Sundrive Road Garda Station, where Cullen was apprehended. A DNA match was later found on a receipt book in the vehicle. Cullen, who has previous convictions for robbery, attempted robbery, and assault, stated his drug addiction and debt motivated the offence. He expressed remorse and co-operated with the investigation. Judge Melanie Greally noted Cullen's history demonstrated a capacity for violence when under the influence of drugs. However, she acknowledged he had addressed his addiction in prison and desired residential treatment. Judge Greally imposed a four-year sentence, suspending the final 18 months on the condition that Cullen attends residential drug treatment upon release and remains there until the program is complete.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 21‑year‑old Jeffrey Crowley was found to have acted recklessly when he threw a battery at the observation window of his cell at Wheatfield prison, shattering the glass and sending shards into the eye of prison officer Lorraine McCarthy. Prosecutor Fergal Foley noted that Crowley did not intend to damage the officer's eye, citing the small size of the window and the lack of intent. Defending counsel Keith Spencer argued that hitting the window would have required extraordinary skill, which Crowley lacked. Crowley pleaded guilty to assaulting Ms McCarthy, who suffered no permanent eye injury but experienced post‑traumatic stress. The court adjourned sentencing to May, with Judge Pauline Codd noting Crowley's history of theft, robbery, criminal damage, drug dealing, and early‑age offending. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
Dillon Campbell, 31, of Trim Road, Coolock, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to the robbery of cash from Dylan Stagno at the Esso service station on Malahide Road, Artane, on September 12, 2016. Prosecution evidence stated that Campbell entered the shop, initially appearing to joke with the victim before pulling out a black imitation firearm. He then became aggressive, demanding money and coins, and fled with approximately €230 in cash. The weapon was later identified as a 6mm air pistol. Campbell had previous convictions, including for possession of drugs for sale or supply, and was on bail for criminal damage and trespass at the time of the offence. Defence counsel attributed the crime to a chronic drug addiction and a significant debt. Judge Melanie Greally described the incident as serious due to the aggression and the realistic appearance of the firearm. While noting Campbell's efforts to address his drug and alcohol abuse and his supportive family, the Judge highlighted a high risk of re-offending if these issues were not resolved. She sentenced Campbell to five years in prison but suspended the final two and a half years on the condition that he complies with Probation Services after his release.
Anthony Connors, 41, was sentenced to a cumulative 144 years in prison for a career of burglaries that mainly targeted pensioners. In a 2016 incident, he broke into the flat of 81‑year‑old artist Noel Lewis and his partner Dympna O'Halloran, 56, holding them hostage and demanding cash. Connors threatened to stab Lewis with a broom handle and to set the apartment on fire. Lewis managed to "belt" Connors with a heavy battery pack, stunning him. Connors stole €170 from the couple, a tablet containing O'Halloran's artwork, and a distinctive shirt. The victim impact reports described fear, nightmares, and loss of confidence for Lewis and disorientation and memory loss for O'Halloran. Connors was remanded in custody pending sentencing of his final burglary. The judge noted the need to protect the public and consider rehabilitation. Anthony Connors pleaded guilty.
During a kidnap and robbery trial, gardaí discovered a baby hat, duct tape and a cable tie in a hay shed near Swords, Co. Dublin. Jonathan Gill, 35, is accused of kidnapping postal worker Warren Nawn, his partner Jean Marie Nawn and their ten‑week‑old baby in Drogheda on 1–2 August 2011, then robbing over €600,000 from the workplace. The State alleges Gill was part of a five‑person group that held the family hostage in their home before moving them to the shed about 90 minutes away. The shed, previously used for hay storage, was searched on 18 August after a warrant. Initial search yielded duct tape, a cable tie, a milk carton pull ring, masking tape and two keys. A later search on 24 August recovered the baby hat, duct tape, cable tie and three cigarette butts. Jonathan Gill pleaded not guilty.
Pat McCann, a 70-year-old convicted garda murderer, appeared before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court at the sentencing stage for criminal damage. He pleaded guilty to throwing a keg against the window of John Brereton Jewellers on Grafton Street on July 23, 2015, causing over €8,300 in damage. McCann was originally sentenced to death in 1980 for the capital murder of Garda Henry Byrne and Detective Garda John Morley during an armed robbery near Loughglynn, Co Roscommon. His sentence was commuted to 40 years, and he was released in 2013. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned the matter until April 7 to allow for a probation report, noting McCann's extensive custody history and consistent criminal conduct since release. The prosecution highlighted 12 previous convictions, including arson and burglary, and stated McCann was intoxicated during the offence. Defence counsel Diarmaid McGuinness SC cited McCann's mental health history, his remorse, and his willingness to repay damages using pension funds. The court heard McCann has been in custody since December and hopes to secure accommodation with an adult child upon release. The matter was adjourned, not concluded.
Thomas Knox, 64, was found guilty of assault causing harm to Garda Shane Buckley and criminal damage after a dispute with his neighbour over a back‑garden wall. The incident began when Knox, highly intoxicated, pulled down part of the neighbour's fence and then verbally abused the Garda. When the Garda attempted to leave the scene, Knox grabbed his arm and tried to pull him over a wall, causing the Garda's shoulder to pop. The Garda was later treated for a cartilage tear and required surgery. Knox, who has three prior drink‑driving convictions, was sentenced to a suspended three‑year term on the condition that he address his alcohol problems and participate in a victim awareness programme. The court noted Knox's long‑standing grievance with the neighbour and his ill‑health background, including rheumatoid arthritis and depression. The sentence was suspended pending his compliance with probation and alcohol‑treatment requirements.
Ruzmond Muwaniri, a 27‑year‑old Zimbabwean man with schizophrenia, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for two separate assaults in March and May 2015. The first involved punching a 67‑year‑old pensioner off his bicycle on Cheeverstown Road, Tallaght, causing the victim to lose consciousness and suffer a broken eye socket, cuts and bruises. The second assault was a punch to the face of a man named Aidan Green, breaking his top front teeth; Muwaniri claimed he believed Green was racially abusing him. Muwaniri had missed several medication appointments before the incidents. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a total sentence of 42 months, suspending the final 18 months on strict conditions, including regular psychiatric treatment and adherence to prescribed medication. He has 60 prior convictions, including a 2013 two‑year sentence for assaulting his partner. The court noted his history of missed medication appointments and the need for multidisciplinary support upon release. Ruzmond Muwaniri pleaded guilty.
Dean Moore, aged 29, was found guilty of assault causing harm and robbery in an unprovoked attack on a man on Pearse Street on 3 June 2013. The original 3½‑year sentence, wholly suspended, was reviewed by the Director of Public Prosecutions as unduly lenient. The Court of Appeal, however, upheld the suspension, reasoning that interrupting Moore's rehabilitation would be counter‑productive. A new 3½‑year suspended sentence was imposed, with conditions that Moore remain in the Resolve Programme and be subject to a 7½‑year risk of imprisonment if he reoffends. The victim suffered a broken nose, fractured jaw, leg injury and bruising, and required a week without solid food and several weeks on crutches. Moore pleaded guilty, cooperated with Gardaí, had no serious prior convictions and was deemed suitable for the rehabilitation programme. The court noted that four years had passed without further offence, supporting the decision to maintain the suspended sentence.
A 16‑year‑old boy, who was 14 when he joined a gang attack on May 18, 2015, was sentenced to three years in juvenile detention with the final 18 months suspended. The assault involved a man, Jack Serole, who was stabbed 20 times and pushed into the Royal Canal. Serole, originally from Botswana, suffered 20 stab wounds, hypothermia and broken front teeth. The court heard that the boy confessed, expressed remorse, and had 19 prior convictions. He was removed from his mother's care at age 10, lived in various care homes and a homeless hostel, and had learning difficulties and psychological issues. Judge Melanie Greally suspended the final 18 months hoping the boy would turn his life around, imposing conditions including probation supervision for two years after release. The boy was 16 at sentencing. The unnamed 16-year-old pleaded guilty.
Michael O'Brien, aged 24, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four counts of deception for taking €90,000 from a vulnerable woman who was a psychiatric ward outpatient and a carer for her 95‑year‑old mother. The woman, who had only €93 left in her bank account, was persuaded by O'Brien to pay for driveway re‑paving (€7,500) and house painting (€1,500) that were never completed. He then posed as an accountant and convinced her to pay €5,000 instalments for a promised €76,000 cheque. She withdrew €5,000 from two accounts on several occasions, leaving her with €93. Gardaí arrested O'Brien when he met the woman in St James's Hospital carpark. He claimed he was working for a "bossman" and owed €4,000 to him, but the prosecution accepted his plea as representing ten counts with a culpability of €20,000.
The trial of Jonathan Gill, 35, of Malahide Road, Swords, Dublin, is ongoing before Judge Elma Sheahan and a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Mr Gill has pleaded not guilty to the alleged false imprisonment of Warren Nawn, Jean Marie Nawn, and their baby girl in Drogheda between August 1 and August 2, 2011. The State alleges he was part of a group that held the family hostage before forcing Mr Nawn to retrieve over €600,000 from his workplace. Evidence presented includes a 999 call from Ms Nawn, who described being threatened at gunpoint and beaten during a 15-hour ordeal. She testified that she was left tied to a bedpost with her infant, who had not been fed for 17 hours. G4S worker Gerard Whelan, an applicant in the proceedings, testified that he found Ms Nawn distressed and with cable ties on her hands near the IBM factory in Swords. He contacted gardaí despite her fears for her partner's safety. Detective Garda Donal Tully reported that Ms Nawn had severe bruising on her arms and temple. The matter is currently at the trial stage and has not been finalised; the proceedings continue.
A Dublin taxi driver, Lookman Kareem, aged 48, was acquitted by a jury of assault causing harm after a passenger, Darren O'Connor, claimed Kareem bit off part of his thumb. The incident occurred on 22 December 2013 at Richmond Hill, Rathmines. O'Connor said he and three friends had flagged down Kareem's taxi at about 1.15 a.m., laughed at the driver's name on the taxi ID, and tried to take the ID. A verbal dispute escalated into a physical struggle, during which O'Connor alleged Kareem bit off part of his thumb. Kareem testified that he was attacked by a group of passengers and that a passer‑by dressed as Santa tried to intervene. The jury deliberated for about 40 minutes and found Kareem not guilty. The case was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The trial did not result in any conviction or sentencing. The incident was reported in March 2017.
Jonathan McSherry, 35, a former soldier, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for threatening to kill Nicola Nugent and her partner Barry Horan. He had already been serving a term for a sustained assault on Nugent, which left her with fractures to her eyes, face and skull. On 19 March 2013, McSherry confronted Nugent and Horan in the car park of The Belgard Inn, Tallaght, where he ran at their car, punched and kicked it, and shouted threats, including "I'm going to kill you." He was found guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The judge suspended the last two years of the sentence on the condition that he keep the peace, attend anger‑management and addiction treatment, and refrain from contact with the victim. McSherry's prior convictions and his engagement in treatment were noted in the sentencing. The court also referenced his earlier 2015 assault, for which he had received a suspended sentence.
In a 2017 trial, Jean Maire Nawn testified that a group of five men, including Jonathan Gill, threatened her and her ten‑week‑old baby with gunfire and the threat to "blow their heads off" unless her partner complied with demands to steal €600,000. Nawn described being tied to a bedpost in an abandoned house, repeatedly threatened at gunpoint, and beaten over the head with a gun. The raiders moved the family to a shed on a farmyard in Swords, where they were held overnight. Nawn recounted that the men forced her to watch a Liverpool match, threatened to shoot her if anyone called, and told her she and her partner would have to try for another baby. She was later tied to a cast‑iron bed frame, freed after 15 minutes, and then rescued by Gardaí. The case is before Judge Elma Sheahan and a jury, with a four‑week trial expected. Jonathan Gill pleaded not guilty.
Michael Fagan (25) of Sperrin Road, Drimnagh, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two years' imprisonment for handling stolen property. Judge Elma Sheahan reduced a recommended three-year term to two years following mitigation. Fagan pleaded guilty to possessing a safe stolen from the Co. Meath home of Mark Guildea on May 5, 2014. Detective Garda Brian McCarthy testified that Fagan dropped the safe from a third-floor balcony at Rathmines flats complex on the night of the burglary, scattering items including shotgun cartridges. Fagan, who has 51 previous convictions, was not charged with the burglary itself. Separately, Dean Fagan (28) of Kildare Park, Crumlin, Dublin, and Daryl Smith (25) of Shancastle Lawns, Clondalkin, Dublin, were jailed at Trim Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to carrying out the aggravated burglary at Irishtown, Ashbourne, on the same date. The court noted that the original burglary involved the victim's wife and child being tied up. Michael Fagan's defence counsel highlighted his desire to live a sober life, while the judge acknowledged his mitigation.
A 34‑year‑old university student, Deividas Sevcenko, was caught by Gardaí while walking with a friend and found to be in possession of two metal implements used for retrieving bank cards from ATMs. He pleaded guilty to one count of possessing equipment with the intention of using it in a theft that was planned for Howth Road, Raheny, on 1 March of the previous year. Sevcenko, who lives in Holywell Dene, Swords, and is a married father of two, has five prior convictions for road traffic offences and failing to appear in court. He was highly intoxicated at the time of the stop, and a doctor recommended delaying his interview by four hours because of his drunkenness. He has expressed remorse and is willing to comply with any court‑ordered conditions to remain in the community with his wife and children. The case is adjourned for probation and community service reports, with sentencing scheduled for 18 May.