The State withdrew a charge against Geraldine Delahunty, a disabled woman, who had been accused of harassing 98FM presenter Jeremy Dixon between 4 August 2014 and 16 January 2015. The alleged harassment involved social media communications and was charged under section 10 of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act. At the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, the prosecution entered a nolle prosequi, meaning the case would not proceed. A prior hearing had heard a psychologist's report stating Ms Delahunty was incapable of standing trial and that her condition was unlikely to improve with time or medication. The defence argued that her disability, rather than a psychiatric issue, was the main concern, noting she lived under constant supervision of her parents. The Director of Public Prosecutions had requested an independent expert to examine Ms Delahunty, and the prosecution acknowledged a delay in responding to the defence report. The case was adjourned to the day the charge was withdrawn.
The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court adjourned the trial of George Cristo, 43, of Blanchardstown, after a Pakistani witness living in the United States expressed concern that he might be denied entry to Ireland if he travelled there to give evidence. The witness, who works in America, is not currently on the list of countries whose residents are banned from entering the United States under President Donald Trump's executive order, but he fears the order could be expanded. Judge Melanie Greally agreed to postpone the case, and Cristo will appear again on February 15 to receive an update on the situation.
A 23‑year‑old man from Clondalkin, Michael Bayley, was sentenced to three and a half years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended, for two burglaries in Sallynoggin and dangerous driving on 12 May 2016. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Bayley had 22 prior convictions, including aggravated burglary, public order and road traffic offences. The judge also disqualified him from driving for four years. The burglaries involved the theft of a Samsung Galaxy tablet and an iPad from a sick child's home, as well as cash found in a birthday card. Bayley claimed he was recruited by people he owed "15 grand" to repay a debt, and that he had drug addictions. He was arrested after a high‑speed chase in which his stolen car crashed in Blackrock, having driven at 160 kph in a 50 kph zone and failed to stop at red lights.
Irish international footballer Anthony Stokes, aged 28, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm after head‑butting Anthony Bradley, aged 53, in the VIP lounge of Buck Whaleys nightclub on 8 June 2013. The court heard Bradley was bleeding from a fractured nose and two broken teeth, and that he had suffered chronic neck pain and required extensive dental work costing €13,500. Stokes was fined €30,000 for Bradley's medical costs and was given a two‑year suspended sentence, with strict conditions. The judge noted the seriousness of the assault and accepted Stokes' apology and the fine as a practical expression of remorse. Civil proceedings are continuing in the High Court. The case was set down for trial twice before Stokes pleaded guilty in November 2016.
Michael Waters, a 45‑year‑old qualified barrister from Belfast, was convicted of assaulting Marian Wallace, the director of the Busy Bees Creche in Stillorgan, in January 2012. He pleaded not guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, but a 10‑to‑2 jury found him guilty and Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a three‑year suspended sentence on 2 July 2013. Waters has appealed the conviction. The Court of Appeal granted him leave to add a third ground to his appeal, alleging that the prosecution failed to disclose the complainant's statement to the defence. The court had previously rejected two other grounds that involved undisclosed material. Mr Justice John Edwards ruled that only the ground concerning the alleged failure to disclose the statement would be considered, and he will manage the case until a hearing date is set. Waters is representing himself in the appeal.
During the 72nd day of the trial of former Anglo Irish Bank chairman Sean FitzPatrick, the court heard that investigators had used unlawful practices when preparing witness statements. FitzPatrick, aged 68, faces 27 offences under the Companies Act, including 22 counts of misleading auditors and five of furnishing false information between 2002 and 2007. Lawyers for FitzPatrick argued that statements from audit manager Vincent Bergin were altered through coaching and cross‑contamination by investigators, with changes suggested by ODCE staff such as Kevin O'Connell and Paul Appleby. The jury saw multiple versions of Bergin's draft statement, with insertions, deletions and notes like "drop" or "delete." Defending counsel Bernard Condon likened the process to a "hokey cokey," noting that judges had ruled the practice unlawful because it prevented the jury from hearing unvarnished witness testimony. The trial continues. Sean FitzPatrick pleaded not guilty.
Amir Essalhi, 32, pleaded guilty to six counts of robbery in a drug‑fuelled spree in Clondalkin during April and May last year, after a series of attacks on women in west Dublin. He targeted three women in their cars, a pharmacy, and a tanning salon, using a knife, a spoon he pretended was a knife, and a kitchen knife. Essalhi also admitted to robbing a woman's handbag in May 2015. The court heard that he carried out the offences to feed his heroin addiction, and that his brother had been murdered in 2011. He was remanded in custody until sentencing, with a probation report ordered and the matter adjourned to April 6 for full defence submissions. Victim impact statements were presented, and most stolen property was not recovered. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Patricia Sweeney, 60, a primary school cleaner, forged declaration of unemployment forms and used the school stamp to claim €31,700.70 in job seekers allowance she was not entitled to. She worked 12 hours a week on a casual basis, but the school's board had required her to work five days a week, making her ineligible for the allowance. Sweeney claimed she worked the hours over three days and provided forged forms to the Department of Social Protection. She pleaded guilty to 21 counts of theft and forgery covering February 2011 to February 2015. She has no prior convictions, has paid €1,649 back, and is currently on job seekers allowance with weekly deductions of €27.90 until the debt is cleared. The case was adjourned to 22 March, with a probation report to assess suitability for community service.
Christopher Coleman, 27, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Eugene Maher, 62, on 30 June 2015. He was sentenced to two‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment and a 15‑year driving disqualification. Coleman had no licence, had previously been disqualified, and had 15 prior convictions including three driving bans. He drove a friend's car, which had been speeding and on the wrong side of the road, and left the scene after the crash. The DPP, citing the severity of the offence and Coleman's lack of licence, seeks a review of the sentence as "unduly lenient". The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment, with a decision expected on 23 February. The case remains at the appeal stage, with no further outcome reported.
Ms Joy Imasogie, aged 40, was charged in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court with trafficking a Nigerian woman into Ireland and forcing her into prostitution between March 2006 and April 2008. The accused pleaded not guilty. During the trial, the alleged victim testified that she had been subjected to a "voodoo process" in Nigeria, swore not to report Imasogie, and was told she would have to sleep with men to repay a €50,000 debt. She claimed she stopped working as a prostitute in 2008 after cutting ties with Imasogie, but evidence from a women's health project showed she continued to advertise and work as a prostitute, and a file revealed she was found with Imasogie's husband and €14,000 cash. Judge Patricia Ryan found the evidence contradictory and unsafe for the jury, directing a not‑guilty verdict. Imasogie denied organising prostitution or trafficking, stating she sometimes let the woman do her hair for food.
Former Anglo Irish Bank chief executive David Drumm, aged 50 and residing in Skerries, Co Dublin, has been granted free legal aid for his upcoming conspiracy to defraud trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Karen O'Connor approved the aid to cover four barristers, including a documents counsel, after hearing that Drumm is in a "catch‑22" financial situation and is an undischarged bankrupt. The ruling applies only to the criminal proceedings and does not affect any civil matters that may be pending. The Director of Public Prosecutions' counsel, Mary Rose Gearty SC, did not object, emphasising the need for a fair and timely trial. Drumm faces two charges of conspiring to defraud depositors and investors by misrepresenting the size of deposits in 2008, and a third charge under the EU transparency directive. He has not yet entered a plea. The trial is expected to begin in April, with a pre‑trial hearing scheduled for 24 March.
Warren Brennan, 25, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for robbing a 71‑year‑old pensioner at Alderwood Park, Tallaght, on 27 October 2015. Brennan, wearing a motorcycle helmet and armed with a claw hammer, demanded €5,000 from the victim after the man had withdrawn the cash from a bank. When the pensioner refused and called him a "scumbag", Brennan struck him repeatedly with the hammer, punched him, bit his thumb, and then fled with the money. The victim was knocked to the ground, suffered a broken thumb and later reported flashbacks whenever he saw a hammer or helmet. Brennan pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He has 54 prior convictions, including firearms possession, theft, burglary and assault, and was previously jailed for three years in 2011 for an attempted robbery involving a gun. The court noted that Brennan had been given many chances to reform but had not changed his criminal behaviour.
Giovanni Lanelli, 39, sold a Ford Focus he had bought on hire purchase for €17,000 to a buyer who paid €13,800 at a Dublin hotel. Lanelli did not disclose that the car was still financed and that monthly payments were due. He later claimed he intended to continue paying but could not keep up. A year later the finance company warned the buyer that the car would be repossessed if the balance was not paid. Lanelli promised to obtain a loan to clear the balance but failed to raise the funds. The buyer settled with the finance company, paying over €12,800 to keep the car. Lanelli pleaded guilty to theft and fraud at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 22 August 2014. He has no prior convictions.
At the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, the trial of Sean FitzPatrick, 68, continued on day 71 with the cross-examination of Kevin O'Connell, a legal advisor with the Office of Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE). Mr O'Connell admitted to shredding a small number of documents at a later stage, describing it as a 'calamitous error'. The documents pertained to notes from conversations with A&L Goodbody, the lawyers for EY, Anglo's auditors. Mr FitzPatrick has pleaded not guilty to 27 offences under the 1990 Companies Act, including 22 charges of making misleading, false or deceptive statements to auditors and five charges of furnishing false information between 2002 and 2007. Mr FitzPatrick's defending barrister, Bernard Condon SC, suggested that his client was in danger of being jailed due to a 'clanger' of a mistake made by the auditors, EY. The trial is ongoing, with no finalisation of the case yet.
The trial of former Anglo Irish Bank chairman Sean FitzPatrick, aged 68, at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has highlighted significant procedural shortcomings in the investigation led by Kevin O'Connell of the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE). O'Connell admitted that investigators chose not to ask witnesses questions that might have undermined the case, a decision described by FitzPatrick's counsel as "an outrage" and "colossal prejudice." The investigation also failed to probe auditing standards that could have exposed the criminal offence of misleading auditors. O'Connell acknowledged the lack of skilled criminal investigators and the overreliance on civil servants and Gardaí, noting that the ODCE's approach was "very inexperienced." The court heard that the ODCE's witness‑taking procedures were later deemed "sub‑optimal," leading to a shift to Gardaí‑led statements. FitzPatrick remains charged with 27 offences under the Companies Act, including 22 counts of misleading auditors and five of furnishing false information between 2002 and 2007. Sean FitzPatrick pleaded not guilty.
A man with 116 previous convictions, including 17 for burglary, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to trespass with intent to commit an offence at a dwelling in Dublin 8 on 4 October 2015. James Smith, aged 33, of Mostrim Oaks, Ballymahon Road, Edgeworthstown, County Longford, entered the house by breaking a kitchen window. When the occupants shouted that gardaí had been contacted, Smith indicated he required assistance as someone was pursuing him. Upon the arrival of gardaí, Smith opened the door to admit them. He later told gardaí he had entered the property intending to steal items for sale, stating he needed money urgently and was unaware occupants were present. Nothing was taken from the house. Smith acknowledged he had consumed drugs prior to the incident. Judge Pauline Codd adjourned sentencing to allow preparation of updated psychological and probation reports. A sentence date of 3 April 2017 was fixed, at which point defence counsel will make a plea in mitigation.
Christina Joyce, 28, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three counts of threatening gardaí with blood‑filled syringes at Cedar House hostel on 26 November and 5 December 2013. She claimed she was pregnant with the devil's baby and that her life was in danger, stating she was experiencing drug‑induced hallucinations. Gardaí attempted to calm her by repeating the "Our Father" prayer and pepper spray was used on both occasions. The judge, Patricia Ryan, noted the aggravating factor that the offences were committed against officers acting in the course of duty and the impact on them. Taking into account Joyce's remorse and her early recovery, Ryan imposed a three‑year sentence, suspended on strict conditions. The case was heard at the early stages of her rehabilitation, with no further garda attention reported since February 2016.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Anna Kavanagh (48) and Christine Byrne (30) were sentenced to community service for fraudulently applying for loans at Provident Personal Credit between August 2009 and January 2011. Kavanagh, employed in a position of responsibility, used other people's names to obtain €49,000, repaying €26,218 before the company discovered the scheme in September 2012, resulting in a €23,500 loss. She pleaded guilty to four counts of making a gain by deception and three counts of forgery. Byrne, also from Crannoge Close, pleaded guilty to six counts of forgery. Both were given three‑year sentences suspended in full and ordered to complete 240 hours of community service. The judge noted their financial difficulties and expressed remorse, and the court considered the defendants unlikely to re‑offend. The case highlighted the use of personal networks to secure high‑interest loans.
Gary Fitzgerald, aged 19, received a three‑year sentence for arson at Green Hills Court Apartments, Tallaght, on 26 March 2015. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and had seven prior convictions, including road traffic and assault. The fire, which caused €45,000 in damage, occurred in an unoccupied bedroom; Gardaí could not determine the cause. Gary lived next door to the burning apartment with his cousin Graham Fitzgerald, who also pleaded guilty to arson on the same occasion and to attempted robbery in February 2016. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned Graham's case for two weeks and imposed a suspended six‑month portion on Gary's sentence, ordering one year of post‑release supervision. The court noted Gary's extreme youth and drug use but accepted his early plea. No residents were in immediate danger, and the complex was evacuated. The case was heard with evidence from CCTV and police reports.
In a January 2017 hearing, defence barrister Bernard Condon challenged the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE) to admit that its lead investigator, Kevin O'Connell, had failed to conduct a fair investigation into former Anglo chairman Sean FitzPatrick's alleged non‑disclosure of multi‑million euro loans. O'Connell acknowledged moments of "spectacular naivety" and regretted certain aspects of the probe, attributing errors to limited experience and resources. He denied that the investigation was a "crusade" and insisted mistakes stemmed from a lack of experience and a shortage of Gardaí on secondment. O'Connell also admitted that the ODCE had sought cooperation from Ernst & Young auditors, fearing that probing audit adequacy might jeopardise their willingness to assist. The trial, held at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, focused on FitzPatrick's 27 charges under the Companies Act, including 22 counts of misleading auditors and five of furnishing false information between 2002 and 2007. Sean FitzPatrick pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Mohammed Shafi, a former employee of Washington Mobile on Parnell Street, pleaded guilty to handling stolen property. He admitted knowing that the phones were stolen and that he had been accepting or buying stolen items for a year, including a stolen iPhone 6 he paid about €200 for. The court considered 21 seized items, comprising 18 Apple iPhones, two iPads and one iPod, with a rough total value estimated between €7,500 and €10,000. Shafi said he intended to use the stolen devices for spare parts. Judge Pauline Codd, taking into account his early guilty plea, cooperation with Gardaí, and his role as a primary family supporter, suspended a two‑year sentence and ordered him to pay €200 to one victim. The judge noted that Shafi had not profited significantly from the offences and highlighted his previous minor convictions for holding fake documents.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, 23‑year‑old Margaret McDonnell pleaded guilty to 13 counts of theft of cash from Bank of Ireland after a bank error deposited €51,808 into her account on 6 March 2013. She withdrew €5,000 the next day and spent €24,946 over nine days at various shops and restaurants, including Dunnes Stores, Tesco, and New Look. The bank recovered €26,862 of the original deposit and requested repayment, which McDonnell ignored. She admitted responsibility, claiming she believed the money was hers because it appeared in her account. The judge adjourned the case to April, ordered a Probation Services report to assess her suitability for community service, and noted her lack of prior convictions. The case highlights the financial impact of the accidental deposit and her subsequent spending spree.
Brian Clarke, 31, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for robbery of American tourist Ryan Dillon at Swords Town Park on 2 May 2015. Clarke, who posed for photographs with the tourists, acted as a "distraction" while other accomplices stole the camera bag, wallet, cash, camera and mobile phone. Dillon was attacked by a group of youths who punched and kicked him; his partner was punched in the gut and Dillon suffered a broken scapula. Clarke had 55 prior convictions and had not cooperated with the Probation Service. Judge Melanie Greally suspended the final year of a four‑year sentence, citing a favourable probation report that was not positive and Clarke's lack of cooperation. The case was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with Garda Mairead Murray and prosecutor Caroline Cummings BL presenting evidence of the robbery and the assault on the tourists. Brian Clarke pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Mohammed Abduljabbar, a 29‑year‑old Saudi Arabian master's student, pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and two counts of criminal damage after breaking into student accommodation at the Gateway Student Village in Ballymun on 25 June. He used a nunchuck to assault a fellow student, whom he claimed had damaged his car, and smashed two glass doors. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced him to two years' imprisonment, suspending 21 months on conditions that included payment of €2,000 in damages to the doors within 28 days. The Saudi Arabian embassy, represented in court, agreed to pay the damages. Abduljabbar admitted guilt, expressed remorse, and was noted to have a low risk of re‑offending by Probation Services. The victim suffered superficial injuries and declined to give an impact statement. The case highlighted Abduljabbar's prior convictions and his status as a foreign student facing educational disruption.
Herbert Buckley, 52, appeared before the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after admitting he robbed a Spar newsagent on 11 December 2015 to obtain "a few bob for Christmas." He threatened the shopwoman with scissors, who called the gardai; he was then apprehended in a taxi. Buckley, who has a long history of drug addiction and 45 prior convictions, including an eight‑year sentence for drug dealing, admitted the robbery and said he was "guilty as sin." He has been seeking treatment for heroin addiction since his 20s and is trying to become drug‑free. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned the case to 27 April to allow Buckley to demonstrate his commitment to a drug‑free life, remanding him on continuing bail until that date. The court noted his previous convictions and the circumstances of the robbery.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Dubliner Patrick Anderson, 22, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to cousins Graham and Paul Dunne at the Wright venue in Swords on February 15, 2015. Prosecution evidence alleged that Anderson punched Graham Dunne in the mouth and head, then struck Paul Dunne multiple times in the head inside the nightclub. Security staff reportedly restrained and ejected all three men, describing them as aggressive. Outside the venue, Anderson allegedly continued the attack, kicking Graham Dunne to the ground and punching Paul Dunne, who suffered a fractured jaw. Graham Dunne sustained a broken knee cap from his fall and requires further treatment. The court heard that all three men had consumed alcohol, and security staff noted Graham Dunne was highly aggressive towards Anderson. Defence counsel Ray Boland BL stated Anderson has no previous convictions and that an offer of compensation was refused by the victims. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned the case to March, when she will hear a plea of mitigation on behalf of Anderson. The matter was adjourned and not concluded.
A 36-year-old man from Donegal pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to sexually exploiting a 15-year-old girl he met on a youth mental health messaging application in late 2014. The court heard the accused initiated contact with the teenager on Talklife, an online peer-support platform, and the pair subsequently met on several occasions in Kildare and Dublin. In January 2015, he invited the girl to a Dublin apartment where they watched a film before he attempted sexual intercourse with her. The girl's family reported her missing and gardaí were notified. She was collected from a bus stop near the apartment the following morning. A second count of meeting a child for exploitation purposes was taken into account. The defence described the man as vulnerable with limited social skills, suffering from depression and anxiety. He has no previous convictions. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned sentencing to February 17.
Musuala Lombe, a 34‑year‑old father of four originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, was sentenced to one year in jail after a jury at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court found him guilty of unlawful possession of a controlled drug and possession of cannabis for the purpose of sale or supply. The offence stemmed from a €20,000 package of cannabis that arrived from Belgium in 2009 and was seized by Gardaí in a Ballycullen, Dublin 24, operation. Lombe was arrested after signing for the package, and a cannabis crusher and a €1,500 Western Union transfer were also seized. The judge, Elma Sheahan, suspended the final year of a two‑year sentence on the condition that Lombe attend a drug‑addiction support service. The court noted that Lombe, who has lived in Ireland since 2000, may face deportation following the conviction.
Ms Joy Imasogie, 40, of Hollystown, Dublin, pleaded not guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to organising the illegal entry of a Nigerian woman into Ireland, compelling her to work as a prostitute, and controlling prostitution activities between March 2006 and April 2008. In garda interviews, she denied trafficking or any involvement in prostitution. She claimed she had come to Ireland from Nigeria in 2002, was married with five children, and had never met the alleged victim before the victim arrived in Ireland. Imasogie said the victim had been having an affair with her husband for three years and wanted a child with him. She also alleged that the victim's mother used voodoo to try to separate her from her husband, but that the attempt failed. The trial is ongoing before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury.
Blake Tobin, 32, of Whitechapel Lawns, Blanchardstown, Dublin, was found guilty in February 2016 of multiple dangerous driving offences, including drink driving, driving without insurance, and driving while disqualified. The jury imposed four consecutive six‑month sentences and a life‑long driving ban, with Judge Pat McCartan stating Tobin "should never ever be allowed behind the wheel of a motor car". On appeal, the Court of Appeal upheld all other aspects of the judgment but reduced the driving ban to forty years, citing the absence of serious injury or death. The appeal court noted Tobin's history of 54 convictions, including road traffic offences, knife possession, drug possession, and assault, and described the case as "appalling" due to his high‑speed, reckless driving and attempts to evade detection. The Court of Appeal also found the original life‑long ban excessive in the circumstances. Blake Tobin pleaded not guilty.
Eduardo Biegelmeyer, a 26‑year‑old Brazilian DJ living in Dublin, was found with more than €500,000 worth of drugs. Gardaí discovered 48,000 ecstasy tablets, mostly hidden in jigsaw boxes, and 354 g of cocaine in his apartment. He pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply at his home on 29 July 2016. The court heard that Biegelmeyer was known in the Brazilian community as a drug dealer and that he had been involved in a drug transaction with another man, during which he was caught with 16 MDMA tablets. He claimed to be a cocaine addict, owed a €40,000 debt, and had earned €1,000 a month as a DJ, supplementing his income by selling drugs. He was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment, with the final four years suspended on the condition that he leave Ireland upon release and not return for 20 years.
In January 2017, a 19‑year‑old kick‑boxing trainee, Jordan Montgomery, was jailed after he kicked an elderly man, Sean Sheehy Snr, in the head, leaving the victim with a brain injury. The incident occurred on Sallynoggin Road when the Sheehys were returning home from a pub. A verbal altercation began after Sheehy Jr. joked about Montgomery's beard, comparing him to Conor McGregor. Montgomery, who was topless and wearing a cast on his arm, struck the victim's head from a standing position. Gardaí found the victim lying in a laneway with blood. Montgomery pleaded guilty to assault causing harm at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The judge noted the victim's mild‑to‑moderate traumatic brain injury, memory and sleep disturbances, and anxiety. Montgomery received a two‑year sentence with the final 15 months suspended, under strict conditions, and was ordered to pay €720 to the victim. The court also acknowledged a letter of apology from Montgomery.
Samuel Power, 31, of Clondalkin, appealed a three‑year jail sentence imposed on 3 May 2016 for possession of a stolen continental caravan in which he lived with his wife and two children. Power had pleaded not guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 18 July 2012. In the appeal he argued that the warrant for the caravan's seizure was invalid because the offence did not carry a penalty of five years or more in the Netherlands, the jurisdiction where the caravan was stolen, and that the warrant did not consider the caravan as a place where people resided. His barrister, Kieran Kelly BL, contended that the judge had failed to recognise the caravan as a place and had not considered whether the principal offender would face a five‑year penalty. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Justices Birmingham, Sheehan and Mahon, reserved judgment on the appeal. Samuel Power was found guilty.
Jonathan Coyle, 33, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for recklessly colliding with Philip Woodcock's car, an act that caused both vehicles to be damaged. The collision followed a violent altercation between the occupants of the two cars, during which Woodcock punched Coyle and an unidentified man stabbed a man who had been with Woodcock's group, killing former soldier Warren O'Connor, 24. Coyle pleaded guilty to endangerment and was already under a ten‑year driving disqualification. Judge Cormac Quinn imposed the sentence, suspended the final 18 months, ordered 18 months of probation supervision from release, and disqualified Coyle from driving for ten years. The court noted Coyle's prior convictions, including five‑year and ten‑year driving bans, robbery, assault and burglary. The hearing was held in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with the O'Connor family present. The case did not involve any charges against Woodcock or others for the killing.
Declan Tynan, 27, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for his role in a violent disorder incident at a Ladbrokes bookmakers in Tallaght, Dublin, on December 13, 2012. Tynan was found guilty by a jury of one count of violent disorder after three men attacked a customer and his brother, with one assailant using a blade. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a four-year sentence, suspending the final year on strict conditions. Tynan, who has 25 previous convictions, maintained his innocence through defence barrister Eoghan Cole, BL, who argued Tynan did not possess the knife. Co-accused Jamie Griffin, 20, pleaded guilty to affray and received a three-year sentence with the final year suspended. A third co-accused received a four-year sentence with the last two years suspended. The court noted that victims refused to cooperate with gardaí, meaning there was no evidence regarding the extent of their injuries. Prosecution barrister Maurice Coffey, BL, highlighted that staff continued serving customers during the attack. The sentencing concluded the procedural stage for these named defendants.
A 26‑year‑old heroin addict, Keith Smith, was jailed for 18 months after attempting to stab a man outside the Courts of Criminal Justice building. Smith, who was experiencing withdrawal symptoms, believed he had been sold poor‑quality heroin in a previous transaction and launched the attack on February 20, 2015. He pleaded guilty to assault with intent to commit bodily harm at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Melanie Greally noted Smith's motivation was to obtain "bad or bogus" heroin and that he was "full of adrenaline" on the day. The judge imposed a three‑year sentence, suspending the final 18 months. Smith had 11 prior convictions and was on methadone at the time of the offence. The victim sustained no injuries. The incident occurred in a CCTV‑covered area and was stopped by Gardaí. The court heard that Smith had a long history of homelessness and heroin addiction.
In a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, former Anglo Irish Bank director Sean FitzPatrick, aged 68, admitted that he first learned of the extent of multi‑million euro loans to himself, his wife and family members in December 2008. The loans grew from about €10 million in 2002 to €103 million in 2007. Prosecutors allege that the bank's auditors were misled by an "artificially reduced" loan figure for two weeks around the year‑end, achieved by short‑term loans from other lenders, including Irish Nationwide Building Society. FitzPatrick faces 27 offences under the 1990 Companies Act, including 22 counts of making misleading statements to auditors and five counts of furnishing false information between 2002 and 2007. He has pleaded not guilty. The trial, presided over by Judge John Aylmer, continues with a jury.
Mark Davis, aged 27, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for dangerous driving after a high‑speed chase in Tallaght on 27 March 2015. He had 207 prior convictions, including 20 for dangerous driving, 21 for failing to show a licence and five for driving while disqualified. The court heard he drove between 80 and 100 km/h in a 50 km/h zone, repeatedly ran red lights, and nearly collided with a Luas tram, endangering passengers, children and other road users. Judge Melanie Greally described the incident as "terrifying" and noted Davis's fascination with cars and a drug habit as contributing factors. She imposed a four‑year sentence, suspended the final two years, and ordered one year of probation supervision. Davis is already serving a separate sentence for a similar offence that ends next June and remains under a 20‑year driving disqualification. Mark Davis pleaded guilty.
In January 2009, former Anglo Irish Bank secretary Natasha Mercer received a letter from Kevin O'Connell of the Office of Director of Corporate Enforcement demanding documentation from the bank. Mercer described the letter's tone as "quite threatening" and felt compelled to inform the bank's chairman, Donal O'Connor, immediately. She replied within days, noting that auditors had extensive access to the bank's working files. The letter warned that failure to provide assistance could result in offences. The case involves Seán FitzPatrick, aged 68, who is on trial for 27 offences under the 1990 Companies Act, including 22 charges of misleading auditors and five charges of furnishing false information between 2002 and 2007. FitzPatrick's alleged loans rose from about €10 million in 2002 to roughly €100 million in 2007, with accusations that the amounts were artificially reduced for two weeks around the bank's financial year‑end. The trial continues. Seán FitzPatrick pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a Nigerian woman alleged she was trafficked into Ireland and forced into prostitution by Joy Imasogie, 40, of Chapleswood Crescent, Hollystown. The woman claimed she was made to have sex with up to ten men a day for no payment, with visits occurring at night or lunchtime. Imasogie allegedly arranged the clients, advertised the service on an English‑based website, and set prices of €150 for half an hour and €250 for an hour. The woman said she was promised up to €2,000 a day, but Imasogie took half for arranging clients and half to pay a €50,000 debt she claimed the woman owed. She reported receiving no allowance, having to demand money for personal items, and being given a false passport. After a Gardaí call, she escaped by jumping out of a window, breaking her leg. She returned to prostitution after healing, travelling for overnight visits. Joy Imasogie pleaded not guilty.
In a 2017 case, Andrei Panzariu, aged 32, was sentenced in July for a phishing scam that caused a woman to transfer €5,000 from her savings to her deposit account, which was then moved to another bank without her knowledge. Panzariu withdrew €4,042 through four separate transactions after the scam. He pleaded guilty to four theft charges in March 2014 and had 25 prior convictions, mainly traffic offences. The victim received an email that appeared to be from Permanent TSB, providing her account details and prompting a transfer. Scammers accessed her SIM card, moved the money to a separate account, and Panzariu withdrew the cash. He was caught on CCTV and claimed he was offered €300 by two men he met at a casino. A balance of €958 was returned to the victim, and the bank and O2 took responsibility for part of the loss.
Michael McDermott, 43, was arrested for burglary in Coolock, Dublin, after a house was broken into on 23 January 2016. He was found asleep on the homeowner's bed after piling up items he intended to steal, having fallen asleep in the box room. McDermott had been heavily intoxicated, having taken a large number of tablets, and was described by the homeowner's sons as "out of his mind." He had cut himself when smashing a front window to gain entry. Garda Richard Carroll reported that McDermott's condition warranted medical treatment and an ambulance was called. McDermott pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and was sentenced to three years' imprisonment by Judge Melanie Greally. He has 95 prior convictions, including assault, burglary, robbery and drug offences. The court noted his history of drug use and a 30‑year addiction that he claimed to have overcome in 2013.
The trial of former Anglo Irish Bank chairman Seán FitzPatrick, aged 68, heard that he borrowed millions from 2002 to 2007 to invest in hotels, property syndicates and oil refinery projects. The State alleged that the loans taken by FitzPatrick, his wife Triona and family members rose from about €10 million in 2002 to roughly €100 million in 2007, and that the amounts were artificially reduced for two weeks around the bank's year‑end statement by short‑term loans from other sources, including Irish Nationwide Building Society. FitzPatrick pleaded not guilty to 27 offences under the 1990 Companies Act, including 22 charges of misleading auditors and five charges of furnishing false information between 2002 and 2007.
A woman has gone on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on charges relating to the alleged trafficking of a young Nigerian woman into Ireland for the purposes of prostitution. Joy Imasogie, aged 40, with an address in Hollystown, Dublin 15, has pleaded not guilty to organising illegal entry, compelling prostitution, and controlling prostitution-related activities between March 2006 and April 2008. During opening submissions, the prosecution outlined allegations that the then 20-year-old complainant was trafficked to Ireland following a "voodoo process" conducted in Nigeria, during which she swore an oath before a traditional practitioner not to report the accused or others involved. The woman told the court she was promised work in a hair salon but was instead coerced into sex work to repay a purported €50,000 debt. The court heard she was brought to locations including Finglas and subsequently to Sligo, where she was forced to engage in sexual activity. The trial continues before Judge Patricia Ryan.
Naila Zaffer, a 38‑year‑old former senior claims official at IPB Insurance, was sentenced to eight months' imprisonment after a Court of Appeal found her earlier two‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended sentence too lenient. Between April 2007 and August 2012, Zaffer defrauded her employer of €220,000 by forging insurance claims, adding an extra claim to policies paid out by IPB. She had pleaded guilty to ten counts of using a false instrument, theft and attempted theft. The original Circuit Court judge noted the money was not recovered and questioned the need for imprisonment. The appellate court, led by Mr Justice Alan Mahon, upheld the headline sentence but suspended all but eight months, citing her cooperation, guilty plea, remorse, lack of prior convictions, psychological vulnerability and efforts to address addiction. She was required to enter a good‑behaviour bond for the suspended period.
Andrew O'Hara, a 36‑year‑old former drug addict turned community youth worker, was found guilty of possessing drugs for sale or supply after Gardaí intercepted him carrying a package of cocaine worth €17,339, some of which was discovered in his underwear. He had been paid €300 to deliver the drugs to an address in Charlemont Street, Dublin 2, and claimed he did not know the recipient or the quantity. O'Hara pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a suspended four‑year term by Judge Melanie Greally, who described the case as "unusual" and noted his previous rehabilitation, low risk of reoffending, lack of criminal history, and recent fatherhood. He has two prior traffic convictions and had previously turned his life around after a 2002 addiction, earning a degree in community care and working with disadvantaged youth. He expressed deep regret and pledged to remain drug‑free. The case remains pending for the other arrested individual.
Sean FitzPatrick, 68, of Greystones, Co Wicklow, is on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where he has pleaded not guilty to 27 alleged offences under the 1990 Companies Act. The State alleges he failed to disclose the extent of multi-million euro loans linked to him between 2002 and 2007, including 22 charges of making misleading statements to auditors and five charges of furnishing false information. Testimony from former Anglo Irish Bank financial controller Cyril Boyd stated he was surprised external auditors never queried the annual refinancing of FitzPatrick's loans using funds from Irish Nationwide Building Society (INBS). Boyd described the practice as common knowledge, noting that quarterly reports to the Central Bank disclosed total director loans, which would show a drop in the final quarter when refinancing occurred. The prosecution contends the loan amounts were artificially reduced for two weeks around the financial year-end. Witness Alan Dukes testified that FitzPatrick told the board in December 2008 he was resigning principally over the loan refinancing issue, claiming the loans were on commercial terms. Former INBS chairman Michael Walsh stated the refinancing was good business and that INBS reported the loans to the financial regulator. The trial is ongoing.
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 Dunne in Balbriggan on 17 January 2014. Gardaí say Handley drifted off the road briefly before his off‑road SUV veered and struck the victims. He had no alcohol or drugs in his system. On 10 May 2016 Judge Patrick McCartan sentenced him to two years' imprisonment, citing Handley's good character and blameless record but stressing the need for drivers to remain alert to fatigue. The judge also banned Handley from driving for ten years. Handley has now filed an appeal against the sentence, arguing that the judge over‑emphasised the Road Safety Authority's fatigue campaign and that the evidence of fatigue was limited to Handley's own brief feeling of tiredness fifteen minutes before the incident.
In 2011, an inspector at a Dublin NCT centre, Darren Meehan, was caught passing a vehicle that independent mechanics had deemed un-roadworthy. Meehan, 40, pleaded guilty to producing a false National Car Test certificate. He admitted checking three faults during a re-test and passing the car when it should have failed, citing peer pressure. Judge Melanie Greally suspended a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence on strict conditions, noting the faults did not pose a safety risk and that Meehan was remorseful. The case highlighted the high responsibility of NCT testers and the broader implications for the community. Meehan was dismissed from his NCT job and later secured new employment. The documentary that exposed the fraud involved a 1996 Toyota Carina that failed its initial test, was paid to pass a re‑test, and was ultimately crushed. The investigation involved Garda officers and legal counsel, with co‑accused awaiting further court action.
Dylan Brophy, 19, was given a suspended three‑year sentence after pleading guilty to robbing two students on Reuben Street on 12 March 2015. The robbery involved a steel mop handle that struck one victim, Bronte Kavanagh, and a metal object that struck the other, Ryan Donnelly. Kavanagh was dragged to the ground, had her bag ripped from her hands, and suffered a mild concussion; Donnelly was punched in the face, bruised and had swelling on his cheek, arms, legs and ribs. Brophy had 21 prior convictions for traffic, public order and drug offences and had spent six months in custody for the robbery last year. He denied threats, claimed he was defending a friend, and was described as extremely remorseful. The judge noted his upbringing in a broken home and drug‑related activity at the time of the offence. The sentence was suspended, with no custodial time imposed.