A 46‑year‑old man, Declan Jordan, pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a 19‑year‑old agency worker who was caring for his mother. The assault occurred on 8 June 2015 at his mother's home. Jordan admitted he had been drinking and described the incident as a "once off" event. He expressed embarrassment and shame. The judge noted the victim's clear refusal and the severe impact on her career, family and relationships. Jordan had no prior convictions and had been attending counselling for alcohol misuse. He was given a three and a half year sentence, fully suspended, and ordered to complete 18 months of probation supervision, with ongoing participation in offence‑focused work and alcohol‑related support. He also paid €1,800 to the victim for economic loss, which the judge considered but did not deem decisive for sentencing. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
A 19‑year‑old named Niall Brooks was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, with the final six months suspended, for a "vile, barbaric and cowardly assault" on two St Patrick's Day volunteers at a Luas station in Tallaght. The assault, which took place on 17 March 2015, involved Brooks and another teenager repeatedly kicking the men in the head and body. The victims suffered extensive injuries, including skull fractures, broken eye sockets, broken cheek bones, and long‑term psychological effects. Brooks pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm. He has three prior convictions and is currently serving a sentence for a robbery committed in 2014. The judge noted that the victims were innocent and that nothing they did warranted the assault. The court also heard victim impact statements detailing the victims' physical and economic losses. The co‑accused, Dean McKeever, was also jailed for three years for his part in the assault.
Thomas Wall, 29, was sentenced to two years in jail, with the final two months suspended, for attempting to break into a foreign student's Dublin apartment to obtain money for his daughter's First Communion. Wall told Gardaí he had missed the Communion because he had been "locked up" and was trying to gather money to give to his daughter afterwards. He also said he had recently lost his mother and wanted money to put a picture on her gravestone. The apartment was occupied by a Venezuelan woman studying English; she woke up to a noise at the window, saw Wall on the balcony trying to push the window open, and screamed when she saw him. Wall continued to try to get in while she called for help. He was arrested outside by Gardaí. The court noted no force or violence was used and no one was harmed. Wall, a heroin user, had made good progress in addressing his addiction. Thomas Wall pleaded guilty.
In Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 21 October 2016, Mark Relihan, an Offaly veterinarian, confronted his attacker Stephen McGrath (25) with a photograph of his severe facial injuries after McGrath had glassed him in a city‑centre cocktail bar. Relihan had just delivered an emotional victim‑impact statement when he held up the picture and said, "This is what you've done to me. You see this? This is what you ran away from." McGrath showed no reaction. Judge Pauline Codd adjourned the case to 16 December 2016 for a probation report and suggested community service. She had originally planned sentencing for 21 December but McGrath's counsel argued it would cause work difficulties. McGrath, from Carmarthen but originally from Tullamore, had pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm on 6 September 2015.
A 53‑year‑old man was sentenced to four years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for sexually assaulting two of his son's young friends on 14 occasions between 2011 and 2014. The abuse was uncovered when a parent saw Viber messages from the accused in which he said he loved the boy. After a meeting with the families, the man knelt and asked the boys for forgiveness. The families decided he would return to India until the youngest victim finished his Junior Certificate, but he returned a month early and was reported to gardaí. He pleaded guilty to 14 counts of sexual assault; the victims were aged 11 to 17. The judge noted his remorse and lack of prior convictions but condemned the repeated abuse.
John O'Sullivan, 54, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to evading €100,000 in tax and to three counts of failing to file income tax returns for 2009, 2010 and 2011. He admitted that his 2009 returns omitted €100,000 earned from selling two properties on Dublin's North Strand Road in 2007. The court heard that the total back taxes and capital gains tax amounted to €299,658, of which O'Sullivan has paid €92,392, leaving a debt of €207,267. He has nine prior convictions for failing to file returns, including a 2003 fine of €2,856. O'Sullivan has been making monthly repayments of €4,330. He pleaded guilty to knowingly delivering an incorrect return for 2007 and to evasion of tax on 30 June 2009. Judge John Aylmer granted bail and adjourned sentencing to October next year, requesting an increase in the repayment amount by then.
Gareth Jones, a 22‑year‑old learner driver, was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment and a five‑year driving disqualification after he was found guilty of careless driving causing the death of 16‑year‑old Paul McCormack on Tolka Valley Road, Finglas, on 26 June 2015. Jones was driving a Toyota Avensis at 70–80 km/h in a 50 km/h zone when he swerved to avoid a group of boys crossing the road. Paul changed direction and was struck, suffering fatal head injuries. The court noted a fault in the car's ABS braking system, which was not known to Jones, and that he had remained at the scene, called an ambulance and made admissions to Gardaí. The judge, citing Jones' youth, the lack of a qualified driver in the car, and the impact on the McCormack family, imposed the nine‑month term and the disqualification.
In July 2016, former Anglo Irish Bank executives John Bowe (52), Willie McAteer (65), and former Irish Life and Permanent chief executive Denis Casey (56) were convicted by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of conspiring to mislead investors about Anglo Irish Bank's financial health. They had used interbank loans to make the bank appear €7.2 bn more valuable between 1 March and 30 September 2008. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Bowe to two years, McAteer to three‑and‑a‑half years, and Casey to two years and nine months imprisonment. All three lodged appeals against their convictions, and a hearing was scheduled for the week beginning 6 March 2017. McAteer and Casey also appealed their sentences, while Bowe did not. The appeal hearing was to be overseen by Mr Justice George Birmingham, who noted it would be the longest since the court's establishment in 2014. The men were not present for the procedural hearing. John Bowe pleaded not guilty. Willie McAteer pleaded not guilty. Denis Casey pleaded not guilty.
Noel Fitzgerald, 48, of St Michans House, Greek Street, Dublin, pleaded guilty to possession of benzocaine, a cutting agent sometimes used with cocaine, on 22 April 2015. Gardaí seized 60 kg of benzocaine valued at €30 000, along with caffeine and paracetamol, after following a transit van and a car at Greek Street. Fitzgerald admitted he knew the substance was not above board but claimed he was doing a favour for someone else and did not answer further questions. He has two minor prior convictions. Judge Melanie Greally, noting Fitzgerald's respected community role and personal tragedies, imposed a three‑year sentence suspended in full for five years, warning that any future involvement with unsavoury elements would trigger the full term. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Thomas Murray, 34, a father of two, will be sentenced in December for a series of robberies in Dublin between December 2015 and February 2016. He pleaded guilty to eight robberies, one attempted robbery and one threat to kill. CCTV showed him using women's bank cards for small "tap purchases" where PIN codes are not required, and cutting the straps of handbags with a knife he described as a tool. Murray had 37 prior convictions and committed several offences while on bail. He was apprehended after a bus driver "rugby tackled" him and after a car stopped him at a bus stop. He cooperated with Gardaí, admitted the offences, apologized for frightening victims and said he committed the crimes to feed his addiction and buy things for his children. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned sentencing to allow for updated reports and noted the need for a regime to provide help upon release.
Patrick O'Brien, a former Church of Ireland lay worker, was sentenced for raping and molesting 14 boys over 30 years. He pleaded guilty to 48 counts of indecent assault, including anal penetration, and three counts of sexual assault between 1977 and 2010 at locations such as Kildare, Westmeath, a boat in Loughrea, and St Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin. O'Brien, aged 76, had a prior one‑year suspended sentence for a 1989 sex assault. The sentencing hearing, held over two days, included victim impact reports from 14 men, some of whom described long‑term emotional and social harm. The court noted O'Brien's guilty plea, his completion of 312 hours of group psychotherapy, and his voluntary apology. He was remanded in continuing custody until the next hearing on 10 November. The victims remain anonymous. The case highlights the prolonged abuse and its lasting effects on the survivors.
Patricia Fortune, 35, was found not guilty by reason of insanity after she attacked Sean Hogan with scissors, leaving him blind in one eye. The incident occurred on 28 May 2013 at the Granby Centre, a Dublin homeless shelter for people with mental health issues. Fortune pleaded not guilty to one count of intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm. The jury, after hearing psychiatric evidence, returned a verdict in 21 minutes. Judge Patricia Ryan adjourned the case to 1 November to allow for an assessment of Fortune's future care. Prosecutor Ronan Kennedy argued that while there was no dispute that Fortune carried out the assault, the key issue was her mental state at the time. The court heard that Fortune had a long history of violence and severe epilepsy, with an IQ of 68, and that she had an organic personality disorder linked to her epileptic condition.
Jonathan Nolan, aged 22, avoided jail after attacking shopkeeper Aaron Anglim with a paint roller on 13 May 2014 at Decies Mini Market, Ballyfermot. Nolan claimed he believed Anglim had assaulted his mother, who had earlier confronted Anglim in the shop, slapping, pushing and kicking him before being asked to leave. Nolan entered the shop armed with a paint roller whose plastic cap had been removed, exposing a metal bar, and stabbed Anglim's head. Anglim defended himself with a golf club left in the shop. Anglim suffered a 1‑cm cut below his hairline and was treated at St James's Hospital. Nolan pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. Judge Melanie Greally suspended a two‑and‑a‑half‑year jail term on strict conditions, noting Nolan and his mother had since reconciled with the victim and expressed remorse.
Tiarnan O'Mahoney, a former Chief Operations Officer of Anglo Irish Bank, was scheduled to stand trial on Monday, 19 October 2016, for charges of conspiring to conceal or alter bank accounts. He had previously been convicted in July 2015 on seven charges and sentenced to three years' imprisonment, but that conviction was quashed by the Court of Appeal in April 2016. The new trial date was set for 24 October 2016. The charges allege that in 2003 and 2004 O'Mahoney conspired to hide or omit accounts from Anglo's Core Banking System or from documentation provided to Revenue, which was investigating bogus non‑resident accounts potentially liable for Deposit Interest Retention Tax. The prosecution, led by Dominic McGinn SC, requested that the trial not be held concurrently with the ongoing trial of Sean FitzPatrick, and Judge Melanie Greally agreed, setting a new trial date for 2 October 2017. Tiarnan O'Mahoney pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin nightclub, Silviu Voivod (31) was charged with assault causing harm after he tried to stop a woman from being grabbed by a first‑year college student, Robert McMickan, at Dandelion Bar & Nightclub on 12 October 2014. Voivod was glassed in the face, losing two front teeth, and then punched in the back, side and head. McMickan was taken to Tallaght hospital, suffered severe facial injuries and had to miss two weeks of college. Voivod pleaded guilty, offered €500 to McMickan as an expression of remorse, and did not seek a trial date. The court heard that Voivod had no prior convictions and was in a relationship with a young son. Judge Melanie Greally noted the need for a custodial sentence to send a strong message against such "glassing incidents" and announced a custodial sentence would be imposed on 6 December.
Patrick O'Brien, 76, a former lay worker with the Church of Ireland, is due to be sentenced for the rape and molestation of 14 boys over 30 years. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 48 counts of indecent assault, including anal penetration and three counts of sexual assault between 1977 and 2010 at various locations such as Kildare, Westmeath, a boat in Loughrea, and St Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin where he volunteered. The sentencing hearing, held over two days, included victim impact reports from four men, some of whom chose not to have their statements read. The court heard that O'Brien abused the boys in cars, at his yacht, and in his office, often after visiting their parents. He also performed oral sex and forced victims to perform it on him. The hearing will continue tomorrow before Judge Melanie Greally.
Aoife Molloy, aged 25, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Noel O'Rourke on a Luas tram on 11 December 2014. She was originally sentenced to four years' imprisonment with the final 18 months suspended. On appeal the Court of Appeal reduced her jail term by six months, citing that her sentence should have been on par with that of her co‑accused, who received four years with two years suspended. The judge noted that the incident involved Molloy and a group of young people who were drinking on the tram, that Molloy struck O'Rourke twice with a bottle and then jabbed him in the lip. O'Rourke suffered a fractured jaw‑eye bone and required stitches. Molloy had seven prior convictions for road‑traffic offences and was under the influence of alcohol and prescription drugs at the time of the assault. The final sentence imposed was four years' imprisonment with the final two years suspended.
A Dublin teenager was given a three‑year suspended sentence for his role in a violent assault that left a 17‑year‑old boy with serious injuries. The victim, who is a juvenile, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and assault causing harm on 19 September 2015. Judge Melanie Greally suspended the prison term on strict conditions, including 240 hours of community service. She noted that the accused repeatedly struck the victim with a baton and had a misguided sense of justification. The judge also highlighted that the victim's promising sporting career was denied because of the assault. The teenager was found to be at low risk of re‑offending, had expressed regret, and had distanced himself from the peer group. The court accepted a favourable report from the Probation Service and concluded that the suspended sentence was appropriate. The victim suffered multiple wounds, required hospital treatment, and later developed post‑traumatic stress disorder.
In September 2015, Neven Vukovic, a 40‑year‑old Croatian man, attacked his ex‑partner Fionnuala Ní Mhartín at her Dublin home. After the couple had split two days earlier, Vukovic entered the house, attempted to hug her, and when she refused, he slapped her on the head and then repeatedly punched and kicked her. The assault left her with a fractured eye socket and other injuries. Vukovic later sent harassing text and Facebook messages, including threats, for weeks. Gardaí arrested him and he pleaded guilty to assault causing harm at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He was charged with assault and harassment, placed on bail with strict conditions, and a sentencing hearing was adjourned to April. He has since attended anger‑management and counselling courses.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Ovidiu Raducanu, aged 31, pleaded guilty to burglary at Mountjoy Square on 6 September 2013. He had staged a scheme to sell DJ equipment for €2,500, luring a victim into his apartment where he and two other men robbed the victim, who was briefly tied up and later freed. Raducanu denied the offence initially but admitted later that he had set up the victim. He claimed he had been threatened by the robbers, who had a knife, and that he had been offered a share of the proceeds but refused. Judge Patricia Ryan sentenced him to six years, suspending the final two years. Raducanu had 28 prior convictions and had previously paid €2,500 to the victim as a "practical expression of remorse.".
A 22‑year‑old man, Garrett Lyster, was found guilty of burglary after a break‑in at a couple's Finglas home in May 2013. He acted as a lookout and was caught when he left his mobile phone at the scene, which was recovered by the couple's son. The phone was linked to Lyster, who admitted to "keeping sketch" during the burglary. The court heard that the elderly couple, aged in their early nineties, were in bed when the intruders entered. One raider struck the husband with a saw and then cut his hand with a sharp object before fleeing. Gardaí arrived shortly after and the victim was taken to hospital. Lyster pleaded guilty and was given a one‑year sentence, suspended on strict conditions, by Judge Catherine Murphy. The prosecution noted the couple had no victim impact reports due to the woman's Alzheimer's and the man's ill health.
In the trial of former Anglo Irish Bank chairman Sean FitzPatrick, two jurors were excused from serving. The trial, which began with a specially enlarged jury of 15 at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, is expected to last three months. Judge John Aylmer explained that the parties were still involved in a legal matter that the jurors had been made aware of, and that the time estimate for dealing with this matter had been underestimated. One juror was excused because she could not afford the €67 a week she would receive in social welfare and had started a full‑time job. The second juror was excused due to a bereavement and related difficulties. Judge Aylmer noted that the trial could start before the jury by Wednesday, 26 October, and that the remaining 13 jurors had no objections to continuing. Sean FitzPatrick pleaded not guilty.
Bernard McDonagh, 30, a "talented musician" from Dublin, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after punching a Croatian man on Dame Lane on 17 June 2015. The victim was knocked unconscious, suffered a broken jaw and dental damage, and required costly dental surgery. McDonagh fled the scene but later turned himself in at Pearse Street Garda station, admitting full responsibility. He has 19 prior convictions, mainly for public order offences. Judge Melanie Greally, after reviewing a psychologist's report, adjourned the case to 27 March 2017 to allow a probation report and to give McDonagh time to arrange compensation for the victim. The court noted McDonagh's apology and his role as a caring father, but emphasized the seriousness of the assault. The case will be sentenced early next year.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Lithuanian citizen Algirdas Dapkunas, aged 47, was found guilty of evading duty on 22,000 Marlboro Gold cigarettes, valued at over €11,700, which he attempted to bring into Ireland. Customs officials discovered the cigarettes during an X‑ray scan of his luggage and identified a boarding pass for a return flight to Lithuania hidden in his sock. Dapkunas admitted he carried the cigarettes because they were cheaper in Ireland and intended to sell some. He was arrested on 18 August after being stopped at the green channel in Dublin Airport and has been in custody since. The court imposed a suspended six‑month sentence and barred him from returning to Ireland for three years, with conditions that he depart Dublin within seven days. No prior convictions were noted. The case highlights the enforcement of duty‑evasion laws at Irish borders.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 16‑year‑old was found guilty of assault causing serious harm after slashing the face of actor Andrew Cusack with a broken glass bottle. The incident occurred on May 2 2016 at Dame Lane, following a dispute over alleged fake ecstasy tablets purchased by Cusack. CCTV showed the youth becoming enraged, leaving the scene, and later returning to attack Cusack with a broken pint glass. Cusack suffered four wounds, including a large C‑shaped scar across his lower lip and cheek, and may endure permanent numbness and weakness of his lower lip. He has been receiving psychological support and may need further surgery. The judge sentenced the youth to four years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, and imposed two years of probation to address substance‑abuse issues. The court noted the attack's life‑changing and catastrophic consequences for Cusack.
Jayne Kearney, aged 26, appealed the three‑year prison sentence she received for dangerous driving that caused serious bodily harm to Blathnaid Molloy, a mother of two, after Kearney was almost three times the legal alcohol limit. Kearney pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 8 March 2014 and was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan on 12 January 2015. In her appeal, Kearney's barrister, Padraig Dwyer SC, argued that a suspended sentence or community service would have been appropriate, noting that Kearney had left the hotel after a dispute with her boyfriend, had not been drinking all evening, and had made a single reckless decision to drive. Dwyer highlighted that Kearney had cooperated at the scene, made admissions, and that the injuries were sustained by Molloy. The court, hearing the arguments, reserved judgment and would decide as soon as possible. The appeal does not alter the fact that Kearney was convicted of dangerous driving and driving while intoxicated.
A 21‑year‑old unaccompanied learner driver, Gareth Jones, pleaded guilty to careless driving causing the death of 16‑year‑old Paul McCormack on Tolka Valley Road, Finglas, on 26 June 2015. Jones was driving a Toyota Avnesis at an estimated 70–80 km/h in a 50 km/h zone when he swerved to avoid three of the boy's friends who were crossing the road. He hit Paul, who had turned back toward the opposite side of the road. The collision left Paul with catastrophic brain injuries and he died at Mater Hospital. Jones had two minor previous convictions and was a provisional licence holder without a qualified driver in the car. The court heard a fault in the vehicle's ABS braking system, but there was no indication Jones was aware of it. All drug and alcohol tests were clear. The case was adjourned to 20 October for sentencing, with a maximum term of two years imprisonment.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 12 October 2016, Judge Melanie Greally sentenced Karl Brennan, 36, to six years' imprisonment for transporting €400,000 worth of heroin in his car while his one‑year‑old daughter was present. Brennan pleaded guilty to possession of the drugs at Tower Road, Clondalkin, on 10 December 2015. The judge imposed a six‑year term, suspending the final two years on strict conditions. Brennan, who has a heart condition and had previously worked for Coca Cola, was described by his family as a caring father. He admitted he had acted as a drug courier to earn money for Christmas. Garda surveillance had tracked his movements, revealing the heroin concealed in the door panel of his Nissan Micra. No prior convictions were recorded, and the person who had deposited the drugs was not apprehended. The court heard that Brennan cooperated fully with Gardaí and that he had no intention to re‑offend.
Jason Whelan, 26, of Coolock, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to five counts of stealing €13,000 from Europcar between May and July 2013. The thefts were discovered when a colleague attempted a refund and Whelan admitted the offences. He claimed the money was used to fund a gambling addiction, which he said had ended. Judge Melanie Greally noted the serious breach of trust, the company's significant loss, and Whelan's remorse and cooperation. She imposed a three‑year sentence, suspended in full, and acknowledged his limited financial circumstances preventing repayment. Whelan has 10 prior convictions, including three for theft, and had been dismissed from Europcar before the Gardaí arrived. He has since been working in sales, is certified sick due to depression, and has a letter of apology outlining deep regret and remorse. The court considered his gambling addiction and mental health background in its decision.
Gerard Hughes, 19, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended, for a series of drug‑induced offences including assault, property damage, unlawful car taking and dangerous driving. He pleaded guilty to assaulting a hotel manager at The Maldron Hotel in Tallaght on 20 November 2015, damaging property, unlawfully taking a Nissan Qashqai on 13 December 2015 and two counts of dangerous driving on the same day. The assault involved Hughes entering the manager's office with a fire extinguisher, demanding money, grabbing her around the mouth, shoving her to the ground and fleeing. The victim suffered a split lip, facial bruising and leg injury. Hughes was identified by CCTV, had no memory of the incident due to drug use, and was arrested after a chase that involved driving the stolen car the wrong way around a roundabout. He has 47 prior convictions and was banned from driving for 10 years.
Michael Brennan, 29, was given a three‑year suspended sentence in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to possession of a knife at Cromcastle Drive, Kilmore, on 7 January 2016. The court heard that he had chased a group of people to a parked car, appeared to try to open the door or stab the car, and was ordered by Gardaí to drop the knives. The incident stemmed from a family dispute and occurred while Brennan was relapsing into drug addiction. He has 67 previous convictions, including attempted murder, intimidation of a witness and threats to kill, and was released from a ten‑year attempted murder sentence in May 2015. The judge, Melanie Greally, suspended the sentence on the condition that Brennan complete a residential drug treatment programme and remain under probation supervision for 18 months.
Mark Carlyle, 27, of Derry Park, Crumlin, Dublin 12, pleaded guilty to violent disorder outside a Harcourt Street nightclub on 23 September 2014 after being refused entry. He was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to five years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended, on 15 December 2015. Carlyle's appeal against the severity of the sentence was dismissed by the Court of Appeal on 10 October 2016. Mr Justice Alan Mahon, sitting with Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan and Mr Justice John Edwards, upheld the sentence as a "substantial sentence" justified by the circumstances. The Court noted that Carlyle had initiated a violent altercation with security staff, pulling one member away from colleagues and punching him eight or nine times, and had thrown a security barrier in a crowded area.
Lisa Blake, 38, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm to Michelle Lowry on 30 July 2013 while staying in emergency accommodation at the Regency Hotel, Drumcondra. Blake used a chisel to strike Lowry, who now bears a permanent scar on her nose. Blake had no prior convictions and had previously lived in her own home before losing it due to the economic downturn and heroin addiction. In a victim impact report, Lowry expressed sympathy for Blake's circumstances. Judge Elma Sheahan described the assault as unprovoked and noted Blake's apology and the likelihood that she would not return to court. Blake received an 18‑month suspended sentence, was ordered to engage with probation services, drug treatment and work programmes, and was required to stay with her former partner and children. The court also heard that Blake had been drinking and that the alcohol interacted poorly with her medication.
Owen Travers, a former assistant bank manager at AIB, pleaded guilty to 15 counts of theft from seven vulnerable customers, stealing over €127,000 between 2006 and 2012. He admitted the thefts, which ranged from €200 to €25,000, and apologized to those affected. The court noted that all money had been repaid to the bank and that Travers had sought help for gambling addiction and alcoholism. Judge Sinead Ní Chulachain accepted his early admission and psychiatric care, deeming him low risk if he abstains from alcohol and gambling. He received a two‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended sentence, conditional on good behaviour for five years, and was deemed suitable for community service. The sentence reflected the serious breach of trust involved.
A bench warrant was issued after James Maughan, 38, failed to appear for sentencing. Maughan had previously been caught using facial‑recognition software in July 2015 when he applied for Jobseeker's Allowance under the false name "Terence Maughan." He had already been claiming disability benefit in his own name and had stolen €438 in Jobseeker's Allowance. He had 11 prior convictions for social welfare fraud dating back to 2013, the most recent of which carried a six‑month sentence. Maughan pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, admitting he induced another to submit a false application and stole the allowance. Sentencing had been adjourned to allow him to attend rehabilitation at Cuan Mhuire, where he attended in August but left in September. The court noted no communication had been received from Cuan Mhuire and issued the bench warrant, requesting a representative from the centre to explain why the notification requirements were not met.
Marcin Wojciechowicz, aged 34, was convicted of possession of child pornography after Gardaí discovered over 16,000 images and 300 videos on a USB stick, his mobile phone and laptop. The material included extremely graphic content such as children bound, gagged, beaten, burned, water‑boarded, and sexually abused. He pleaded guilty to possession on a mobile phone in June 2015. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to four years' imprisonment, with the final six months suspended, taking into account his guilty plea, lack of prior convictions, psychiatric history of schizophrenia, and the volume and severity of the material. He was ordered to continue psychiatric treatment, engage with local services in Poland for one year post‑release, and comply with the sex offenders register. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, and no trial was held due to the guilty plea.
Nianje He, a 35‑year‑old Chinese national, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to unlawfully cultivating cannabis in his apartment on 8 May 2014. The court found 126 cannabis plants at various stages of growth, valued at €108,000, and noted a strong smell of cannabis when Garda Seamus Donoghue entered the premises. He had jumped from a second‑floor window after being caught. He was sentenced to three and a half years' imprisonment by Judge Martin Nolan on 20 November 2015. On 7 October 2016, Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan dismissed He's appeal against that sentence. Sheehan said He had been involved in the offence to discharge gambling debts, had expected €10,000 from the harvest, and had committed a further cultivation offence in Galway while on bail for the Dublin offence. The Court of Appeal found the sentence not excessive and gave He credit for six weeks spent in custody for this offence.
A Longford woman has received a suspended sentence for her role in an assault on a fellow inmate at the Dochas Centre women's prison in Dublin. Marian Leddy, aged 31, of Barrack Street, Granard, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm to another prisoner on 26 May 2015. The court heard that Leddy held the victim's legs while a co-accused inflicted facial injuries using a broken cup. Judge Petria McDonnell imposed a three-month sentence, suspended in full for twelve months, taking into account Leddy's progress in addressing her heroin addiction and engagement with local support services. The judge noted that Leddy had played a lesser role than her co-accused and caused no direct injuries. The victim sustained minor cuts to her face with no permanent scarring. Leddy, who has 77 previous convictions predominantly for theft, told the court she was committed to turning her life around.
A 64‑year‑old man was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a six‑month jail term for indecent assault of his brother, sister and nephew over an 18‑year period. Judge Patricia Ryan explained that the maximum sentence available at the time of the offences was two years, and that the court had to consider the man's guilty plea and his chronic debilitating condition, which would cause additional hardship in prison. She imposed a seven‑month suspended sentence for the abuse of the two siblings, a ten‑month sentence for the abuse of the nephew with the final four months suspended, and ordered the man to be registered as a sex offender. The man, who appeared on a mobility scooter, was 14 when he first abused his younger brother, 17 when he abused his 13‑year‑old sister, and 28 when he abused his nephew, who was aged between seven and 12.
A 53‑year‑old man who sexually abused his younger sister 16 times between 1983 and 1987, when she was aged 7 to 11, was found guilty by a jury at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and sentenced to nine years' imprisonment by Judge Martin Nolan on 12 January 2015. The man, who pleaded not guilty, appealed the severity of the sentence. Mr Justice George Birmingham dismissed the appeal, stating the abuse began around the time of the victim's first communion and occurred roughly four or five times a week, amounting to "in excess of a couple of hundred times." He noted aggravating factors such as the sibling relationship, the duration spanning a significant part of the victim's childhood, and the frequency of abuse. The judge's approach of imposing a substantial sentence on one count while considering the others was deemed permissible, and the appeal was rejected. The sentence remained within the maximum 10‑year scale.
In a Wheatfield Prison incident, 36‑year‑old Jeffrey Dumbrell punched a prison nurse, Donna Canavan, during medication delivery. The judge, Leonie Reynolds, noted that a life sentence cannot be extended for new offences, so Dumbrell's life term remains unchanged. She imposed a two‑year sentence to run concurrently with the life sentence and a prior sentence for threatening a prison officer in 2014. Reynolds described the assault as an "appalling act of thuggery" and said she would have extended the sentence if the law allowed. She also acknowledged Dumbrell's rehabilitation efforts, including his role in the Alternatives to Violence Programme and education courses, and noted that the Parole Service would consider the offence when assessing his release. Nurse Canavan suffered bruising, missed six weeks of work, fully recovered, and has since transferred to another prison. Jeffrey Dumbrell pleaded guilty.
In a Wheatfield Prison maximum‑security unit, Jeffrey Dumbrell, a life‑sentenced murderer, punched prison nurse Donna Canavan in the face while she was administering his medication. The incident, which occurred on 19 July 2015, is Dumbrell's second conviction since his 2011 life sentence. Earlier in 2016 he was sentenced for threatening to rip a prison officer's head off. Dumbrell pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. The court noted that a life sentence cannot be extended for new offences, but the Parole Board may consider the new conduct when assessing his release. Dumbrell was restrained by officers and taken to an isolation cell; he did not resist. Nurse Canavan suffered severe bruising, missed six weeks of work, recovered fully and has since transferred to another prison. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for the following day.
Peng Fei He, a 33‑year‑old Chinese national, was sentenced to eight years in prison, with the final two years suspended, after pleading guilty to possession of over 7 kg of cannabis worth €141,920. He admitted taking responsibility for two separate packages, each valued at €70,000, that were intercepted by customs. He had previously been convicted of three road‑traffic offences and had been in custody since his arrest. Judge Pauline Codd noted that he lived in squalid conditions and owed a €5,000 gambling debt, and she considered that he acted mainly for financial motives and under some fear. He claimed he had arranged the deliveries, used random addresses, and was paid €200 per kilo for organising the transport. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 22‑year‑old Gerry Wall pleaded guilty to burglary at Hyde Road, Dalkey, after breaking into a house and stealing jewellery worth €4,030 and a jar of coins valued at €58. CCTV captured Wall and an accomplice climbing over a fence, entering the house, and later exchanging the stolen coins for notes at a neighbouring petrol station. The burglary caused €2,315 in damage and none of the stolen property was recovered. Wall, who has nine prior convictions, was given a suspended sentence of two and a half years on strict conditions. The judge, citing a probation report that showed a "turnaround in attitude" and Wall's recent fatherhood, accepted that no further charges were pending and allowed him a chance to demonstrate his commitment to leaving criminality behind him.
In a Dublin pub fight on 7 May 2015, 45‑year‑old Graham Quigley struck French teacher Thomas Gohin with a pint glass, causing severe facial injuries. Gohin described his nose as "cut in two" and reported lasting psychological effects, though he could not afford counselling or surgery. Quigley, who had started the fight after his sister was insulted, pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Melanie Greally noted Gohin's attempt to end the fight and the resulting scar on his face and arm. Quigley was sentenced to three and a half years, with the final year suspended. He has since stayed out of trouble, expressed remorse, and is now living with his mother and working in a bakery. Gohin has left Ireland and returned to France.
Mark Kenna, 32, was arrested after CCTV captured him robbing a Japanese tourist's purse at the revolving door of Best Western Academy Plaza Hotel on 2 February 2015. Kenna, who had 54 prior convictions but none for violence, told Gardaí he could not remember the incident and was "strung out" at the time. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Melanie Greally described the offence as "nasty and frightening" but noted Kenna's crack cocaine habit and that he had taken tablets that day. She was impressed by a favourable probation report showing insight, remorse and steps taken to address his drug addiction. The judge imposed a three‑year sentence, suspended in full, with strict conditions: 12 months probation supervision and one‑to‑one drug‑addiction counselling. The case was prosecuted by Elva Duffy BL and defended by Rebecca Smith BL.
A pregnant 18‑year‑old teenager was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for violent disorder after a CCTV‑recorded incident in which she kicked a Brazilian student 15 times. The Court of Appeal rejected her appeal to suspend the remaining 15 months of her sentence. The case, heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, involved a confrontation at about 5 am with a group of seven youths. The teenager, who had 26 prior convictions, was four months pregnant at sentencing. The judge emphasised the seriousness of the offence and the need for custodial reform, concluding no error in the original sentence. The unnamed 18-year-old pleaded guilty.
Dean McKeever, aged 19, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended, for assaulting two St Patrick's Day volunteers on 17 March 2015. The volunteers were attacked at Belgard Square Luas stop in Tallaght, struck to the ground and kicked to the head while they were vulnerable. One victim suffered a fractured skull, bleeding to the ear and sciatica; the other sustained a broken cheekbone, a broken face plate, a severed facial nerve and eye damage, requiring treatment in three hospitals and the insertion of two titanium plates. McKeever also assaulted a man with a broken bottle at Jervis Centre on 19 November 2015, hitting him over the head with the bottle. He pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm and one count of assault causing harm and one count of producing a weapon.
Kieran Cox, 32, of Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty to endangerment after a high‑speed chase that ended with his Volkswagen Passat crashing into a Toyota Yaris at a junction in Clonee on 2 February 2012. The Passat lost control, collided with the Yaris, spun into a pole, and a fire broke out, requiring Gardaí to drag Cox out of the vehicle. He was arrested but made no admissions. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to four years' imprisonment, which she suspended in full, citing his significant positive turnaround, cessation of alcohol abuse, and responsible fatherhood. Cox had no Garda attention since 2012 and had previously been convicted of road traffic, drug and theft offences. The case was brought back to court after a 2012 warrant was not executed until 2015.
Mark Mosley, 24, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended, for a series of offences including the robbery of a €7,000 gold‑plated monstrance from St Bridget's Church in Killester, a mobile‑phone robbery at Harmonstown Dart Station, a house burglary in Edenmore, and a threat to Sergeant Basil Grimes. Mosley pleaded guilty to each charge at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He admitted abusing alcohol, tablets and heroin at the time of the offences. The monstrance, containing the Holy Sacrament, was never recovered. Mosley's criminal history includes 71 prior convictions and 88 disciplinary incidents while in prison. The sentence reflects his drug‑free status at sentencing but acknowledges his extensive disciplinary record.