A German national, Giovanni Obaseki, aged 23, had his seven‑year jail term for a "viscous" robbery of Francis Crossan in Dublin reduced on appeal. The original sentence, handed down by Judge Martin Nolan on 14 April 2016, had two years suspended. On 8 December 2016, the Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice John Edwards, found the suspension insufficient and increased the suspended portion to three‑and‑a‑half years. Obaseki, who had pleaded guilty to the robbery and to two earlier attacks, was required to enter a good‑behaviour bond for the suspended period. The appeal was based on mitigating factors such as his lack of prior convictions and his efforts to improve his life. The final sentence remained seven years imprisonment, with the final three‑and‑a‑half years suspended.
Jamie Shorthall, a 30‑year‑old plumber from Monkstown Farm, Dún Laoghaire, carried out an armed raid on an Applegreen petrol station in Dublin on 17 June 2015 to pay off drug and gambling debts. He wore a white boiler suit and a black balaclava, pointed a realistic replica of a Glock pistol at shop worker Phil Collins, and demanded the cash tills be opened. Collins, frightened, handed over €1,100. Shorthall escaped on a push bike left outside the shop. He pleaded guilty to robbery and possession of an offensive weapon. The court noted his 20 prior convictions, including burglary, criminal damage and theft, and that he had relapsed into cocaine and gambling problems. His father had previously paid up to €14,000 to menacing individuals demanding money for his son's debts. A psychological report said Shorthall was under duress and threatened with harm to his family. Judge John Aylmer adjourned sentencing to the following Monday.
Justin Murray, aged 38, was jailed for a 2014 burglary in Clontarf where he forced his way into a 12‑year‑old boy's home, forced the child to help gather valuables, and kicked him when the boy tried to call for help. Murray, who has long struggled with drug addiction, claimed "It's not me, it's the addict in me." He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Martin Nolan, noting the seriousness of the offence and Murray's 23 prior burglary convictions, imposed a three‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, citing the terror inflicted on the boy. Murray admitted he had likely broken in but denied striking the child, and he was not invited into the house. The boy later identified him on CCTV and was rescued by neighbours and Gardaí. The case highlighted the impact of drug‑related crime on vulnerable children.
In December 2016, 21‑year‑old Carl McGuiness was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for robbing a taxi driver, Harry Boland, to obtain money for drugs. McGuiness and an accomplice, who had been in the back seat, seized Boland's vehicle on Glasnevin Avenue, threatening him with a syringe and demanding cash. After the robbery, McGuiness drove the taxi, crashed into a woman's car in Blanchardstown, and was later arrested in Dublin's IFSC. He pleaded guilty to robbery, damaging a car and leaving the scene of an accident. The judge, Melanie Greally, noted his 48 prior convictions and the escalation of violence after a 2013 prison term. McGuiness's final 18 months of the sentence were suspended, and he was placed on a methadone programme in custody. Boland has since quit taxi driving due to the risk.
Judge Melanie Greally addressed legal teams at a pre-trial hearing in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court regarding the upcoming trial of Anti-Austerity Alliance TD Paul Murphy, Dublin Councillor Kieran Mahon, and four other men. The defendants face charges arising from the alleged false imprisonment of then Tánaiste Joan Burton during a water protest in Jobstown on November 15, 2014. The judge warned that jury selection would be a "difficult exercise" due to potential sympathies for either side, instructing counsel to identify unsuitable jurors by the next pre-trial hearing on January 26. Prosecuting counsel Tony McGillicuddy noted that all defendants sought a second pre-trial hearing to reach consensus on these matters. The trial is scheduled to proceed as planned on April 24. The accused include Michael Murphy, Frank Donaghy, Ken Purcell, Michael Banks, and Scott Masterson. Additionally, the court noted that a second trial of six people accused of false imprisonment is due for October 2, 2017, with a pre-trial hearing on June 8, 2017. A final trial of five people accused of violent disorder is set for April 9, 2018, with a pre-trial date of December 13, 2017. The matter was adjourned to the next pre-trial date.
James Cash, 59, was found by a judge in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to have been under the influence of alcohol and tablets when he knocked on Pamela Creighton's granny flat in Blanchardstown and attempted to attack her with a samurai sword and a kitchen knife. He pleaded guilty to two counts of producing a weapon on Corduff Avenue. Cash's defence counsel, Mark Lynam, explained that the defendant suffers from severe heart disease and has had several surgeries, and that further surgery may require leg amputation due to lack of circulation. The judge, Melanie Greally, expressed surprise that a person with a serious medical condition could commit such menacing acts. The case was adjourned pending a probation services report, with sentencing scheduled for February 17 next year. The incident occurred around 1 a.m. when the Creighton family was preparing to go to bed, and a struggle ensued before Gardaí were called.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Melanie Greally sentenced Silviu Voivod, 31, to 18 months imprisonment, suspended, for glassing a lounge‑boy, Robert McMickan, at Dandelion Bar & Nightclub on 12 October 2014. Voivod, a first‑time offender with no prior convictions, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. The victim, a first‑year college student, suffered the loss of two front teeth, facial scarring, and medical costs exceeding €5,000, and missed two weeks of college. Voivod's defence argued his blameless life before and after the incident, while the prosecution highlighted the violent nature of the attack. Judge Greally emphasised the need for deterrence in glassing cases, citing the "horrific glassing culture" that has emerged, and noted Voivod's remorse and role as sole family earner. Voivod shook his head after the sentence was handed down.
In a robbery on 2 November 2015, John Joyce, aged 25, used an Airsoft pistol to threaten a staff member at a dry‑cleaning shop he had previously visited for alterations. He forced the employee to hand over €436 in cash. Joyce was later apprehended at a halting site where a car containing an Airsoft handgun was found. He pleaded guilty to this robbery, as well as to a robbery on 21 August 2014 and to damaging cars with a screwdriver in mid‑2014. The judge imposed a six‑year sentence, suspending the last 18 months. Joyce has 66 prior convictions, including robbery, burglary and handling stolen property. The victim reported nightmares and a change of workplace following the incident. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Michael Kinsella, aged 24, has been sentenced to two years imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after admitting he intimidated a witness in a criminal investigation. Kinsella, formerly of addresses in Tallaght, Dublin and Ardkeen, Cavan, pleaded guilty to sending a threatening text message to a woman who had provided statements to gardaí investigating a murder inquiry in October 2011. The message contained references to violence and named a relative with whom the witness was residing. Detective Garda Brendan O'Hora gave evidence that the text would have been understood as a threat. Judge Terence O'Sullivan noted the seriousness with which he regarded witness intimidation and imposed the sentence to run concurrently with Kinsella's existing 15-year prison term for manslaughter.
Alison Cleary, aged 22, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for possessing €128,000 worth of cocaine in a wardrobe at her family home when she was 19. She pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply on 4 February 2015 and was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 19 July 2016. Cleary appealed the sentence, but the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, ruling that a three‑year term was not harsh for the amount of drugs involved. Justice Alan Mahon, sitting with Justices George Birmingham and Garrett Sheehan, noted that the judge had appropriately considered mitigating factors such as Cleary's guilty plea, her youth, lack of prior convictions and her minor role in the drug consignment. The court found no evidence that her medical history or behaviour impaired her understanding of the seriousness of the offence, and upheld the custodial sentence. Cleary was taken to prison to continue serving her term.
A 16-year-old boy was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for assaulting a victim and causing criminal damage on the Luas. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a three-year detention order, suspending the final 18 months on strict conditions. The defendant pleaded guilty to two charges of assaulting the then 16-year-old boy and criminal damage, dated January 23 and February 28, 2015. Prosecution evidence detailed an unprovoked assault in a Tallaght park where the victim was hit, kicked, and stabbed, followed by the incident on the tram where black paint was thrown at the victim and other passengers, including an elderly woman whose coat was destroyed. The court noted the defendant had 34 previous convictions and had breached bail conditions. Judge Greally described the assaults as violent and vicious, causing disruption to the Luas service. She accepted the defendant's later admissions and cooperation with the Garda investigation. The judge warned that failure to change his behavior would result in a life behind bars. The matter was finalized with this sentence, which includes the suspended portion and strict conditions.
John Prior, a 68‑year‑old former guesthouse owner, was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment after an appeal reduced his original 18‑month term. He had been found guilty of two counts of indecent assault on his 10‑year‑old niece in 1985, with three other counts unresolved. The appeal argued that the custodial sentence had caused significant financial loss, including the loss of insurance for his hospitality properties, which were used for short‑term rentals. The Court of Appeal considered the impact of the sentence on his business and, noting his charitable work, decided a 12‑month term was appropriate. Prior had accepted the jury's verdict, and the court re‑sentenced him to 12 months imprisonment. The hearing was brief and focused on the seriousness of the offences and the defendant's circumstances. John Prior pleaded not guilty.
Amanda Daly, 36, was arrested after dropping a purse containing a social welfare receipt near the scene of a robbery on Summer Street South on 15 April 2015. She pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbery of €700 from a taxi driver. Daly, who has no fixed abode and 39 prior convictions for district court offences, was allowed out on bail to attend residential drug treatment. Judge Melanie Greally remanded her in custody with consent to bail on the condition that she stay at the treatment centre for the duration of her rehabilitation, and adjourned the case to 19 January to assess her progress. Her accomplice, Jason Hynes, 43, had earlier received a four‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for his role. The robbery involved the taxi driver being threatened with a syringe and forced to hand over money, a wallet and keys. Daly was found by Gardai after the purse was dropped and was subsequently arrested.
In a Dublin city‑centre incident on 11 February 2015, 41‑year‑old Colm Donnelly broke into a woman's home, threatened to kill her, and dragged her about 60 metres down a street while brandishing a metal bar. He told Kelly Cullen he was HIV‑positive and forced her to withdraw money from an ATM. Cullen escaped when a passer‑by intervened, and the two fled, but Donnelly pursued them for a time before they outran him. Donnelly had earlier that day broken into an apartment at The Waterside, Ringsend, threatened a man with the bar, robbed his mobile phone, robbed a shop, and stole €300. He pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and false imprisonment, and was sentenced to three‑and‑a‑half years in prison, with the final six months suspended under conditions. The sentence was back‑dated to his initial custody in February.
Mark McCowen, aged 40, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbing a man with cerebral palsy on 31 March 2014. He admitted he was heavily intoxicated, had no knowledge of the victim's disability, and had previously been convicted 66 times, including a five‑year manslaughter sentence in 1996. McCowen claimed he had stopped drinking, attends Alcoholic Anonymous, and expressed remorse. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned the case to 15 February next year, ordering a probation report and a condition that he abstain from alcohol over the adjourned period, with potential custody if he is found drunk. He was arrested after Gardaí received CCTV footage; he sold the stolen phone for €100 and spent it on alcohol. The victim suffered a cut from a kick but declined to give a victim impact statement. The court noted McCowen's long‑term addiction and health issues.
Derek Mulligan, a 43‑year‑old former estate agent turned DJ from Tallaght, was sentenced by Judge Melanie Greally at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to eight years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended. He pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply on 5 February 2015. Mulligan had previously been convicted of drug and firearm offences. He admitted that he owed €30,000 and that he had been told he would receive a €500 reduction on that debt if he agreed to transport and deliver cocaine, cannabis, ecstasy, mixing agents and prescription medication. Mulligan claimed he was coerced, saying he was "dancing to their tune" and had no choice. Gardaí had initially caught him with about €20,000 worth of cannabis in his car after a traffic offence, and a subsequent search of his home uncovered €592,471 worth of drugs, including €495,000 of cocaine.
James Maughan, 38, was sentenced to three years in jail with the final two years suspended after a repeat social welfare fraud conviction. He had previously claimed disability benefit in his own name and then fraudulently applied for Jobseeker's Allowance under the false name 'Terence Maughan', stealing €438. Facial‑recognition software used by Department of Social Protection staff linked his public services card photo to his true identity. Maughan had 11 prior social welfare fraud convictions dating back to 2013 and a total of 55 convictions overall, most theft‑related. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, was remanded in custody since November 1, and had attended rehabilitation at Cuan Mhuire in August before leaving in September. Judge Melanie Greally noted his drug‑free status, work while remanded, and repayment of the debt to the State, and imposed the suspended sentence. The case was heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Shoaib Hamid, aged 44, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm after a dispute over prayer etiquette outside the Fonthill Retail Park mosque in June 2015. He attacked an elderly man who had walked in front of a person praying, leading to a brief argument. Hamid then punched the man, striking him on the head and later using a carpet knife to hit him on the back of the head, causing cuts and a permanent scar. Hamid expressed remorse, citing fasting for Ramadan as a possible factor, and has since apologized to his Imam and moved to a different mosque. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to two and a half years, which she suspended in full, noting the seriousness of the knife assault and that it was out of character for him.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Tautvydas Tamulis, a 30‑year‑old Lithuanian resident of Ashbourne, pleaded guilty to assaulting Garda Patrick O'Rourke in Finglas on 30 June 2015. Tamulis admitted he had consumed a bottle and a half of spirits before the incident and that his memory of the event was "sketchy at best." He was charged with gouging the Garda's eyes and punching him, actions that left the officer unfit for work for several days but caused no long‑term damage. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, suspended in full on strict conditions, warning Tamulis that failure to abstain from alcohol would result in imprisonment. Tamulis promised to quit drinking and entered a bond to keep the peace. The case highlighted his 25 prior district court convictions, including dangerous driving causing serious harm.
In a case reported on 30 November 2016, Charles Farrell, aged 44, was arrested by Gardaí for loading two historic gates from Convent Cottage, Firhouse Road, into the back of a van. The gates, dating from 1710, were described by the owner as "priceless." Farrell was also charged with dangerous driving after he drove a stolen car through Tallaght on 25 June 2015, ignoring traffic signals and driving on the wrong side of the road. He pleaded guilty to theft of the gates and to unlawful use of a car and dangerous driving. The court adjourned his sentencing to 14 February 2017 to allow a probation report. Two co‑accused, James Spellman Junior and Trevor Matthews, received two‑year suspended sentences in January for their roles in the theft. Farrell has six prior convictions and was on bail at the time of the dangerous driving incident.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Paul Brennan, aged 29, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Prison Officer Michael Delaney at Mountjoy Prison on 23 April 2011. Brennan, who had 56 prior convictions, threw a punch that ignited a violent attack by ten inmates on Delaney, who was head‑butted, punched, kicked and dragged to the ground. Delaney described lasting physical injuries, flashbacks and post‑traumatic stress, and said the assault robbed him of his career and sporting life. Brennan's counsel said he had turned his life around after release in 2012, citing his wife and family as stabilising influences. Judge Melanie Greally noted the incident was serious but limited to a single punch, and adjourned the case for a community service report, indicating a possible two‑year suspended sentence with one year probation and 240 hours community service. The case will return on 16 January 2017.
Joseph Hickey, aged 42, was jailed for five years after pleading guilty to possessing drugs worth over €13,000 for sale or supply at Tallaght on 28 October 2015. The court found he was a "small fish" in a larger drug operation and had no knowledge of the drugs' full value, which was €2.85 million. Hickey's involvement was motivated by a drug debt, and he had a history of chronic alcohol and cocaine addiction. He had four prior convictions, including one for child cruelty, and had received residential treatment for his addiction. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a seven‑year sentence with the final two years suspended, resulting in a five‑year custodial term. The case was part of an undercover operation that seized 28 bags of cocaine (27.9 kg) and 13 bags of heroin (6.4 kg) from Hickey's vehicle. The co‑accused was also charged with drug and firearm offences and received a similar suspended sentence.
Thomas Lennon, aged 24, was one of eight inmates who caused a riot at Cloverhill Prison on 29 July 2015. During the disturbance, a 21‑year‑old Afghan inmate was held hostage, punched, kicked and stabbed with a broken piece of Perspex, suffering superficial cuts to his face, hands and arms. Lennon was heard threatening staff and shouting, "You think Isis are bad? We are going to behead him." A female prison officer was also kicked and forced to the ground. Lennon pleaded guilty to violent disorder, false imprisonment, assault causing harm and criminal damage. He had a three‑year robbery sentence pending, set for release in May 2018, and 34 prior convictions. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a concurrent four‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, with the final 18 months suspended on strict conditions, including good behaviour for four years.
Patrick Purcell, 33, of Lucan, Co Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to nine years' imprisonment for possession of drugs, with the final two years suspended. He pleaded guilty to possessing 18kg of ketamine, valued at €1,080,000, and 212g of cocaine for sale or supply at a rented premises in Straffan, Kildare, on June 4, 2015. He also admitted to possessing 2.2kg of ketamine, worth an estimated €103,123, at Maiden's Row, Chapelizod, on the same date. Co-accused Jordan Maher, 19, of Lucan, pleaded guilty to possessing the ketamine at Maiden's Row when spotted handling the package. Judge Melanie Greally noted Purcell's four previous convictions, including a prior suspended sentence for a drug offence. She accepted his genuine regret, cooperation with gardaí, and the submission of impressive testimonials. Purcell had claimed he was paid €500 to hold the drugs and used the storage unit for landscaping tools. The court acknowledged his role in storing and assisting with distribution, while noting his alcohol issues. The sentence reflects the severity of the offences and his criminal history, with the suspended portion contingent on good behaviour.
James McLoughlin, 42, of Summer Street South, was given a suspended three‑year sentence for tampering with ESB and Bord Gais meters between July 2013 and February 2014. He admitted to criminally damaging two Bord Gais meters and an ESB meter, possessing a stolen Bord Gais meter, and interfering with meters at Benbulbin Road, Drimnagh. McLoughlin offered a "cheaper" energy service, claiming to allow free gas flow for €100 and advising a woman to top her meter by €10 a week. Engineers from Bord Gais and ESB described his actions as extremely dangerous, risking electrocution, gas leaks and explosions. He has 42 prior convictions, including traffic and theft offences, and has serious mental health and addiction problems. The judge noted his efforts at rehabilitation and imposed a suspended sentence to avoid detrimental incarceration at this time. James McLoughlin pleaded guilty.
Ciaran Kenny, aged 20, pleaded guilty to robbery and possession of a meat cleaver in Crumlin on 30 November 2015. Gardaí Cathal McGeoghan and David Currivan were on duty at a checkpoint in Crumlin when they were alerted to two armed men entering a nearby shop. The officers chased the men in their patrol car and on foot, using pepper spray when the men threatened the cashiers. One man was arrested by McGeoghan, while the other, Kenny, was spotted by a Garda helicopter hiding in a back garden and was subsequently arrested. Kenny was found with a meat cleaver. Judge Elma Sheehan sentenced him to three and a half years, suspending the final nine months on the condition that he engage with the Probation Service. The sentence takes into account any time he has spent in custody. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
George Crombie, aged 47, was sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment after pleading guilty to eight counts of sexually assaulting his stepdaughter, Laura Johnston, between February 2004 and December 2006. The assaults took place in their Ringsend home and involved Crombie placing a dog lead around Johnston's neck and a knife in his pyjama waistband. He threatened her that "murder in this flat" would occur if she disclosed the abuse. Johnston, now in her twenties, gave a victim impact statement condemning Crombie for betraying her trust and love. Judge Melanie Greally noted the abuse was "unrelenting" and "predictable," occurring every Thursday and Saturday, and described it as a breach of trust that would leave a lasting impact. The court imposed concurrent sentences totaling two and a half years.
Shire Ali, a 41‑year‑old Somalian with a brain injury, was arrested at Dublin Airport after customs found 38.3 kg of khat in his luggage. He had travelled from Nairobi to Glasgow, but was stopped while transiting Dublin. Ali pleaded guilty to importation and possession of the drug, which is banned in Ireland. He has no prior convictions and had been in custody since his arrest. The court, noting his vulnerability and lack of fixed abode, imposed a suspended sentence of two and a half years. The suspended portion will be enforced only if he fails to leave Ireland within 72 hours. Arrangements are being made for a flight to Stockholm to facilitate his departure. The judge highlighted that Ali's cognitive difficulties, stemming from an inter‑cranial haemorrhage in 2008, required additional assistance in managing his life.
A 34-year-old Mauritian man has been sentenced to two months in custody at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following his guilty plea to three counts of deception. Resen Modeley facilitated marriages of convenience between Irish residents and European Union nationals, charging €7,000 per arrangement. He admitted to securing false employment letters submitted with three separate intention-to-marry applications filed with civil registrars in Monaghan, Dublin, and Naas in May 2015. Judge Pauline Codd suspended the remainder of a two-year sentence on condition that Modeley depart Ireland upon release and remain outside the country for five years. A deportation order was granted. The investigation, initiated following the discovery of the bogus marriages, led gardaí to arrest Modeley at his home in November 2015. He cooperated during questioning and was assessed as having no entitlement to remain in the jurisdiction.
Edward Travers, 24, of Tallaght, Dublin, was sentenced at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for burglary. He pleaded guilty to breaking into the home of a 66-year-old priest on December 2, 2013. The court heard that Travers, along with two co-accused, kicked in the door while the priest was on the phone. One co-accused allegedly punched the victim after he asked them to leave. Travers was identified via CCTV and arrested the following year. Judge Melanie Greally noted the victim was shaken, lost confidence, and upgraded his home security. The judge acknowledged Travers' remorse and positive steps toward addressing his drug addiction, including completing an anger management course. Despite his 70 previous convictions, Judge Greally imposed a three-year sentence. The final year of the sentence was suspended, and Travers was ordered to serve 12 months under probation supervision. The sentence was backdated to July, when evidence was originally heard. The matter was finalised with this sentencing order.
Musuala Lombe, a 34‑year‑old Congolese father of four who has lived in Ireland since 2000, was found guilty by a jury of unlawful possession of a controlled drug and possession of cannabis for the purpose of sale or supply on 27 April 2009. The cannabis, worth €20,000, was seized from a suspicious package that customs and excise officers in Portlaoise intercepted on 22 April 2009. Lombe signed for the package at a Ballycullen address, was arrested five minutes later, and was not charged until 2014. He has no prior convictions and has not been involved with Gardaí since the offence. The court noted the seriousness of the offence, ordered a probation report and adjourned sentencing to 23 January next year. The case also raised questions about the renewal of his green card, which has been subject to frequent renewal and may be affected by the criminal proceedings.
An English man, Mark Barber, 49, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for stealing 67 laptops from a Dublin technology company. In October 2014 he contacted the company, inquired about 98 laptops, and sent a purchase order for €675 each. When informed that only 67 were in stock, he accepted the partial shipment. Barber used a false identity to place the order and rented a premises on a three‑month lease under that name to receive the laptops. He pleaded guilty to theft at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 24 October 2010 and had 21 prior convictions in England. The company suffered a loss of just over €45,000. Judge Pauline Codd noted the planning involved and suspended the final two years of the sentence on strict conditions. The case was prosecuted by Fiona Murphy BL, with Detective Garda Kelly Dutton providing evidence.
Judge Melanie Greally sentenced three defendants at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for their roles in a drug operation on October 10, 2015. Graham O'Toole and Alan Dowling pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply, while Tara Kennedy pleaded guilty to allowing her home to be used for the sale, supply, or distribution of 17.37 kilogrammes of cannabis valued at €347,400. The court accepted that O'Toole was responsible for drugs valued at €1,158,600 found in his home, and Dowling for drugs valued at €854,000 found in his vehicle. Judge Greally imposed a nine-year sentence on O'Toole, suspending the final four years. She rejected a defense application for him to begin his sentence after Christmas. For Dowling, the judge imposed a seven-year sentence, suspending the final two years. Kennedy received a four-year sentence, which was suspended in full due to exceptional circumstances regarding the care of her three-year-old son. The judge noted O'Toole's disadvantaged background and Dowling's remorse, while acknowledging Kennedy's lack of previous convictions and her role as a mother. All three defendants were convicted based on their guilty pleas.
Shire Ali, a 41‑year‑old Somalian with a brain injury, will be sentenced for bringing 38.3 kg of khat into Dublin Airport from Kenya. He travelled to Africa believing it was a holiday, but was returned to Sweden after two days with the drugs. Khat, a north‑African plant with amphetamine‑like effects, was outlawed in Ireland in 2014. Ali pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 24 June 2016 for possession of khat at Terminal Two. He had no fixed abode, no previous convictions, and was in custody since his arrest. Customs stopped him while transiting from Nairobi to Glasgow; his suitcases were searched and the drug was found. He claimed he was given the bags by a man in Kenya and did not realise he was carrying khat. He had no money on him. Prosecutor Dara Hayes noted three similar cases with similar itineraries.
Martin Morgan, 52, was convicted of organising prostitution and running a brothel at a Bachelor's Walk apartment in London between 22 August and 10 October 2005. He was found guilty by a jury and jailed for three years in 2008. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court subsequently ordered the confiscation of €252,908, calculated as the likely net profit of the business. Morgan has applied for legal aid to appeal that confiscation order. His barrister, Diana Stuart BL, argued that he is now a "man of straw" and that without legal aid he faces serious consequences, including a possible three‑year imprisonment if he does not pay. Counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions, Fergal Foley BL, opposed the application, stating that granting legal aid would effectively concede that Morgan has no criminal assets. Martin Morgan pleaded not guilty.
A 19‑year‑old named Dylan Thomas was sentenced to three years' detention for robbing a group of American tourists in a north Dublin park and for assaulting two gardai. CCTV footage showed Thomas, part of a large group of youths, robbed the tourists of a camera bag and attacked them when they tried to recover it. He later punched and kicked a garda who directed him to leave the area and again assaulted another garda who attempted to search him at the garda station. Thomas pleaded guilty to assaulting Garda Stephen Harte and Garda Keith Delaney, and to the robbery. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a four‑year detention sentence, suspending the final year on strict conditions, including cooperation with the Probation Service, attendance at psychiatric and educational services, and addressing drug, alcohol and anger‑control issues. The court noted Thomas's prospects for rehabilitation and his willingness to engage in positive pursuits.
Mihail Ghimisli, 35, a taxi‑driver originally from Romania, was found guilty of harassing his ex‑girlfriend Larina Belova on four occasions between May and July 2014. The court described his behaviour as stemming from "unrequited love" and noted that Belova had suffered ongoing distress, having moved homes, changed jobs and sold her car because of the harassment. Judge Melanie Greally imposed an 18‑month sentence, suspended in full, with strict conditions: Ghimisli must leave Ireland within 48 hours, provide his Romanian address to the investigating officer, and may not communicate with Belova for ten years or approach within 20 kilometres of her home or workplace. Failure to comply would constitute a separate offence. The judge warned that non‑compliance could result in his return to Ireland for prosecution. Ghimisli pleaded guilty and expressed a desire to apologise, but the court emphasised the seriousness of his repeated harassment.
James Kennedy, 34, from Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin, pleaded guilty to arson on Westland Row on 12 September 2015. He set a motorbike on fire, causing a passing woman and child to flee for safety. CCTV shows Kennedy moving the bike, tampering with the petrol tank, placing lottery slips under it, and then setting them alight in a nearby café. The bike, worth €3,000, was completely destroyed. Kennedy had 40 prior convictions, including criminal damage, theft, public order and violent behaviour. He admits alcohol problems, stating he was "full of alcohol" after drinking a bottle of vodka that day, and does not recall the incident. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned the case to allow assessment for residential drug treatment and ordered a probation report. Kennedy will be sentenced next February.
Jamie Morris Cox, 19, pleaded guilty to arson of a Mercedes SUV at Rathfarnham Shopping Centre on 18 October 2015. He admitted he had no recollection of lighting the fire, describing himself as "crazy drunk, off my head in a different world." Garda Shane McGrath reported that staff at a nearby pub had thrown Morris Cox and another man out, after which they smashed the vehicle's windows and set it on fire. The fire was extinguished by bar staff, and the men fled toward a housing estate where they were later arrested. The damage to the vehicle was €5,000, and the owner, a carpenter, was unable to work for two weeks. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced Morris Cox to a three‑year suspended prison term, noting his admission of responsibility, remorse, and the positive influence of his grandfather. The sentence was suspended in full, with the court emphasising the need for intervention to prevent future criminal behaviour.
A 17‑year‑old Dublin teenager was sentenced to a four‑year detention term that was fully suspended and ordered to complete 240 hours of community service within 12 months. He pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and violent disorder at a local park on 19 September 2015. The victim, a 17‑year‑old boy, was stabbed multiple times in the back, hit with a crutch and a baton, and suffered severe injuries that required hospital treatment and caused post‑traumatic stress disorder. The victim had failed his Leaving Cert and lost a soccer scholarship to the US. The court noted the victim's bright prospects and the attackers' misguided retaliation, and accepted that the teenager had shown remorse and had no prior convictions. The suspended sentence was imposed as the last resort for a minor offender.
The trial of former Anglo Irish Bank chairman Sean FitzPatrick, accused of misleading auditors about multi‑million euro loans, is running significantly over schedule, Judge John Aylmer told the jury. The State alleges that loans taken by FitzPatrick, his wife and family rose from about €10 million in 2002 to roughly €100 million in 2007, and that the amount was artificially reduced for two weeks around the bank's year‑end by short‑term loans from other sources, including Irish Nationwide Building Society, and that these were not disclosed to Ernst & Young auditors, contrary to the 1990 Companies Act. FitzPatrick, 68, pleaded not guilty to 21 charges of making misleading statements to auditors and six charges of furnishing false information between 2002 and 2007.
A 35‑year‑old taxi driver from Romania, Mihail Ghimisli, appeared in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court charged with harassing his ex‑girlfriend, Larina Belova, on four occasions between May and July 2014. He pleaded guilty to one count of harassment. Ghimisli had two earlier convictions for harassing Belova after their brief relationship ended in 2011, and he has a total of six previous convictions. The court heard that Belova lived in constant fear, moved homes, changed jobs and sold her car because of the harassment. Witnesses described Ghimisli following her to a petrol station, knocking on her door, grabbing her hand as she entered a friend's house, and throwing flowers and chocolates at her car. Ghimisli offered to leave Ireland if given a suspended sentence. The judge noted a psychological element and adjourned the case for sentencing.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Laura Johnston, now in her twenties, gave an emotional victim impact statement about sexual abuse by her stepfather, George Crombie, who was 47. Johnston, aged 10 to 13 during the abuse, described how Crombie put a dog lead around her neck and used a knife while assaulting her. He also threatened her that if she told her mother, "there would be murder in this flat." The abuse occurred over a three‑year period, mainly on Thursday and Saturday nights, when Crombie was drinking. Johnston said she had once believed Crombie was her real father until her mother revealed he was her stepfather. Crombie pleaded guilty to eight counts of sexual assault. The case was adjourned for sentencing next Monday.
Derek Mulligan, aged 43, was arrested after Gardaí found over €600,000 worth of drugs in his possession, including €495,000 of cocaine, cannabis resin, ecstasy, prescription medication and mixing agents. He claimed he was a "runner" for a drug operation, saying he owed €30,000 and that he would receive a €500 reduction on his debt if he delivered drugs. Mulligan first appeared in court on 5 February 2014, pleading guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply. He has two prior convictions for drugs and firearms. Judge Melanie Greally remanded him on continuing bail until 2 December, after noting he had taken responsibility for the drugs but feared naming others. Mulligan also said he was a carer for his elderly parents and that he had been working as a DJ at the time of his arrest.
During a hearing, a court heard that Gareth Carroll, 35, was threatened by inmates that his brother's legs would be broken if he refused to smuggle heroin, Valium and Xanax into Mountjoy Prison. Carroll, who was on temporary release, received the call while his brother was in prison. He returned to the facility and officers found drug paraphernalia in his cell; the drugs fell out of his underwear when he was searched. Carroll pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of €1,497 of heroin, €768 of diazepam and €286 of alprazolam on 10 May 2015. He was serving a sentence for a drug offence at the time. Garda Barry Brennan confirmed that both Carroll and his brother were serving sentences in Mountjoy when the drugs were brought in. Carroll admitted concealing the heroin and tablets internally. The brother was later placed in protective custody. Mr.
A former solicitor who pleaded guilty to stealing €260,000 from clients will have her case re-sentenced after the presiding judge stood aside on grounds of a potential conflict of interest. Jacqueline Durcan, previously from County Mayo but now resident in Brussels, took the money from mixed client deposit accounts between February 2008 and January 2011 whilst running Durcan Solicitors in Castlebar. Judge Melanie Greally, sitting at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, adjourned sentencing after learning that a member of her wider family was known to Durcan's family. The case has been transferred to Judge Patricia Ryan, with proceedings to resume on 2 December. Durcan admitted making multiple withdrawals, including €51,500 used to purchase her own home. The Law Society subsequently paid €206,184 in compensation to affected clients, which Durcan has repaid. She was struck off the roll and has since relocated to Belgium, where she teaches English as a foreign language.
In a 2016 Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 17‑year‑old gang member received a three‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for assault causing harm after a man was stabbed 21 times and pushed into the Royal Canal on 18 May 2015. The court heard that the accused claimed to have helped the victim out of the water, but CCTV footage was too indistinct to identify who stabbed the victim. The boy, who pleaded guilty, had 18 prior convictions, including eight for robbery, and was already serving a sentence for assault causing serious harm. Judge Melanie Greally described the attack as "extremely vicious and violent" and noted the accused's "enormous capacity for violent acts." She emphasised rehabilitation for the minor, balancing the seriousness of the offence with his youth, negative peer group and chaotic lifestyle, and imposed the three‑and‑a‑half‑year detention.
Anne Fennell, aged 57, received a suspended five‑year sentence for repeatedly making obscene and threatening phone calls to President Michael D. Higgins, the Department of Finance, the European Commission, An Post, and several TDs between February and December 2014. She also pleaded guilty to harassing Fr Desmond Byrne in 2006. The court noted that many of her threats were taken seriously and required significant resources to investigate, but that she had no prior convictions and a vulnerable psychological background. Judge Melanie Greally imposed consecutive sentences totaling five years, suspended in full, and ordered 18 months of probation with psychiatric and therapeutic services. The decision reflected her remorse and the lack of evidence that she could carry out the threats. The case highlighted the seriousness of her conduct and the court's focus on rehabilitation rather than incarceration.
Ross Glynn, a plumber from Palmerstown, pleaded guilty to burglary at the Dublin Fire Brigade Workshop in Grangegorman Lower on August 28, 2010. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a four-month sentence, backdated to when Glynn entered custody in July, resulting in him being released as a free man. Glynn had fled to New Zealand after being granted bail, remaining at large because Ireland lacks an extradition treaty with that country. He was arrested in a Palmerstown pub earlier this year. His co-accused, Darren Snee, was sentenced to three years with 28 months suspended for the same offence. The pair allegedly stole €82,512 worth of firefighting equipment, including life-saving rescue tools. Snee gained entry using a key fob from his father, who worked at the workshop. Prosecutors argued Glynn knew the nature of the theft, despite his claim that he believed Snee had permission. Glynn received €300 from the sale of the stolen goods. Judge Nolan noted Glynn had no previous convictions apart from three road traffic offences and accepted he was unlikely to re-offend.
Joseph Hickey, 42, was found with more than €2.8 million worth of cocaine and heroin in his possession. He pleaded guilty to possessing drugs valued over €13,000 for sale or supply at Tallaght on 28 October 2015. Garda Stephen Connor explained that undercover officers were surveilling a carpark on Greenhills Road when Hickey arrived in a grey Fiat. He parked beside a co‑accused, and the two men exchanged bags that were later seized. The seized drugs included 28 bags of cocaine (27.9 kg, €1,957,000) and 13 bags of heroin (6.4 kg, €896,000), totalling €2.85 million. Hickey's co‑accused was charged with drug and firearm offences and received a seven‑year sentence with two years suspended. Hickey had four prior convictions, including one for child cruelty, and was described by his defence as a "small fish" who did not know the drugs' value. He has since undergone residential treatment for addiction.