Folajimmy Awode, 32, of Ballinteer House, Tyrellstown, Dublin, was convicted of sexually assaulting a female patient at Mater Private Hospital in November 2013. He pleaded not guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, but a jury found him guilty. Judge Patricia Ryan sentenced him to two years' imprisonment, suspending the final six months. Awode appealed, arguing that the trial judge had failed to instruct the jury on the nature and purpose of complaint evidence and had not adequately presented the defence's case. His counsel, Kevin White BL, claimed the defence's argument was that the complainant was mistaken or dreaming and that Awode was entitled to be on the ward. The Director of Public Prosecutions' counsel, Elva Duffy BL, countered that the evidence was used to attack the complainant's credibility. The appeal was dismissed by Mr Justice John Edwards, who noted that the lack of jury instruction on complaint evidence did not render the conviction unsafe.
A man deliberately damaged clothing in Penneys stores and obtained cash refunds by exploiting the retailer's returns policy, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard on 17 February 2017. Patrick Quinn, aged 36, of Drumlish, Co Longford, pleaded guilty to inducing refunds totalling €392 across eleven transactions at Penneys branches in Blanchardstown during April and May 2015. Garda Stephen Walsh told the court that security staff provided CCTV footage showing Quinn damaging a jacket before presenting it for a refund without a receipt. Quinn admitted to deliberately tearing items including suit jackets after discovering the stores did not require receipts for damaged goods. His defence counsel outlined Quinn's struggles with gambling addiction, which intensified following his father's death in 2000, and noted his previous convictions related to theft. The court heard Quinn had undertaken residential treatment in 2013 without sustained improvement. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned sentencing until May to permit preparation of a probation report.
Janet Morrissey, 35, a single mother with drug addiction and heavy debts, was found by Gardaí with €117,800 in cash in her home and on her person. She pleaded guilty to possession of the proceeds of crime. Garda Jerome Twomey explained that a search warrant led to the discovery of cash in her coat pocket and bedroom wardrobe, and a ledger described as a "book" that recorded the money. Morrissey said she had been given a phone by a man and collected money from various people when she received texts from a person she called 'Boss'. She sorted the cash into bundles of €5,000 and €10,000 and was paid €600 a week for handling it. She claimed she did not know the money was the proceeds of crime and had never asked questions. She has no previous convictions.
James Cash, 59, was given a three‑year suspended sentence after he knocked on Pamela Creighton's granny flat in Blanchardstown, Dublin, while under the influence of alcohol and tablets. He attempted to attack her with a samurai sword and a kitchen knife. Bernard Creighton, the husband, wrested the weapons from Cash's hands and chased him into the garden, after which Gardaí were called. Cash pleaded guilty to two counts of producing a weapon at Corduff Avenue on 30 November 2015. He has 17 previous convictions, including theft, burglary, drink‑driving and criminal damage. Defence counsel Mark Lynam BL highlighted Cash's severe heart disease and lack of circulation in his legs, noting that further surgery might require amputation. Judge Melanie Greally, noting the offence occurred amid inter‑familial tension and Cash's intoxication, imposed a three‑year sentence suspended in full on the condition that Cash engage with the Probation Service and abstain from alcohol.
A man from Letterkenny, Co Donegal, has been jailed for 12 months following conviction on a charge of sexually exploiting a child. Donnchadh McGinley, then aged 34, met a 15-year-old girl through a youth mental health messaging application in late 2014. The pair subsequently met on several occasions before McGinley invited the teenager to an apartment in Dublin in January 2015. During that visit, they watched a film together before engaging in sexual activity in the bedroom. McGinley attempted sexual intercourse but the girl was unable to proceed due to fear and physical discomfort. At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, McGinley, now 36, pleaded guilty to one count of sexually exploiting a child between January 3 and 4, 2015, with a second count of meeting a child for exploitation purposes taken into account. Judge Melanie Greally imposed the 12-month custodial sentence, noting the activity was age-inappropriate but that no evidence suggested predatory intent. She considered McGinley's guilty plea, remorse, personal difficulties at the time, and absence of previous convictions.
Anthony Handley, 64, of Whitethorn Grove, Artane, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to dangerous driving that caused the death of Olivia Dunne, 31, and serious bodily harm to her 15‑week‑old daughter Éabha in Balbriggan on 17 January 2014. Gardaí said Handley drifted off momentarily before his off‑road SUV veered from the road and struck the mother and child. He had no alcohol or drugs in his system. On 10 May 2016 Judge Patrick McCartan sentenced him to two years' imprisonment, citing his good character but warning that fatigue must be a concern for all drivers, and imposed a ten‑year driving ban. The Court of Appeal found errors in the sentencing, upheld the two‑year term but suspended the balance on conditions, and left the driving ban unchanged.
Linda Wall, 37, pleaded guilty to attempted robbery at a Luas stop in June 2015 after a drug dealer urged her to steal a mobile phone to pay part of a debt. The court heard she was hopelessly addicted to "snow blow" and had 16 prior convictions. Judge Melanie Greally noted a positive probation report but said Wall had not fully dealt with her addiction, adjourned the case to October to monitor progress, and urged her to continue improving. Garda Denise Bowes reported the victim, a Chinese woman, was speaking on her phone when Wall tried to take it, resulting in a physical assault that caused swelling but no hospital treatment. Wall denied intending to injure the victim and claimed the dealer's instructions. Marie Torrens, defending, highlighted Wall's nursing aspirations, her daughter's death, and her recent positive changes, hoping she will resume her nursing career.
James Molloy, 34, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to handling a stolen Volkswagen Jetta and possessing a forged tax disk. He had taken a €2,000 loan from a money lender and left Ireland without repaying it. Upon his return, he claimed he was pressured by "loan sharks" to sell the stolen vehicle to settle the debt. Garda investigation found the car parked outside his home with false plates and a fake tax disk. Molloy admitted knowing the car was stolen and that the plates had been changed. Judge Melanie Greally noted his alcohol addiction and expressed that he had addressed it, imposing a three‑year sentence suspended in full for three years. Molloy had no prior convictions and had been sober since April of the previous year. The case highlighted the alleged coercion he faced from the lenders.
During a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Kieran Kelly, an auditor for Anglo Irish Bank, denied that he performed "performance theatre" when speaking to investigators from the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE) about alleged misconduct by former chairman Sean FitzPatrick. Kelly said he was not trying to buy time or mislead the court, and that his solicitors had advised him to examine documents to understand them. He admitted that in a previous trial he had inadvertently given misleading evidence regarding how his Garda statement was compiled, acknowledging that he had seen portions of another EY auditor's statement before making his own. Kelly also confirmed that his draft statement was prepared by solicitors at A&L Goodbody and emailed to him and others. The trial, which continues before Judge John Aylmer and a jury, involves FitzPatrick's 27 charges under the 1990 Companies Act. Sean FitzPatrick pleaded not guilty.
Ruzmond Muwaniri, 27, a Zimbabwean man with schizophrenia, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to two men in separate incidents on 9 March 2015 and 21 May 2015. He had missed several medication appointments around the time of the assaults. In the first incident, he punched a 67‑year‑old pensioner on Cheeverstown Road, Tallaght, knocking him off his bicycle and causing a broken eye socket and other injuries. In the second, he punched a man named Mr Aidan Green in the mouth, breaking his top front teeth. Muwaniri claimed he believed the victims were racially abusing him. He has 60 prior convictions, including a 2013 two‑year sentence for domestic violence. The case was adjourned to seek guidance on a care package for Muwaniri before sentencing next month.
James Preston, 36, was caught attempting to rob the Seabank House pub in East Wall, Dublin, after a Garda surveillance operation. He approached the manager armed with a wheel brace and a Stanley knife while the manager was carrying the pub's takings. Garda officers intervened, ordering him to drop his weapons, and he was arrested. Preston had previously pleaded guilty to attempted robbery in 2014 and to dangerous driving and unlawful use of a car in 2015. He was sentenced by Judge John Aylmer to three years, with the final 18 months suspended, citing his efforts to reform while in prison. The judge noted that the robbery could have been completed without Garda intervention and that Preston's 2015 driving endangered adults and children. The case highlighted the role of Garda surveillance in preventing the robbery.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Aisling Clarke, 44, pleaded guilty to possession of drugs and a stun gun in her family home. The court noted that Clarke had been "preyed on" by a higher‑ranking drug dealer and was holding the items for that person. She had no prior convictions and had been clean from heroin for several years. The judge, Melanie Greally, imposed a three‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, suspended in full on the condition that Clarke engage with the Probation Service for counselling, accommodation and training. Garda Ivor Scully reported 1,480 MDMA tablets, a taser stun gun and cannabis grinders were found in the house. Clarke faces eviction proceedings brought by the county council, with a hearing scheduled for the following month. The court considered the eviction a likely consequence and a significant punishment. The case highlights Clarke's history of drug use, rehabilitation attempts and her role as a mother.
An elderly Dublin man, aged 64, was sentenced to 16 months' imprisonment for indecent assault on his nine‑year‑old niece on 26 December 1980. The jury convicted him of one count of indecent assault. The victim, who was asleep with three young cousins, awoke to the man kneeling on her, rubbing her genitals. She screamed, but he continued, then left the room, returned with his trousers around his hips, masturbating while looking at the girls. One cousin covered the youngest girl's eyes to hide the man. The victim only disclosed the assault to her mother at 18 and filed a complaint in 2014. The accused denied the charge and claimed good behaviour since 1980. The judge noted the victim's statement that the assault caused irreversible damage, mental torture, and loss of trust, and that it had taken away her childhood and innocence. The maximum sentence at the time was two years, but the current maximum is 14 years.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, Sean FitzPatrick, former chairman of Anglo Irish Bank, faces 27 offences for allegedly misleading auditors about multi‑million euro loans from 2002 to 2007. The case focuses on loan facility letters from Irish Nationwide Building Society (INBS) for 2002‑2004, some up to €18.3 m, and the bank's 2004 annual accounts showing director loans of just over €10 m. Auditing partner Kieran Kelly testified that the loans, if undisclosed during the audit, would have had limited impact unless they were specifically arranged for refinancing at year‑end, which he would deem more significant. FitzPatrick denies all charges. The trial continues before Judge John Aylmer, with defence counsel Bernard Condon requesting an adjournment. The proceedings remain at the evidence‑collection stage.
David Clancy, a 25‑year‑old father from Clondalkin, was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to possession of nearly €500,000 worth of heroin, cocaine and PVP for sale or supply. The court noted it was his first offence and that he had no prior convictions. Judge Elma Sheahan imposed a five‑year term with the final two years suspended, citing his low‑level role as a delivery person and his involvement in moving heroin into deprived areas. She highlighted that Clancy carried out the crime to pay a €1,000 drug debt and was now substance free. The judge expressed sympathy for his family, noting the impact on his young son, and acknowledged that Clancy had a solid family background and had attended a drug awareness course. The sentencing reflected the court's view that he was at the bottom rung of the drug‑trade ladder.
Kevin Loughnan, 28, avoided a prison term after assaulting his girlfriend, who suffered two broken teeth and facial swelling. The incident occurred on 4 October 2015 when Loughnan, after a night out, returned home to find his girlfriend pouring Sprite over him to wake him. He then pulled her by the hair, punched her, poured more Sprite on her, and covered her mouth, causing her to bleed. She was taken to hospital and later sought help from Loughnan's parents. Loughnan pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. Judge Melanie Greally, describing the act as a "brief alcohol‑fuelled incident of great seriousness," imposed a three‑year sentence suspended for three years on the condition he remains alcohol‑free. He was ordered to pay €10,000 in compensation, to be paid in instalments. The court noted the violence was an aberrational incident, not a pattern of abuse. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Charles Farrell, aged 44, was convicted at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for theft of two historic gates from Convent Cottage, Firhouse Road, on 4 April 2015, and for unlawful use of a car and dangerous driving on 25 June 2015. He received an 18‑month jail term, followed by a consecutive three‑year sentence for driving a stolen car dangerously through Tallaght. Judge Melanie Greally suspended the final two years of the four‑and‑a‑half‑year term on strict conditions and disqualified Farrell from driving for six years. Two co‑accused, James Spellman Junior (40) and Trevor Matthews (41), each received two‑year suspended sentences for their roles in the gate theft. The judge noted Farrell's long‑standing drug addiction and his efforts to address it, while the Gardaí described the theft and subsequent dangerous driving incidents in detail. Charles Farrell pleaded guilty.
Joseph Finnegan, aged 33, was jailed for five years after Gardaí discovered almost €230,000 worth of drugs in his home on Landen Road, Ballyfermot, Dublin. While he was with his two‑year‑old daughter, officers entered the house and directed him to a bedroom wardrobe and the attic. There they found €212,000 of heroin in the attic and €15,211 of cocaine in the wardrobe, along with other drug paraphernalia. Finnegan pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 10 March 2016 to possession of 1.5 kg of heroin and 217 g of cocaine for sale or supply. He had no prior convictions. The judge noted that he had no wealth or evidence of a larger role beyond holding the drugs, and that he had mental health difficulties, limited education and employment.
In the trial of former Anglo Irish Bank chairman Sean FitzPatrick, a chartered accountant, Kieran Kelly of EY, explained that auditors are not required to examine every single document but must obtain sufficient information to form an opinion on the company's financial statements. He emphasized that auditors rely on persuasive evidence and explanations provided by the company, and that a key document, the letter of representation, confirms the accuracy of the accounts before auditors sign off. The court heard three such letters for 2002, 2003, and 2004, all signed by FitzPatrick, which stated that no undisclosed credit facilities existed for directors and that no events had occurred that would necessitate revisions to the figures. FitzPatrick, aged 68, denies all 27 charges, including 22 for misleading auditors and five for furnishing false information between 2002 and 2007. The trial continues before Judge John Aylmer.
In February 2017, a 25‑year‑old prisoner named Scott Hallion was captured on CCTV holding a 21‑year‑old Afghan inmate hostage during a riot at Cloverhill Prison that caused over €30,000 in damage. Hallion was seen with his arm around the hostage's neck and a shaved piece of perspex in his hand. The hostage suffered punches, kicks, cuts and a stab with a pen, and was later treated for injuries. Hallion pleaded guilty to violent disorder, assault causing harm, false imprisonment and criminal damage on 29 July 2015. He has 52 prior convictions. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court adjourned sentencing to 20 February 2018, stating Hallion was not a ringleader but was swept up in the mayhem. The new sentence will run consecutively to his existing term, with Hallion due for release in 2019.
Sean Keenan, aged 26, attacked Anthony Kelly, 79, after Kelly had just exited his car to go home. Keenan struck Kelly from behind, demanding the car keys, and then drove the Mercedes Benz over Kelly, nearly reversing the vehicle onto the garden wall. While Kelly was on a stick after a recent stroke, Keenan also assaulted Joseph Cooke, aged in his 70s, who had come to help. Cooke was struck several times in the head and body with what was believed to be the butt of a sawn‑off shotgun; he later received treatment for a head wound. Keenan fled, driving the wrong way down Malahide Road before abandoning the car in Ballymun after a crash. He was sentenced to five‑and‑a‑half years, with the final two years suspended, for robbery of car keys, hijacking, assault, and other offences. The hijacked vehicle, valued at about €25,000, was later written off by insurance. Sean Keenan pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, the jury was discharged after a juror appeared to fall asleep 15 minutes into the opening address. Prosecutor Garrett Baker BL was explaining "beyond reasonable doubt" when a juror was found seemingly asleep, prompting a jury minder to intervene. Defence barrister Pieter Le Vert BL reported that another male juror also seemed about to nod off. Judge Elma Sheahan ruled that the trial could not replace the two jurors, so she discharged the entire jury. The case involves Dean Joyce (24) of Rowlagh Park, Clondalkin, who pleaded not guilty to 11 charges, including endangering gardaí by driving his car into a garda van, four counts of dangerous driving, possession of stolen property, driving without a licence, driving without insurance, possession of a boxcutter used in a burglary, criminal damage of a garda van, and failing to stop for gardaí. A new jury will be sworn in today.
Stephen Comey, 29, was sentenced to a three‑and‑a‑half‑year prison term for hijacking a car and repeatedly punching a heavily pregnant woman in the passenger seat while driving through Dublin's city centre. He had 70 prior convictions and had been released from prison six weeks earlier. The court heard he had a "tragic background" and had been working on rehabilitation while in custody. Judge Patricia Ryan back‑dated the sentence to May 2014, the date Comey entered custody, and suspended the remaining term from today's date. The offence involved unlawful seizure of a car, assault causing harm and possession of a syringe. The victim, a seven‑and‑a‑half‑month‑pregnant woman, was unable to escape the moving vehicle and was repeatedly punched by Comey. The case was adjourned several times to allow Comey to continue his rehabilitation work. The court noted his efforts to become drug‑free and the support of his family. Stephen Comey pleaded guilty.
Amanda Daly, 36, was sentenced to three years in jail, with the final six months suspended, for robbing a taxi driver of €700 on 15 April 2015. She was caught after dropping her purse, which contained a social welfare receipt, near the robbery site. Daly, who has no fixed abode and 42 prior convictions mainly for public order offences, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. She and accomplice Jason Hynes (43) had planned the robbery; Hynes had previously received a four‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence. The judge noted Daly's severe drug addiction and tragic life, and that she had an active role, attempting to tie the driver's hands to the steering wheel. She had been released on bail for drug treatment but failed to complete the programme and was returned to custody. The robbery involved a syringe and an attempt to extort money from the driver, who was frightened by the assault.
Willie McAteer, a former finance director of Anglo Irish Bank, has withdrawn his appeal against a conviction and sentence for a €7 billion conspiracy to mislead the public. McAteer, 65, along with John Bowe (52) and Denis Casey (56), were found guilty by a jury at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in July 2016 of conspiring to mislead investors by using interbank loans to inflate Anglo's value by €7.2 billion between 1 March and 30 September 2008. McAteer was sentenced to three‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment, Bowe to two years, and Casey to two years and nine months. While Bowe and Casey remain ready to pursue their appeals, McAteer's counsel informed the Court of Appeal that his client's appeal had been abandoned. The case had been scheduled for a week‑long hearing beginning 6 March, but the withdrawal means the appeal will not proceed. Willie McAteer pleaded not guilty. John Bowe pleaded not guilty. Denis Casey pleaded not guilty.
Laurence Bryan, 36, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four robberies and two attempted robberies committed at shops in the Tallaght area between March 31st and April 8th, 2016. The defendant, who has 132 previous convictions, was taken from Cloverhill Prison to be interviewed after being identified on CCTV. He admitted to using knives during the offences to fund a drug habit, stating he did not intend to hurt anyone. Judge Melanie Greally revoked the 18-month suspended portion of a previous five-and-a-half-year sentence imposed in 2014. The matter was adjourned until October 2018 for sentencing on the new offences, with the court ordering an updated probation report regarding residential treatment options. Judge Greally noted that previous imprisonment had not broken the cycle of offending, suggesting an alternative approach was needed. Defense counsel Sarah Jane O'Callaghan BL highlighted Bryan's drug-free status upon release before relapsing following a family argument, and requested multifaceted supports for his release. The court heard the offences were spontaneous and without premeditation.
Martin Keane, 59, was sentenced in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to a theft committed on November 24, 2015. The court heard that Keane stole €20,000 worth of photography equipment from a hotel room in Dublin city centre. The victim, Brian Samuelson, later identified Keane from CCTV footage while he was drinking in a bar at the Gresham Hotel. Keane was arrested and subsequently pleaded guilty to carrying out the theft. Defence counsel Dominic McGinn SC argued that Keane was not a hardened criminal and highlighted recent serious health problems. However, Judge Karen O'Connor noted that Keane was a prolific thief with 16 previous convictions for theft and shoplifting in the UK. The judge described the offence as opportunistic but stated that Keane was caught red-handed. All but €2,000 of the stolen equipment was recovered. Judge O'Connor suspended a sentence of six months imprisonment on the condition that Keane pays €2,000 to the Capuchin Day Centre for homeless people.
Donna O'Brien, aged 25, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for the manslaughter of her cousin Bernadette Cash, 20, who died alone and unaided after a violent assault at O'Brien's home in Blanchardstown on 30 October 2013. O'Brien pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Witnesses described a series of punches and kicks to Cash's face and head, with O'Brien admitting to punching but denying kicking. The victim was found dead the next morning in a hallway, with a post‑mortem revealing brain swelling and head injuries as the cause of death. Toxicology showed morphine and codeine in Cash's system. O'Brien also received a consecutive 18‑month suspended term for unrelated theft offences committed in September 2013. The judge noted O'Brien's history of drug abuse, childhood exposure to violence, and her remorse, taking these into account when imposing the sentence. The case highlighted the severe violence that Cash had endured prior to the fatal assault.
In a court hearing on 8 February 2017, it was reported that Garda Cathal McGeoghan had to deploy pepper spray three times against two youths during a robbery at a Spar shop. Craig Moloney, aged 21, was armed with an iron bar, while his accomplice carried a meat cleaver. The incident occurred when the pair had just stolen €358 from the cashier. McGeoghan, fearing for his safety, used pepper spray to subdue Moloney, who then attempted to assault the Garda with a bar. The accomplice, wielding the cleaver, was also pepper‑sprayed and fled before being arrested with the aid of a Garda helicopter. Moloney, previously convicted of theft and assault, will be sentenced in May 2017. The court noted his earlier convictions and the Garda's actions during the arrest. Craig Moloney pleaded guilty.
Adam McCarthy, a 24‑year‑old college student, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after he punched and kicked Niall McHale during a taxi dispute outside the White Sands Hotel nightclub in Portmarnock on 27 December 2014. McHale, who had returned from London for Christmas holidays, was knocked unconscious, suffered a brief loss of consciousness, and received seven stitches to the head along with bruising and lacerations. McCarthy was restrained by nightclub bouncers until Gardaí arrived. At a sentence hearing in November, Judge Melanie Greally considered a probation report and ordered McCarthy to complete 240 hours of community service within 12 months in lieu of a one‑year jail term. The judge noted McCarthy's remorse, background, completion of an anger‑management course, and his efforts to curb drinking. McHale's family was requested to receive €5,000 from McCarthy's court‑ordered funds to support Headway Ireland. The court accepted McCarthy's apology and the financial restitution he offered.
James Kennedy, 34, of Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin, was sentenced to four and a half years' imprisonment for arson on Westland Row on 12 September 2015. He pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Kennedy's 40 prior convictions include criminal damage, theft, public order and violent behaviour in a Garda station. The incident involved setting a motorbike on fire, which caused a passing woman and her child to flee for safety. The judge, Melanie Greally, described the act as "senseless but highly dangerous" and noted that Kennedy had alcohol problems and did not recall the event. The final two years of the sentence were suspended on strict conditions, including treatment and liaison with the Probation Service for 18 months after release. The court accepted a probation report indicating that the Probation Service could assist Kennedy in the future. The motorbike, valued at €3,000, was completely destroyed by the blaze.
In a Tesco Express robbery in Finglas, Aaron McDermott, 24, and an accomplice threatened staff with firearms and demanded €3,000 and a vodka bottle. A shop assistant recognised McDermott as a former schoolmate, nicknamed Choppy, after his hooded jacket collar slipped. CCTV footage identified him, leading to his arrest at home. McDermott pleaded guilty to robbery at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Pauline Codd suspended the final three years of a four‑year sentence, conditional on drug treatment and participation in a victim awareness programme. She noted his struggle following his brother's 2015 suicide and his recent release from a psychiatric ward. McDermott's letter of apology was read in court, and the judge considered his personal circumstances and guilty plea in sentencing.
In a 2016 robbery at Core Credit Union in Ballybrack, Dublin, 28‑year‑old Gary Gregg, a heroin addict, seized the supervisor by the neck and threatened to set her on fire, claiming he had a lighter and fuel. He poured liquid from a canister over her head, shouted demands for money, and forced two staff members to hand over cash. The robbery lasted 41 seconds, during which Gregg also threw fluid over the counter and stole €12,241. The supervisor escaped through the front door, raising the alarm, while a woman with children fled the building. Neither the cash nor the fluid canister was recovered, and forensic evidence on the victim's cardigan evaporated. Gregg pleaded guilty to robbery and making a threat to kill, was sentenced in May 2017, and was ordered to undergo drug treatment. The incident left staff traumatized, with ongoing fear and nightmares.
Anthony O'Connor, aged 74, burst into his estranged wife Phyllis O'Connor's home on 19 July 2016, shouting "surprise" and launching a sustained assault. He threatened her with death, saying "You are going tonight and I'll go with you" and "If I don't get you someone else will. You'll get a bullet in the head." Neighbours heard her screams and dragged him away, preventing a fatal outcome. O'Connor pleaded guilty to assault and threat of murder at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He received a three‑year suspended sentence, with the full term suspended on the condition he remain in a sanctioned nursing home, continue medication, and have no contact with his wife. He is currently in a Dublin nursing home receiving psychiatric care for bipolar disorder, and his wife has secured a barring order against him. The judge noted the assault occurred during divorce proceedings and that O'Connor had no prior convictions or history of mistreatment.
Marcin Malinski, a 35‑year‑old cafe owner from Swords, was ordered to perform 240 hours of community service after a routine Garda checkpoint revealed a strong cannabis odor from his BMW. Officers found a bag of cannabis plant cut‑offs in the car and, following a search of his home, uncovered a grow house containing 17 cannabis plants at various stages of maturity. The drugs were estimated to be worth €13,600 if fully mature. Malinski pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of drugs for sale or supply on 29 October 2015. He admitted growing the cannabis for medicinal use to ease back pain, though he knew it was illegal. He had no prior convictions and had been living in Ireland for eight years, earning €200 per week on a JobBridge scheme.
Michael Flanagan, aged 31, was arrested for possessing child pornography, including a video of an unconscious five‑year‑old girl being sexually abused. He had previously been caught in 2012 and 2013 with child abuse images and was found to have an external hard drive and a USB thumb drive containing 18 and 35 images respectively, plus the video in question. The court adjourned sentencing to 3 March, remanded him on continuing bail, and noted the particular concern over the video. Flanagan pleaded guilty to two counts of possession. His defence counsel cited personal circumstances, including a breakup and long‑term drinking, and requested a non‑custodial sentence, while the judge considered the seriousness of the offence and the potential impact of media coverage. The case remains pending sentencing.
In 2015, 19‑year‑old Eric Ryan of Cliona Park, Moyross, County Limerick, was found guilty of dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm to 32‑year‑old Eve Neylon, who required four operations on her pelvis and leg after being struck by Ryan's car while crossing Clanbrassil Street at a green pedestrian light. Ryan also pleaded guilty to failing to offer assistance. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a wholly suspended three‑year sentence for dangerous driving and ordered community service for the failure to assist. The Director of Public Prosecutions sought a review on the grounds of an unduly lenient sentence. The Court of Appeal, sitting with Justices Mahon, Birmingham and Sheehan, upheld the suspended sentence but added conditions: a €50 weekly payment to the National Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation for 18 months, further community service under a local school principal, supervision by probation services, and good behaviour for 18 months.
Raymond Malone, aged 33, was stopped by gardai on the Tallaght by-pass on 6 June 2015 after driving a van from London that he had flown to collect. The van contained 25,300 diazepam tablets, worth €25,300, and 23.7 kg of benzocaine, a mixing agent used to bulk cocaine, worth €11,850, hidden in a false compartment. Malone pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of diazepam and benzocaine. He had previously been convicted of 11 road‑traffic offences. Judge Pauline Codd found Malone had acted with "wilful blindness" and that his role was that of a courier with little profit. She imposed a three‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, suspended for four‑and‑a‑half years, citing his early plea, lack of drug habit, and testimonials. The case highlighted the use of benzocaine as a cutting agent in the drug trade.
An Armagh man has been ordered to complete 240 hours of community service following his conviction for attempting to remove markers from diesel fuel. Paul Haughey, aged 36 and resident in Keady, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to the offence, which occurred on 1 September 2011 at a property near Castleblaney, County Monaghan. Gardaí and customs officials conducted a surveillance operation and discovered over 13,000 litres of laundered diesel on the premises. The markers are used to differentiate between taxed diesel fuel and untaxed mineral oil, with significant tax rate variations between the two products. Judge Melanie Greally imposed the community service order in lieu of a one-year prison sentence, allowing Haughey eight months to complete the work. The judge noted he played a minor role in the operation and maintained an otherwise unblemished record in the jurisdiction. The defence submitted psychological evidence indicating Haughey was suffering severe depression and stressed his cooperation with investigating gardaí and his family responsibilities.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Donal O'Hara, 51, pleaded guilty to cultivating cannabis and possessing a sawn‑off shotgun. Gardaí had searched his home on 11 February 2015, finding 72 cannabis plants in the master bedroom, which could have been worth €55,600 if all were mature females. On 22 June 2016, a second search uncovered a 12‑gauge single‑barrel sawn‑off shotgun and cartridges in a bag in a trailer at the rear of the house; O'Hara had helped locate the weapon. He claimed people were trying to kill him and that he would fire if someone approached, but denied intent to kill. O'Hara has 29 prior convictions, none for firearms. The judge adjourned sentencing to 3 March 2017. No further details on sentencing were provided in the article.
Sean FitzPatrick, aged 68, faces 27 charges under the 1990 Companies Act for allegedly misleading auditors about multi‑million euro loans between 2002 and 2007. He denies all allegations. On day 75 of his trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, his counsel Bernard Condon SC cross‑examined Kevin O'Connell, a lead investigator from the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE). O'Connell admitted that the methods used to produce witness statements were wrong and unlawful, attributing the mistakes to his inexperience rather than a deliberate effort to secure a prosecution. Condon described the investigation as "a shambles" and accused the ODCE of crafting and creating witness statements to obtain evidence. O'Connell acknowledged that the ODCE had modified its practices after a 2015 ruling by Judge Mary Ellen Ring. The trial continues before Judge John Aylmer.
Anthony Kearney, 65, a former bric a brac shop owner and memorabilia collector, pleaded guilty to possession of a stolen Baikal double‑barrel shotgun. He bought the weapon for €440 at a Sunday market in Balbriggan, believing it to be a harmless piece for his collection. Gardaí stopped him in his van, found the broken firearm, and later searched his home, which contained no other criminal items. The court, noting Kearney's lack of prior convictions and the circumstances, deemed the offence a "serious error of judgement." Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a two‑year sentence, suspended in full, and ordered restitution of the firearm. The mandatory five‑year minimum was set aside due to the exceptional circumstances surrounding the case.
Stephen O'Reilly, 31, of Finglas, was convicted in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to Stephen O'Brien, who was stabbed at O'Brien's Artane home on 18 August 2011. A jury found O'Reilly guilty and he received a 12‑year sentence, with the final three years suspended by Judge Pat McCartan on 16 July 2013. The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment on O'Reilly's appeal. His barrister, Giollaíosa Ó Lideadha SC, argued that the prosecution failed to prove that the actual injury caused a substantial risk of death, and that the jury was not properly charged on the issue of serious harm or on the need for corroboration of an accomplice's testimony. The appeal also considers whether a miscarriage of justice occurred under section 3 of the Criminal Procedure Act 1993. The Court of Appeal will decide whether to uphold the conviction. Stephen O'Reilly pleaded not guilty.
Michael Dunn, an English priest aged 67, was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for three counts of sexual assault committed against a 12‑year‑old boy during a holiday in Ireland more than 40 years ago. The victim, who was bullied at school, described Dunn as a trusted confidant who groomed him, forced him to masturbate and share a bed nightly, and coerced him into kissing. Dunn pleaded guilty in August 1975 when he was 26 and had previously served 18 months in England for a similar offence. He intends to appeal the sentence. The court noted the profound negative impact on the victim's life, and Judge Melanie Greally denied bail for Dunn pending appeal. The victim's statement highlighted the lasting emotional trauma and the effect on his family. The priest's defence counsel expressed remorse and requested consideration of his client's lack of further crimes. Michael Dunn was convicted.
Jonathan Conway, 35, a disqualified driver with 112 convictions, stole a BMW after its owner mistakenly left the keys inside. While driving under the influence of heroin, alcohol and tablets, Conway lost control at a roundabout, briefly became airborne, and crashed into a lamp‑post and the wall of The Graduate pub. Two female passengers sustained minor injuries. Conway, who had no valid licence or insurance, pleaded guilty to taking possession of the car, dangerous driving, driving without insurance and refusing a sample. The court adjourned sentencing to May, ordered a urine analysis, and will hear a plea in mitigation. Conway was taken to St Vincent's Hospital where he refused to provide a blood or urine sample. The case highlights the ongoing legal proceedings and the court's consideration of mitigation arguments.
Jane Fay, 64, of Tallaght, Dublin, was sentenced at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for social welfare fraud. The defendant pleaded guilty to making a fraudulent claim at AIB, Main Street, Tallaght, on April 22, 2010, and admitted to 38 similar charges related to fraudulent claims made between April 2010 and September 2014. The total loss amounted to €34,781. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a three-year sentence, which was suspended in full. The court noted that the majority of the funds have been repaid, with over €22,000 returned by Fay and her family, and ordered the release of frozen funds from a bank account in the name of her late cousin to the Department of Social Protection. Fay had no previous convictions. The judge acknowledged Fay's difficult personal circumstances, including health issues and family tragedies, and accepted that her actions were at odds with her general conduct. The matter was finalised with the imposition of the suspended sentence.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, John McCann, 32, and Craig Redmond, 21, were sentenced to three years' imprisonment for assaulting a bin man and Garda Michael Hughes after a bin was blacklisted for non‑payment. The pair attacked the bin man and the Garda on 8 May 2015 in Finglas. McCann pleaded guilty to assaulting both the bin man and the Garda, while Redmond pleaded guilty to assaulting the bin man. Judge Melanie Greally suspended the final 18 months of McCann's sentence, citing his rehabilitation efforts, and the final year of Redmond's sentence, noting less rehabilitation. The court noted the Garda's knee injury and the bin man's injuries, but no further sentencing details were provided beyond the three‑year terms. The case was prosecuted by Karl Finnegan BL and defended by Sandra Frayne BL for McCann and James Dwyer BL for Redmond.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, former Anglo Irish Bank chairman Sean FitzPatrick (68) faces 27 charges under the 1990 Companies Act, including 22 counts of misleading auditors and five of furnishing false information between 2002 and 2007. The trial has focused on the destruction of documents by Kevin O'Connell, a lead investigator from the Office of Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE). O'Connell admitted shredding five pages relevant to the investigation in May 2015, claiming panic and a wrong decision, and disclosed the act to his superior, Ian Drennan, three days later. He acknowledged that the act was a criminal offence and that no Garda investigation or prosecution followed. The defence argued that a letter from the Chief Prosecution Solicitor offered O'Connell "effective immunity" from prosecution, a claim the DPP rejected. Sean Fitzpatrick pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, the court heard that Gardaí were not involved in drafting witness statements that a judge criticised in the prosecution of former Anglo Irish Bank chairman Sean FitzPatrick. Lawyers for FitzPatrick, aged 68, had argued that statements from auditors were produced through coaching and cross‑contamination. The jury was shown a June 2015 letter from Detective Superintendent Gerard Walsh stating that the Garda unit seconded to the Office of Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE) had not drafted the statements. The hearing also covered the admission by lead investigator Kevin O'Connell of his involvement in wrongful practices, including shredding documents relevant to the investigation. O'Connell recounted discovering 16 pages of documents, shredding them, and later admitting the mistake to director Ian Drennan. The court also examined CCTV footage of O'Connell bringing documents to a shredding room and his subsequent regret. Sean FitzPatrick pleaded not guilty.
A 65‑year‑old priest, whose name is withheld for legal reasons, received a suspended two‑year sentence for sexual assault after a court found he had been placed under effective house arrest by his order. The court heard that the priest had molested a boy in his early teens after Mass in a Dublin church in September 2015, an act that lasted about 15 seconds. The boy's mother reported the incident to Gardaí, leading to the priest's admission and subsequent registration as a sex offender. The priest is now confined to a house run by his order, prohibited from celebrating Mass, wearing priestly garb, leaving the house alone, or having unsupervised contact with children or vulnerable adults. The regime is to continue indefinitely, and the suspended sentence will take effect only if the priest completes a sex‑offender programme. The judge noted the priest's early guilty plea, remorse, and prior good work in missions worldwide.